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Lil
Scrappy
The King of Crunk & BME Recordings present…
(Reprise/Warner Bros./BME)
B-
Website: www.goldfingercreative.com
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Damn, Cuz! BME is in the
heezy! Just like his namesake, Lil Scrappy represents the more
outrageous and grimy element of hip hop. His lyrics remain simple
yet effective and are based primarily on aggression. Rippin’
the microphone and opponents in the battlefield seems to be the
name of the game with Scrappy and his Trillville associates. Add
Lil Jon to this mix and you’ve got the ingredients for a
barroom brawl. Atlanta is hot right now — it has invented
its own unique style and has created a sound that is unmistakably
its own. You’ll love the rump shakin’ sounds of such
Scrappy ditties as Head Bussa, along with Trillville’s Neva
Eva, Get Some Crunk In Yo’ System and the game-show-inspired
Weakest Link. Pick this up, pump it in your car stereo and watch
your 808’s vibrate.
Horace Carrington |
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Twista
Kamikaze
(Atlantic)
B
Website: www.twista.com
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Yo, you’ve gotta’
be kidding me! Kamikaze, by speed rapping expert Twista is off
tha hook! Possessing imaginative lyrics and a rapid-fire delivery,
Twista’s disc is literally armed and dangerous. Just check
out the first instalment after the introduction Kill Us All…
Still a non-believer? Need more convincing? Peep the high velocity
Higher featuring Georgia boy Ludacris. Now you’re jinglin’
baby! Fans of this almost-extinct form of rapping will find that
Twista is a definite compliment to its legacy, and he will most
likely inherit the crown from such tongue-twisting legends as
Das EFX, Bone Thugs N Harmony, as well as The Originators. So
for you young bucks out there doin’ the knowledge…
Just sit back, crack open a can of your favourite beverage and
appreciate the extraordinary talents of one of hip-hop’s
finest. Chuuuch!
Horace Carrington |
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Guitar Shorty
Watch Your back
(Alligator)
B
Website: www.alligator.com |
David William (Guitar
Shorty) Kearney cut his first single for Cobra Records (early
home to Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy) in 1957. He has been
less than prolific (in the recording sense at least), but that
hasn’t seemed to diminish his skill at squeezing out some
pretty fine sparks on his new Alligator 10-tracker. Kearney has
pork sausage-thick fingers that provide him with a similar fat
guitar tone — one that pulls stylistically from both Kings
of blues guitar: Albert and Freddie. It’s a pretty straightforward
affair on Watch Your Back — familiar tales of bad luck,
bad times and bad women litter the album. The real prize for fans
of this sort of contemporary blues are Shorty’s sweet six-string
stylings. Track after track has an electrifying moment or two
when Shorty really nails the emotion of the song with his stinging
stabs.
Jeff Monk |
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HIM
And Love Said No
(RCA)
B+
Website: www.heartagram.com
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While some might say it’s
a little premature for HIM (His Infernal Majesty) to release a
greatest hits package, music fans won’t be complaining about
this solid compilation. Since 1997, the Finnish band fronted by
Ville Valo has been creating music that critics and the band call
“love metal”; it’s a dark mix of melodic rock/metal
focusing on songs about love or death — usually both. Think
of The Darkness doing goth rock. This package includes the version
of Chris Isaac’s Wicked Game that brought HIM to the attention
of many, as well as standout tracks Your Sweet 666, Right Here
in My Arms and The Sacrament. New additions to the canon are the
title track and a cover of Neil Diamond’s Solitary Man.
It’s grandiose and overwrought, but it’s also dark,
sexy and loaded with character.
Mike Warkentin |
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Snow Patrol
Final Straw
(Polydor)
B-
Website: www.snowpatrol.net
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Hailed as a change of
direction for Scottish/Irish quartet Snow Patrol, Final Straw
sees the band donning mini ColdPlay disguises. While Snow Patrol
fans have been used to a fey, whimsical sound from their idols,
Final Straw delivers punchier, guitar rock thick with melody —
hmm, nothing new here then. Saying that, the band’s third
album has some excellent moments. It might not be the most original
CD in your collection — one listen to Run or Same and you’ll
be humming ColdPlay’s Yellow by mistake. Chocolate is also
guilty of stealing, but these tracks are all well-accomplished
fakes. Lyrically, it’s the same old, same old “Woe
is me, I was dumped” stuff. By rights, Snow Patrol should
be given the dunce’s cap and told to stand in the corner
— but there’s just no getting away from the fact that
Final Straw is an annoyingly good album.
Liz Hover |
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Various
Artists
Old Skars and Upstarts 2004
(Disaster)
B
Website: www.disasterecords.com
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My punk is better than
your punk. Everywhere you turn it seems like there is another
appropriation of the limply deflated genre called punk rock. Bands
that hang their mohawk wigs on bad manners and sloppy haberdashery
really need to check in on reality and make some changes. Disaster
Records head honcho Duane Peters is the real thing, and his label
consistently digs as deep as possible to expose the alternates
to the cookie-cutter ensembles available. This annual compilation
of old and new bands offers plenty of great new tracks from groups
that may never even have the luxury of releasing a full album.
The Revolvers’ No Clash Reunion slaps the collective faces
of those who have lived in the past a little too long. Peters’
own The Hunns kick in Got Your Number, which is ever so saucy
in it’s X-rated content, and Backslide Dance, by The Fucko’s,
plays like a punkier Cramps. Update yourself now.
Jeff Monk |
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Scissor Sisters
Scissor Sisters
(Polydor)
A
Website: www.scissorsisters.com
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Sweet Jesus! The debut
from New York dandies the Scissor Sisters is a pretty little gem.
From first note to last, this is a non-stop bundle of dancing
ecstasy. Opening track Laura is a camped-up but cool disco-stomp;
the Elton John-esque Mary will stir a tear in your eye; and the
fantastic Bee Gee’s-inspired falsetto cover of Pink Floyd’s
Comfortably Numb will shatter glasses in your kitchen —
all of which might explain why people are falling over themselves
to get this album. Admittedly, one glance at the Scissor Sisters
may leave you shaking your head because they look like a cross
between the Village People and Marc Bolan. And yes, their names
(Jake Shears, Ana Matronic, Babydaddy) might leave you cringing,
but don’t write them off — they’re no novelty
act. The Scissor Sisters seem to be reaching out a bejewelled
(and inviting) hand to music lovers everywhere. So, go on, have
a dance with them; they might even lend you a feather boa.
Liz Hover |
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Sondre
Lerche
Two-Way Monologue
(EMI)
B+
Website: www.sondrelerche.com
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It’s sometimes hard
to believe that Indie rocker Sondre Lerche is as tormented as
some of his lyrics. The 21-year-old Norwegian-born musician’s
follow-up to 2002’s Faces Down builds on his penchant for
intertwining melancholy and buoyant tunes. This time around, Lerche
delves into the despairs of love and combines this theme with
retro instrumentals. His voice is airy and distinct, but at times
seems out of synch with the background tempo. The title track
is probably one of the most interesting on the disc, and sets
his voice against slow and cheery instrumentals. Lerche’s
poetic talent and voice are captivating while he varies the pace,
from slow and bittersweet to upbeat and back again. Despite its
shortcomings, Two Way Monologue comes off as a stylish, mature
and enchanting hybrid of pop, rock and chamber music.
Jen Skerritt |
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Lenny Kravitz
Baptism
(Virgin)
C
Website: www.lennykravitz.com
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Lenny’s back in
all his druggy glory, just in time to serve up 13 tracks for those
herbal summer nights and afternoon hangovers. Kravitz’s
lyrics on Baptism are culled from stoner philosophy 101 and are
about as profound as nursery rhymes, but Lenny’s songs have
never really been about the lyrics. The New York psychedelic rocker
is all about atmosphere, and on this disc he throws together a
mix of trippy uptempo tunes (Minister of Rock ’n’
Roll and Where are We Runnin’) and slow walks through heartache
(Lady and Baptized). Fans of Kravitz might really dig this disc,
but it shows little of the drive of Are You Gonna Go My Way? and
Lenny. Kravitz seems to be moping too much here, and quality tracks
such as California and Flash aren’t enough to make this
disc endure longer than a Manitoba summer.
Mike Warkentin |
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