New Music Tuesday: May 9, 2006 (Paul Simon, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Snow Patrol reviewed)

It's that time of the week once again, and there are three more big-time releases-- one of which falls under the highly anticipated category-- that I will be getting to in just a second, but beforehand let me break down a couple of the other releases for this week:

New Music Tuesday 5.09.06

Nick Lachey What's Left of Me
Preview Verdict: Sad bastard music for the overly pop oriented, Lachey surprisingly seems to have poured his heart into this album and it definitely shows. While it's still a sound that only teeny-boppers and VH1 moms can appreciate, it's nice to see that there is still some honest to goodness pop music out there.

Neil Young Living With War
Preview Verdict: I have a strong feeling that if anyone else had released this album they wouldn't be praising it, but wonder how on Earth it even got made. This album feels like a rushed attempt by another artist trying to make a political statement. I get the point now, celebrities don't like Bush, get in line and let's move on.

Grandaddy Just Like the Fambly Cat
Preview Verdict: This is Grandaddy's curtain call, and as such it works quite well as it gives fans a taste of what will soon be missed from the band. While I've never understood the Radiohead comparisons (especially the Sophtware Slump-OK Computer one), they have accomplished a very solid career in their own right.

Jolie Holland Springtime Can Kill You
Preview Verdict: Although I'm a huge Jolie Holland fan, I think she's become way too comfortable in her psuedo-folkie Americana realm. This album feels more like a generic collection of songs, rather than her personal voice.

The Stills Without Feathers
Preview Verdict: While there are undeniably some good songs on here ("In the Beginning" and "Destroyer" come to mind), the album overall seems to come a bit short. It'll definitely appeal to anyone that's already a fan of the Stills, though I warn you that their sound on this album is nowhere near as dark as what was on their debut, but I don't think it's enough for anyone else to stick around for much more than possibly a select few tracks.

Now for the big reviews:

Paul Simon Surprise

A pleasant surprise indeed.

On this, Paul Simon's tenth album, Simon finds himself paired up with Brian Eno-- an interesting collaborative move indeed that really shifts Simon's sound to territory unheard of previously. That's not to say it's alienating, the core Paul Simon sound is still definitely in tact, but Eno adds an intriguing electronic edge to the album, making it both organic and abstract all at once. Where this production also helps is in increasing Simon's sense of urgency, particularly on his most politically motivated songs "How Can You Live in the Northeast?" and "Outrageous," the latter of which has Simon vibrantly singing "It's outrageous for a man like me to stand here and complain, but I'm tired, 900 sit-ups a day." Paul Simon's sense of crafting incredibly eloquent pop songs are still in tact as well and after the first few tracks it is incredibly easy to get used to the new sound that Paul Simon has developed. He has truly re-invented himself on this album, and after a few slumping records, it seems as if Simon may have outdone himself this time, as he has created his best album since Graceland.

Overall Rating: 96

Red Hot Chili Peppers Stadium Arcadium

Two discs of absolute bliss

While it would've been easy for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to fall under the recent curse of 2-disc releases that have been too indulgent for their own good, these guys somehow avoided that. Not only is this their best album since their classic Blood Sugar Sex Magik, this is the best each individual member has sounded since then as well. This is the best I've ever heard John Frusciante as far as consistency over an entire album, with Flea and Chad Smith following through on equally solid performances. While their sound isn't a departure from their previous album by any means, it is nice that Anthony Kiedis lets loose on the most rap-filled tracks since their earlier funk days. While their funkier moments lack the outlandish or rawness that the Peppers used to have, the refined sound that replaces it just shows how far these guys have come in terms of musicianship, and that's really what is the keystone of this album, and what makes each of the 28 tracks so amazingly good-- Red Hot Chili Peppers are wickedly good, and they show it. Whereas the strongest moments on Californication and By The Way were the ballads, there is something to be had for everyone on Stadium Arcadium and then some. This is, I have to say, the perfect double album.

Overall Rating: 100


Snow Patrol Eyes Open

Ever hopeful and anthemic, this is a nice step from Final Straw.

After striking gold with their previous album Final Straw, impressing fans everywhere and even U2, it seems almost impossible to be able to follow up the album without being tempted to just make a Final Straw 2.0 as it were. Thankfully, that isn't really the case here. No, Snow Patrol doesn't stray from their formulaic anthems, but at the same time it doesn't come off as being forced, or worse, contrite (here's lookin' at you Coldplay). The opening track "You're All I Have," "It's Beginning to Get to Me," and "Headlights on Dark Roads" are all linear rockers that work incredibly well, but it's on the slower ballads that Snow Patrol's maturity comes to surface. "You Can Be Happy," the appropriately titled "Make This Go On Forever," and the superb closer "The Finish Line" are all great songs that really help differentiate this album from their previous release, as Gary Lightbody's vocals linger with every verse. It's not the masterpiece that Snow Patrol is capable of, and there are a few missteps that hamper the album-- namedropping Sufjan Stevens in the middle of "Hands Open" probably wasn't the best idea (I like him and the song "Chicago" too, but you don't have to sing about it)-- but overall this is still a solid release from the band.

Overall Rating: 84