Saturday, March 27, 2004

MUSIC ZONE

Album of the month
Norah Jones — Feels Like Home (EMI)
Saurav & Gaurav

Come Away With Me, Norah Jones’ enthusiastically received debut, was a jazz vocal album influenced by country and blues hooks, while Feels Like Home, her eagerly anticipated effort, is enhanced by Jones’ immaculate jazz vocal and piano skills, adding more energy to her music. 

Jones’ Texas-twanged vocals and her light acoustic and electric Wurlitzer piano lines enliven the album’s 13 tracks, from the light and lively single, Sunrise to Tom Waits’ The Long Way Home. One of the few displays of her instrumental skills is the album’s closer, Don’t Miss You at All, where Jones has added her own soulful lyrics to a dark Duke Ellington instrumental, Melancholia. Beautifully produced and beautifully crafted, this album fits the bill perfectly.

Best track: Sunrise

Worst track: The Prettiest Thing

The team of and perfected a trademark approach that combined the duo’s matchless vocal harmonies to Simon’s poetic and eminently melodic tunes. Simon & Garfunkel lasted a mere six years as a recording team; even so, the 20 tracks on Two Can Dream Alone provide all the proof necessary as to why they have maintained such global popularity. 

Touching upon the duo’s original unreleased and rare tracks, this sterling collection brings together a bunch of essential tracks including their solo efforts. Following the duo’s recent reunion, the compilation includes prominent efforts like Dream Alone, Just A Boy, It Means A Lot To Me, Flame, Teenage Fool and Simon Says. There have been other Simon & Garfunkel collections over the years, but few carry this condensed punch.

Best track: Our Song

Misfit: True or False

This compilation is heavy on hip-hop, pop, and R&B, including favourites from Justin Timberlake (Cry Me a River), Beyonc`E9 (Crazy in Love), and Eminem (Lose Yourself), plus poignant songs from late greats Warren Zevon (Keep Me in Your Heart) and George Harrison (Any Road). The other biggies include Where Is The Love by Black Eyed Peas, Clocks by British band Coldplay, Work It by Missy Elliot, The Way You Move by Outkast, featuring Sleepy Brown, Beautiful performed by Christina Anguilera and In Da Club by 50 Cent. 

Grammy Nominees 2004 is a great way for anyone feeling lost amidst an unfamiliar music scene to decide for themselves exactly what’s special about the year’s biggest sellers.

The winner in the New Artist Category Grammy Award 2004, Evanescence’s sound include industrial inflections, clean vocals, orchestra instruments, piano and choirs. Their lyrics are poetic, sorrowful, and, at times, spiritual. The most brilliant of their stunning cuts include the powerful Bring Me To Life, Hello, the mournful Haunted, Going Under, and the dreadful beauty of My Last Breath. The band’s prominent member is unmistakably Amy Lee.

Best track: My Immortal Worst track: Going Under
Rating: **

This feature was published on March 6, 2004