This week’s releases include new records by one of American Idol’s biggest stars, and two iconic singer/songwriters.
Which raises the question — hit records these days go to the same trendy songwriters, over and over, and ignore the living geniuses. Neil Diamond got his start writing for the Monkees, certainly he doesn’t need the money, but he must have songs in the vault that would work for young pop and country stars, and join his catalog of enduring classics. Elvis Costello is a brilliant melody maker, who can be starkly beautiful or just as angry as ever, still the boundary breaking post-punk genius.
When a young singer like Clay Aiken sings classics of the 70s or 80s, it’s dismissed as “just a cover”, and the new music is forgettable. Maybe the answer is to get the “old guys” who still have the stuff to write new classics for guys like Clay.
Home Before Dark
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| There are a few musicians with iconic voices, they cannot be mistaken for anyone else, they cannot be imitated, they transcend genre and generation, the voices convey character and conviction. Think Sinatra, Ray Charles, Willie Nelson. The gravelly baritone of Neil Diamond is surely on that list.
“Home Before Dark” is the second Diamond/Rubin collaboration. Three years ago, Neil released “12 Songs” produced by the legendary Rick Rubin, who did the masterpiece recordings of Johnny Cash in his late years. Some fans of Neil’s adult contemporary classics were taken aback by the sparse unornamented arrangements. To my mind, when you have quality songs and Neil’s enduring voice, 1001 strings or synthesizers don’t add a thing. Neil’s voice shows its age, but has lost none of its richness. If you thought that somewhere in the 80s, Neil wandered too far down the path of saccharine lyrics and “easy listening”, these back to basic arrangements are welcome. Check out “Pretty Amazing Grace” and “Power of Two” and the bluesy ambling “Slow It Down”. I could skip the duet with Natalie Maines, her voice is too flat to harmonize with Neil. (Margaux) |
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Momofuku
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| Don’t worry, the title isn’t obscene. According to Elvis, “Well, obviously the title is a tribute to Momofuku Ando, the inventor of the Cup Noodle. Like so many things in this world of wonders, all we had to do to make this record was add water.” The album was recorded in about a week. “I’d been telling people that I was done with recording and believed it myself. This record date reminded me that it wasn’t making music in the studio that made me miserable but the nonsense that predictably follows in what we laughingly call the “music business”. So I decided to change it and my mind. That’s what I do.” The result is unpolished, unadulterated rock n roll as only Elvis can do. (Margaux) |
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On My Way Here
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| Fresh from his successful run on Broadway in “Spamalot”, the Season two runner-up Clay Aiken releases an album that is “finally” the one he has always wanted to make. So what is it? Middle-of-the-road pop that rocks just a little. The title track, written by One Republic (who did the recent hit “Apologize”) frontman Ryan Tedder called, “On My Way Here”, has enough of the contemporary sheen to make it on adult contemporary radio, but could get old after about five listens. “Something About Her” is a pleasant piano ballad, suitable for a romantic dinner. Attempts to be edgy like the rocker “Fallen” with its vocal distortions are less successful (Margaux) | |
Snack Time
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| The new Barenaked Ladies’ kids’ album, Snack Time, was released today. The video for “7,8,9″ is awesome:
It’s like old-school, Schoolhouse Rock kind of animation. The song is hilarious. I am actually contemplating buying the album even though I don’t have any kids. (Mari) |