Sonic Youth Is Noisy, But Not Much Else
Sonic Youth “Washing Machine” - DGC
New York noisemakers’ latest is remarkably low-key and lo-fi, its sound resembling a garage demo in which all instruments blend together into an aural miasma. While group’s blase delivery clearly speaks to its fans (judging by album’s remarkable Billboard 200 debut), “Washing Machine” rarely rises above the tedium of extended feedback solos - including a 20-minute closing track consisting primarily of guitar squeals. Album’s most palatable moments are “Unwind” and “Little Trouble Girl.”
David Bowie “Outside” - Virgin
Perennial outsider David Bowie reenters the atmosphere with a dark “concept” album that is alternately tedious and inspired, but always musically challenging. Preceded by the modern rock hit “The Hearts Filthy Lesson,” Bowie’s album makes an impressive entry on The Billboard 200, suggesting a successful comeback. The album stumbles on long-spoken segments that advance the plot line but hold little musical interest. If listeners cherry-pick through it, album stands a chance of reestablishing Bowie as a vital artist.
Bivouac “Full Size Boy” - DGC
English lads sound American, and all the better for it. Bivouac’s tough sonics reflect an aesthetic that owes more to Fugazi or Chapel Hill fuzz-pop than to any Britpop precursors. Though “Monkey Sanctuary (Cynic)” smells like a modern rock hit, “Not Going Back There Again” is the sort of rough-and-tumble track that an English band needs for staying power in America. The rest of the album brims with grist for the pit as well as a number of skewed sing-alongs. A promising debut.
Martina McBride “Wild Angels” - RCA
With her third release, McBride continues to stretch her skills and realize her potential. Though she’s not a writer, she’s a powerful interpreter and clearly has a good ear for songs. There are some Pam Rose/Mary Ann Kennedy gems here, and no one can go wrong with Delbert McClinton’s epochal “Two More Bottles of Wine.” But the real killer here is the Matraca Berg/Tim Krekel song “Cry On the Shoulder of the Road.” A magnificent country song, and McBride adopts it as her own. They don’t come much better than this.
Marcus Hummon “All In Good Time” - Columbia
Marcus Hummon wrote or cowrote all these carefully crafted songs and shows the potential to be an evergreen Nashville writer/ artist in a new mold. He writes short stories about lost childhood, the road, yearning, leaving home, marital fights, baptism: your routine country stuff. There are people who will question whether it’s country. Country is as country does. He’s country.
Gerald Levert & Eddie Levert Sr. “Father And Son” - EastWest
Distinctly throaty vocals pace contemporary and traditional R&B tracks, while balanced production and disciplined singing create satisfying harmonies. Duo tastefully avoids the trap of trying to out-sing each other, giving project a sincere sense of family.