In
the prime of their youth The Who defiantly declared, “I hope I
die before I get old.” They didn’t. And neither did most
of their rock ’n roll contemporaries — an entire g-generation
of rebel-angels whose battle cry was kick out the jams...and the fogies
too. It is perhaps the greatest strength and deficiency of youth that
the young never quite grasp that time makes fogies of us all.
Which explains why we stand at the close of 2005 with albums from current
hitmakers Kanye West, Gorillaz and Kelly Clarkson sharing space in the
bins with a wave of new releases from acts who range — in industry
terms — from just over the hill (Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Depeche Mode)
to downright paleolithic (The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Barbra Streisand).
Here’s a quick look at a number of albums currently available from
an array of music veterans.
After waiting 10 long years since his last studio album, the disappointing “Conversation
Peace,” Stevie Wonder dropped the 15-track “A Time 2 Love” in
October and it’s a bonafide return to form. Wonder’s voice
still feels like silk when it’s caressing your eardrums with his
patented gilded melodies (check “Sweetest Somebody I Know” or “My
Love Is On Fire”). Expect serious Grammy action for this one...The
Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney both released critically lauded sets
in early fall, “A Bigger Bang” and “Chaos And Creation
In The Back Yard,” respectively.
Producer Don Was strips the Stones’ sound
back to its rocking roots while knob twiddler Nigel Godrich (Radiohead)
leads Macca away from silly love songs and into earnest introspection.
Both producers deserve kudos for reinvigorating a pair of legends...To
mark the 25th anniversary of Barbra Streisand’s smash album “Guilty,” Babs
reteamed with the set’s producer and guest vocalist Barry Gibb (Bee
Gees) to release “Guilty Pleasures.”
Unfortunately the new
material is more guilty than pleasure. A string-laden reading of Gibb’s “(Our
Love) Don’t Throw It All Away” is the high point...Mick Hucknall’s
gorgeous tenor is spotlighted on Simply Red’s latest album. The 12-song
collection, acoustic reworks of the band’s biggest hits, is appropriately
dubbed “Simplified.” Simply Red broke through with its soulful
1985 debut “Picture Book” and two songs from that project (career
maker “Holding Back The Years” and “Sad Old Red”)
hold up best...Cyndi Lauper’s new release is also comprised of re-recorded
versions of her hits, but the new sound is pure roots music. Recalling
John Mellencamp circa “The Lonesome Jubilee,” Lauper’s “The
Body Acoustic” offers arresting takes on such tracks as “Time
After Time,” “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and especially “She
Bop.” The latter, an ode to masturbation, is re-imagined as a plaintive
meditation...The future Mrs. Lance Armstrong — rock goddess Sheryl
Crow — might technically be too young for this list, but she’s
always seemed like an old soul to me. And besides, her fifth album of new
material, “Wildflower,” is a corker.
Crow’s rich voice
and incisive songwriting make for a first-rate exploration of love and
relationships over 11 sharply drawn tracks...Back from the brink of self-destruction,
vocalist Dave Gahan guides Depeche Mode through the dark, scabrous soundscapes
of “Playing The Angel.” The production is sludgy and synthy-electronic
music for people sinking in quicksand. “A Pain That I’m Used
To,” “John The Revelator” and “Suffer Well” open
the album like the soundtrack to a fevered goth nightmare...Reconstituted
funk godfathers Earth, Wind & Fire have dropped the guest-artist stacked “Illumination” and
its good enough to recall the band’s heyday, even if it never matches
it. The Black Eyed Peas’ Will.I.Am (“Lovely People”),
Raphael Saadiq (“Show Me The Way”) and Brian McKnight (“To
You”) make creditable contributions. Kenny G’s soprano sax
is highlighted on bonus track “The Way You Move,” EWF’s
cover of the Outkast hit that was an homage to them in the first place...Lightning
strikes twice for the Divine Miss M. “Bette Midler Sings The Peggy
Lee Songbook” continues the winning ways of 2003’s Rosemary
Clooney tribute, with the diva at her campiest, vampiest best on tunes
like “Fever” and “Big Spender.”
Barry Manilow produces
and provides guest vocals on “I Love Being Here With You.”...Finally,
there is “Confessions On A Dance Floor.” Madonna hasn’t
celebrated her dance roots like she does on this 12-track set since the
beginning of her career. All hail DJ Stuart Price (Jacques Lu Cont, Les
Rythmes Digitales) who produced this disco extravaganza and has brought
back the Madonna of “Get Into The Groove.” Put on “Confessions” and
dance your gay heart out.
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