BuzzCuts: New Music
Country/pop singer Raul Malo and alt-metal rockers Alien Ant Farm are out with new albums while rappers G. Love and DMX each deliver new sets.
Raul Malo — "You're Only Lonely"
Alien Ant Farm — "Up In The Attic"
G. Love — "Lemonade"
DMX — "Year of the Dog ... Again"
Raul Malo, "You're Only Lonely," Sanctuary
It's different to hear Raul Malo on an album when he's not fronting The Mavericks, and even more surreal to hear the prolific songwriter singing mostly covers on "You're Only Lonely." But the Mavericks' days are over — at least for now — and Malo has taken his solo work from the edge of country in a more pop-flavored direction.
He says he always has wanted to make a record of great songs by some of his favorite songwriters, and who better to team up with than Peter Asher, who also produced Linda Ronstadt's albums of classics.
Malo's soaring tenor — comparable to Roy Orbison, but with a phrasing that is purely Malo — adds a rich gospel flavor to Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying too Close to the Ground," and a torchy sound to Etta James' "At Last," while remaining true to the Bee Gees' "Run to Me," Harry Nilsson's "Remember" and the album's title song, JD Souther's "You're Only Lonely."
The one Malo-penned song on the album is a rousing diversion into his Cuban roots, "For You." The pick of the litter on the CD has to be Randy Newman's delightful ballad "Feels Like Home," which Malo and Asher liked so much, they included it twice — once as a solo and again as a duet with Martina McBride. (Tom Gardner)
Back to topAlien Ant Farm, "Up in the Attic," New Door Records
Alien Ant Farm's latest album shows this California alt-metal band works best when they've got their backs against the wall.
The band, probably best known for their cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," has suffered through a lot over the past few years — a fatal bus crash broke lead singer Dryden Mitchell's neck, there have been a few lineup changes and they've had label woes. But they have bounced back nicely with "Up in the Attic," a clear-cut, focused rock record.
The album's first single, "Forgive and Forget," features Mitchell souring on romance gone bad. Much of the album's content concentrates on their responses to frustration, whether it's two-faced friends ("Around the Block") or the fear of death ("It Could Happen").
There's no standout track on the album, but there is a large batch of infectious songs worthy of a listen. (Travis Coleman)
G. Love, "Lemonade" (Brushfire)
Garrett Dutton hasn't expanded his sound very much since his 1994 debut, but that's a small gripe when someone is as good at what they do as G. Love is.
On "Lemonade," his eighth outing and second for Jack Johnson's Brushfire label, G. Love's folksy blues and jazz-tinted hip-hop are as bright and uplifting as ever.
Mixing his nasal rap stylings with an expanding pop sensibility — the choruses on several tracks are among his catchiest ever — G. Love has another strong summer party record on his hands.
He keeps the mood light with slight, funky jams such as "Ride" and "Beautiful," sexes things up a bit with "Hot Cookin' " and lifts spirits with the positive "Thanks and Praise."
"Holla" proves G. can still pen an irresistible track, "Still Hangin' Around" gives props to his staying power, and his crafty sense of humor is on full display on "Can't Go Back To Jersey" ("I'm infected with your love, I need some Bacitracin").
Guest appearances by Blackalicious ("Banger"), Ben Harper ("Let The Music Play") and Johnson ("Rainbow") never seem like gimmicks or filler as each guest easily compliments G.'s overall style.
As always, giving G. Love a spin is sure to make you smile and bop your head. (John Kosik)
DMX, "Year of the Dog ... Again" (Columbia)
Since his emergence in the late '90s, DMX has been one of rap's most pitiable figures. His well-reported backstory involves stints in foster homes and jails, with X ultimately finding solace in the rugged warmth of pitbulls.
These days, his popular BET reality show "Soul of a Man" and periodic run-ins with the law — which included impersonating an FBI agent — only bolster his image as a tortured soul, albeit with goo-gobs of talent. But on his sixth disc, "Year of the Dog ... Again," there are signs that his conflicted persona may be wearing thin.
The Yonkers-bred MC is still capable of recording legitimate club crashers such as the riot-starting anthem "We In Here" and the whistle-blaring "Come Thru (Move)" featuring Busta Rhymes. But the chest-beating sounds phoned-in, such as on the Styles P and Jadakiss collaboration "It's Personal," when X says: "We all got guns/ We all got dogs/ We all gon' take that trip to the morgue." And he definitely loses credibility with the ladies when he follows a disdainful rant ("Baby Mama") with the R&B-flavored "Dog Love," on which he equates not having first-date sex with sincere feelings for a new boo.
When DMX relaxes the thug pose on the disc's rousing, guitar-fueled closer, "Lord Give Me a Sign," he hints at his post-rap career intentions to become a preacher. The song's earnest clunkers ("Soakin up trouble like rain in the dirt") notwithstanding, it grounds the disc in more than just idle boasts. (Brett Johnson)
Previous BuzzCuts: Tom Petty, LeToya, Edie Brickell, and New York Dolls.