Wave

WAVE
"STATE OF MIND"
(Warner/Canada, 2002)


"New Sensation"


Comprised of singer Paul Gigliotti and guitarist Dave Thomson, Wave were an unfortunately short-lived pop duo who released two albums of inoffensive but delightfully catchy pop, in the vein of BBMak or fellow Canadian group SoulDecision. I personally can't choose either album over the other as a favorite, because they're both fantastic background music for a sunny spring day ... or as foreground music to sing along to. If you buy one, you might as well pick up the other -- if you can find them, that is, as they both are out of print and used copies seem to be hard to come by.

Their second album, "State of Mind", does show a bit of a broader sonic pallette than their debut, with the superb "Don't Say Sarah" (which sounds like a long-lost Hall & Oates track), more rocking numbers like "That's How It Feels" and "Morning Delight", and the beautifully breezy closer "Midnight Driving" (about as melancholy as a terminally bright-eyed and bushy-tailed duo like Wave can sound).

They scored a modest hit with the single "California", from their debut album "Nothing As It Seems", but apparently their second album's performance was disappointing and they never released a third. Such a shame ... my CD shelves could easily have made room for at least one or two more albums of this aural cotton-candy.

This One's For ... My Blog's Birthday!!

Well, boys and girls, can you freakin' believe that I've been doing this blog for a whole year already?!? I sure freakin' can't! And as a very special "blogiversary" treat for you, I'm uploading a whole album's worth of MP3's!! True, it's something I'm normally strongly against -- in fact, I've just recently deleted the link to one particular blog from my list here because I realized that they regularly post full albums that are in print and very easy to find -- sorry, but that's just not cool.

So, why this time? Well, there are extenuating circumstances in this case ... so this may very well be the only time you see me do this. You see, the album in question is (as far as I can tell) very very rare, has been out of print for over ten years, and I seriously doubt it will ever be put back into print again. So, I can't see any reason why the label or the artists or anyone in between could seriously object to my posting it. Besides, I feel it oughta be heard by every boyband fan out there.


OTT
"THIS ONE'S FOR YOU"
(Sony/Taiwan, 1997)


Tracks 1 through 8 (29MB)
Tracks 9 through 16 (27MB)

Several years ago, I went on a brief eBay binge, in which I bought two or three huge lots of CD-singles from UK sellers. The final bids on the lots were fantastic bargains but, as you can imagine, shipping those heavy boxes to the USA was really expensive (which is one reason I was forced to put a quick end to that practice). But even including the shipping costs, I roughly figured that I got over 200 singles (and not one unplayable one amongst them, though a few were a bit nicked up) for less than 80 cents each, which was a pretty decent deal for a music nut like me. Almost all of those singles have since been sent on to various new homes, but I did end up finding a couple of artists that I've been enjoying ever since, one of them being UK boyband OTT.

For being a band that scored a good few Top Ten UK singles in the late '90s, there's surprisingly little information on the web regarding OTT. About all I can tell you about them is that they were from Ireland, and that one of the lads left the band before they released their one and only album (five guys appear on the covers of some of their CD-singles, while only four are seen on others), which I'm not sure was even released anywhere other than Southeast Asia. Sure, in a way there's a reason that they've been mostly forgotten -- their songs and vocals were kind-of forgettable to begin with -- but if you're like me, boybands are kind-of like pizza: even when they're bad, they're still pretty darn good! I managed to snatch up this album on eBay many months ago in what I think was a fluke of good timing, because I've been searching intermittently for it ever since (just out of curiosity) and have never again been able to pull up any results on eBay, GEMM, or any other similar web marketplace.

I do have to say that, while most of the album is mediocre, OTT did record one single, "The Story Of Love", that I think ranks with some of the best boyband singles ever, like Phixx's "Strange Love". As an added bonus, I've included the single remix of the track (what I affectionately call "The Westlife Remix", just 'cause it sounds a lot like Westlife sounded back in their early days), which in my opinion is far superior to the album version. Additionally you'll find "Kiss And Tell", a B-side from another of their singles, which I think is my second favorite of their songs, and which I was disappointed wasn't included on the album. These two tracks I've re-tagged as tracks 15 and 16 on the album, just 'cause I'm a bit of a neat-freak about my iTunes library. Anyway ... enjoy, and here's to another year of Thnairg's World of Music!!

NOW HEAR THIS!!

I'm going to inform you of something that I just found out about yesterday, and I think it's really, really important. I'm talking mark-it-on-your-calendar-in-bold-red-sharpie important. But first, I need to tell you about a frightening statistic -- well, frightening to me, at least. Eight hundred independent music retailers went out of business in the 2006 calendar year, and 2,700 closed their doors between 2003 and 2006. That's a startling average of more than a dozen each and every week. If that doesn't frighten you, then you've obviously never experienced the unique kind of music-lover's euphoria that can only come from a visit to an independent record store.

The dizzying variety of CDs (or records, if that's your pleasure), far more than you could find at a big-box store ... the lively and personable store staff who are happy to help you find that song you heard the other day or who can almost always recommend two or three other artists you'll like based on a favorite you love ... the joy of stumbling upon a CD in the used racks that you thought you'd never find, and better yet at a fraction of the retail price ... the cozy warmth of getting to be on a first-name basis with the manager after a few regular visits -- it simply can't be compared to a dismally monotonous visit to any of the hundreds of Wal-Marts, Best Buys or Borders stores, or the cold, sterile non-experience of buying a CD from an online retailer. And the saddest thing of all is that, if independent stores keep closing at this rate, fewer and fewer people will get the chance to enjoy that blissful experience.

That's where Record Store Day comes in. It's an effort by the Coalition of Independent Music Stores, their member shops, and other interested parties, to bring attention -- and hopefully relief -- to the problem of the disappearing brick-and-mortar record stores. Hundreds of stores are participating nationwide, with in-store appearances, promotional giveaways, and the ever-popular special sales. So here's what you need to do. First, mark April 19th on your calendar, in big bold writing, RECORD STORE DAY. Next, use the yellow pages or the internet to find the nearest independent music store (remember, not any of the Borders, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy or Circuit City locations, or even Sam Goody or FYE*), and find out how to get there. Even if it's an hour's drive or so out of your way, you really should make the effort. It's on a Saturday, so most of you should be able to find the time.

To find out more information about Record Store Day, visit their website, www.recordstoreday.com, or click the banner at the top right corner of this page (underneath my blog's masthead). The site provides a list of participating stores, some comments from artists about their love of record stores, and much more. Additionally, I urge you to spread the word about Record Store Day by placing one of their graphics on your blog or website and linking it back to their homepage. Help me get the word out, people! It won't cost you a penny!!

Not only am I hoping that Record Store Day will help slow the trend of music stores going out of business, but I'm also hoping that, once you've visited one of these beautiful havens of music worship and realized its appeal, you'll want to patronize it again and again. These places might be a little harder to find now, but that's the point: they're dying out, and they really need our business now more than ever.

*unless it's as a last resort and you don't have any independent stores anywhere within a reasonable driving distance

Gone Too Soon...

Well, I sure didn't expect to see Syesha in the bottom three ... and especially not Jason! But as much as I expected -- and even predicted -- one of the bottom three, it still feels like it's a bit too soon....




















Take it easy, Chikezie ... I'm sure we'll all be seeing you soon, though.

Idol Thoughts: The Top Ten

At first, I thought it was a neat concept: each of the Top Ten "Idol" finalists singing a song from the year in which they were born. But then I realized it was all going to get a little depressing. And I was right ... not only do I remember the years in which most of the contestants were born, but I vividly remember all the songs they sang when they were new recordings on the radio and in the Billboard charts!

Sigh ... I guess that's bound to happen when you get to be my age. But don't worry ... there will be no mid-life crisis here, at least not anytime in the foreseeable future. Anyway, without further ado, here are my thoughts on this week's performances as they happened.

Ramiele Malubay -- Will nothing that poor Ramiele does make Randy Jackson happy?!? At least he was in the minority of the judges' opinions. I thought this was probably her best performance since the Top 24 began ... not pitch-perfect, but it was still excellent, and shows why she's still in the game.

Jason Castro -- A great acoustic-guitar song from Jason this week ... in my opinion, this was his best in at least three weeks. I was beginning to wonder what the audience was seeing in him (Is it the dreads...?), but he's begun to grow on me thanks to this performance. As for Simon ... well, as Danny pointedly said to him a few weeks back, "Apparently some people [insert head wag here] weren't liking it...!"

Syesha Mercado -- My Syesha is back! This high-caliber showing is why she was an early favorite of mine, and she's beginning to win me back. I'm with Randy on this one ... her best night yet! Excellent!!

Chikezie -- Not bad at all ... but not exactly great, either. As much as I like Chikezie, this one just didn't let him show off like he deserves to. This one just might drop him into the bottom three.

Brooke White -- A bit of a trip-up at the beginning, but very good overall. She does have a sense of how to put a twist on a song, this time turning a slightly anxious mid-tempo number into a softer ballad. Not her best, but really good!

Michael Johns -- An interesting choice in doing a medley of two Queen songs ... and he impressed me! I'm still not totally in love with his voice (a tiny bit pitchy in places), but in this round I think he's come as close to winning me over as he has yet!

Carly Smithson -- One of my favorite songs, and she performed it admirably ... although she didn't do anything new with it, so (as much as I hate to say it) it was a little bit boring. I have a feeling she'll be in the bottom three again this week.

David Archuleta -- Well, whadya know ... a third performer in a row singing a song I recognize, although I know the song more from Scott Grimes' cover than the Heart original. Excellent as usual ... although (forgive me) it was a bit too "usual". I've heard better from him ... I think that if he'd sung it in a slightly higher key he could have had the chance to throw some power behind some of the bigger notes. Still, though, I think he's gonna get my vote tonight. (Gee, what a surprise, right?)

Kristy Lee Cook -- Okay, I think I've just shifted into a parallel universe. Did Simon actually compliment her performance?!? It's all the more bizarre since, as Randy might say, "it was just okay for me". Simon's words about her lack of personality also come back to mind. Maybe it was her best yet, but I've thought ever since last week's dismissal of Amanda that Kristy Lee would be the next to go, and to be brutally honest, this isn't changing my opinion at all.

David Cook -- An interesting take on Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" ... and he rocked it!! As I said last week, he's absolutely destined for rock stardom no matter how much further he goes in "Idol". Gotta love the way he held that big note!!

Who I think ought to be in the bottom three: Kristy Lee Cook, Carly Smithson, and Michael Johns.

Who I think will be in the bottom three: Ramiele Malubay, Chikezie, and Brooke White (I think the audience will remember her false start, and they'll like Kristy Lee's patriotic song choice too much to vote her out just yet).

Who I voted for: David Cook ... What can I say? I consider it my duty to vote for the best performance of the night, and "the other David" delivered it, so I couldn't help but vote for him. Besides, David Archuleta has his own enormous fan club and ain't hurting for votes.

Twenty-four hours from now we'll know who's been voted out. The results shows are getting more and more tense...! And here's to a less depressing theme next week! ;-)

Metallica

METALLICA
"S&M"
(Elektra, 1999)


"No Leaf Clover"


I really don't like metal music, with two notable exceptions. The first is Linkin Park, at least when it comes to a few of their singles -- when they put out a greatest hits disc, I fully intend to pick it up. The other exception is this album. Metallica is perhaps my brother's favorite band of all time, so simply from being around him I've developed a basic respect for their musicianship and their intelligence. But let's not get the wrong idea here -- this is the only Metallica album I own and will probably ever want to own, and mostly because it's a radical departure from anything else in their discography.

The late Michael Kamen, best known for his Hollywood film scores (the "Lethal Weapon" and "Die Hard" series, amongst many others), has worked with rock and pop musicians before, mostly providing orchestral backing for ballads, but this was probably his most ambitious undertaking: fusing a lush, full, 100-piece symphony orchestra (the "S" in the album's title) with the furious, skull-shaking thrash-metal of Metallica (the "M", its stylized appearance on the front cover being lifted from the band's logo).

Everything about this album is massive ... from the length of the recording (more than two hours spread over a double-disc set) to the sound of the music itself (you can practically imagine the sweat flying off the San Francisco Symphony players as much as the Metallica members), to the energy from the live audience (who are occasionally invited by band frontman James Hetfield to sing out the lyrics in his place). Kamen comments in the liner notes that his goal in writing the orchestral accompaniment was to make it sound like it was always a part of the original songs, right alongside the electric guitars, drums and bass at Metallica's core. He accomplished his goal, bringing a whole new dimension to the band's sound, as if an orchestra was the only way to truly reveal the bombastic power of Metallica's music that has always been there.

According to a DVD documentary about the two-day concert from which this album was recorded, there were as many strait-laced symphony-goers in attendance as there were hardcore metal fans, and I have to wonder how many people from each camp came away with more of an appreciation of the other kind of music than they had before the concert. In any case, even if you're not a metal fan, don't be afraid to pick up this album. It's much more universally appealing than you might think -- perhaps that's why it went multi-platinum.

Randy Jackson's Music Club: Volume One

various artists
"RANDY JACKSON'S MUSIC CLUB: VOLUME ONE"
(Concord, 2008)


"Something To Believe In" - Van Hunt, Jon McLaughlin & Jason Mraz


Okay, as a newly addicted "American Idol" viewer, how long could I have been expected to resist buying this CD? Randy is the "Idol" judge that I like the most, and as soon as I heard that this album was coming down the pike, I somehow trusted him to put out a good collection of music. Plus, when I found out it was going to feature musicians like Joss Stone, Jon McLaughlin and Jason Mraz, I just knew that it would be good. To my delight, I wasn't disappointed.

Featured on this album is Paula Abdul's return to music, after 12 years, with the single "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow", an unexpectedly addictive throwback to '90s synth-pop. As much as I dislike new songs borrowing from old ones, I must admit that the Joss Stone jam "Just Walk On By" borrows effectively from the Dionne Warwick classic "Walk On By". Other highlights include a well-done country take on the Michael Bublé song "Home", Angie Stone joining Keb' Mo' and Sam Moore on a deliciously bluesy rendition of the Howlin' Wolf classic "Wang Dang Doodle", a soulful duet between "Idol" alumni Katharine McPhee and Elliott Yamin, and newcomer Barbi Esco on the appropriately titled "My R&B". Included with this post is the uplifting anthem "Something To Believe In", featuring Jon McLaughlin and Jason Mraz ... maybe not one of the most impressive songs in the collection, but one of my favorites.

Through its twelve tracks, this album touches on most every genre of music, from adult-contemporary pop, to hip-hop, to R&B, to blues, to country, and closes out with a huge gospel number. Rumor has it that Jackson wanted this album to sound like "the ultimate radio station" (probably not an exact quote), and he pretty-much accomplished just that. I already can't wait to see what Volume Two has in store!

Surprised Again...

Okay, so I got another mark in the "wrong" column ... I was sure it was gonna be curtains for Kristy Lee....




















You weren't my favorite, Amanda Overmyer, but I'm still gonna miss you. (Was it because she dropped the S-bomb...?)

Idol Thoughts: The Top 11

It's "Idol" time once again ... eleven performers remaining, and ten will go home over the next couple of months. (Well, I guess in a way it would be nine, since there will still be two performers vying for the title by the time the final episode rolls around.) Anyway, as I said last week, things are getting a little dicey, because I'd hate to see almost any of them leave. Of course, one of them I really hated to see leave did so last week, to my dismay ... so in a way it's a little less dicey, since I'd have been rooting for him every week along with my other two or three favorites. But anyway, let's take a look at this week's installment....

Amanda Overmyer -- She gave a better performance this week than she has in the few weeks before, but I'm still not sure what to think of her. As Simon says, I think she could become a bit boring and predictable, unless she follows Paula's suggestion that she shake things up and do a ballad here and there. As I mentioned last week, a voice that only has one gear will get tiresome pretty quickly.

(Wait a minute ... did Amanda just say the S-word...?!? I think she did ... I guess Fox better get ready to pull out their wallets for the decency police...!)

Kristy Lee Cook -- I have a feeling we've seen the last performance from her. She's a good singer, but certainly not the best (she had her usual pitch problems here and there) ... and her face seemed like she was merely going through the motions. She's a good singer, just not a good performer.

David Archuleta -- No Beatles-related wordplay intended here, but ... oh, my sweet lord! Have you ever listened to a song that made you feel like you were taking a bubble bath? It sounds weird, I know, but that's how I felt throughout this performance. The kid learned from his unfortunate showing last week and bounced back to knock our socks off yet again. Unless someone else really delivers a slam-bang performance tonight, I know who's getting my vote.

Michael Johns -- I wouldn't envy anyone who had to follow right behind David Archuleta, because they'd almost inevitably seem unimpressive by comparison. Case in point: Michael Johns. He was okay, and I've heard better from him ... his voice seemed a bit shaky in places. Sad to say, as much as I've enjoyed him, I think he's gonna end up in the bottom three this week.

Brooke White -- Okay, I think that, with this wonderful performance, Brooke has become my favorite of the ladies. I definitely disagree with the judges ... I don't understand what they didn't like about the performance ... I sure didn't see any "awkwardness" or "disconnected" quality. As of now, my vote is still going to David A., but if we were still submitting separate votes for the guys and the girls, Brooke would be getting one from me this week.

David Cook -- I'm really getting to like this guy! I know he's going to be a great rock star with or without "Idol", and this proves it! I think the "voice box" thing was a bit gimmicky, at least for "Idol", but this dude rocks! I'm already sold on his forthcoming debut album (not even in the planning stages yet, but we all know it's gonna happen). He's definitely not going away anytime soon ... I bet he'll end up in the top four.

Carly Smithson -- Another impressive performance from Carly! I don't know if it was my favorite from her, but she's definitely got what it takes to keep going. I'm still a bit bothered by the fact that she's already been a recording artist, but I'm trying to get past that. I think she'll at least make it to the final four as well.

Jason Castro -- I'll admit, he's cute and has a lot of charm, but I haven't been enjoying his voice as much lately as I had before. He was taking a risk singing French without knowing the language, but seemed to pull it off okay. It's a good thing the girls love him, 'cause if they didn't, I think he'd be in the bottom three this week.

Syesha Mercado -- You can't really make a much more daring choice of Beatles song to perform than "Yesterday", but I think Syesha did it justice! She was my favorite for awhile but slipped down my list in recent weeks; this performance brings her back up a notch or two. She was in the bottom three last week, but I doubt she has to worry about that this time.

Chikezie -- Hmmm ... it was really good, but the ballad-turned-bluegrass thing felt a bit forced, since he did a similar thing last week. Randy and Paula thought more of it than I did, but I agree with Simon in that, among other things, the harmonica seemed a bit odd. (Maybe he shouldn't have told us beforehand that he didn't know how to play it....)

Ramiele Malubay -- Very good, and she appeared to be a bit more relaxed on stage this time, but her voice has sounded better ... she seemed awfully quiet on the low notes. I really like her, but I think she could be bidding us goodbye, sad to say.

Who I think will be in the bottom three: Kristy Lee Cook, Michael Johns, and Ramiele Malubay.

Who I think will be eliminated: Kristy Lee Cook.

Who I voted for: Yep, David Archuleta ... and you need only click here to see why.

I'm secretly (well, now that I've posted it, I guess it's not so "secret" anymore) hoping that they don't do another Beatles night next week. Two weeks was fine, and it's one helluva songbook, but it's time to move on to other fare. Not to mention, I think the performers have been somewhat intimidated by the legendary songs, and tended to handle them with "kid gloves". If Simon, Paula, and Randy want the contestants to make the songs their own, they probably shouldn't make them work with such sacred, iconic compositions.

But, for now, let's see who gets their walking papers this week. I think I'm pretty safe with my prediction....

The Feeling

THE FEELING
"JOIN WITH US"
(Universal Island/UK, 2008)


"Won't Go Away"


The Feeling's debut album, "Twelve Stops And Home", was fantastic -- and therein lies the problem when awaiting the sophomore effort from a band this good. While being really eager to get their hands on it, one would be wise to at the same time be fully prepared to be disappointed by it. But as it turns out, I needn't have worried that Dan Gillespie-Sells and company would reward their loyal fans with another set of delicious, '70s-pop-rock-inspired ear candy.

The lead-off single, "I Thought It Was Over", gives the listener the perfect idea of what to expect from this new disc. Picking up right where their previous album left off, it doesn't really break any new ground, but the band does exhibit subtle signs of natural growth, with lyrics and arrangements that are a bit more sophisticated in places ("Spare Me", "Loneliness", "Connor") ... and in other places, they seem to have a more relaxed sense of fun ("Turn It Up", "Won't Go Away").

Sure, this album could be thought of as "more of the same", since its sound isn't a radical departure from "Twelve Stops", but in a way that's a good thing. They didn't try veering off in a new direction -- and if they felt that doing so would seem unnatural or that it would alienate or confuse their fans, or if they simply didn't feel the need or desire to, then why should they? They stuck with the formula that made their first album a hit ... more power to them. At least they've made this fan already start hungering for album number three...!

Casey Stratton

CASEY STRATTON
"STANDING AT THE EDGE"
(Sony, 2004)


"Blood"


Classically trained in the violin and cello beginning at the tender age of eight years, American musician Casey Stratton's focus shifted from classical performace to pop songwriting and singing when he began studying piano at age eleven. In 1995 (at age 19), he began his pop recording career, releasing three albums independently before his major-label debut in 2004.

Stratton's lush pop brings to mind a variety of artists, such as Sarah McLachlan, Enya, Peter Gabriel, and Tori Amos. Stratton's unusually high singing voice might take some getting used to, but it carries with it a disarming mix of sophisticated songs, including rhythmic, radio-ready tunes ("Violet Room", "The House Of Jupiter", "Blood"), gentle, atmospheric ballads ("The Dead Sea", "Bloom"), and most everything in between.

This has been Stratton's only major-label release thusfar, but he continues to record and release albums independently. The only reason I haven't bought any of his other releases is because I'm not sure how much I'd like them. Admittedly, this isn't my favorite sub-genre of pop music; it took me awhile to come to like this album as much as I do now, and I just think that liking any of his others could be a longshot. But don't let that keep you away from Casey Stratton ... take it from someone who knows: you never know when you might stumble upon one of your new favorite artists.

What the--?!?!

Well, freakin' crap! I didn't see this one coming....




















I'll miss you, David Hernandez ... but I'll be looking for you on the CD racks!

Idol Thoughts: The Top 12

Okay, now we're into the Top 12! I'm getting really excited here, but I'm also getting really nervous, 'cause we're going to see nothing but good singers get the boot every week now. And now, since there's a new set and a new title sequence on "American Idol", I thought I'd try something new: to write my comments "live", as it were -- as the show is going on, that is. (Until now, I was just making quick notes and writing out the full article the next morning; now I'm writing it all out the night before ... still posting in the morning, you'll notice, but this time it's just touch-ups.) So, let's get started:

Syesha Mercado -- A very good start to the show, with "Gotta Get You Into My Life". I think I've heard better from her, but with the way she strutted her stuff this time around, there's really nothing to complain about.

Chikezie -- I had the sneaking suspicion that he was going to blow me away sooner or later, and this week he finally did! I'll be interested to see if anyone can top his amazingly creative bluegrass-to-country-rock rendition of "She's a Woman". He rocked the house, for sure!!

Ramiele Malubay -- As much as I've come to love her, and as much as I hate to agree with Simon, I must say that her delivery of "In My Life" was a somewhat forgettable turn ... although, in fairness, it came right after Chikezie's amazing performance. She is starting to come into her own, but still needs to let her voice fly.

Jason Castro -- His take on "If I Fell" was pretty good, but far from his strongest performance. I honestly found his voice a bit "whiney" here and there, and (as Randy pointed out) the odd vocal arrangement threw me off a bit. A lot of viewers love him, but I just wasn't "feeling it" tonight.

Carly Smithson -- In what may be her best performance yet, she did an absolutely stirring rendition of "Come Together"! But the one thing I can't shake out of my mind about her is the simple fact that she's already had a professional recording contract. (Am I being unfair in that respect...?)

David Cook -- He'd have to work really, really hard to top what he did last week, but he delivered a great take on "Eleanor Rigby" ... I heard a couple of sour notes sneak in, but his performance made up for it ... really good!

Brooke White -- A tender piano rendition of "Let It Be" ... very, very good, although I liked her last couple of performances better. Still, I'm not quite ready to see her go just yet, so I hope she stays in the game.

David Hernandez -- I must say that this wasn't his best offering. I agree with the judges that he put a bit too much into his performance of "I Saw Her Standing There", and as a result it made him seem to not put enough into his voice. I just hope it doesn't cost him a Top-10 berth, 'cause I haven't seen enough of him yet, either.

Amanda Overmyer -- We knew she was gonna rock the Beatles, and she didn't disappoint, belting out "You Can't Do That". But I'm wondering if I'm starting to tire of her voice. It really isn't the most versatile in the world, and I'm still associating her with Janis Joplin ... and not many songs sound good sung with that kind of voice.

Michael Johns -- "Across The Universe" is one of my favorite Beatles songs, and he did as good a job of it as he could, sticking with a traditional arrangement. I've heard better from him, though, so I'm a bit worried about his chances for surviving this week's round.

Kristy Lee Cook -- Another countrified version of a Beatles song, this time "Eight Days a Week", and pretty good -- hey, it'd have to be phenomenal to beat Chikezie's performance -- and it was perhaps Kristy Lee's best vocal showing, but there seemed to be something missing ... perhaps that it just sounded like a Beatles song plugged into a country arrangement, and that her stage presence seemed to be a bit lacking. But I did think the judges were a lot more harsh on her than they should have been....

David Archuleta -- Did they save the best for last? The best performer overall, definitely (in my opinion, of course) ... but, sadly, not his best performance. We all could tell that he forgot the lyrics to "We Can Work It Out" in a couple of places, but he recovered pretty well for being as new to performing as he is. Despite the shortcomings of his performance this week (and again, I disagree with the lukewarm reactions of the judges), he's still got arguably the most talent, lovability, and charisma of all the contestants.

Now, I'm not sure how things go from here as far as the eliminations, so I'm going to give my predictions assuming that two will be removed....

Who I think ought to be eliminated: Jason Castro (his weakest performance thusfar) and Amanda Overmyer (she's fun, yes, but the novelty is starting to wear off for me).

Who I think will be eliminated: Michael Johns (I think Jason has too many fans to be eliminated this early) and Kristy Lee Cook (ditto for Amanda, more fans than Kristy Lee).

Who I voted for: David Archuleta -- I wanted to vote for Chikezie, but somehow I think he's gonna do quite alright in the viewer votes department this week ... I had to support David in light of his unfortunate lyric trip-ups ... I was sure feeling the agony for the kid, I love him so much. (Yeah, right ... like he's gonna be booted this early, if at all!)

Let's all tune in tonight for the results...!

Relish

RELISH
"WILDFLOWERS"
(EMI/Ireland, 2001)


"Rainbow Zephyr"


Hailing from Ireland, three-man band Relish (not to be confused with the lesser-known American metal band of the same name) was something of a cross between Lenny Kravitz and Blessid Union of Souls. Their sound combined the best elements of both: the soulful rock of the former (indeed, Ken Papenfus' voice is almost a dead ringer for Kravitz's) and the quasi-spiritual pop sensibility of the latter.

Relish were equally adept at breezy love songs ("You I'm Thinking Of"), bouncy pop numbers ("Natural High"), sweet ballads (the title track), and solid rockers ("Heart-Shaped Box" -- not a cover of the Nirvana song, by the way), but they still give me goosebumps with the soaring anthem "Rainbow Zephyr", which would sound completely natural being sung by a large gospel choir. Westlife fans may recognize this song (with altered lyrics) under a different title, "Hey Whatever", recorded by the group two years later -- but I find the original to be far, far superior.

Relish has thusfar only released one other album ("Karma Calling" in 2003), and have never formally announced a breakup, but their official website hasn't been updated at all in nearly two years, so I'm not holding out much hope. I discovered this band through a happy accident, when I picked up their debut CD from the Virgin Megastore clearance bin on a whim, so if they have quietly disappeared into music history, I suppose I should at least be thankful that I was able to enjoy their two albums rather than never having found them at all.

BBMak

BBMAK
"INTO YOUR HEAD"
(Hollywood, 2002)


"So Wrong So Right"


Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen McNally -- collectively known as the British pop trio BBMak -- sprang onto the scene in 2000 with their debut album, "Sooner Or Later", an inoffensive and generally upbeat mix of pop and R&B. Critics (both professional and amateur) tended to lump them into the "boyband" category, but BBMak set themselves apart by writing their own material and playing their own instruments; the songs were far less synth-pop and far more acoustic and natural-feeling than the likes of NSYNC and Backstreet Boys. Their breath-of-fresh-air sound helped their album achieve gold-selling status with a peak position of #38 on the U.S. album charts, as well as spawning two Top-40 singles.

Their sound stayed relatively the same for their sophomore album, "Into Your Head", but their lyrics and arrangements became more mature. I find it curious that this album didn't sell as well as their debut, because I personally found this batch of songs much more enjoyable and memorable. I have just a vague recollection of the melodies from one or two of the songs from their first album, they made that little of an impression on me. But by contrast, I was able to recall the choruses from most of the songs on this album just by reading their titles in the track listing, and that was after not listening to the album for over a year. And with as much music as I listen to, that's really saying something.

The hit single "Out Of My Heart" ... the uplifting "Get You Through The Night" ... the heartbreaking "After All Is Said And Done" ... the epic "Sympathy" (with its orchestral punches) ... the optimistic "I Still Believe" ... and with the guys' soaring vocal harmonies and wonderful, jangly instrumentation throughout the entire album ... what could be better? Included in this post is a rare (I think) bonus track not found on the U.S. edition.

Barry, Burns, and McNally went their separate ways in 2003, and have all since pursued solo careers, as well as Burns fronting a new band called Inhaler, and McNally auditioning for the UK music-competiton show "The X Factor". It's too bad we only got a precious two albums from the unique chemistry that they produced together.

Idol Thoughts: Viewer Votes - Round 3

Well, this week's "Idol" broadcasts were as enjoyable as always, and I'm really starting to get anxious about who's going to get cut from week to week. I mean, there are nothing but good singers now (well, maybe with a couple of exceptions), so the exits are only going to get more heartbreaking from here on out. But, for now, let's break things down....

Luke Menard kicked guys' night off quite well, although he loses a point or two from me for his choice of song (I'm sorry, but "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" makes me cringe). Michael Johns was a bit less stellar than usual this week, and ditto for David Hernandez, who was possibly preoccupied with the unfortunate disclosure of his previous profession (shame on Simon for trying to egg the other judges on to use the word "strip" in their critique, and also for allowing his voice to be heard over the air when doing so).

Chikezie held his own with another well-played soulful number, and Jason Castro switched things up a bit by ditching his guitar and using just his voice, and he was quite decent. David Archuleta, as usual, was positively fantastic (He plays piano too? How sickeningly talented is this kid, anyway?!?) ... but I think someone might have one-upped him, for a change, and this one was definitely unexpected: David Cook really stood out with his rocking rendition of the normally syrupy Lionel Richie ballad "Hello".

Who I think ought to be eliminated: Danny Noriega (yes, I hate to say it again ... the boy is adorable, but somehow just can't stay in tune, at least not enough for my comfort level) and Luke Menard (it's a close call, but I have to say his was the least impressive performance of the night).

Who I think will be eliminated: Danny Noriega (come on, people, it's time), and Jason Castro (somehow I get the feeling he didn't connect with enough people ... call it a hunch).

Who I voted for: David Hernandez. "What?" you ask incredulously. "Not David Archuleta?" Not this week. Hey, we all know that David A. is positively mopping the floor with the other guys, so I figure he didn't need my vote this time. Plus I just feel the need to give David H. my support ... I just hope that enough Americans are able to keep their hypocrisy and double-standards about sexuality (and sex as it relates to the music world) at bay, and give him enough votes to keep him in the game. His voice deserves to get him into the final four.

We saw another great night from the ladies as well. Amanda Overmyer gave what I thought was her best performance since entering the Top 24, and I felt the same way about Kristy Lee Cook. Also, for the first time, I was truly impressed with Carly Smithson (I know ... it took me long enough, didn't it?). Brooke White again put a spin on a song by taking the acoustic ballad approach to the Pat Benatar rocker "Love Is a Battlefield", and the results were fantastic. And my two overall favorite ladies, Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado, again turned in excellent performances.

Who I think ought to be eliminated: Yeah, the only two names I didn't mention in the paragraph above: Asia'h Epperson and Kady Malloy ... the two least exciting performances of the evening.

Who I think will be eliminated: Asia'h Epperson and Kady Malloy.

Who I voted for: Brooke White ... what can I say? Her acoustic twist on that song really captivated me. No matter how much further she gets in the competition, I'm sure she'll have a great career in music ahead of her.

Gosh ... can I stand to wait until tonight to see the results? If I'm not right in who I think will be eliminated, tears may very well be shed....

Kyle Riabko

KYLE RIABKO
"BEFORE I SPEAK"
(Columbia, 2005)


"Before I Speak"


Listening to this album, it's hard to believe that Canadian singer/songwriter Kyle Riabko was only 17 years old when he recorded it. His prodigious guitar talent (nearly every note of guitar on the album was performed by him), crisp and robust voice (as sweet and soulful as could possibly be), and keen songwriting skills (he wrote every song) were befitting of a man twice his age, and the resulting album is every bit as good as his gift for music would suggest.

The twelve songs, interspersed with three short "interlude"-type tracks, weave together elements of everything from blues to rock to funk to soul, and I think there might even be a tiny bit of country in there somewhere too. The delicate ballad "Half as Much", the frantic rocker "Paranoid" (with the fantastic lyric, "My life is a twister, so bear with me, sister"), the swaggering blues number "Miss Behavin'", the catchy rock-soul duet "Chemistry" (featuring Liz Phair on guest vocals), and the first-class funk of the title track, are just a few of the highlights.

I'm not sure why he hasn't released any more full-length CDs since this one, but he has been releasing an EP every once in awhile, when his acting gig (on the teen comedy/drama series "Instant Star"), and his fill-in touring work with roots-rock band Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, aren't keeping him busy.

Rooster

ROOSTER
"CIRCLES AND SATELLITES"
(Brightside, 2006)


"I Come Alive"


UK band Rooster were off to a promising start in 2005, with their self-titled debut album reaching Number 3 on the UK chart, having already had their first two singles climb into the Top Ten. Their gritty, muscly rock sound, inspired by '70s bands like Cream and Led Zeppelin, combined with the throaty growl of lead vocalist Nick Atkinson, was poised to overtake the more polished, teen-friendly pop-rock of bands like Busted and the then up-and-coming McFly.

But then, "Home", the lead-off single of their sophomore album, failed to grab the listeners' attention and peaked at a disappointing #33. Rather than releasing the album on schedule, the label postponed it for several weeks, which might have contributed to its lackluster sales. (Hey, if a debut album was as good as Rooster's, wouldn't you have been eager to pick up their next one? I sure was.) In my opinion, "Home" was a poor choice for first single, 'cause there are plenty of more exciting tracks on this gem of an album.

From the frenetic rockers like "I Come Alive" and "Unexpectedly", to the foot-stomping energy of "Get Up" and "So Long", to the tender balladry of "Everything Moves So Fast" and "Clear Skies", to the heavy funk of "Halo", there's just as much to like on this album as there was on their debut -- if not more. The Japanese version, released first, contains one bonus track not included on the UK version, which didn't appear until a few months later.

This is yet another case study in my continuing argument that the major-label industry is ridiculously impatient with their artists when it comes to putting out hit records -- the artist seems to get treated that much better or that much worse, depending on whatever their chart position is at the time. (Debut albums by artists like Bruce Springsteen and Huey Lewis & The News performed rather poorly, and it took them awhile to become the successful artists that they eventually did ... a chance that they would never have been given if they were starting out now instead of 20 to 30 years ago.) Rooster broke up in January of 2007, and I have to wonder if it was a result of their treatment by their label. Alas, we may never know ... and we'll also never know what a fantastic third album from them might have sounded like.