Give The Drummer Some (Interscope) is the feel good album of the year, and here’s why. Travis Barker is probaly best known as the Cracker Jack drummer in the pop punk band Blink-182. He’s also known though as the founder of Famous Stars and Straps clothing company; opened Wahoo’s Fish Taco restaurants as well as starring in the hit MTV reality show Meet The Barkers.
He was also severely burned and survived a jet plane crash in 2008, which clamed the lives of four others on board. He vigorously took on his rehab and when he was able to get back playing the drums he went full tilt on
this album.
What might surprise some is that this album does not follow the musical path of Blink-182. Barker has brought on an impressive list of diverse artists to join him on this project. Not only are Slash and Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) here but so are Lil’ Wayne and Snoop Dogg as well.
If you like percussion, you’ll love Give The Drummer Some. Barker shows some pretty impressive skills as a stick man, either on real drums, drum programming or as a percussionist on the rock and the hip – hop stuff.
Standouts include “If You Want To” with Pharrell and Lupe Fiasco, “Beat Goes On” with Cypress Hill, “Jump Down” with The Cool Kids and “Saturday Night” with Transplants and a Slash killer guitar solo.
Travis Barker’s Give The Drummer Some is a great solo debut by a guy that’s a Jack Of All Trades but is really a master of one – his music. Lucinda Williams is a brilliant singer/songwriter who makes great records and has always been kind to the Milwaukee area through her routine visits. She’s even released a live iTunes e.p. recorded at Summerfest.
That being said, even an artist as consistent and talented as Williams is, has different levels of greatness. Her latest Blessed (Lost Highway) is her best since 1998’s Car Wheels On a Gravel Road. This record kicks it – dammed hard too.
Seeing that Williams has always maintained her writing prowess I’m giving a big chunk of credit to producer Don Was (Rolling Stones, George Clinton). He’s a guy that has always understood it’s not always the bread that makes the sandwich, sometimes it’s the meat.
Her guitar rock has a hint of country but the ballads have always been drenched in it. Along with Ryan Adams, Williams is the poster child of alternative country and for her it’s organic and not a fad. Her playing and dedication sounds so motivated as if this is her last chance to get the last word in.
Standouts include “Convince Me,” “Buttercup,” “Sweet Love,” “Blessed” and “Seeing Black.” Yea, great album here by Lucinda Williams and it’s refreshing to hear an artist not only maintain but try to improve on their greatness.
Well, this isn’t too cool. A very disappointing R.E.M. album has dropped; Collapse Into Now (Warner Bros.) has the band in three step back mode after 2008’s encouraging one step forward Accelerate.
I should have figured this was the case once word came out that the band wasn’t gonna tour behind the record. If a band isn’t gonna support it, that’s the first sign a record was over-cooked. It’s kinda surprising though, seeing that Jackknife Lee is producing once again.
I can’t quite put my finger on it but it’s either because lead vocalist Michael Stipe sounds very uninspired or it’s that every song here sounds like every R.E.M. hit song.
That being said it seems that the bands better days are behind them. Is it because they couldn’t match the enormous success of albums like Out Of Time or because alternative rock has become kinda passé?
The few tracks worth mentioning include “Discoverer,” “Walk It Back” and “It Happened Today,” I guess.
I usually laugh out loud at female singers from England that try to call themselves soul singers. I mean there’s a bus loads of men singers that embarrass themselves all the time like Jamie Lidell; I figured the woman were the same. Again, I’m amazed at my own stupidity.
Adele is a singer/songwriter from Tottenham, North London, who’s debut album 19 went triple platinum in Britain and knocked down two Grammys here in the states. Her latest 21 (XL) proves she’s no fluke. Wow, what a voice.
This is the kinda voice that would take the world by notice and say this is what an American soul singer sounds like – except she’s not an American. Also impressive is her songwriting skills. Doesn’t matter if it’s the quiet stuff or the louder material, it’s all upside your head and pay
attention attitude.
Multi-produced including four by Rick Rubin, they stay out of the way and let the lady sing, which is the easiest decision any of these guys could make. Standouts include “Don’t You Remember,” “I’ll Be Waiting,” “One and Only” and my favorite on the album “Rumour Has It.”
I was wrong, dead wrong. There are some amazing woman of soul coming from across the ocean, including Amy Winehouse, Corinne Bailey Rae, Estelle, Joss Stone and Adele arguably the best.
(Noel Tanner)
