Busta Rhymes
“THE BIG BANG”
Busta Rhymes is known as a great rapper, but his sense of humor and larger-than-life persona didn’t get him the same respect as his contemporaries. “The Big Bang” is clearly designed to change that. It’s deeper and darker than anything he has ever done, filled with new, serious lyrics. The desire to stretch is admirable, and when it works–on “You Can Hold the Torch,” “Been Through the Storm” and “Don’t Get Carried Away”–it is a grand leap forward. However, Rhymes seems a little out of his element elsewhere on the disc.
[ GLENN GAMBOA, NEWSDAY ]The Futureheads
“NEWS AND TRIBUTES”
This second album is an advance in both writing and sound from the Futureheads’ promising 2004 debut. Much of its pleasure derives from its playful execution at breakneck speeds. The vocal acrobatics here are fun, recalling the Who’s heyday as an eccentric pop band. The Futureheads’ lyrics do not have the ambition of Pete Townshend or the emotional complexity of Franz Ferdinand, but they reveal a skepticism toward modern romance with an unquenchable optimism. Their music makes everything they say sound urgent.
[ RICHARD CROMELIN, L.A. TIMES ]Sonic Youth
“RATHER RIPPED”
This disc, Sonic Youth’s 20th, is latest example the band’s ability to do whatever it wants exceedingly well. Instead of the experimental squawks or spiky noise of recent releases, Youth’s latest is gorgeous and pop-leaning, as Kim Gordon and Thurston Moore take turns weaving their hypnotic vocals and languid guitar riffs into dreamy rock songs, including the sweet, simple “Do You Believe in Rapture” and the epic “Turquoise Boy,” which runs from quiet to loud and back again.
[ GLENN GAMBOA, NEWSDAY ]The Replacements
“DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I THINK I WAS? THE BEST OF THE REPLACEMENTS”
Any Replacements lover will tell you that this is one act that’s simply not well-suited for a greatest-hits package. Their records all had their own rough identities, and that gets lost on “Don’t You Know.” It even makes the CD something of a clumsy listen. That said, this best-of might be the best thing that’s ever happened to the Replacements in a commercial sense. Adding two new tracks–“Message to the Boys” and “Pool & Dive”–was a smart move because it gets old fans excited and caters to a ripe new audience.
[ CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER, MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE ]Allison Moorer
“GETTING SOMEWHERE”
Allison Moorer and producer/hubby Steve Earle show off her power-pop chops here, veering wide and far from her country roots. That leads to a few cuts that scream “hit single,” and the bouncy and hummable tunes are a notch above most of what’s on top 40 radio. Her darker stuff–“New Years Day,” “You’ll Never Know” and “Hallelujah”–is far more compelling. Earle’s production uses raw sound to pretty up Moorer’s inherently beautiful voice. Getting somewhere? Maybe, but she also has some work to do.
[ RANDY LEWIS, L.A. TIMES ]
