Category: Adult Contemporary (Page 14 of 16)

Vertical Horizon: Burning the Days

August 21, 2009 /

“I’m done with the middle ground,” moans lead singer Matt Scannell on the third track of Vertical Horizon’s latest album, but nothing could be further from the truth. Burning the Days is, in fact, the most relentlessly, punishingly middle of the road record you’ll have the displeasure of hearing all year, a solid block of dull beige mid-tempo ballads that will leave all but the most rock-allergic listeners resorting to desperate measures – such as punching one’s self in the throat, for example – to break up the monotony. Whoever engineered or mastered it deserves a Grammy simply for staying awake; conversely, Rush’s Neil Peart – who plays drums on three tracks and wrote lyrics for the album closer, “Even Now” – is old and successful enough to know better, and should be severely punished for encouraging this kind of senseless, yawning musical horror. Scannell has always had a weakness for adult contemporary mush, but Burning the Days represents a new, nougaty soft frontier for his music; it’s an experiment in blandness that makes MOR dozers such as Chicago’s XXX sound like Sgt. Pepper’s-level works of genius. The bitterest shame of the whole thing is that Vertical Horizon is on its own label again, free from corporate interference, and could have chosen this moment to make a strong artistic statement. For what few hardcore fans the band has left, this might be worth your time and money, but for anyone else, it’s positively deadly. (Outfall 2009)

Vertical Horizon MySpace page

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews

Crosby Loggins: Time to Move

July 17, 2009 /

Despite often unrealistic expectations, there’s been an abundance of musical offspring all too anxious to enter their parents’ trade. Take the Wainwright kids, Ben Taylor, Teddy Thompson and, of course, the Bobster’s boy Jakob as examples of those who have secured successful careers based on both talent and a famous surname. Then there’s those unfortunate few who were named after iconic associates apparently near and dear to daddy’s heart. (Justin Townes Earle, anyone?) How’s that for a not so subtle sign the folks expect success in the family business? Talk about parental pressure! Take note, then, that Crosby Loggins is Kenny’s kid, not another combo combination appropriated by the Cros, sans Stills and Nash. In truth, young Mr. Loggins doesn’t sound a whole lot like papa, although it could be said he shares a similar penchant for pure pop fare and radio-ready intents. Still, it’s a shame that this debut disc belies its title and settles instead for a generic sound that does nothing to bend the boundaries. John Mayer and Jason Mraz appear to have set the standard here (the former even contributes a guitar solo on the title track) and while aptly dubbed songs such as “Good Enough” and “Radio Heart” raise expectation for regular rotation on the airwaves, there’s little that leaves a mark for the long term. A decent beginning perhaps, but if Loggins is truly anxious to fill his father’s shoes, let’s hope the time to move forward isn’t long in coming. (Jive) – Lee Zimmerman

Crosby Loggins MySpace page

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop

George Harrison: Let it Roll: Songs By George Harrison

July 10, 2009 /

When talking about the Beatles, most people think about the two main singer/songwriters in Paul McCartney and John Lennon. But guitarist/songwriter George Harrison was no slouch, and he certainly went on to have many years of success after the big breakup. In fact, Harrison had four Number One singles on the Billboard pop charts, and any fan of his music with or without the Beatles is going to have to own this encompassing collection of the man’s big hits, Let it Roll: Songs by George Harrison. There are tracks like “My Sweet Lord,” “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) and “Got My Mind Set On You,” as well as live versions of Beatles classics that he wrote such as “Something,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” There are also some of the more obscure beauties, like “All Things Must Pass” and the pure ear candy of “This is Love.” There is also “Marwa Blues,” a stunning instrumental that showcases Harrison’s unique guitar tone and the way that he could, well, make that thing just weep. If you’ve been a fan from the beginning, you probably already own this album, but if you’re less in tune with the man’s work and you love timeless pop, it’s a classic that you just need to have. (LABEL: Capitol)

Amazon link

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Michael Johns: Hold Back My Heart

July 3, 2009 /

Nobody ever said you had to win American Idol to have a successful music career. In fact, each year more former contestants are finding a niche for themselves in some corner of the music business. Enter the latest of those, Season 7 alum Michael Johns, who used Idol as a springboard not just for popularity, but as a means to finally make the kind of music he wants—blue-eyed soul. Johns had been down the rock road before, his Australian roots bringing comparison to the late Michael Hutchence, among others. But it was when a phone call from his mom prompted Johns to follow his true passion, which was to sing the music he grew up on, and his path had suddenly been set out before him. Several years later, Johns has delivered a solid Downtown Music debut, Hold Back My Heart, with many of the songs being Johns’ co-writes with Dave Cobb. Falling somewhere between the music of his idols Otis Redding and Sam Cook and the sappy soul of guys like James Morrison, Johns has discovered a middle ground that could absolutely launch his career to lofty heights—though nothing is guaranteed in today’s music business. Coincidentally, the opening (and best) track was a song Morrison had a hand in, “Heart on My Sleeve.” Other standouts are the aching ballads “Fools Gold” and Heart is Weak” (the latter written by Diane Warren) as well as the bluesy boogie of “Little Bear.” As impressive as it is, though, Hold Back My Heart falls short of being a home run, but leaves plenty of room for growth. (LABEL: Downtown)

Michael Johns MySpace Page

Adult Contemporary, Blues, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Various Artists: Twenty First Century Twenty First Year

June 12, 2009 /

It may have seemed like just another example of dilettantism from a major star during the late ‘80s – a time when Amnesty International tours were all the rage and the Top 40 was stuffed with globetrotting music from Sting, Paul Simon, and Peter Gabriel – but 21 years later, David Byrne’s Luaka Bop is not only still around, it’s an inspirational example for anyone hoping to establish a boutique label. Known primarily as an outlet for releases from Byrne-approved “world music” artists like Zap Mama, Luaka Bop has actually been a more eclectic imprint than most people have given it credit for, something highlighted in the label’s new anniversary compilation, Twenty First Century Twenty First Year. You get the expected stuff – like Byrne’s tastes, the set skews toward South American and Afro-Caribbean grooves, offering booty-shaking cuts from Moreno +2, and Los Amigos Invisibles and some fine Shuggie Otis – but Twenty First is also careful to remind you that the label has provided a home for artists as diverse as Geggy Tah and Jim White. It all adds up to a solid hour of eclectic music that, like the label itself, is more interested in showing you a good time than proving how hip it is. And it succeeds, too – with the exception of Geggy Tah’s “Whoever You Are,” which should be locked in a lead-lined vault and fired into space, these tracks will make a fine addition to your next barbecue playlist, and it’s a fine introduction to the label in the bargain. (Luaka Bop 2009)

Luaka Bop MySpace page

Adult Contemporary, CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Folk, Latin, Pop, Rock

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