Listen to this: Icelandic romps, Oscar-winning rap and Gabriel
Published 4:44 pm Friday, June 20, 2008
Music anticipated in stores Tuesday:
“Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust”
Sigur Ros
WHY CARE? The artsy kids love this ethereal Icelandic group. Also, Flood, noted for his work with U2, co-produced the album, the group’s fifth.
TRIVIA: The album title translates to, “With a buzz in our ears we play endlessly,” while the group’s name translates to “Victory Rose.”
HIGH POINT: The horn-laced romp “Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur” — or “Within Me a Lunatic Sings” — finds the group at its most anthemic.
FANS ALSO LIKE: New age rock, movie soundtracks, Scandinavia.
ANDY SAYS: The group has written lyrics in a fake tongue before, so is that a hint of humor in the song “Gobbledigook?” The album is more accessible, and better, than the group’s past output. There’s even a song in English.
GRADE: B
“Last 2 Walk”
Three 6 Mafia
WHY CARE? The Memphis, Tenn., rappers release their first studio album of all-new material since making history as the first rap group to nab an Oscar.
TRIVIA: After the group won the Oscar in 2006 — best song, “It’s Hard Out Here for a Pimp,” from “Hustle and Flow” — host Jon Stewart quipped, “Martin Scorsese, zero; Three 6 Mafia, one.”
HIGH POINT: “Lolli Lolli (Pop That Body)” is a reliable club track, pairing the group’s rough rap with the synthetic sound of keyboards.
FANS ALSO LIKE: Southern hip-hop, guest stars like Akon, boasting.
ANDY SAYS: The group acts like it has a finger on the pulse of the streets. I can’t take a boast like that too seriously after these guys both won an Oscar and went on to collaborate with Good Charlotte. Still, the duo, longtime cult faves, turn out a fairly solid album.
GRADE: B minus
“Big Blue Ball”
Peter Gabriel and friends
WHY CARE? Peter Gabriel teamed with a group of world musicians, including Sinead O’Connor, that could act as the house band for the United Nations.
TRIVIA: The album was recorded during three summers in 1991, 1992 and 1995, so it has been nearly 18 years in the making.
HIGH POINT: The Gabriel fronted songs “Whole Thing” and “Burn You Up, Burn You Down” sound like lost gems from his heyday; the Afropop rap of “Jijy” entertains.
FANS ALSO LIKE: World music created in the late 1980s.
ANDY SAYS: Download the songs I mentioned. Leave the rest.
GRADE: C
Andy Rathbun, Herald Columnist, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455
“Last 2 Walk,” Three 6 Mafia
“Big Blue Ball,” Peter Gabriel and friends
