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Music Reviews

2009-01-22 Elvis Costello and the Imposters Momofuku Elvis Costello may never recapture the crackling passion, razor sharp craft and diabolical wit of his first albums. But it sure is fun listening to him try. That's what he does on "Momofuku." No dalliances in classical or chamber music here. Costello and some of his old band mates plug in and crank out compact rock songs with choruses, bridges and hooks that are replete with Steve Nieve's cheesy organ riffs, popping bass lines and colorful, often provocative lyrics about everything from "Committing the perfect crime/In American gangster time" to "(A) general in the commissary/(Who) opened up a case of wine." And of course, Costello's voice is as robust and rich as ever, seeming almost gleeful that he's rocking and rollicking again. Jon Hassell - "Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the

2008-11-27 Beyonce I Am Is this the new, provocative Beyonce? That's what you might wonder when you hear the first few words of the first track on her new album, "I Am." "If I were a boy," she begins in a provocative little voice. Which makes you wonder whether Beyonce is about to reveal her bisexual longings. But as she sings, you realize that Beyonce is only trying to express the romantic inner feelings that millions and millions of girls feel: "(If I were a boy) I'd listen to her/Cause I know how it hurts/When you lose the one you wanted/When you're taken for granted." Whew. That's not to say that "I Am" is fluff. As she sings, Beyonce's lyrics, like her singing, grow deeper to reveal more physical and emotional range. "I don't want to play the broken hearted girl" she proclaims, as her voice turns throaty and dark. In fact, Beyonce seems determined to display her range on "I Am," which must be why this less than an hour-long CD is a two disc set, with the second dedicated to dance tunes. It's a nice contrast to the ballads of the first disc, but as in all things Beyonce, there's more style than substance.

2008-11-27 The Fleshtones Stocking Stuffer "He wears a bright red suit/He's got a sack full of loot--Super rock Santa." That's the Santa Claus you meet on the Fleshtones delightfully daffy Christmas album, "Stocking Stuffer." On these mostly original tunes, the band digs into its garage rock past to come up with Christmas music that recalls the surfin' Beach Boys, the rockin' Jerry Lee Lewis, the wacky B-52s and even a little Jan and Dean. And while an album featuring a tune that spells out Santa Claus isn't likely to go down in the annals of great Christmas music, "Stocking Stuffer" is a welcome relief from the sound-the-same holiday drivel that floods the market this time of the year.

2008-11-19 Hawthorne Heights Fragile Future Don't be fooled by the droning, driving and often distorted blur of electric guitars that characterize so much of Hawthorne Heights'2 beguiling new album, "Fragile Future." The quartet from Ohio, who some refer to as an "emo band" tempers its angst-ridden music with a soft vocal and lyrical underbelly. JT Woodruff and Matt Ridenour sing with a yearning, pleading intensity that gives the music its drama and depth. And the lyrics, while not profound, are meaty and tension-filled, like the music: "My dreams slowly turn to black and white" is one example. Plus, Hawthorne Heights manages to turn up the emotional heat of its sound by its almost chant-like use of repetitiveness to create music that is deceptively rich and complex.

2008-11-19 John Legend Evolver There are a few reasons why John Legend is today's premier soul singer. You can hear them all on his terrific new album, "Evolver." Legend manages to blend old school influences like the gospel-tinged, slay-you singing styles of Al Green and Marvin Gaye with a little bit of romantic contemporary R&B--Kanye West and Brandy guest on the album. He tops it off with tinges of hip-hop beats and just a tad of rock--he covers U2's "Pride (In the Name of Love )." Legend uses all of those influences to create a sound and style that is at once accessible and fresh, a sound that should appeal to old timers and youngsters. Plus, he adds lyrics that, like the music, are eloquent in their everyday simplicity: "Take me away somewhere/Where love is like breathing/I don't care where we go/As long as I'm with you." No wonder Legend's music sounds timeless.