4Play

Sept. 13, 2006

Leigh Nash - Blue on Blue - Nettwerk

Leigh Nash is perhaps best known for her pretty vocal work on the tracks of thoughtful pop group Sixpence None the Richer - and her high, airy tones and confident phrasing also carry through here, on her new solo work. It’s an identifiable voice, brought even more to the forefront by Leigh’s own songwriting, which ranges from the pensive “Nervous in the Light of Dawn” to the very catchy “My Idea of Heaven,” from “Just a Little” to the impressive “Along the Wall.” Slightly more mellow and slightly more poppy than even Sixpence, these songs are similar to Sixpence’s hits at times (to be expected) but still show Nash’s willingness and ability to diversify, although most of the experimentation lies within the instrumentation, as opposed to within her vocals, which remain in that pop-folk-rock range that fans of Sixpence have already come to know and appreciate.

The Who - Wire and Glass - Umvd Imports

This teaser disc, a precursor to The Who’s new album, features their first new studio recordings in a whopping 23 years, and is basically an 11 minute track broken down into sampler segments of six of the songs from the album. Sound complicated? It kinda is - but it’s also a good marketing ploy and a way to ease fans old and new back into the return of a band that most had given up for lost. The great thing about listening to these tracks is that they’re obviously not merely Who redux - they’ve definitely got that Who sound, but they’re not double-for-a-buck regurgitated Who hits from days gone by. These songs - from “Sound Round” to “Mirror Door” are bonafied new compositions that, in the end, will make up the whole of what’s being considered a new Who rock opera. The voices are recognizable, the tracks fresh and energized, and it will be great to hear what’s set to follow.

OutKast - Idlewild - La Face Records

Being released to coincide with the OutKast movie of the same name, this disc, mostly inspired by the storylines in Idlewild the movie, is unusual in that most of the songs here don’t appear in the film - it’s more of an accompaniment than a soundtrack. A messy but appealing collection, it’s full of experimentation and danceable beats, sassy-fast rhymes and perfectly funky rhythms. If rap existed in the 1930’s, this album probably would’ve been on the Top 10 (er, if there was a Top 10) - R&B and blues are mashed up with slices of showtune-inspired melodies and snippets of jazz to make tracks like “Idlewild Blues,” “Life is a Musical,” “Morris Brown” and “PJ and Rooster” even more intriguing. OutKast obviously channeled a little of his movie’s characters into these songs, too, which gives the impression that he’s taken on an alter ego of sorts just to help make this album the successful risk that it turned out to be.


Blue October - Foiled - Universal

Texas indie band Blue October present another collection of their guitar/strings based music, with singer Justin Furstenfeld continuing to sing out his troubles through the band’s songs. Smatterings of new wave are heard, as are a few twinges of techno and a little emo, which makes for an agitated mix, especially when coupled with Furstenfeld’s lyrics, which, while introspective, generally lean more towards despair than anything else. Luckily for the listener (and, presumably, for Furstenfeld), there’s also more positivity here than usual for a Blue October album; “18th Floor Balcony” and “Everlasting Friend,” in particular, indicate that things might be getting better all ‘round. Musically, it’s produced as a wall of sound that fits these troubled tunes well, sung as they are with great conviction and played with aggression. Highlights include “Congratulations,” “X-Amount of Words,” and the aforementioned “...Friend” - all of which effectively walk the tightrope between musical angst and repair.