Inside Music Album Guide - 9/04/08

I've started writing for the university newspaper as a music critic... sort of, I guess. I get to review albums. It's a bit frustrating; I've a feeling there will be a lot of misprints (as today was my first article and already there were a plethora of them). Below is how the article was supposed to appear.

Inside Music
The Stills do it right, Jonas Brothers are still learning
By Stephen Mason

The Stills – Oceans Will Rise (Arts & Crafts) ****
There are three things that make Oceans Will Rise work, and none are by accident. First, the Stills know how to be radio-friendly while layering their message into the hooks of their indie-rock driven style (“Being Here,” for example). Second, they’ve mastered the dynamics. There are no points where Oceans Will Rise is too loud for too long like a Muse album, nor does it whisper until you fall asleep. Third, the message they convey – while obvious – isn’t as boisterous as someone like Marilyn Manson. All in all it’s thoroughly enjoyable, and let’s face it; they make global warming sound fun.

The Verve – Forth (RED) ***
Unfortunately for Ashcroft and company, the Verve is ten years too late to reunite and answer the age-old question of “What would the Verve have done next had they not broken up?” Certainly Forth is only partly an answer; the band is older – though not necessarily wiser – and has used any great material elsewhere. There’s no “Bittersweet Symphony” here, only imitators; “Valium Skies” is the only track that features reminiscent string arrangement and truly impassioned vocals by Ashcroft. While other notable tracks like “Love is Noise” (which, not ironically, features a sample of a truly strange barking sound) may be remembered by the few remaining fans or the dedicated music connoisseur, the rest is forgettable. All listenable, but not engaging.

B.B. King – One Kind Favor (Geffen) ***1/2
The hailed “King of Blues” is back again with an array of blues covers, ranging from the legendary Big Bill Broonzy to the equally great John Lee Hooker. There’s no big production values that water One Kind Favor down, it’s still as basic as blues gets (King going so far as to have an upright bass in the recording sessions). It’s lop-sided as well; “Blues Before Sunrise” is the mark where King gets into it. After that, every track is golden, especially his cover of Chatmon’s “Sitting On Top of the World.” He may be old, but he sounds just as fresh as he did in 1957.

The Jonas Brothers – A Little Bit Longer (Disney) **1/2
Teen pop has always been the prostitute of the music industry; it’s easy and it makes a lot of money. You can’t blame the Jonas Brothers for that, their intentions are better. They know their target market and are responsible enough to keep a distance from drug and sex references (something Katy Perry cannot). For that, I tolerate them. As far as the music is concerned, it’s overly-produced, slick, trite nonsense. Strained vocals and excessive hooks. Lyrics about relationships they pretend to have had and understood. Drivel for the most part. I’ll admit, though, the kids can play guitar.