LITTLE ROCK — Jimmy Wayne Sara Smile Valory Music GroupB+
Country singer Jimmy Wayne’s career was sidetracked five years ago by a label going under and his contract being transferred. But he came back in a big way in 2008 with the No. 1 hit “Do You Believe Me Now?”
One of the pleasures of Wayne’s new album is hearing his evolution from a guy who can have hit songs to an artist who can create interesting albums. His latest is titled after the Daryl Hall and John Oates hit. (They’re also singing on the tune here.) It’s a reverent, folk/country-flavored version that still sounds soulful thanks to Wayne’s fine vocal.
“Just Knowing You Love Me” recalls John Mellencamp in his “Paper in Fire” period, while “I’ll Never Leave You” is a passionate love song. Wayne’s superb voice is heartfelt and emotional without being overwrought. Sara Smile ishis best work yet.
- ELLIS WIDNERThe Clipse Til the CasketDrops Re-Up/Star TrakA-
Perhaps the most underrated duo in hip-hop, The Clipse emerges with its most expansive and perhaps best work to date. Casket features production by Sean C and LV and the Neptunes, plus collaborations with Kanye West, Cam’Ron and Keri Hilson, among others.
“Kinda Like a Big Deal” is a blazing hot track featuring The Clipse’s clever wordplay and West’s swagger over the DJ Khalil and Chin’s orchestration. Pharrell joins the party on the feel-good cut “I’m Good.” The smooth Neptunes-helmed beat feels just right.
The Clipse may be destined for a career under the radar. But as long as they continue producing high-quality music like this, that will be just fine.
- SHON MCPEACETimbaland Shock Value IIBlackground/MoselyC
Once known as one of hip-hop’s pre-eminent beat miners, Timbo strays all over the musical map on this one. Working with everyone from The Fray to Justin Timberlake to Drake, Timbaland lays hot artists’ vocals over some of his more innovative tracks.
If you’re among those who have been yearning for a Timbaland/Miley Cyrus collaboration, let me be the first to congratulate you. You now have it. Not quite sure who this clumsy pairing harms more: Miley, Timbaland or listeners. Daughtry’s appearance here also leaves a bit to be desired. Katy Perry, Esthero and Chad Kroeger are also aboard.
The most shocking thing about this album is that it isn’t better. There is a whole lot going on, maybe too much. It proves that just because you have two things that are great individually doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be great together. It’s like pairing fish sticks and chocolate.
- SHON MCPEACETom Russell Blood and Candle Smoke Shout FactoryA-
Singer-songwriter Tom Russell’s albums are akin to short-story collections. These 12 tunes, intimate yet sweeping, are rich and enriching listening.
Members of the band Calexico add depth and an Americana foundation to these songs, which can be as simple as a heartfelt declaration of love (“Finding You”) or ominous and political (“Mississippi River Running Backwards”). “The Most Dangerous Woman in America” tells of a character’s desperation and turns it into a broader metaphor of social change that Woody Guthrie would have appreciated.
- ELLIS WIDNERGucci Mane The State vs.
Radric Davis So Icey/AsylumC-
Have you ever looked back at an outfit you wore and wondered how something so incredibly bad could’ve been so tremendously popular? Like leisure suits and disco boots in the 1970s, Gucci Mane is everywhere. From songs by Mariah Carey to the Black Eyed Peas, Gucci is all over the airwaves. Why? He’s not the best MC in the world and his flow can be difficult to understand.
“Spotlight” is the hit of this album, more so for Polow Da Don’s production and Usher’s guest-starring role than Gucci’s contribution. “Wasted” features another of rap’s anomalies, Plies, on a song made for the streets. But mostly, it’s more of the mind-cramping blather that Gucci is guilty of inflicting on the music scene.
- SHON MCPEACESeal HitsWarner Bros.
B
One of pop music’s more interesting singers, Seal has had chart-topping hits and superb albums. The 18-track CD includes the biggies “Crazy,” “Kiss From a Rose” and “Prayer for the Dying.” A new single is here as well, “I Am Your Man.”
The deluxe edition includes a DVD featuring a cool concert of nine songs taken from his tour for Soul, an album of classic soul tunes such as “A Change Is Gonna Come,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain” and “Stand by Me.” - ELLIS WIDNER
Style, Pages 43 on 12/27/2009