4Play/ The Wallflowers, The Sounds, Our Lady Peace, Rob Thomas

June 7, 2009

4Play/ The Wallflowers, The Sounds, Our Lady Peace, Rob Thomas
Kristi Kates 6/8/09


The Wallflowers - A Collection: 1996-2005 - Interscope
Jakob Dylan’s band topped the charts in the late ‘90s with such songs as “6th Avenue Heartache” (guesting Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz), “Three Marlenas,” and “The Difference,” and all three of those songs - and plenty more - are included on this new greatest hits set. Dylan himself oversaw the tracklisting and production of the CD’s two previously-unreleased songs, which are solid additions to the already-established roster of melancholy roots-rock tracks. Also included here are latter chart-markers, such as “Letters from the Wasteland,” and “I’ve Been Delivered.”


The Sounds - Crossing the Rubicon - Original Signal
Eleven songs make up pop band The Sounds’ third set, which was recorded in N.Y.C, L.A., and in their homeland of Sweden. First single “No One Sleeps When I’m Awake” melds breakup lyrics with a memorable melody, while “Beatbox” showcases the band’s electronica-dance side; “Midnight Sun” pairs up similar synth and guitar riffs with more pretty verse notes, while “Dorchester Hotel” throws some tambourines and layered harmonies on top of a more standard rock n’ roll feel. The album may recall elements of both Missing Persons and Nico, but it’s still all Sounds.


Our Lady Peace - Burn Burn - OLP
Serving as OLP’s 7th studio album, Burn Burn was self-produced by the band and recorded at bandmate Raine Maida’s own home studio in L.A., where the band revived the energetic, heavy pop-rock songs via which fans first got to know this Canadian group. Their latest set includes the first single, “All You Did Was Save My Life,” which will be many listeners’ first re-introduction to the band; it features guitars between a twang and a chime, a treble-y tone, and vocals that recollect the best of those early ‘90s radio-arena rock bands.



Rob Thomas - Cradlesong - Atlantic
Thomas’ new solo album has the vocal sound of Matchbox Twenty, as would be expected - but he throws a few interesting experiments into the mix by recollecting some of the sounds he grew up with - that being the ‘80s, as heard on the new wave-inspired “Meltdown,” and the Graceland percussions represented here on Thomas’ “Fire on the Mountain.” First single “Her Diamonds” is more Thomas’ own, but with Thomas’ distinctive voice, each song still brings to mind Matchbox Twenty, whether or not there are a few bongos thrown in for good measure.