Children of Jah by Midnite - video and download at iTunes
Children of Jah by Midnite - video and download at iTunes
Children of Jah by Midnite - video and download at iTunes
Easy Star's Thrillah by Easy Star All-Stars - Video & iTunes
Billie Jean (feat. Luciano) - Easy Star's Thrillah
Album Review
With the LP work of Pink Floyd (2003's Dub Side of the Moon), Radiohead (2006's Radiodread), and the Beatles (2009's Easy Star's Lonely Hearts Dub Band) already in their past, the Jamaican/American studio band known as Easy Star All-Stars were coming upon a decade of classic album tributes with this reggae redo of Michael Jackson's Thriller, but there's plenty of life left in this formula. After taking a break from the concept with 2011's First Light — their first full-length album of original songs — they've returned with a new attitude, attacking the opening favorite "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" with a double shotgun blast of joy and Afro-pop, as if Fela returned to be crowned the king of post-disco.
It's an instant, unique party, but that familiar Easy Star island flavor returns with the following "Baby Be Mine," a reggae-meets-R&B take with touches of Earth, Wind & Fire and Justin Timberlake, and also a sequential clue that Thrillah covers Thriller in order. Brilliant how the gravelly voice and deep patois accent of Spragga Benz replaces Vincent Price's "rap" during the monumental "Thriller" itself, and interesting how the too cool "Beat It" becomes ominous and dark when played midtempo and with Black Uhuru's Michael Rose as its streetwise teacher. With devout Rastafarian Luciano on the mike, "Billie Jean" is played as a funky techno caution with Biblical verses in the mix, while Cas Haley travels to Margaritaville with his suitably smooth and sweet caressing of "Human Nature." Reggae-disco, cowbells, and in-house singer Kirsty Rock give "P.Y.T." the proper amount of flash, before a dubby version of "The Lady in My Life" and two actual dubs put a wrap on this diverse, fun, and very welcome return to form.
havoc and bright lights (deluxe version) Alanis Morissette - Video & iTunes
Biography
Alanis Morissette was one of the most unlikely stars of the mid-'90s. A former child actress turned dance-pop diva, Morissette later transformed herself into a confessional alternative singer/songwriter in the vein of Liz Phair and Tori Amos. However, she bolstered that formula with enough pop sensibility, slight hip-hop flourishes, and marketing savvy to become a superstar with her third album, Jagged Little Pill.
Alanis Morissette was one of the most unlikely stars of the mid-'90s. A former child actress turned dance-pop diva, Morissette later transformed herself into a confessional alternative singer/songwriter in the vein of Liz Phair and Tori Amos. However, she bolstered that formula with enough pop sensibility, slight hip-hop flourishes, and marketing savvy to become a superstar with her third album, Jagged Little Pill.
Morissette was born in Ottawa, Canada, and began playing piano and writing songs during her childhood years. She also joined the cast of You Can't Do That on Television, a children's television program. Using money that she earned on the show, Morissette recorded an independent single, "Fate Stay with Me," which was released when she was only ten years old. Morissette then concentrated on a musical career after leaving the show's cast, signing a music publishing contract when she was 14. The publishing contract led to a record deal with MCA Canada, and Morissette moved to Toronto before releasing her debut album, Alanis, in 1991.
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Greater Than One by Dwele (Video & iTunes)
Each Dwele album should have greater, Maxwell-level anticipation. The singer should headline over the majority of contemporary R&B stars instead of open for Maze. (That's not a knock on Maze.) It's not like Dwele isn't in a comfortable spot, though. His releases routinely debut in the Top Ten of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and he's allowed to continue recording with no detectable creative restrictions, as heard on Greater Than One. Once he got deep into the making of this, his fifth album, he noticed a pervasive "'80s" feel. In this case, '80s often means the sophisticated type of R&B-jazz hybrids — the mellow grooves — actively played on Detroit stations like WJZZ during the earlier part of that decade. While that has always been part of Dwele's sound, it's a little more pronounced here; there are instances where he could easily slip into some Pieces of a Dream or, given the continued presence of his brother Antwan on trumpet, anything featuring Seawind's Jerry Hey.
On "This Love," produced by Prince "BlkMagic" Damons, the sound shifts from 1980/1981 to 1982/1983-style midtempo boogie with chunky synthesizer bass, and a little high-pitched wriggle. There's some electro-funk bounce to "Patrick Ronald" (long for a certain brand of tequila, featuring Monica Blaire, one of album's several Detroit guest stars) and "Special," too. If anything, the album is looser, more relaxed and mischievous, than any Dwele album that preceded it, which is saying something. The majority of the songwriting, as usual, concerns adventures in mature bachelorhood and courtship. Dwele continues to appeal to both female and male listeners — no pandering, no forced masculinity to be heard.
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