New releases offer good electronics, established stars
by Michael Kraft, reporter

    Semisonic: All About Chem-istry
The sound on Semisonic’s third album is a departure from previous records.
Incorporating more electronic instruments and samples, plus better production values, the album is more diverse than its predecessor, Feeling Strangely Fine.
The band was accused of being one-hit wonders for the song Closing Time off the last album. Noted local musician John Weiss compared the band to Weezer, “but without the sense of humor.”
This album proves that one-hit wonder theory invalid as the trio—Dan Wilson (guitar, vocals), John Munson (bass) and Jacob Slichter (drums)—pushed their talent to the limits.
Some songs do have a familiar feel of guitars, bass, drums, but others, such as She’s Got My Number, incorporate massive amounts of samples, overdriven synths, jungle drums and a piano. (Munson and Slichter, multi-instrumentalists, played or arranged all the synth and string parts on the record.)
The band also had more freedom because they produced the album themselves.
Semisonic’s new direction is more diverse with a bit for fans of guitar-driven alternative, fans of softer ballads and even fans of light electronic music.

Radiomotive: No More Rock Stars
One listen to this Denton quartet (Carrie Grisham, vocals and guitar; Dave Semans, guitar and vocals; Mike Scherpenberg, bass, and Robbie Hamilton, drums) and the CD may stay stuck in the player.
The music is very catchy and listenable, and lead singer Grisham’s vocals are excellent.
The music is reminiscent of early to mid ’90s Australian alternative; however, the guitars sound more thick and the overall production a bit thinner than American alternative-punk-pop.
The levels are mixed well, which is unusual in local releases. Usually one element such as the guitars is overpowering and the drums are almost inaudible, but not here. Everything is mixed properly and sounds great.
The album has some great ballads on it, including Expectations and Center of the Universe.
Expectations was put right before a song Lie #6, a faster number, but the lead-in guitar sounds very similar, except that Expectations has a nice echo effect on it.
Overall, this is a great release by a local band. Check them out www.mp3.com/radiomotive.

Gladys Knight: At Last
Gladys Knight has been producing hits since the ’60s when she fronted Gladys Knight and the Pips.
But nearly 40 years later and six years since her last album, she proves why she has staying power.
Her latest album, At Last, is a great joining of songs from definite R/B to a jazzier flavor.
Knight isn’t rehashing old styles or old material, but is keeping abreast of current trends and sounds to maintain a wide appeal.
The songs are very well written and produced.
Her voice is incredible in Better Love Next Time, and Greatest Love of All is truly a smooth track that combines the best elements of R/B today.
On the track I Wanna Be Loved, she performs a duet with comedian Jamie Foxx.
Foxx is well known for stand-up and sitcoms, but also can sing, hanging with Gladys note for note.
This is a well-produced album with a legendary powerhouse of a singer behind it.

Neal Coty: Legacy
Some people have bemoaned the fact that modern country has been infused with elements of rock and roll and pop causing it to lose the Nashville Feel.
These people should be happy to know that some country artists haven’t forgotten the music’s roots.
Neal Coty is one such artist. On his latest CD, Legacy, the singer/ songwriter delivers a stirring mix of good music.
This is not to say his music is the twanging guitar, fiddle-filled yodeling of yesteryear, far from it.
While containing contemporary musical elements, the album still maintains a gritty, “good-ole-boy” feel.
With a definite twang in his voice, lyrics talking about falling off Pepsi trucks, the Great Divide, or suspicion compared to a semi-truck, one might be tempted to think of Coty as just another blue-collar hillbilly.
But the lyrics reveal an intelligence and experience from someone that has been through bad times and pulled out.
Country fans should give this one a go. The music, the lyrics and the sincerity of the album are definitely worth a listen.

Café Del Mar: Volume Seven
The latest release in the Café Del Mar series, this disc packs a good mix of songs to chill out to.
The Café Del Mar, a club on the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the premier hot spots on the planet.
The album, compiled by Bruno, is great for just sitting back and listening to.
The feel is probably similar to its namesake: relaxed, chilled, just hanging out and being cool.
With a good selection of mixes by well known artists as Moby, Bush, Lux and Bent, the disc has a bit of something for everyone.

Elbert West: Livin’ the Life
Country fans who feel a need to return to REAL country with all the twanging guitars and twanging vocals will love the latest release by Elbert West, Livin’ The Life.
West worked his way to Nashville from West Virginia the hard way; playing honky-tonks and juke-joints until he got signed.
This experience has given his record a gritty and old country feel.
This style is not too surprising since his influences include Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and the man in black himself, Johnny Cash.
The songs are edgy and true to the workin’ man lifestyle.
The song Crawlin’ Time is about losing a woman and getting so drunk the guy falls and crawls on the floor.
West is a throwback to an era where country artists were rough edged, workin’ class men instead of made-up, over-marketed preeners. That may just be what the genre needs right now.

John Kay: Heretics and Privateers
John Kay may be best known for fronting the band Steppenwolf.
His newest solo album, Heretics and Privateers, is a surprising musical direction for the man associated with such rockers as Born to Be Wild and Magic Carpet Ride.
The album is a bit more mellow than Kay’s previous work.
The Ice Age is a great song about people losing compassion for each other.
Other songs deal with problems that people face, such as the extreme materialism and commercialism prevalent in today’s society and the difficulties of going day-to-day in a system that won’t let them get a toehold.
Heretics and Privateers is a fresh, rootsy, bluesy sound and a new direction from the man who arguably invented the heavy metal genre.