Simple Minds - Black and White 050505

year 2005
Adult Alternative
Pop/ Rock

review: With a sudden resurgence of '80s new wave from both revivalist acts (the Killers, Interpol) and reunions of the old guard (Duran Duran), the time was certainly right for other veteran acts to "get back in the ring," so to speak. And Simple Minds did just that, with the release of 2005's Black and White 050505. Founding members Jim Kerr (vocals) and Charlie Burchill (guitar) are back once more, with an album that manages to incorporate both elements of their earlier, best-known work (such as 1985's Once Upon a Time), as well as modern sounds. That said, Kerr and Burchill wisely don't stray too far away from their identifiable sound (à la U2's post-Joshua Tree composition, or the soaring album opener, "Stay Visible." A major factor in the group's creative rebirth can be attributed to the input of work). This is no more evident than in the track "Different World," which doesn't sound too far off from a more polished Dandy WarholsBob Clearmountain, who previously worked with the band on its aforementioned 1985 album. Maybe something there's something good about all this '80s nostalgia -- inspiration for older acts to issue surprisingly strong albums, as evidenced by Black and White 050505.

Tom Waits - Rain Dogs

year 85
* College Rock
* Experimental Rock
* Album Rock
review: Tom Waits' lyrics here sometimes are imaginative to the point of obscurity, seemingly chosen to fit the rhythms rather than for sense. In the course of 19 tracks and 54 minutes, Waits sometimes goes back to the more conventional music of his earlier records, which seems like a retreat, though such tracks as the catchy "Hang Down Your Head," "Time," and especially "Downtown Train" (frequently covered and finally turned into a Top Ten hit by Rod Stewart five years later) provide some relief as well as variety. Rain Dogs can't surprise as Swordfishtrombones had, and in his attempt to continue in the direction suggested by that album, Waits occasionally borders on the chaotic (which may only be to say that, like most of his records, this one is uneven). But much of the music matches the earlier album, and there is so much of it that that is enough to qualify Rain Dogs as one of Waits' better albums.

the Veronicas - The Secret Life Of

2006
* Pop/Rock
* Teen Pop
* Punk-Pop

review: Even though these girls have written easily over 100 songs with several producers. "The Secret Life of" is a quality but mixed result. They're main base "4ever" is a fantastic first single and "Everything I'm not" and "When it all falls apart" are good backups. However, after that it goes a little-pear shaped. Secret is a disaster, Speechless a saccahrine ballad and the cover "Mother Mother" very strange and awful. The rest are hit and miss with "Leave me alone" a strong goodbye but others being moody and emotional. Overall, not too bad but a lot of work to be done if these girls want to get noticed.

Beck - Midnight Vultures



year 99
Alternative, Rock, Electronic
review: As musically dazzling as Midnite Vultures often is, the one criticism that can be still levelled at Beck is that his songs remain strangely soulless, failing to ever really grip the emotions or stir the soul.

Step up - Soundtrack

review 2006: Most modern soundtracks are dumping grounds for the throwaways, outtakes and recycled hits of today's stars and have little to do with the actual film. This isn't a bad thing, and Step Up is undoubtedly hot. Sean Paul's "(When You Gonna) Give It Up To Me" is great Caribbean club pop, and Kelis' "80s Joint" nicely straddles the line between kitsch and homage. Chris Brown does his underage lover boy thing on "Say Goodbye," while Anthony Hamilton's "Dear Life" is predictably beautiful.