And "Motion the 11" is nothing but British-Jamaican frontman Tjinder Singh half-singing, half-talking over a reggae beat.
That half of the album aside, the rest is absolutely great.
No doubt influenced by Singh's side gig, neo-disco group Clinton, Cornershop creates colorful, exciting dance tracks with seamless ease. Initially a surprise compared to the previously mentioned songs, these dance selections are seemingly strategically positioned to retain the listener after enduring a few mediocre tracks.
The track "Music Plus 1" offers no-nonsense British club electronica where head-bobs come as easy as Nick Simms' delicate cymbal crashes. The ante is upped and raised by "People Power," an authentic disco throwback. With a funky bass line and a light guitar once heard in the Bee Gees' "You Should Be Dancing," Cornershop has fun here and it shows.
"People Power," however, is only the intro to Cornershop's voyage into the late, great 1970s. "The London Radar" inserts '70s "Superfly" horn samples with constant vinyl scratches and a bouncing bass track -- cooking up funk, soul and electronic flavors all on the same plate.
It's a shame that so many good songs can come together to form an album that's barely mediocre. Handcream for a Generation shows a lot of potential but falls short on too many songs -- half the album. Cornershop should be grateful for one staple of the music industry, though: the single.
By Aaron Freeman
Trey Anastasio
Trey Anastasio
Four Stars
The music of Trey Anastasio is always fresh. On his most recent solo self-titled album, he holds true to that tradition.
Most of you know Trey Anastasio from his 20-year gig with the groundbreaking jam band, Phish. With Phish on hiatus, former members have the opportunity to explore their creative outlets on their own. Anastasio made the best of the situation and went into the studio with a new band. The result was something unique: something influenced by the music of Phish but not defined by it.
Despite the fact the album is a studio attempt, it does not seemed bound by the confines of the Vermont recording booth. Intelligent songwriting combined with tight instrumental work makes this LP a treat for jam band fans.
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Anastasio brings together an interesting instrumentation of guitar, bass, drums, trumpet, keyboards, saxophone, flute and trombone. This arrangement makes for a sound not typical of popular music -- but it works here, providing a sound that's provocative yet easy to absorb.
Though all but two of the tracks are less than five minutes long, each song is well-written and planned out, never dragging on too long but always feeling complete.
"Last Tube" lasts for 11:22 and is a traditional example of the jam band genre. It includes a long introduction and several forays that showcase the musical talent of each individual member.
Even when they aren't performing solos, all members play an important role. Unlike much of the today's music, every song is created by having all instruments as an integral part of the overall sound.
It's not often that an album can be both familiar and completely different at the same time. Every now and then though, it is a well-received surprise.
By Evan Lucas
Tweet
Southern Hummingbird
Three Stars
You can't really blame people for overlooking Tweet's talent based on her first single "Oops."
Upon hearing her provocatively discuss the joy of "self-fulfillment," it's no surprise if some listeners think the singer is just another Adina Howard wanna-be whose spotlight will blow out by fall.
Yet it's unlikely that Tweet will be appearing with "Freak Like Me" Adina on any of VH-1's "Where Are They Now" specials in the near future.
With the debut of her sultry album Southern Hummingbird, the Rochester-bred songstress proves she can do more than just loop T-shirt-and-panty choruses like, "Oops there goes my shirt up over my head" in the recording studio.
Tweet writes, produces and plays the acoustic guitar for several tracks, displaying her potential for staying power in the music business.
Songs like "Best Friend" showcase the singer's distinctive voice. Fellow R&B singer Bilal accompanies Tweet as she teeters on the edge of classic R&B and neo-soul, conjuring up fond memories of Al Green's falsetto-shattering soprano.
But potential buyers intent on just hearing Tweet croon about the light-handed sides of love and intimacy should be warned against picking up the album.
Though it's dotted with several upbeat tracks, the album is dominated by weightier songs unfit for dancing.
Tweet creates a whirlwind of emotions for listeners to experience. With a simple mix of soulfulness and candor, the singer journeys back to the past heartaches that nearly destroyed her. "Drunk" and "Complain" openly recount Tweet's bout with depression and loneliness.
As she hazily whispers, "Got a five in my pocket/Wanna buy me some gin/A drop of gas in the tank, think it over again," the velvet-voiced singer vividly conveys her past hopelessness.
But some not schooled in the harsher side of love won't comprehend the numbness Tweet exhibits in "Motel," though -- no matter how simply she spells it out in the song's lyrics. A dispassionate recount of her partner's infidelity, "Motel" explores the shock and detachment jilted lovers feel upon learning their partners have been unfaithful.
Die-hard "Waiting to Exhale" fans will doubtless recoil as Tweet softly whimpers, "Now how could I be witnessing/Such a sight I see tonight/As I walked towards the door my thoughts began to leak" without one mention of torching her ex's car in revenge.
In the end, Southern Hummingbird gives the listener a break from the abundance of intense and emotionally draining tracks. Tweet safely returns listeners to level ground with "Heaven," a hopeful song expressing the singer's eagerness to rise above her tumultuous living. After traveling the roller coaster of emotions displayed on the album's other tracks, listeners are likely to appreciate hearing her more relaxed side.
The chances of Tweet changing the face of R&B music with this album are slim. Yet all signs point to her being an artist who'll probably continue exposing the complexities of love and loss in a way that's refreshing.
By Jenise Hudson
