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MUSIC ZONE
Backstreet Boys — Never Gone
(Song BMG)
Saurabh & Gaurav
It
has been nearly five years since The Backstreet Boys released a
full-length album of all new material, but as the title suggests, they don’t
want you to call their fourth LP a comeback, for they say they’ve been
here for years. Kevin Richardson, Brian Littrell, Howie Dorough, A J
McLean and Nick Carter retain their classic trademark harmonies in this
album but at the same time venture forth with a more contemporary sound.
Never Gone kicks off with Incomplete, a break-up song on which Nick
begs, "I pray for this heart to be unbroken / but without you all I’m
going to be is / incomplete." The sombre Safest Place to Hide
belies the break-up theme of the album, and instead relies on thoughts of
a positive relationship. Weird World is the closest the Boys get to
good old-fashioned fun (I Want It That Way). If you were a hardcore
Backstreet Boys fan a few years back, there’s no need to worry that you’ve
outgrown this group. Chances are you’ll find the sound on this album has
grown up with you. It is like they had never gone. |
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Best track: Never Gone;
Worst track: Crawling
Back To You; Rating: *** |
Dave
Matthews Band — Stand Up (RCA)
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newest offering from the Dave Matthews Band, is interesting and creative.
The interaction of complex, infectious rhythm tracks with politically
confrontational lyrics makes for an exceptionally well-produced album. Dreamgirl,
the album’s opening cut, serves as stylistic bridge to Some Devil,
mixing in elements of Rufus Wainwright and long-time muse Emmylou Harris.
While songs like leg-shaking Stand Up (For It) and up-tempo Steady
As We Go will snugly tuck themselves between such crowd pleasers as Ants
Marching and Stay (Wasting Time), this time the boys show they
have plenty more to offer. The South African-born vocalist/guitarist, of
course, is the star of the show, and he shines brightly on a variety of
pleasurable material. He nearly whispers his way through the intimate gem Out
of My Hands and fires up for the hot foot-stomper Louisiana Bayou.
And on the album’s most overtly political track, Everybody Wake Up
(Our Finest Hour Arrives), Mathews sings serious lines like "See
the man with the bomb in his hands," but the groove is contagious. |
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| Best track: Stay;
Worst track: Hunger
For The Great Light; Rating: **
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Foo
Fighters — In Your Honor (RCA)
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most ambitious album yet, In Your Honor is the fifth release from
Foo Fighters. This double-disc set is split between rock and an acoustic
disc. The first disc serves as the band’s best opportunity to date to
stitch together the heavy metal record we all knew they had in them. Disc
two is the true moment of departure for the Foos, as they settle down for
some acoustic campfire songs. The title track is an anthemic blessing, all
thick guitars and rolling drums, as Grohl poses the question, "Can
you hear me?" The Last Song is the disc’s emotional
centrepiece. No Way Back should join past hits This Is a Call
and Breakout as up-tempo radio and concert favourites. On the
completely opposite end of the spectrum, the acoustic tracks lead you down
a path to the deepest and most beautiful places in your mind. Grohl
collaborates with Norah Jones on Virginia Moon for some jazzy
swing. The jewel of this 43-minute slow dance is Miracle, which
features piano by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones and violin
by Petra Haden. Five albums old now, Foo Fighters are now one of rock’s
titanic acts — and this splendid outing won’t let them sink. |
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Best track: Best of
You; Worst track: Another
Round; Rating: ****
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Album
of the month
Oasis — Don’t
Believe The Truth (Sony BMG)
 This
band has walked the line of credibility more finely than any
other. Don’t Believe The Truth is a surprisingly good return to
form for the Manchester legends. The album starts with bassist
Andy Bell’s ringing Turn up the Sun. A soft intro, the
guitars pick up the pace, and Liam launches in with "I carry
madness everywhere I go". The smart The Importance of
Being Lazy is the best performance on the album, beautifully
sung and threaded with desire, somewhat like I’m Only
Sleeping. The album is not an ode to the past and its sound is
nowhere near as raw or guitar-based as What’s The Story
Morning Glory. Oasis is capable of conjuring up moments that
are genuinely enjoyable. Don’t Believe The Truth is the
foundation of the Oasis revival.
Best track: Let
there be Love
Worst track: A Bell will Ring
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