Dr. Dre Moves On To Upbeat
Various Artists “Dr. Dre Presents … The Aftermath” (Aftermath/Interscope)
Hip-hop historians will debate into the next millennium the ways in which Dr. Dre might have developed had he not left Death Row Records this year to form his own entertainment company. But on the strength of this opening salvo from the label, Dre seems to have moved on. There are his trademark crisp sonics and tense, theatrical sound towers on this multiartist collection, but the misogyny that polluted much of “The Chronic” and Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “Doggystyle” is gone. Instead, there are upbeat tracks about unity. Lead cut “East Coast/ West Coast Killas,” featuring Nas, KRS-one, RBX, and B-Real, attempts to quash civil warring, and “Been There Done That” talks about living the good life. Other highlights are Kim Summerson’s “Choices,” vocal trio Hands On’s “Got Me Open,” and RC’s cover of David Bowie’s “Fame.”
The Low & Sweet Orchestra “Goodbye To All That” (Interscope)
The late-summer release by this Los Angeles band, featuring longtime scenesters Mike Martt and Zander Schloss, actor/musicians Dermot Mulroney and Kieran Mulroney, and former Pogues accordionist James Fearnley, still deserves consideration as one of the year’s top albums - a refreshing mix of Americana, punk and Celtic vibes held together by top-notch songwriting and impassioned performances. Produced mostly by the late David Briggs (of Neil Young fame), the album plays with remarkable consistency, its highlights being the accordiondriven “Sometimes The Truth Is All You Get,” drinking song “A Dog Came In The Barroom,” power pop gem “A Nail Won’t Fix A Broken Heart,” and Celtic instrumental “Planxty Del Zamora.” A wondrous meeting of musical cultures.
Mobb Deep “Hell On Earth” (Loud/RCA)
Duo’s last long-player was a certified classic wrapped in plastic, and twin appers Havoc and Prodigy continue their winning ways with this follow-up, which once again shows off undeniable chemistry as it combines richly detailed, novelistic rhymes about dwelling in project hell (New York’s Queensbridge Houses). The music features crisp rhythm rafts that float in symphonic swells of cinematic bliss. The group’s B-boy boulevard brutality is balanced by such mature morality as “I’m tired of livin’ this way/Crime pays, but for how long?/Until you reach your downfall.”
Michael Hoppe & Tim Wheater “Wind Songs” (Seventh Wave)
Usually when keyboardist Michael Hoppe and flutist Tim Wheater get together, it’s for albums of sweet neo-romanticism like “The Yearning.” “Wind Songs,” however, finds them in a much more introspective, unfiltered place. Wheater picks up his ethnic and concert flutes and blows contemplative improvisations across restrained synthesizer drones and ambiences by Hoppe and some delicate punctuations by Richard Burmer. A gifted player who used to be in Eurythmics, Wheater has a melodic gift that makes this more than meditative swaddling.
Phillips, Craig & Dean “Repeat The Sounding Joy” (Star Song)
One of Christian music’s most popular acts, Randy Phillips, Shawn Craig and Dan Dean deliver a Christmas record sure to ignite holiday cheer. The project combines such classic tunes as “Sleigh Ride,” “Go Tell It On The Mountain” and “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” with such wonderful originals as Craig’s “Call His Name Jesus,” Phillips’ “Glorify The Lord,” the Phillips/Cindy Morgan composition “Be It Unto Me” and the Dean, Dave Clark and Don Koch collaboration “The Kid In Me.” The album has a warm, grand, lushly produced feeling that often characterizes seasonal offerings. Like a holiday feast, there’s something here for everyone.