Storm Stories
It happens every time: you’re busy, in a hurry, and somebody starts blah-blah-blahing, making a long story longer. You wonder if he’ll ever get to the point.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
The Jacksons: Destiny and Triumph
The 5ive grew up with the release of the former, their now 30-year-old first effort away from Motown featuring the mega hits, “Blame It on the Boogie” and “Shake Your Body.” The latter, the first to mine platinum for the brothers, replays the cosmic “Can You Feel It” and more. Epic/Legacy (legacyrecordings.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Phoenix Rising: Ascension
Piano and flute provide the core of this ambience-inducing, New Age collection. Guest instruments on each track, like the guzheng (Chinese harp) and Indian tabla, make this CD great for menstrual hut background music. Copus Music (copusmusic.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
Daniel Lenz: Stuck in a Dream
Hard-driving electronica mixes with a taste of rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop to make for a heady blend on Lenz’s first solo album that smacks (no pun intended) a bit of Prodigy. “Push the Tempo” is especially anarchic. March 5. Psykohed Music (daniellenz.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
Gavin Castleton: Home
This eclectic composer deals with severe heartbreak with this 14-song narrative that begins with falling blissfully in love and ends with zombies. Rhythmically imbalanced and disturbing, yet oddly irresistible, especially “The Human Torch.” Five One Records (gavincastleton.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
Various Artists: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Allegro
Collectors will appreciate this 1947 piece by musical theater’s most venerated legends. Considered one of Broadway’s first “experimental” shows, it gets a second chance with a newly recorded reproduction featuring heavy-hitters Liz Callaway, Nathan Gunn, Audra McDonald, and others. Sony Masterworks (sonymaster
works.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Rihanna: Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes
The self-explanatory title says it. Top dance producer/DJs like Tony Moran, Seamus Haji, and others redo the lovely Rihanna’s scorcher 2007 LP that brought us the multiple-Grammy’d hit, “Umbrella,” and more. Def Jam (rihannanow.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
Willie Nelson: Naked Willy
Here, the enduring Red-Headed Stranger delivers tunes recorded between 1966 and 1970, this time with the major orchestration stripped away to reveal the uncomplicated, straight-ahead basic Willie. Purist heaven, for those who prefer their steak without the sauce. RCA/Legacy (legacyrecordings.com). — Review: Nancy Ford
Kylie Minogue: Boombox: The Remix Album 2000–2008
Chemical Brothers, Fischerspoon, and other top pop producers took turns churning out tunes for this collection of hits from the international dance icon. Oddly, the 2007 Greg Kurstin mix of her mega hit, “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” is only available via iTunes. Astralwerks Records (emi.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
India.Arie: Testimony: Volume 2, Love & Politics
The soulful siren follows up her first Testimony volume, which concentrated on love and relationships, with this more serious step-up. Her “Chocolate High,” the first breakout single, is joyously appropriate to begin the age of Obama. Universal Republic (India.arie.com). — Preview: Nancy Ford
