SOUND CHECK.Dixie Chicks/``Fly'' (Monument/Sony) Country's answer to Bananarama isn't shy about striking while the iron is hot. ``Fly,'' the Dixie Chicks' winning major-label sophomore effort, comes while their multiplatinum-selling debut is still flapping high on the charts. Instead of heading in an overproduced pop direction, though, these backwoods breakouts retain their slick Texas twang and strike rootsy notes of genuine honky-tonk, country and bluegrass bluegrass, any species of the large and widely distributed genus Poa, chiefly range and pasture grasses of economic importance in temperate and cool regions. In general, bluegrasses are perennial with fine-leaved foliage that is bluish green in some species. . Fans will welcome lavish, radio-friendly ballads like ``Cold Day in July,'' ``Cowboy Take Me Away'' and ``Without You,'' while the convincing shuffle ``Hello, Mr. Heartache'' and the fiddle-drenched ``Sin Wagon'' proves commercial country doesn't have to be for the birds. Three stars - Fred Shuster Puff Daddy/``Forever'' (Bad Boy/Arista) Millionaire mogul Sean ``Puffy'' Combs is a far better talent scout talent scout n. An agent who goes in search of talented people for acting, sports, or business. talent scout Noun than artist. That much was evident on his 1997 debut, ``No Way Out,'' which boasted some fine pop moments but suffered from the darkness sparked by the murder of pal the Notorious B.I.G. With fewer memorable moments than the earlier disc, the overly restrained ``Forever'' finds our hero hijacking hijacking Crime of seizing possession or control of a vehicle from another by force or threat of force. Although by the late 20th century hijacking most frequently involved the seizure of an airplane and its forcible diversion to destinations chosen by the air pirates, when cheesy cheesy (che´ze) caseous. samples - at one point even stooping to ``Sailing'' by Christopher Cross Christopher Cross (born Christopher Geppert on May 3 1951) is an American singer-songwriter. His works have earned him five Grammy Awards, an Oscar, and a Golden Globe. - but when Combs delivers a bumping party anthem like ``I'll Do This for You'' (featuring Kelly Price) or ``Angels with Dirty Faces'' (with Bizzy Bone of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony) all is nearly forgiven. Two and one half stars - F.S. Mary J. Blige/``Mary'' (MCA MCA in full Music Corporation of America Entertainment conglomerate. It was founded in Chicago in 1924 by Jules Stein as a talent agency. In the 1960s it bought Decca Records and Universal Pictures, and today it produces films, music, and television shows. ) A dozen or so big-name guest stars can't be wrong: hip-hop soul crooner Blige got such giants as Elton John, Babyface and Aretha Franklin to collaborate on this, her fourth album. But while the disc generally holds up and features some good material, it doesn't qualify Blige for the sainthood she's currently enjoying. Standouts include the joyous love songs ``All That I Can Say'' (written, produced and arranged by Lauryn Hill) and ``I'm in Love,'' along with the powerful ``Your Child,'' about a woman who discovers her lover has had a baby with another woman. The latter tune particularly spotlights Blige's gift for emotional honesty. But too many of the other tracks open with a novel intro and stellar pedigree, but devolve devolve v. when property is automatically transferred from one party to another by operation of law, without any act required of either past or present owner. The most common example is passing of title to the natural heir of a person upon his death. into similar-sounding, beat-heavy ballads. They just aren't as original as the compositions they draw from, such as John's ``Bennie and the Jets.'' Blige has an enormous amount of vocal talent, but on this record, it's a bit like having a Ferrari in the garage and only using it to get back and forth to the store. Three stars - Marla Matzer Soundtrack/``Stigmata'' (Virgin) Smashing Pumpkins leader Billy Corgan is the selling point here. The chrome-domed art-rocker, along with David Bowie keyboardist Mike Garson, penned the evocative score to ``Stigmata stigmata (stĭg`mətə, stĭgmăt`ə) [plural of stigma, from Gr.,=brand], wounds or marks on a person resembling the five wounds received by Jesus at the crucifixion. ,'' a religious-themed thriller opening next week. The result is a generally effective nod to electronic music, dub reggae and trip-hop. There are also seven conventional numbers, although just one - Corgan's prog-rock ballad ``Identify,'' sung by sugary pop singer Natalie Imbruglia - was written especially for the film. The only other new song is Bowie's crunching ``The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell'' from his forthcoming album. The rest includes remixes of Bjork and Chumbawamba tracks along with previously released stuff from Remy Zero, 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 and Massive Attack. Two and one half stars - F.S. Tricky with DJ Muggs and Grease/``Juxtapose'' (Durban Poison/Island Def Jam) Tortured Brit sound architect Tricky still hasn't made an album as engaging as his mid-'90s solo debut, ``Maxinquaye.'' Murky and carefully wrought, that album mirrored a twisted, dour mood as perfectly as Portishead's first recording. Unfortunately, ``Juxtapose'' isn't going to win Tricky any new fans. The disc, which clocks in at a mere 35 minutes, boasts its share of hip-hop beats and hooks (thanks to collaborators Muggs of Cypress Hill and Grease of DMX See DMX512. and the Ruff Ryders) but the results are too conventional. There are also cliches galore in such unlikely places as guitar overdubs, rapping and pointless remixes. One and one half stars - F.S. Shack/``H.M.S. Fable'' (London) If things were fair, neglected Liverpudlian genius Michael Head's warmly nostalgic songs and heartfelt delivery would be familiar from coast to coast. The Nick Drake-tinged ``H.M.S. Fable,'' the first album by Head's group, Shack, to get a U.S. release, offers euphoric Britpop sing-alongs such as the UK chart hit ``Comedy'' and jangly adj. 1. like the discordant ringing of nonmusical metallic objects striking together; sounding with a jangle ; as, a custodian with a jangly set of keys s>. Adj. 1. folk-pop gems like the psychedelic shanty shanty, in music: see chantey. ``Captain's Table'' and the bittersweet bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. ``Streets of Kenny.'' The timeless, well-crafted sound of Shack is a discovery. You won't be disappointed. Three stars - F.S. Meshell Ndegeocello/``Bitter'' (Maverick) On her third and most instantly likable album, Ndegeocello takes a sardonic look at sincerity, loyalty and love. Using a musical ensemble that adds greatly to the album's textures, Ndegeocello shows confidence on meditative standouts like ``Fool of Me,'' ``Faithful'' and the title track. Also worth hearing: a hypnotic update of Jimi Hendrix's ``May This Be Love,'' utilizing a swirling string arrangement, and ``Wasted Time,'' with counterpoint vocals from critics' fave fave Informal n. One that is preferred above others or likely to win; a favorite. adj. Favorite. [Short for favorite.] Joe Henry. Three stars - F.S. CAPTION(S): 6 Photos Photo: (1) After its move from the Beat (KKBT-FM), the popular ``John London and the House Party'' morning show is now heard on sister station Mega 100 (KCMG-FM). (2--6) no caption (CD covers) |
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