SOUND CHECK.BEYONCE: ``Dangerously in Love'' (Columbia Records For the Columbia Records label which was a unit of EMI, see . For the Columbia Records label in Japan, see . Columbia Records is the oldest surviving brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as ) - Four stars While on a temporary break from Destiny's Child  This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling.You can assist by [ editing it] now. , who plan on regrouping next year, Beyonce Knowles gets her groove on her solo debut, an album of titillating tit·il·late v. tit·il·lat·ed, tit·il·lat·ing, tit·il·lates v.tr. 1. To stimulate by touching lightly; tickle. 2. To excite (another) pleasurably, superficially or erotically. hip-pop, slow, seductive balladry bal·lad·ry n. Ballads considered as a group. and a gorgeous duet with the ultra-smooth Luther Vandross (``The Closer I Get to You''). Guests pop up all over this 14-song collection, including Missy Elliott (``Signs''), Sean Paul This article is about the Jamaican reggae artist. For the American rapper, see Sean P. Sean Paul Henriques (born January 8 1973[][]) is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist. (``Baby Boy'') and Jay-Z, who unleashes rhymes on both ``That's How You Like It'' and ``Crazy in Love.'' The latter song is Beyonce's driving r&b single that samples from the Chi-Lites' ``Are You My Woman.'' Vintage soul snippets are another attribute of the album, including on the dangerous ``Naughty Girl.'' The grinding dance number finds Beyonce cooing Donna Summer's ethereal ``Love to Love You Baby'' over exotic Middle Eastern rhythms and hip-hop beats. It's classic. - Sandra Barrera MICHELLE MICHELLE Mid-Infrared Echelle Spectrograph BRANCH: ``Hotel Paper'' (Maverick) - Three stars On her follow-up to 2001's ``The Spirit Room,'' the 20-year-old singer-songwriter teeters on matters of the heart and delivers more of that polished guitar pop she's known for. A relationship takes a necessary turn in the somewhat rockin' lead-single ``Are You Happy Now,'' and the drama's just beginning: ``Empty Handed,'' ``Tuesday Morning,'' ``Where Are You Now,'' ``Hotel Paper.'' She especially shines on the rootsy ``Love Me Like That,'' a duet with Sheryl Crow that Natalie Maines (whose band, the Dixie Chicks, Branch supports on tour, including a stop July 19 at the Staples Center This article has multiple issues: * Its neutrality is disputed. * It may contain original research or unverifiable claims. * It does not cite any references or sources. ) could sound just as good singing. It's a thought. - S.B. LIZ LIZ Elizabeth LIZ Lisette LIZ Leather Institute of Zimbabwe PHAIR: ``Liz Phair'' (Capitol) - Three stars The brash, edgy, sexually frank ``Exile in Guyville'' put Liz Phair in the spotlight in 1993. Her indie debut, with its raw emotions, scored with critics and fans, even if its music was less than memorable. A decade later, Phair - now a 36-year-old single mom with a touch of Demi Moore Demi Kutcher (born Demetria Gene Guynes on November 11, 1962) is an American actress. For most of her career, she has been known as Demi Moore, using the surname of her first husband, singer-songwriter Freddy Moore. syndrome - has released a brash, edgy, sexually frank, self-titled album. In it, the ``ordinary, average, everyday, sane/psycho super-goddess'' tells us how she likes an ``uncomplicated'' guy nine years younger than her who can ``rock her all night'' and in ``H.W.C.'' discusses beauty tips that can't be printed here (and have nothing to do with makeup). The music is more polished, with catchy riffs and anthems (``It's a War,'' she declares about the battle of the sexes in `Love/Hate''). The slick production makes the sound radio-friendly, though not particularly memorable. Phair's songwriting is uneven at best, ironically treacly sentimental at times, reflecting her schizophrenic persona. But ``Liz Phair'' mostly celebrates the heat of the moment. Look at the cover and you'll understand. - Rob Lowman McCOY TYNER Alfred McCoy Tyner (born 11 December 1938) is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career that has been climactic. Tyner was born in Philadelphia as the oldest of three children. : ``Land of Giants'' (Telarc) - Three and one half stars Pianist Tyner and vibes master Bobby Hutcherson go back almost 40 years, and any time they get together, you can be sure the results are worth hearing. ``Land of Giants'' is a particularly noteworthy addition to their recording legacies, a marvelously swinging album that was prompted by the enthusiastic response Tyner, Hutcherson, bassist Charnett Moffett and drummer Eric Harland received during a short concert tour last year. Hutcherson's smooth lines once again perfectly compliment Tyner's crackling piano crescendos on a selection of songs leaning strongly toward the pianist's sparkling original compositions. The other guys aren't bad, either. Moffett's pounding bass makes him another natural foil for Tyner's assertive playing, and Harland is an expert timekeeper. Anyone who has enjoyed Tyner and Hutcherson through the years won't be disappointed. - Glenn Whipp SCOTT MILLER AND THE COMMONWEALTH: ``Upside Downside'' (Sugar Hill) - Three stars Virginia farm boy Miller has two sides: raucous guitar-rock raver and twangier expert storyteller. Oh, and there's also a pensive pen·sive adj. 1. Deeply, often wistfully or dreamily thoughtful. 2. Suggestive or expressive of melancholy thoughtfulness. self-examiner in there, which I guess makes three sides and could explain why the original concept for this album - half uptempo and loud, the other half lyrical and lighter - kind of imploded im·plode v. im·plod·ed, im·plod·ing, im·plodes v.intr. To collapse inward violently. v.tr. 1. To cause to collapse inward violently. 2. into a collection of just really good songs about finding oneself, coping with one's past, surviving American history and still having a really good time. - Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) BEYONCE Arnold Turner/WireImage.com (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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