SOUND CHECK.DAVID David, in the Bible David, d. c.970 B.C., king of ancient Israel (c.1010–970 B.C.), successor of Saul. The Book of First Samuel introduces him as the youngest of eight sons who is anointed king by Samuel to replace Saul, who had been deemed a failure. BOWIE: ``Reality'' (Columbia) - Three and one half stars Bowie reinvigorates his so-called ``plastic soul'' style with flourishes of post-punk glam and lounge on this excellent 11-track set. More accessible than last year's ``Heathen,'' the new disc would feel right at home with some of Bowie's best-loved classics such as ``Scary Monsters'' and ``Station to Station.'' Along with midtempo rockers ``New Killer Star'' and ``She'll Drive the Big Car,'' standouts include a cover of Jonathan Richman's ``Pablo Picasso,'' the urgent title track and ``Fall Dog Bombs the Moon,'' with feedback and fuzz that evokes an on-stage vibe. Out Tuesday. - Sandra Barrera JOSS STONE: ``The Soul Sessions'' (S-Curve) - Three and one half stars She's 16, blond and British - three felonies in the soul/funk penal code penal code n. A body of laws relating to crimes and offenses and the penalties for their commission. penal code Noun the body of laws relating to crime and punishment Noun 1. . But two minutes into the opener, a convincing cover of the country-soul gem ``The Chokin' Kind,'' we were forced to hand down a reprieve. Consisting of nine r&b classics and obscurities like Laura Lee's brilliant ``Dirty Man,'' alongside a first-rate remake of the White Stripes' ``Fell in Love With a Boy,'' Stone's debut is a surprisingly appealing record. Not least of all because ``The Soul Sessions'' brings out of retirement Willie ``Little Beaver'' Hale, the elegant Miami session guitarist who helped make Betty Wright's ``Clean Up Woman'' one of soul's greatest singles. In stores Tuesday. - Fred Shuster NATALIE MACMASTER: ``Blueprint'' (Rounder) Three stars Canadian fiddling demon MacMaster may talk about a homegrown Cape Breton sound. And she may indeed have filled her lively new album's roster with such bluegrassy collaborators as dobroist Jerry Douglas, banjo banjo, stringed musical instrument, with a body resembling a tambourine. The banjo consists of a hoop over which a skin membrane is stretched; it has a long, often fretted neck and four to nine strings, which are plucked with a pick or the fingers. man Bela Fleck and mandolin mandolin (măn'dəlĭn`, măn`dəlĭn'), musical instrument of the lute family, with a half-pear-shaped body, a fretted neck, and a variable number of strings, plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum. maven Sam Bush. There may even be some contempo beats detectable here and a little Spanish Gypsy strumming there. But this fine, mostly instrumental collection nevertheless sounds as exuberantly, overwhelmingly Celtic as a drunken weekend in Killarney ... and as much fun, too. - Bob Strauss STAN GETZ: ``Bossas & Ballads: The Lost Sessions'' (Verve) - Four stars Getz recorded these selections with A&M founder Herb Alpert two years before his death in 1991, but they were shelved in favor of the disappointing orchestral effort ``Apasionado.'' While that record won't make any Getz fan's top 50, these newly issued sessions are a revelation. Getz couldn't blow as strong as he once did, but breath control isn't an issue on his best-loved material - the titular tit·u·lar adj. 1. Relating to, having the nature of, or constituting a title. 2. a. Existing in name only; nominal: the titular head of the family. b. bossas and ballads - and he renders the material here with a stunning lyricism lyr·i·cism n. 1. a. The character or quality of subjectivity and sensuality of expression, especially in the arts. b. The quality or state of being melodious; melodiousness. 2. . Playing with a quartet that includes pianist Kenny Barron, with whom Getz made some of his most beautiful music in his last years, the tenor saxophonist shines with the same level of inspired phrasing he brought to all his best recordings. Exquisite and a must for fans. - Glenn Whipp SHELBY LYNNE: ``Identity Crisis'' (Capitol) - Two stars Lynne's r&b-salted country-rock disc of nearly four years ago offered a couple of superb moments, followed by a 2001 effort that resembled a Sheryl Crow 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. . Now comes the aptly titled ``Identity Crisis,'' an introspective in·tro·spect intr.v. in·tro·spect·ed, in·tro·spect·ing, in·tro·spects To engage in introspection. [Latin intr one-woman project with minimal frills Frills see frilled. and the hushed atmosphere of a basilica. Unfortunately, the material doesn't hold up to repeated scrutiny, even as Lynne's inspiration on such tunes as the multitracked ``Lonesome'' (Patsy Cline), ``Baby'' (Les Paul and Mary Ford The Les Paul and Mary Ford duo comprises:
- F.S. CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) no caption (David Bowie) Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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