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
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
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
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
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
PopEntertainmentblog.com 