‘Testify’ proves P.O.D.’s ability to combine styles
P.O.D.
“Testify” (Atlantic) “““
What passed for “nu metal” earlier in the decade – an angst-ridden maelstrom of shrill guitars and hip-hop posturing, techno-babble optional – today sounds laughably old hat.
Many from that movement are on the downslide or have vanished (oh, whither Adema?). But the multicultural quartet P.O.D. has persevered, largely because they never subscribed to the scene’s stunted doctrine.
Like past efforts, “Testify” fuses the band’s passions for spirituality and metallic oomph. They’re not infallible – they can do banal rap-rock with the worst of ‘em, like “Lights Out” – though they’re not afraid to cut the volume and write a subtle hook, as in “If You Could See Me Now.”
The reggae-rap-metal hybrid “Roots in Stereo” and straight reggae track “Strength of My Life” (both featuring Hasidic rapper Matisyahu) proves they’re capable fusionists. That quality will keep P.O.D. thriving when Papa Roach is inevitably forgotten.
Patrick Berkery, Philadelphia Inquirer
Josh Turner
“Your Man” (MCA) “““
Turner’s deep baritone commanded instant attention – and comparisons to Johnny Cash – when his single “Long Black Train” chugged onto the charts three years ago.
This solid follow-up to the 28-year-old’s well-received debut album finds his voice sounding even richer and deeper, particularly on the bluegrass-inspired “Would You Go with Me,” the heartfelt “Angels Fall Sometimes” and even the playful leadoff single, “Your Man.”
Less appealing is the Music Row-bland “Gravity,” which strays deep into touchy-feely Oprah territory. But it’s a misstep that’s redeemed by the sultry “No Rush,” a partly spoken bedroom ballad that harks back to Conway Twitty, and the offbeat “White Noise,” a duet with John Anderson that celebrates the joys of honky-tonking.
Greg Crawford, Detroit Free Press
Yellowcard
“Lights and Sounds” (Capitol) ““ 1/2
With more determination than imagination, Yellowcard goes for a broader palette on its follow-up to 2003’s buoyant “Ocean Avenue.”
“Lights” sounds like another commercial winner despite a shortage of plucky melodies. The Southern California band successfully stretches with smartly deployed orchestral arrangements on “Martin Sheen or JFK” and “Holly Wood Died” and in a pair of country-hued tunes, the charming ballad “City of Devils” and gorgeous “How I Go,” with Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks adding a twangy warmth.
Tedium sets in when the band lapses into naive angst, unremarkable rock-guitar formulas and other hallmarks of garden-variety emo, or reaches beyond its abilities – as in the horn-laced “Two Weeks from Twenty,” a jazz-shaded anti-war song with more ambition than skill.
Edna Gundersen, USA Today
Tortoise & Bonnie “Prince” Billy
“The Brave and the Bold” (Overcoat) “““
Dating to his role as a child preacher in John Sayles’ film “Matewan,” Will Oldham has always been a man of many masks. Here, in his Bonnie “Prince” Billy persona, the bearded bard upends his identity once again with an album of cover versions recorded with noted experimentalists Tortoise.
Radically refashioning songs from such disparate sources as Milton Nascimento, Melanie and the Minutemen yields inconsistent but occasionally brilliant results. Two of the best are a tape-loops-and-scratchy-voice take on Elton John’s “Daniel” and a wholesale reimagining of Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road” that loses the original’s bighearted heroism but delivers a minor-key majesty all its own.
Dan DeLuca, Philadelphia Inquirer
Justin Guarini
“Stranger Things Have Happened” (justinguarini.com) ““ 1/2
The prevailing wisdom in pop music is: When all else fails, fox-trot out the standards. Guarini, the original “American Idol” runner-up, goes this route on his second CD, an independently produced jazz album.
Surprisingly, it works. Singing Cole Porter tunes and other classics, Guarini displays an agile, attractive voice with good phrasing (although he still needs to learn shading).
Guarini’s silky, yearning treatment of “Night and Day” can already stand with anything neotraditionalists like Michael Buble and Jamie Cullum are doing.
David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer