New Download Highlights - Nov 09 Holiday Edition - Music Review
The new music hitting right now as far the brand new material is about as across the board as one can get. Them Crooked Vultures combines Grohl, John Paul Jones and Josh Homme doing epic quasi-garage rock that changes it up. Norah Jones plays out more acid while John Mayer stays with the status quo but keys in some personal trudge while keeping the guitar singing. Rihanna brings back the rear with a bit of slice, but because of recent incidents, gives her presence of mind a weight not available before.
Them Crooked Vultures - "Elephants" [Them Crooked Vultures] Using simple power chords but with change ups, this track from the new supergroup of the moment changes throughout without becoming overtly apparent. Despite this, the cut has an undeniable charge to it. Each of the players involved just loves blasting it out. The groove is there for the taking without even a thought like a dark burning roadhouse where everybody is slamming beers and dancing, sweaty into the night.
John Mayer - "All We Ever Do Is Say Goodbye" [Battle Studies] This song shows Mayer's pop sensibilities within an Elton John progression while using an arpeggio structure he rarely uses. The song has a specific thought train almost like Aniston incarnate considering the intro lyrics but with a longing that plays very close because it works. You also get the vintage guitar like Clapton would have wanted despite a basic chorus line. The reality will get the cell phones waving.
Norah Jones - "Stuck" [The Fall] The girl goes a little trip with this bar singer ditty that feels smooth and dirty at the same time with a great elegance to it. The dreamy center of the chorus mixes aspects of country with acid jazz before amping it up with a heavy sound that heightens the feel into flux. You can see the smoke cresting in the bar with Andy Warhol chillin in the corner while a girl in silk dances.
Rihanna - "GL4" [Rated R] The starting beat keys into a rolling song. Rihanna's initial dark entrenching jumps her out with a sultry but confident air that gives the persona a more specific poise. The grind sound plays the club right without grooving out too much while the lyrics don't mess with the fact that she is "down for life and love" but she and her girls "know revenge is sweet". Girl got some edge now since the beat kicks it to the floor.