Jack Johnson "To the Sea"
Who says nice guys finish last? Some folks were startled when Johnson's previous studio album, "Sleep Through the Static," entered the charts at No. 1 in February 2008. Johnson's quiet yet mighty legion of fans had already pushed most of his releases since 2002's "Brushfire Fairytales" into the top five, and they're likely to do it again with his new 2010 release. Recorded earlier this year, the Hawaiian singer-songwriter's latest was knocked out in just three weeks to keep the groove loose and lively. The 13-song set includes cameos from G. Love and Hawaiian recording artist Paula Fuga (previously featured on Johnson's live "En Concert" disc).
Clay Aiken "Tried and True"
While his career doesn't seem to have suffered from finishing second, Aikens vintage-looking cover and program of 13 hit tunes from the '50s and '60s, brings a fresh spin on old favorites. Well, relatively fresh; Aiken's reading of "Misty" sounds an awful lot like the Johnny Mathis untouchable 1959 recording, but he swings convincingly on the midsection of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." The 31-year-old also revisits a couple of numbers from his "Idol" stint ("Mack the Knife," "Unchained Melody"), welcomes guest instrumentalists including Vince Gill (who plays guitar on "Moon River") and saxophonist David Sanborn, and duets with Broadway star Linda Eder on Roy Orbison's classic "Crying."
Tift Merritt "See You on the Moon"
On her fourth full-length, Merritt finds a sympathetic producer in Tucker Martine. Her first two albums, 2002's "Bramble Rose" and 2004's "Tambourine" seemed like the media and her label were hot to promote her as modern-day Americana with a little bit country, a little bit rock 'n' roll. In truth, the singer-songwriter is a more complex, idiosyncratic artist. Recorded in Merritt's native North Carolina, the disc features vocal harmonies by Jim James of My Morning Jacket and a crop of strong originals that includes the meaty "Live Till You Die" and "All the Reasons We Don't Have to Fight," a lovely, wistful meditation on reconciliation.
Paul Weller "Wake Up the Nation"
Weller throws fans a curveball with his 10th studio set that features 16 short songs (most are well under three minutes) that span a variety of styles. "In Amsterdam" is a jazzy instrumental that suggests a lost nugget of library music or the jingle from a '60s TV commercial, the hard-edged "Up the Dosage" rocks like a nod to the Modfather's predecessors in the Who, and "No Tears to Cry" is a hard soul ditty reminiscent of Weller's earlier works. 28 years after The Jam split, Weller is reconciled with bassist Bruce Foxton, who plays on two tracks here. Also on board are My Bloody Valentine guitarist Kevin Shields and drummer Bev Bevan of the Move and ELO. "Nation" is already winning raves in the United Kingdom, where it came out in April, and deservedly so.
This fourth album is dedicated to the memory of lead singer JT Woodruff's mother, who passed away earlier this year. The Dayton, Ohio, emo quartet's latest features 13 cuts, including the jittery single "Nervous Breakdown" and fan favorite "Unforgivable," many of which they previewed during their two-month string of dates at the end of 2009. Their first record for the Wind-Up label and the follow-up to 2008's "Fragile Future," "Skeletons" was produced by Howard Benson.
Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)
- Sergio Mendes "Bom Tempo"
- Peggy Sue "Fossils and Other Phantoms"
- The Futureheads "The Chaos"
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