This week we review the latest albums from Common, Akon, Jason Collett, The Firemen, and Ben Lee.
3 stars (out of 5)
Once the torchbearer for intelligent, socially-conscious rap, the man known to his mum as Lonnie Lynn has stooped to the lowest common denominator for seventh album Universal Mind Control.
Where the likes of Be and Like Water For Chocolate abounded with slick '70s grooves and thoughtful couplets, this latest effort sees the Chicago native saying nothing of consequence.
His conscience has been drowned out by the hormonally-charged rhyming that taints so much inferior hip-hop.
While short on soul, it has plenty of sonic bottle thanks to production from Kanye West and the Neptunes.
Single download: Universal Mind Control
For those who like: When introspection turns to bump'n'grind
- John Hayden
2 stars (out of 5)
As dial-a-hook for myriad chart-toppers, Senegalese R and B merchant Akon has established himself as a man with a knack for a catchy tune.
For third solo effort Freedom he has mercifully put the chipmunking out to pasture, relying instead on cheesy Eurobeat to frame his tales of lost love and flash cars - with mixed results. Lead single Right Now (Na Na Na) is a sinewy club groove par excellence.
Yet by the time Holla Holla (featuring T-Pain) strikes, the production begins to resemble a scatter-shot aerobics workout, albeit one replete with bedroom balladry.
Single download: Right Now (Na Na Na)
For those who like: Cheesy synths and hummable hooks
- John Hayden
3 stars (out of 5)
Toronto Broken Social Scenester Jason Collett covers plenty of ground on his fifth album.
Through country-pop ballads to radio-friendly tunes to moody odes, he proves himself an accomplished singer-songwriter with a knack for well-shaped ditties.
Collett's singing style is comfortable if not memorable, falling somewhere between Jeff Tweedy's and Teddy Thompson's.
What's lacking is a strong sense of personality, despite the album's canny production and finely textured musical backgrounds.
It's a grower, though, with its rewards in gritty, straightforward songs.
Single download: Roll On Oblivion
For those who like: Ron Sexsmith, Ray LaMontagne
- Jeff Harford
4 stars (out of 5)
Paul McCartney's secret side-project is out of the bag; paired with producer-pal Youth, they are The Fireman.
McCartney's experimental leanings resulted in two previous Fireman albums that disappeared without trace. This time out, McCartney both embraces Youth's spontaneity and adds a smidgen of structure with vocals.
Assembled from a collage of beat poetry, his inspired ramblings sit beautifully atop a bed of sound, which ranges from blues-infused rock to psychedelic wig-out. 13 tracks in 13 days, The Fireman is all the better for being "First thought, best thought".
Single download: Silent Lovers
For those who like: Revolver-era Beatles meets The Verve by way of The Electric Prunes
- Mark Orton
2 stars (out of 5)
American tunesmith David Byrne recently said penning songs that brim with joy is dangerous territory; such outpourings of positivity can quickly become twee. Enter Australian Ben Lee, whose ear for a good, upbeat tune cannot be questioned.
What remains in doubt is his lyricism: "I love pop music/sprinkle sugar through it/philosophy that you can dance to" is just one example of Lee missing the point on his seventh album. He leaves nothing to the imagination, there are no hidden meanings to consider."
Lovin' you makes me want to write bad poetry," he sings.
Well, he's succeeded.
Single download: What's So Bad (About Feeling Good)
For those who like: Beck ... on a really bad day
- Shane Gilchrist
