Hear Me OUT March, 2005

All the Best Tina Turner (EMI)
There's just something about Tina Turner. She's been making music for over four decades and she's still got it – vocal power, sass, and legs that still look good at 60. No wonder both lesbians and gay men love her. "All the Best," with 33 tracks on two CDs, really is the definitive Tina Turner hits collection. Forget 1991's "Simply the Best." It isn't. "All the Best" covers Turner's early hits from the 60s and 70s with Ike ("River Deep Mountain High" and "Nutbush City Limits") and spends plenty of time in the 80s and 90s when Turner reigned (including smash hits like "What's Love Got To Do With It" and "Better Be Good To Me"). It also includes three brand new songs: "Open Arms" (the first single), "Complicated Disaster" and "Something Special." All of the new songs have a classic Tina Turner sound and hold their own with the older material. "All the Best" is truly all most listeners need and the new songs make it a must have for fans. For those who want even more there's "All the Best: The Live Collection" just released on DVD which includes 20 live classics, including performances with David Bowie and Bryan Adams, a brand new interview and more.
Hotel Moby (Mute)
"Hotel" is a fitting name for Moby's newest CD. Hotels recall clean, quiet rooms, sterile toilet seat covers, room service. And sex. "Hotel" has all of that and more spanning two discs. Fans of Moby's past CD "18" will love "Hotel." Moby has developed a knack for writing songs you hear in commercials and every song from "18" was licensed for commercial use. "Hotel" isn't wasting any time. It's being promoted by New York's W hotel which will hawk the CD in its gift shops and even its minibars. Fans who prefer 90s era Moby will want to check out of this "Hotel." Sterility, while something to strive for in food preparation or surgery, hinders "Hotel." Every song is safe, soft, and clean. Even the sex songs ("Very" and "I Like It," which both contain multiple soft-porn references inviting you "inside"). Lyrics are not "Hotel's" strength. Cliches are "like water raining down" ("Raining Again"). The album's brightest spot is a stripped-down cover of New Order's "Temptation" sung by Moveon.org cultural director Laura Dawn. Disc two, referred to as "Hotel-Ambient," is pretty, yet utterably forgettable. Moby describes ambient music as "aural Xanax." You just might OD at Moby's "Hotel."
See You Next Tuesday Fannypack (Tommy Boy)
For those readers familiar with Fannypack's 2003 hit "Cameltoe" (yes, as in, um, that), you may find yourself surprised, yet secretly thrilled, that they have a new album. For those who thought, as I did, that Fannypack was a one-hit wonder, you are forgiven. But make no mistake, Fannypack is back, and they're ready to wrap themselves around your waist and shake your hips with "See You Next Tuesday." Their new CD continues the group's mission to be the stupidest and most addictive group on the planet with their mix of old-school hip-hop (think J.J. Fad) and electroclash naughtiness, but with greatly improved production and vocals compared to 2003's "So Stylistic." New York DJs Fancy and Matt Goias are the group's brains, producing and writing songs that are as catchy as they are dirty for three ladies who rap and sing and curse up a dancehall storm. Cat, 24, Jessibel, 19, and Belinda, 18 totally sound like the kinds of girls who'd kick your ass in high school. Highlights include "Keep It Up" (with a beat built around basketball bounces and sneaker squeaks), "Seven One Eight," "Fire Fire" (featuring reggae superstar Mr. Vegas), and "Pump That" ("It's all right, okay, you gonna pump my gas someday").
The Mysterious Production of Eggs Andrew Bird (Righteous Babe)
"I always prefer to misunderstand songs," says Andrew Bird. "I'd rather not have a lyric sheet." Thankfully, "The Mysterious Production of Eggs" comes with a lyric sheet. Bird's music is difficult to describe. Think Rufus Wainwright crossed with Devandra Barnhart with a dash of Freedy Johnson. He's a trained violinist who seems to be versed in every possible instrument as he plays virtually everything himself on "Mysterious Production." The CD is unassuming at first. It's not something you blast from the car stereo in the summer. It's the kind of record you listen to alone in your bedroom curled up with the lyric book so you can enjoy gems like this: "If you could just do him this favor, although it might involve child labor, join his entourage, give him a foot massage, from Star Search to the Philharmonic he'll get you there with Hooked on Phonics" (From "Banking on a Myth"), and this: "If we can call them friends we can call … but we can't let the human factor fail to be a factor at all" (from "Tables and Chairs"). The lyrics don't always make sense, but they unlock at least part of "The Mysterious Production" – the part that stays with you long after the record stops.
Also released:
The Beekeeper Tori Amos (Epic)
"The Beekeeper" is both a return to "Little Earthquakes" and a continuation of "Scarlet's Walk." Standout tracks include "Parasol" and "The Power of Orange Knickers" (with a far too understated Damien Rice). It's not a bad record, though with 19 tracks to wade through and production that makes them blend together, it's a little thick and will take repeated listenings to appreciate fully.
Amos Lee Amos Lee (Blue Note)
Amos Lee's sound is best described as "soul-folk." With a sweet and slightly bluesy voice, Amos sings his sparsely arranged tunes aided primarily with an acoustic guitar. Norah Jones comparisons are unavoidable and she even guests on the album. It's a strong debut, but it's almost too clean and could benefit from a little less polish and a little more grit.
Mayfield: Remixed Various artists (Rhino)
Though purists may shudder at the thought, "Mayfield: Remixed" turns classic civil rights era soul songs of legend Curtis Mayfield into dance club fare. If there's any justice this collection will introduce songs like "People Get Ready" and "Move On Up" to a whole new generation who will search out the originals once they stop dancing.
Adapt or Die Everything But the Girl (Rhino)
Everything But the Girl's seductive electro-pop seems born to be remixed as the ten years of mixes on "Adapt or Die" illustrate. This collection includes rare and unreleased mixes of EBTG hits like 1994's "Missing" (you know, "And I miss you, like the deserts miss the rain…"). It's a must for fans or anyone looking for something smart and sexy to dance to.
Nolita Keren Ann (Blue Note)
Paris and New York-based singer/songwriter Keren Ann pays tribute to New York (the title refers to lower Manhattan neighborhood North of Little Italy). "Nolita" is smoldering melancholy. Keren Ann, whose voice evokes Mazzy Star and Francoise Hardy, sings like she's got all the time in the world over acoustic guitar peppered with piano, cello, trumpet, and violin.
Free Yourself Fantasia (J-Records)
Fantasia Barrino, the young single mother who broke her shoe when she won the 2004 American Idol contest, comes out ahead of the Idol pack with "Free Yourself." Produced by Clive Davis and with help on several tracks from none other than Missy Elliott, "Free Yourself," though not flawless, is an impressive mix of R&B, hip-hop and soul.
Email D'Anne at [email protected].