Bradley's Buzz

Suzanne Vega - Beauty & Crime (2007)
Another brand new release but one I had no intenion of actually buying until I heard the thing. I've always liked Suzanne but felt she was fairly hit or miss. "Luka" is excellant as is most of the album that it came from, "Left Of Center" from Pretty In Pink is one of my all time favorite songs ever and the brilliant rendition of DNA on "Tom's Diner" sticks with you long after you've heard it but her kind of wimpy pouty vocals wear a little thin I think on a full album, but then in 1994 came the album 99.9 (it's 99.9 Farenheit degrees but I can't find the frickin' degree symblol?) and I fell in love with it. Instead of acoustic guitars and her voice, she amped up the music with thumping pumps of electronic jambles and I loved every single song on the album. After that I once again lost interest but as Beauty & Crime was coming out, I read a review and interview with her, comparing the album to 99.9 and the fact that this was a record years in the making, since 9/11 in fact and being a New York poetess Vega had a few things to talk about, including her brother's death and her love/affection for the Big Apple. All very pondering yet full of music and fun little backing vocals, the album is great from start to finish. Again, there aren't any songs I dislike, some are obviously better than others but it's a really good album through out and I highly suggest you check it out. Best cuts: "New York Is A Woman" (see performance here), "Zephyr & Me", "Bound"

Mandy Moore - Wild Hope (2007)
This is a strange one to talk about, but not for the reasons you may think; First and foremost, I was completley oblivious to the music of Ms. Moore except for her rendtion of "Stupid Cupid" in Princess Diaries and the only thing I really knew she had done that had impressed me was her hilarious stint in the film "Saved" where she whips a bible full of "God's love" at someone's head. But a surprise package came on Friday from my pal Shae who sent Wild Hope to me with a little note that said Mandy co-wrote all the songs and he hoped I gave it a chance. Now how could I refuse? I mean it was brand new and he had just sent it to me for the heck of it. So I opened it up, put it in the player and immediately wondered how I was going to tell Shae the album didn't do a thing for me, but guess what? It did do something for me. In fact, it really surprised me. In the days of La Lohan and Brittney, not to mention the Simpsons and every other teeny would be bopper, it surprised the crap out of me that the girl actually has talent. I had to look up and see how this whole thing came about, and as it turns out she was always a singer and her Disneyfied and other acting gigs came about because of her music. She also has what could be her biggest hinderance or her biggest asset - she is usually quite below the radar when it comes to the young Hollywood girls. Probably cause she's at home writing sentimental and actually interesting music. From the cover artwork it would appear she's trying to show she's a grown woman who has ideas and thoughts to share, and she actually does. I'm not going to say Wild Hope is the greatest album I've heard, but it is good. In fact she reminds me of a few other singers, none of whom I can put my finger on of course. There's a bit of country in some of the songs, though it's that new country of gals like Faith Hill that you hear in the arrangements. But the most important parts to me are the singer and the lyrics and she really did speak to me. Her voice is kind of moody though it goes to those higher notes on almost all the songs - she isn't yelling at me about what a shit I have for a girlfriend (Or stealing other people's songs for that matter). The mellowness of the CD is actually quite refreshing. Shae said this was her Carole King/Carly Simon album and I can see what he was getting at - it's personal and sweet, though not sugarly. She's an adult contemporary singer but in a Carly Simon 70's era way, not the Celine Dion/Michael Bolton crap. All in all, it really impressed me and I am going to continue to listen it, and to Shae I thank you, because I know there wouldn't have been a chance in Hell this album would have ended up on my radar without his gift of music. Best cuts: "Most Of Me", "Few Days Down", "Can't You Just Adore Her" (my favorite) -hear it at You Tube


They Might Be Giants - The Else (2007)
Everyone I knew in 1990 had the album Flood with all of the cultish, somewhat hilarious classics that came from this group of nuts and I hadn't even really thought of them for years when I stumbled across their new album. A few listens of the first song "I'm Impressed" had me a little excited, instead of silly pop or strange ethereal words, it was a real song and a good song at that. The boys were actually saying something, so I found the second song "Take Out The Trash" and the next "Upside Down Frown" and by then I was hooked. I can't even believe how good all of The Else really is. Again, I like every single song on here. Yet again some are better than others so it's not perfect but there aren't a lot of perfect albums out there and when an album can grab me with even 3 songs in a row, I consider it a success. And should long time fans or even remotely loving fans, be worried forget about it - the sense of humor, irony and sarcasm are all still there. I guess, they, like the rest of us, just grew up. Definitely get your hands on The Else, or else. Best Tracks: "I'm Impressed" (see video here), "Climbing The Walls", "The Shadow Government", "Take Out The Trash".