SOUND CHECK : URBAN.Various/``Death Row Greatest Hits'' Only completists will desire this two-disc collection of highlights and remixes from the jolly old Death Row label. Predictably, the best moments on ``Death Row Greatest Hits'' (Death Row) come from Dr. Dre's ``The Chronic,'' still one of the best rap albums ever. Of special interest is a low-key remix of ``Nuthin' but a `G' Thang'' and an equally effective reworking of Snoop Doggy Dogg's ``Gin & Juice.'' As an introduction to some of these artists, the album works well. However, fans of this stuff probably already own almost everything here. Two Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Various/``Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath'' Yes, we're thrilled the good Dr. Dre has seen the light, put his Uzi in the closet and settled down to the business of making money and bad videos. We only wish this wildly overrated Overrated was a Horde World of Warcraft guild, based on the US Black Dragonflight Realm. On November 2 2006, the majority of the guild members were indefinitely banned from the game for use of (or directly benefiting from) a third-party "wall-hack", used to bypass content pop producer had come up with a better introduction to his new label. ``Dr. Dre Presents the Aftermath'' (Aftermath/Interscope) is not only uneven, it suggests Dre's company could use a sharp talent scout. Most of the 13 largely unknown acts on display are either mediocre or burdened with second-rate material. A standout is the sultry groove thing, ``Blunt Time'' by Long Beach rapper RBX, while the other goody is Dre's current MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. staple, ``Been There, Done That.'' Two Stars ?13- Fred Shuster rock Beth Hart Band/``Immortal'' Local blues-rock chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] Beth Hart's delivery is akin to Janis Joplin's, but with a quivering vibrato vi·bra·to n. pl. vi·bra·tos A tremulous or pulsating effect produced in an instrumental or vocal tone by minute and rapid variations in pitch. that sometimes recalls Tracy Chapman. Gutsy but with vocal training. On the David Foster-produced ``Summer Is Gone,'' one of many fine tracks on her band's debut, ``Immortal'' (Lava/Atlantic), Hart wraps her voice around the lyrics in a way that brings to mind a grittier Edie Brickell. ``God Bless You'' is a radio-friendly ditty dit·ty n. pl. dit·ties A simple song. [Middle English dite, a literary composition, from Old French dite, from Latin dict with some of the album's best hooks. The bluesiest among all these bluesy tracks is ``Am I the One,'' a plaintive screamer screamer, common name for gregarious, aquatic birds comprising three species in the family Anhimidae. Although they are related to the ducks and geese, they do not resemble them in outward appearance. that can stand proudly with any rock vocal you'd care to name. With guitarist Jimmy Khoury, bassist Tal Herzberg and drummer Sergio Gonzalez, this band's playing and tasty arrangements don't overwhelm the vocal fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , sparkling only when necessary. Rock 'n' roll rock 'n' roll: see rock music. hasn't sounded this good in a long, long time. Four Stars ?13- James Hames hames linked metal, curved bars that fit around the horse collar and serve as the attachment for the trace chains and traces. Various/``Red Hot & Rio'' The ninth volume in this fascinating series of genre-busting AIDS benefit albums focuses on Brazilian pop, particularly the songs of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Here are quirky collaborations between George Michael/Astrud Gilberto, David Byrne/Marisa Monte, Stereolab/Herbie Mann, plus tracks by Money Mark, Everything But the Girl and Milton Nascimento. Among the standouts on ``Red Hot & Rio'' (Antilles/Verve) is Crystal Waters' bouncy ``The Boy From Ipanema,'' which maintains the integrity of the 1964 Stan Getz-Gilberto version. Sting's vocals are superimposed su·per·im·pose tr.v. su·per·im·posed, su·per·im·pos·ing, su·per·im·pos·es 1. To lay or place (something) on or over something else. 2. onto Jobim's original early-'60s recording of ``How Insensitive,'' but can't measure up to Flora Purim's wonderful 1974 reading or the composer's own untouched solo version. Most of these tracks remain true to the samba-fueled sauciness of the genre while being hip-hopped, industrialized in·dus·tri·al·ize v. in·dus·tri·al·ized, in·dus·tri·al·iz·ing, in·dus·tri·al·iz·es v.tr. 1. To develop industry in (a country or society, for example). 2. or dance-popped into the late '90s. Anyone into lounge or retro will enjoy this collection. Three Stars ?13- James Hames soundtracks Daniel Lanois/``Sling Blade'' Among the many striking elements of the unusual new film ``Sling Blade'' is Daniel Lanois' eerie score. Using electric guitar treated to sound like a bubbling brook, Lanois created music that gives a sense of the claustrophobic Arkansas town where the drama takes place. He's at his most ominous on the opening cut, ``Asylum.'' Another standout on the excellent ``Sling Blade'' soundtrack (Island) is a fine ``Shenandoah'' with Emmylou Harris. The moody disc also includes several non-Lanois tracks, ``Smothered in Hugs'' by Local H and ``Soul Dressing'' by Booker T. & the MG's among them. Four Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Whitney Houston/``The Preacher's Wife'' Corporate pop merchant Whitney Houston goes to church on six tracks featured on the soundtrack to her current film. Surprising for an entertainer known for slick dross, Houston puts powerful numbers like ``Hold On, Help Is on the Way'' and ``I Go to the Rock'' across with convincing verve. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have Shirley Caesar and the Georgia Mass Choir on the premises. ``The Preacher's Wife'' (Arista arista (ä·riˑ·st ) also offers Houston's latest single, ``I Believe in You and Me,'' in two equally dull versions. And proving that good taste can be fleeting, Houston gets back to business with the awful ``My Heart Is Calling'' and the even worse ``You Were Loved.'' Two Stars ?13- Fred Shuster Various/``William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet'' Whether you'll swallow this so-so soundtrack depends on how you feel about also-rans such as Gavin Friday, the Cardigans and Everclear. And unknowns such as One Inch Punch The One inch punch is a technique from Chinese martial arts which was popularized by Jeet Kune Do founder Bruce Lee. It is commonly believed that the One inch punch , Kym Mazelle and Mundy. And the instantly forgettable for·get·ta·ble adj. Fit or apt to be forgotten: a movie with very forgettable characters. Adj. 1. forgettable - easily forgotten unforgettable - impossible to forget , including the Wannadies and something called Stina Nordenstam. That's not to say ``Romeo & Juliet'' (Capitol) is one to immediately fling over your left shoulder. First, hear the Garbage track, ``1 Crush,'' and Radiohead's ``Talk Show Host.'' Then fling it over your left shoulder. One Star ?13- Fred Shuster CAPTION(S): 6 Photos Photo: (1) Whitney Houston is in a gospel groove on the soundtrack to ``The Preacher's Wife.'' (2--6) no caption (CD covers) |
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