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NEW YORK (Billboard) - A freewheeling, hook-heavy romp that
clocks in at just over 30 minutes, the debut album "Broken Boy
Soldiers" from The Raconteurs is an amalgamation of Jack
White's dirty blues, Brendan Benson's pop melodies and the
Greenhornes' garage stomp, courtesy of Patrick Keeler (drums)
and Jack Lawrence (bass). Detroit natives White and Benson
trade vocals on much of the album, and on tracks like the
British Invasion-flavored "Intimate Secretary," it's hard to
tell where one begins and the other picks up. Along the way,
this supergroup of sorts delves into Graham Bond-style organ
R&B ("Store Bought Bones"), three-chord rockers ("Steady, As
She Goes") and Beatles-esque harmonies ("Hands"). No one is
breaking any ground here, and White fanatics looking for a new
White Stripes record should temper their expectations. But as
far as side projects go, this is as good as it gets.
ARTIST: HOOBASTANK
ALBUM: EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF (Island Records)
Hearing "Every Man for Himself" open with a drill sergeant
barking orders of conformity is a little painful. Hoobastank
hands-down performs corporate modern rock, so the presence of
anthems about independence ("Born to Lead," "The First of Me")
is somewhat smirk-inducing. Compounding the irritation is that
the two best tracks (the midtempo ballad "If Only" and
exotically flavored "More Than a Memory") arrive at the very
end, where the group must have felt it was safe to take
chances. "Inside of You" is a quirky come-on with startling,
frank lyrics -- Doug Robb doesn't usually sing about lust. But
"Without a Fight," "Don't Tell Me" and "Look Where We Are" are
bland rock filler. Nearly every cut shoots for maximum radio
mileage, and the album's lack of stimulation makes such
pandering harder to overlook.
ARTIST: BRIAN LITTRELL
ALBUM: WELCOME HOME (Reunion Records)
Backstreet Boy Brian Littrell makes his solo debut with a
stunning pop album, and its potent songs about life, faith and
hope. Littrell is targeting the Christian market with this
project, and the lyrical depth will no doubt strongly resonate
with that audience, but the uplifting tone and gorgeous
performances will strike a chord with BSB fans as well.
Littrell's warm, engaging voice has never sounded more
compelling. The a cappella "Jesus Loves You" is a joyous romp
featuring Take 6 and Littrell's son Baylee, while "Angels and
Heroes" is a beautifully written treatise on the essence of
human nature and man's relationship to God. But the album's
most powerful moment is "Gone Without Goodbye," which conjures
one of the most heartbreaking images of September 11, 2001, yet
to be heard. Littrell plans to continue with Backstreet, but
this album signals the arrival of a major new player in the
Christian market.
ARTIST: THE TWILIGHT SINGERS
ALBUM: POWDER BURNS (One Little Indian Records)
Former Afghan Whigs frontman Greg Dulli has spent nearly 20
years advancing his sound, with "Powder Burns" his newest
evolution. Producer Mike Napolitano heavily influenced what
would otherwise be Dulli's straightforward, self-loathing rock
recordings, adding layers of crunchy guitars, piano and
throbbing effects. While Dulli's bitter, drunken voice remains
front and center, the backup vocals and orchestras nearly make
the songs sound like a parody, marrying a beast to a beauty.
The affected "Candy Cane Crawl," with vocals by Ani DiFranco,
is too pretty for Dulli's off-kilter caterwauls. Otherworldly
standout "There's Been an Accident" (with Joseph Arthur)
capitalizes on Dulli's lyrical desperation with crashes galore
and a climax of cinematic strings. Dulli's lyrics haven't
advanced much since he began using the Twilight Singers
moniker, but the production and arrangements seemingly have
moved forward without him.
ARTIST: CHRISTINA MILIAN
ALBUM: SO AMAZIN' (Island Def Jam)
With her third album, "So Amazin'," Christina Milian tries
to fully transform from peppy pop sweetheart to sweet urban
soulstress. But the former Disney Channel hostess has yet to
pinpoint her true identity. Here, the mostly midtempo
production provided by Miami-based duo Cool & Dre gives
synergy, and though Milian often comes off as a third-rate
Beyonce, her feathery soprano captivates when her lyrics do
not. Lead single "Say I" featuring Young Jeezy is instantly
rousing, and her well-publicized breakup with ex-boyfriend
actor Nick Cannon seems to be fodder for scorned-woman cuts
like "Fooling" and "Who's Gonna Ride" featuring Three 6 Mafia.
Milian's sound is not strikingly distinctive, and although it
can be a fun listen, "So Amazin"' only scratches the surface of
who she really is.
ARTIST: BANANARAMA
ALBUM: DRAMA (The Lab/Fuel/UMVD)
In the United States, Bananarama has been missing in action
for 10 years. But with "Drama," the duo and a handful of
beat-savvy producers (including Mute8 and Ian Masterson)
deliver a cohesive collection of dance-floor-ready jams. Like
contemporary British girl groups Girls Aloud and the Sugababes,
Bananarama revels in pop-alicious rhythms from electro, trance
and disco. The disc opens with international singles "Move in
My Direction" and "Look on the Floor (Hypnotic Tango)," and
except for the lackluster "Waterfall," the momentum remains
until the final track (the Solasso remix of the act's
early-'80s hit "He Was Really Saying Something"). "I Love the
Way" and "Rules of Attraction" sound just fine when played
alongside Kylie and Goldfrapp, respectively, while the
gorgeously chilled-out "Middle of Nowhere" detours to the
beaches of Ipanema.
Reuters/Billboard
Copyright ©
2006
Reuters.
All rights reserved.
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