MUSIC BOX |
MUSIC BOX
Stacy Willis
Damon Hodge |
FEFE DOBSON (3 stars)
FEFE DOBSON
Thanks to people like Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch and Pink, female pop singers are now able to rock out, play the guitar and write (or co-write) their own songs and still get on TRL and top-40 radio. Canadian teen singer-songwriter FeFe Dobson embraces all those possibilities on her self-titled debut, a mix of Avril-style "punk," sassy pop and adult contemporary balladry. Though Dobson lacks the pure punch of Pink or singular vision of Branch or Vanessa Carlton, she turns in a lively album with several wonderfully catchy radio-ready tunes, including "Kiss Me Fool" and lead single "Take Me Away."
From the rowdy pop-punk of "Stupid Little Love Song" to the piano-driven "8 X 10" to the guest appearance by Tone-Loc (!) on "Rock It Till You Drop It," Dobson is a little all over the place, throwing styles at the wall to see what sticks. But she's on the right track, venting her anger at an absentee father on "Unforgiven" and delivering cheeky rebuffs to boys on "Bye Bye Boyfriend" and "Give It Up." Avril better look out.
Josh Bell
Kelis (3.5 stars)
Tasty
Having abandoned the Sun Ra hair that once got her more attention than her music, Kelis returns as a very earthy diva with a feminist slant. But don't think Helen Reddy; Kelis delivers her female empowerment message with plenty of ass-shaking and lots of help from the other side, including guys like the Neptunes, Nas and Andre 3000.
Yet, Kelis is never overshadowed by her illustrious collaborators as she ably handles soul, pop and R&B. The hit single "Milkshake" distills Kelis' raucous sleaze and pop charm to perfection. Even if the metaphor isn't clear as to what "her milkshake" is exactly, Kelis' message still comes through just fine. Other standout tracks include "Trick Me," "Stick Up" and "Sugar Honey Iced Tea." If only all commercial music were as compelling and fun as Tasty.
Richard Abowitz
Randy Newman (4 stars)
The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1
The world knows Randy Newman for his film scores and, perhaps, for the novelty hit, "Short People." But to certain cognoscenti, Newman is one of the great American songwriters.
The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1, featuring just Newman on piano, singing songs from throughout his career, is the perfect introduction for the uninitiated, while still allowing Newman to tease out new meanings from old material to reward the faithful. Of course, as Newman specializes in songs of bigotry, despair and shame, all dressed up in layers of irony at times so subtle as to be almost undetectable, The Randy Newman Songbook Vol. 1 will not bring a mainstream audience to his twisted visions. It probably won't even earn enough for there to be a Volume 2. Not that Newman, judging from his songs, expects much better from the world. Few of the redneck, violent, ill-tempered and occasionally genocidal characters you meet in Newman's songs are the sort who would listen to an arty, difficult and thoughtful songwriter. Don't be like them.
Richard Abowitz