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Spin This: CD Reviews
CD reviews from The Tampa Tribune
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Published: March 19, 2009
VARIOUS ARTISTS:
WAR CHILD PRESENTS HEROES
(ASTRALWERKS) **½
Proceeds from this CD go to War Child, which aids children affected by war, so by all means buy it - don't download it for free, cheapskate - and some of the tunes actually are quite good, although others are positively heinous.
Sixteen artists chose one of their own songs and a band to remake it. Lily Allen (The Clash's "Straight to Hell"), Scissor Sisters (Roxy Music's "Do the Strand") and Peaches (Iggy & the Stooges' "Search and Destroy") prove to be inspired choices; Duffy's snoozy "Live and Let Die" and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' clueless "Sheena Is a Punk Rocker," much less so.
Biggest disappointment: The Hold Steady, who march to the door of greatness but then can't find the key on "Atlantic City."
Download this: "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat" by Beck
Curtis Ross
B-REAL:
SMOKE N MIRRORS
(AUDIO HUSTLAZ) **
The fearless leader of Cypress Hill returns with a disc that drips with Cali vibes, slick studio work and - surprise! - plenty of chatter about smoking weed.
Although B-Real is all grown up, his lyrics on tracks such as "Get That Dough" and "Stack'n Paper" revolve around hustling - and you can only hear the word "hustle" so many times before getting bored with it.
But the nasal rapper can still pull big-time guest spots from Snoop ("Dr. Hyphenstein") and Damian Marley ("Fire"). What's better: Xzibit shows up with Young De on "Don't Ya Dare Laugh."
If you're looking for something deep, umm ... this ain't it. But if you just want some west side ear candy, smoke up.
Download this: "Fire"
Sarah Hoye
K'NAAN:
TROUBADOUR
(A&M OCTONE) ***½
K'naan is a chameleon.
The Somali refugee is at home in whatever genre he chooses and on his sophomore CD, he dabbles in many.
From the hard-edged rap of "T.I.A." to the poppy bounce of "Bang Bang" with Maroon 5's Adam Levine and the rockin' "If Rap Gets Jealous" with Metallica's Kirk Hammett, K'naan inhabits each style and the CD flows seamlessly despite the style shifts.
To call K'naan a rapper would be selling him short. He's also a gifted singer. He has a thin voice, but his strength lies in phrasing.
His phrasing gives emotional heft to songs such as the folkie "People Like Me," when he sings from the perspective of a homesick U.S. soldier and a laid-off single mom.
Download this: "Dreamer"
Joinville Michel
CDs are rated on a scale of zero to four stars.
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