The end of the month has arrived, which means it's time to take a look back at some titles that slipped by us - until now. It seemed as if March had albums rainning from the sky. Record companies released a motherload of tribute albums, greatest hits, re-releases, EPs, debuts and just average everday full-length release.
Artist: Lil' KimAlbum: "La Bella Mafia"
Released: March 4, 2003
Overall: 4/5
Some might get the impression this album is a personal autobiography of Lil' Kim, and at first glance, you might be right. But wow, this might also be the comedy album of the year. Lyrics in each line are tightly woven together and are pure entertainment, especially "Hold It Now" with Havoc. The song starts in a similar fashion as The Beastie Boys' "Paul Revere"and then has Kim unleash what she's all about and where she's been - there's even a Saddam reference. "(When Kim Say) Can You Hear Me Now?" has Kim preaching with Missy Elliott on a solid track with deep beats. Other guests on the album include Swizz Beatz, Styles P, Mr. Cheeks and chart-busting artist 50 Cent who joins Kim on "Magic Stick."
But as I said, it's not all song - other skits are pure comedy and sometime are even more entertaining than the music tracks. "Doing It Way Big"has Kim hosting her own call in radio show and "Hollyhood Skit" has Kim teaching the kids not to be a hater.
But if you can't stomach hard lyrics with sexual reference you might want to opt for the cleaner version.
Artist: Barnyard Playboys
Album: "Corn Dog Love"
Released: March 4, 2003
Overall: 5/5
If you though Lil' Kim's album was dirty and perverted - it has nothing on the innuendo of "Corn Dog Love" (in case you couldn't tell from the title). The title track leaves you wondering what they're really talking about when the song starts with, "My heart is just the thing that beats and I love to sample mystery meats"and then picks up with "...Sanctified with the corn mill crown and then deep fried till golden brown and slathered with the mustard ketchup lube."Can you really love a corn dog enough to write a song about it?
Other jaw-droppers include "Psychic," "Circus Lady,""Mama's Big Behind"and a hysterical "Turd In The Mail"with a chorus that laughs, "Ha-ha, you're the asshole who sent me that turd in the mail." We won't get into "Whiskey Dick Mountain" or "13 Steps To The Altar,"I let you discover those songs on your own.
All lyrics aside, the album has a great experimental country-rock sound with heavy bass lines and a great twangy guitar. But unlike Kim's new release, this one doesn't contain a clean version - brace yourself.
Artist: Kenny Garrett
Album: "Standard of Language"
Released: March 11, 2003
Overall: 4/5
Wow, what a nice break from the sometimes mundane sounds of the music world. Even if you're not a big jazz fan this is the kinda stuff that could possibly change your mind. Steady true sound that doesn't have to speak the English language to tell a story - the true gift of music. Garrett's sax work is magical throughout the album and combines with a ruckus of crashing cymbals, sporadic drum beats and a popping piano. Both "What Is This Thing Called Love?"and "Just A Second To Catch My Breath"speak their titles.
It's not a surprise Garrett is one of Miles Davis' own pupils in sound.
Artist: Relient K
Album: "Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do"
Released: March 11, 2003
Overall: 4.5/5
A high energy fast-paced flowing album is always a plus - if it sucks than at least it will be over soon and if it's good than you can soon listen to the whole thing over again.
Relient K's third release "Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...But Three Do" is one of those smooth flowing hi-tempo albums. Although it has that new punk-pop vibe that seems to be commercially selling a lot of albums these days, it isn't grouped with the number of other bands out there. You can feel the unique energy on "Falling Out"and even on the memory lane trip you'll take when references to Tears For Fears, The Breakfast Club and that classic '80s synthesizer twinkles on "In Love With The 80's (Pink Tux To The Prom)."
Humor also runs rampant on this album when the song "College Kids"pokes fun at the university lifestyle college kids lead. Lyrics such as "Sell all my books for front row tickets to Dave Matthews Band" and "I think it's time to call my father because it's his almamader" shows Relient K's take experience with school. "Mood Rings,"maybe one of the strongest and cleverest songs on the album, offers guys an easy solution to reading the female species: "Let's get emotional girls to wear mood rings."
Artist: Wayne Wonder
Album: "No Holding Back"
Released: March 4, 2003
Overall: 3/5
There's no debate about Wonder's abilities to sing and harmonize. The debate may come from what makes Wonder different from all the other R&B artists who already exist. It's obvious that Wonder was born in Jamaica - the beats, some of the vocals and flair that follows the album relay his heritage. "Bounce Along" and "Nobody But Me" has a Caribbean spice in both the beats and the solo work of the vocals by Wonder. But other songs such as "Friend Like Me," " Glad You Came My Way" and "No Letting Go"are boring and pretty unoriginal minus the hand clapping. The album is really hit-or-miss - hit if your on a unique sounding track with the added Jamaican flair, miss if it's your average R&B number.
Artist: A.F.I. (A Fire Inside)
Album: "Sing the Sorrow"
Released: March 11
Overall: 4/5
A pretty solid performance from A.F.I. on its seventh release, the band is definitely gaining credibility and obviously improving both its musical style and commercial image. With the release of "Sing the Sorrow," the band's style is evident with the congruent theme of hard-driving guitars, drums and piercing heartfelt lyrics. Although the group's single "Girl's Not Grey" is a softer song on the ears and catches fans a little easier, the single does not represent the rest of the album. It's a good song, but other, less radio-friendly songs, such as "Dancing Through Sunday" and "The Leaving Song Pt. II," more accurately portray what the album really sounds like. Don't go out and buy this just because you enjoy the single; you might be disappointed with the album if you're not a fan of a brasher style of punk.
Artist: Ani Difranco
Album: "Evolve"
Released: March 11
Overall: 4.5/5
I have to be honest. I didn't expect to hear what I did on Ani Difranco's new release "Evolve." Usually when I think of Ani I think of lots of acoustic guitar, short strummed punchy lyrics and new-age folk. "Promised Land," the first track off the album, shot down my assumptions. A bluesy little number with a full backing band of percussion, trumpet, saxophone and piano create a full-bodied masterpiece. "O My My" and "Icarus" continue the theme of the blues not only through the baselines, vibrations of the guitar, but also in the eerie dark vocals that Difranco delivers.
But for classic Difranco fans, "Slide" and title track "Evolve" will hit the spot.
Artist: Hootie & the Blowfish
Album: "Hootie & the Blowfish"
Released: March 4
Overall: 2/5
Come on, don't deny it. You probably owned a copy of Hootie & the Blowfish's "Cracked Rearview Mirror," and if you didn't you probably borrowed the album from a friend. The album started (and pretty much ended) the group's commercial success, but it succeeded in going platinum several times - largely from American sales. But I couldn't have told you what the Blowfish have been up to since their limited fame. Enter the new self-titled 2003 release.
The first two tracks, "Deeper Side" and "Little Brother," are a little bit funkier than previously-released Blowfish material. But look no further than the rest of the album for the classic sappy lyrics, acoustic guitar finger picking and Darius Rucker's deep echoing vocals. "Space" is happy and upbeat and "Innocence" has a rightfully Blowfish line: "What else can I do/When the tears have all been wasted." But most of the album isn't what the "Cracked Rearview Mirror" generation would remember as Hootie & the Blowfish - it's softer, slower and oh-so serious. Welcome to the world of easy listening.
Artist: The Blood Brothers
Album: "Burn Piano Island, Burn"
Released: March 18, 2003
Overall: 0/5
Ahh, I honestly only knew what I was listening to because thankfully this CD came with an album cover and a track listening. I'd be totally lost without one. Where do I start? Wow. This album (if I can even call it that) baffles me - how did this even get recorded in the first place? Is Artistdirect a serious label? And if so, were they on drugs when they signed The Blood Brothers? Wait, even drugs wouldn't make someone sign a band this bad.
Screeching, high pitched ear-piercing screams (the kind I didn't think were humanly possible) are key to the band's style along with the noise they like to call music. Do I sound old? No, I'm just being realistic. Each track is the same as before, except for the opening "Guitarmy" which is 38-seconds of pure shock and horror for the look into what's to come.
I don't understand why this band bothers to have lyrics. You won't be able to understand what they are saying without the CD jacket's help (hey, lyrics aren't important anyway) - the only thing I got on my own was something about pulling the plug on "Every Breath Is a Bomb." Hey, good call.
