Harmonies Save ‘Open Your E’
Yes
“Open Your Eyes” (Beyond) ***
Yes’ vocal harmonies have always been one of rock’s most epic sounds, and they definitely save the day on the band’s 17th studio album. Forget the silly song titles and New Age lyrics and concentrate instead on Yes’ constant struggle to create some sort of modern classical pop: a wacky mix of Stravinsky, Moody Blues and Vangelis movie scores.
- Ernesto Lechner
Mindy McCready
“If I Don’t Stay the Night” **-1/2
Don’t let the first three boilerplate country tunes on this sophomore album mislead you. Things pick up from there with several nicely sketched portraits, set to jangling country-rock, of characters yearning for better things from life and love. If she’s not quite McCready for the big time, she’s getting McCloser.
- Randy Lewis
Erykah Badu
“Erykah Badu Live” (Universal) ***
Badu, one of R&B’s biggest success stories of the year, has a true flair for songwriting. Her “Tyrone,” performed live during an in-studio concert, is a scathing, hilarious put-down of a woefully lacking significant other. Badu’s between-songs patter gets windy, but the Texas-reared story-weaver is armed with songs that are invitingly down to earth and clich-free.
- Connie Johnson
Delbert McClinton
“One of the Fortunate Few” (Rising Tide) ***
You might mistake the start of the opening “Old Weakness (Coming on Strong)” for vintage Keith Richards. But the Rolling Stones of today could use the kick this Texas veteran shows as he charges through blends of rock, R&B, gospel and country with such guests as Vince Gill, Lyle Lovett, B.B. King, Patty Loveless and John Prine along for the joyous ride.
- Steve Hochman
The Aquabats
“The Fury of the Aquabats!” (Goldenvoice/Time Bomb) **
Huntington Beach, Calif., ska crew outfits itself as a gaggle of geeky cartoon superheroes and sings dumb, nutty songs about fast-food chicken, pirates, weird science experiments and girls (“I’m your man/I don’t care if we live in a garbage can”). Hints of Devo only make you hanker for some trace of witty culture-plumbing, but all you get it is an exercise in gimmicky juvenilia.
- Sara Scribner