SOUND CHECK.Bush/``The Science of Things'' (Trauma/Interscope) On Bush's third album, 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. Gavin Rossdale Gavin Rossdale (born Gavin McGregor Rossdale, 30 October 1967)[1] is a British musician most famous for being the lead singer and guitarist of the former British rock band, Bush, and later the lead singer and guitarist of Institute, which broke up in 2006 after only one , the bubble-grunge Brad Pitt, is worried about the ``urang-a-tans.'' At least he's got a cause. The ``urang-a-tans'' song, the ridiculously titled ``The Disease of the Dancing Cats,'' is just one example from an album and band that tries so hard to be edgy that the cumulative effect makes you wonder if Rossdale is merely putting us on. The London quartet's midtempo stop-start rhythms, dynamics and cringe-a-minute lyrics continue to posit Bush as a Nirvana/Pixies knockoff knock·off n. Informal An unauthorized copy or imitation, as of designer clothing: "the place to go for quality knockoffs" Women's Wear Daily. Noun 1. for the alienated end of the Britney Spears demo, but this time they've missed the melodies and hooks. Apart from the tuneless current hit, ``The Chemicals Between Us,'' and possibly album-opener ``Warm Machine,'' it doesn't seem likely ``The Science of Things'' will add much to Bush's collection of radio songs (``Everything Zen,'' ``Little Things,'' ``Glycerine glycerine see glycerin. ,'' ``Comedown'') that stations like KROQ are apparently mandated to spin every 20 minutes. Hey Gavin, nice guitar noise, though. Two stars - Fred Shuster Willie Nelson/``Night and Day'' (Freefalls/Pedernales) Nelson's first instrumental album is a lovely, low-key affair featuring a host of longtime collaborators from his Family band. Nelson clearly signals his intentions with the opening numbers, ``Nuages'' and ``Vous Et Moi,'' songs associated with legendary gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt Jean "Django" Reinhardt (January 23, 1910 – May 16, 1953) was a Belgian Sinto Gypsy jazz guitarist. He was one of the first prominent jazz musicians to be born in Europe, and one of the most renowned jazz guitarists of all time. . With fiddler Johnny Gimble making like Stephane Grappelli Noun 1. Stephane Grappelli - French jazz violinist (1908-1997) Grappelli , Nelson engagingly works his way through jaunty jaun·ty adj. jaun·ti·er, jaun·ti·est 1. Having a buoyant or self-confident air; brisk. 2. Crisp and dapper in appearance; natty. 3. Archaic a. Stylish. b. Genteel. selections like ``Sweet Georgia Brown'' and Reinhardt's arrangement of the title track. Nelson, who will perform next month in Thousand Oaks and Cerritos, displays affection and understanding for the classic material, and it shows in this distinctive release. Three stars - Glenn Whipp Soundtrack/``Rob Zombie A computer that has been covertly taken over in order to perform some nefarious task. It is estimated that millions of PCs around the world have been compromised and, under the control of a third party, routinely transmit messages unbeknownst to the user. Presents ... The Words & Music of Frankenstein'' (Zombie A-Go-Go/Hip-O) ``It's alive ... ALIVE!'' Frankenstein's monster lives again on this journey through three classic horror films that have fascinated audiences for nearly 70 years. The disc, released just in time for Halloween, is a highly entertaining montage of quotable quot·a·ble adj. Suitable for or worthy of quoting: a quotable slogan; a quotable pundit. quot dialogue and grandiose score segments selected by monster fan Zombie from the films ``Frankenstein'' (1931) and two sequels, ``The Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935) and ``Son of Frankenstein'' (1939). Included is a 22-page booklet jammed with behind-the-scenes photos and reproductions of the films' poster art. Three stars - F.S. Matthew Sweet/``In Reverse'' (Volcano) Sweet's uneven new project might disappoint fans hoping for a reprise re·prise n. 1. Music a. A repetition of a phrase or verse. b. A return to an original theme. 2. A recurrence or resumption of an action. tr.v. of the note-perfect pop of his widely praised 1991 masterpiece, ``Girlfriend,'' but it offers some mighty impressive moments nonetheless. Peppered throughout these 14 tracks are gems like ``Faith in You,'' which suggests Sweet could revisit his previous poptastic glory at the drop of a guitar pick despite the ambitious Phil Spector-ish wall-of-sound production that dominates ``In Reverse.'' While the effect is stunning on ``I Should Never Have Let You Know'' and ``Worse to Live,'' the nine-minute ``Thunderstorm'' falls flat. Pop archeologists should note the presence of Carol Kaye, who played bass on ``Pet Sounds'' and countless other '60s and '70s classics. Three stars - Mike Murphy Eurythmics/``Peace'' (Arista arista (ä·riˑ·st ) The echo of ``Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)'' that Scottish-born diva Annie Lennox inserts into ``17 Again,'' the opening cut of this botched botch tr.v. botched, botch·ing, botch·es 1. To ruin through clumsiness. 2. To make or perform clumsily; bungle. 3. To repair or mend clumsily. n. 1. reunion record, only demonstrates how far this project is from the wit and melodic invention of the duo's '80s heyday. The album unfortunately has a by-numbers feel, and where earlier songs burst with ideas, ``Peace'' feels like a so-so solo effort from Lennox or Eurythmics eurythmics or eurhythmics (both: y  rĭth`mĭks) partner Dave Stewart. Buy the greatest hits instead. Two stars - F.S. Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young/``Looking Forward'' (Reprise) Songs about the ``first rays of sun breaking through our windowpane'' and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young reunions are generally best avoided. The tepid ``Looking Forward'' breaks both rules. This dull album attempts to trade on past glories while rarely recalling CSN's groundbreaking debut, or the equally marvelous second album that brought Y into the picture. While the quartet's background harmonies are often still strong, the songs borrow from a number of sources. Stills' ``Seen Enough'' gives Bob Dylan a co-writing credit since it leans on the ``Subterranean Homesick Blues'' melody for the verses. Crosby's ``Stand and Be Counted'' was apparently influenced by Tom Petty's ``Mary Jane's Last Dance,'' and Young apparently borrowed his own ``Heart of Gold'' for ``Slowpoke.'' One and one half stars - F.S. Various/``Verve Elite Edition Collectors' Disc 1954-65'' (Verve) Herb Ellis and Jimmy Giuffre/``Herb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre'' (Verve) Compilations aren't usually of much interest to jazz fans, who tend to be completists favoring entire albums in their original form. But the ``Elite Edition Collectors' Disc 1954-65'' (Three stars) succeeds, gathering fascinating outtakes of familiar tunes from greats like Louis Armstrong, Bill Evans, Coleman Hawkins and Oscar Peterson. The record is part of a limited series, as is the 1959 Ellis/Giuffre collaboration. Joined by a stellar lineup including Bud Shank, Art Pepper and Jim Hall, Giuffre pits his dark saxophone lines against Ellis' sunny, melodic guitar. Needless to say, given the talent involved, this meeting was a very good idea. Three stars - G.W. Method Man & Redman/``Blackout!'' (Island Def Jam Here is a list of artists signed to The Island Def Jam Music Group. 0-9
Wu-Tang Clan's Method Man and the Def Squad's Redman first collaborated on the 1995 hit single ``How High'' (included here as a remix). This pungent hard-core rap summit will please fans of the genre, while various cameos ensure nobody gets tired of the same two voices. Imaginative production by the duo, along with Erick Sermon and Wu-Tang's RZA RZA Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah RZA Requested Zenith Angle on such standouts as ``Mic Checka,'' ``Well All Rite Cha'' and the title track, should keep this one alive through the holidays. Three stars - F.S. CAPTION(S): 8 Photos Photo: (1) no caption (Bush) (2--8) no caption (CD covers) |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion