Category: Pop (Page 110 of 216)

Sarah McLachlan: Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Legacy Edition)

September 5, 2008 / David Medsker

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Let us address the star rating right up front: Sarah McLachlan’s Fumbling Towards Ecstasy is a modern-day classic, one of the finest pop albums of the ‘90s and absolutely worthy of the “deluxe edition” treatment. The problem with this deluxe edition, though, is that it brings nothing new to the table. Disc One is Ecstasy in its entirety (they wisely moved the piano version of “Possession” to its own track, rather than being the hidden track behind the title song), and Disc Two is The Freedom Sessions, the 1995 stopgap album of Ecstasy demos and alternate versions. The DVD is “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Live,” originally released on VHS in 1994 and issued on DVD in 2005. Odds are, fans of McLachlan have some or all of these individual pieces already, and will not need to upgrade. However, if you are one of the six people left who have thought about buying Fumbling Towards Ecstasy but haven’t yet done so, this set is a gold mine. (Arista/Legacy)

Sarah McLachlan MySpace page

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Pop

Paper Rival: Dialog

September 3, 2008 / Mike Farley

Paper Rival is a four-piece rock band from Nashville, so let’s give that obligatory nod to the fact that this is a rock band in a city known for country music. Okay, now let’s focus on Paper Rival’s music, because the songs on their debut, Dialog, are damn good. Paper Rival is being touted as having an “expansive take on classic rock,” which only means that it’s difficult to classify them. Their music is moody, alternative, at times bordering on heavy, but not classic – think Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s rather than Aerosmith. “Cassandra,” the first single, is a mid-tempo, melody-driven, lo-fi beauty, but it’s not the best track. “Foreign Film Collection” has that distinction – haunting, driving, alt-rock bliss. And there is a distinct balance between dark, scream rock (“The Family Ghost”) and musically uplifting (“Keep Us In”). And while a few of these tracks sound too much like a few of the others, we won’t hold that against Paper Rival when the majority of the band’s debut is this good. (Atlantic)

Paper Rival MySpace Page

Alternative, CD Reviews, Pop, Rock

Steven Alvarado: Let It Go

September 2, 2008 / Lee Zimmerman

Up until now, New York singer/songwriter Steven Alvarado has dwelled mostly on high-minded precepts, with philosophical ruminations veering towards politics and religion. However, on his latest effort, Let It Go, he, well, lets it go, trading his proselytizing for dark deliberations about broken relationships. Largely acoustic, it opens with a flourish of earnestly strummed offerings – the rockabilly-tinted “Get This Far,” the ever-persistent “It’s For You” and, most notably, the vibrant and jangly “New York.” Ultimately though, the album falls prey to a veil of tears, a downcast demeanor that finds Alvarado reveling in his own despair. “Nobody Knows” is especially affecting, a loser’s lament that finds our hero “Drinking and thinking about you,” even though the woman in question apparently broke his heart into a zillion tiny splinters. Still, that’s only the first hint of apparent anguish; “Burning Bridges,” “Blue,” “It’s Alright” and “Gone, Gone, Gone” document bitter break-ups with unflinching animosity. Several star session players rally in support, but ultimately it’s down to Alvarado wielding his guitar like a weapon and blasting his ex partners in the process. (Mott St. Records)

Steven Alvarado MySpace page

CD Reviews, Emo, Pop, Rock

The Crash: Pony Ride

September 1, 2008 / Lee Zimmerman

Pony Ride, the latest outing by Finnish band the Crash, offers an unapologetic approach that melds perky rhythms, gushing sentiment and giddy attitudes to catchy, cushy melodies and a penchant for ‘70s-style soul (think the Jacksons, Average White Band, Culture Club or Simply Red). Singer Teemu Brunila mimics an androgynous style that recalls Michael Jackson, Boy George and Mick Hucknall’s smooth croon for good measure. Oftentimes, the Crash sound kinky – the soaring strings and stately piano ballad “Lauren” seems to be about a stalker, a precursor to a later number actually called “Stalker.” Its follow-up, “Filthy Flower” (“You’re a filthy flower/I could be your lover/But I want to be your man”), shows a certain pride in their prurient desires. “I hope we’ll make it to the radio/I hope we’ll make it to the stadiums,” they coo on the soulful closer “Backstage.” Given their effusive sound, it’s safe to say the Crash can. (Ryko Music)

The Crash MySpace page

CD Reviews, Pop, R&B, Soul

The Moody Blues: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival

August 29, 2008 / David Medsker

This is going to make a small group of people very happy. Taken from the last of the original Isle of Wight Festivals before its resurrection 22 years later – the crowd that attended was estimated to be over 600,000 – the 1970 concert was videotaped for posterity, and now, nearly three decades later, comes an audio recording of the set from Moody Blues, who were as big as any band in England at the time. It’s a fascinating listen, both from a sonic perspective and a historical one. “Minstrel’s Song” explains the origins of half of the Stone Roses’ debut album, and it’s fun to hear a band known for its pristine studio recordings let rip on songs like “Tuesday Afternoon” (where singer Justin Hayward forgets the words) and “Question.” In retrospect, the Moodys weren’t much different from their harder-rocking peers when it came to playing live. As for the overall sound quality, well, it’s 1970 and it’s live, which means it’s really, really tinny. It’s a sweet dose of nostalgia, but for completists only. (Eagle)

Click to buy The Moody Blues: Live at the Isle of Wight Festival on Amazon

CD QuickTakes, CD Reviews, Concert CDs, Pop, Rock