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Album Reviews
Louie Vega, the DJ masterworker and Masters at Work supremo, didn't record a solo full-length until nearly 20 years after his debut as a producer. (Granted, Nuyorican Soul was close to a solo album, and he also produced all of When the Night Is Over, his 1991 collaboration with Marc Anthony.) Accordingly, Vega packed 2004's Elements of Life with varying sounds, including collaborations with friends (Blaze, Ursula Rucker), a tribute to his uncle (salsero legend Hector Lavoe), and a host of fusion experiments -- Spanish Harlem by way of Puerto Rico by way of Africa -- involving musicians he's met during his long studio career. As on Nuyorican Soul, Vega begins by illustrating what a talented modern producer can do to brighten an underappreciated standard without wrecking the effect of the original; instead of Rotary Connection's "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun" Vega reworks the Chakachas' "Jungle Fever," the original ranking as a full-blush sexual escapade on the same order as Donna Summer's "I Feel Love" or Musique's "(Push, Push) In the Bush." His two tracks with Blaze might disappoint listeners expecting a miracle from this meeting of two garage legends; here, as on the majority of the record, the production has the same high sheen of Nuyorican Soul, but lacks the dynamic performances and concentrated compositions. Vocalists Raúl Midón and Anané contribute very little of interest, and Vega's touch is too smooth for the live band he invites into the studio. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide
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I Hate This Part The Pussycat Dolls |
| Strange as it may sound, the incredibly ambitious plans to establish the Pussycat Dolls as one of Today's biggest artists, reflected even in the title of their second album "Doll Domination", have been a bit crushed by lack of public interest. It wasn't a good omen when lead singer Nicole Scherzinger's planned solo effort had to be postponed, after none of its leaked tracks generated much enthusiasm; nor the tepid reception the record's lead track "When I grow up" earned. Now the former burlesque dancing troupe promptly strikes again with one of their rather unusual ventures into ballad territory, displaying Scherzinger's vocal capabilities in full. "I hate this part" tells the story of an ending relationship, right when Nicole hits the glossy press announcing the beginning of a high-profile one with Lewis Hamilton. This is arguably better than any of the four hits they had after reaching a career peak with their debut; but, as it happened before with other instantly successful girl bands -The Spice Girls "Wannabe" is a good example- the power of "Don't Cha" may prove to be quite hard to match. ©2008 Shazam Entertainment Limited. All rights reserved. | |
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