[CD Reviews]
A STATE OF TRANCE 2008
ARMIN VAN BUUREN | A STATE OF TRANCE 2008
GENRE | LIKE IT SAYS
VERDICT | REST IT PLEASE
RELEASE | 10.7.08
LABEL | ULTRA RECORDS
ARMIN.ARMADAMUSIC.COM
Trance never gets old. Born as soon as computer programs enabled billion-track recording, the genre sounds exactly the same as it did 20 years ago.
[CD Reviews]
DON'T FORGET
DEMI LOVATO | DON'T FORGET
GENRE | PEDO POP
VERDICT | PURITY MY ASS
RELEASE | 9.23.08
LABEL | HOLLYWOOD RECORDS
DEMILOVATO.COM
This Spearsian sexy singing thing needs to get younger. Lovato recorded much of these robotic come-ons at 15.
[CD Reviews]
EVERYTHING IS BORROWED
THE STREETS | EVERYTHING IS BORROWED
GENRE | TALK-SING-RAP
VERDICT | BROKEN-DOWN CAR
RELEASE | 10.7.08
LABEL | VICE RECORDS
THE-STREETS.CO.UK
Mike Skinner is reaching. Feel-good eponymous anthem "Everything is Borrowed" has a nice bounce to it, and the concept is pleasant enough, but Skinner has a sort of car-commercial flow that I just can't get behind.
[CD Reviews]
S/T
INNERPARTYSYSTEM | S/T
GENRE | ELECTROMO
VERDICT | HELLO HIPSTER
RELEASE | 9.30.08
LABEL | ISLAND RECORDS
INNERPARTYSYSTEM.COM
Are you ready for "electro" to meet "emo"? Are you ready for party photographers to take over Tsongas Arena?
[CD Reviews]
UN DIA
JUANA MOLINA | UN DIA
GENRE | SONIDO DE SUEÑOS
VERDICT | BREAK OUT THE SHROOMS
RELEASE | 10.7.08
LABEL | DOMINO
JUANAMOLINA.COM
When talent takes a risk, it sticks the landing. Juana Molina, an Argentine songwriter known for psychedelic balladry, has done just that on her fifth album, the far-out Un Dia.
[CD Reviews]
TELL TALE SIGNS: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.8
BOB DYLAN | TELL TALE SIGNS: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.8
GENRE | MORE MASTERY
VERDICT | PILE IT ON
RELEASE | 10.7.08
LABEL | COLUMBIA/LEGACY
BOBDYLAN.COM
Quite obviously, there is no comparison for the great Dylan. As a chameleon who has outlived his disguises, it's a wonder he's still alive, but unreleased tracks like "Dignity" and "Born In Time" show the master craftsman still leaves gems on the edit floor.
[CD Reviews]
Covers
JAMES TAYLOR | COVERS
GENRE | ATM-USIC
VERDICT | LESS INHERITANCE FOR US
RELEASE | 9.30.08
LABEL | HEAR MUSIC
JAMESTAYLOR.COM
"Starbucks calls me up and was like, 'How'd you like to make 35 billion dollars?' I was like, fuck'n yeah.
[CD Reviews]
LOVE, WAR AND THE GHOST OF WHITEY FORD
EVERLAST | LOVE, WAR AND THE GHOST OF WHITEY FORD
GENRE | DELUSIONS OF GRANDEUR
VERDICT | I DID NOT COME TO GET DOWN
RELEASE | 9.23.08
LABEL | THREE-RING PROJECT
MARTYR-INC.COM
An artist has the right to evolve. They can go from "Jump Around" to winning a Grammy with Santana if they so choose.
[CD Reviews]
Who Killed Amanda Palmer
AMANDA PALMER | WHO KILLED AMANDA PALMER
GENRE | BLOWTORCH SONGS
VERDICT | SWIMS WITH SHARKS
RELEASE | 9.16.08
LABEL | ROADRUNNER RECORDS
WHOKILLEDAMANDAPALMER.COM
Did Ms. Palmer jump the shark by performing with the Boston Pops? Perhaps. We hope she made a shark sandwich, but we didn't get a chance to crash the party.
[CD Reviews]
Leucocyte
E.S.T. | LEUCOCYTE
GENRE | NÜJÅZZ
VERDICT | ELECTROMATIC
RELEASE | 9.30.08
LABEL | EMARCY
EST-MUSIC.COM
Not sure why I got so many copies of this record, as our generation notoriously eschews jazz, but, like the weather, when you go all the way to Norway (Supersilent, Nils Petter Molvæar, et al), jazz gets cool again.