BuzzCuts: New Music

New albums out June 13 include singer Allison Moorer's "Getting Somewhere," rapper Busta Rhymes "The Big Bang," country singer Blaine Larsen, "Rockin' You Tonight" and bluegrass artists The Del McCoury Band's "The Promised Land."

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Allison Moorer, "Getting Somewhere"
Busta Rhymes, "The Big Bang"
Blaine Larsen, "Rockin' You Tonight"
The Del McCoury Band, "The Promised Land"

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The new songs blend airy string arrangements with thumping, low-strung dirge rockers reminiscent of recent work by her second husband, Steve Earle, who produces Moorer for the first time and puts his sonic stamp on her work. The heavier arrangements, as on the tragic family tale "New Year's Day" or the upbeat melodic rock "Work to Do," leave little room for Moorer's expressive voice.

Though still rich in tone, her vocals are too often relegated to keeping time with the complex rhythms and psychedelic undertones of her new sound.

There are several strong selections, including the touching "Where You Are," which she dedicates to her sister Shelby Lynne, and the tough putdown of fly-by-night friends, "Fairweather." But overall, Moorer's distinctive style seems overly restricted by her transformation. (Michael McCall)
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Busta Rhymes
"The Big Bang"(Interscope/A&M)

Despite stacking seven solo studio albums, Busta Rhymes is better known as a prolific singles artist. Few rappers can match his long list of memorable hits and innovative, if not elaborate, music videos.

But Rhymes' latest disc, "The Big Bang," is finally proof that he can concoct a consistently inspired full-length effort. Gone are the filler tracks and wearisome theme of millennial dread that informed past releases. Instead "The Big Bang" lives up to its title, featuring a varied set of shimmering, soulful beats, Rhymes' dexterous, guttural flow and some well-placed cameos from Stevie Wonder, Missy Elliott and the late Rick James, among others.

Highlights include the soaring groove of the Big Apple ode, "New York ...," the Daft Punk-sampled "Touch It" and the coke raps of "Goldmine" featuring a rejuvenated Raekwon.

Rhymes sounds best collaborating with Q-Tip on "You Can't Hold a Torch," produced by J. Dilla, who died earlier this year at age 32. The song, which reworks a Minnie Ripperton song snippet once used by A Tribe Called Quest, has the duo bemoaning today's pool of unimaginative MCs. Rhymes dismisses the rookies: "They ain't got it in them to make a classic/ ... can't hold a torch/ so why pass it."

Given the resounding quality of "The Big Bang," Rhymes may have a point. (Brett Johnson)
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Blaine Larsen
"Rockin' You Tonight"(BNA)

Blaine Larsen, another young male country singer with an old man's baritone, distinguished himself on his debut last year with songs that dealt with teen suicide, being raised by a loving stepfather and running off to join the circus.

Now 20 years old, Larsen's second album, "Rockin' You Tonight," finds him trying to fit the Nashville formula rather than continuing forge his own path. The topics this time stick to conventional modern country themes, with songs about loving your spouse, the dangers of alcohol abuse, a surprise meeting with an old flame and a Latin-tinged take on a guy amid a romantic Mexican vacation. Most any country fan can name a couple of songs that have explored these topics in recent years.

Vocally, Larsen remains one of the most impressive male voices to emerge in recent years. His deep tones can sound breezy or achingly serious, and he's particularly convincing on the more traditional-leaning songs, such as the honky-tonk raveup "I Don't Wanna Work That Hard" and the duet with Gretchen Wilson, "Lips of a Bottle."

However, no matter how much the old Mac Davis hit "Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me" may fit his voice, there's something creepy about an apple-cheeked, newly married guy warning a lover not to get too attached because "I'll just use you, then I'll set you free." In its way, though, the song sums up how poor song choices add up to a sophomore misstep for this promising newcomer. (Michael McCall)
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The Del McCoury Band
"The Promised Land"(McCoury Music/Sugar Hill)

The most-awarded bluegrass band in the land has always drawn hosannas for its intricate instrumental interplay and the roof-raising tenor of its leader.

But "The Promised Land," the Del McCoury Band's first all-gospel album, highlights another of the quintet's outstanding virtues: their complex, stunningly beautiful vocal harmonies.

Taking a cue from fellow bluegrass star Doyle Lawson, the Nashville-based band laid church-based quartet vocal harmonies atop acoustic arrangements full of tricky, dynamic turns. Del McCoury's high, pinched tenor takes the lead, but the voices of his son Ron and Rob McCoury and fiddler Jason Carter add depth and musicality. Meanwhile, new bassist Alan Bartram proves up to the challenge of holding down the bottom for this band of virtuosos.

As for the material, the band chooses to tackle new and obscure Christian tunes rather than standard hymns. Still, the McCoury Band makes them all sound as time-tested as a favorite proverb. (Michael McCall)
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Previous BuzzCuts: Andrae Crouch, Susana Baca, Ralph Stanley And An New Twist On The 1980s