Australia never really fell in love with Macy Gray. Way back in the late 90s she had some success with her single ‘I Try’, but we never really embraced her the same way that the rest of the world did. Therefore it may come as a surprise to some that her new album Covered is in fact her 6^th studio album.

Gray really does take on a huge task with Covered. A covers album always has the potentional to go horribly wrong for an artist because people actually have something that they can compare the work to… the originals. And in Gray’s case this album turns out to be a little hit and miss.

Her cover of the Eurthymics ‘Here Comes The Rain Again’ is haunting and once you get used to Gray’s unusual vocal stylings it is actually a track you can sit back and enjoy it. Even her jazzy rendition of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ is pretty good but the album is let down by some really lame skits that litter the album. The idea of bringing in Gray’s friends to have some fun may have sounded good on paper, but the only one that is funny and works is the one that features Nicole Scherzinger… the rest are unfunny and groan worthy.

Okay back to the music, Gray’s rocked up version of ‘Smoke Two Joints’ works well… but does raise questions over who she thinks her audience is and even her jazzy version of My Chemical Romance’s ‘Teenagers’ also works… which I have to admit came as a surprise to me when I saw it listed on her track listing.

Introducing organ to Metallica’s ‘Nothing Else Matters’ also shouldn’t work but amazingly Gray’s rendition actually sounds great, as does the emotion that Gray introduces to Awolnation’s ‘Sail’. This is one time where Gray actually enhances the original.

The funky version of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ ‘Maps’ makes it seem like the song was written for Gray however her rendition of Kanye’s ‘Lovelockdown/Buck’ is an epic fail, she actually makes a once great song sound really cheesy.

But then she manages to do exactly the opposite when she makes Colbie Caillet’s normally cheesy ‘Bubbly’ sound like a classic, she quickly follows that up with a thoughtful rendition of Arcade Fire’s ‘Wake Up’.

Covered may give you a newfound respect for Gray. She tackles some songs you wouldn’t normally expect to her perform and does a great job. Just remember when you give it a listen to skip the skits, that way your memories of Covered will be pleasurable.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

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Many were stunned when Linkin Park stripped back their sound and switched from being the best band at mixing heavy alternative music and hip-hop, well for all of those who have been returning to Hybrid Theory for their fix I have some great news, it’s time to embrace Sydney’s A Broken Silence.

The brainchild of Aussie hip-hop legend Torcha, just one listen to A Broken Silence’s self-titled album and you will see that a band has finally stepped up and taken Linkin Park’s mantle. After a brief intro ‘What Are We Waiting For? (Life Is So Wonderful)’ blasts from your stereo, and for those who like the alternative/hip-hop mix it is like embracing an old friend.

It is quickly followed by ‘Hope’ a track that will certainly feature on my ‘Best Alternative Tracks of 2011’ list at the end of the year. And then in another kick-to-the-guts of Linkin Park A Broken Silence drops ‘Caught Up In Fiction’ a track that is slowed down (without sounding cheesy) and should be added to radio play-lists right across the country.

The brilliance continues with ‘Genesis Of A Control’ while the hip-hop heavy ‘Walls Collide’ shows that these guys just can’t put a foot wrong. By the time you listen to ‘Daydreams’ you know that A Broken Silence really is something special, it may be one of the weakest tracks on the album but still sounds okay… now that is the mark of a good band. The album then picks up again with the thought provoking and catchy ‘The Right Price’.

The slowed down ‘Fearless’ is okay but ‘Real Heroes’ is a track that the heavy alternative fans will be skipping when they are giving the album a listen. ‘Closing The Door’ sees A Broken Silence back at their best while the power of ‘Give ‘em Praise’ will blow you away. Closing track, ‘Keep Living Our Life’ will leave you pondering the world we live in… proof that these guys really know how to write great lyrics.

This is one of the best albums of the year; it truly is a stunning album and can’t be praised enough. A must have… go out and buy it now.

Rating:

Dave Griffiths

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New Boyz are one of those groups that sit in a unique middle-area between two genres. They are too pop to be considered serious rap but are too rappy to be filed safely under pop. Their new album Too Cool To Care is very up and down. Some tracks are so cheesy that you just want to hit the ‘skip’ button while others are so good you can’t help but wonder why these guys haven’t made a bigger name for themselves.

‘Tough Kids’ which features Sabi showcases all New Boyz really are, simple pop-driven rap that will be lapped up by fans of 3Oh3 but disliked by the more serious music fan. It is easy to see why ‘Crush On You’ has become a single, although once again the lyrics are cheesy which will be a turn-off for many people.

‘Active Kings’ has a subject matter that sees New Boyz possibly become to risqué for their teenage market (which begs the question which demographic are they aiming for) while the smooth and catchy ‘I Don’t Care’ deserves to become a hit single.

The cheesiness returns with ‘Porn Star’ but that is soon forgotten about with the great ‘Backstreet’… which is yet another track begging to be used as a radio single. But it’s ‘Meet My Mom’ where New Boyz really captures the sound that seems to suit them… its mix of dance music with rap vocals seems to work extremally well.

‘Start Me Up’ is so poppy you could be excused for believing that it is a new track from Justin Beiber while the sexist ‘Better With The Lights Off’ is one of the better tracks on the album… and ‘Magazine Girl’ is not far behind that.

‘Zonin’ sees the return of the rap/dance hybrid that works so well but ‘Let U Leave’ is another woeful track that just seems to drag down the album. At least Too Cool To Care ends on a nice note with both ‘Can’t Nobody’ and ‘Beautiful Dancer’ capturing an amazing R&B sound that does give New Boyz some credibility.

Too Cool To Care will be hit and miss with most people. It is well worth a listen but be prepared to hit ‘skip’ a few times while you are listening to it. A little cheesy in parts, but New Boyz do show some glimpses of talent.

Dave Griffiths

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There is no middle ground with The Streets. People either absolutely love Mike Skinner’s unique vocals or they compare them to nails on a blackboard. For the lovers of The Streets however, Computers And Blues sees the end of an era. Skinner has made it quite clear that this will be the last Streets album… and after taking a listen you certainly have to admit that they go out with a bang. Computers And Blues is easily the best album from their discography.

Opening track “Outside Inside” shows where the Computer part of the album’s title comes from as it reveals early on that this is an album with a heavy computerized electronic basis. It then gives way to the first single from Computers And Blues, the brilliant “Going Through Hell” which also features the work of The Music’s Robert Harvey. This is a brilliant track that needs to be remembered when they are handing out Songs Of The Year gongs.

“Roof Of The Car” sees The Streets produce another truly memorable chorus while creating a great ‘first date’ track while the melody of “Puzzled By People” means it will be rolling around in your head for ages after you’ve listened to it. The same could be said for “Without Thinking” which consists of a Boogie Pimps style of sound and is made catchy by Sharlene Hector’s terrific vocals.

“Blip On The Screen” is guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye of any new Dad’s listening, but it’s thought-provoking mellowness quickly gives way to the short-and-sweet “Those That Don’t Know”.

Robert Harvey returns for one of the best Streets’ songs of all time, the terrific “Soldiers”… a track that you will want to keep listening to over and over. Harvey also sticks around for “We Can Never Be Friends”… yet another great track that has lyrics so smooth that sound like poetry.

Laura Vine introduces a terrific R&B style to both “OMG” and “Trying To Kill Me” (the latter also sounding like a song Lily Allen would have loved to get her hands on). “Trust Me” sees Mike Skinner return to some heartfelt vocals and then the album closes with “Lock The Locks” (feat Claire Maguire) that is ironically a track about Skinner handing in his notice.

And so it seems that is it for The Streets and while Mike Skinner has been promising a new project really soon it is hard to imagine that he will release anything that is good as Computers And Blues. This has to be one of the albums of the year.

Dave Griffiths

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