TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

SPIN THIS

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 28, 2008

Updated:

SUPERGRASS:

DIAMOND HOO HA

(ASTRALWERKS) ***

On 2005's "Road To Rouen," Supergrass revealed a new maturity, both in its songwriting and in the painstaking production and arrangements.

For "Diamond Hoo Ha," they've reverted to the snotty brats of a decade ago. Welcome back, boys.

"Diamond Hoo-Ha Man" sounds like Supergrass spanking Jack White, while "Rebel in You" is highly recommended to David Bowie, should he want to breathe some life into his next album.

The lyrics of "Whiskey and Green Tea" bemoan the effects of the titular cocktail, but the hell-raising track sounds as if another round will be following shortly.

Youth may be wasted on the young, but immaturity, thankfully, knows no age.

Download this: "Rebel in You"

Curtis Ross

SCARS ON BROADWAY:

SCARS ON BROADWAY

(INTERSCOPE) ***½

The debut album by System of a Down's guitarist-vocalist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan is an incredible surprise.

Malakian and Dolmayan aren't afraid to offer longtime fans something different, experimenting with a variety of styles.

Where SOAD often beats listeners into submission with hyper-kinetic vocals and blistering metal, "Scars On Broadway" strips away the bombast to spotlight Malakian's edgy, often politically tinged lyrics. A more focused delivery serves his voice well, allowing the power of songs such as "3005," "Insane" and "Whoring Streets" to slowly unfold.

That isn't to say "Scars On Broadway" don't rock. The first single, "They Say," and the stellar "Chemicals" are in-your-face rock at its purest.

Download this: "Chemicals"

John W. Allman

VARIOUS ARTISTS:

BIG BLUE BALL

(REAL WORLD) ****

For 18 years, beckoned by Peter Gabriel, musicians from all over the world came to Wiltshire, England to write together, to jam together, to prove that we are more alike than different.

The end result is the fittingly titled "Big Blue Ball" - a world-grooving 11-song compilation. Gabriel's project attracted such musicians as Sinead O'Connor, the Holmes Brothers and Natacha Atlas.

Some songs, such as "Altus Silva," mix it up, with a French techno duo on piano, an American singer and a Gaelic chorus.

More than producing a mere sampling of world music, Gabriel and friends have whipped up a melodic smoothie.

Download this: "Habibe"

Howard Altman

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT