SOUND CHECK.METALLICA: ``St. Anger'' (Elektra) - Two stars You know times have changed when Metallica, the thinking KISS fan's favorite metal band, is driven to thank a therapist for ``helping to connect us to each other'' during the making of its latest slab of inert noise and feigned feigned adj. 1. Not real; pretended: a feigned modesty. 2. Made-up; fictitious. Adj. 1. fury. Still, as this mildly amusing disc proves, our well- coiffed heroes can nonetheless drum up enough rage and sheer volume to make your lawn shrivel up. On ``St. Anger,'' the formula remains the same: simple staccato riffs, growly bass, growly vocals and material that sidesteps the blues and r&b elements that made this quartet's hard-rock precursors vaguely palatable. The tracks ``Frantic'' and ``Dirty Window,'' for example, are so thin they belong on a demonstration disc for today's range of studio devices. What's new is the sense that leather-lunged frontman front·man n. 1. also front man A man who serves as a nominal leader but who lacks real authority. 2. Music A leading singer with a group. James Hetfield could use a little chicken soup for the soul, as his plaintive wail on ``Invisible Kid'' suggests: ``I hide inside/I hurt inside.'' Hey, James, you're not alone here. Grab a cup of black coffee and a doughnut and take a seat. - Fred Shuster AFRO CELTS The following pages provide lists of nations or people of Celtic origin, arranged by branch of Celtic ethnicity or language grouping: Goidelic Celts
This ambitious nine-piece ensemble, formerly known as Afro Celt Sound System The Afro Celt Sound System is a musical group which fuses modern dance rhythms (trip-hop, techno, etc.) with Celtic and African influences. It was formed by Grammy-nominated producer-guitarist Simon Emmerson, and is considered to be somewhat of a world music supergroup, often , takes the seemingly mismatched traditions of Celtic music (fiddles, whistles and pipes) and mixes them with electronics and the hallmarks of Africa (kora, harp-lute and percussion) to create an impressively progressive sound. The haunting vocals add extra emotional power, while an emphasis on song craft and less reliance on programmed beats makes for infectious listening. - Phillip Zonkel NINA SIMONE: ``Four Women: The Phillips Recordings'' (Verve) - Three stars Simone died more than a month ago, thus making the arrival of this four- disc set something of a bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. offering. The box collects the seven albums Simone cut for Phillips from 1964 to 1966, and it was a prolific period for the singer - maybe too prolific, judging by the inconsistent results displayed here. The music ranges from the bold (civil rights manifestos like ``Mississippi Goddam''), to the beautiful (a lush reading of Cole Porter's ``The Laziest Gal in Town'') to the just plain misguided. But Simone could give a spark to even the most flaccid flaccid /flac·cid/ (flak´sid) (flas´id) 1. weak, lax, and soft. 2. atonic. flac·cid adj. Lacking firmness, resilience, or muscle tone. song, and it's fascinating to listen to her swing wildly between gospel, soul, jazz, pop and cabaret in these 75 tracks. Those wanting an introduction to Simone should check out the single-disc ``Bittersweet: The Very Best of Nina Simone,'' which cherry-picks the classics from various labels. If you've got that and want more, the beautifully packaged ``Four Women'' will give you hours of pleasure. - Glenn Whipp STEELY DAN: ``Everything Must Go'' (Reprise) - Three and one half stars Here's a perfect example of those most unfashionable of pop elements: musicianship, wit and restraint. But don't worry - it's not a trend. The Dan's second studio effort since coming out of retirement several years ago is so tasty you want to scoop out a dollop and smack it in a sugar cone. In such meticulously crafted exhibits as ``The Last Mall'' and ``Green Book,'' the duo provides convincing evidence that pop must be syncopated syn·co·pate tr.v. syn·co·pat·ed, syn·co·pat·ing, syn·co·pates 1. Grammar To shorten (a word) by syncope. 2. Music To modify (rhythm) by syncopation. to be functional. And along with top tunes, sterling production and ingenious instrumental work, the lyrics are up to Walter Becker and Donald Fagen's usual standards. Jill St. John, a pack of Luckys, the New York Post The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and the oldest to have been published continually as a daily.[3] Since 1976, it has been owned by Australian-born billionaire Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation and is one of the 10 , a 1954 Fender Stratocaster, comic-book hero the Flash, the Duke of Earl and a trailer in Burbank all get a look in. - F.S. ANNIE LENNOX: ``Bare'' (J-Records) - Three and one half stars Lennox begins her new album with the aching ``A Thousand Beautiful Things,'' about getting off the floor and pursuing love after a bad relationship. It sets the tone for this eminently enjoyable if not overly adventurous album of 11 songs, the first with new material by the former Eurythmics eurythmics or eurhythmics (both: y  rĭth`mĭks) in eight years. The set finds Lennox in fine voice, with a soaring soulfulness on everything she sings, including the upbeat ``Pavement Cracks,'' ``Wonderful'' and an r&b-tinged ``Honesty.'' While electro-dance beats might pop up here and there, they never intrude, and ``Bare'' is bundled in tasteful arrangements as it winds its way through Lennox's emotional journey. In some ways, that - and Lennox's shimmering shim·mer intr.v. shim·mered, shim·mer·ing, shim·mers 1. To shine with a subdued flickering light. See Synonyms at flash. 2. vocals - make the album a cohesive listen, a rare thing these days. The chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] sums up the disc most unexpectedly, with ``Oh God,'' a quiet prayer, her voice plaintive and wavering but never less than beautiful. - Rob Lowman BRUCE COCKBURN: ``You've Never Seen Everything'' (Rounder) - Three stars Canadian singer-songwriter Cockburn is one of the most politically committed musicians in North American pop music. In his latest effort, he proves his geopolitical ge·o·pol·i·tics n. (used with a sing. verb) 1. The study of the relationship among politics and geography, demography, and economics, especially with respect to the foreign policy of a nation. 2. a. concerns have been well-grounded and his longtime jazzy jazz·y adj. jazz·i·er, jazz·i·est 1. Resembling jazz in form or nature; rhythmical. 2. Slang Showy; flashy: a jazzy car. influences are more resonant than usual. Pianist Andy Milne contributes great depth to the political screed screed n. 1. A long monotonous speech or piece of writing. 2. a. A strip of wood, plaster, or metal placed on a wall or pavement as a guide for the even application of plaster or concrete. b. ``Trickle Down'' - but Cockburn can also uncork a great love song like ``Open.'' Even his spoken-word cuts, like the title track and ``Postcards From Cambodia,'' boast great playing. Cockburn's not just walking the walk in these troubled times, he's also singing the song - with genuine passion. - David Kronke TRICKY: ``Vulnerable'' (Sanctuary) - Three stars Since helping Massive Attack usher in trip-hop in the early 1990s, Tricky (born Adrian Thaws) continues to be a genre-busting musical chameleon. He's renowned for his trademark gravel-gargling voice and sonic cyclone of drumbeats and freaky freak·y adj. freak·i·er, freak·i·est 1. Strange or unusual; freakish. 2. Slang Frightening. freak keyboards. Two years after his star-studded ``BlowBack blow·back n. 1. The backpressure in an internal-combustion engine or a boiler. 2. Powder residue that is released upon automatic ejection of a spent cartridge or shell from a firearm. 3. ,'' comes what he calls his most honest set. But with titles like ``Ice Pick,'' ``Car Crash'' and ``Moody,'' don't expect sunny pop from this melancholy prince. - Phillip Zonkel BIG SANDY & HIS FLY-RITE BOYS: ``It's Time'' (Yep Roc) - Three stars Southern California's own Robert ``Big Sandy'' Williams and his crack retro outfit continue to explore unusually rich psychological territory in the guise of a good-time rockabilly and Western swing novelty act. Recorded with mostly vintage equipment, the musicianship here is tight as ever, while the lyrics leave you with more to take home than average party hop tunes do. In stores Tuesday, when the Fly-Rites will throw a record release party at Crazy Jack's in Burbank; you can also catch them Wednesday at Anaheim's Doll Hut and June 24 in a free show at Hollywood's Amoeba amoeba: see ameba. amoeba One-celled protozoan that can form temporary extensions of cytoplasm (pseudopodia) in order to move about. Some amoebas are found on the bottom of freshwater streams and ponds. store. - Bob Strauss STEVE WINWOOD: ``About Time'' (Wincraft) - Four stars This self-produced new effort from the former Traffic soul stirrer offers a nice mix of rock and world music that touches the hem of jazz. Highlights include ``Cigano (For the Gypsies)'' and ``Domingo Morning,'' two examples of the ideal soundtrack for a sunny afternoon. Longtime Winwood fans and newcomers will be pleased. In stores Tuesday. - Michelle J. Mills CAPTION(S): 10 photos Photo: (1) Metallica Annamaria DiSanto/WireImage.com (2) Annie Lennox Theo Wargo/WireImage.com (3 -- 10) no caption (CD covers) |
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