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
k.d. lang – Drag (Warner Bros.) k.d. lang’s new all-covers album springs from an admittedly slightly obscure premise – it is made up of songs that equate the act of smoking with a burning passion. This passion manifests itself in many different directions ranging from the passionate sorrow of “My Last Cigarette” to a completely uncampy survey … Continue reading
Hanson – Middle Of Nowhere (Mercury) There is a long history of bubblegum pop groups made up of young siblings – everyone from the Jacksons to the Osmonds to the DeFrancos. With this album the tradition works its way up into the jaded post-punk nineties. And damn it, it’s good to have it back. The three Hanson Brothers … Continue reading
Styx – Return To Paradise (CMC International) It’s been at least a decade since I’ve spent a thought on Styx, THE arena rock group of my high school years. Music has moved on and so have I, and now the band is made up of a bunch of guys in their forties, so I didn’t have … Continue reading
Matthew Sweet – Blue Sky On Mars (Zoo) For Matthew Sweet’s latest album, he has pretty much gone the one-man band route, playing most instruments on the album himself. This gives Blue Sky On Mars an even poppier sound than past albums. Re-upping with producer Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Stone Temple Pilots, Neil Young) from Sweet’s last album, … Continue reading
U2– Pop (Island) Now three albums into their flirtation with techno, U2 have finally figured out how to make a consistently listenable album out of it. As signified by the album title, the band wants to wallow in the kitsch of modern life. Pop gets offto a bit of a rocky start with the clanky swirling Zooropian single … Continue reading
Sarah McLachlan – Rarities, B-Sides & Other Stuff (Nettwerk) While McLachlan’s fans await a follow up to her 1993 breakthrough Fumbling Through Ecstasy, she releases a second stopgap to keep them happy. This limited-edition disk is mostly in existence, I suppose, for “I Will Remember You,” McLachlan’s hit theme from The Brothers McMullen. That beautiful ballad is on … Continue reading
Susanna Hoffs – Susanna Hoffs (London) It’s hard to believe it has been six years since the breakup of the Bangles, the pop girl group of the ’80’s. Since the breakup, Hoffs, the band’s leader, has kept a low profile. She did release a 1991 solo album, the slightly overly slick When You’re A Boy, … Continue reading
Marshall Crenshaw – Miracle of Science (Razor & Tie) In the five years since Crenshaw’s last album the music world has completely changed. It’s changed even more since he released his spectacular first album in 1982. He’s spent most of his career on the outside looking in, and Miracle of Science won’t change anything. Too bad because it’s … Continue reading
Dogstar – Our Little Visionary (Zoo) Okay, even though as bassist he’s really the least important cog in this machine, let’s face it, all of us are thinking of Dogstar as movie star Keanu Reeves’ band. Dogstar ends up being a pretty good band, not revolutionary – in fact, they’re a little derivative – but not … Continue reading
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