Lady Antebellum is the band of the land right now. The country trio’s latest album, “Need You Now,” is huge. So far, it’s the biggest album of 2010 and the title track has crossed over into mainstream pop, heading toward No. 1.
I for one couldn’t be happier about the return of the ’70s flourish. You know, the urgent strings, the unnecessary but wholly welcome background harmonies, the non-sequiturs spoken through a vocoder … I’m happy to report that all of those are present on Butch Walker’s latest.
Music’s mystery lady is back, proving true the old adage: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. I’m talking about Sade Adu, and the avant-soul band that bears her name Sade. The band’s latest album, “Soldier of Love,” is in stores now.
Katharine McPhee was let go from her RCA recording contract last year, but that experience didn’t leave her broken. Instead, it fueled her career and brought her to the attention of David Foster.
The youngest Jonas brother surrounds himself with quality bandmates and puts together a solid set of rock and soul with "Who I Am."
"Expando," crafted with a hand-picked cast of all-star contributors ranging from Graham Nash to Dwight Yoakam to the Band's Garth Hudson to (wha...?) Kid Rock, shows some flashes of cool, classic rock and folk, but all too often has the same plasticized-country-rock feel that still causes testy debate between rock fans about the Eagles' place in the pantheon.
From the Day-Glo harmony of the Beach Boys to the violent tremolo of the opening notes to Dick Dale's "Misirlou," something about surf music just stirs the soul. Florida-based group Surfer Blood mixes a little indie-rock angst in amongst the waves on "Astro Coast," putting together a sunny record that occasionally wanders into a darker undertow.
The best albums you may have never heard in ‘09
Here's a look at the best Southern rock/country albums from 2009.
I’m not about to sit atop Snooty Rock Critic Mountain and declare the 10 absolute best albums of 2009. I’ve heard but a fraction of the year’s releases, plus my tastes are as quirky as yours. Instead, I have assembled a list of 10 albums released during ’09 that I fully enjoy — and you might also.
Led by Italians Stefano Bertozzi and Massimo Eusebio, Banda Olifante joins musicians from all over the world and combines clarinet, saxophone, tuba, horns, accordion and percussion into a swirling mix of the classic and modern, whipping up some heady songs in the process.
You've never heard a rapper like MC Paul Barman, who continues taking geeky, inventive hip-hop to newer, nerdier heights with "Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud."
You've never heard a rapper like MC Paul Barman, who continues taking geeky, inventive hip-hop to newer, nerdier heights with "Thought Balloon Mushroom Cloud."
Skipping the temptation to make a tasteless joke about the title of the opener on his new album ("I Can Transform Ya"), it's fair to say that Chris Brown has an uphill climb to win back his fan base. "Graffiti" is a decent step in that direction, an interesting blend of modern R&B with a few surprising moves.
"Til the Casket Drops" picks up where the tense, minimalist "Hell Hath No Fury" left off, and while it keeps the paranoid edge of its predecessor, there is a definite pop expansiveness to its beats, resulting in what might be the Clipse's most accessible album to date.
Seattle-based Fresh Espresso deliver a caffeine jolt of pop-influenced hip-hop with "Glamour," blending non-traditional beats with a flair for lush atmospherics and experimentation.
We know he’s not here to please everyone. We also learned recently that he’s certainly not here to baby-sit you (his words, not mine). So what exactly is Adam Lambert here for? He’s here for your entertainment — or something like that.
With his third full-length album, Ghettosocks has hit his stride, comfortable in a wide variety of settings and tempos. Just like its first track, "Rappin' for Fun," this album lives up to its title, a savory collection of bouncy hip-hop.
Canadian producer VLooper (short for "Veggie Looper") has brought his abstract, disconnected soul sound to a wide variety of projects, from solo records to his "Bullesbubbles" collaboration with African beatmaker KenLo. The latest, "Digital Flowers," pairs up his skittery sonics with buttery R&B courtesy of spouse Gabrielle Modlee.
"Blackroc" has what so many other rap-rock projects are missing: By using the same type of raw sound that so many hip-hop samples are after in the first place, Ohio garage rockers the Black Keys are able to create a hybrid record with an impressive guest list that includes Rza, Mos Def, Raekwon, Jim Jones and others.
