SOUND CHECK.NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: ``Twin Cinema'' (Matador matador In bullfighting, the principal performer, who works the capes and attempts to dispatch the bull with a sword thrust between the shoulder blades. Most of the techniques used by modern matadors were established in the 1910s by Juan Belmonte (b. 1894–d. ) - Three stars Vivid Video has nothing to worry about - these pornographers aren't competitors. The colorful Vancouver indie-rock collective's third album expands an engaging sound that totters somewhere between such obvious influences as Big Star, the Kinks and Wire. Few of the new-pop crop are as interesting. Although calling forth various singers, bandleader A.C. Newman's show is nearly stolen by alt-country star Neko Case Neko Case (IPA pronunciation: [ˈniː.koʊ keɪs]|)[1] (born September 8, 1970 in Alexandria, Virginia) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her solo career and as a member of The New , whose lived-in delivery is entirely convincing on the urgent standout ``These Are the Fables.'' Other effective moments include the whimsical '70s-style ``Broken Beads,'' and an Eno-esque ``The Bones of an Idol.'' Out Tuesday. - Fred Shuster CLAIRDEE: ``Music Moves'' (Declare) - Three stars This Bay Area-based chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] remains something of a secret outside her home turf, but she's worth discovering. On her last disc, ``This Christmas,'' Clairdee conveyed the warmth of the season as well as any singer had in years. Her latest, a live date at Yoshi's in Oakland, is another set of soulful jazz that swings with energy and charm. Her reading of ``Summertime'' owes as much to Donny Hathaway Donny Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul musician. He signed with Atlantic Records in 1969, and with his first single "The Ghetto, Part I" (1970), Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music. as Ella (a reflection of her good taste) and the spirited closer, ``Alright, Okay, You Win,'' bounces between abandon and resolve. This woman can do it all. - Glenn Whipp DJ VIBE DJ Vibe (real name António "Tó" Pereira) is a house music DJ. Career Vibe was born in Lisbon, Portugal, and became a DJ at 15. At this age he started to perform in clubs and before long he was playing side by side with big names of the dance scene like Paul : ``Underground Sound of Lisbon'' (Star 69) - Three stars In this double-disc set, Portugal's DJ Vibe (aka Antonio Pereira Antonio Pereira may refer to:
New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of club DJ-remixer Danny Tenaglia - employs deep, hypnotic rhythms, layers of sexy percussion and minimal vocals to get warm bodies even warmer. Here, Vibe opens with a good set of deep house before launching into tribal assault mode (``Dirty Sex,'' ``Still Up''). Once hitting the groove, the DJ won't let go, and intensity is maintained throughout another fine release from the always interesting Star 69 label. - Phillip Zonkel SHANNON O'CONNOR: ``Low in Paradise'' (Varrga) - Three and one half stars From country blues to space lounge, O'Connor covers a lot of ground. But this singer-songwriter's impressive debut ties it all together with literate, wickedly carnal carnal adjective Referring to the flesh, to baser instincts, often referring to sexual “knowledge” lyrics, tonal experiments that never bust their melodies and a deadpan voice that somehow puts across peculiar aches, like an academic who yearns to be a biker babe. O'Connor even rewrites old timey standards like ``Salty Dog'' and ``Down on My Knees'' to mesh with her universe of bubbly dissatisfaction. A distinctive new talent. - Bob Strauss HILARY DUFF: ``Most Wanted'' (Hollywood) - One star It's plainly too early for a greatest-hits set from a kid who's made only two albums, but Duff is striking while the iron is still hot. Apparently, her (waning) popularity makes it OK to extort To compel or coerce, as in a confession or information, by any means serving to overcome the other's power of resistance, thus making the confession or admission involuntary. To gain by wrongful methods; to obtain in an unlawful manner, as in to compel payments by means of threats of kids' allowances for stuff they already own. While there are three new songs here, including the catchy Avril-like single ``Wake Up,'' the only real standout is ``Break My Heart,'' a pop-punk gem with rock beats, heavy guitars and sneering vocals that gives Duff an edge she's never revealed before. - Sandra Barrera CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) no caption (New Pornographers) (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion