SOUND CHECK.AMY A`my´ n. 1. A friend. WINEHOUSE: "Back to Black" (Republic/Universal) - Four stars The broad's got a tracking device on every politically incorrect politically incorrect adj. Disregarding or unconcerned with political correctness. political incorrectness n. Adj. 1. thought in the book. A London soul-pop chick with a full-bodied delivery and a couple of top tunes, 23-year-old Winehouse, like fellow Brit singer-songwriter Lily Allen, is an antidote to the current plague of cafe pop. "They tried to make me go to rehab/I said no, no, no!" she huskily sings on "Rehab," the autobiographical opener that sets the tone for an album that clocks in at just 35 minutes. Musically, "Back to Black" is a canny, note-perfect homage to orchestral '60s girl-group pop and the dramatic productions of Phil Spector, Jack Nitzsche and Shadow Morton. While concept and execution are fine, the material falls short. Much of the disc is simply overshadowed by the flawless title track, which uses an irresistible reverb-drenched Motown piano line and an instantly addictive melody for a cathartic cathartic (kəthär`tĭk): see laxative. old-soul gem. A few more like it would've made a big difference. In stores Tuesday. -- Fred Shuster NEIL NEIL Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited NEIL Network Engineering and Integration Lab YOUNG: "Live at Massey Hall Coordinates: Massey Hall, located at 178 Victoria Street, downtown Toronto, was built in 1894 by architect Sidney Badgley and financed by Hart Massey of Massey-Harris (later Massey Ferguson, then Varity Corporation). 1971" (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. ) - Three and one half stars Last fall's Fillmore East archival set from 1970 showed Young in high gear with his band Crazy Horse. This concert from the following year reveals the flip side Flip side In the context of general equities, opposite side to a proposition or position (buy, if sell is the proposition and vice versa). in intimate solo readings of some of Young's most famous songs, staged for a Toronto crowd in Young's home country. Hearfelt performances of "Old Man," "A Man Needs a Maid" and "Heart of Gold" -- which would show up a few months later on "Harvest" -- find Young plainly in touch with the emotions behind those new songs. Equally fine are touching acoustic versions of "Cowgirl in the Sand," "Tell Me Why," "Helpless" and "Ohio," songs that sound fresh and beautiful more than 35 years later. Another newly mined gem from Young's vault. Out Tuesday. -- F.S. BRIAN BROMBERG: "Downright Upright" (Artistry) - Three stars Valley resident and bassist Bromberg leads a band here that attempts to make a jazz album that appeals to purists and smooth-jazz fans alike. The lineup, which includes saxophonists Boney James and Kirk Whalum, has chops, but rarely puts them to much use. They do soar in fine soul-jazz arrangements of standards like Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe cantaloupe: see gourd; melon. Island" and Joe Zawinul's "Mercy Mercy Mercy," plus five originals. Hard to imagine many complaints about music this impeccably recorded and impressively played. -- Glenn Whipp THE GREENCARDS: "Viridian vi·rid·i·an n. A durable bluish-green pigment. [From Latin viridis, green; see virid.] " (Dualtone) - Three and one half stars The Greencards might be the best argument for liberal immigration policies you'll ever hear. The Austin, Texas-based trio comes by way of the U.K. and Australia, but the sound is absolutely authentic country. Bassist Carol Young's voice has an easy, Norah Jones-like quality, the band fits in electronics and strings without any awkwardness, and the lyrics are unpretentiously literate. -- Bob Strauss CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Amy Winehouse) (2 -- 5) no caption (CD covers) |
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