Big Star
In Space
(Ryko)

B-

Website: www.rykodisc.com

Hatesphere
The Sickness Within
(SPV/Fusion 3)

A



Website: www.hatesphere.com

Forget the stupid Eurometal name — this Danish band can throw down. Cram this angry little disc in your player and prepare to catch the Sickness as the quintet thrashes through 11 tracks touched with hints of melody when they aren’t attacking your eardrums. The pace is feverish here, especially when cuts such as Reaper of Life reach a churning crescendo that brings the Devil Horns to full attention. The sound here is nicely produced, and it seems as though Hatesphere has a good idea that sometimes less is more when you’re dealing with intricate yet razor-sharp riffing — or ornate daggers. Recommended activity for listening to The Sickness Within: Drywall destruction with a 10-pound sledge. Turn this up and just watch that shit fly, especially during the savage title track.
Mike Warkentin

KT Tunstall
Eye to the Telescope
(EMI)

C

I saw Scottish popster KT Tunstall play a live, solo version of her single Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, and she was riveting. Beginning by building a series of electronic loops of rhythms, chants and chording over which she sang and played lead, Tunstall looked fresh and original. Thus her latest release, Eye to the Telescope, is a bit disappointing by comparison. The raw emotion is gone, replaced by a Dido-influenced production that is full, rich and layered but feels a bit forced. Other Side of the World is catchy but shallow. Silent Sea features Tunstall’s voice in a simple arrangement, and it works. I’ll look forward to the next recording or, better yet, seeing her live.
Chris Brown

You might have seen Howard Jones this summer on the TV show Hit Me Baby One More Time. I’ll gladly hit anyone who was involved in this release. The track listing just begs for abuse with titles such as Respected, I’ve Said Too Much and Another Chance. You might remember Jones as one of the defining artists of synth pop whose No One Is to Blame (1986) and Everlasting Love (1989) did well in the North American pop charts. It’s too bad the guy who played a huge part in the electronic revolution for a decade or so now sounds dated and out of touch. In his attempt to be current he’s been reduced to a blond mohawk, unprovoking lyrics and cheeseball vocals. This isn’t a revolution of the heart, it’s cardiac arrest. Get me a defibrillator – stat!
Shannon Ander

Dwight Yoakam has never strayed from his deep country roots, and that’s a great thing. The songs on Blame the Vain are thoughtful, playful and soulful. Wild girls, heartbreak, drunken reasoning, Elvis impersonations and denial are all are bathed in twangy, vibrato-soaked, guitars and mournful harmonies. Dwight’s time in the spotlight seems to have passed, but listening to this disc he seems neither to notice nor care. She’ll Remember has an unexpected synth and spoken-word opening that morphs into a straight-country my-baby-broke-my-heart tune that plays with tempos and styles. When I First Came Here is a gritty, pounding tune that embraces the memory of a good woman and is one of the gems on this collection. There are more good songs here than bad, and in a time of such disposable music I’ll return to this disc for years.
Chris Brown

This companion to the brilliant Martin Scorsese doc of the same name will no doubt fly off the store shelves based on the glowing reviews for the film. For fans of ‘His Bobness’ this is a necessary add. Tracks reach back as far as 1959, and as a whole the 28 cuts here, though all previously unreleased, define only the earliest part of the legend’s still-vibrant, 40-plus-year career. Alternate takes abound, featuring different instrumentation or lyrics or both, but nothing here will satisfactorily replace the known classics. The 60-page companion booklet is stuffed with rare photos and track-by-track descriptions of what makes each version unique and worth hearing. Essays by Dylan associate Al Kooper and writer Eddie Gorodetsky add to the heft of this knockout package.
Jeff Monk

The Populars used to be the backup band for roots artist Mike Plume. When Plume finally wanted a change and decided to go solo, the band took an immediate turn into — what else? — ’70s power-trio rock. As you might expect, it didn’t quite work. The Vindicator LP is one of those things in life that make you laugh when you are quite sure you shouldn’t. Hurry up and Die is the song the boys hang their hat on — and it’s just lame. We all heard these riffs on Streetheart and Loverboy albums back in the ’70s. The lyrics are... well, you decide: “I want you/Baby, you’re so hot/I’ll give a kiss and a smile/I wish you’d hurry up and die.” OK, I have to stop now… I can’t breathe.
Chris Brown

If you’re the type who makes fun of people who listen to Coldplay, get ready for some more ammunition. Labelled as a modern folk-pop outfit, this U.K.-based duo has been compared to other rock sentimentalists such as Coldplay, Travis and Kings of Convenience. The tunes are romantic and showcase irresistible melodies that become more pleasant and thoughtful with each listen. After spending nearly 500 bucks on a 100-year-old harmonium, Paridjanian and Knights recorded their second full-length in an old horse stable. Even though the boys sing of modern-day troubles, the tracks take on the feel of their old surroundings and vintage instruments. Twangy country guitars take hold on Fishing For A Dream and Building Wraps Around Me. Boys may cringe at the Simon and Garfunkelesque vibe, but men in the know will have this disc ready for their next date.
Shannon Ander