SOUND CHECK.Prince and the Revolution/``1999: The New Master'' (NPG NPG Nature Publishing Group (Macmillan Publishers, Ltd) NPG National Portrait Gallery (UK) NPG NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards NPG New Power Generation (Prince) ) Smarting from an ancient royalty agreement with former label Warner Bros. that affected the original recording of ``1999,'' Prince has re-recorded the song expected to launch countless New Year's Eve parties. The seven versions here include a politicized spoken-word reading by Rosario Dawson, a techno mix, a spare rap mix from Doug E. Fresh, a deep house dance-floor mix featuring Rosie Gaines, an a cappella version, and the retooled original in both extended and single forms. There are no two ways about it - ``1999'' is still a great tune, and the new versions have their uses. Three stars - Fred Shuster Marvelous 3/``Hey! Album'' (Hi Fi/Elektra) Atlanta power pop trio Marvelous 3 made all the right moves to get a record deal - namely gig, gig and gig some more. This polished collection is just plain catchy - and even memorable at times. ``Hey! Album'' is disarmingly fresh and witty, with songs like ``Freak of the Week'' (already on the charts) sure to draw in the teen-age, misfit-feeling crowd. More impressive is how consistently well-written these tunes are, reminiscent at times of Cheap Trick, other times of the Producers. Marvelous' challenge now is to somehow distinguish itself from the dozens of other male pop/rockers, something that will require a more distinctive sound to accompany these fine songs. Three stars - Leila Cobo-Hanlon Miami Herald Various/``In Your Ear'' (Hybrid) This first volume of songs associated with indie films, issued under the aegis of cable's Independent Film Channel, collects lost gems like the great title cut to ``Welcome to the Dollhouse'' by otherwise unrecorded Jill Wisoff and the Con Artists; John Lurie's mesmerizing mes·mer·ize tr.v. mes·mer·ized, mes·mer·iz·ing, mes·mer·iz·es 1. To spellbind; enthrall: "He could mesmerize an audience by the sheer force of his presence" end title music for ``Manny Manny may refer to: In nobility:
- Terry Lawson Detroit Free Press The Detroit Free Press is the largest daily newspaper in Detroit, Michigan, USA. It is sometimes informally referred to as the "Freep". Some still refer to it locally as "The Friendly" -- a slogan from an ad campaign in the '70s. Britney Spears/``Baby One More Time'' (Jive) Teen diva Spears wants to sound as sophisticated as possible, downplaying youth to ape the knowing tones of a grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. . And she's struck a chord. Her initial single, ``Baby One More Time,'' shot up the charts on impact in December, whetting fans' appetites so much that her full album debuted at No. 1. Half the album was recorded in ABBA land with producer/writers like Max Martin and Per Magnusson, who have worked with Ace of Base and Robyn. Too bad none of the songs have the zip of top Europop. They're often generic versions of the stuff, like Backstreet Boys' B-sides. Even a song graced with the au courant title ``E-Mail My Heart'' sounds moldy moldy animal feed overgrown with fungus; the feed may be harvested and stored or be still in the ground. moldy corn disease see leukoencephalomalacia, fusariummoniliforme. . The most notable track dates from 1967, a strange redo To reverse an undo operation. See undo. of Sonny and Cher's ``The Beat Goes On,'' gussied gus·sy tr.v. gus·sied, gus·sy·ing, gus·sies Slang To dress or decorate elaborately; adorn or embellish: gussied herself up in sequins and feathers. up with a Latin lounge arrangement and a trace of trip hop. At least it's different. Two stars - Jim Farber New York Daily News New York Daily News Morning daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson and his cousin Robert McCormick as a subsidiary of the Tribune Co. of Chicago. The first successful tabloid-format newspaper in the U.S. Chuck E. Weiss/``Extremely Cool'' (Slow River/Rykodisc) What you get here is a junkyard bounty of classic American styles: bluesy Big Muddy mojo on ``Devil With the Blue Suede Shoes
"Blue Suede Shoes" is a rock and roll standard written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. ,'' heat-warped Big Easy jazz on ``Deeply Sorry,'' spicy Cajun two-step gumbo on ``Oh Marcy,'' and gravel-voiced hoodoo-man incantation incantation, set formula, spoken or sung, for the purpose of working magic. An incantation is normally an invocation to beneficent supernatural spirits for aid, protection, or inspiration. It may also serve as a charm or spell to ward off the effects of evil spirits. on ``Pygmy Fund.'' ``Rain on Me,'' as in ``everywhere I go it rains on me,'' co-written and sung with Tom Waits, sounds like a campfire chantey chantey or shanty (both: shăn`tē), work song with marked rhythm, particularly one sung by a group of sailors while hoisting sail or anchor or pushing the capstan. the Donner Party sang before they got hungry. Three stars - Jonathan Valania Philadelphia Inquirer Foxy Brown/``Chyna Doll'' (Def Jam) Rapper Foxy Brown would be so much more effective if she weren't so obvious. When she ventures into sexual detail so crude it would be censored from the Starr Report, you wonder what she's trying to accomplish. The same goes for her status-seeking, money-hungry persona. Brown sets out to humiliate men in cuts like ``The Tramp,'' but in the next breath she acknowledges that her body (to put it nicely) is the road to power. By equating herself with her macho counterparts, she becomes just as banal and insincere in·sin·cere adj. Not sincere; hypocritical. in  sin·cere ly adv. . A pity, because Brown is talented, and her sultry delivery - every word perfectly clear, as befits a teacher's daughter - holds even the most jaded ear. But by baring it all, she has revealed there's nothing there. One and one half stars - Leila Cobo-Hanlon Tony Williams Trio/``Young at Heart'' (Columbia) This delightful trio album, recorded five months before Williams' death, and featuring the drummer's longtime compatriots Mulgrew Miller on piano and Ira Coleman on bass, features mostly standards (``Green Dolphin Street,'' ``Body and Soul'') with an emphasis on tasty swing, melodic detail and even a few nods to Bill Evans. Williams curbs his bashing and basically gives the album over to Miller, whose inventive right, emotional flexibility and poise steal the show. His solo reading of ``Summer Me, Winter Me'' closes the album with a lovely coda. Three stars - Mark Stryker Detroit Free Press Silkk the Shocker/``Made Man'' (No Limit) There's more to Silkk the Shocker Silkk the Shocker (born Vyshonn King Miller on June 18, 1975) is a rapper originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and Richmond, California and is the brother of Hip Hop Mogul Master P and rapper C-Murder. He is also the uncle of teen american rapper, Lil Romeo and Young V. than the silliest name in hip-hop. For one thing, the artist also known as Vyshonn Miller is Master P's brother. That means that his third full-length album had the full No Limit arsenal at its disposal. And, sure enough, ``Made Man'' (enough with the Cosa Nostra references, already!) has its share of Master P grunts, punch-you-in-the-gut grooves courtesy of the Beats by the Pound Beats By the Pound, now known as the Medicine Men, is a four-man Southern rap remix and production team.[1] It consists of the former in-house production team for Master P's No Limit Records, as well as some new artists, and was responsible for the production of production crew, and cameos by Snoop Dogg and Mia X. Silkk isn't a highly skilled MC, but he surprises you every now and again with thoughtful rap such as ``Ghetto Rain'' and ``It Takes More.'' Still, ``Made Man's'' highlight is ``It Ain't My Fault 2,'' the remake of a cut from last year's ``Charge It 2 Da Game'' that stands out largely for the drill-sergeant delivery of guest Mystikal. Two stars - Dan DeLuca Philadelphia Inquirer Mojave 3/``Out of Tune'' (Sire/4AD) Like otherworldly Mercury Rev, the Mojaves enjoy getting lost in a particularly melancholy dream. The music - whether it comes with happiness and horns (``Some Kinda Angel''), the promise of tomorrow (``This Road I'm Travelling,'' ``Yer Feet''), or the brewing frustration of coping with life's curveballs (``Keep It All Hid'') - isn't for those who see the world through rose-colored glasses. Three stars - Ben Wener Orange County Register CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: no caption (Marvelous 3) |
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