SOUND CHECK.Staind/``Break the Cycle'' (Flip/Elektra) They may look like Korn's little brothers (hey, call 'em ``kernels''), but Staind mostly sounds like ... Korn's little brothers. This is the age of the new power ballad, mook-rock's answer to best- forgotten '80s moments by the spandexed likes of Warrant and Poison, and that explains why Staind (apparently that's how cool kids spell ``stained'') is enjoying an itchy rash of multiformat air play for tepid acoustic blather such as ``It's Been Awhile,'' ``Outside'' and ``Epiphany.'' In fact, those titles are the three reasons ``Break the Cycle'' is one of the week's biggest sellers. But don't expect the mellow vibes to last. All those piercings and ink makes a guy just wanna rawk and the real Staind unfortunately emerges loud and clear with the unrelenting ``Pressure,'' ``Suffer'' and ``Can't Believe,'' formulaic rage-against-mommy thrash guaranteed to have newcomers scurrying scur·ry intr.v. scur·ried, scur·ry·ing, scur·ries 1. To go with light running steps; scamper. 2. To flurry or swirl about. n. pl. scur·ries 1. The act of scurrying. back to the safety of Dave Matthews. One and one half stars - Fred Shuster Audrey/``The Fallen'' (Reckless) There's nothing like that authentic backwoods honky-tonk sound of ... Australia? Hot on the heels of Down Under's country goddess Kasey Chambers (heard on ``The Sopranos'') comes Audrey Auld auld adj. Scots Old. Adj. 1. auld - a Scottish word; "auld lang syne" old - of long duration; not new; "old tradition"; "old house"; "old wine"; "old country"; "old friendships"; "old money" , a Tasmanian Tammy Wynette whose totally twanged debut takes us on a guided tour of sorrow's many shades. Auld, who uses just her first name, applies an emotive, choked-up yodel yodel or yodle (both: yō`dəl), type of wordless singing, joyous in nature, usually associated with the Swiss. It is, in fact, practiced throughout the Alps and, as an importation, in the mountains of Kentucky. to swingy odes to fat boyfriends (``Jellyroll''), Fred Eaglesmith's music-biz lament, ``Alcohol & Pills,'' and a raucous duet of ``Jackson'' with Dale Watson. If it's not at the store, try www.milesofmusic.com. Three and one half stars - Bob Strauss Manu Chao/``Proxima Estacion: Esperanza'' (Virgin) If you liked Manu Chao's previous effort, you'll dig this one, too - the celebrated Franco- Spanish troubadour troubadour One of a class of lyric poets and poet-musicians, often of knightly rank, that flourished from the 11th through the 13th century, chiefly in Provence and other regions of southern France, northern Spain, and northern Italy. doesn't do anything different. The album (its title means ``Next Station: Hope'') is infused with displaced, migratory themes that mix socio-political commentary with worldly rhythms while some tracks sound suspiciously like songs off the album's predecessor, ``Clandestino,'' right down to the twangy digital effects, street noise and reggae beats. In fact, you'll swear ``La Vacaloca'' is ``Bongo Bong'' with different lyrics. And you'll love it anyway. Three and one half stars - Sandra Barrera Gary Burton/``For Hamp, Red, Bags, and Cal'' (Concord) Burton's latest is a tribute to his favorite vibes players - Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, Milt Jackson and Cal Tjader - and though the classic material is obviously close to his heart, this is no slavish slav·ish adj. 1. Of or characteristic of a slave or slavery; servile: Her slavish devotion to her job ruled her life. 2. homage. Burton and bandmates such as ubiquitous bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Russell Malone put their extraordinary talents to good use, providing a fresh spin on familiar tunes like ``Bag's Groove'' and ``Django.'' The music effortlessly moves between big band, bop, Latin and modern jazz; anyone interested in an enjoyable musical history of the vibraphone vibraphone or vibraharp Percussion instrument with tuned metal bars, arranged keyboard-style like the xylophone. Felt or wool beaters are used to strike the bars, giving a soft, mellow tone quality. need look no further. Three and one half stars - Glenn Whipp Heather Eatman/``Real'' (Eminent) On her Stones-and-Beatles-influenced third album, Eatman expands impressively into more socially conscious, metaphorical, romantic and even metaphysical territory (the title anthem is a battle cry for authenticity in an increasingly virtual world). Fronting an under-rehearsed but tightly rocking scratch band, rhythm guitarist Eatman possesses a deceptively girlish girl·ish adj. Characteristic of or befitting a girl: girlish charm. girl  ish·ly adv. voice; but her words have a rigor rigor /rig·or/ (rig´er) [L.] chill; rigidity.rigor mor´tis the stiffening of a dead body accompanying depletion of adenosine triphosphate in the muscle fibers. and toughmindedness that set her apart from sound-alikes, be they Rickie Lee Jones  This article or section is written like an .Please help [ rewrite this article] from a neutral point of view. Mark blatant advertising for , using . or Sophie B. Hawkins. There's a nicely spooky, idiosyncratic id·i·o·syn·cra·sy n. pl. id·i·o·syn·cra·sies 1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group. 2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity. 3. cover of Wille Dixon's ``Spoonful,'' too. Three and one half stars - B.S. CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) Staind (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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