record reviews

March 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

record reviews

‘My World 2.0’

Justin Bieber (Island Def Jam)

Grade: B-

When Justin Bieber is at the top of his game, it’s pretty easy to understand why he gets all the little girls rioting, er, swooning. When the 16-year-old Canadian sensation declares this “My World 2.0,” more or less the second half to last year’s debut “My World,” he has a pretty good idea about how right he is.

The first hit, “Baby,” shows the Bieber Fever machine firing on all cylinders. Starting with the near-irresistible chorus, Team Bieber starts adding all the other elements to be a successful tween dream. Bieber sounds “street” enough to be somewhat cool, especially when Ludacris drops a verse, but not actually street-savvy enough to be dangerous. He sings about the dreamy ideal of love, without getting into the specifics. It’s fun and sweet and oh-so-innocent.

— Glenn Gamboa, Long Island Newsday

‘Vol. 2’

She & Him (Merge)

Grade: B-

On “Vol. 2,” She & Him — also known as Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward — pick up where they left off on their memorable debut. Deschanel’s timeless country croon and Ward’s lush, guitar-dominated backdrops both feature a bit more confidence and swagger this time around. On “Thieves,” Ward surrounds Deschanel with glorious Roy Orbison-inspired orchestrations, while holding back on the restrained girl-group homage “Over It Over Again.” In return, Deschanel’s pretty vocals can even make tough lines such as “Orpheus melted the heart of the Persephone, but I never had yours” work in the streamlined context.

— Glenn Gamboa, Long Island Newsday

‘The Way of the World’

Mose Allison (Anti-)

Grade: A

At age 82, Mose Allison is not about to change. He’s still an unclassifiable classicist who would find a single musical genre as confining as being limited to one octave on his piano.

And so he bridges the divides between the blues, pop and jazz on “The Way Of The World,” his first studio album in 12 years. The common denominator on the 12 cuts is the joy with which Allison tackles the task, humming like a child when not singing like a sage. And he’s never played better.

An antecedent to acts ranging from The Who to Tom Waits, Allison had quit making records when producer Joe Henry coaxed him back into the studio for this inspired performance, recorded in just five days with a small, stellar supporting cast. Allison had a hand in writing much of the material, and it’s first-rate, as are the covers. He takes on organized religion (“Modest Proposal”), sings of jogging and flossing (“I’m Alright”) and negotiates knuckle-busting chord changes on the lone instrumental (“Crush”).

Is it possible an octogenarian has made the year’s best record? Yes.

— Steven Wine, Associated Press

‘I’m Still Here’

Mindy McCready (Iconic)

Grade: C+

Mindy McCready’s new album “I’m Still Here” opens with a somber string arrangement and prayerful words about sin, forgiveness and making amends in a husky voice that is tender and blue. The song, “Wrong Again,” sets the mood for McCready’s contrite, soulful, surprisingly effective return to recording after a decade filled with personal calamities.

At this point, McCready’s known best for a tabloid life of domestic abuse, drug and DUI arrests, and suicide attempts. She originally surfaced in 1996 as an engaging 20-year-old country music spitfire riding a feisty No. 1 hit, “Guys Do It All The Time,” and a double-platinum album, “Ten Thousand Angels.”

Fourteen years later, she’s staging a comeback after a high-profile role in the 2010 edition of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab.” On “I’m Still Here,” her vocal ability not only remains, but has gained depth and maturity. It shows best on ballads about surviving difficult times, as in the touching title song, which brought her “Rehab” colleagues to tears when she performed it on the TV show.

McCready also fares well on up-tempo tunes, especially “I Want A Man,” the album’s lone song with the playfulness the singer showed in her youth. While uneven at times, “I’m Still Here” suggests McCready’s talent has endured, despite the destructive behavior.

— Michael McCall, Associated Press