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Spin This: CD Reviews
CD reviews from The Tampa Tribune
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Published: October 9, 2008
Updated:
THE VERVE:
FORTH
(ON YOUR OWN) **½
The Verve returns 11 years after scoring a hit with "Urban Hymns" and subsequently disbanding. "Forth" has one foot in the solid song structures of its 1997 album and one toe dipping tentatively into the more free-flowing waters of early albums.
There's nothing here as strong as "Bittersweet Symphony" and, overall, "Forth" tends to drift more than propel.
Which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're in the mood to float along to "Columbo" or other lengthy, atmospheric tracks. "Love Is Noise" and "Rather Be" are relatively tight and concise, but "Noise Epic" doesn't live up to its title (other than its length), and "Judas" sounds like a lounge act on Ecstasy.
Download this: "Rather Be"
Curtis Ross
ROBIN THICKE:
SOMETHING ELSE
(INTERSCOPE) ***
If you talk mess about Robin Thicke, you're a hater.
Thicke might have famous parents (actors Alan Thicke and Gloria Loring), but his first album, "A Beautiful World," bombed stateside in 2003. Lucky for him, Pharrell Williams (yes, the cat from N.E.R.D.) was a fan and signed him. After that, things went "bam!" like Chef Emeril.
His last album, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke," went platinum, and he opened for Beyonce. Fast forward two years and he has released "Something Else" and is opening for Mary J. Blige on Saturday at the Ford Amphitheatre. Talk about a step up.
Sure, "Evolution" was good. But there is definite progression between the works. "Something Else" has soul: It breathes; it moves. There's bass, horns, strings. There are dance records and ballads. Thicke has grown, and it shows.
Download this: "Sidestep"
Sarah Hoye
JIMMY WAYNE
DO YOU BELIEVE ME NOW
(VALORY) **½
Gone are the days when a John Anderson or Alan Jackson would sell a song on twang alone. Nashville now is home to artists whose voices would fit as well in a TV commercial as they would on any piece of country music.
Unfortunately, when their music is as un-country as their vocals, their albums can be classified as being so in name only. Jimmy Wayne's voice falls into the categories of extremely listenable, occasionally soulful and pleasant to hear. But as talented as he is, there isn't much country here beyond a few mandolin plucks. If anything, his range and power - and, as a result, his songs - are closer to Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne and Dan Fogelberg.
Download this: "Kerosene Kid"
Jeff Houck
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