DG's Album Reviews

DG's MUSICAL PREFERENCES: I'm an eclectic, so every type of music is reviewed here, except country and oldies (the only two musical types I do not like). The sources are pretty simple: they're albums I've purchased with my own money (not yet the big-time guy that gets them for free) and, to get reviewed here, they have to be relatively new. Most of the albums I do acquire are relatively new ones (e.g. still spawning singles), so most of my collection will be reviewed. I will, however, make references to albums of previous years that I've collected but, since I only started my World Issues Page in February, are not reviewed. I've been listening to music intensively for about five years now, and, having heard millions of songs over the years, I think I have a pretty good handle on what is good and what is not.

WHAT DG LOOKS FOR: First and foremost, the tracks have to be a pretty good listen. There's nothing worse than listening to an album that lulls you to sleep. Second, I look for creativity and originality, something to set the work apart from others in its class, and also to see if the artist, within the album itself, can also be creative and original. Third, it has to work. A discombobulated album won't score a lot of points with me, as it almost proves the artist didn't try too hard or "tried too hard". Fourth, I look for artistic merit- one should never forget that artists, in the end, create "art", so artists that can succeed in creating deep, sensual and overall stunning music get rewarded here. No "cookie-cutters" allowed.

Anyway, here are the reviews.

This Edition:
Sam Roberts- The Inhuman Condition
LiveonRelease- Seeing Red
Avril Lavigne- Let Go
Vanessa Carlton- Be Not Nobody
My Picks

Sam Roberts- The Inhuman Condition

Rating: WWW

Song Of The Album: "Brother Down"

My Alternate Title: "More Work Needed"

Genre: Hard Rock

There are many ways to look at Montrealer Sam Roberts' debut disc "The Inhuman Condition": one, as a very melodic, catchy set of rock tunes that are very easy- almost annoyingly so- to listen to, offering a satisfactory feel-good theme. Two, it would be the emergence of Roberts as one of Canada's better guitarists, as the guitar sounds, while not quite at Slash's level or Eric Clapton's, are much better than many other rock outfits out in the pop world right now. Three would be a disappointment, as Roberts' flashes of brilliance rarely ever come into something smart and compelling. Me? Well, I take the third one, but let me note that Roberts is not as much a disappointment as it sounds.

The good side to "The Inhuman Condition" is the catchy melodies, as they're often done well- maybe almost too well but that's up for debate. Roberts' tunes often stick with you because of their catchy-ness, but the real bonus here is that they have at least a little substance that they don't infuriate you in doing so. There are many smart lines throughout the album, including the standout and first single "Brother Down", featuring the most smart lines and overall the smartest song on the entire album. In the song, Roberts exclaims "There's a man over there who thinks he's tougher than me/But I got eyes that can see through fantasy", almost bragging, but also states "The rich man cries cuz his money is time/The poor man's smiling cuz he knows he ain't blind". As stated, his guitar work is among the better guitar sounds to come out of Canada in quite a while, and, although it's not world-class calibre yet, Roberts shows that he at least has some decent talent with the instrument. Overall, the instrumentation is great on the album, providing an exceptional backdrop for Roberts' coarse voice.

Unfortunately, though, Roberts' words often leave you wanting more, as he seems unable to write an entire stanza that is smart and compelling. His songs often feature him pausing as the words don't quite fit that well together, and, while it works for the most part (like "Brother Down"), overall it comes up short. Other times, Roberts sounds stupid in his lyrical selections and, although overall the instrumentation is wonderful, it does get a little clunky towards the middle. Also, the album seems to end too quickly, as the 36 plus minutes running time rears its ugly head far too often on this disc. Simply put, the album seems to start without finishing, and, although I can forgive him as this is an independent recording, the feel of it not being complete does stick. Amazingly, though, "When Everything Was All Right" manages to drag, going six minutes and thirty seconds almost unnecessarily, making the listener almost scream at Roberts to just hit the end button. Trust me, when it's over it is a relief.

Overall, "The Inhuman Condition" is a matter of what you want: if you're looking for compelling lyrics, you're probably better off going elsewhere. However, if you're looking for a good sound, Roberts certainly provides it, as the songs are very catchy and not in the annoying sense. Although it leaves me wanting more, "The Inhuman Condition" is definitely a good disc, providing a good stepping stone for later recordings.

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LiveonRelease- Seeing Red

Rating: WWW

Song Of The Album: "Fake"

My Alternate Title: "Girls CAN Rock"

Genre: Hard Rock

Probably the best thing to ever come out of Bif Naked's career since the remix for "Spaceman" are Vancouver rocker girls LiveonRelease. Bif, who has offended me by even being allowed to have a career, discovered the girl band when they were doing an independent gig in Vancouver and promptly signed them to her own label. Although it's not as big as Madonna's "Maverick" or Michael Jackson's "ATV", Bif's label, "Her Royal Majesty's" allowed the girls to get noticed, and, my, what a first impression their product, "Seeing Red" actually is.

What strikes me most about LiveonRelease is their ability to present smart, coherent lyrics while, at the same time, presenting a punk/garage look about them. Whereas many punk outfits- like New Found Glory and Rancid- rarely ever present anything compelling, either lyrically or musically, the girls of LiveonRelease can do both extremely well, setting them a notch well above their peers (even Bif, but, then again, anyone can do better than Bif). Standouts on the album include the hilarious "I'm Afraid Of Britney Spears", a song berating the old pop acts like Spears and the Backstreet Boys, "Get With It", "Johnny Johnny" and the current single "Emotional Griptape", the way I feel Avril Lavigne should have written her current hit "Sk8r Boi". Still, the best song on the album is "Fake", a very dark, deep and poetic song that shows the band's maturity as it sounds more like an older artist's material (Bassist Foxx Hearst wrote the song). Instrumentation is also excellent, and, while not the greatest, it's better than the simple sounds that come out of many of today's punk acts, perfectly complimenting frontwoman Colette Trudeau's excellent voice.

On the downside, however, the band's sound sometimes drags and other times just comes out as dull, as the band didn't seem able to exert their full energy on the 11-song, 36 plus minute set- which, by the way, feels longer. Trudeau herself, though boasting an exceptional voice, doesn't utilize it correctly sometimes, going off key at times and other times doesn't seem to flow at all with the music behind her, two skills she'll pick up with age. As for the songs themselves, "Hardcore" sounds real dumb, as Trudeau's high pitch almost makes the song sound like it's coming from a five-year-old and reminds you this is a punk outfit, although the band quickly recovers, making you forget they actually had a song this dumb on the album. Still, the last two tracks, "Why" and "Dirt", though sounding great, sounds almost exactly the same, showing that the band has a few kinks to work out in songwriting.

Overall, LiveonRelease's "Seeing Red" is a great disc and definitely proves that girls can rock with the best of them. Although it's not enough to break Nickelback's hold as Canada's premier rock outfit at the moment, LiveonRelease have proven that they definitely have the potential to succeed them should the need arise, and, hopefully, with a bigger break the band will become the success story they no doubt should be. For once, I'm actually happy with something Bif Naked has done�if only she'd stay behind the production table and not the microphone. Oh well: I at least have LiveonRelease.

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Avril Lavigne- Let Go

Rating: WWWW

Song Of The Album: "My World"

My Alternate Title: "Michelle Branch With An Attitude"

Genre: Hard/Pop Rock

If there is anything skater-punk girl and Napanee, Ontario native Avril Lavigne isn't, it's an insult to your intelligence. Lavigne, who turns 18 on September 26, has been blowing up the charts with the wonderfully written "Complicated", easily among 2002's best songs, and with her new single, "Sk8r Boi", whose video has just been completed. Her album, "Let Go", has been doing the same, selling millions upon millions of copies since it's June release, and, with an album like this, it's hard to see why not.

Probably the most striking element of Lavigne's latest release is the intelligence, as Lavigne often pouts thoughtful verses and songs out of her young self. For example, the first single, "Complicated", is exceptionally written, cutting very deep at a two-faced guy causing Lavigne all sorts of grief, while "Mobile" accurately describes the feelings one has travelling all the time, sort of what Lavigne did to get the album ready. Then there's the eleventh track, "Nobody's Fool", where Lavigne attempts to rap, something other artists are starting to try (Aerosmith's Steven Tyler did it on "Just Push Play", Aerosmith's critically lambasted release last year). Although her strengths lie in singing- delivery is a little off and she sounds a bit dumb- Lavigne manages to show up several real hip-hop artists, who's only raps seem to test how many swear words they can roll and explain what positions they like in bed. The song is about Lavigne's confidence, telling everyone that she won't be taken advantage of now. "I might have fallen for that when I was 14 and a little more green/But it's amazing what a few years can mean," explains Lavigne in an almost cocky manner. The best is the poignant and thoughtful reflection on Lavigne's hometown, "My World", where Lavigne made her "money cutting grass/Got fired by a Kentucky Fried a-", and that she'd send her hair through "a zillion braids though it may take all friggin' day/There's nothing else to do anyway!" I could go on, but I've only got so much space.

Still, "Let Go" does have its fair share of problems, starting with the surprisingly misplaced "Complicated". Simply put, the smooth and delicate soft/hard rock hybrid song- though excellent as a standout- sounds almost like a letdown after the rock-ish "Losing Grip" and almost seems out-of-place when "Sk8r Boi" comes on afterwards. Speaking of "Sk8r Boi", the song, despite being a wonderful story, can't help itself from being childish, though Lavigne, being 17, can be forgiven a little for this blunder. "Too Much To Ask", the second-last song, although doing well in keeping the album's pace intact, does become dull after a while, coming out as only average on a album full of standouts. Still, the biggest complaint I have about Lavigne is her inability to differentiate herself well- not that this comes off as much of a complaint because this too can be done well, as Lavigne does here. She's a much calmer Pink sometimes, a more energetic Jewel in other times, and an angrier Michelle Branch the rest of the time. The problem? Where's something that we can call "Avril Lavigne"? There's "Complicated", "My World" and maybe "Sk8r Boi", but after that, nada. Still, she does those styles particularly well, and no doubt in time there will be a more definitive Lavigne, as she'll learn how to blend her influemces into her songwriting as opposed to making them blatant.

Overall, "Let Go" is a smart, intelligent experience, and a worthwhile one at that. Don't get me wrong: it's not Plato's "Republic" but at least Lavigne proves she has a brain, unlike many other pop artists outside of Branch and Vanessa Carlton. Like Branch, Lavigne manages to be catchy but also packs a lot back lyrically and overall has lots of energy. However, unlike Branch, whose energy comes from her soothing voice and an absolutely beautiful acoustic sound, Lavigne's energy comes from her booming voice and a hard rock sound, adding a lift to every last beat. Branch may still be the new pop leader, but Lavigne is proving she's a worthy second-in-command.

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Vanessa Carlton- Be Not Nobody

Rating: WWW

Song Of Album: "Sway"

My Alternate Title: "Very Compliant"

Genre: Adult Contemporary/Classical/Pop

POP music may not have always been a dream for 21-year-old Vanessa Carlton, but the truth is that music has always been in her blood, whether she likes it or not. Playing her first song on the piano at two (memorizing Disney's "It's A Small World" in a day), Carlton would later take up ballet as well and actually attended a New York ballet school to further her studies in the area. However, she grew disenchanted with it, and later averted back to pop music, using her piano skills to help her pen pop songs in her dormitory. It would be a daunting task, considering that pianists are usually not pop artists, but undertake it Carlton did. When she was done, she constructed her debut album- "Be Not Nobody"- and, in the process, played the leadoff single "A Thousand Miles" for her mother, who instantly declared she'd be a pop star; and pop star she's become. "Be Not Nobody" is already multi-platinum in the U.S., selling millions more worldwide, on the strength of the almost unlikely hit "A Thousand Miles" and the new single, "Ordinary Day", whose success has been rather slow but is starting to pick up.

Like Michelle Branch and Avril Lavigne, two artists Carlton is often compared to, Carlton packs a lot back lyrically, penning wonderfully written and thoughtful poems for her songs. Songs like "Ordinary Day", "A Thousand Miles" and "Unsung" fit wonderfully in this regard, as Carlton puts enough substance to allow them to stand with the works of Branch and Lavigne (though "Unsung" gets dull at times), but the real standout is "Sway", the album's smartest and liveliest track. Also, although Carlton often allows her voice to become an annoying whine (as is the case sometimes in "Ordinary Day"), she effectively uses her voice throughout the album, staying soothing and relaxing as opposed to belting it out, though the whine exposes Carlton's overall weakness in this area. Also, as a pianist, Carlton gets creative, using her piano in "Unsung" to emulate drumbeats, overall aiding the actual drumming, and showing to the world that she is no ordinary pianist.

However, the area where Carlton really lacks is energy, as far too often she allows her songs to drag and become rather dull, as Carlton provides a less-than-satisfactory backdrop for her smart lyrics. Far too often, Carlton's songs pick up just at the end, and, while it makes for an excellent finish, it doesn't do enough to make the listener forget the dull beginning. Unlike Branch and Lavigne, it seems that Carlton hasn't yet found what will give her songs the sonic boost her contemporaries have found, and, while she'll learn it in time, "Be Not Nobody" overall falls a little flat because of it. As for the actual songs, "Wanted" is a textbook case of how Carlton fails to use her voice effectively, as Carlton's yell gets annoying- her trademark whine is exposed greatly here- showing that Carlton still has a lot of work to do with her voice. She is at her best singing low and being soothing, but the whine proves she hasn't yet learned how to hit the higher notes, a huge singing flaw if you ask me. Keeping with the songs, "Paint It Black"- a Rolling Stones cover- though featuring an energy that Carlton lacks, sometimes comes out stupid, especially when she declares she wants something painted "black". Still, considering the Stones themselves were often dumb- especially later in their careers- even Carlton's version comes out as the more satisfactory version.

Overall, Carlton's "Be Not Nobody" is an enjoyable listen, but is largely lacking of the power to send it over the top. She is a lyrically strong artist, showing her mastery as a poet, but the absence of a wonderful music backdrop means that, oftentimes, her songs fall flat. I have no doubt that Carlton will have a solid career, as it is refreshing to hear a smart pop artist, but hasn't yet discovered what her sound needs to hit the standards of Branch and Lavigne. For now, "Be Not Nobody" is an album that is only designed to sell (which is what it is doing), offering standard pop fare that rarely offers anything impressive for your listening enjoyment.

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My Picks

Well, September is proving to be a rebound for the music industry- sort of (Nelly still seems to be dominating the charts), and, here in the album reviews, there is a rebound. Of the four albums here, Avril Lavigne easily tops the group, offering the lively, energetic, entertaining and smart "Let Go", proving her "Complicated" success was no fluke. Her work may not be Plato's "Republic", but it is smart nonetheless, proving herself to be a worthy second-in-command in the pop artist world to Michelle Branch, who set a exceptionally high pop standard with "The Spirit Room" in 2001. Coming in safely at second place is LiveonRelease, whose release, "Seeing Red", proves that there can be effective women rockers, and, while it won't give current rock leaders Nickelback the shivers, LiveonRelease show that they are worthy of inclusion among the best of Canadian rock. As for third, there is a tie, as both Sam Roberts' "Inhuman Condition" and Vanessa Carlton's "Be Not Nobody" often leaves the listener wanting more, in Roberts' case being lyrically and in Carlton's case being musically. Roberts is impressive in parts, having some smart lines, but doesn't seem able to put together a whole stanza that is smart. As for Carlton, "Be Not Nobody" is your standard, average pop album, offering songs that, despite being lyrically strong, fail to provide a meaningful backdrop for them. It is only designed to sell, and, despite doing that, Carlton needs to do a lot in order to make something that is truly impressive as well as commercial.

-DG

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