 |
’NSync — Celebrity
(HMV)
***
Probably one of the
most successful, massive boy bands on earth, ’NSync is back with
their fourth album. The ‘NSync boys have always kept in step with
the ever growing competition, and with Celebrity, they’ve entered a
whole new race altogether. The album is a collection of electro-pop,
staccato-versed songs about fame, its price and consequences. Members
JC Chasez and Justin Timberlake (co-producers and co-writers of most
of the tracks) have drawn on hip-hop, R&B and electronica to prove
their versatility. Celebrity opens with a breathy push, with the boys
asking, "If I wasn’t a celebrity, would you be so nice to
me?" Musically, the album is very ambitious and adventurous. The
BT-produced, funkylicious, rock-riffed radiance of Pop is the
biggest moment of the album. The Game Is Over offers Pac-Man
samplers merged with groove like Destiny Child’s Bug A Boo. Girlfriend—
produced by the Neptunes, featuring Pharrell Williams of NERD — is a
powerful soul ballad. The listeners are sure to be pleased by the
Prince-influenced Gone, the Miami bass beat of The Two Of Us
and the Stevie Wonder harmonica cameo on Something Like You. Selfish
is a smoochy, smaltzy summer ballad, while The Game Is Over
uses arcade game noises resulting into a gripping percussive effect.
The band does get to rock-out on some tracks, but it’s the slower
epics like The Two Of Us and Just Don’t Tell Me That
that really hit the spot. Overall, Celebrity is a triumph, making ’NSync
boys the torchbearers of the new pop-generation. Recommended
listening.
Right Said Fred —
Fredhead
(BMG
Crescendo)
**
This British
dance-pop trio scored a US number one single for three weeks with I’m
Too Sexy in 1992. Formed by brothers Fred Fairbass and Richard
with guitarist Rob Manzoli, the band actually got their name from the
1962 hit single by Bernard Cribbins. Their tongue-in-cheek lyrics,
easy rhythm lines, catchy hooks, shaven heads and err… bare chests
instantly became their trademarks. The follow-ups Deeply Dippy
and Don’t Talk Just Kiss were both major UK hits. After the
not-so-popular Sex and Travel album, the band finally formed its own
label in 1996 with the release of its third album Smashing! It gave
out the smash hit single Bigtime. What’s new then? Well, the
band is back with their fourth album titled Fredhead. Loaded with
unique sounds and great lashings of self-irony, the album is
unarguably an impressive comeback. Featuring You’re My Mate (which
has already sold platinum in South Africa), Love Song, remake
of their chart toppers I’m Too Sexy and Don’t Talk Just
Kiss and the mega single Mojive (short for modern jive),
Fredhead is sure to lure the listeners into the world of pure pop
music. Standouts include Lovers.com, a knockout track that
eventually blossoms into a completely over-the-top dance number; Bring
Your Smile, with its slick backing vocals and Insatiable You,
with immense juggling and processed guitar works. Three words —
appealing, catchy and lighthearted — sum up the album.
Five — Kingsize
(BMG Crescendo)
***
Five were brought
together by the same people who recruited the Spice Girls. Unlike the
polished image of Westlife, these lads are happy with the ‘bad boys’
title. Selling 6 million albums to date, Five has come a long way.
Although sticking to the pop label, their music mixes rap and funk,
giving them an edge over other boy bands. Their past smash hits like Slam
Dunk (Da Funk), Everybody Get Up, Keep On Movin’, If
Ya Getting’ Down… make for an interesting and impressive back
catalogue. Five’s third album Kingsize carries on the band’s
successful trademark eclectic sound. Raunchy rock numbers, slamming
R&B, tough rap tracks, melodic ballads, it’s all there. Opener Let’s
Dance attempts a 70’s boot call of funked-up filters and
vocoders. Lay All Your Lovin’ On Me sees the band wearing a
heavy metal outfit. It includes a sample from AC/DC’s Back In
Black, turning it into a stunning monster live track. Rock The
Party is built around the Grease theme with a classic disco
funk feel. The Westlife pastiche Closer To Me must count as
Five’s best ballad so far. Arm-waving Feel The Love sounds
like a Christmas chart topper. All Around showcases the lads’
mature writing skill. C’mon, C’mon is an experimental track
with a lot of harmonica and guitar sounds thrown here and there. We’re
Going All Night, the weakest point of the album, is a bad
imitation of Let’s Dance. On Top Of The World, Let’s
Get It On and Something In The World are worth listening
to. The rest of the album never deviates far from the Five’s
territory, despite attempting the 80’s electro pop and 70’s disco
sounds. Unless you are a fan of the formulaic Five, listen to this at
your own risk.
Romanov Party
Mania — Various Artists
(Times Music)
**
With the drum and
bass scene going all nostalgic, DJ Nasha is no stranger to updating
the old classics. Titled Romanov Party Mania, the compilation is all
set to lead the techstep movement for drum ’n’ bassers looking for
beats with a bite. The hip-hop sampling here ranges from hot dance
floor fillers to age-old Bollywood classics. As music for the dance
masses, Party Mania does a good job of gathering 10 tracks for
mainstream club music. Opening up with the rhythm-fuelled Jawaan
Jaaneman, the collection is a wicked and wild rampage down memory
lane. DJ Nasha’s ‘R Type’ comes with amusement arcade sonics,
devilish beats and softly exploding basslines. Nasha applies some
cunningly reversed beats to renegade snares and raga gunshot bizznizz
on Tubthumping. The headliners include RURV (Flute
Fantasy Dub), Move Your Body, This Is Your Night by
Amber and Synchyme (Karma version). A fine retrospective of the
good ol’ days and a timely reminder that drum and bass have it in
them to moves bodies in an instant.
Album of the month
Staind — Break The
Cycle
(Tips)
Fans of heavy rock — this one is
yours. The alt-metal band from Springfield unleashes its new album
Break The Cycle and what more, the album is finally released in India.
Like its earlier albums Torment and Dysfunction, this one too sticks
with the tormented cycle, talking about self-doubt, broken homes and
heartbreak. The songs are all drenched in melancholy melodies and
slow, heavy riffs typical of the alt-rock genre. The title of the
album refers to the misery passed on from generation to generation and
the inner turmoil. To the band’s credit, frontman Aaron Lewis has a
Kurt Cobain-like ache in his voice. The lovely Epiphany’s
tender acoustic strum warms you with lyrics like "I want to come
apart or dig myself a little hole inside your precious heart."
Aaron’s heartfelt vocals does wonders on Waste, a
hard-hitting tale of a fan who commits suicide. Outside is
another standout track that comes in two versions, one a simple live
duet with Fred Rollin’ Durst and the other a weighty studio
version. The heavier sounds come in the form of the hardcore grunge
ballad Warm Safe Place, Can’t Believe (the most
aggressive song on the album), Pressure and For You,
both of which are packed with explosive energy. The radio-bound Its
Been Awhile strikes universal chords, effectively capturing the
bitterness of regret. The appeal of Staind lies in the purity and
fierce emotional integrity of their music, traits seldom seen in heavy
rock acts. Happy rocking!
— Saurabh
& Gaurav
|