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Shakira — Laundry Service (Sony Music)*
Today’s female
artists are being promoted for their sexuality just as much (if not
more) as for their music. An upcoming artist is being judged on how
marketable her body is, along with her music as an entire package.
Shakira is just one of them. She joins the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Geri
Halliwell and Kylie Minogue in choosing the same fork in the road where
physical appearance does most of the talking. Interview magazine praised
Shakira’s "gorgeous looks and impromptu belly-dancing,"
while Teen People magazine included her as one of its "25
Hottest Stars Under 25." Laundry Service, her first
English-language album, is expressly designed to appeal to the masses
who haven’t heard her releases in Spanish and Portuguese. So far, it
seems to be working, at least till the success of infectious single Whenever
Wherever stretches itself to the limit. The element of spontaneity
is lacking throughout the album. Even when Glen Ballard steps in on The
One, the result sounds sappy. Shakira loses something in the
translation as well. Eyes Like Yours, the English version of Ojos
Asi, lacks fluidity. Awkward lyrics come in many forms, such as
"I’d rather eat my soup with a fork, or drive a cab in New York,
‘cause to talk to you is harder work." Shakira even teams with
Emilio Estefan, Glen Ballard and Gloria Estefan for Eyes Like Yours,
but all the star power in the world still fails to make Shakira the
hottest import since Celine Dion (musically).
Unfortunately, too much
of bleach was added to this load of laundry. Best avoided.
The Lighthouse Family
— Whatever Gets You Through The Day (Universal)****
Since their first
invasion into major label success with the album Ocean Drive, The
Lighthouse Family has established itsself as one of the UK’s
biggest-selling pop acts. It has been four years since the last
Lighthouse Family album, Postcards From Heaven, was released. But the
current release Whatever Gets You Through The Day is definitely worth
the wait. Mention the band’s name and people invariably connote the
duo with cheery pop and upbeat positivism. The album carries the
familiar musical arrangements of Paul Tucker and smooth vocals of Tunde
Baiyewu. The duo once again showcases their knack for well-crafted pop
songs, featuring seductive melodies, lilting vocals and great lyrics.
The first single I Wish (I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free) is
a combination of Nina Simone’s ’60s’ black civil rights anthem Free
and U2’s One, that cries out for happiness and freedom. The
album opener Run and Happy are comparatively low-key
tracks which feature prominent strings. The album will be remembered as
an emotional one, with no thumping drums and loud guitar riffs. Instead,
mellow percussions and smooth melody backs Tunde’s rich voice. The
song that will get your feet tapping would be Life’s A Dream. You
Always Wanted What You Haven’t Got has a catchy tempo and like
everything else it slips down so easily that you find yourself relaxing
dreamily into its warm grooves. End Of The Sky and It’s A
Beautiful Day come into form with digitally enhanced strings and
lovely harmonies from a backing choir. Lyrics such as "I wish I
knew how I’m gonna be happy without you", "I wanna run away
with you" and "Who says you can’t be happy all the
time?" are clear indications of the band’s positive attitude
towards life. It is worth appreciating that Balyewu provides the vocals
and Tucker writes just about the entire album. This combination becomes
the band’s main strength. A relaxing experience.
The Corrs — The Best
Of The Corrs (Tips)***
The Corrs have achieved
more hits in three albums than most bands score in an entire career and
they are all featured in this compilation album. One of Ireland’s most
successful pop exports of the ’90s, family band The Corrs comprises
Andrea (lead vocals, tin whistle), Jim (guitar, keyboards, backing
vocals), Caroline (drums, vocals) and Sharon (violin, vocals). Signed to
Atlantic records, their 1995 debut — Forgiven, Not Forgotten
— was a striking work, deftly combining traditional music with a
strong pop sensibility. From the breathless plea of What Can I Do
to the blunt I Never Loved You Anyway, this is undeniably
radio-friendly music throughout. There is a mixture of old hits,
unplugged tracks and cover versions with two previously unreleased
tracks, including current hit single Would You Be Happier? The
album shines brighter with cover versions of REM’s Everybody Hurts
and Steve Nicks’ Dreams. The prominent tracks include Only
When I Sleep, Runaway, Breathless, Love To Love You,
Make You Mine and Radio. A collector’s item — even if
you are not a ‘hard-Corr’ fan.
Album of the month
Alicia Keys — Songs In
A-Minor (BMG Crescendo)
With a rich soul-stirring voice, and
years of training as a classical pianist, Alicia’s debut album Songs
In A-Minor is an outstanding mature piece of work for a 20-year-old. The
album is a stellar mix of R&B, soul, blues and jazz influences. And
now with a bunch of prestigious awards behind her, including five
Grammys, the album proves to be one of the greatest R&B albums ever.
By all standards Alicia is special: it’s hard to remember a debutant
making such a deserved impact since Erykah Badu (Baduizm) emerged in the
mid-90s. It’s no wonder music mogul Clive Davis brought this performer
over from Austria as one of the flagship artists for his new label J
Records. The album’s mood swings from upbeat retro soul songs to funky
R&B to slow soul and jazzy ballads. If you’ve had too much of
Whitneys or Mariahs, then Alicia Key’s energy and sound will
definitely win you over. Fallin’, the album’s first single,
showcases Alicia at her best. An intro appropriately titled The Piano
& I transforms Alicia’s recital of Beethoven’s Moonlight
Sonata into an electrifying product. How Come You Don’t Call Me
Anymore defines the sheer energy and emotion that Alicia churns out
on the album. Girlfriend (with Jermaine Dupri) sets the tone: a
midtempo-minus hip-hop beat which uses multi-layered vocals for an extra
depth. Troubles is like a more R&B focused Morcheeba. Also
worth checking out is the funky wah-wah and string-stabs of Rock
With You (from the Shaft soundtrack), where Alicia
collaborates with Issac Hayes and his orchestra. With lyrics such as
"I knew why the caged bird sings/ Only joy comes from song,"
Caged Bird is perhaps the album’s most personal and revealing track.
The true groove of the album comes though, when Alicia belts out A
Woman’s Worth. The track typifies her brand of sensual soul music.
It also shows her quest for love and passion when she sings, "A
real man knows a real woman, when he sees her. A real man can’t deny a
woman’s worth." Alicia manages to squeeze in the playful Stevie
Wonder-esque Mr Man to round off her repertoire, and closes the
album with a handful of brilliant ballads. An exceptional album — and
this is only the beginning of what is certain to be a long career in
music for the refreshingly talented young diva.
— Saurabh & Gaurav
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