Latest Tim Mcgraw Solid Offering

Tim McGraw “Everywhere” (Curb)

Although all the attention is going to the first single, the No. 1 “It’s Your Love,” on which Tim McGraw is joined by spouse Faith Hill, “Everywhere” is an overall solid album that shows the artist’s emerging musical maturation. Great songwriting (by the likes of Mike Reid, Tony Joe White and Stephony Smith) and skillful production (by James Stroud, et al.) obviously have a great deal to do with it, but McGraw is turning into a singer of depth and understanding.

Lee Roy Parnell

“Every Night’s A Saturday Night” (Career)

No one in country music has a better groove than Lee Roy Parnell, and once his record company discovered that, his hits started coming. That gritty groove continues with this album’s first single, “Lucky Me, Lucky You.” The set also demonstrates Parnell’s adroitness with ballads and shows off his songwriting skills. Parnell co-writes here with the likes of Gary Nicholson and Bob McDill, to great effect.

Manbreak

“Come And See” (Almo Sounds)

The latest in a string of British imports that includes such diversely gifted acts as Kula Shaker, Space and Moloko, five-piece rock band Manbreak comes across with the politically charged ferocity of Rage Against the Machine and the irrepressible melodicism of fellow Liverpool act Frankie Goes to Hollywood. Beyond any comparisons, however, Manbreak shines for its originality, particularly on such brilliant tracks as “Ready or Not,” an ebullient, catchy rocker; the similarly captivating “Kop Karma”; the “Revolver”-esque “Morning”; and the delicate “God’s Never Heard of You.” All of the above have the potential to wreak havoc on modern rock playlists and cross over to hard-edged pop outlets. An outstanding debut by a band to watch.

Ravi Shankar

“Chants Of India” (Angel)

The elder statesman of the classical sitar turns his attention toward the chants that form the foundation of Indian sacred music. Rather than take a straightforward interpretive approach toward the material, as others have done, Shankar sets these Sanskrit mantras against a backdrop of Indian and Western instruments, at times writing new music to frame the modal chants. Expertly guided by longtime collaborator (and Billboard Century Award honoree) George Harrison, who sings and plays various instruments here, the project possesses a hypnotic quality reminiscent of the label’s enormously popular Gregorian chant recordings. Beyond that, “Chants Of India” represents a creative milestone in the life of a veteran artist whose contributions to traditional Indian music cannot be overestimated.

Coward

“Coward” (Elektra)

This young New York four-piece has one foot planted in the past and the other in the present, combining the irresistible melodicism of the Cars and Cheap Trick with the au courant sensibilities of Foo Fighters and Cracker. Lead single “I Don’t Care” gets the angst-value award and should ring some chimes at modern rock radio. However, the track doesn’t fully capture the band’s talent for unabashedly pop melodies as convincingly as do “Cliche,” “Popularity Kills” and any number of other perfect confections on this delightful debut.