The Odd Couple
Gnarls Barkley
2008
by Roy Luckett
May 22nd, 2008
The spectacular “Crazy,” omnipresent on radio stations a couple of years ago without ever losing its luster, is not matched on this new album. Then again, not much could. Nevertheless, the album as a whole is more focused than its predecessor, and maybe more consistent. And there are some gems, too. For example, “Run” is an adrenaline rush that will have you running faster than normal on the treadmill, or dancing more intensely than usual on the dancefloor. It is a short and sweet stunner that leaves you spent but wanting more. The Odd Couple has a darker feel than the first album (no smiley faces here) but that shouldn’t keep you from checking it out.
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Mark Ronson
2007
by Roy Luckett
May 22nd, 2008
You may not know Mark Ronson, but it’s likely you know his work. Specifically, Amy Winehouse’s breakthrough album, Back to Black, which he produced and which won him this year’s Grammy for Producer of the Year. Ronson brings the same retro-soul vibe with this offering, but with a twist: various British recording artists performing covers of mostly British tunes. Check out the jazzy instrumental of Coldplay’s “God Put A Smile Upon Your Face” and Daniel Merriweather’s soulful rendition of The Smith’s “Stop Me” as it incorporates the Supremes’ “Keep Me Hangin’ On.”
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Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys
1966
by Roy Luckett
February 21st, 2008
Speaking of the lads from Hawthorne, California, this is a timeless classic that has influenced so many recording artists. Indeed, famed Beatles producer George Martin has said that Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was an attempt to equal Pet Sounds. The album’s innovation lies in its elaborate layers of vocal harmonies, interwoven with sound effects and unconventional instruments.
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A Very Special Christmas Volumes 1 & 2
Various Artists
1990 & 1992
by Roy Luckett
December 20th, 2007
When listening to both discs, you find a couple of remakes that should not have been made but also some genuine delights. For instance, on Volume One, Run D.M.C.‘s “Christmas in Hollis” is a true original, and Sting’s “Gabriel’s Message” is great. Volume Two features a surprisingly splendid, albeit unconventional, duet with Frank Sinatra and Cyndi Lauper. Cyndi Lauper is sensational on this track.
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