Entertainment

BuzzCuts: New Music

July 10, 2006 / 3:27 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Three artists shine on their solo debuts while a veteran titles his album "I Stand Alone." Sounds like a theme to us.

In this week's reviews: Ex-Jurassic 5 DJ Cut Chemist's first solo effort showcases his skills, elder folk statesman Ramblin' Jack Elliott stays true to his roots, Hector Buitrago of Colombian alternative duo Aterciopelados goes it alone on a lush debut, and Radiohead's Thom Yorke follows suit with an impressive solo set.

Cut Chemist, "The Audience's Listening
Ramblin' Jack Elliott, "I Stand Alone"
Hector Buitrago, "Conector"
Thom Yorke, "The Eraser"

Cut Chemist
"The Audience's Listening" (Warner Bros.)

For years, Cut Chemist was known as that white scruffy dude lurking behind a pair of turntables and spitting out bombastic beats for acclaimed groups like the hip-hop troupe Jurassic 5 and the Latin multi-genre ensemble of Ozomatli.

But after a dozen years in J5 (he left in 2004) and a five-year stint in Ozomatli, the 33-year-old DJ, born Lucas MacFadden, steps out on his own.

Richly diverse, yet minimalist, Cut Chemist's self-produced solo debut "The Audience's Listening" shows off his credentials, and they are mighty. He's a scratch genius, an old-school, funk-soul devotee, and a vinyl record collector since age 4.

Influenced by trips to San Paolo, Brazil, "The Audience's Listening" pieces together live instrumentation and a flurry of samples, from '60s bossa nova to R&B, pop and jazz.

"My 1st Big Break" showcases just that, skillfully sped up breaks and scratches, all layered on top of a bumping, bass heavy Brazilian rhythm, like a little taste of Carnival.

"The Spat" takes a muffled phone conversation, splicing it into an insane scratch fest over a jazz refrain.

The album's best tracks pair Cut Chemist's skillful sampling with equally skilled collaborators.

Rapper Hymnal breezes through the super-jangly "What's the Altitude," a foray into the complexities of romance. The '80s electro thrust of "Storm" features progressive hip-hoppers Mr. Beat and Edan.

With the glut of DJs around, Cut Chemist stands out as a true artist: skilled, willing to take risks — and more than a little funky. (Solvej Schou)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott
"I Stand Alone" (Anti-)

Ramblin' Jack Elliott, a self-styled singing cowboy from Brooklyn, has stuck to his guns for more than five decades, carrying on the folk tradition of his one-time friend and mentor, Woody Guthrie.

On his latest album, "I Stand Alone," Elliott doesn't stray far from the back-porch ballads and nimble guitar finger-picking that made him a cornerstone of the American folk revival of the 1960s.

In fact, many of the songs are simply fresh renditions of old-time ditties, including Leadbelly's "Jean Harlow," Hoagie Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues" and the oft-covered traditional "Mr. Garfield."

But Elliott leaves his mark on each song, with wry banter and unpolished, sometimes strained vocals. True to his name, he rambles on about old dogs, horses and whiskey. In the CD's final track, "Woody's Last Ride," he offers a conversational narrative of driving cross-country with Guthrie on a budget of $11.44.

An updated version of "Arthritis Blues," which Elliott previously recorded in 1962, features accordion flourishes by Los Lobos' David Hidalgo, one of several younger musicians who accompany the elder folk statesman on the CD. Lucinda Williams adds her reedy voice to "Careless Darling."

Less likely collaborators on the album include Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and X drummer D.J. Bonebrake, but both play gently alongside Elliott's down-home picking.

While Elliott's performance on "I Stand Alone" doesn't quite match the one he delivered on "South Coast," the album that won him a Grammy in 1996, it shows that Elliott hasn't hung up his spurs yet.

At age 74, Elliott's outlasted many of his musical peers and stayed true to his roots. More and more, he really does stand alone. (Daniel Lovering)

Hector Buitrago
"Conector" (Nacional)

As with many of Latin alternative's most innovative artists, Aterciopelados of Colombia are adept at weaving native rhythms, instrumentation and vocals into their modern sound. On his solo debut, Hector Buitrago — the male half of the Grammy-winning duo — paints a rich and colorful landscape of Colombia's old and new.

The 11-track album, "Conector" (a clever pun which means both "connector" and "with Hector") displays Buitrago's respect for his country's rich cultural history. He spins a dreamy web of indigenous and modern sounds.

The album opens with an exquisite cut, "Troncoroca Vientomar." It's lush with simple percussion beating a native rhythm and a spare electric guitar supporting repeated vocal references to earthy elements such as rock, shell, incense, crystal, and lyrics in Spanish such as "We are going to dream woman the mystery of the drum."

"Damaquiel," is a danceable indigenous-rock blend featuring the raspy voice of Colombian artist Ever Suarez paired with the soaring vocals of Martina Camargo. Native languages and ancient lyrics are featured elsewhere on the collection, such as the mantra for peace, "om shanti," on "Otravez."

Aterciopelados vocalist Andrea Echeverri (who released an acclaimed solo album last year) lends her voice to many of the songs, as do Colombia's Noel Petro and Mexican Grammy-winner Julieta Venegas.

"Conector" is a hypnotic collection that gives Aterciopelados' fans a deeper understanding of the inspiration behind the duo, and presents to non-fans an elegant and musically intriguing album. (Michelle Morgante)

"The Eraser"
Thom Yorke, XL Recordings

If this is what Radiohead's frontman can do when he's just hanging out in his living room, it's pretty darned impressive.

Thom Yorke's solo debut, "The Eraser," is soothing electronica that's instantly recognizable to the band's fans. But musically, Yorke doesn't break any new ground here. The nine tracks are filled with the beats, noise, textures and layers that have won the English group a fierce following. The lyrics also are what we've come to expect from Yorke — smart and sharp, while a bit on the gloomy side.

"Analyse" is a standout with the lines: "A self-fulfilling prophecy of endless possibility ... The fences that you cannot climb. The sentences that do not rhyme. ... It gets you down."

What's different here are the pared-down vocals. Despite begging producer Nigel Godrich to hide his voice behind walls of reverb, Godrich refused, leaving it sounding like Yorke is sitting in his living room with a microphone — which is likely what happened.

"Black Swan" beckons with a booming bass track and in the title track, Yorke is at his self-deprecating best when he sings, "Are you only being nice because you want something?" (Kim Curtis)

Previous BuzzCuts: Reviews of Brand New Heavies, Ronnie Milsap, Shawna, A Kristofferson Tribute And Rockabilly Box Set.