Thoughts on some recent-ish albums, including a couple that haven’t *legally* come out yet:
Mandy Moore, Wild Hope - I’m already a confirmed fan of Ms. Moore, but I have to admit I’m damned impressed by this record. It’s mellow to fault, but the tunes are almost uniformly sterling, and the lyrics are surprisingly well-written for a woman who became a pop star when she was 15. Her voice has also aged well, sounding far richer than it ever has before. Definitely worth a listen or three; pay close attention to the arrangements before you write it off as adult contemporary pap.
Kelly Clarkson, My December - This summer’s other pop star who’s making a point of having written her own music, Kelly doesn’t make out nearly as well. Her voice sounds fantastic, and she solidifies her position as one of the best singers currently in rock, but the tunes are rather pedestrian. Nothing approaches the level of “Since U Been Gone” or “Behind These Hazel Eyes,” and the most recent single, “Sober,” is a complete drag. Too much angst and not enough melody, but there’s enough here to hope she can knock one out of the park in the future. Don’t bother unless you’re a big fan.
Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full - I’ve only given this one listen so far. My initial impression is that it’s better than Chaos & Creation but not nearly as good as the underrated Driving Rain.
Hilary Duff, Dignity - Excellent, certainly her best release so far. Sounds fresh without being slavish to trends. Not as fun as Metamorphosis but more satisfying musically. In particular, check out the title track, “Never Stop,” and “Between You and Me.” Overall reminiscent of Kylie Minogue but more consistent than anything she’s done.
Rush, Snakes & Arrows - Eh. It’s modern Rush, and there’s not much more to say about that. Better than it has any right to be, but that doesn’t mean much. I wish they’d go back to that incredible early 80s sound, which was at least unique when it wasn’t substantial. At this point without the singing you’d be hard pressed to tell this is Rush.
