Pharrell - In My Mind

Interscope

Pharrell has a long and reputable resumŽ, collaborating with the likes of Blackstreet, No Doubt, Mystikal, Jay-Z, M.C. Lyte, Kid Rock, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Pras, Ludicras, Perry Farrell, P. Diddy, Destiny's Child, Usher, Britney Spears, Foxy Brown, NSYNC, Mary J. Blige, Lil' Bow Wow, Babyface, Busta Rhymes, Ice Cube, L.L. Cool J, Snoop Dog, TLC, Prince, Britney Spears, Toni Braxton, Scarface, Justin Timberlake, The Rolling Stones, Nas and Nelly among others.
Pharrell has also been a part of "N*E*R*D" as the drummer and lead singer. However, "In My Mind" is Pharrell's first album and it sounds just as great as it should. The albums single, "Can I Have It Like That," is the worst song on the album featuring the bland vocals of Gwen Stefani speaking, "You got it like that," over and over. Pharrell's voice is very distinct, especially for being part of the hip hop world. He has a very soft and smooth voice among a world of "hard-hitting" rappers or overly emotional R&Bers. Pharrells lyrics and rhymes are down to earth, about his life, problems, childhood, all shown in a realistic light, not raunchy, violent or demeaning in any way; in other words: refreshing. Pharrell is the gentleman of hip hop, the most creative force in today's hip hop scene.

Sammy Hagar and The Wabos - Livin' It Up

Rhino/Warner Bros

Sammy Hagar has always been washed up to one degree or another. Even upon entering Van Halen he was already a known partier and drinker extraordinaire. It has been a while since his last solo album release, but this album is not a huge surprise. There are songs entitled, "Livin' On A Coastline," "Mexico" and "I Love This Bar." In short, all the songs are about living a lush, kicked back lifestyle.
Hagar even does a heavy drivin' cover of "Rainy Day Women" on this album, "Well, they'll stone ya when you're trying to be so good/ They'll stone ya just a-like they said they would/ They'll stone ya when you're tryin' to go home/ Then they'll stone ya when you're there all alone/ But I would not feel so all alone/Everybody must get stoned." Just his style. However, to my surprise, Hagar pulls out a melancholy country song that runs against the grain of the album but works to his benefit, "Halfway To Memphis." This ex-Van Halen lead singer is a spotlight hog, and frontin' this band is right up his alley.

Greg Brown - The Evening Call

Red House

Greg Brown has always come out with beautiful, entrancing, sometimes haunting and sometimes hysterical music that appeals to the broadest range of emotions. Brown's lyrics are mostly penned by himself; his lyrics are inspirational to say the least, but he has a talent for tapping into the human psyche and bringing dormant emotions to the surface.
In these qualities, "The Evening Call" is no disappointment. Greg Brown has continuously changed his style of delivery, but remained consistently earnest in his emotional depth. If Brown's music and lyrics are not enough to stir up the doldrums of your soul, then his bassy voice will. The song "Eugene" is a slow rambling song about a slow paced drive "back to Eugene," with precious jewels of wisdom and some semiprecious gems of hilarity. While on that song, he is very relaxed, nonchalant and unburdened, he has an unequaled skill for intensity in his voice. For example, "Cold + Dark + Wet" is a song about the "American morning." Greg Brown has been one of my all time favorites for a long time now; and the way he keeps on producing amazing music, the fucker won't stop creating wonders until he kicks the bucket.

Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

Warner Bros

Muse have released their latest album after a 2 year break from their last tour. The tour ended with a headlining show at Glastonberry in front of thousands of muddy, screaming fans. They figured it was time to take a break. With this revival of their creative energies, the album has come across completely different from anything they have tried before. The Muse now uses much more synthesizer work as well as overlayering.
Before, The Muse was more worried about having the songs on their album being playable live. With "Black Holes & Revelations," the group focuses on being the best studio band that they can be; live shows be damned. From house to metal to acoustic balladry, Muse shies away from nothing, and does everything well.

Chris Knight - Enough Rope

Drifter's Church

Chris Knight is first and foremost a storyteller. A spinner of tales of working class people and their lives in small towns. Many of his songs focus on poor people who have had a bad run of luck or have been wronged. He has songs of revenge, cruelty and just plain loneliness. Inspired by Steve Earle, Knight's songs remain true to the hard edged country style pioneered just years before Knight began writing his own songs. "Enough Rope" has enough intensity to grab and keep one's attention, and enough slack so that everyone can enjoy.
***Shelton's Single of The Week: "Dirt"***

Joyce Cooling - Revolving Door

Narada Jazz/Virgin/EMI

Joyce Cooling, personally, has an extremely eclectic collection of music ranging from Brahms and Bach to Hendrix and Zappa. Her own tastes in what she tends to play, however, is more aimed at the smooth jazz side of the spectrum.
Cooling an accomplished musician to the point that she can play pleasant and melodic solos and also keep a mean rhythm. Her partner in crime, Jay Wagner, is a reasonably seasoned musician as well, but he generally keeps to rhythmic devices and does little soloing work. "Revolving Door" is a very 2-dimensional album in it's musical themes and motifs; not a lot of ground is explored here.

Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder - Instrumentals

Skaggs Family/Lyric Street

The Skaggs Family is positively filled to the brim and overflowing with talent. Ricky Skaggs, with 11 Grammys under his belt, is no different. A virtuoistic mandolin player, Ricky has also mastered several other instruments. On "Instrumentals," he also plays clawhammer banjo and several types of guitars.
Kentucky Thunder is, like the Skaggs Family, ridiculously talented, with no good excuse except that they have been playing music since they were still in the womb. On top of being a hands-down amazing mandolin player, Skaggs has always and continues to do an inspiring job as a band leader. Songs such as "Crossing The Britney" show the amount of time and thought that has gone into the composing of these songs, with it's multilayered melody and harmonies that would drive average musicians to the brink of insanity with it's difficulty.

Fiona Boyes and The Fortune Tellers - Lucky 13

Yellow Dog/Big Daddy

Fiona Boyes is an Australian country/blues woman who is making her first American debut. Her style of blues hails back to the day before the big country rock bands. On "Celebrate The Curves," she sings about her own beauty and is backed by a rag time sounding group, complete with horns, that really tears down the house. More so, even, that the opening track, "Chicken Wants Corn": a loud, upbeat tale of lusty, bawdy love.
(But, Boyes repertoire does not end there; not by a long shot. She also bares her teeth on, "Good Lord Made You So," which is a slow, low down, 12-bar blues tune with some superbly expressive solo guitar work. Much later, she really blows everyone out of the water with the rockabilly tune, "Rockabilly On The Radio," that breaks away from the close knit styles she had been playing throughout the album and turns the volume up to 11. Fiona Boyle has a flair for the classic, eccentric and all things Americana.

Raul Malo - You're Only Lonely

Sanctuary

Raul has most definitely proven himself as a versatile and eclectic musician, with talents that cross between genres and styles effortlessly. Malo's voice is the epitome of what a country balladeer should sound like: smooth, mid-ranged but with the power for high-ranged stretches. He deserves great recognition for his rendition of Etta James' "At Last." His Chris Isaak like voice has a subtle and sweet vibrato that many a singer would kill for.
His start in the world of music came from being the lead singer of The Mavericks, an influential '80s and '90s country band. Despite his rock history, it has not stopped him from expanding to jazz, country and salsa. In fact, on this otherwise country album, the cut "For You" is a high powered, horn infused salsa song with a strong beat that will get you moving.

Damon McMahon - Mansions

Astralwerks

Boring! Nothing on this album is appealing. The songs are all done by Damon McMahon and his guitar. His guitar style is slow, laborious sounding fingerpicking that hardly changes keys, let alone notes. His voice is just as monotonous and forced sounding. I would rather hammer a nail up my nose than listen to this album again. It is not only that there is rarely a change in the pace or melody, but the lyrics are simplistic and McMahon's voice is screechy and whiny. Flop.

Various Artists - Heartbreaker: Pickin' On Tom Petty: A Bluegrass Tribute

CMH

A kid learning to play guitar in Florida. Rehearsing with his band in California studios. Making his name in the lager-soaked clubs of England. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers logged some hard miles before finding success. But rock'n'roll is an international language and few are as eloquent as Petty. His guitar chimes like the Byrds, his lyrics cut to bare emotion like Dylan and the Heartbreakers strut like the Stones. Petty's catalog of songs celebrates and contemplates life's complexities. No wonder his music continues to sound fresh year after year.
The Byrds influence comes full circle on "Heartbreaker: Pickin' on Tom Petty." Former Byrd Chris Hillman picks his mandolin with a group of equally talented bluegrass musicians. Fiddle two-steps with banjo while guitar calls out the quick rhythm. "I Need To Know" gallops like a bandit's horse. "American Girl" sounds like daybreak across an infinite field of wheat. Petty says it best: "We got somethin', we both know it."

Rory Gallagher - Live At Montreux

Eagle

Rory Gallagher was the lead guitarist and singer for the Irish band Taste. Taste was a band that was a kin to England's Cream. Montreux originally hired Gallagher on the same bill as Jimi Hendrix and The Doors, although Hendrix died before the performance and The Doors canceled. Montreux, however, invited Gallagher back every year afterwards.
The cuts chosen on this CD range from recordings taken between 1975 and 1985. What is interesting about listening to this is seeing the change of Rory's style and the progression of rock history as portrayed through Rory: rock, punk, metal, hard rock. He came full circle. Unfortunately, Rory passed on in 1995 due to complications of a liver transplant. This is truly a comprehensive collection of Gallagher and the cuts are choice.

Brett Dennen - So Much More

Dualtone

Brett Dennen is most purely enjoyable on a variety of levels. His opening track, "Ain't No Reason" hits one off-guard right away; the guitar work is elegant and intense, and on top of that Dennen's sad, androgynous voice adds a level of emotional involvement in the lyrics that is just unheard in music today. "Ain't No Reason" is a song for all of those who look at this world we live in and feel helpless, fore it is melancholy, but in the end it is uplifting and hopeful.
Brett Dennen has a wealth of other poetic thoughts and ideas that he shares freely with his audience. He speaks of love, sex, hope, fear and many more personal and intimate things that make people feel alive. Dennen offers "So Much More" than most new artists; he is wonderfully spirited and energetic with his music.
***Sean's Single of The Week: "Ain't No Reason"***

Andy Mullen - I Wish My Name Were Jack

Bellweather

"I Wish My Name Were Jack" is a very pleasant acoustic folk album, with little to communicate. His lyrics are nothing to aspire too, and his singing style can be obnoxious, although that sometimes may be the point. As in "I'm Sorry Jeannie" he makes an attempt at a Tom Waits-esque drunken fool slur, but winds up being bothersome. He is a talented musician, however, it sounds just like he's trying too hard.

Wreckloose - Shake It Apart

Machine

In any genre you have standards and certain traits that define the genre. However, many artists attempt to pigeon-hole themselves into a tightly defined area and refuse to stray from formulaic approaches. Wreckloose have taken a chance and created something original and creative by bringing hip hop around to it's r&b roots.
Utilizing some great sounds that are familiar to the days of Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye, Wreckloose take apart and rearrange the formula's that make up soulless music and created the most soulful thing to come out of the hip hop industry in quite a while.
***So Nice, Gotta Do It Up Twice (Created by the Original NYC DJ, Jocko, 1955)***

Karen Taylor-Good - How Many Women

Insight

Karen Taylor-Good, the woman who wrote "How Can I Help You Say Goodbye," has come out with another album that has a retrospective feel. The album is full of songs with crappy metaphors, clichŽs and uninspired music. Karen's voice is limited in range and technique. The lyrics are lacking in originality. "How Many Women" is just a terrible album. Period.

The Pink Spiders - Teenage Graffiti

Geffen/Universal

These guys are trying really hard to be noticed. That goes for almost every aspect of their sound and appearance. Their gimmick is that they wear bright pink and black-striped clothing on stage and for press. The music that they play is straight-forward pop rock. They play their three chords on distortion and sing lyrics about being scenesters. After several scenester songs go by, one starts to feel guilty and a little bit awkward. These guys sound arrogant and dumb. Enough Said.

Lisa Palleschi - Released

Lightyear/Warner Bros (Street Date: Oct 3rd)

Palleschi is a newbie to the music business and is an unfortunate victim of bad writing, bland production and average music. She has a mainstream pop sound that can be found permeating vast portions of FM radio.
Nothing on this album sounds different from all the pop crap that I have previously heard. Lisa Palleschi doesn't even sound as though she cares about carving out a style of her own, so that people can actually distinguish her from the other thousands of female pop singers.

Powerman 5000 - Destroy What You Enjoy

DRT/Fontana

Powerman 5000's new release is starkly different from the two previous studio releases. First off, all of the other members besides Spider seem to have left. I couldn't find any information on where they had gone or why. The replacement members in the band are definitely a different band from what we have come to expect from Powerman 5000.
While the last group had a mix of metal and electronic music, the new band is mostly just metal, a little more punky than before. "Destroy What You Enjoy" is good rock music, but it does not compare to the energy or quality of the first album.

Strange Fruit Project - The Healing

Om: Hip Hop/Spilt Milk/ADA

The Strange Fruit Project is an interesting group that has a good taste in melody and rhythm. They choose great samples and integrate their sounds and polyrythms excellently. "The Healing" is full of skillful rhymes that flow naturally and are not based around violence and hustling. Instead they choose to rhyme about partying, having fun and other things that they love including cruising and God.
Erykah Badu makes an appearance on "Get Live" livening up the sound with her beautiful, rich, soulful voice that can convey just as emotion in a forceful wail as she can through lyrics. Strange Fruit Project remains on top of their game throughout the album; "The Healing" is quintessential modern hip hop.

Trace Adkins - Dangerous Man

Capitol Nashville/EMI

Trace Adkins has a truly one of a kind voice: a deep baritone that can dip deeper or go higher. His songs are about fairly standard country themes: self-promoting prideful crap, Jesus and whiskey. "Dangerous Man" marks his 10th anniversary as a recording artist, and it is apparent that he has learned a lot about the studio recording. Trace Adkins doesn't have a lot to convey in his songs, but none of that matters when listening to his voice.

Artist: Pete Seeger
Song: Bring 'Em Home (If You Love Your Uncle Sam)