East Carolinian

Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: mct

Media Credit: mct

The Stills - Oceans Will Rise (Arts & Crafts) ****
There are three things that make Oceans Will Rise work, and none are by accident. First, the Stills know how to be radio-friendly while layering their message into the hooks of their indie-rock driven style ("Being Here," for example). Second, they have mastered the dynamics. There are no points where Oceans Will Rise is too loud for too long like a Muse album, nor does it whisper until you fall asleep. Third, the message they convey-- while obvious--is not as boisterous as someone like Marilyn Manson. Overall, it is thoroughly enjoyable, and let's face it; they make global warming sound fun.

The Verve - Forth (RED) ***
Unfortunately for Ashcroft and company, the Verve is 10 years too late to reunite and answer the age-old question of "What would the Verve have done next had they not broken up?" Certainly Forth is only partly an answer; the band is older--though not necessarily wiser--and has used any great material elsewhere. There's no "Bittersweet Symphony" here, only imitators; "Valium Skies" is the only track that features reminiscent string arrangements and truly impassioned vocals by Ashcroft. While other notable tracks like "Love is Noise" (which features a sample of a truly strange barking sound) may be remembered by the few remaining fans or the dedicated music connoisseur, the rest is forgettable. All of the tracks are listenable, but not engaging.

B.B. King - One Kind Favor (Geffen) ***
The hailed "King of Blues" is back again with an array of blues covers, ranging from the legendary Big Bill Broonzy to the equally great John Lee Hooker. There are no big production values that water down One Kind Favor. It is still as basic as blues gets (King goes so far as to have an upright bass in the recording sessions). It is lop-sided as well; "Blues Before Sunrise" is the mark where King gets into it. After that, every track is golden, especially his cover of Chatmon's Sitting On Top of the World. He may be old, but he sounds just as fresh as he did in 1957.

The Jonas Brothers - A Little Bit Longer (Disney) **
Teen pop has always been the prostitute of the music industry; it is easy and it makes a lot of money. You cannot blame the Jonas Brothers for that because truth be told, their intentions are better. They know their target market and are responsible enough to keep a distance from drug and sex references (something Katy Perry cannot). For that, they are tolerable. As far as the music is concerned, it is full of overly produced, slick, trite nonsense with strained vocals and excessive hooks about relationships they pretend to have had and understood. I will admit, though, the kids can play guitar.

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