SOUND CHECK.DARRYL WORLEY Darryl Worley (born October 31, 1964 in Pyburn, Tennessee) is an American country music singer-songwriter. Career He made his Grand Ole Opry debut in June 2000. He is known for his No. : ``Have You Forgotten?'' (DreamWorks) - Three stars Country radio has been eating up Worley's mildly rockin' single, with its overt patriotism and martial beat Martial Beat was a game created by Konami for the arcade and PlayStation in Japan in 2002. This game is a Martial Arts simulator, and it is not really considered part of Konami's Bemani series, even though it contains music from the series. . But there's sincerely better material to be had on this 16-track set, including ``I Will Hold My Ground,'' a real boot stomper about fighting for one's beliefs that sidesteps the preachiness of ``Have You Forgotten?'' The title track, like the first half of the album, finds Worley paying homage to the troops he entertained over the holidays as part of a USO USO: see United Service Organizations. (UNIX Software Operation) AT&T's Unix division before it turned into USL. See Unix. tour of Afghanistan. Of this bunch, Worley especially shines when he's just longing for home (``Back Where I Belong'') or channeling the ghosts of the Civil War (``Shiloh''). But the real highlight of the album comes well into the disc, which Worley describes as a retrospective look at his career thus far, and that's the freewheeling free·wheel·ing adj. 1. a. Free of restraints or rules in organization, methods, or procedure. b. Heedless of consequences; carefree. 2. Relating to or equipped with a free wheel. Tennessee swing of ``Too Many Pockets.'' - Sandra Barrera CAITLIN CARY Caitlin Cary is an alt-country musician originally from Seville, Ohio, United States. Cary began playing the violin at age six. She joined the band Whiskeytown in 1994, while in college at North Carolina State University. She currently lives in Raleigh, NC. : ``I'm Staying Out'' (Yep Roc) - Three stars The problem with scoring such a terrific debut as Cary's ``While You Weren't Looking'' is the sequel will inevitably seem wanting. At first, this second effort from the former half of the now-defunct Whiskeytown (the other being Ryan Adams David Ryan Adams (born November 5, 1974) is a prolific American alt-country/rock singer-songwriter from Jacksonville, North Carolina. Raised by his mother and grandmother, Adams dropped out of school at age 16 and performed with several local bands before moving to Raleigh and ) doesn't immediately grab you, but on a second spin, it starts taking hold. Cary hasn't gotten the acclaim of her former bandmate, but she's already a good songwriter and getting better, turning out smart, catchy but unpretentious tunes. She's also proven herself an expressive singer. ``Please Break My Heart'' would fit well on a Patsy Cline Patsy Cline (b. Virginia Patterson Hensley September 8, 1932 – March 5, 1963) was an American country music singer, who enjoyed pop music cross-over success during the era of the Nashville Sound in the early 1960s. album, and the title track is a classic country kiss-off with Cary on violin. But there are elements of pop and folk as well, with ``Sleeping in on a Sunday'' being a seductive ode to enjoying life and ``Cello Girl'' an upbeat memory. Produced by Chris Stamey, ``I'm Staying Out'' has a shimmering shim·mer intr.v. shim·mered, shim·mer·ing, shim·mers 1. To shine with a subdued flickering light. See Synonyms at flash. 2. instrumental quality, and the more one listens, the better it sounds. - Rob Lowman BLUE MAN GROUP: ``The Complex'' (Lava/Atlantic) - Two and one half stars Performance-art ensemble Blue Man Group (you know, the trio of guys whose heads all look like the 2-ball on a pool table) endeavors to expand its horizons with a rock recording that can stand alone without the troupe's mind-bending visuals. Despite hefty ambitions - the disc's theme is the fragile relationship between the individual and society at large - the blue crew hasn't quite succeeded. ``Time to Start'' is a wry enough jab at rock-concert behavior, but it'll obviously be a fuller, funnier experience on stage, and you get that same sense from many of the tracks, which are explosive rhythmically but not much more. Songs able to entertain on their own include ``Sing Along,'' featuring Dave Matthews; ``Up to the Roof,'' with Tracy Bonham on vocals; and the haunting instrumental ``Exhibit 13,'' which, naturally, is more effective in video form. - David Kronke TOM RUSSELL: ``Modern Art'' (HighTone) - Two and one half stars Russell's long run of brilliant albums (``Song of the West,'' ``The Man From God Knows Where,'' ``Borderland'') could not last forever. It stops here, with a collection that indulges some of the rootsy Topanga-raised singer-songwriter's worst impulses: nostalgia for childhood heroes (a sappy song about Mickey Mantle and his father, an insulting calypso Calypso, in Greek mythology Calypso (kəlĭp`sō), nymph, daughter of Atlas, in Homer's Odyssey. She lived on the island of Ogygia and there entertained Odysseus for seven years. take on the life of Muhammad Ali), melodramatic delivery, post-hip pretension Pretension See also Hypocrisy. Prey (See QUARRY.) Pride (See BOASTFULNESS, EGOTISM, VANITY.) Absolon vain, officious parish clerk. [Br. Lit. (Charles Bukowski poetry was never meant to be set to music) and duets with the vocally affected Nanci Griffith. That said, the autobiographical title song is kicky kick·y adj. kick·i·er, kick·i·est Slang So unusual or unconventional in character or nature as to provide a thrill. , and a couple of noirish tunes prove quite amusing. - Bob Strauss DANIEL LANOIS: ``Shine'' (Anti/Epitaph) - Two and one half stars Record producers generally come in two flavors - those who just want to keep the party going and those who fret over the width of their Pro Tools cables. Lanois is a third variety - the sort who fancies himself Brian Wilson. Although he's tweaked albums by U2, Emmylou Harris and Bob Dylan, nobody can explain what Lanois actually does in the studio, although it apparently involves gauzy instrumental ``treatments'' and a lot of communal dinners. On his first solo effort in 10 years, the French Canadian singer-guitarist offers up spare acoustic melodies that, at their best, recall his lovely 1989 debut disc, ``Acadie.'' But apart from the lonesome lone·some adj. 1. a. Dejected because of a lack of companionship. See Synonyms at alone. b. Producing such dejection: a lonesome hour at the bar. 2. steel guitar instrumental ``JJ Leaves LA'' and the soulful ``Slow Giving,'' the real stars are drummer Brian Blade and the intimate sonics created. With cameos from Bono and Harris, Lanois' ``Shine'' won't be ignored. - Fred Shuster CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) DARRYL WORLEY (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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