Pleasureman Günther (Rhino/Wea)
A Swedish hedonist with a mullet wants to sex you up. His name is Günther, and he is the "Pleasureman." Already known for his sexy ways in Europe, Günther is seeking to jump start the libidinous dancing feet of Americans with his sexed-up Euro-pop. "Pleasureman" opens with the "Ding Dong Song," which is so deliciously perverted it's funny. So bad it's good? Perhaps. Catchy? You bet. With lyrics like, "Oh, you touched my tra-la-la, mmm, my ding ding dong," it's a song made for the gay clubs. Günther doesn't really sing so much as growl mindless come-ons over colorful synth beats. In fact, he sounds a lot like the guy who sang the part of Ken in the 1997 Aqua hit "Barbie Girl." Guenther's Sunshine Girls provide the actual singing, though he does duet with Samantha Fox on "Touch Me." Make no mistake, with songs like "One Night Stand" and "Naughty Boy," the "Pleasureman" does not misrepresent his intentions. This is an album for people who like their pop raunchy with tongue inserted firmly in cheek, among other places. As Günther says in "Tuttifrutti Summerlove," "It's a no no, and you like it." Check him out at www.gunthernet.com.
Without Feathers The Stills (Vice)
In 2003 The Stills were a cool new band. They were dark, they were interesting, and they borrowed heavily – and well – from 80's acts like Joy Division. Their debut album, "Logic Will Break Your Heart," not only had a cool title, but it produced one of 2003's best rock singles, "Still In Love Song." Though The Stills were hardly the first, there was soon an explosion of brooding 80's rock homage bands like The Killers, Bloc Party, Editors and She Wants Revenge. This, apparently, upset The Stills. They didn't want to be like everyone else. They wanted to stand out. And so they made some major changes, the most disturbing being handing lead vocal duties over to their drummer, Dave Hamelin, and relegating their former lead singer, Tim Fletcher, to back-up singer. The result is "Without Feathers," one of the most forgettable records ever made. It's not that Fletcher was the greatest singer, but Hamelin's nasally whine is not what I'd call an improvement. With this new album The Stills have toned down the brooding and edged up the pop complete with horns and organ. The Stills may have shed the feathers that adored the cover of their debut, but this bird never gets off the ground. "It's just never what it was," sings Hamelin on "In The Beginning." It's not that moving in a new direction is a bad thing; it's just that The Stills seem to be in desperate need of a compass.
A Girl Like Me Rihanna (Def Jam)
Listening to "A Girl Like Me," the sophomore album from Barbados native Rihanna, it's difficult for me to understand why Jay-Z signed her to his Def Jam Records on the spot. Don't get me wrong: she's good, but not great. However, she has managed some radio-friendly hit singles, starting with 2005's "Pon de Replay" from her debut "Music of the Sun." And no doubt you've heard "SOS," the lead track and first single from "A Girl Like Me." It's hella-catchy, borrowing, as it does, from Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," an 80's hit already popular in its own right. In fact, I'm pretty sure it's required by love that "Tainted Love" gets played every time a station has an 80's flashback segment. So the appeal of "SOS" is understandable – it's like you've heard it before, and yet, it's new. "Girl" boasts no other songs quite as catchy, and about half the record consists of ballads like the tearful infidelity confession of "Unfaithful" and "P.S. (I'm Still Not Over You)." But the album deserves props for not relying on big name guest spots and flashy production to keep it afloat. While I don't think that Rihanna is the next Beyonce, and certainly not the next Diana Ross, hey, she's only 18. Who knows what the future holds?
Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living The Streets (Vice)
For those who have never heard of Mike Skinner (a.k.a. The Streets) before, it might seem strange that his third record, "Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living," is an autobiographical exploration of how crazy his life has been – including plenty of sex, drugs and mayhem – since he's become famous. That's because he's a celebrity in the U.K. In the U.S. we don't seem to have much room for more than one white rapper – a slot currently filled by Eminem – and that's a shame. Even though "Hardest Way" is the weakest of the three Streets releases, Americans could still learn a lot about the seedier aspects of celebrity life across the pond through Skinner's cheeky thickly accented rhymes. His production isn't too shabby either. Even when you can't understand what he's saying, which does occasionally happen due to a combination of semantics and accent, you can't ignore the beats. On the poignant "Never Went To Church," Skinner mourns his dead father ("Sometimes I think so hard I can't remember how your face looks"). Though the track opens with the lines, "Two great European narcotics: alcohol and Christianity. I know which one I'd prefer," Skinner doesn't use the song to bash religion; instead pondering what he might be missing by the role religion doesn't play in his life during his time of grief. The opening track, "Prangin' Out," is quite catchy, though the British slang will scare away American radio. Skinner addresses the trans-Atlantic divide with "Two Nations," when he reminds listeners, "We were the ones who invented the language" and then goes on to say, "I'm proud we gave you people like John Lennon, even though you shot him."
Novocaine Smile Naked Highway
Naked Highway is the brainchild of New York singer/songwriter Sy Boccari who displays his love of new wave rock and electronica on his debut "Novocaine Smile." The album opens with "We Can F–k," which sounds like it was written and recorded by a foul-mouthed middle schooler playing with his Casio keyboard, among other things, in his bedroom. "Better Off Naked" is more rock than dance and the closest comparison I can come up with is "Cyberpunk"-era Billy Idol, if Idol were rendered mentally impaired by too many drugs at too many circuit parties. "Peepshow" contains some of the worst sex-related lyrics of all time ("Don't you know that I don't care? I want your face in my underwear"). While trying to be sexy, Naked Highway comes across like a sex-crazed high schooler bragging about things that have only happened in his dreams. While the CD is called "Novocaine Smile," even if Boccari had undergone the most major of dental procedures right before recording there would be no excuse for the absolute tunelessness of "Used To Be Friends." Most disappointing of all is the song "CTRL+ALT+DEL," and not just because it's terrible, but also because it does not, sadly, make the entire album go away.
The Cloud Room The Cloud Room (Gigantic)
Brooklyn-based quartet The Cloud Room have something to offer fans of The Killers, Arcade Fire and the Shout Out Louds. Though not quite reaching the caliber of the aforementioned bands, The Cloud Room is adept at stringing together punchy rhythms and catchy lyrics in tight little packages (only half the songs on their debut clock in over three minutes, none reach the four minute mark). The best song on the album is by far "Hey Now Now" which you'll find gladly imbedded in your brain after just one listen.
Death of the Party Kudu (Nublu Records)
Contrary to the title of Kudu's latest release, putting on "Death of the Party" at your next get together would hardly be a party killer. That is, if the people at your party are tired of mindless dance pop and 80s new wave copycat acts. Sylvia Gordon and Deantoni "D" Parks are the minds behind the controlled sonic mayhem that is Kudu. Think Siouxsie and The Banshees during their "Peek-A-Boo" heyday, throw in some 70s funk, late 80s house, a dash of jazz and some disco sensibility and you've got Kudu. "Party" highlights include opening track "Hot Lava," "Suite Life" and "Playing House," which you can download for free at http://nublu.net/free.
We Are Night Sky Deadboy & the Elephantmen (Fat Possum)
If The White Stripes emerged from the swamps of Louisiana instead of the Motor City, they might sound like Deadboy & the Elephantmen. The comparison is too easy, but there's no way around it. Deadboy consists of two people, guitar player/singer Dex Riggs and drummer/backup singer Tessie Brunet. And no, they aren't related and aren't romantically involved. Deadboy's sound is raw rock and roll with a penchant for darkness (with a name like Deadboy & the Elephantmen, who knew?). They're at their best when they're rocking out. Some of the slower songs like "No Rainbow" and "Dressed In Smoke" kind of drag. But "Stop, I'm Already Dead" and "Blood Music" set the swamp on fire.
Eyes Open Snow Patrol (A&M)
When I first heard "You're All I Have," the opening track on Snow Patrol's latest record "Eyes Open," I thought the band had, like The Stills, changed singers. They haven't. Gary Lightbody is still at the helm as the main singer and songwriter. But with this new release Snow Patrol has lost the grit and the heaviness that made their last release, "Final Straw," so, well, good. "Eyes Open" finds Snow Patrol trading in their indie rock for power pop with super slick production and a radio-friendly bent. Not that they don't do it well, but it's still a little disconcerting that the first two tracks on "Eyes Open" could just as easily be from the new Goo Goo Dolls record. But while hardcore Snow Patrol fans may be disappointed by this new direction, Coldplay fans who have never heard of Snow Patrol before will have a new favorite band. Despite the glitz, Lightbody has always shined in the role of sad bastard and tracks like "Chasing Cars," "You Could Be Happy" and "Set The Fire To The Third Bar," a gorgeous duet with Martha Wainwright, prove that Snow Patrol still have their cold soul.
Yonder Mountain String Band Yonder Mountain String Band (Vanguard)
It's fitting that Yonder Mountain String Band's fourth studio album is self-titled. It's a rebirth, of sorts. Fans of the band will recognize the banjo/bass/mandolin/guitar sound they've come to love, but this new album finds the group adding, for the first time, drums and even some electric guitar (like on the first single "How ‘Bout You?"). The new Yonder Mountain sound still has plenty of twang, but moves into more modern folk rock territory. "We ended up with an album that's got rippin' bluegrass on it, but approached in a non-traditional way, which really appeals to me because we are not a traditional band," says bassist Ben Kaufmann. Of the song "Angel," for example, Kaufmann says, "There's a fiddle in the solo section, but it's clearly channeling the spirits of the rock guitar gods." Those who like the new sound can thank Рand those who don't can blame Рproducer Tom Rothrock who has worked with the likes of the Foo Fighters, James Blunt and Elliott Smith.
Eleven Stories Bruce Robison (Sustain Records)
They say musical talent runs in families. Even though Bruce Robison isn't blood related to his sister-in-law, Emily Robison of the Dixie Chicks, they've both got country music in their blood. To top it off, Robison is married to country singer Kelly Willis. While Robison may not be as well known as these ladies, his song "Travelin' Soldier" was a hit for the Dixie Chicks, while Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have Robison to thank for their hit duet "Angry All The Time." Robison's latest solo release "Eleven Stories" brings the singer-songwriter front and center. From forlorn acoustic numbers like "I Never Fly" to country-flavored rock like "Virginia" to the two-step of "You Really Let Yourself Go," "Eleven Stories" showcases one of country music's quiet best.
