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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 14, 2008

GRAND OLE PARTY:

HUMANIMALS

(DH) ***

Drummer Kristin Gundred's vocals are Grand Ole Party's immediate hook. She's got a strong and abrasive voice in the manner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Karen O or The Gossip's Beth Ditto.

John Paul Labno spins weblike guitar lines, thin but catchy, while bassist Michael Krechnyak grounds the band in funk, blues and R&B. Gundred casts herself as the devil's daughter ("Look Out Young Son") and her band as helpful bootleggers ("Belle Isle") before giving herself over to the fever dreams of "Gypsy March."

Producer Blake Sennett of Rilo Kiley mostly keeps out of the way, letting the trio play tension and release - with a lot more of the former - across the disc's 13 tracks.

Download this: "Gypsy March"

Curtis Ross

NATASHA BEDINGFIELD:

POCKETFUL OF SUNSHINE

(EPIC) *½

Where have you gone, Natasha Bedingfield? Your 2005 debut album, with its breakout hit "Unwritten," was a refreshing reminder that conventional pop music can move the feet and stir the soul. Your new album, "Pocketful of Sunshine," sounds like a string of pop cliches, lacking any emotional punch or musical bite.

"Put Your Arms Around Me" could have been written for any Radio Disney group. "Happy," a Pollyanna statement on singleton angst, sounds naïve next to Lily Allen's "Everything's Just Wonderful."

While "Say It Again" and the title track show you've still got pop chops, they're hardly enough to redeem a mostly uninspiring album. Your next "Unwritten" is still unwritten.

Download this: "Say It Again"

Dave Simanoff

BOW WOW & OMARION:

FACE OFF

(COLUMBIA) **

The DVD with the deluxe edition of this CD is telling.

At one point, Bow Wow is seen excitedly urging Omarion to back a particular song for the first single. Rapper Bow Wow praises it as "VMA approved" while R&B singer Omarion says it's not something he'd release as a solo artist.

Apparently, O was right. Despite Bow Wow's claim, it's unlikely any song on this album is "approved" by MTV's Video Music Awards.

The production is so-so and the lyrics are too racy for young girls and too lame for older ones.

On paper this collabo seems like a good idea. Combine the talents of two heartthrobs who are stars in their genres, and - tadow! - you have a megahit. Except the teen pop era is long gone.

Download this: "Baby Girl"

Joinville Michel

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