“A Woman A Man Walked By” arrives just a year and a half after alt.lioness PJ Harvey’s equally difficult and brilliant “White Chalk”. That alone makes it notable, since the last time she released albums in such quick succession was the mid-’90s, around the same time of her last songwriting collaboration with John Parish. This second disc is another album of raging, naked directness. Even the quieter “Leaving California” reveals a surprising amount of mischief, invoking some of “White Chalk”’s mist and gloom in a kiss-off to the Golden State.
by Mark Emge
Some of the world’s biggest artists team up with Cuban band Rhythms Del Mundo for the benefit album, “Classics”. The collection aims to raise awareness and funds for natural-disaster relief through the U.K.-based charity Artists Project Earth (www.apeuk.org). “Classics” follows the similar 2006 album “Rhythms Del Mundo Cuba”, which emerged after the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. That compilation featured Buena Vista Social Club musicians reworking tunes from such acts as Coldplay, U2 and Franz Ferdinand. Here, The Killers visit The Eagles‘ “Hotel California”; Amy Winehouse plays “Cupid” (Sam Cooke); and Keane take Queen “Under Pressure”–all in collaboration with Rhythms Del Mundo.
by Mark Emge
“I came into the session with [pro songwriter] Liz Rose and said, ‘I’ve got this idea,’” says Taylor Swift of the third single off of her hit collection “Fearless”, “You Belong To Me”. “I overheard a friend of mine talking to his girlfriend and he was completely on the defensive, saying, ‘No, baby, of course I love you. More than anything! I’m so sorry.’ So I came up with the first line: ‘You’re on the phone with your girlfriend / She’s upset / Going off about something that you said.’” Note the song’s prominent banjo line, its concession to the country in Taylor’s pop.
by Mark Emge
If anyone thought Sonic Youth were getting a little too comfortable, “The Eternal” proves they aren’t afraid of change even as they close in on 30 years of music-making. The album is SY’s first for legendary indie Matador Records after a nearly 20-year stint with Geffen, and the most striking thing about it is how hard it rocks. The disc’s blood-drawing rawer moments are tempered by “Malibu Gas Station”, which creeps so imperceptibly toward its raging guitars that they’re almost unnoticed until you’re caught in their undercurrent.
by Mark Emge
In what might possibly be the first playdate requiring agents, the mothers of musicians Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso introduced the pair to each other on the set of “Hannah Montana”–which stars Musso’s brother, Mitchel, and Trace’s sister, Miley. Moms encouraged their sons to get together and jam, resulting in the emo synth-pop outfit Metro Station. “Seventeen Forever” is the track from their MySpace page that got the boys signed. (No word on the moms’ percentage of the take.)
by Mark Emge
Demetria Devonne “Demi” Lovato is an American actress and singer-songwriter best known for her role as Mitchie Torres in the Disney Channel movie “Camp Rock”. Besides acting, she is also a solo artist and released her debut album, “Don’t Forget”, which included the happy-go-lucky single “La La Land”. Lest you figure Demi for a typical Mickey Mouse pop tart, however, Demi has her demons. Once in the thrall of metalcore, Lovato has named Norwegian symphonic black-metal band Dimmu Borgir “one of her favorite live acts”. (Recently Demi admitted she’s left metal behind since she is “in a happier place now”.)
by Mark Emge
Four years ago, Eels frontman and songwriter E (Mark Oliver Everett) penned a collection of intimate, revealing songs called “Blinking Lights” that reflected personal experience and the human spirit. In many ways “Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire” is its mirror image, but one focusing more on animal instinct. This beautifully crafted, stripped-down recording showcases once more that E uses searing honesty and a canny sense of pop, rock, blues and everything else to chronicle his own strange path through life. After a rocking first half, the disc settles down into nakedly sensitive, embarrassingly frank ballads beginning with the self-explanatory wish revealed in “That Look You Give That Guy”.
by Mark Emge
New album “Death Magnetic” bounces Metallica back to the days before Bob Rock allowed them to start sharing their feelings by embracing their more suitable blend of angst and terror, as if it should have been the record to follow “…And Justice for All”. Such a deliberate revival of glory days can be tricky, possibly making the group seem stuck in the past–or unable to get the essential elements right. But songs like “All Nightmare Long” revel in Metallica’s greatest asset–that nobody else makes noise in the same way as they can.
by Mark Emge
What is summer without a great summer track? Whether you’re in your car or hanging out at the beach, when you hear a good tune you just have to turn it up full blast and sing along. Here is a great one to help you get into the summer spirit. Darius & Finlay’s “Destination”, featuring Nicco, is the strong follow-up single to their hit track “Do It All Night”. Summer is here!
by Mark Emge
“When I see you / I run out of words to say,” Akon sings in the opening lines of his love ballad, “Beautiful”. Would-be hit-makers take note: This brilliant couplet lowers lyrical expectation and allows the artist to concentrate on his Auto-Tuned strong points. Namely, letting former Rebelde teeny popper and “Plaza Sesamo” cast member Dulce Maria work a crossover into Latino markets. This is what business strategists call a “master delegator”. Other tips include using beats from other artists’ tracks (in this case Alice Deejay’s “Better Off Alone”), and keeping the backing music and lead vocal melody to a minimum, since they take up valuable time and inspiration that could be devoted to, say, designing a fashion line like Konvict Clothing. This man is not a mogul by accident!
by Mark Emge
