Mary J Blige – Growing Pains – Geffen Records
The last we heard MJB was declaring ‘No More Drama’ and this time around she’s sharing the love she’s found. Her new album is certainly more up tempo than the last and standout songs include ‘Feel Like a Woman’ and ‘Till the morning’. If music is an insight into the soul, then MJB’s new offering is an announcement that she’s doing fine. Plus the diva can sing. Giveaways at www.www.outinperth.com. -BD
Jack Johnson – Sleep Through the Static – Brushfire Records
More of the same from Hawaii’s Jack Johnson on his fifth studio album. Which is, of course, a good thing, unless you are one of those people who dislikes Jack Johnson, in which case you probably also kick puppies and have a fear of the beach. The easy-going surfie strummer pulls out laidback melodies with lyrics that are often darker than the sandy tunes reveal. The first singles off the album ‘Sleep Through the Static’ and ‘If I Had Eyes’ represent the collection well. So, if you’ve found yourself turning up the radio for Jack’s latest singles, get the album – it’s sure to please. Giveaways on www.www.outinperth.com. -MS
Hot Chip – Made In The Dark – EMI
They’re back! After a successful Australian tour – on which they played most of the material from this album – electropop dreamers Hot Chip have dispatched the follow-up to the hugely successful 2006 release, The Warning. Here Hot Chip deliver another delicate balance of outrageous fun and heartfelt melancholia. ‘Shake A Fist’ breaks down into a gorgeous mash of monster production while ‘Don’t Dance’ escalates into an elative mix of static and beats. Sombre points include the heartfelt ‘Whistle For Will’ and the delicate slow dance of title track ‘Made In The Dark’. All up, the real charm of Hot Chip is the fact that they are as intelligent, engineered and executed as modern day muzak, not an easy feat in our current climate of mass production. -SPM
Jill Scott – The Real Thing – Inertia
There is something refreshingly earnest about Jill Scott so the title of her latest album is suitable enough. Listen out for ‘Insomnia’ and ‘Crown Royal’, but all the songs are stunning because they slowly drip with her honeyed voice. Listen to this album when you need a bottle of red, good company and good music to match. The only question that remains is when she might grace us with her beautiful presence. -BD
Ministry of Sound – Clubbers Guide to 2008 – Ministry of Sound
By far this has been one of the most sophisticated MOS collections. The music choice is eclectic, and for the most part, steers away from commercial pop. Artists featured include Pnau, Robyn and Poxymusic. On disc two Hook n Sling are wizards at mixing 18 tracks into one solid dance disc. -BD
UNKLE – More Stories – Inertia
This is an Australia-only two CD set, released to coincide with their tour Down Under. More Stories continues under the creative core of James Lavelle and Richard File alongside the production of Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age), Pablo Clements and T-Bone Burnett. The tracks ‘Kaned & Able’, ‘Heaven’, ‘Blade In The Back’ and ‘Synthetic Water’ are songs from the soundtrack UNKLE did for the film Odyssey In Rome. The poignant vocals on ‘Burn My Shadow’ are performed by Ian Astbury (the Cult). ‘Hold My Hand’ has been remixed by Dubfire. The album also includes new remixes plus a bonus disc of War Stories instrumentals. -SM
Fergie – The Dutchess – A&M / Interscope
Baby’s got back, this time with an Australian Tour Edition re-release of her smash debut, The Dutchess. Yes, Fergie is getting all Fergalicious again! The same delicious pop ditties of ‘London Bridge’ (a gloriously loud and brash track) and ‘Clusmy’ (a far more cutesy number) are here, along with the incredibly noxious ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry’. However, this time round the whole thing hits you with SIX bonus tracks. Unfortunately, these are most remixes, and not terribly inspiring ones at that. However, newbies ‘Paradise’, ‘Wake Up’ and ‘Get Your Hands Up’ show that things are…well…up for this latest member of pop’s royalty. -SPM
Various – Electro Lounge. New Music for Delicate Ears – Wagram
It’s really not lounge per se, but more edging towards minimal electro based sounds, with a downtempo club tweak. Sure, there is a smattering of loungey instrumentation here and there. Me, personally, I do like it, especially the likes of Trentemöller, Silicone Soul, Headphnism and Superpitcher. It just needs more, spacey, cocktail airport blip, if that makes any sense. -SM
Album Reviews with Stuart Miles, Brett Dias, Scott-Patrick Mitchell and Megan Smith
