4Play

Feb. 22, 2006

INXS - Switch - Epic Records

It might be a little hard for anyone who’s heard the original INXS to picture the inherently cool funk-pop-rock Aussie band with anyone besides late lead singer Michael Hutchence on the mic. But it was probably harder for the remaining members of INXS to picture never making music again - especially without the same bandmates they’d spent 20 years with. So the weight fell on “Rock Star INXS” reality show winner J.D. Fortune to try and live up to Hutchence’s musical legacy - and, surprisingly, he does a pretty darned good job. Granted, there’s some imitation here (the sincerest form of flattery, of course), in Fortune’s rumbling yet sassy vocal inflections - but there are also some quite catchy songs, among them “Pretty Vegas,” “Devil’s Party,” and “Like it or Not.” Fortune, of course, is not Hutchence, but he makes a fresh and respectful successor, and the rest of the boys in INXS can definitely still rock.

Marty Casey & Lovehammers - Marty Casey & Lovehammers - Sony Music

The aforementioned J.D. Fortune wasn’t the only one to benefit from “Rock Star INXS.” Singer-songwriter Marty Casey - although he came up second in the “becoming INXS’ lead singer” competition - impressed judges, viewers, and Sony Music execs so much that he both snagged a record contract and tour for himself and his band, and gained a legion of Lovehammers fans. Casey has terrific control of his very expressive voice, and that shows on this first major-label set of Lovehammers songs, which range from heavy, all-out modern rockers to more sensitive and equally ear-catching slower numbers. Highlights of the disc include “Straight as an Arrow,” the pretty “Clouds,” the peppy “The Riddle,” and the original song that Casey debuted on the “Rock Star INXS” show - namely, “Trees,” the quirky alt-pop single that just won’t leave your brain. This is a band to keep an eye on.

The Beastie Boys - Solid Gold Hits - Capitol Records

Have the Beastie Boys - individually known as Adam “Adrock” Horovitz, Michael “Mike D.” Diamond, and Adam “MCA” Yauch - really been around for 24 years? Indeed, according to Capitol Records, who are paying homage to the original white hip-hop groundbreakers with this 15-track compendium. It’s a little abbreviated, consisting mostly of exactly what the title says - the hits, and not much else - but it’s also what the other half of the title says - a Solid play from start to finish. Included here are the early Beastie attention-grabbers like “Fight For Your Right” and “No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn,” plus a whole lot more, from “Sabotage” and “Sure Shot” to “Body Movin’” and “Intergalactic,” all the way up to include even a few cool cuts from to their newest disc, To The 5 Boroughs. It’s a great package for the Beastie Boys fan who likes to have all their hits in one place, and for the uninitiated, it’s a comprehensive introduction.

Lisa Loeb - The Very Best of Lisa Loeb - Geffen Records

“Reality Bites” was the movie that introduced talented, bespectacled singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb to most listeners - her song “Stay (I Missed You)” caught at the hearts of Gen X-ers, and even drew in actor Ethan Hawke (one of the stars of “Reality Bites”) to direct her music video. But reality didn’t “bite” for Loeb - actually, things only got better for her after her movie soundtrack debut. She’s recorded five albums since then, and although she has yet to become a real staple of Top 40 radio (although it’s debatable if that even matters any more), she’s garnered plenty of followers who have been smart enough to keep up with Loeb’s smart, literary, relatable, and insightful songs, of which a great selection are included on this disc. Among the tracks you’ll either already recognize or likely find quickly becoming your favorites are “Let’s Forget About It,” “How,” the pop gem “I Do,” “Sandalwood,” “Do You Sleep,” “Taffy,” “Furious Rose,” “Underdog,” and all the way back around to the “Reality Bites” song that started it all.