Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Rock Editor, Steven Stolder What does it say that 45-year-old Los Lobos/Latin Playboys/Houndog member David Hidalgo spearheaded three of the best rock titles of 1999 (and granted, we're being generous in our definition of the genre)? Or that Fiona Apple, still in her early 20s, rose to the challenge and produced a stunning sophomore release that neatly fuses old and new strains into something entirely distinctive and personal? That the Flaming Lips reined in their strain of garage psychedelia without compromising their off-center vision? Or that Randy Newman finally forced himself to assemble a new collection of songs and came up with an album that's as droll and biting as his '70s best? Rock & roll, now well into its 40s, is increasingly fragmented and capricious, but, when it's right, the genre's vitality shines through. 1. "When the Pawn Hits" Fiona Apple http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00002MZ4W/entertainmentsit The most promising newcomer of 1996 has banished any talk of a sophomore slump with this smart, sexy second effort. Far from buckling under the pressure that accompanies a stunning debut, Apple is secure as a musician even as she voices an unsettled outlook on her state of affairs. 2. "Bad Love" Randy Newman http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000J7R4/entertainmentsit Incisive, witty, and unflinching, "Bad Love" marks a welcome return to song-based recording for Randy Newman. One part mended misanthrope, one part wounded wag, Newman is a songwriter who fearlessly voices untidy attitudes. 3. "Dose" Latin Playboys http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I5LS/entertainmentsit David Hidalgo, Louie Perez, Mitchell Froom, and Tchad Blake are utterly audacious and inspired on the Playboys' second outing. Taking an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach to music making, the foursome nevertheless somehow hold things together. After a few listens, "Dose" feels less spontaneous than outrageously ingenious. 4. "The Soft Bulletin" Flaming Lips http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JC6C/entertainmentsit Simply put, the Flaming Lips stand as one of the best rock bands of the past dozen years. Further, "The Soft Bulletin" will stand as one of their milestone releases. This time out, the Lips add a little sugar to their acid-based concoctions. The result is a more flavorful (but far from diluted) take on pop psychedelia. 5. "Mock Tudor" Richard Thompson http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JPEU/entertainmentsit Richard Thompson's "Mock Tudor" demonstrates that the much-hailed British folk-rocker remains a versatile and fiery triple threat as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. An evocation of Thompson's youth, it conjures the colorful street life of London in the '50s and '60s. 6. "This Time" Los Lobos http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JMK9/entertainmentsit In contrast to many of their sedate peers, Los Lobos continues to push forward with each new release. "This Time" finds the California crew drawing inspiration from Hendrix, techno, the barrio, and the blues. No one can accuse Los Lobos of slavishly trading on their "La Bamba" fame. 7. "The Gasoline Age" East River Pipe http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JMBV/entertainmentsit It's easy to be drawn into F. M. Cornog's story. Homeless and depressed, he turned his life around and began recording under the moniker of East River Pipe. The thing is, his music is as alluring as his tale. With "The Gasoline Age," the one-man band concocts a song cycle that centers on driving. Hardly standard fare, it's one of the year's notable sleepers. 8. "Buzz Me In" Jack Logan http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000IP90/entertainmentsit Georgia-based singer-songwriter Jack Logan first came to light in 1994 when "Bulk," his two-disc collection of recordings made with his beer-drinking cronies, won critical hosannas. His third effort, "Buzz Me In," finds the erstwhile grease monkey elevating his music to match the already lofty heights of his finely honed lyrics. 9. "Live: From Here to Eternity" Clash http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001X593/entertainmentsit Once proclaimed "The Only Band that Matters," the Clash's music still carries weight decades after their demise. "Live: From Here to Eternity," a collection of live performances recorded between 1978 and '82, crackles with an immediacy that belies its from-the-vaults origins. 10. "Houndog" Houndog http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000I5XX/entertainmentsit "Houndog," the debut from Los Lobos virtuoso David Hidalgo and former Canned Heat vocalist Mike Halby, stretches the blues up and down, backwards and forwards. The result is a murky, minimalist minor masterpiece. You'll find more great music, articles, and interviews in Amazon.com's Rock Music section at Rock ******
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