Tell us what you really feel, Simon...

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Groove Armada
Black Light
Om Records. 11 Tracks.
Rating: 3½ stars (out of 5)

Why can’t musical artists just stick to what they do best?

It’s a reactionary, fogey-ish question—I picture one of the old coots in the Muppet Show balcony griping to the other.  And sure, theoretically you want your favorite acts to take risks and stretch themselves.  Without musical leaps of faith we wouldn’t have The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s,  The Clash’s London Calling or Radiohead’s Kid A. But sometimes-- like, say, when you’re suffering through Chris Cornell’s ill-fated collaboration with Timbaland or Lil Wayne’s awful rock Rebirth-- you can’t help but ask yourself, what’s wrong with the way you usually sound?

GIRLS’ NIGHT:

The intro lineup thing is so predictably boring that they should try injecting some excitement into it by having the kids stand on their heads or be naked or something. But not what they do next, which is having Ellen sitting on Simon’s lap nuzzling him.

Apparently, some drama this week, Murghs, besides the usual business about whether Ellen and Simon are getting along and how much Botox Kara’s forehead can hold before her scalp pops off, as we learned that Crystal had to be taken to the hospital.  Does that mean I can’t say mean things about her anymore?

Yes, that is correct.

So the guys have “agreed” to perform on the first night, Ryan tells us in his usual adorable attempt to be stentorian. Were they going to refuse?

Looking up "stentorian".

Season 9! Murghs! Where have the years gone?

Oy, Shnuggy, nothing says Idol like a few choruses of Fiddler. Your karaoke place or mine?

Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
Shrill notes pierce my ears
One season crappy as another
Vocals as deft as stripping gears

Matchmaker matchmaker make me a match
Find me an idol
From this new batch
Month after month AI cold turkey
So find me a kid who’s not jerky.
Or too perky.
I’d take quirky.
 

Shout Out Louds
Work
Merge Records. 10 Tracks.
Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)

Musically speaking at least, the 1980s was a benevolent decade. Many of today’s hit-makers owe their very existence to pioneers from the golden age of new wave and synth pop.  Madonna bequeathed her style-over-substance act unto Lady Gaga. Duran Duran gave us the Killers. And Chris Martin borrowed A-ha’s falsetto warbles while the Norwegian trio was off fjord-hopping and poof! Coldplay was born.

Corinne Bailey Rae
The Sea
Virgin/EMI. 11 Tracks.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)

I’m ashamed to admit that I kind of dreaded hearing this album.

When Corinne Bailey Rae’s debut dropped in 2006, it landed like sunshine on a murky musical landscape.  Here was a pop-soul chanteuse who eschewed the pungent vulgarity of fellow Brit Amy Winehouse, not to mention the manufactured beats of the Top 40 hitmakers, to focus on upbeat themes and warm, organic arrangements.  And with the smash single “Put Your Records On”—just go ahead, let your hair down!-- she created an enduring balm for the blues.

 by zsus

The Bromance: Monologueing since the mid-50's.

Watch it here:

Or read it here:

Vampire Weekend
Contra
XL Recordings. 10 Tracks.
Rating: 4½ stars (out of 5)

Of all the bands in indie-pop’s recent freshman class, Vampire Weekend seemed destined to be voted most likely to suffer a sophomore slump. As energetic, amusing and catchy as the 2008 debut by this Big Apple foursome was, it was also perilously gimmicky.