SOUND CHECK : POP.Richard Marx/``Flesh and Bone'' You know Richard Marx - the forgotten Marx brother, the shallow, musical one called Nauseo. It was a surprise, then, to discover Marx's new r&b-drenched effort, ``Flesh and Bone'' (Capitol), is his most likable and modern-sounding to date. From the subtle trip-hop touches of the strong opener, ``Fool's Game''; to the funky Earth, Wind & Fire tribute, ``You Never Take Me Dancing''; and the modern soul of ``Breathless''; Marx as producer and artist hits the bull's-eye. Of course, Marx being Marx, there are also the obligatory drippy drip·py adj. drip·pi·er, drip·pi·est 1. Characterized by dripping; drizzly: a drippy, wet day. 2. Slang a. Tiresome or annoying. b. adult-contemporary radio ballads, including the first single, the hair-raising ``Until I Find You Again'' and the equally vapid ``My Confession.'' But fans of Luther Vandross, Celine Dion or James Ingram can make themselves nicely at home with ``Flesh and Bone.'' Three Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Maia Sharp/``Hardly Glamour'' Local singer-songwriter Maia Sharp has come up with a doozy doo·zy or doo·zie n. pl. doo·zies Slang Something extraordinary or bizarre: "Among the delicious names taken by, or given to, minor political parties in the United States . . . of a debut, produced with her dad, country songwriter Randy Sharp. This mellow collection of original material opens with the infectious road song, ``I Need This to Be Love,'' which seemed instantly familiar because now-defunct KSCA-FM spun it something like 25 times a day. The rest of ``Hardly Glamour'' (Ark 21) is equally strong in an upbeat Joni Mitchell/Sheryl Crow vein. Other standout cuts include ``Good Thing,'' ``Brownstone brownstone, red to brown variety of sandstone. Its unusual color is caused in some instances by the presence of red iron oxide which acts as a cement, binding the sand grains together. ,'' ``Only Way of Knowing'' and ``Solitaire solitaire or patience, any card game that can be played by one person. Solitaire is the American name; in England it is known as patience. There are probably more kinds of solitaire than all other card games together. .'' Radio would be smart to take note of this fine first album. Four Stars ?13- Fred Shuster The Waitresses/``The Waitresses'' It was dreadful when Patty Donahue Patty Donahue (Patricia J. Donahue, March 29, 1956— December 9 1996) was the lead singer of The Waitresses (sometimes credited as Patty Darling). Donahue was the lead vocalist for The Waitresses. "I Know What Boys Like" and "Christmas Wrappings" were among their hits. , lead singer of the Waitresses, died last year after a long illness. She had the most perfect smarty-pants delivery on such '80s new-wave dance-pop faves as ``I Know What Boys Like'' and ``Christmas Wrapping,'' both of which still turn up frequently on KROQ-FM. Unfortunately, this hourlong live set, recorded in February 1982 at a New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of club for broadcast on radio's syndicated ``King Biscuit Flower Hour The King Biscuit Flower Hour is a syndicated rock and roll radio program that debuted on February 18, 1973. It is broadcast weekly by many radio stations in the United States. ,'' didn't capture the six-piece band on an especially good night. ``The Waitresses'' (King Biscuit Flower Hour Records), which includes breakneck break·neck adj. 1. Dangerously fast: a breakneck pace. 2. Likely to cause an accident: a breakneck curve. versions of the above-mentioned hits, has its moments, but the band deserves a better epitaph epitaph, strictly, an inscription on a tomb; by extension, a statement, usually in verse, commemorating the dead. The earliest such inscriptions are those found on Egyptian sarcophagi. . Two Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds/``The Boatman's Call'' Feeling down? Looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a musical pickup? Stay away from the somber ``The Boatman's Call'' (Reprise re·prise n. 1. Music a. A repetition of a phrase or verse. b. A return to an original theme. 2. A recurrence or resumption of an action. tr.v. ), the latest release from duke of gloom Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. Granted, Cave is telling of failed relationships (with singer Polly Jean Harvey, among others) and hard times, but the overall effect is numbing. As in the past, expletives find their way into several tracks, including ``Where Do We Go Now but Nowhere?'' and ``Green Eyes.'' And while there is some marvelous writing here, it's all too depressed for comfort. Two Stars ?13- Stuart Levine r&b Tony O'Malley/``Sunshine Everyday'' The second disc to come along in as many weeks from a onetime member of mighty '70s Britsoul outfit Kokomo, Tony O'Malley's ``Sunshine Everyday'' (Millennium Music import) reveals the venerable London singer-keyboardist in fine, soulful form. O'Malley's gruff, Joe Cocker-like voice is perfectly suited to the strong original tunes on display, such as his funky favorite, ``Mr. Operator,'' which features a typically inventive solo from jazz-funk guitarist Jim Mullen Jim Mullen (born November 26, 1945) is a Glasgow-born jazz guitarist with a distinctive style, like Wes Montgomery before him, picking with the thumb rather than a plectrum. . Along with standout material like the marvelous title track and ``The Meaning,'' O'Malley put together a first-rate r&b band for these sessions, including ex-Kokomers Neil Hubbard (guitar), Mel Collins (saxophone), Jody Linscott (percussion) and the great vocal trio of Dyan Birch, Frank Collins and Paddie McHugh. Well worth searching for. Four Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Phil Upchurch/``Whatever Happened to the Blues'' North Hollywood's own Phil Upchurch doesn't try to answer the question posed in the title of his latest CD. Instead, he goes ahead and delivers a large dose of the bluesy stuff. ``Whatever Happened to the Blues'' (Go Jazz/Bean Bag) is chock-full of Upchurch's trademark funk-blues guitar, a fluid thing of beauty that echoes early George Benson with a soulful Cornell Dupree six-string garnish. Upchurch has some first-class help here, including gospel singers Pops and Mavis Staples, plus ex-James Brown band members Clyde Stubblefield on drums, and the Godfather of Soul's classic horn section of Fred Wesley, Pee Wee Ellis and Maceo Parker. For guitarists, blues fans or plain soul fanciers. Four Stars ?13- Fred Shuster soundtracks Various/``The Saint'' In an insidious attempt to hoist electronica onto an unsuspecting public, the makers of the hit film ``The Saint'' have filled the soundtrack with a ton of the fizzy fizz intr.v. fizzed, fizz·ing, fizz·es To make a hissing or bubbling sound; effervesce. n. 1. A hissing or bubbling sound. 2. Effervescence. 3. An effervescent beverage. , burbling bur·ble n. 1. A gurgling or bubbling sound, as of running water. 2. A rapid, excited flow of speech. 3. stuff. In fact, ``The Saint'' (Virgin) soundtrack serves as a pretty good introduction to the genre, which will probably never catch on in this country. Standout tracks include the Sneaker Pimps' ``6 Underground,'' the Chemical Brothers' ``Setting Sun'' and, especially, Underworld's nine-minute ``Pearl's Girl.'' Meanwhile, for the straight-ahead pop fans, the disc offers ``Da Funk'' from French band Daft Punk, currently sweeping the airwaves, David Bowie's ``Dead Man Walking'' (maybe the eighth use of this title) and something from Duncan Sheik. Three Stars ?13- Fred Shuster CAPTION(S): 7 Photos Photo: (1) Richard Marx's new r&b-influenced effort, ``Flesh and Bone,'' is his most likable and modern-sounding album to date. (2--7) no caption (CD covers) |
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