Monday, September 29, 1997
Soundbites
Usher, "My Way" (LaFace/Arista) Usher remains cool and relaxed
for his soothing second album, "My Way," co-produced by the
omnipresent music mogul Babyface. In a balanced mix of soft
sophisticated rhythms and danceable beats, this R&B album
sprinkled with the right amount of rap delivers nine original
tracks and one remix. While Usher rolls out his own waves of
vibrant vocals, what makes this album ride higher than the next
"brotha’s" regular la-la’s of love are the added feature guests on
a third of the tracks. In the current top-10 hit "Slow Jam,"
hip-hop starlet Monica reciprocates Usher’s croons about wanting to
dance and "find someone who/I can give my good lovin’ to" in
opposite stanzas. "Just Like Me" features Lil’ Kim in a sexy rap
about the "nigga brothas" and whoever’s "got it going on" backed up
by hand-swaying drum ticks and tocks. Babyface makes his influence
known in his solo song "Bedtime," a sweetly solemn and sultry
ballad about body cravings and a mind saturated with a lover’s
longings.
"My Way" is filled with songs that ask and not beg, that dance
and not slam, that long and not lament. The slow numbers are
classic romantic R&B and the fast are quick enough to snag a
beat without pounding it into the ground. Surprise, surprise – yet
another Babyface-disciple success story in the making. Nerissa
Pacio A-
Oasis, "Be Here Now" (Epic) Ever since Oasis landed west of the
Atlantic, respect has not come easy for the cocky quintet. American
radio listeners can’t seem to separate their music from the
arrogant trash-talk associated with their interviews and television
appearances (some still think they’re broken up). Yet, beyond their
bratty reputations, Beatles’ comparisons and monstrous successes
(that helped this album go 10 times platinum in one week in their
native U.K.), there’s the music. "Be Here Now" represents pop music
making at its best, thanks to songwriter and guitarist Noel
Gallagher’s ingenious hooks and melodies.
But the amazing thing about Oasis’ third release (in three
years) may just be little brother Liam’s extraordinary vocals.
Where "Definitely Maybe"
showcased his swagger and "(What’s the Story) Morning Glory"
focused on his vulnerability, Liam shares with us a maturing voice
that soars with feeling. Songs like the beautiful, flawlessly
tender "Don’t Go Away" and the heartbroken-tinged "Stand By Me" are
especially moving with Liam hitting all the right notes at all the
right times.
"Be Here Now" wonderfully balances the ballads and the rockers,
and it does rock hard. Songs like the soaring anthem "D’You Know
What I Mean" and the sonic-drenched, aptly titled "My Big Mouth"
give no mercy to the eardrums, yet at the same time flow and bounce
melodically and even confront issues of being, well, ignorant rock
stars ("I ain’t never spoke to God/And I ain’t never been to
heaven/But you assumed I knew the way"). Noel graces the album
vocally with one song, the psychedelic ballad "Magic Pie." Oasis
throws us the "Hey Jude" trip with the nine-minute opus, "All
Around the World," complete with orchestra. And don’t forget those
countless Beatles’ references ("So get on the helter skelter," "A
fool on the hill and I feel fine").
Say what you will about Oasis. Yet in the end, they have proved
that now is the best time to be here, and they’ve done it with a
masterpiece. As Liam would say, "Are ya mad for it?" Most
definitely. Mike Prevatt A+
Aqua, "Aquarium" (MCA) Harking back to the glory days of ’80s
European dance-pop music, the Danish quartet Aqua recasts a
familiar formula with a surprisingly entertaining touch of camp and
humor. Their debut album exhibits a carefree and partying attitude
all backed by a mix of light disco beats and keyboard sampling.
Aqua’s mission in life is to take you to a huge cartoon world of
bright colors and brighter music, not to break new ground
musically. Aqua’s biggest American hit so far, "Barbie Girl," is
any sex-starved teenager’s dream. Lene Nystroem assumes the
position as the defenseless Barbie girl, ready and willing to beg
and be played with and undressed for the attention of a guy,
complete with her high-pitched baby-girl voice and accompanied by
an incredibly catchy chorus and dance-happy music.
Nystroem isn’t just a one-pitch wonder, either. She shows off
her vocal range in songs like "Good Morning Sunshine" and "Turn
Back Time," two ballads that surely will keep Aqua roaming the
upper tier of the Billboard charts. Rapper Rene Dif does a rap
break down on almost every song, as well, but more often than not,
comes up sounding like Vanilla Ice with strep throat.
Aqua is a good 45-minute escape from the pomp and circumstance
of British pop and grinding repetitive musical concoctions of
electronic music. It’s a journey into irrelevant disco pop that
moves the body and leaves you feeling guilty for liking such fluff.
Trinh Buy B+
Catherine Wheel, "Adam and Eve" (Mercury) Somehow, Catherine
Wheel’s ethereal mix of reverberating guitars and tightly wound
bass lines surge into a delectable soup of emotional energy.
Oftentimes frought with that note of despair, their sound, though
perhaps difficult to decipher the root of, leaves one satisfiedly
ruined nonetheless. For instance, in the song "Ma Solituda," the
line "Ma Solituda seeks confusion" seems to clear everything up
despite its enigmatic statement. With its driving chords and
underlying bass riffs, the somber tune sinks down, as the lead
singer turns right around and lets loose a sweet, cloudlike set of
musings which jar the piece right off its rails.
Other highlights include both "Future Boy" and "For Dreaming"
(the first and last tracks, respectively) which focus on gentle
lyrics and the singer’s melt-in-your-ears, buttery voice. Yet, much
of the album sells itself on its ability to soothe, energize, and
fit snugly in as background music to a comfortable gathering at
home or just an evening of staring at the wall. Regardless, while
"Adam and Eve" may not answer the mysteries of creation, it may
unleash the wild garden in the primordial world of your soul just
enough to allow you to not merely get through another day, but to
make a moment or two of your mundane life just a little bit more
interesting. Vanessa VanderZanden B+
USHER
"My Way"