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ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JANUARY 9, 2011
NEWS/FEATURES
25
Music
Failed to strike right chord
A look at the 2010’s
overlooked albums
Mumford & Sons, “Sigh No More”
(Glass Note)
Mumford & Sons released “Sigh
No More” last February to little fanfare. By the end of the year, it was
hard to escape the London quartet
and it’s angry little hit, “Little Lion
Man.”
Who could blame anyone for
overlooking “Sigh No More”? The
album was released on a small independent label, and the guys dressed
in faux 18th-century garb.
Ten months later Mumford &
Sons has a Grammy nomination and
sold-out American tour behind it and
a promising future ahead with its
unique blend of folk, rock ‘n’ roll and
country.
It was a case of great music trumping the odds. “Little Lion Man” got
all the attention, but the truth is “Sigh
No More” is packed with great
songs. There’s very little percussion
here and plenty of high harmony, yet
there’s nothing soft about “Sigh No
More.”
Songs like “White Blank Page,”
‘’Thistle & Weeds” and “Dust Bowl
Dance” rock with malevolent energy
and transfixing story lines - and show
there’s no overlooking Mumford &
Sons next time around.
■ Chris Talbott, AP Entertainment
Writer
Sahara Smith, “Myth of the
Heart” (Playing in Traffic)
Sahara Smith’s crystalline soprano
is so commanding that when she
sings of driving all night to reach
Laredo, Texas, it sounds like a good
idea.
“Myth of the Heart” is the debut
album by Smith, and it benefits from
the backing of T Bone Burnett and
the crack studio band that performs
on many of his records, including
drummer Jay Bellerose and guitarist
Marc Ribot.
Still, this is Smith’s album - and a
fine showcase for the kind of voice
that fogs up windows. The 22-yearold Texan is Norah Jones with more
swing, or Alison Krauss with more
thump. When she overdubs a harmony part, that just makes the song
twice as good.
Smith’s a precocious composer,
too, and she wrote all 12 tunes. The
lyrics are vivid: Days whistle past,
alleyways move in their sleep and
crazy ideas howl like a circus, and
even a lesser voice could coax beauty from the ballads Smith has written. Highlights include the shimmering love song “Angel,” the fatalistic
“World’s on Fire” and the dreamy
“Mermaid,” which offers an image
of Smith singing her daughter to
sleep. What a lucky child.
■ Steven Wine, Associated Press
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals,
“Grace Potter & the Nocturnals”
(Hollywood Records)
If only for superficial reasons,
Grace Potter - a leggy Heidi Klum
look-a-like - should be a bigger star.
But the singer-songwriter, guitarist
and keyboardist is so much more
than a rock-girl pinup, and there are a
multitude of substantial reasons why
Potter and her band, the Nocturnals,
deserve to be on playlists everywhere with their excellent third
album, simply titled, “Grace Potter
& the Nocturnals.”
The smoldering disc features a
near-perfect blend of rock, pop and a
bit of country twang as a fiery Potter
wails her way through electrifying
grooves and emotionally stirring
slow-burners.
Potter, who released a solo album
before hooking up with her band,
wrote or co-wrote all of the album’s
13 songs, which range from the sassy,
gritty “Paris (Ooh La La)” to the sexy
“One Short Night” to the wistful
“Goodbye Kiss.” On the lyrically and
musically rich ballad “Colors,” Potter
sings of taking a romantic leap of
faith and being rewarded by leaving a
drab, black-and-white existence with
a kaleidoscope of colors. “Grace
Potter & the Nocturnals” represents
that ray of sunshine in an often dreary music world.
■ Nekesa Mumbi Moody, AP Music
Writer
Gucci Mane, “The Appeal:
Georgia’s
Most
Wanted”
(Asylum/Warner Bros.)
Gucci Mane may not have had the
best hip-hop album in 2010, but the
rapper who often finds himself in
trouble certainly produced his most
impressive disc with “The Appeal:
Georgia’s Most Wanted.”
Don’t expect a lyrically gifted
album from Gucci Mane, who was
released from jail early last year but
was back behind bars in 2011. He did
find a recipe in putting together a
solid album after his three previous
disc were lackluster with a few street
anthems.
“The Appeal” had superb production with not too many collaborations this time around, unlike his past
albums. But when he did team up
with other artists, Gucci Mane
excelled on tracks such as
“Haterade” featuring Nicki Minaj
and Pharrell, “Remember When”
with Ray J and “It’s Alive” with
Swizz Beatz.
Those are the best songs of his
fourth album, which was released in
late September. And through most of
Gucci Mane’s latest 15-track effort,
you shouldn’t find yourself pressing
the skip button much - unless you are
contagious to hearing the word
“Buurrr” often.
■ Jonathan Landrum Jr
Graffiti6, “Colours” (NWFree
Music)
Cheers to the girl - or girls - who
broke the heart of Graffiti6’s Jamie
Scott.
His torched soul is the main theme
behind “Colours,” the nicely crafted
debut from the London-based duo,
which includes producer TommyD.
On the album, Scott beautifully
sings about his love lapses: His
world is collapsing on the top-notch
dance tune “Stare Into the Sun” and
he’s yearning on the slow groove
“This Man.” But Scott doesn’t just
coo about being lonely: On the title
track he’s ready to move on, and on
“Over You,” he’s both calm and confident.
The album’s great sound is mainly
due to Scott’s voice, which is soft at
times, and raspy at others. His tone
will remind you of other “blue-eyed
soul” performers: He echoes
Australian
singer
Daniel
Merriweather throughout the disc,
and on “Over You,” you’ll hear similarities to R&B crooner Robin
Thicke.
Scott is also a talented songwriter,
penning all 12 tracks on the CD, as
well as tunes for Enrique Iglesias and
British boy band JLS. But luckily,
he’s saved his best material for himself.
■ Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press
Mackintosh Braun, “Where We
Are” (Chop Shop Records)
Listening to Mackintosh Braun’s
“Where We Are” is like eating a tasty
piece of candy: It’s short, sweet and
satisfying.
But unlike other pop music songs
or artists - the kind where too much
is overbearing, or tummy acheinducing - this 10-track set is one
you’ll listen to and crave more and
more.
The base sound for the record is
dance, but the songs are also computerized and dreamy.
The Portland, Ore.-based duo of
Ian Mackintosh and Ben Braun truly
shines on the eerie-sounding
“Frozen,”
the
genre-bending
“Nothing Else Is Real” and “I Won’t
Fall,” a tune about ambition and not
letting anything get in your way.
Keep on keeping on.
■ Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press
Dale Watson, “Carryin’ On”
(E1 Entertainment)
“Carryin’ On” includes drinking
songs, a cheating song and a song
about a country song, with Dale
Watson addressing these well-worn
subjects in a familiar Merle Haggard
croon. Yet there’s nothing stale about
this retro set; the material’s so strong
and so expertly delivered that the
songs satisfy like a first sip at the
neighborhood tavern.
Watson makes clear his fondness
for George Jones, Glen Campbell
and Marty Robbins, as well as
Haggard. His friendly baritone
serves as the anchor, and he’s surrounded by fine studio musicians,
some with resumes dating to
Nashville’s glory days in the 1960s.
Lloyd Green’s weepy pedal steel
recalls that decade, as do the countrypolitan backing vocals.
The corny quotient is more reminiscent of the Eisenhower era, however, as Watson sings of snuggling
and spooning with the sincerity of a
kid giddy from his first date. Ah,
those were the days.
■ Steven Wine, Associated Press
Into It. Over It./Koji, “IIOI/KOJI” (No Sleep)
Best friends and singer songwriters
Evan Thomas Weiss and Andrew
Koji Shiraki pulled off a wonderful
musical mind-meld on their split
release album, “IIOI/KOJI.” Each
man handled one side of the album
that is filled with heartfelt rock songs
that proved both cohesive and candid.
Chicago-based Weiss performs
under the moniker “Into It. Over It.”
He kicks off things on the album’s
first side with five tracks of pathostinged rock.
The often furious guitar is latticed
under smart lyrics and strong vocal
work by Weiss.
Weiss goes wild into the night on
pell-mell-paced track “Humboldt,”
as he sings about the recklessness of
youth. “It’s a drunken soccer punch,
it’s a fragile fist across the chin/ And
I’m laughing at all the trouble this
will get you in,” Weiss sings with the
right amount of subtlety.
His best offering comes on
“Pilsen,” with its exquisite crash of
guitar and finely controlled rage.
Here, Weiss’ vocals stand out crisply
amid the powerful din of the music
behind him.
The mixing on his tracks is excellent and enables him to blend power
and poignancy.
In this CD cover image released by NWFree Music, ‘Colours,’ by Graffiti6 is shown. (AP)
Show returns with some big changes
‘Idol’ days may be over
This undated album cover image
released by EMI Records on Dec 29,
show ‘The Fall’ by Gorillaz. ‘The Fall,’
released for free for fan-club members on Christmas Day, was produced using iPad. (AP)
Albarm
Snoop Dogg
Variety
LOS ANGELES: Gorillaz, “The Fall”
(EMI Records)
Just because the Gorillaz recorded their
latest album with the help of the iPad
doesn’t mean you can. You ask why? It’s
because frontman Damon Albarn is a
musical genius and, well, you probably
are not.
“The Fall” was recorded while the virtual band toured North America last fall.
They used 20 iPad applications to create
the 15-track set, which is the group’s most
simplistic album yet. And that isn’t a bad
thing.
While most of the songs are titled after
places the group visited on tour, other
tracks are highlighted by objects that
inspire Albarn: There’s the gloomy “Little
Pink Plastic Bags” and “Revolving
Doors,” a tune that sounds like Albarn is
searching for something — or searching
for himself.
“The Fall,” Gorillaz’s fourth album,
was recorded in just 32 days. It was
released for free on Christmas Day to fanclub members and was available as a
stream for the rest of the world; a physical
disc is planned this year.
While the new record has a nice sound,
it’s not as top-notch as the band’s past
CDs, including the genre-bending “Plastic
Beach,” one of 2010’s best albums.
The other downfall is the lack of collaborations on the record, which the cartoon band is widely — and respectfully —
known for. You won’t find songs with
great assists from De La Soul, Snoop
Dogg or Little Dragon. However, veteran
singer-songwriter Bobby Womack is still
around, and on “Bobby in Phoenix,” he is
both magically talented on the guitar and
on the mic.
Check out this track: Though tour life
is probably tons of fun, there must be
times when the road gets lonely, and that’s
perfectly represented on the amazing
“Amarillo.” (AP)
❑
❑
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LOS ANGELES, Jan 8, (Agencies): A
heavily revamped “American Idol”
returns for a 10th season later this
month, but only 47 percent of “Idol”
viewers questioned in a new poll said
they would definitely or probably
watch it.
In fact, 67 percent of those taking
part in the poll for The Hollywood
Reporter magazine said they thought
the best days of the TV singing competition were over, despite the addition
of actress Jennifer Lopez and
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler to
the judging panel.
“American Idol”, which for more
than eight years has been the mostwatched TV show in the United States,
returns to the Fox television network
on Jan 19.
In a bid to reverse sliding audiences
and slumping record sales for “Idol”
champions, producers have shaken up
the format, adding an “Idol” house
where the top 12 contestants will live
during the competition, lowering the
singers’ minimum age to 15, and
bringing in top record producers to
act as mentors to the would-be pop
stars.
But according to The Hollywood
Reporter Wednesday, plans for an “allstar” showdown, featuring champions
like Kelly Clarkson or David Cook
competing against popular “losers”
like Adam Lambert or Jennifer
Hudson, were ditched when few of the
former “Idols” gave their consent.
Lopez and Tyler were brought in to
replace departed British judge Simon
Cowell, and judges Kara DioGuardi
and Ellen DeGeneres also exited. Only
record producer Randy Jackson
remains from the original 2001 lineup.
There was some good news in the
poll for “Idol” producers and Fox. Of
those people responding, six in 10 said
they believed the shake-up was a positive change.
Some 48 percent said the addition of
“Wedding Planner” actress and singer
Lopez makes them more interested in
watching, and 43 percent felt the same
about Tyler.
“The new ‘Idol’ is cooler and less
predictable,” according to those surveyed, said pollster Jon Penn.
Here are some other fixes designed
to help the talent show recover from a
disappointing 2010 outing.
■ Updated set: The set is undergoing
substantial modification, including the
location of the band, led by musical
director Ray Chew.
■ Faster elimination: The elimination
process is speeding up considerably;
viewers at home will still shape the
semifinals, but the Top 24 may go
directly to 12 contestants — or 15, as
producers are still mulling over a final
number.
■ Online voting: The voting procedure will be overhauled. Plans are in
the works for an online integration that
would include bonus content and the
ability to vote with a click.
■ New living arrangement: An Idol
mansion. Newly returned executive
producer Nigel Lythgoe “was keen on
it,” a source says.
■ Original songs: Producer-songwriters handpicked by Interscope Records
boss Jimmy Iovine will mentor the
contestants. Rodney Jerkins (Janet
Jackson, Britney Spears), Ron Fair
(Christina Aguilera, Pussycat Dolls),
Timbaland (Justin Timberlake, Nelly
Furtado) and Alex Da Kid (Rihanna,
Eminem) will help them with song
selection, then arrange and produce
the musical accompaniment — a pre-
recorded track augmented by a live
band — specifically for each contestant. And for the first time ever, the
contest won’t be limited solely to
cover songs.
■ Theme week makeovers: Theme
weeks will also get a makeover.
“We’re not going to ask a country
singer to sing an R&B song, or an
R&B singer to do Led Zeppelin,”
Iovine explains. “If the theme is ‘80s
or Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, every
song will be customized to that contestant.” What’s most important, he
adds, is that the song suit the finalist’s
voice.
■ Possible music videos: While there
has been serious talk of music videos
to test the contestants’ acting skills,
and how they incorporate backup
dancers and even their ability to replicate iconic video images from the
past, no final decision has been made
and one Fox insider says it could be
off the table — for now. (More than
ever before, Idol is in flux.)
“With music breaking on the
Internet, the visual aspect of any pop
star is huge,” Alex Da Kid says. “We
want to make (the process) as real as
possible.”
■ Faster music releases: Instead of
taking the summer months to work in
the studio and releasing an album in
the fall, finalists will have music out
as the season progresses. “The sands
of time are slipping through the hour
glass and you want to capitalize while
the public is so engaged in the story of
winning or losing,” says Ron Fair,
chairman of Geffen Records.
“Normally with a new artist, the world
isn’t waiting. In American Idol’s case,
the public is — they want to hear
something great. With a big tail wind
like that, you want to set sail.”
ly downloaded music has failed to arrest
the overall decline in an industry struggling with online piracy.
Digital and physical album sales
reached 119.9 million in 2010, down 7.0
percent from 128.9 million in 2009 and
compared with 154.7 million in 2006.
Of that total, 21 million units were sold
in the digital format last year, a 17.5 percent market share and an increase of 30.6
percent on 2009.
CD sales slumped 12.4 percent, howev-
er, to 98.5 million versus over 150 million
in 2006.The singles market hit a record
high of 161.8 million units sold in 2010,
up 5.9 percent on the previous year. Of
the total, 98 percent of singles purchased
were in the digital format.
“However encouraging it is to see the
digital market grow ... legal downloads
are unable to offset the decline in CD
sales because they are dwarfed by illegal
competition,¢ said Geoff Taylor, BPI
chief executive.
“Meaningful action to tackle illegal
downloading remains absolutely critical if
we are to stabilise British music sales, let
alone return to growth. Without it, investment in new digital services and in British
musical talent will begin to dry up.”
On the retail level, music, books,
DVDs and games group HMV announced
on Wednesday that its sales in the five
weeks to Jan. 1 dropped sharply and that
it would sell or close around 60 British
stores over the next year.
Take That’s “Progress¢ was Britain’s
top-selling album last year, moving more
than 1.8 million copies, while Eminem’s
Love the Way You Lie,” featuring
“Rihanna, was the most popular single
with sales of 854,000.
Universal Music, the world’s biggest
label, had six of the top 10 best selling
artist albums in Britain in 2010, followed
by Warner Music with three and Sony
Music with one. (RTRS)
LONDON: Album sales fell by seven percent in Britain last year, despite a 30 percent jump in the number of digital albums
purchased, industry lobby group the BPI
said on Wednesday.
The figures compiled by the Official
Charts Company extend the trend of
recent years, where the sharp rise in legal-
Young musician Olivia Shotton from Hammersmith plays a violin piece by
Mozart inside Waterloo station near a Jubilee line interchange. The BBC is
encouraging commuters to listen to musician playing on the busking areas of
the tube as part of its ‘The Genius of Mozart’ season. (AP)