BuzzCuts: New Music
Tom Petty ditches the Heartbreakers for a trip down the highway, ex-Destiny's Child member LeToya proves formidable on her self-titled debut, Edie Brickell reunites with New Bohemians for a delightful disc, and the New York Dolls their make long-awaited return.
Tom Petty - "Highway Companion"
LeToya - "LeToya"
Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians - "Stranger Things"
New York Dolls - "One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This"
Tom Petty
"Highway Companion" (American)
For a man who fronts one of the most enduring bands in rock 'n' roll, it's an oddity that two of Tom Petty's finest albums are solo discs — 1989's "Full Moon Fever" and this one.
"Highway Companion" finds Petty fully focused and delivering some of his most durable melodies in many years. It features only three musicians — Petty, producer Jeff Lynne and Heartbreaker Mike Campbell — and the combination forces Petty to keep it musically and lyrically direct.
The well-titled disc is a loosely thematic one about restlessness. Characters are finding themselves on the road, losing themselves on the road and often both. "If you don't run you rust," he sings on "Big Weekend," and no line better sums up these songs.
The melodic clarity can occasionally allow boredom to sneak in on weaker tracks like "Damaged By Love," but they're the exception. "Square One" is among Petty's most gorgeous melodies, and Campbell accents it with a guitar solo that pays tribute to Petty's former Traveling Wilburys mate, George Harrison. Lynne is a truly sympathetic partner. The primary weakness of his work is productions that can all sound the same; he avoids it here to let the songs shine through.
It makes no sense that this album comes out while Petty is in the midst of a gala 30th anniversary tour with the Heartbreakers. Don't think twice, though. Enjoy them both. (David Bauder)
Aside from the initial trash talk about Beyonce and her father, Destiny's Child manager Matthew Knowles, not much has been heard from LeToya Luckett since she and LaTavia Roberson bitterly split with the reigning girl group in 2000 — which makes her reemergence with the 2006 summer hit "Torn" all the more surprising.
Now that the mighty Destiny's Child is officially kaput, with the release of her self-titled debut, LeToya is poised to go stiletto-to-stiletto with her former best friend, Beyonce, whose forthcoming second solo disc "B'Day" has already spawned the heavily rotated "Deja Vu."
The truth is, the subtler "Torn," with its Quiet Storm-sample of the Stylistics' "You Are Everything," is the better single. Instead of over-singing, LeToya's vocals — which recall Beyonce turned down a few decibels — are sweetly understated. The Houston native has a relatable, sexy, girl-next-door quality, and although most of "LeToya" isn't as standout as "Torn," several songs — including the soulful "What Love Can Do," the breezy mid-tempo groove "She Don't," and the hypnotic, Paul Wall-assisted "All Eyes on Me" — are captivating enough to inspire a new crop of fans to say this promising vocalist's name. (Tracy Hopkins)
Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians
"Stranger Things" (Fantasy)
Edie Brickell just sounds right when she's backed by her original band, the New Bohemians.
Brickell reunites with her Austin-based bandmates on "Stranger Things," the first full-length release by the combo since 1990 — not counting a disc the band put out independently six years ago.
It would be easy to say "Stranger Things" was worth the wait. And it is, but did the wait really have to be so long?
Listening to "Stranger Things" is like slipping into a comfortable chair, relaxing with friends, or having a cool drink on a hot summer day. It just feels good.
Brickell's voice has much to do with that vibe. You can almost feel the twinkle in her eye on such songs as "No Dinero" and "Buffalo Ghost." And Kenny Withrow's distinctive lead guitar work, most famously heard on their 1989 breakout hit "What I Am," sets the tone throughout "Stranger Things."
Brickell's lyrics are more like paintings or short plays, creating a mood and ambiance seldom heard in pop music. She does it subtly but effectively and it draws the listener in.
Hopefully "Stranger Things" is just the first in a long series of recordings with Brickell and her band. They do fine work apart from one another, but together it can be pure magic. (Scott Bauer)
New York Dolls
"One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This" (Roadrunner Records)
Thirty-two years is a long time to wait for a new album.
The New York Dolls' last studio release was 1974's "Too Much Too Soon." Countless compilations and live recordings have come out since then, but "One Day it Will Please Us to Remember Even This" is a collection of 13 fresh new songs, compositions that reflect the band's age but retain its edge.
With their straight-ahead style, flamboyant look and irreverent attitude, the Dolls have influenced rock music since they first formed in the '70s. This record reflects that history, with sounds reminiscent of the Sex Pistols and the Rolling Stones, and guest appearances by Michael Stipe and Iggy Pop.
The melodies are more sophisticated and musical than they used to be. Harmonica and saxophone decorate the tracks. It sounds like the evolution of surviving founders David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain. They're joined by guitarist Steve Conti, drummer Brian Delaney, Sami Yaffa on bass and Brian Koonin on piano.
The songs are built on a blues-rock foundation like they always were. "Runnin' Around" and "Punishing World" are classic examples. The snarly guitar (and sentiment) of "Gimme Love & Turn on the Light," which features Pop singing backup, channels timeless punk rock. "Rainbow Store" is a jaunty rockabilly track and the single, "Dance Like a Monkey," makes you want to do just that. (Sandy Cohen)
Previous BuzzCuts: Billy Ray Cyrus, Phish, Los Lonely Boys, and Hector Bambino.