Album Reviews - December 18

Sade – Lovers Rock

The sultry voiced former model Sade continues to set the standard by which other, less inventive adult contemporary vocalists should be measured. Lovers Rock, her first album in eight years, might not be her best but it's certainly her bravest.

Never before has the singer infused more mainstream rock elements, or style, into her music as evidenced by the first single, By Your Side. Sade's real gift is rhythmic diversity and she stretches this quality to the limit on most of the disc's 11 tracks. That's not to say that she has sacrificed her own tried-and true brand of smoky, dusky ballads. Her sound and approach remains deliberately icy, her delivery and voice deadpan and cold. Quasi-jazz backing cajoles the listeners into thinking that they are hearing a jazz vocalist.

Lovers Rock finds the Nigerian-born singer in truly fine form. Somebody Already Broke My Heart, Every Word, and Lovers Rock, are vintage Sade – sweet songs, yet powerful enough to capture feelings and take listeners on an artsy tour through Brazil and Latin America while employing jazzy touches that keep even the most staid tune hopping.

By any standards this is an awesome comeback by the woman whose 1985 release Diamond Life spawn the hit Smooth Operator, sold more than two million copies and netted her a Grammy for Best New Artist.

While much of the music charts is full of neo-funk, standup vocal harmony groups, rappers and techno-funksters Sade instead follows trends she established in her previous albums – soul pop/rock with jazz overtones. The Sweetest Gift is in contrast a brilliantly arranged and sung folk ballad, while on the honest, heartfelt Every Word Sade takes a leaf out of the Tony Rich Project, and deftly improves upon it.

Indeed, Sade could well have breathed new life into her career. For those who savoured albums like Promise, Stronger Than Pride and Love Deluxe, Lovers Rock is also essential listening.
Rating * * * *


Music from the Motion Picture – Charlie's Angels

Charlie's Angels was a hit television series in the late '70s and early '80s and several of the 15 songs that make up this soundtrack to the film remake starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu, could have been heard during its time, including Leo Sayer's You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Heart's Barracuda and Marvin Gaye's Got to Give It Up, Part I.

Tracks like Tavares' Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel and Aerosmith's Angel's Eye, might have been included because of the use of the word "angel". in the song title, but they are still great choices. In fact, most of the 15 songs featured are an excellent mix of past and present. Oldies like Looking Glass' Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) and Spandau Ballet's True share space with electronic dance assemblages by Fatboy Slim and Apollo Four Forty, and make for fascinating comparisons.

This could please a lot of modern-day music fans. But I'm not sure about fans of the original Charlie's Angel's – Farah-Fawcett Majors, Cheryl Ladd and Jacqueline Smith
Rating * * * *


Kuschel Rock – Vol 14

Like the previous volumes in the German-import series, Kuschel Rock (soft, romantic rock), the new release is a compilation of recent hit pop singles sprinkled with a few odd choices which are at least twice as old as the majority of the featured songs.

In some cases, the songs are relatively minor hits by major artists – You'll Be In My Heart (Phil Collins), I'm Your Angel (Celine Dion), Do You Know Where You're Going To (Jennifer Lopez's cover version of the Theme from Mahogany) or Dear Lie (TLC).

But there's no denying that it's a pretty appealing compilation that will please mainstream pop fans. Among the numerous highlights here are songs by Backstreet Boys, Ricky Martin, Robbie Williams, Travis, Melanie C, B*Witched, Mariah Carey and R. Kelly.

Their series has been in the market since the earlier '90s. It began as a schizophrenic double-disc collection of well-known pop-rock hits ranging from the '50s all the way up through the '80s, but has gradually evolved more into a collection of ballads and softer rock numbers that were recent hits on the charts.

The only problem with compilations of this nature, that blend pop with rock, is just that much of the music doesn't sit well together.

Jessica Simpson, Anastacia, Jennifer Lopez and Sixpence None the Richer appear to be quite out of place alongside BSB, Robbie Williams, Babyface, Travis and Marc Anthony.

Notwithstanding, Kuschel Rock is a worthy acquisition, even if the compilation being sold in the Middle East is only a single album, while the European version comes as a more comprehensive two-disc set.
Rating * * * *

– Albums courtesy: Megastar

Smash Hits 2001

Smash Hits 2001 continues the series of pop hits compilations by offering a mix of singles many of which are currently on the music charts. The styles present a range from teen-friendly dance-pop of Sugarbabes, Spice Girls, Britney Spears and Billie Piper, to the urban R&B of R. Kelly and Craig David and the rock power ballads of Robbie Williams and Michael Learns to Rock.

In other words Smash Hits 2001 includes everything outside of alternative rock and hip-hop that has made an impact on the pop charts in the last couple of months. The variety is nice, but the track selections are a trifle inconsistent.

Standout tracks include Crag David's Walking Away, Robbie Williams' Supreme, David Gray's Please Forgive Me, Melanie C's If That Were Me and Lene Marlin's Where I'm Headed. The 19 tracks selection also includes some of the biggest selling songs from Baha Men (Who Let The Dogs Out), Spice Girls (Holler), Kylie Minogue featuring Robbie William (Kids) and Martine McCutcheon (I'm Over You).
Rating * * * *

– Album courtesy: EMI