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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 27, 2009

HOLIDAY:

ROUND 2

(CAPITOL) **½

It's not likely J. Holiday will ever top his debut babymakin' music hit, "Bed," but it seems the success of that instant classic has compelled him to switch lanes from R&B thug to R&B crooner.

On "Round 2," Holiday avoids the bad boy posturing on his 2007 debut and focuses on relationship songs with broad appeal. Though the CD's laid-back production gives Holiday room to deliver the songs in his smooth falsetto, many of them blend together.

There are no knockout songs on "Round 2," but there are several to keep the beds rockin'.

Download this: "Run Into My Arms"

Joinville Michel
CHRIS ISAAK
MR. LUCKY

(WICKED GAME/REPRISE) ***

For his first studio album in seven years, the king of emo retro-rockabilly goes back to the formula that put him on the musical map.

His sullen, wounded, down-on-his love personae returns strongly on songs like "Cheater's Town" and the Roy Orbison-flavored "You Don't Cry Like I Do." There's plenty of his trademark tender falsetto to lift "We Let Her Down." And he takes his Elvis-like power soulfulness for a spin on the finale, "Big Wide Wonderful World."

Isaak's vocals also mesh warmly during duets with Trisha Yearwood on "Breaking Apart" and Michelle Branch on "I Lose My Heart."

This collection isn't a career landmark. It certainly is not up to Isaak's own muscular "San Francisco Days" standard. But diehard fans can take comfort that Isaak is still very much on his wicked game.

Download this: "Big Wide Wonderful World"
Jeff Houck
M. WARD:

HOLD TIME

(MERGE) **½

M. Ward earned accolades and new fans with 2008's "Volume One," a delightful collection of spring-like pop made with actress-singer Zooey Deschanel under the name She and Him. On "Hold Time," his first release since "Volume One," he brightens his sepia-tinted folk and blues with primary color pop.

Well, maybe pastel is more like it. Ward's not exactly a big, splashy chorus sort of guy. But cuts such as "To Save Me" and "Stars of Leo" add some welcome new hues to Ward's fine but familiar repertoire.

Deschanel features on two tunes, including a languid remake of Buddy Holly's "Rave On," while Lucinda Williams adds her pipes to a version of Don Gibson's "Oh, Lonesome Me."

Download this: "To Save Me"

Curtis Ross

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