Saturday, November 7, 2009
By BRETT JOHNSON Associated Press Usher, "Here I Stand" (LaFace/Zomba) In the four years since his last album - the nine-million selling, Grammy-winning "Confessions" - Usher has apparently undergone a personal and musical maturation. On the homefront, the Atlanta-bred R&B singer now has a son, Usher Raymond V, and wife,
By STEVEN WINE Associated Press Writer John Hiatt, "Same Old Man" (New West) John Hiatt's conversational lyrics sound off-the-cuff, which means they likely resulted from many hours of labor. The work was worth it, because "Same Old Man" ranks with the best music of Hiatt's 34-year recording career.
By AMY LINDEN For The Associated Press Al Green, "Lay It Down" (Blue Note) If Al Green's "Lay It Down" sounds familiar, it should. Much like his 2003's comeback CD "I Cant Stop," this is an homage to and re-creation of Green's '70s glory days. That's when the quintessential love man,
By CRISTINA BLACK For The Associated Press Your Vegas, "A Town and Two Cities" (Universal Republic) It takes great fortitude for a newbie band to attempt the kind of epic-rock grandeur U2 has perfected. Judging by their sweeping debut album,
By CHRIS TALBOTT Associated Press Writer "Evil Urges," My Morning Jacket (ATO) What is it about success that causes a rock 'n' roll act to wander? With "Evil Urges," My Morning Jacket is the latest band or artist to veer off a course toward apparent superstardom
By KIM CURTIS For The Associated Press Priscilla Ahn, "A Good Day" (Blue Note) The debut release from singer-songwriter Priscilla Ahn is sweet � so sweet it will leave your teeth aching. Musically, "A Good Day" is interesting. Ahn has the voice of an angel,
By MICHAEL McCALL For The Associated Press Emmylou Harris, "All I Intended to Be" (Nonesuch) Emmylou Harris has often enjoyed observing the present through a filter that takes in the past. She sharpens that focus on "All I Intended to Be," her first solo album in five years.
By BRETT JOHNSON For The Associated Press Adele, "19" (XL/Columbia) Of the second wave of British female soul singers to hit American airwaves (Estelle, Leona Lewis, Duffy), Adele is perhaps the purest torch singer. The bulk of the songs on her solid stateside debut, "19,"
By ALEX VEIGA Associated Press Writer Coldplay, "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records) Coldplay's hit-making formula has served the band well: Thoughtful, mid-tempo songs driven by pleasant melodic hooks