Train “Drops of Jupiter”
Train “Drops of Jupiter”
Columbia
This is one of those albums that will stay in listeners’
car CD players. Whether it’s for melodies to sing along to,
or songs to listen to after a long day, there is something on
“Drops of Jupiter” for everyone. After emerging with
its hit “Meet Virginia,” Train enjoyed overnight
success but then seemed to disappear. Now “Drops of
Jupiter” is bringing the group back into the spotlight,
capturing the rock genre with its infectious sing-along tunes. For
this album, the band brought in a variety of instruments to give it
that one of a kind texture and soulfulness. These instruments range
from a mandolin to a harmonica to a saxophone. While “Drops
of Jupiter” is the band’s current claim to fame, there
are other songs on the album that deserve equal applause, such as
the catchy “She’s on Fire” and “I Wish You
Would.” “It’s About You” is another one of
these noteworthy songs, containing a sweet sounding chorus. It may
start off a little slow, but the song then varies its tempo and
sound. Train also modifies its sound in
“Hopeless,” by changing the tempo and adding a
complementary piano. However, as the album continues to run through
its tracks, the songs seem to slow down and aren’t quite as
catchy as the first four. Therefore, toward the end of the
album, listeners will probably start skipping and skimming tracks.
While “Drops of Jupiter” doesn’t really break any
new ground in the rock genre, it is still satisfying and appeals to
a variety of audiences; almost everyone will be able to find
something they like on the album.
Laura Morgan Rating: 6
Arturo Sandoval “For Love or Country”
Atlantic
Too often, movie soundtracks put out a hodgepodge of artists or
uninspiring orchestrated music. The “For Love or
Country” soundtrack, however, offers listeners something more
substantial. The HBO film of the same name is a biography of the
master Cuban trumpet player, Arturo Sandoval, and Sandoval himself
is featured on all of the tracks. From classics like the driving
“Manteca,” to jazz staples like “Take the
“˜A’ Train,” the soundtrack offers a decent sample
of Sandoval’s playing chops and some classic songs from Cuba
and the jazz world that listeners may not be familiar of. A
versatile musician, Sandoval also plays the piano and sings on this
album, sometimes even accompanying himself on piano on an
overdubbed track. Some songs also feature a full wind orchestra of
trumpets, trombones and saxophones, piano, bass and drums, or just
Latin percussion. “Blues for Diz” pays homage to
Sandoval’s trumpet mentor Dizzy Gillespie. Sandoval
demonstrates his singular ability to scat solo, a form of vocal
improvisation using nonsense syllables. He adds to it a Jewish
harp, an instrument that fits in the player’s mouth and makes
a twanging sound. “Guantanamera,” a Cuban national hit,
gets little more than a two-minute rendition on this album, leaving
listeners wondering why the tune is so short. With a soloist like
Sandoval, so much more is possible than the simple run-through the
band gives it. “A Night In Tunisia,” one of
Gillespie’s most well-known compositions, is also represented
here, with Sandoval’s piercing trumpet dancing over the
choruses. He also plays muted trumpet-like Gillespie did 40 years
ago as his signature piece. Gillespie’s famous solo break at
the end is amazingly played by Sandoval four times in four separate
octaves, the last one so high it probably would blow out the veins
in a lesser trumpeter’s head. Saxophonist Ed Calle balances
out Sandoval’s solos with some fluid solos throughout,
virtuosic in their own right but not entirely inspiring. Sometimes
listener’s may not be able to help but think that Sandoval is
just showboating as he rapid-fires blistering fast melodies and
stratospherically high notes on the trumpet. It’s possible to
get the same musical idea across without overstuffing the music
with notes, however masterful the line may be. As a mix of Latin
and jazz music, “For Love or Country” stands very well
as an album by itself, notwithstanding the fact that it is a
soundtrack. For those familiar with Sandoval’s hard-hitting
style of playing, and to new listeners as well, “For Love or
Country” is a pretty good bet.
Chris Young Rating: 7