Hip-hugging sounds, booty-shakin' beats and good times a-plenty from Sir Sample-a-Lot. Beck finally gets his groove on, and produces not only some real, honest funk, but the party album of the year. Click here for the full review.
Fountains of Wayne: "Utopia Parkway"
Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, the crown princes of pop, ride
again! Their deliberate, cheerful brand of pop somehow glorifies and transcends the banality of the subject matter and invites us all on a rollicking musical-mystery tour through the tri-state area. Click here for the full review.
Beth Orton: "Central Reservation"
The perfect stay-in-bed record: Orton's lush vocals are the toasty down comforter, and her literate songs read better than the Sunday paper. The tunes are seductive and atmospheric, leaving
enough space for Orton's understated singing to say more with less. It's also not bad for hittin' the sheets with someone special the night before. Click here for the full review.Wilco: "Summerteeth"
Jeff Tweedy comes to grips with the legacy of two more giants of American music: Brian Wilson and Lou Reed. Wilco sheds the alt-country label and the sky's the limit as love, creativity, nostalgia and loneliness all run together until the resulting swirl starts to take shape, making "Summer Teeth" as rewarding on the 10th listen as it is on the first. Click here for the full review.
Kelly Willis: "What I Deserve"
First-rate songs on an intimate, human scale, given exquisite settings and hig
hlighted by Willis' direct, lovely vocals. The songwriting stands on its own merit, and romantic reflections tug gently at your heartstrings without becoming weepy or maudlin. Without all the
Nashville-style overproduction that wrecks most country records, "What I Deserve " is a joy from start to finish. Click here for the full review.
Honorable Mentions:
Built to Spill: "Keep It Like a Secret"
full review
Guided by Voices: "Do the Collapse" interview
Brad Mehldau: "Art of the Trio Vol. 4: Live at the Village Vanguard" interview
Diana Krall: "When I Look in Your Eyes"