Sisqo Unleash the Dragon (Def Jam/Universal)
Elvis Presley A Canadian Tribute (RCA/BMG)
Robbie Fulks The Very Best of Robbie Fulks (Bloodshot/Outside)
Stewart Copeland Simpatico soundtrack (Milan/BMG)
Paul Motian Monk and Powell (Winter & Winter/Fusion III) Nine compositions, five by Thelonius and four by Bud, lovingly recreated by the Electric Bebop Band. That's a sextet made up of a pair of veterans, the drummer/leader and bassist Steve Swallow, plus outstanding younger players, including guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel. Enjoy a "San Francisco Holiday" followed by a walk down a "Parisian Thoroughfare." A decidedly new look at some jazz standards! 9/10 (Len Dobbin) (Rosenwinkel is at Upstairs, Jan 21 & 22)
Jocelyne Fleury Canciones del Alma (SNE) It is no secret that true spirituality transcends the dogmatic and institutional limitations of established churches. That this is also true for art is demonstrated on this extraordinary disc, featuring compositions by Quebec's John Plant, performed by the rich and versatile Fleury. The accompaniment is provided by the Quatuor Claudel, and by the composer himself on piano. The title track is a poem by the Carmelite monk St. John of the Cross, one of the most severe religious mystics of all time. Plant's setting of this poem succeeds in transcending limitations of musical style to articulate experiences which are almost beyond the realm of language, verbal or musical. 9/10 (Wolfgang Bottenberg) |
So what's up with an artist whose best cut on his solo debut is a track with his old bandmates? In Sisqo's case it means this dragon is all huff and no puff. The Dru Hill contribution "Enchantment Passing Through" has more substance than any of Sisqo's booty-shaking attempts at soul. Now nothin' wrong with some booty music, but "Thong Song"? Come on, people, this ain't no dragon, it's a lizard. And not a very big one. 4/10 (Gerard Dee)
Seems BTO weren't the only ones on this side of the border "takin' care of business" back in the day. Hear the King croon for the kids at the Maple Leaf Gardens! Hear the King cover Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and Buffy Ste-Marie! Here the King mumble his way through Canadian press conferences! So what do you think of Canada, Elvis? "It's, uh... it's, uh... it's a boo'ful land. Rill boo'ful." Stay tuned for disc two's sensitive duet with Don Cherry and sweet odes to back bacon and poutine. 6.5/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)
I'll say that Robbie Fulks is one of those would-be saviours of Nashville just because he did hop down to Tunetown once to attempt to write hit songs, only to scurry back to Chicago to resume his position as a pillar of that city's vibrant alt country scene. Fulks was also signed to Geffen for one, ill-fated disc (Let's Kill Saturday Night, 1998), and now he returns to Bloodshot Records to regroup. In spite of the album title here (but in keeping with Fulks' sense of humour), this is not a "Best of" but a collection of new and unreleased older songs that fully conveys Fulks' range--from the authentic twang of his voice all the way down to his pop & rock side. When he skewers "Roots Rock Weirdoes" it's in full knowledge that they're his fans, and in just slight denial that he's one too. 8/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
The retired Police-man's latest is a late-'70s throwback, but not to the white reggae he once cooked up with Sting and Andy. A sort of high-end chamber blues twang exercise, the music here is all rolling tom thunder, synth wash and guitars going "chi-kah, chi-kah, chi-kah" into the distance. In other words, mid-period Pink Floyd. If that's your bag, then you'll dig this. Oh, and guess what: Copeland hooks up with Wall of Voodoo's Stan Ridgeway again, for the track "Free of It All." If anyone cares. 6/10 (Rupert Bottenberg)