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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 8, 2008

HOWLIN RAIN:

MAGNIFICENT FIEND

(AMERICAN/BIRDMAN) **½

Howlin Rain latches onto the hairy leg of early '70s rock and doesn't let go for the duration of second album "Magnificent Fiend." Echoes of Santana, Traffic and Steely Dan abound, and while Howlin Rain loves to jam, it steers clear of self-indulgence.

Keyboardist Joel Robinow emerges as the band's most formidable weapon, adding an array of colors on organ, piano and Fender Rhodes. Leader Ethan Miller's lyrics have more going on in them than titles such as "Lord Have Mercy" might suggest.

Miller's vocals, though, are another matter. Thin and pinched on the rockers, a bare whisper on the gentler numbers, Miller's voice is the band's weak link and the only thing that stands between this album and greatness.

Download this: "El Rey"

Curtis Ross

MARIAH CAREY:

E=MC2

(ISLAND) ***

Mariah spends the bulk of her new album singing about lost love. Few would've thought she'd find a new love in ... Nick Cannon, an actor/rapper/mini-mogul.

Riding midtempo grooves throughout the CD, Mimi migrates from the club to church on the disc.

Even producers such as Danja, Swizz Beatz and Scott Storch, who are known for blaring beats, tone it down for their contributions.

The production allows Mariah to deliver poignant lyrics without clutter on songs such as "Bye Bye" and "Side Effects."

"E=MC2" doesn't pack the kind of vocal energy Mariah is capable of bringing, but while others have pop CDs masquerading as R&B, she delivers the real deal.

Download this: "For the Record"

Joinville Michel

JAMES OTTO:

SUNSET MAN

(WARNER BROS.) ***

The country-soul genre fell by the wayside when Nashville started valuing looks over substance in the 1990s. James Otto's second album brings that style back to the fore by showcasing smoky vocal flavors reminiscent of Ray Charles and whiskey-soaked attitude borrowed from Travis Tritt.

Co-writing a majority of the songs along with John Rich of Big & Rich no doubt helped preserve that gritty vision. In its best moments, the album feels more like a long drive through the country with a thoughtful passenger than a cliched bar fight or a fake cowboy rodeo. That type of contemplation is overdue for country fans long-starved of emotional, meaningful music.

Download this: "The Man That I Am"

Jeff Houck

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