Sunday, December 28, 2008
‘Sugar Mountain — Live at Canterbury House 1968’
Neil Young (Reprise)
Grade: B
Listening to this vintage Neil Young solo acoustic show, recorded shortly after he left Buffalo Springfield to mount a solo career, one is struck by how consistently the singer has followed his muse.
Any of these fragile performances would’ve fit seamlessly into “Heart of Gold,” Jonathan Demme’s 2005 concert film recorded at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn.
Whether it’s 1968 or 2005, Young’s voice floats with an ethereal quality. A lot of rock stars are hyped as inimitable, but Young is perhaps the only one who really is.
In addition to the title track, there are plenty of highlights, especially the wistful opener “On the Way Home” and Young’s chatty asides.
A real gem from the vault.
—Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel
‘Cadillac Records: Music from the Motion Picture’
Various artists (Sony)
Grade: B
When it comes to strolls down memory lane, the “Cadillac Records” soundtrack is a pleasant one.
Without music, after all, there wouldn’t be much heart to the film, a chronicle of Chicago’s seminal Chess Records.
And fortunately, the stars in key roles — Beyonce (as Etta James), Jeffrey Wright (Muddy Waters) and Mos Def (Chuck Berry) — do a dandy job of reverent imitation.
Beyonce, in particular, acquits herself impressively on torchy ballads such as “At Last” and “I’d Rather Go Blind.” Her big voice comes equipped with a built-in rasp that isn’t as apparent on her pop stuff, and she delivers without unnecessary “American Idol”-esque histrionics.
That sense of understatement is one of the album’s assets. Producer Steve Jordan, himself the drummer on Taylor Hackford’s 1987 Chuck Berry documentary “Hail! Hail! Rock ’n’ Roll,” is a student of this material.
On the bluesier tracks such as “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man” and “My Babe,” there’s a warmth that recalls the original recordings of the era. Because of that ear for detail, these songs are high-grade replications that capture the spirit with authenticity.
—Jim Abbott, Orlando Sentinel
‘The Point of It All’
Anthony Hamilton (La Face)
Grade: B
Soul singer Anthony Hamilton is equipped with a powerful expressive tenor that draws comparisons to Bill Withers.
That voice is at the center of “The Point of It All,” a collection that showcases it in lean, Southern-inflected grooves. Whether it’s the horn-drenched opener “The News” or his stripped down collaboration with David Banner on “Cool,” Hamilton exudes easy, confident style.
Most of the songs, even the romantic ones, are pleasingly upbeat. And even when Hamilton turns the heat down to a simmer, as he does on “Please Stay,” the result never gets too gooey.
The best songs are the ones that allow the most open space for Hamilton’s voice, such as the old-school soul of the closer, “She’s Gone.” When Hamilton sings about emptiness in his heart, you can feel it.
Like John Legend, Hamilton builds a lot of his songs on piano. As a singer, though, he might be a more exuberant presence. “The Point of It All” offers a lot to like.
—Jim Abbott, The Orlando Sentinel
‘Passion & Purpose’
Alex Call and Lisa Carrie (MSN Music)
Grade: D
Husband-and-wife duo Alex Call and Lisa Carrie recall the vibe of 1970s pop on “Passion & Purpose,” an album long on heart even if the musical approach is less than adventurous.
The album’s executive producer is healthcare consultant and author Quint Studer (”Hardwiring Excellence”), who also doubles as lyricist here.
Not a good idea.
On songs such as “I’m Back in the Race,” Studer’s emotional range is cheerful but limited as Call sings about how he’s “setting the pace, the wind’s in my face” and similar conveniently rhyming cliches.
Musically, the songs are capably executed by Call (a member of San Francisco band Clover) and Carrie, an ex-Kids of the Kingdom singer at Walt Disney World.
If you’re into the message, it might work. If not, the prognosis isn’t as positive.
—Jim Abbott, The Orlando Sentinel