4Play

Jan. 13, 2008

Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static - Brushfire
Recorded onto nifty analog tape machines - powered by the sun, nonetheless (Johnson’s studio is working to be as environmentally responsible as possible) - this poppy, sometimes bouncy, sometimes pensive set continues along Johnson’s usual vein of sound, and is another nice, mellow effort. The songs themselves are about typical life happenings - love and war, time and space, as Johnson puts it - but they are executed with lightness, and, surprisingly, Johnson playing electric guitar on some songs instead of only his usual acoustic. “If I Had Eyes” serves as the first single, and other JP Plunier-produced highlights include “Adrift,” “While We Wait,” and “Losing Keys.”


Goo Goo Dolls - Greatest Hits Volume One: The Singles - Warner Brothers
With the bulk of this set from the Goo’s 1998 Dizzy Up the Girl album, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get at least some of those hits, among them “Broadway” and “Black Balloon.” But there are other popular Goo tracks here, too, from other albums - Gutterflower offers up “Big Machine,” Let Love In is represented with “Stay With You” and “Better Days,” and the band’s initial breakout disc, A Boy Named Goo’s “Name” is here, too - although it’s a newly recorded (and not as good) version. The band’s contribution to the recent Transformers movie soundtrack (“Before it’s Too Late”) is here, too - but there’s still a lot missing, hence rumors of a second Greatest Hits disc.


The Secret Handshake - One Full Year - Triple Crown
Luis Dubuc is the man who is The Secret Handshake, and he’s been compared to everyone from Chris Carreba (Dashboard Confessional) to the Postal Service - he might sound like part of the emo-crew on first listen, but it won’t be long before you start to perceive his songs’ layers. Electronic blips, piano, synth-drums, hip-hop beats, new-wave choruses - it’s surprising how many influences Dubuc must have (and a giant CD collection) to cram this many different sounds into one album. Some of the lyrics might betray heartbreak, but the music is trying hard to cheer Dubuc up - vocoded vocals highlight “Everyone Knows Everyone,” and a disco beat makes “Lately” danceable.


Lenny Kravitz - It Is Time For a Love Revolution - V Records
Kravitz played nearly all of the instruments on this set, which has more of his usual soulful, funky, “freedom”-based sound, plus a little extra jazz and a touch of reggae for good measure. He’s definitely in his own groove here throughout several different eras; “Bring it On” harkens back to old ‘70s arena-rock sounds, and the title track marries Kravitz’ ‘60s-era lyric sensibilities with a propulsive beat and plenty of thick, slightly wild electric keyboard. The deluxe edition of the album (complete with DVD) includes an interview with Kravitz, who takes the listener through the streets of NYC as he discusses his neighborhoods and the inspirations for the album itself.