Peabo Bryson – Unconditional Love (Private Music) On the first new disk in five years by the soul balladeer extraordinaire, it seems like time has stood still. It is amazing how Unconditional Love feels completely contemporary and yet holds the seductive allure of Bryson’s older work. Bryson’s smooth soul love songs still put the wannabes out now to … Continue reading
Del Amitri – Hatful Of Rain… The Best of Del Amitri (A&M) Del Amitri’s single from about two years ago, “Not Where It’s At” was about a guy who had fallen for a woman who was a total scenester, but she rejected him because he just wasn’t cool enough for her. Ironically, that also pretty much nails … Continue reading
Brian Wilson – Imagination (Giant) It’s kind of sad that after decades of being an acknowledged pop musical genius, former Beach Boys front man Brian Wilson is probably best known now by kids as the guy that Barenaked Ladies sang about. On Wilson’s first solo album in nearly a decade, he sets about straightening that out. … Continue reading
Garbage – Version 2.0 (Almo Sounds) The surprise success of Garbage’s debut album took this band from being a vanity project for producer Bruce Vig and a bunch of studio boffins with a hot British bird fronting into an actual working rock band. This new sense of permanence works in this follow-up’s favor, giving a sense … Continue reading
Vonda Shepard – Songs From Ally McBeal (550 Music Soundtrax) Shepard is a L.A. cult singer who’s hit career paydirt playing the musical voice of TV’s quirkiest new lawyer. She has a strong bluesy folk sound that captures the streetwise but frazzled feel of the series. The rocking out theme song “Searching My Soul” captures the … Continue reading
The Rolling Stones – Bridges To Babylon (Virgin) The world’s oldest rock group still has some tricks up their sleeve. While Bridges To Babylon lands pretty low in the group’s body of work compared to Let It Bleed and Exile On Main Street, it does rate a lot of the cheap thrills of the band’s best work. Mick still prances around like … Continue reading
Duran Duran – Medazzaland (Capitol) Duran Duran’s career has been up and down so many times that you think it was built by the Otis Elevator Co. Right now the band is way down after the disastrous reaction to their 1995 covers album Thank You, a curious follow up to 1992’s Wedding Album, which had them back on … Continue reading
Todd Rundgren – The Very Best Of Todd Rundgren (Rhino) It’s a little easy to forget now that he is calling himself TR-i (Todd Rundgren Interactive) and putting the technology cart before the musical horse, that once upon a time, Upper Darby, Pa.’s favorite son was just a damned good singer and songwriter. The Very Best … Continue reading
Sarah McLachlan – Surfacing (Arista) With the popularity of this summer’s Lilith Fair and the release of this album, Sarah McLachlan is finally being referred when people reference current superstars. Strangely enough, this album, which is already shaping up to be McLachlan’s biggest hit, is one of her weaker records. It may not be completely up … Continue reading
10,000 Maniacs – Love Among The Ruins (Geffen) It is pretty much universally agreed that Natalie Merchant, as lead singer and songwriter, was the main talent of 10,000 Maniacs. So how is it possible that this album, the band’s first since Merchant left, is so much better than Merchant’s 1995 solo debut Tigerlily? It comes down to stronger songs and … Continue reading
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