JJJ Just so you know, Alien Ant Farm hasn't been around long enough to anthologize its work. The album title, Anthology, like its previous indie release Greatest Hits are goofs. The SoCal alt-metal quartet's single "Smooth Criminal," however, isn't. It takes brass balls to cover Michael Jackson, but Alien Ant Farm pulls it off. The group craftily speeds up the song's funky, guitar lick and Dryden Mitchell's impeccably apes the Gloved One's girlish shrieks. That's really the best part of Anthology, although there's plenty of good-such as the gritty, catchy "Movies"-on this lacquered, big-guitared major-label debut.
JJJJ For once, a soundtrack that's nothing but fun. In the case of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, that shouldn't come as much of a surprise, considering the film's comedic auteur Kevin Smith co-executive produced the album. Peppering Jay and Silent Bob with adolescent, foul-mouthed dialogue from the film immediately gives the album its own identity.
The juvenile theme continues with toilet-humor specialists the Bloodhound Gang, who offer the punk pastiche "Jackass," and Afroman's "Because I Got High," an easy-going, side-splitting, hip-hop anthem. Even classic arena rock fare, such as Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" and Bon Jovi's "Bad Medicine," add an optimistic feel to this joyful release.
| THE RATINGS |
| J | DESTROY IT |
| JJ | AVOID IT |
| JJJ | BORROW IT |
| JJJJ | BUY IT |
| JJJJJ | STEAL IT |
JJJ Soulful, beautiful and sometimes raunchy. It's the many sides of R&B crooner Usher Raymond and those sides have never been more pronounced than on 8701 (named after the album's release date). Implementing a blue-chip stable of urban producers, such as Jermaine Durpi, Babyface, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Usher comes with a slick follow-up to last year's disappointing All About U. Generic at times, and sometimes too reliant on wedding waltz guitars, Usher's music survives because it captures a night mood perfect for heavy pettin'.
JJJJ The band name is fairly stupid, considering the electronica duo hails from Leeds, England, but that's the only stupid thing about the Utah Saints. The first single "Lost Vagueness (Original Mix)" sounds like a cross between pre-Play Moby and Deep Forest; in between, the Saints toy with rich, club-hoppin' beats and Underworld-style trances.
The most impressive part of Two is the creative use of R.E.M frontman Michael Stipe. On four Two tracks, the Saints cleverly infuses Stipe prattle taped from a phone conversation to augment the woozy, ADHD feel of "Punk Club" and blossoming spirit of "Sun," the latter built around a Stipe loop ("The sun just came out, I can't believe it."). Really, Stipe does nothing on Two other than confirm he knows how to use a telephone; the Saints, however, prepare an infectious tripped-out feast to die for.