SOUND CHECK.THE STROKES: ``First Impressions of Earth'' (RCA See RCA connector and video/TV history. ) - Three stars ``First Impressions'' is the third release from New York's fashionable fivesome, famous for spearheading rock in the 21st century on the sheer strength of raw, sexy hooks and 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. Julian Casablancas' crooning baritone. That formula remains intact on this 14-song set, which gets off to a winning start with the super-poppy ``You Only Live Once,'' the punkabilly ``Juicebox'' and the epic ``Heart in a Cage.'' As for the rest of the album, it jogs through a soundscape sound·scape n. An atmosphere or environment created by or with sound: the raucous soundscape of a city street; a play with a haunting soundscape. that incorporates ringing-guitar riffs, changes in tempo and howling vocals. Take for example the gloomy but raucous rocker ``Vision of Division'' or, better yet, ``15 Minutes,'' in which Casablancas bellows like a drunkard One who habitually engages in the overindulgence of alcohol. In order for an individual to be labeled a drunkard, drunkenness must be habitual or must recur on a constant basis. about a mixed-up relationship. Now that's classic Strokes. - Sandra Barrera MILES DAVIS Noun 1. Miles Davis - United States jazz musician; noted for his trumpet style (1926-1991) Miles Dewey Davis Jr., Davis : ``The Cellar Door Sessions 1970'' (Columbia Legacy) - Four stars For anyone scratching their head over why Davis Davis, city (1990 pop. 46,209), Yolo co., central Calif.; settled in the 1850s, inc. 1917. It is an education center with light industry; machinery, processed foods, and computer equipment are produced. The extensive Univ. is going into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, and other people who have in some major way influenced the music industry, particularly in next year, we have the latest in Columbia Legacy's exhaustively rewarding reissue series (box set No. 8, for those keeping score). Recorded a week before Christmas a quarter century ago at the fabled Washington, D.C., club, these six discs catalog Miles' latest lab work, expanding what we've heard all these years on the 1972 ``Live Evil'' album into a torrent of fire and rain that your ears won't believe. Call it jazz, fusion, rock (``I called us a great band that played great music,'' saxophonist Gary Bartz Gary Bartz (born 26 September 1940, Baltimore, Maryland, USA) is an American alto and soprano saxophonist and clarinetist. Bartz graduated from the Baltimore City College high school and The Juilliard School. says in the voluminous liner notes), this is Miles at the peak of his creativity and evolution, playing with a lineup that included luminaries such as pianist Keith Jarrett, drummer Jack DeJohnette and, on the final night (and two discs), guitarist John McLaughlin, whose work contributes a most disturbing beauty to the music. Miles would never sound this good again. - Glenn Whipp BAABA MAAL: ``Baaba Maal'' (Palm World Voices CD/DVD) - Three stars This dynamic, inspiring and versatile Senegalese star of Afro-pop comes alive in this set, the third in the label's world-centric series that focuses on music, history and culture. Available since August, this package spotlights the best of the musician's recordings, from the lovely ``Jamma Jenngii'' to ``Cherie,'' a song that features some English lyrics. A standout of the 11-track CD is the mellifluous mel·lif·lu·ous adj. 1. Flowing with sweetness or honey. 2. Smooth and sweet: "polite and cordial, with a mellifluous, well-educated voice" H.W. Crocker III. ``Koni,'' which was originally heard on 1998's ``Nomad Soul'' and uses only a simple guitar and kora (a West African lute lute, musical instrument that has a half-pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and a variable number of strings, which are plucked with the fingers. The long lute, with its neck much longer than its body, seems to have been older than the short lute, existing very early ) arrangement to accompany the rich vocal harmonies and the intensity of Maal's voice. But it's the companion DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. ``A Voice for Africa'' that fans will most cherish. Maal takes viewers on a tour of his hometown of Podor, personally introducing us to his family and neighbors. Also featured on the DVD is memorable footage from throughout his career, including from 2001, when he was the only artist who stepped up to indulge Nelson Mandela's unexpected request for a song during a preshow meeting with R.E.M., the Corrs and other artists about to perform at a South Africa celebration concert in London. - S.B. JESSE McREYNOLDS AND CHARLES WHITSTEIN: ``A Tribute to Brother Duets'' (Pinecastle) - Four stars When Jim McReynolds and Robert Whitstein died early in this new century, it marked the end of bluegrass's two great remaining sibling combos, Jim and Jesse and the Whitstein Brothers. But now the surviving members of each act have gotten together, and the resulting close harmonies sound as if Jesse McReynolds and Charles Whitstein had been born in the same cabin. More than just a sweet and haunting memorial to their lost partners, this collection pointedly includes covers of other great country duos' signature tunes, such as the Louvins' ``When I Stop Dreaming'' and the Stanleys' ``The White Dove.'' Carrying on proves to be the finest tribute they could make. - Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) no caption (The Strokes) Scott Gries/Getty Images (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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