]> http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/editorial/albumreviews/0,,,00.html Most Recent Album Reviews on ARTISTdirect 86400 Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:46:35 PST en-us http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,3688444,00.html#review In today's post-September 11 landscape, the American public lives in fear of terrorism, with some citizens willing to surrender civil liberties such as privacy in favor of governmental protection. The politically-minded thriller Vantage Point is shaped by this concept. A stellar ensemble cast was assembled for the film, including heavyweights like Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, William Hurt, and Sigourney Weaver. Action-packed Vantage Point shepherds a familiar plot—a presidential assassination attempt—to the forefront, but it updates the narrative structure in a thoroughly refreshing way. The film follows in the structural footsteps of TV's 24, adopting minute-by-minute pacing, where every ticking second leads to the attempted murder of the U.S. President (played by the stately Hurt) during a crowded peace summit in Spain. In an attempt to assemble the puzzle pieces of who fired the bullet and under whose directive, the film repeats the same event five different Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:46:35 PST 4706142 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4685769,00.html#review Members have come and gone, and so has the identity of a once dirty-ish rock act. In seeking out a new sound, Earlimart has stumbled a bit en route—but only with gaining a due audience—which is unfortunate. Last year's Mentor Tormentor was a widely overlooked, indie pop-rock gem, and Hymn and Her continues the more lush orchestration that their last few efforts have spawned. Earlimart is starting to head down an interesting path: Hymn and Her sounds a lot like a lost '90s alt-rock outtake, in the vein of older bands like Luna, Madder Rose and Belly. Those acts didn't get any full-time respect, and maybe there's something about making well crafted dream-pop that people can't catch on to. Hymn and Her fluctuates between the upbeat, building piano-pop of tunes like "For The Birds" and "God Loves You Best," to more slow, weird numbers like the ethereal, string-lined "Tell Me." Lead Earlimarter Aaron Espinoza seems much more assertive this time around, in a sort of refund-demanding Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:19:45 PST 4706118 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,4396785,00.html#review Set in New York City during the summer of 1994, The Wackness is less about reflecting the historical specificities of that year (though there are several references to Rudy Giuliani’s newfound anointment as mayor) than its emotive atmosphere. Sweltering heat and an evocative soundtrack of hip hop favorites, including songs courtesy of A Tribe Called Quest and Nas, foster an energetic tone that rouses youthful nostalgia in the 20 and 30-somethings who are The Wackness’ target audience. With references to mixtape madness and R. Kelly’s “Bump ‘N Grind” associated with the first blossomings of sexuality, director Jonathan Levine captures the innocent and often heartbreaking subtleties of maturation. This nostalgia transcends the slightly sensational story line, about a new high school graduate named Luke (Josh Peck) who pushes pot and trades the green for psychological counsel from an erratic therapist (Ben Kingsley). Luke contends with problems common to those on the brink of adulthood: Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:37:37 PST 4706004 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,4493771,00.html#review Anyone can sire a child. However, it takes a real man to be a father to his son. The societal, cultural, and personal impact that a father has on his son cannot be discounted or underestimated. City Of Men examines the value of the father-son relationship and its implications by laying out what happens when two boys struggle to become men despite being raised without the influence of a strong male figure. The "nature versus nurture" tug-of-war is on full display in this cautionary tale. The film appears to have been shot with a digital camera in a soft focus, with key scenes taking on a jittery shaky-cam vibe. It's as though the characters' actions were captured by a handheld camera, as the cinematography of City of Men is intimate and immediate, comprised of close shots that place the viewer smack dab in the middle of the all the frenetic action. You'll see beads of sweat breaking on the actors' brows and backs, since that's how dangerously close the camera comes to its subjects. Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:20:34 PST 4705978 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4548646,00.html#review Delta Goodrem wants to give us something to believe in. That's instantly apparent from "Believe Again," the aptly-titled opening track of her eponymous U.S. debut. At 23, the entrancing and sultry Australian beauty has a lot to say about love, relationships and life. Granted, that may sound a little trite on paper, but bare with her. She writes dreamy, epic pop in a classic sense. Poetic lyrics come to life via ethereal, near-angelic vocals, and hooks take center stage. On that first track, an orchestral intro crashes into a mammoth chorus that's somewhere between Fiona Apple and Celine Dion—yet it stands alone. The cherry on top of that song has to be gospel-style backing vocals, which sound like divine intervention mid-song. It's very rare for a young-starlet-in-the-making to come out of the gate so auspicious, but Delta breaks right through, living up to her status as a platinum sensation down under. Her voice has an edge, but at the same time, it's got a glossy, palatable Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:38:43 PST 4705939 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4693103,00.html#review Danger Radio have effectively updated funk for the MySpace Generation. The Seattle six-piece stir up a veritable hodgepodge of sounds that could only be described as "electro-dream funk." In fact, their debut, Used and Abused, could serve as the soundtrack for a '70s cop flick, or more likely, an '00s remake of a '70s cop flick. The band mixes flourishes of disco, emo, funk and alt rock seamlessly. What results is something of a sonic lava lamp, where fluid sounds co-exist and smoothly float over each other. Nothing's off limits. On "Kiss N' Tell" and the bouncy title track, there are some piano passages that'd make Elton John proud. Both songs keep the listener guessing, as they segue from danceable audio ecstasy to fiery arena-rock choruses. "So Far Gone" begins with an intro that wouldn't be out of place on an Isaac Hayes jam, but the chorus channels Fall Out Boy. "Things" builds with a funky and fun groove. The cut's cheeky synth interlude could signal the zombie invasion Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:34:56 PST 4705938 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4705898,00.html#review Jackson Conti isn't a neo-soul balladeer, a hip-hop artist or even a singer-songwriter, but rather, Jackson Conti is the team of famed hip-hop/down-tempo producer Otis Jackson, Jr. (Madlib) and veteran Brazilian drummer Ivan "Mamão" Conti. In other words, it's the dream project of a very specific kind of music nerd, i.e. anyone who is passionate enough about the tepid acid-jazz of Jackson's Yesterday's New Quintet project to seek out one of his more significant vintage influences in a contemporary context. On those terms, Sunjinho just lives up to expectations, balancing fairly tired Spanish guitars, predictable synth pads, and daiquiri-strength xylaphones with layers of fervent horns, manic, over-driven piano, and—not often enough—stoned vocal passages. "Papaia" is the longest track, working enough different angles to cast a heavy spell, while female, scat showcase "Upa Nenguinho" is the most creative and ecstatic, closing triumphantly with a spacey coda of dubbed-out atmospheres Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:06:29 PST 4705899 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/movies/title/0,,3978230,00.html#review Maybe you have to be European to appreciate and comprehend the black humor battery that politically incorrect yarn In Bruges operates off of. The film is a coy, almost daft study of the post-job life of hit men and how they attempt survival in the murder-for-hire business. The film twists the traditional, overused formula of examining the minutiae and day-to-day activities of those who’ve done the deed when they're laying low and avoiding retribution for their actions. Ray (furry-browed Colin Farrell) and his partner Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are hiding out in the quaint, architecturally beautiful town of Bruges, Belgium, far away from the brutal murder they committed in London. Ray accidentally knocked off a child and his guilt complex has shifted into overdrive. Despite being deposited in a sleepy city ripe for partaking in innocent touristy activities and maintaining anonymnity, the lethal plague of boredom overwhelms the pair. Contract killers don’t exactly blend into the scenery, Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:26:39 PST 4705838 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4393213,00.html#review On her fourth studio album, Ashanti's attempt at asserting her independence from the producers that have controlled her career yields lackluster results. For a lead single, "The Way That I Love You," which is also the record's first real song, is dullsville. Sure, it has a nice, real tone on the piano. However, there's no real hook to the melody, and most of L.T. Hutton's production, while serviceable, refuses to call attention to itself, leaving it feeling more wallflower than cool and laidback. The numbers on which Ashanti should shine in exactly this context, establishing herself as more than a pretty but flavorless voice, are, sadly, the ones that fail to impress most, while the songs on which she has help from guest stars (Akon, Nelly, Robin Thicke) or more notable producers (Jermaine Dupri, Babyface) are more memorable, if not always better. "Good Good," which Dupri shapes around the star's image—still more invested in innocent come-ons than in full-on sexpot antics—with a Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:00:57 PST 4705739 Album Review http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,4658421,00.html#review Oh, to be the sweet new kid on the block. With tousled blonde locks and saucer-sized doe eyes, Jessie Baylin is that soft and sought-after girl next door. But boys beware: This gal is wise beyond her 24 years, and she's way above any b.s. from the X-Y chromosome. Her latest album, Firesight, is proof of that. Kicking the set off with the easy groove of "See How I Run" and the jazzy, full-bodied swagger of "Leave Your Mark," Baylin surfaces as a refreshingly mature artist. On the latter track, she crafts a country-influenced come-on that twinkles and shines in all the right ways. That's because as she croons for a lover to leave his mark somewhere on her, she doesn't adopt the over-sexed stance of her similarly aged musical peers. No, Baylin is flying high above that mess, and that’s what’s so endearing and impressive about her material; she unveils heartfelt and adult work you’d expect from someone twice her age. It helps, too, that she sounds more like a sultry Joni Mitchell Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:59:44 PST 4705738 Album Review