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JOHN LEGEND
John Legend cranks the classic dial way up on sophomore effort "Once Again,"
a timeless, feel-good album that could easily slide into your papa's Sam
Cooke and Percy Sledge collections, yet still sounds contemporary. This time
around, the singer blends sandy vocals with dreamy background "oohs" and
blissful keys, trumpets and flutes that enhance the old-school feel. |
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GWEN STEFANI
There can be no doubt Gwen Stefani feels the allure of being a solo
artist-and who can blame her after selling 7 million copies of 2004's
"Love.Angel.Music.Baby." Its follow-up comes more quickly than
anticipated-especially since a return to No Doubt was expected first-and
doesn't stray too far from the heavily referential terrain she mined the
first time. |
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TOM WAITS
Waits swings for the fences and scores on this set with 56 songs (30 new
recordings), each of the three CDs divided by theme. Disc one, "Brawlers,"
is Waits the ever-idiosyncratic but deep-rooted junkyard rocker; "Lie to Me"
captures the rocketship rockabilly Suicide strove for; "Low Down" pushes
like an "Exile on Main Street" outtake. |
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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Just one year after "Devils & Dust," Springsteen offers another
acoustic-based set sans the E Street Band, a collection of traditional songs
associated with folk hero Pete Seeger, who turned 87 this year. Cut live
with 13 local musicians, the Boss' first covers album is a surprisingly
upbeat tour de roots, veering from tavern tunes ("Old Dan Tucker") and banjo
tales ("John Henry") to swinging gospel ("O Mary Don't You Weep") and
boisterous Mardi Gras chants ("Pay Me My Money Down"). |
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PEARL JAM
It's tempting but misleading to label Pearl Jam's first record since 2002 a "comeback"-the band has spent its career keeping a judicious cap on its
profile. But one thing is clear: Pearl Jam is fully, comprehensively
re-energized.
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GNARLS BARKLEY
When Goodie Mob rapper Cee-Lo Green and workaholic über-producer Danger
Mouse get together, it's safe to assume they won't be turning out an album
of the great American songbook. Instead, "St. Elsewhere" is filled with the
bizarro, hip-hop psychedelia expected from such an oddball union. |
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CORINNE BAILEY RAE
In March, Corinne Bailey Rae's self-titled debut landed in the top spot of
the U.K. albums chart. While this feat will unlikely repeat in the United
States, a debut recording as fine as this one deserves immediate attention.
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BOB DYLAN
You may have seen the recent photos of Bob Dylan looking uncannily like
Charlie Chaplin, and his 44th album shares a title with Chaplin's 1936
largely silent classic about automation, big business and the overreaching
intrusion of the state into private lives. Sort of like today. |
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THE ROOTS
In a hip-hop world propelled by drum machines and other computerized
instruments, there's still plenty of room for the real thing-as well as for
lyrics that say something beyond the usual bling and ass-shaking fare. The
Roots have never compromised on that belief, and that creative fervor still
fuels the group's work. |
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KEITH URBAN
"I don't have any aspirations to be a pop star or a rock artist." That's
what Keith Urban recently told Billboard, and while it may be true, he could
be either if he wanted to. The proof is in this CD, which rocks harder and
is more diverse than its three predecessors. |
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RASCAL FLATTS
Rascal Flatts' fourth album finds the trio true to form and even scaling new
heights. The Flatts' sound revolves around Gary LeVox's vocal range,
sterling harmonies from Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney and accessible,
earnestly rendered country/ pop built for radio. It is all here in spades,
brilliantly steered by Dann Huff on soaring opener "Stand" and the lush
"Pieces. |
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DIXIE CHICKS
Once the darlings of country, the Chicks lost many fans-and the support of
country radio-after a 2003 incident in which Natalie Maines made a
relatively innocuous comment about President Bush from a London stage. The
group has finally re-emerged stronger, more defiant and more creatively
ambitious than ever. |
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SNOOP DOGG
Resident West Coaster Snoop Dogg returns to his roots for his eighth album,
coupling the fancy, commercialist rap he has chosen of late with catchy,
thought-provoking tracks. The smooth intro "Think About It" has a jazz-club
feel, while the bass-thumping "Candy" (featuring E-40, MC Eight, Goldie Loc,
Daz and Kurupt) is amp-you-up music at its best. |
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AKON
There's something to be said for not trying to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes
all you need to do is rotate the tires, tighten the lugs and you're good to
go. That's what Senegalese-born Akon does on this smashing sequel to his
platinum-selling 2003 debut "Trouble." |
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BEYONCÉ
Beyoncé plays up both her naughty and nice sides on the follow-up to her
multiplatinum solo debut, "Dangerously in Love." While lead single "Déjà Vu"
was viewed by many as simply "Crazy in Love" part two, they've got another
thing coming in terms of the album's other tracks. |
