the singularity of being and nothingness
Posts tagged Music
CD Review – Jake Smith's "Real"
Aug 1st
In the face of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans native Jake Smith proves that even disaster cannot stifle the soul of the Big Easy. Released under Christian pop guru Michael W. Smith’s Rocketown Records, Smith’s debut album, Real, is a funky, soul-filled musical journey fused with penetratingly thoughtful lyrics that broach subjects of faith, loss, hope and love.
Musically, Real is significantly diverse. Tracks like “Get Up” and “Can’t Save Your Soul” are bright and groovy, while others like “Real Love” and “Run” are hauntingly melancholy. Yet within the diversity, a common thread of soulfulness unifies each track to the whole, creating the impression of a well-crafted, robust, and surprisingly mature project.
Somewhat reminiscent of Elliot Yamin’s earlier, and less impressive, 2007 release, Smith’s vocals are smooth and infectious, enrapturing the listeners’ attention without becoming overbearing. Yet behind these inherently accessible vocal performances is a depth and earnestness of lyricism that sets Smith worlds apart from the burned-over, made-for-radio pop which is so characteristic of today’s music scene. While comparisons to the artistry of John Mayer are surely overreaching, Jake Smith’s debut with Real heralds significant promise for this new artist.
As a final note, Smith has recently partnered with More >
Lifehouse – Who We Are
Jul 14th
Hmmm…two CD posts in a row…
Anyway, I checked out Lifehouse's newest album, "Who We Are," a couple of weeks ago and…
Wait, let's cover this first. If you are a Lifehouse fan, you know the appeal of their music. The songs are thoughtfully written with intelligent lyrics. Musically, they are not phenomenal, but the songs are interesting and something one might like to listen to repetitively. Finally–and perhaps the biggest draw–is the incredible melodies which they consistenly deliver from song to song. I can think of few other bands that I listen to that are capable of producing songs that are endemically sing-a-ble and incessantly hooky.
…I loved this album. Like their other work, Lifehouse's "Who We Are" brings no surprises, no random stylistic changes that smack of artistic evolution (or devolution, as it might be). To the contrary, Lifehouse continues indefatiguably to BE Lifehouse. It is similar to eating at McDonald's. With every visit, one is not expecting to have a gourmand rebirth; one goes there because it tastes like you want it to taste, and how you know it will ALWAYS taste. On this album, Lifehouse continues to be the double-quarter pounder with cheese that is not a revolution in taste More >
Sara Bareilles – Little Voice
Jul 10th
I know that my "tough guy" reputation is going to endure significant damage because of this post; nonetheless, I will press onward.
It is a bit of a secret that I write CD reviews for my wife's website, maryandstella.com. Every Tuesday, I find a new album, listen to it a billion times, and then write something fairly contrived–but with big words–that sounds like an exhaustively knowleable review.
Anyway, last week, I reviewed Sara Bareilles' new (and first) album, "Little Voice." Approaching this CD, I was a bit skeptical. It is not secret that I do not particularly care for female artists. There are notable exceptions, of course (like Jewell, Sheryl Crow, Ella Fitzgerald, etc.), but on the whole I prefer the music my own gender makes. So it was with significant trepidation that I logged onto Napster to listen.
To completely destroy any potential suspense, I was absolutely blown away. From beginning to end, Little Voices is quite superb. While I was expecting the same warmed over Kelly Clarkson/Mandy Moore fare, Bareilles' album is incredibly interesting from a musical perspective. On some tracks, like my favorite 'Gravity,' Bareilles is vulnerable, sensitive and deliciously melodic. On others, like 'Morningside,' the pace is entirely More >
