Herbie Hancock

HERBIE HANCOCK
"POSSIBILITIES"
(WEA, 2005)


"Stitched Up" (featuring John Mayer)


Legendary jazz musician Herbie Hancock, who started out as a member of Miles Davis' quintet in the 1960s, has dabbled in rock and pop music from time to time, most notably with his huge crossover hit, "Rockit", in 1983. Since jazz hasn't been a favorite genre of mine for quite a few years now, I admit that I've never paid much attention to him before. But as soon as I happened upon this disc and read the list of guest artists -- a veritable who's-who of the rock and pop music world -- I knew I had to have it.

Much like Santana's recent albums, this is a collaboration project, but whereas Santana brings his guest artists into his enchanted world of Latin music, Hancock allows the featured players on his album to mostly stay in their familiar genres, but injects a bit of his trademark jazz arrangements and magical piano work into them. The result is a more free-flowing and relaxed album -- though no less enjoyable -- than Santana's last few.

Christina Aguilera shines on the sultry, torchy "A Song For You" (which earned a Grammy nomination); gifted young Latin guitarist Raul Midón breathes beautiful new life into Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called To Say I Love You"; soul-singing powerhouse Joss Stone and blues prodigy Jonny Lang are an explosive combination on "When Love Comes To Town"; and the vocals of Grammy-winning Beninese chanteuse Angélique Kidjo along with the Latin guitar mastery of Carlos Santana make "Safiatou" a true world-music tour-de-force. And that's not even mentioning the equally fantastic tracks featuring John Mayer, Annie Lennox, Sting, and Paul Simon!

I recently happened upon a documentary film (which I didn't know existed) about the making of this album, showing how each of the tracks came about. The movie gave me a new appreciation for the album. Suffice to say, if I hadn't known about the album before I'd seen the documentary, I would have run out and grabbed it immediately. I don't remember exactly how I found out about the album, but boy, am I glad I did.

Kurt Nilsen

KURT NILSEN
"PUSH PUSH"
(RCA/Norway, 2007)


"Still They Wait"


I could almost curse myself for once thinking that no good music ever came from the "Idol" shows. Of course, I still have yet to glom onto any of the American Idols, but that's sure to change now that I'm watching it intently this season. Also, there's the fact that Kurt Nilsen is from Norway, a country for whose taste in pop music I've gained a lot of appreciation lately. I like Erik Faber so much that, despite having been introduced to all three of his albums in just the past year, I'm already feverishly anticipating his next.

But thankfully, now I've got this gem of an album from Norwegian Idol (and World Idol) Kurt Nilsen to tide me over. While it reminds me quite a bit of Faber's more recent albums, it's also unmistakably Kurt Nilsen, with his rich baritone voice -- though not as distinctive as I remember it being on his debut -- radiating through the sophisticated lyrical and melodic arrangements. There's a perfect balance between energetic, upbeat tunes ("Push Push", "Tearing Me Up Inside") and soft, sweet ballads ("Every Once In a While", "Dance With Me"), with a couple of mid-tempo tracks thrown in as well.

I really liked his debut, "I" (partly because he covered both a Tal Bachman song and a Duran Duran song on it, a sure way to win me over), but he has shown tremendous growth with this album. I don't yet have Nilsen's sophomore album, "A Part Of Me", fearing it might be a little too acoustic/singer-songwritery, but the way this album has won me over is really making me consider picking it up ... and heck, maybe even his newest album, a country collection, too!

Better Late Than Never...

...that I finally called another exit correctly, that is. Of course, how wrong could I be with only five contestants to choose from, two of them being shoo-ins?




















Goodbye, Brooke White ... a real sweetheart, the genuine article. We'll obviously be seeing an album from her ... and again, like Carly, undoubtedly a reissue of her existing album.

Idol Thoughts: The Top 5

Well, I guess we're down to the final month of "Idol", aren't we? Just five hopefuls remain, and they're dropping like flies. But there's a bright side: it's Neil Diamond Week!! Well, okay, maybe that's not necessarily a "bright side". But anyway, I just heard Ryan say that each contestant will be singing two songs tonight (and, presumably, every week from here on out) ... now that really is a bright side! I think I'll sort my comments by performer, because I assume they'll not each sing their two songs in a row. Anyway, let's get going....

Jason Castro -- He's sweet, he's charming, and so was his performance of "Forever In Blue Jeans" ... uniquely Jason Castro. And it's also why I'll be buying his album as soon as he puts one out. ... "September Morn" was pretty good, but not outstanding for a Jason performance ... his voice was rather shaky in places.

David Cook -- Well, if anyone can rock a Neil Diamond song, it's David Cook ... and he did it! Hmmm ... I think it might be tough picking someone to vote for tonight! ... His second song was pretty darn good, too ... I'll be shocked if it doesn't come down to the two Davids this year.

Brooke White -- "I'm a Believer" is probably my favorite Neil Diamond composition, and ... I have to say, I thought it was pretty good, but not excellent. She should have chosen a bit of a higher key, 'cause she had trouble hitting the notes in the verses. ... She did better with "I Am, I Said" ... she definitely has an appeal all her own ... still in the running, perhaps.

David Archuleta -- I've been waiting for my boy do to another upbeat song (enough with the slow somber stuff, already, David!) ... and I loved it!! I'm not entirely sure it was his strongest performance (maybe his voice does shine more on the ballads), but I'm lovin' this kid more with every week! ... I've always thought "America" was a rather cheesy song, and I cringe a bit at the fact that he chose it, but he did the best he could with it. I hate to sound repetitive, but guess who's probably getting my vote again this week?!

Syesha Mercado -- Very well done, but not extraordinary. I guess the only way to say it is that the two ladies are the contestants I'm least excited about, quite frankly. ... Her take on "Thank The Lord For The Nighttime" was much better ... maybe she's still in the running, too.

Miscellaneous thoughts: Is Paula on drugs, thinking that Jason had sung two songs halfway through the show? Good thing she's not voting. ... Doesn't that one violinist look like Neil Young? ... What is it with the girls waving their upraised arms from side to side during EVERY slow song? They just do it like mindless drones.

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White. Each of the contestants had good performances, but I have a feeling she was the least impressive. (But then, how many times have I predicted Brooke's exit...?)

Who else I think will be in the bottom two: Syesha Mercado. I think it's pretty clear by now that the guys are the darlings of the competition this year.

Who I voted for: Take a wild freakin' guess (as if it were even a "guess", right?).

As one reader here pointed out last week, anyone could be let go from here on, so it's sure to be an exciting few weeks. Are you ready for the results tomorrow night? I'm almost afraid to watch...!

Franky Perez

FRANKY PEREZ
"POOR MAN'S SON"
(Lava, 2003)


"Class Act"


Franky Perez may be a full-blooded Cuban, but he was born and raised in Las Vegas, and except for one or two songs on his 18-track debut album, his sound is just about as American as can be. Imagine a Cuban version of John Mellencamp -- good old-fashioned, jeans-and-T-shirt rock and roll, with a bit of a Latin twist.

Yes, that's right ... eighteen songs are stuffed onto this album, which not only means that it's well worth the money, but also significantly increases the odds that most everyone will find at least one or two things on the album to enjoy. Don't let the depressing subject matter of the first few tracks give you the wrong idea ("Cecilia" is a frantic plea to a self-destructive young runaway to come home, and "Something Crazy" paints a dark picture of a woman physically abused by her boyfriend), because the album lightens up considerably from then on.

Just a few of the highlights include an uplifting ode to youthful innocence ("Angel Park"), a coolly raging angst-rocker ("Leave Me Alone"), a beautifully breezy Latin ballad ("Bella Maria"), a pair of music-themed anthems ("Cry Freedom" -- not a cover of the Dave Matthews song -- and "Love Soul Rock N' Roll"), and one of the gentlest and sweetest love songs I have ever heard ("Beautiful Mistakes").

I must confess that this is another of those CDs that I'd owned before and traded in -- and now I wonder whatever possessed me to do such a thing. It's safe to say that this CD will never be leaving my collection again.

Was (Not Was)

WAS (NOT WAS)
"BOO!"
(Rykodisc, 2008)


"Crazy Water"


I was never much of a fan of this group back in their late-'80s/early-'90s heyday, although I was passingly familiar with their bigger hits like "Walk The Dinosaur" and "Spy In The House Of Love". Nevertheless, when I saw this CD on display last weekend (on my Record Store Day visit to the local shop), I was intrigued enough -- and got enough of a pang of my own personal musical nostalgia -- to call it up on the listening station ... and, as you probably guessed from its presence here on my blog, I ended up coming home with the CD.

This disc starts out strongly with "Semi-Interesting Week" (clever song titles usually make me want to check out a CD), occasionally swerves into avant-garde oddity (the trippy robotic dialogue "Needletooth" and the half-spoken-word closer "Green Pills In The Dresser", featuring country legend Kris Kristofferson), and also features a nice ballad ("From The Head To The Heart"). But it's on the abundant upbeat numbers that the group is at its best -- especially "It's a Miracle", "Forget Everything", and "Mr. Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore".

They've gotten a bit more serious with age -- back in the day, Was (Not Was) possessed a bit of an off-kilter whimsy not unlike the B-52's -- but their spirit is as strong as it ever was, and they've piled on the funk, soul and disco grooves in such a way that it sounds like they'd been keeping it bottled up for all of the 18 years that have passed since their last album. To borrow an advertising slogan, "Boo!" is such a chunky, funky stew that you'll be tempted to eat it with a fork.

Another Shocker...

I'd have bet cash money that it was Brooke's time to go ... but, well, I guess it's a good thing I didn't.


















See you around, Carly Smithson ... you've had a recording contract before, and we know you'll have one again (and a reissue of your old album, no doubt!).

Idol Thoughts: The Top 6

Hmmm ... okay ... I don't quite know what to expect out of tonight's show, because "American Idol" and Andrew Lloyd Weber seem like a rather weird combination. Obviously, the songs are going to be hard to pull off because of their theatricality -- maybe that's the point ... to really test the Top 6 and push their performing abilities to their limits. Let's see what happens....

Syesha Mercado -- I've never heard the song before, but I really like it (would go perfectly on one of my "I Love Music" compilations!) ... and she performed it really well! I was a bit disappointed, though, since she sounded really promising when she was just singing in front of ALW backstage. Pretty darn good, though.

Jason Castro -- I've gotta say, he did much better with that daring choice of song than I expected he would! He almost should have chosen a slightly higher key for the first half of the song, 'cause he struggled just a bit with the lowest notes, but overall I'm impressed. He's in the Top 6 for a reason, that guy!

Brooke White -- Oops. You know what? I have mixed feelings about this one, and not just because of her false start. (Hey, she's not gonna be able to do that if she's performing in concert ... good for Paula for laying that down point-blank.) Simon was right, in that she seemed uncomfortable and didn't fully recover from that slip-up. Sorry to say, I think this is going to cost her.

David Archuleta -- Randy was absolutely right ... this kid can sing anything!! This song was completely unfamiliar to me, and it could very easily be an album track, or perhaps even a single on contemporary radio. Bravo, David!!

Carly Smithson -- ALW was right ... Carly needed to sing a song like this! (I actually expected David A. to sing a song from "Jesus Christ Superstar", but that's neither here nor there....) An excellent showing from Carly ... probably her best in at least the last few weeks!

David Cook -- This is one of the pitfalls of "Andrew Lloyd Weber night" ... some of the contestants sing songs that just aren't them. While David was good (especially with that big note in the middle), I just wasn't into the performance because it's not the kind of song he's best at singing. I'll admit that I may not be giving him his due, but (as Randy is fond of saying), "I'm just keeping it real."

I'm not sure if, or when, the "bottom three" becomes the "bottom two" (remember, I've never watched a season of "Idol" before), so I think I'll do it this way:

Who I think will be eliminated: Brooke White -- I thought she was going to go last week, but with her little flub tonight, I'm pretty certain that her number's up this week.

Who else I think will be in the bottom two: Syesha Mercado ... I'm tempted to say Jason Castro, but I think the fans love him too much to let him get voted out just yet. (If I may extend a prediction ... I think he'll be the next of the guys to go, unless one of the others screws up next week.)

Who I voted for: Of course, David Archuleta! Hey, at least I'm not blindly voting for him every single week, right?

The results are getting more and more nerve-wracking to watch ... and I have to wait a whole 24 hours to see them this week!

Bent Fabric

BENT FABRIC
"JUKEBOX"
(Hidden Beach, 2005)


"Keep On Rising"


I wrote a bit about this CD before, but I decided to dedicate a whole post to it because ... well, quite frankly, it's that good and it deserves more than one mention. This is one of those CDs that I honestly can't imagine anyone disliking, and that I think everyone should hear, no matter what kind of music may be their favorite.

For an 80-something-year-old Dane, Bent Fabricius-Bjerre is pretty darn hip. Okay, most of these songs have probably been extensively tricked-out for the modern music audience by the album's army of producers, but Bent Fabric is the writer and performer of the piano melody at the heart of each of the tunes. Most of the songs have been rounded out with lyrics, but there are a pair of instrumentals: the super-fun "Blowout", and the classic arrangement of his most famous tune, "Alley Cat" (you might not know it by name, but you've definitely heard it before).

As for the vocal numbers, they're about as much of a grab-bag as you could ask for. Two dance numbers ("Bam Boogie" and the title track) get the party started, but there's also a seductive Latin number ("Haven't You Noticed"), an outstanding contemporary-R&B track ("It Feels Like Love"), a hip-shaking love song ("Everytime"), a semi-soulful soother ("Just Be There For Me"), and an energetically slinky bopper (the paradoxically titled "Relax Boy"). Six different singers are featured on the album, resulting in an enjoyable mix between male and female vocals.

Rarely has an album's title been as appropriate as this one, because this truly is a "jukebox", jumping randomly from one style of music to another. It would be perfect for a party, because all the tracks are fun and can be danced to. And I'd bet the DJ would be asked by more than a few of the partygoers: "Hey, what's that disc you were spinning?!"

Espen Lind

ESPEN LIND
"APRIL"
(Universal/Norway, 2005)


"Happy"


After taking a break from his own recording career to write and produce tracks by Beyonce (her Grammy-award-nominated single "Irreplaceable"), Chris Brown, Jessica Simpson, Ne-Yo and others, Norwegian popsmith Espen Lind returned to the recording studio in 2005 for his third album, "April". While it's not his best album thusfar (in my opinion), it's still Espen Lind, which means it's leaps and bounds above most other stuff out there.

A more understated affair than his previous album, "This Is Pop Music", Lind this time around eschews nearly all of the trippy digital trappings and layered percussive effects that made that album intriguing enough for many repeated listens. Not that this album is necessarily boring; there is something to be said for keeping things simple and straightforward. For one thing, it brings that much more attention to Lind's gorgeously flawless voice, and it makes him rely more on the strength of his songwriting ... not that he's had any problems in that area either.

Ballads are very much in the majority on this album; in fact, I have to stop and think if there's a single track whose tempo I'd call "upbeat" ... the stellar R&B-flavored "Truth Hurts" (which would sound right at home on a Chris Brown or Usher album) and the gliding mid-tempo track "Stay Away Tonight" are probably the two that come the closest. The lyrics throughout the album are often more optimistic than the music would imply, and Lind's multi-faceted talents as writer, instrumentalist and producer give the album an integrity that makes it feel like more than the sum of its parts.