60-second CD reviews

The Sahara Hotnights
“Jennie Bomb”

“Jennie Bomb” is chock full of pop-rock gems with substance. Having an all-female line-up, it’s obvious that these ladies would be grouped with The Donnas. But The Sahara Hotnights take their band a step further than The Donna’s with an extremely talented singer. Maria Andersson’s Swedish-accented voice is akin to Ann Wilson of Heart in its depth and effectiveness. Lyrically “Jennie Bomb” is also impressive with Andersson spitting lines like “your eyes shine as you say / I saw God and she looks like you” (“Fire Alarm”). I would advise you to give these ladies a try if you like pop conscious rock music with mind-blowing vocals.

Phantom Planet
“The Guest”

In the tradition of “safe rock” music, Phantom Planet is a welcomed change. Songs like “Always On My Mind” are so simple and sweet they can’t help but win you over. Alex Greenwald belts out their catchy pop ditties with his precise and ear piercingly high singing style. “The Guest” is beyond bubble-gum with a commentary on our 9-to 5-obsessed society (“Turn Smile Shift Repeat”) and the Planet’s idealistic attempt to reform the world (“Anthem”). Even the more melancholy slow songs are impressive due to the simple music and Greenwalds’ heartfelt lyrics, but the obvious standouts are the upbeat ones. “The Guest” is for you if you enjoy emotional pop-punk bands.

Andrew W. K.
“I Get Wet”

It’s simple. It’s fun. It’s everything people pretend they despise, but secretly crave. With Andrew’s lovely piano-accompanied opuses and “Hey you let’s party,” (“It’s Time to Party”) lyrics, it’s hard not to smile as you listen to “I Get Wet.” There is no “will the other songs sound like the singles?” fear with this CD because while each song has a slightly different W.K. flavor they are all distinctly his. His lyrics are amusing because he takes them so seriously. While one minute he sings, “I need your lo-o-o-ve,” (“Girls Own Love”) he will scream, “you better get ready to kill” (“Ready to Die”) the next. “I Love NYC” is the best song on the CD because it has a catchy, steady beat and passionate lyrics. A good clue as to whether or not you would like Andrew W. K. is to take a peek at the track list because it’s a good summary of the CD. You’ll like Andrew W. K. if you yearn for an ’80s hair band revival or just like plain fun music.

GZA/Genius
“Legend of the Liquid Sword”

The doctor is back and as nebulous as ever with “Legend Of The Liquid Sword,” another masterpiece by the Wu-Tang Clan’s fountain of wisdom, GZA. Many rappers aspire to rap like GZA, but they always fall short. Genius is a well-deserved name brought out by his deep mind-boggling lyrics, often too thought provoking for the average listener. GZA paints pictures with words in “Luminal” and “Auto Bio.” The old-school rapper style is embodied in “Animal Planet.” The shining debut single “Knock, Knock,” engages GZA’s street roots. The hit “Sparring of Minds” exemplifies GZA’s rhyme skills. Ghostface Killah assists GZA in “Silent,” while RZA collaborates on the cut “Fam.” Other great tracks are “Rough Cut,” “Highway Robbery” and “Sparring Mind.” Another masterpiece; what more can one say?

Electrasy
“In Here We Fall”

Hailing from England, the band Electrasy’s album “In Here We Fall” combines acoustic, hip-hop, electric, rock and progressive elements into a very upbeat collection of songs. The 11 songs of this album are very diverse. The track titled “Bussed Out” is a mellow song featuring a classic rock theme, while the following song, “Cosmic Castaway” gives off an almost techno rock sound. Regardless of the diversity of the songs on this album, there is not one you will want to skip over. However, the highlights of the album include the third track, “Morning Afterglow,” and the title track “In Here We Fall,” which is a classic rock song featuring the repeated lyrics, “I’ve got nothing to do but get stoned.”