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xxx $29.12 xxx |
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Very Rare $15.56 Performers: Ben Benay – Banjo, Guitar, Harmonica; Harold Coletta – Viola; Theodore Israel – Viola; King Errisson – Conga, Tambourine; Jerry Lacroix – Harmonica; Charles McCracken – Cello; George Ricci – Cello; Marvin Stamm – Flugelhorn, Trumpet; Danny Stiles – Flugelhorn, Trumpet; Mike Stoller – Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Tack Piano; Max Bennett – Bass; Richard Bennett – Guitar; Warren Bernhardt – Keyboards; James Booker – Keyboards, Piano; Julius Brand – Violin; Charles Brown – Keyboards; Garnett Brown – Trombone; Frederick Buldrini – Violin; Larry Carlton – Guitar; Jon Faddis – Trumpet; Joe Farrell – Flute, Sax (Tenor), Wind; Paul Faulise – Trombone, Trombo |
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Chicago XXX $18.98 Despite the possible euphemisms of the title, 2006’s Chicago XXX is not the band’s raciest album since Hot Streets, nor is it their installment in the extreme-action spy series kicked off by Vin Diesel — instead, it’s the veteran group’s first proper studio album since 1995’s flop Night and Day: Big Band, and considering that was a detour into retro-swing, XXX is their first mainstream pop album since 1991’s Twenty 1, which is a 15-year gap between pop records. That’s an awfully long wait — in the meantime, the band has been putting out live albums, Christmas records and hit comps, bringing the total up to 30 LPs — but apart from the diluted trip-hop beat from “Feel (Hot Single Mix)” that kicks off the album, you’d never know that XXX was made and recorded in 21st century. It sounds like it could have been released in 1991 as Twenty 1, since it contains the same kind of sunny good-time pop and power ballads that made Chicago a staple on adult contemporary stations in the late ’80s. But there is a difference this time around: XXX is actually a better overall record than anything the group released in the wake of Peter Cetera’s departure. Song for song, it’s memorably melodic and Jay Demarcus, best-known as a member of contemporary country-pop act Rascal Flatts, has given the album a bright sheen that is nevertheless varied, punching up the horns on “Better,” emphasizing the sweet melody on the “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” dead ringer “King of Might Have Been,” turning up the guitars on “Caroline,” a happy variation on “Look Away.” It sounds as if Chicago and Demarcus went into the album with the intention that this would be a hit along the lines of Chicago 19, and while that kind of wishful thinking may not be fulfilled — there are very few radio stations in 2006 that will play this kind of slick adult contemporary music — this sense of purpose and drive has resulted in a surprisingly strong, thoroughly entertaining comeback album that’s actually better than the albums it intends to emulate. It’s not for every Chicago fan — those who long for either the early-’70s or early-’80s heydays will find this too produced and MOR for their liking — but fans of Chicago’s late-’80s albums will find themselves right at home on XXX. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, RoviPerformers: Bill Champlin – Fender Rhodes, Guitar, Keyboards, Organ (Hammond), Piano, Vocals; Bobby Kimball – Vocals (Background); Lee Loughnane – Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet, Trumpet; Joseph “Gospel Joe” Williams – Vocal |
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R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) $11.98 Nancy Wilson’s R.S.V.P. (Rare Songs, Very Personal) is her duets album, but unlike other recent releases by singers in this format, which feature two vocalists (and often oddly matched ones, at that), most of the pairings here are with instrumentalists like George Shearing, Toots Thielemans, Phil Woods, and Gary Burton, which means this remains very much Wilson’s baby, dominated by her hushed and elegant vocals. Only two tracks feature other vocalists, one of which, a saccharine cover of Marvin Gaye’s “Why Did I Choose You” sung with Kenny Lattimore, is worth a plea to the gods to let Gaye return to this veil of tears and give Wilson a worthy singing partner. Less pop than her recent outings, R.S.V.P. is mostly made up of ballads, highlighted by a wonderful version of Gordon Jenkins’ “Goodbye” and the elegant, late-night regret of “Blame It on My Youth” which closes out the set, although Wilson steps up and swings on at least one track, the vibrant “Day In, Day Out.” This might not be the greatest album of her half-century-long career, but it isn’t an embarrassment, either (which can’t always be said about some of the other duet projects major vocalists have released in recent years), and it shows that Wilson can still wring every last emotion on earth out of a ballad — then return to sing the second verse. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music GuidePerformers: Gary Burton – Vibraphone; Tatjana Mead Chamis – Viola; Jim Germann – Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone); Kim Nazarian – Vocals (Background); Gary Piecka – Trombone (Bass); David Premo – Cello; Max Seigel – Trombone (Bass); Toots Thielemans – Harmonica; Jay Ashby – Keyboards, Percussion, Trombone, Vocals (Background); Marty Ashby – Guitar; Andres Boiarsky – Flute, Sax (Alto); |
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XXX Hip Hop $42.98 If you like your rap dirty and your hip-hop nasty, XXX Hip Hop is made just for you. Sex-obsessed and filthy, the double-disc set brings together some of the biggest names in current and past rap and hip-hop, performing some foul-mouthed classics. The songs are a mix of mainstream hits, like Nelly’s “Hot in Herre,” Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” and Sisqo’s “Thong Song”; hardcore rap by the likes of Raekwon (”Ice Cream”), Ghostface Killah (”Camry”), and Jay Z (”2 Many Hoes”); R&B by Jodeci (”Freek ‘N’ You”), Silk (”Meeting in My Bedroom”), and Ginuwine (”Pony”); nasty females like Foxy Brown (”Candy”), Lil’ Kim (”Suck My Dick”), and Khia (”My Neck, My Back (Lick It)”); and even some Daisy Age rappers like De La Soul (”Jenifa (Taught Me”)), A Tribe Called Quest (”Hot Sex”), and Black Sheep (”Similar Child”). The collection is fun if you don’t mind the very adult subject matter and language (and the very fact that you are reading a review of something titled XXX Hip Hop most likely means you aren’t too troubled by it). It is high caliber music, despite the two 2 Live Crew tracks, that will keep parties and strip clubs hopping. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide |