record reviews

kanye west

Album: “Cruel Summer”

Grade: D

The putting-on-my-crew album has long been a rite of passage — and stumbling block — for rap stars. Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music compilation “Cruel Summer” fails in the same way most do: It’s a disjointed assemblage of rhyme styles and perspectives with no overarching musical direction. In short, a mixtape.

Not that there’s anything wrong with mixtapes. They’re the buzz-building lifeblood of the rap game. But they’ve got an intentionally short shelf-life, forgotten after a few weeks. And despite West’s oversight, “Cruel Summer” is utterly disposable — one-liners and posturing, beat switches and orchestral flourishes that are momentarily entertaining but don’t cohere.

There is plenty of potential on display here. Producer Hit-Boy lends his signature martial drums and throbbing bass to “Clique,” “Cold” and “Higher,” all standouts. Coke rap veteran Pusha T is at his snarling best trading bars with West on “New God Flow” and R. Kelly lifts opener “To The World” with exuberant arrogance.

West offers a few fascinating, self-conscious peeks inside his bubble — $6,000 shoes! Tax worries! Kim K love! — but none of the introspection that leavened the braggadocio in “Watch The Throne.” And the rappers around him — including Kid Cudi, 2 Chainz, Big Sean and Cyhi the Prince — simply don’t find much to say.

— Ryan Pearson, Associated Press

Carly Rae Jepsen

Album: “Kiss” (604/Schoolboy/Interscope Records)

Grade: A

The challenge for Carly Rae Jepsen after the monster success of “Call Me Maybe” — arguably 2012’s biggest pop culture moment — was to steer clear of one-hit wonder status. She did that with another pop smash, the anthem “Good Time,” and Jepsen shows she has more hits on her second album, “Kiss.”

The Canadian singer, brought to our attention by country-mate Justin Bieber, delivers what fans are probably looking for with the help of Max Martin, Toby Gad and others: More effervescent pop, unencumbered by a plot too thick or societal issues too weighty.

“Good Time” features electro-pop singer Owl City, aka Adam Young, and is the heir apparent to the radio-overkill throne. “Hands up if you’re down to get down tonight,” goes the refrain as Young shares microphone time with Jepsen against a heavy backbeat and an echoing chorus of “Ohhhh ohhh ohhh.”

“Call Me Maybe” is here, of course, and remains the catchiest song of the year.

The duds on “Kiss” include “Turn Me Up” and “Tonight I’m Getting Over You.” They’re both boring ditties about getting over someone by hitting the town.

Jepsen redeems herself with the upbeat “This Kiss,” co-written and co-produced by LMFAO’s Redfoo. Her slow duet with Bieber, “Beautiful,” is also a fine track.

— Ron Harris, Associated Press

Pink

Album: “The Truth About Love” (RCA Records)

Grade: A

Listening to Pink’s new album is like watching a reality show about the ups and downs of her relationship with her husband, motorcycle racer Carey Hart: She’s over him at times, under him at others. There are fights, and makeups, and then more breakups. There are “I hate yous” and “I love yous.” And all of it makes for good listening.

“The Truth About Love,” the singer’s sixth release, is an exceptional album that takes you through Pink’s roller coaster of emotions, as her scratchy voice pierces on songs to create not just enjoyable tunes, but beautiful ones. Like 2008’s “Funhouse,” on which Pink detailed her then-estrangement from her husband, Hart remains the centerpiece of Pink’s emotions.

“I hate you, I really hate you so much I think it must be true love,” she sings over a fun beat on “True Love,” which gets a cute assist from Lily Rose Cooper (aka Lily Allen). Pink wants her lover to return on the rock-filled “How Come You’re Not Here,” she’s explosive on first single “Blow Me [One Last Kiss]” and wondering why love went wrong on the eerie and beat-driven “Where Did the Beat Go,” singing lyrics like “I was naked and waiting for you to come back” and “you couldn’t see anything beyond ‘your baby’s momma”’ (the couple had their first child last year).

— Mesfin Fekadu, Associated Press