Added on 11/09/06

Album Review As the title might suggest, this grunge-metal effort is suitably gloomy and visceral, both in the growling vocal delivery of lead singer Scooter and the band's triple guitar assault. While it's nothing remarkable, there are enough decent... See more

Album Review As the title might suggest, this grunge-metal effort is suitably gloomy and visceral, both in the growling vocal delivery of lead singer Scooter and the band's triple guitar assault. While it's nothing remarkable, there are enough decent hooks to tunes like "End Of The World" and "Just Got Wicked" to make the album appealing to even the downright optimistic. ~ Tim Sheridan, All Music Guide See less

Added on 11/09/06

Beyoncé: Crazy In Love (w/Jay-Z); Coldplay: Clocks; 50 Cent: In Da Club; Eminem: Lose Yourself; Fountains Of Wayne: Stacy’s Mom; plus Eagles, others.

Beyoncé: Crazy In Love (w/Jay-Z); Coldplay: Clocks; 50 Cent: In Da Club; Eminem: Lose Yourself; Fountains Of Wayne: Stacy’s Mom; plus Eagles, others. See less

Highlights: Los Sánchez $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review On their self-titled full-length debut, the 22-20s craft a more traditional, and more British, take on blues-inflected rock than Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or the White Stripes, two of the bands most often mentioned when describing this... See more

Album Review On their self-titled full-length debut, the 22-20s craft a more traditional, and more British, take on blues-inflected rock than Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or the White Stripes, two of the bands most often mentioned when describing this young, prolifically touring band. "22-20s" reveals a group far less trippy than BRMC and not nearly as fiery and arty as the Stripes; they're actually more like the British equivalent of blues-rock standard-bearers such as the Black Keys. Shades of the Yardbirds color the revved-up guitars and harmonicas on "Devil In Me," while the band's first single, "Such A Fool," updates the dour, spare sound of Eric Burdon & the Animals only slightly. That the 22-20s reach back to the admittedly rich tradition of British blues isn't a problem; what's troublesome is that the band doesn't bring much inspiration to it. Songs like "22 Days" and "I'M The One" feel forced and blustery, and make heartache sound downright boring. Some of the bluesier cuts are... See less

Added on 11/10/06

Album Review Widely adored when it appeared in 1992, Arrested Development's debut album, "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." seemed to herald a shining new era in alternative rap, when audiences and critics of all colors could agree on the... See more

Album Review Widely adored when it appeared in 1992, Arrested Development's debut album, "3 Years, 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of..." seemed to herald a shining new era in alternative rap, when audiences and critics of all colors could agree on the music's importance. Of course, that didn't happen, as Dr. Dre instead took gangsta rap to the top of the charts with "The Chronic". In retrospect, "3 Years..." isn't quite as revolutionary as it first seemed, though it's still a fine record that often crosses the line into excellence. Its positive messages were the chief selling point for many rock critics, and it's filled with pleas for black unity and brotherly compassion, as well as a devotion to the struggle for equality. All of that is grounded in a simple, upbeat spirituality that also results in tributes to the homeless (the hit "Mr. Wendal"), black women of all shapes and sizes, and the natural world. It's determinedly down to earth, and that aesthetic informs the group's music as... See less

Highlights: Zingalamaduni $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/10/06

Jared Leto, brother Shannon & co. strip down their sound for brutally honest soph set. Attack, The Kill (Bury Me), From Yesterday, Was It A Dream, etc.

Jared Leto, brother Shannon & co. strip down their sound for brutally honest soph set. Attack, The Kill (Bury Me), From Yesterday, Was It A Dream, etc. See less

Added on 11/09/06

An agonizing period of upheaval spawned these wrenching hard rock songs. Happens All The Time, Back Home, The Calm That Killed The Storm, God’s Song, etc.

An agonizing period of upheaval spawned these wrenching hard rock songs. Happens All The Time, Back Home, The Calm That Killed The Storm, God’s Song, etc. See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review It's hard not to wonder if Wilco's breakthrough 2002 release, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", would have been such a critical success and so eagerly embraced by the indie rock community if it hadn't become such a cause célèbre thanks to the band... See more

Album Review It's hard not to wonder if Wilco's breakthrough 2002 release, "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", would have been such a critical success and so eagerly embraced by the indie rock community if it hadn't become such a cause célèbre thanks to the band being unceremoniously dropped by Reprise Records, and then signed by Nonesuch after the album had become a hot item on the Internet. Much of the critical reaction to the album, while almost uniformly enthusiastic (and rightly so), had an odd undertow that suggested the writers were not especially familiar with Wilco's body of work, registering a frequent sense of surprise that an "alt-country" band would make such an adventurous album while ignoring the creative shape-shifting that had been so much a part of Jeff Tweedy and company's approach on "Being There" and "Summerteeth". The irony is that 2004's "A Ghost Is Born", the eagerly awaited follow-up to "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot", is also the Wilco album with the strongest stylistic link to... See less

Highlights: Summer Teeth $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Versatile urban dance-pop singer Rihanna gracefully avoids the sophomore slump with "A Girl Like Me", a less tropical-flavored, more urban effort than her sun-and-fun debut. Then again, it's hard to be an effervescent island goddess 24-7... See more

Album Review Versatile urban dance-pop singer Rihanna gracefully avoids the sophomore slump with "A Girl Like Me", a less tropical-flavored, more urban effort than her sun-and-fun debut. Then again, it's hard to be an effervescent island goddess 24-7 when your love life has suffered a crushing blow, something inferred by the numerous heartbreaking ballads included, all of them elegant, mature, and displaying artistic growth. Fans of her brilliant single "Pon De Replay" need not worry, though, as the album kicks off with its equal. Bursting out of the speakers, "Sos" is a sexy club tune that bites the bleepy riff from Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" in a very modern, very exciting mash-up fashion. The crunchy reggae of "Kisses Don'T Lie" offers a less revolutionary alternative to Damian Marley's "Welcome To Jamrock." Then the album gets bolder and seamlessly bounces from genre to genre. Attempting things that would make lesser artists crumble, Rihanna goes from a film noir song that... See less

Highlights: Music Of The Sun $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Unlike most tribute albums from the '90s, "A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan" isn't a lifeless collection of piecemeal studio performances -- it's a fiery, living tribute, which is only fitting for a guitarist that shone intensely and... See more

Album Review Unlike most tribute albums from the '90s, "A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan" isn't a lifeless collection of piecemeal studio performances -- it's a fiery, living tribute, which is only fitting for a guitarist that shone intensely and brightly during his brief life. Recorded live in Stevie Ray's hometown of Austin, Texas, the album features many of Vaughan's idols, friends, and admirers ripping through his most famous numbers. Many of these musicians -- including his brother Jimmie, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, and Buddy Guy -- played with Stevie the night he died, which makes the record all the more poignant; also on hand are superstars like B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, and Art Neville. Although the memory and occasion remain bittersweet, the music on the album is simply teeming with life -- everybody plays their heart out. Best of all are the collective jams at the end and the two new songs, "Six Strings Down" and "SRV Blues," which were written in Vaughan's memory. In... See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review "Add It Up" is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, "Debacle: The First Decade". There are several... See more

Album Review "Add It Up" is not quite the definitive Violent Femmes compilation one might hope for, even if it does feature 23 tracks and adds essential later items missing from their first comp, "Debacle: The First Decade". There are several charming rarities to hook dedicated fans, who will likely find several favorites missing (perhaps another song or two could have been substituted for the between-song bits). The group's self-titled debut does a better job of encapsulating why they were important, and remains the first Femmes album to buy; besides, no compilation that includes live versions of "Kiss Off" and "Add It Up" in place of the original studio cuts can claim to be definitive. However, even casual fans who enjoyed "Violent Femmes" will find post-debut songs like "American Music" and "I Held Her In My Arms" to be essential, so even if "Add It Up" is a little too imperfect to be a necessary first purchase, it's definitely a necessary second purchase. Unless you're a diehard... See less

Highlights: Freak Magnet $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review A truly refreshing thing about Train's "Alive at Last" is its sound; it feels like a bootleg recording, where the microphones were all located in the audience, capturing the performance as it happened -- flaws and all. For those seeking... See more

Album Review A truly refreshing thing about Train's "Alive at Last" is its sound; it feels like a bootleg recording, where the microphones were all located in the audience, capturing the performance as it happened -- flaws and all. For those seeking pristinely edited mobile unit sound, this isn't for you. This one is for the legions of fanatics that Train inspire. All of the hits are here, and the set opens with (what else?) "Calling All Angels" as the crowd loses it right away and sings along. Listeners can hear the beer bottles tinkling in "Meet Virgina" just before the band erupts on the refrain. Of course, "Drops Of Jupiter" is here as is "Sweet Rain," "All American Girl," "Get To Me," and "Stay With Me," which closes it out. Train are on throughout; they don't sound as if they're going through the motions. It's the thing that people love and hate about them the most: they mean it, every word, every beat, every crunchy guitar fill that bleeds into the verse. The singalong parts are... See less

Highlights: For Me It's You $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review In a way, the Ramones are an ideal band to anthologize. No matter how cohesive their records were (or not), their albums always played like collections of singles and since singles are easy to anthologize, it stands to reason that the... See more

Album Review In a way, the Ramones are an ideal band to anthologize. No matter how cohesive their records were (or not), their albums always played like collections of singles and since singles are easy to anthologize, it stands to reason that the best of the Ramones' songs will sound good in nearly any context; hell, the haphazard "Ramones Mania" proved that. However, Rhino's double-disc "Hey! Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology" has much greater goals than being just being another collection -- it strives to be the final word on the Ramones. Weighing in at nearly 60 songs, with a hardcover book that includes an excellent history by David Fricke, it has to be said that the set has the heft of history, which is both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing because "Anthology" does its job perfectly -- apart from "We'Re A Happy Family," no major songs are missing and it tells its history succinctly, even at its length. The problem is that the Ramones did drop in quality sometime after "End of... See less

Highlights: $11.98 2-CD Set add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review "At Folsom Prison" was one of two legendary live albums Johnny Cash recorded in front of a prison audience in the late '60s. Part of the appeal of the records is the way Cash plays to the audience, selecting a set of songs that are all... See more

Album Review "At Folsom Prison" was one of two legendary live albums Johnny Cash recorded in front of a prison audience in the late '60s. Part of the appeal of the records is the way Cash plays to the audience, selecting a set of songs that are all about prison, crime, murder, regret, loss, mother, God, and loneliness. Cash stimulates the audience's emotions, which in turn stimulates his performance, especially since he delivers the songs with the conviction of someone who has lived through it. There aren't many hits on the record -- "Folsom Prison Blues," "I Still Miss Someone," "Jackson," "Give My Love To Rose," and "I Got Stripes" are the familiar items -- but few albums come as close to capturing the darkness and rage that lays deep in Cash's music, as well as the depth of his talent. [The 1999 CD reissue of "At Folsom Prison" presents the complete concert, including three previously unreleased tracks: "Busted," "Joe Bean," and "The Legend Of John Henry'S Hammer."] ~ Stephen Thomas... See less

Highlights: Life $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review To put the performance on "At San Quentin" in a bit of perspective: Johnny Cash's key partner in the Tennessee Two, guitarist Luther Perkins, died in August 1968, just seven months before this set was recorded in February 1969. In... See more

Album Review To put the performance on "At San Quentin" in a bit of perspective: Johnny Cash's key partner in the Tennessee Two, guitarist Luther Perkins, died in August 1968, just seven months before this set was recorded in February 1969. In addition to that, Cash was nearing the peak of his popularity -- his 1968 live album, "At Folsom Prison", was a smash success -- but he was nearly at his wildest in his personal life, which surely spilled over into his performance. All of this sets the stage for "At San Quentin", a nominal sequel to "At Folsom Prison" that surpasses its predecessor and captures Cash at his rawest and wildest. Part of this is due to how he feeds off of his captive audience, playing to the prisoners and seeming like one of them, but it's also due to the shifting dynamic within the band. Without Perkins, Cash isn't tied to the percolating two-step that defined his music to that point. Sure, it's still there, but it has a different feel coming from a different... See less

Highlights: Life $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review By the early 2000s, crossing rap and rock's respective DNA strands was no longer a bold experiment. From Faith No More and Shootyz Groove to Korn and 311, hip-hop had been hailing hardcore and metal and funk, and everything else, on an... See more

Album Review By the early 2000s, crossing rap and rock's respective DNA strands was no longer a bold experiment. From Faith No More and Shootyz Groove to Korn and 311, hip-hop had been hailing hardcore and metal and funk, and everything else, on an open radio frequency for a decade or more. But what about it? Sure, the sound was familiar to kids raised on equal parts "Yo! MTV Raps" and "Headbangers Ball". But by 2003, homogeneousness was floating bad checks neither genre could cash. Into this big blasé world comes "Babylon", the venom-spitting, pit-baiting debut from Skindred. Emerging from the ashes of Dub War, Benji Webbe and company eschew that band's fetish for freely shifting sounds, in favor of a more focused ragga-rap-metal attack. It's not merely a facsimile of last year's money-making metal model. No, what little repetition does exist here comes from the dancehall influence, the harping and chatting over a nonstop groove. "Pressure" and "Nobody" rock ragged, near-atonal guitar... See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review When Def Jam signed Ludacris in 2000, the Atlanta rapper had already released a regionally successful independent release ("Incognegro") with a hot single ("What'S Your Fantasy"), so all the powerhouse label did was repackage the album,... See more

Album Review When Def Jam signed Ludacris in 2000, the Atlanta rapper had already released a regionally successful independent release ("Incognegro") with a hot single ("What'S Your Fantasy"), so all the powerhouse label did was repackage the album, re-release the single nationally, and throw in four big-name collaborations. It was a wise decision, as "Incognegro" certainly sounds like a major-label release, produced largely by talented newcomer Shondrae and to a lesser extent by top Southern rap producers Organized Noize. Plus, the four new tracks -- the Neptunes-produced club-banger "Southern Hospitality," the previously released Timbaland-produced "Phat Rabbit," the rowdy U.G.K.-featuring "Stick 'Em Up," and the provocative Trina- and Foxy Brown-featuring "What'S Your Fantasy" remix -- are album highlights, the sort of good-time collaborations that would become Ludacris' specialty hereafter. Elsewhere, though, "Back for the First Time" is a major-label album with an underground... See less

Highlights: Chicken & Beer $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Black Eyed Peas bring some positivity and fun back into hip-hop. Musically there is almost no realm this group does not touch -- right from the jump, the stylistic innocence of "Fallen Up," complete with striking guitar licks, sums up... See more

Album Review Black Eyed Peas bring some positivity and fun back into hip-hop. Musically there is almost no realm this group does not touch -- right from the jump, the stylistic innocence of "Fallen Up," complete with striking guitar licks, sums up what BEP is all about. They attack the so-called hardcore MCs playing the role of dress-up: "I see you try to dis our function by stating that we can't rap/Is it cuz we don't wear Tommy Hilfiger or baseball caps?/We don't use dollars to represent/We just use our innocence and talent." The wonderfully crafted, old-school-influenced first single, "Joints And Jam," is perfect for the summertime frame of mind. With "Karma" they explore the notion of reaping what you sow. "Love Won'T Wait" is a simultaneous infusion of R&B and hip-hop, as the group deals with a deteriorating romance. But the undisputed champ of this recording is "Positivity" -- you can't help but reminisce about yesteryear's MCs kicking conscious lyrics to educate the hip-hop... See less

Highlights: Monkey Business $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Jay-Z kept "The Blueprint" incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. "The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse" was a radically different record, with the most... See more

Album Review Jay-Z kept "The Blueprint" incredibly tight, focusing on a single sound and letting nothing interfere with some of the best raps of his career. "The Blueprint²: The Gift & the Curse" was a radically different record, with the most respected rapper in the business trying on a range of styles, collaborating with a lot of guests and working with an army of producers (Neptunes, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Heavy D, Kanye West). Four months after its release, Roc-A-Fella issued "Blueprint 2.1", a version of the record that cut in half the running time of the original and delivered most of the best material -- the Neptunes' bounce track "Excuse Me Miss," the horn-driven blast of "The Watcher 2" produced by Dr. Dre (featuring Truth Hurts), and the record's biggest hit, "'03 Bonnie & Clyde," a slick R&B crossover with Beyoncé Knowles. Just like the original, "Blueprint 2.1" ranges from unapologetically sexed-up party joints to theatrical epics and even takes in a feature for the prince of... See less

Highlights: The Black Album $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/10/06

Album Review Released several months after the Fugees became stars, "Bootleg Versions" is an EP of remixes from the Fugees' two albums, "Blunted on Reality" and "The Score". ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide

Album Review Released several months after the Fugees became stars, "Bootleg Versions" is an EP of remixes from the Fugees' two albums, "Blunted on Reality" and "The Score". ~ Leo Stanley, All Music Guide See less

Highlights: Greatest Hits $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Andrea Immer presents "Brew, BBQ and Blues", which is one in a series of discs that feature recipes, a cover photo of the chef, and apparently, official music to enjoy while cooking. Yeah, while the idea and execution is a bit... See more

Album Review Andrea Immer presents "Brew, BBQ and Blues", which is one in a series of discs that feature recipes, a cover photo of the chef, and apparently, official music to enjoy while cooking. Yeah, while the idea and execution is a bit stomach-turning, the actual music on this set is decent stuff. Whether "Hoochie Coochie Gal" by Etta James, "Damn Right, I'Ve Got The Blues" by Buddy Guy, or "Shake Your Money Maker" by Elmore James have anything to do with the disc's "food theme" could be argued, but what would be the point? If you want to turn a blues novice onto some good music, this package may be a great way to achieve that. ~ Al Campbell, All Music Guide See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Is this the real thing or a substitute? In 1998, Black Eyed Peas released their debut, "Behind the Front", and by most accounts, it snugly filled a hole left behind by the absent, optimistic talents of A Tribe Called Quest and De La... See more

Album Review Is this the real thing or a substitute? In 1998, Black Eyed Peas released their debut, "Behind the Front", and by most accounts, it snugly filled a hole left behind by the absent, optimistic talents of A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. So in the same year that Jurassic 5 complete their first proper release and De La Soul finally return, is there any room for a group like BEP anymore? Well, maybe. While the album fails in its titular intention of bringing together the two exclusionary worlds of rap and rock, it still diligently follows in the footsteps of its predecessor's highs. Maybe one might have to look toward Kim Hill -- the group's backing vocalist -- who seems to have a larger impact this time. Hill hovers over terrific sun-streaked ditties like "Tell Your Mama Come" and the irrepressible "Hot" without a hitch. The other collaborations follow her lead too. From Macy Gray to Les Nubians to Mos Def to, yes, even Jurassic 5 and De La Soul, none of these guest... See less

Highlights: Monkey Business $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/10/06

Album Review "Check Your Head" brought the Beastie Boys crashing back into the charts and into public consciousness, but that was only partially due to the album itself -- much of its initial success was due to the cult audience that "Paul's... See more

Album Review "Check Your Head" brought the Beastie Boys crashing back into the charts and into public consciousness, but that was only partially due to the album itself -- much of its initial success was due to the cult audience that "Paul's Boutique" cultivated in the years since its initial flop release, a group of fans whose minds were so thoroughly blown by that record, they couldn't wait to see what came next, and this helped the record debut in the Top Ten upon its April 1992 release. This audience, perhaps somewhat unsurprisingly, was a collegiate Gen-X audience raised on "Licensed to Ill" and ready for the Beastie Boys to guide them through college. As it happened, the Beasties had repositioned themselves as a lo-fi, alt-rock groove band. They had not abandoned rap, but it was no longer the foundation of their music, it was simply the most prominent in a thick pop-culture gumbo where old school rap sat comfortably with soul-jazz, hardcore punk, white-trash metal, arena rock,... See less

Highlights: Root Down EP $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Audacious on his rhymes and indulgent with his appetites, Ludacris may flaunt the cartoonish side of his personality, but he isn't just another unreconstructed Southern rapper. "Chicken -N- Beer", his third album (to go along with dozens... See more

Album Review Audacious on his rhymes and indulgent with his appetites, Ludacris may flaunt the cartoonish side of his personality, but he isn't just another unreconstructed Southern rapper. "Chicken -N- Beer", his third album (to go along with dozens of guest spots), shows a rapper balancing the weed, women, and fried chicken with shots at those who've crossed him and a look at a few celebrity perils, delivered with his lightning-quick phrasing and cutting wit. That he's able to harness all this to his usual rollicking, all-in-good-fun persona is a testament to the best rapper in the business, one of the few who's actually celebrating something -- and having a great time doing it. The steamy sex rap "Stand Up" may be the hit single, but most of the highlights here come toward the end, where Luda invites friends and family for some uproarious tracks -- producer Erick Sermon on the surrealist dozens of "Hip Hop Quotables," Snoop Dogg on a hilarious tale of the night after the show, "Hoes... See less

Highlights: Word Of Mouf $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Here it is, one of the best Christmas albums ever compiled onto a single disc. Of the 30-plus compilations of the same generic title released over the decades, "Christmas Classics" is one of the very few that actually warrants its... See more

Album Review Here it is, one of the best Christmas albums ever compiled onto a single disc. Of the 30-plus compilations of the same generic title released over the decades, "Christmas Classics" is one of the very few that actually warrants its billing, challenging Rhino's well-rounded 1990 comp and Capitol's perennial Bing Crosby collection for the distinction of being the outright best "Christmas Classics" disc ever put on the market as of its 2004 release. And yes, this one just may indeed be the best, a 16-track scouring of the Capitol catalog of the '40s, '50s, and '60s. As such, it's comprised of the style of traditional pop championed by the label during those golden years. There's a masterfully sequenced mix of vocal pop (Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, the Nat King Cole Trio), vocal jazz (June Christy, Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald), and instrumental jazz-pop (Les Brown & His Band of Renown, Ferrante & Teicher, Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians). Every song here is a highlight,... See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review It's very eerie reviewing a new Johnny Cash Christmas collection on the morning of his death, September 12, 2003, exactly three months after the passing of June Carter Cash. It's weird to even think about Christmas without Johnny Cash in... See more

Album Review It's very eerie reviewing a new Johnny Cash Christmas collection on the morning of his death, September 12, 2003, exactly three months after the passing of June Carter Cash. It's weird to even think about Christmas without Johnny Cash in the world. But nonetheless, what has been given to listeners by Legacy's fine reissue department is a collection of 12 songs recorded between 1962 and 1980. Many of these songs will be familiar to the Cash faithful, since all but one song have been previously released, but there are a few surprises. Cash's own "The Christmas Spirit," from an album of the same name recorded in 1962, is moving in that otherworldly way that only Cash could be. He spoke and sang as a man forgiven. Likewise, his "O Come All Ye Faithful" is a different reading of the song. Rather than just a work of power and majesty, one can hear in the grain of his voice not so much a rallying cry, but a gentle exhortation to open one's eyes and see. In "Silent Night," the... See less

Highlights: Life $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review The Ultra Lounge series returns with "Cocktails With Cole Porter", a collection of '50s and '60s renditions of songs Porter wrote in the '20s and '30s. For the most part, these songs made the transition into lounge territory intact; Nat... See more

Album Review The Ultra Lounge series returns with "Cocktails With Cole Porter", a collection of '50s and '60s renditions of songs Porter wrote in the '20s and '30s. For the most part, these songs made the transition into lounge territory intact; Nat King Cole's "Just One Of Those Things," Ella Fitzgerald's "It'S De-Lovely," Julie London's "My Heart Belongs To Daddy," Nancy Wilson's "You'D Be So Nice To Come Home To," and Peggy Lee's "Ridin' High" are some of the best examples of Porter songs refurbished for the lounge-pop era. Occasionally, schmaltzy producton overpowers both the singers and the songs themselves -- Dean Martin's sappy "True Love" and Judy Garland's overblown "I Happen To Like New York" are neither the best performances of these songs nor the best performances from these vocalists. Sammy Davis Jr.'s "Easy To Love" and Steve Lawrence's "Night And Day" better incorporate the razzle-dazzle of '50s and '60s lounge music with Porter's timeless words and melodies, even if... See less

Added on 11/10/06

Any reproduction, publication, further distribution, or public exhibition of materials provided at this site, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.

Any reproduction, publication, further distribution, or public exhibition of materials provided at this site, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review Hometown Crossfade fans will recognize the majority of this eponymous major-label debut, as it's been retooled from the band's self-released 2001 effort, when they were still known as Sugardaddy Superstar. Columbia's signing of the band... See more

Album Review Hometown Crossfade fans will recognize the majority of this eponymous major-label debut, as it's been retooled from the band's self-released 2001 effort, when they were still known as Sugardaddy Superstar. Columbia's signing of the band makes sense, as Crossfade combines the most marketable elements of Nickelback and P.O.D. (check "No Giving Up"), throwing in the brooding aggression of Cold and Disturbed as bonus glue. Its occasional flirtation with synths and sampling is negligible, as discordant guitars dominate the album's mix. Speaking of cold, that's also the name of the 'Fade's first single. Ed Sloan has a powerful voice, and he sells the track's somewhat generic chorus ("What I really meant to say/Is that I'm sorry for the way I am") by really lighting into the melody. He goes on to apologize for his "screwed-up side" as dull power chords lurch in the background. "So Far Away" and "Disco" follow a similar formula, marrying thick, glowering riffs to rousing choruses;... See less

Added on 11/09/06

Album Review CBS-TV's crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was the top-rated network television series in the U.S. in the fall of 2002, when this soundtrack album was released. At least a part of that success could be attributed to the music... See more

Album Review CBS-TV's crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" was the top-rated network television series in the U.S. in the fall of 2002, when this soundtrack album was released. At least a part of that success could be attributed to the music used on the show, which is featured here, starting with the theme song, the censored single edit of the Who's 1978 Top 20 hit "Who Are You," on which one of the few curse words that still cannot be uttered on network television is replaced by one that can, resulting in the taunt "Who the hell are you?" instead of the more obscene version heard on the band's "Who Are You" album, which frequently slips by on classic rock radio. The Wallflowers single "Everybody Out Of The Water (New Frontier)" is also featured, available six weeks before its release on that band's album "Red Letter Days", and proves to be a typical effort from them. Following that introduction, the various-artists album is filled with electronic dance-rock music by the likes... See less

Highlights: Los Sánchez $5.99 add to your:

Added on 11/11/06

Album Review On its major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", Saliva gets a heavier sound and a way more polished production than the band's self-titled debut of four years earlier. The Memphis outfit has a better way with a melodic hook than some of... See more

Album Review On its major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", Saliva gets a heavier sound and a way more polished production than the band's self-titled debut of four years earlier. The Memphis outfit has a better way with a melodic hook than some of its peers, which is fortunate, since singer Josey Scott's more frequent forays into rap-metal can sound a little forced. The production brings in a huge bottom sound absent from "Saliva", as well as a few newfound electronic touches that hit upon the all-important Nine Inch Nails touchstone. So, "Every Six Seconds" is a pretty well-crafted alternative metal album overall. But, as with many other bands of its ilk, the elements that set Saliva apart from the rest of the alt-metal pack are really apparent only to the genre's hardcore faithful. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide See less