Jul 08
AndrewMusic Album, American Idol
Ace Young’s self-titled post-American Idol debut is eerily reminiscent of Justin Timberlake from the tenor of his vocals to the vibe of the album to the harmonious melodies stapled on to a Meatloaf-sized production. Young manages, in the same slick way Timberlake does, to evoke Michael Jackson from 1982 (Thriller) instead of Michael Jackson from 2001 (Invincible).
Much has been made of the lack of success of American Idol male alumni. Even wholly credible albums like the one from rocker Constantine Maroulis fail to make much of an impact on radio or sales. That’s because, with the exception of Daughtry, most of it is over-produced crap (see Lewis, Blake). But on Ace Young, the production probably saves Young some post-Idol grief. It’s a slick pop album with just enough hip hop cred to entice radio.
The Letter is Young’s Billy Jean (well, Billy Jean-lite). Evoking his best Nickelback impression, A Hard Hand to Hold, will get the pre-teen girls weeping in their soccer patch tee. And Dirty Mind would melt many a middle-aged man in the hands of Justin Timberlake. So what if Young delves is turgid Christian balladry with album closer The Gift? And who would complain that Fast Life sounds suspiciously like a George Michael single? Well…
The problem, if one needs to point this out, is that there is nothing uniquely Ace Young on this album. The first single Addicted is clearly radio-ready, but you wouldn’t be able to distinguish it from any boy band offering that’s already in the rotation. And ultimately, while Ace Young sounds good, it doesn’t make much of a lasting impression.
Oct 01
AndrewMusic Album, Greatest Hits, MB20
New tunes from Matchbox Twenty will be part of a two-disc package Exile on Mainstream due out tomorrow. The set, preceded by the single How Far We’ve Come, features the band’s hits on one disc and new songs on the other.
Overall, the vibe of the new material is decidedly positive. Surprising given some of the darker themes and moody vibe of their preceding albums, casual fans not recognize the more relaxed Matchbox Twenty. Even though the lyrics of How Far We’ve Come are reminiscent of earlier songs, the energy is very different, downright upbeat.
The trend continues on tracks I’ll Believe You When and Can’t Let You Go. Of the new tracks, only These Hard Times seems to fit in with older tracks like Bent and Unwell.
It’s hard to argue that a the new shiny, happy Matchbox Twenty is a bad thing. The new material is a solid return for the band, however brief the reunion may end up being. The band has lined up a number of television promotional appearances over the next week including a October 4 appearance on The Tonight Show.
Matchbox Twenty played their first live date on Saturday in Boston, MA as part of MixFest 2007. They played an hour long set that featured three new tracks How Far We’ve Come, These Hard Times and I’ll Believe You When as well as a run through of their best known tracks. They also have a date scheduled at the Wiltern in Los Angeles, CA on October 26 for the 3rd Annual Lounge for Life concert.
Mar 28
AndrewMusic Album, Macy Gray
Macy Gray manages better than most artists to cross the lines between rock and R&B genres without losing herself in the process. On her new album Big, she pulls together all the best elements plus touches of big band, disco, and funk and makes it work with that voice. Big is her best record since her debut On How Life Is.
On this album, Gray enlisted the help of Will.i.am and Ron Fair to get the balance right. It is to their credit that they keep Gray on track because there’s a lot to distract her -- violins, guest spots by Justin Timberlake and Natalie Cole among others. At times her in her career, Macy Gray has come off like a party girl after an all-nighter, wobbly on two legs, voice shot and not a pretty sight.
That said, her voice has never sounded better on this album. She uses the rasp to glorious effect on Okay and gets her sexy back on What I Gotta Do and Slowly. Shoo Be Doo, easily a candidate for a single release, will remind you of her hit I Try. Even if that is the only Macy Gray song you know, you’ll be rewarded by giving Big a spin.
Gray abandons balladry for this collection of mid-tempo tracks covering topics from motherhood to relationships. Lead track, and the first single, Finally Made Me Happy sets the tone for the album. The adage says breaking up is hard to do, but with Gray, you’d never know it. You will find yourself grooving along as she tells her ex, “You finally made me happy when you walked out that door.” Most of the album follows that vibe. Even with lyrically, the songs turn introspective, the tunes stay upbeat. Try not to chant G-H-E-T-T-O during Ghetto Love or stomp your feet to album closer Everybody. And Treat Me Like Your Money, with a Will.i.am vocal spot and a sample of Dead or Alive, could be a Prince joint -- it’s that hot.
But all of those songs prove that no matter the vibe, it’s Gray’s talent that ties it altogether. If you are a casual Macy Gray fan, or just curious, now is a good time to give her a try.
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