Artic Monkeys
Humbug
If you write your first album at the tender age of 17, your sound is bound to change as time goes on. Such is the case for Alex Turner and his band of compatriots, who burst on to the scene in 2006 with Whatever People Say I Am, Thats What Im Not a rowdy, rockingly petulant journey through Englands disaffected middle class youth, lauded as a continuation of the Clash and the Sex Pistols. Most people expected a choke a year later when they released Favourite Worst Nightmare, but Turner didnt disappoint. Now, at the ripe old age of 23, the band are exploring a more psychedelic sound, the result of a Hendrix phase, and have abandoned the pop format, but word is Turners brutal turns of phrase and insight are still front and center in the songwriting.
Jet
Shaka Rock
We were quite prepared to never hear from the Brothers Cester again. After all, their utterly rote brand of garage rock still haunts commercials and bromance movie soundtracks, but word on the street is the bands follow-up to 2006s Shine On is solid, with lead single Shes A Genius a welcome reprieve from the standard fare of shes hot to shes interesting, and seemingly a more mature look at a lady than hit single She Holds A Grudge ever was. K.I.A. availed itself of 4-year-olds and a college drum line, and drummer Nic Cester envisions the track as a war zone.
Queen Latifah
Persona
There seems to be very few things Queen Latifah cant do, but only one that shes proven to do well. For years, Her Highness has looked to distance herself from her Brick City roots, acting in family friendly schlock, hawking cosmetics for major corporations, and most recently, musically, reverting to her tax name Dana Owens to record an album of standards. Now, though, shes back in the rap game, and calling upon a few friends just in case shes rusty. Lil Kim, Busta Rhymes and Missy Elliott join Latifah on Persona, and ace in the hole Dr. Dre is rumored to have produced a few tracks.
READER COMMENTS (