Sound Bites

Sade Lovers Rock

Sade “Lovers Rock” Epic

You heard it here first, folks: Sade sings sexy tunes. In fact,
the British-Nigerian singer’s international reputation for
seductive lyricism led one critic to credit Sade’s radio
classics “No Ordinary Love” and “Smooth
Operator” with an untold number of mid-1980s sensual ideals.
The songs on “Lovers Rock,” Sade’s newest
release, are no different in their bittersweet qualities. With
sumptuous ballads like “By Your Side” and “The
Sweetest Gift,” Sade proves that there is longevity in sexy
soul. Acoustic guitar and a decidedly folk-soul disposition make
simple lyrics like “When you’re on the outside baby and
you can’t get in/ I will show you you’re so much better
than you know” seem profound. True, no one will accuse Sade
of jarring her listeners, either through her songwriting or her
smooth delivery. At her worst, Sade lulls listeners into a kind of
blissful nirvana. She does this, however, with a preciseness of
pronunciation that will keep those within earshot in
rapt-but-soothed attention. And as such, the 11-track album, which
plays like one continuous ballad, will not be music to fall asleep
by. For the generations, “Lovers Rock” will be music to
slow dance by, or, say, do the other million different things that
ensure the continuance of species. After all, it’s what Sade
does best.

Megan Dickerson Rating: 9

Hokis “Volume Meg” Dukes Avenue
Records

Hokis’ “Volume Meg” combines traditional
rhythmic sounds, with pop beats that seem to extenuate the
direction it seeks to pursue. The album is a mix of both songs and
humorous crank calls. The highly upbeat songs bring life to their
listeners, asking them to stand up and dance. Listeners can’t
help but bring their hands together to clap excitingly to those
highly motivating beats. “Volume Meg” is a combination
of traditional Armenian music and modern pop music. The album
brings together both old and new music, as well as old and new
generations. “Volume Meg” even humorously questions the
group’s own identity with the song, “What It’s
Like to Be Armenian.” This album is highly sophisticated and
entertaining. Between its practical jokes and its songs, Hokis
definitely does not leave its listeners bored. With the prank calls
recorded on the album, the London-based group plays around with old
Armenian men, pizza delivery guys, and baklava sellers. Aside from
its highly-energized songs, the album also includes songs with a
more mellow energy. “What the Reason” is a soft spoken
song contemplating emotions and personal relationships. The song
questions the reasons for change in one’s emotions and
thoughts toward others. “We’re Singing” and
“Your Armenian” explore jazzy rhythms and celebrate the
ideas of unity. Both songs suggests that no matter what background
people come from, there is a single cultural element that brings
all people together into one. Assimilation of Armenian culture is
also addressed in the song “Genocide,” which refers to
the brutal killings and aftermath of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
Hokis’ “Volume Meg” is an album with a positive
message which gives it a uniqueness, and also differentiates it
from other albums of the same genre. In its attempts to unify
various sounds, “Volume Meg” stands out in both its
message and its musical content.

Tamar Boyadjian Rating: 9

Wu-Tang Clan “The W” Loud
Records

Until now, there hasn’t been a true Wu album since 1997,
and rap connoisseurs were beginning to feel like the killer bee
swarm had packed up shop. However, with “The W,” the
group has proven that it is still a force to be reckoned with. The
latest album by the Shaolin-styled posse proves that both lyrically
and rhythmically, the Wu is not only in step with the current rap
scene, the posse dominates it. Especially at the top of his game is
Ghostface Killah, whose unique verbal inflections add both to his
ingenuity and his emotional impact on songs such as “Hollow
Bones” and “Jah World.” On these tracks,
Ghostface sounds almost like he has broken down and is crying,
pleading to be heard. Also making memorable performances are
rappers Inspectah Deck and Method Man. On the popular single
“Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off)” Method Man smoothly
flaunts his lyrical talent: “Now what Clan you know wit lines
this ill?/ Bust shots at Big Ben like we got time to kill.”
Another reason the nine members of the Wu Tang Clan are so popular
is because of their choppy, looped beats. The mastermind behind
these funky grooves is Wu’s producer the RZA. Unfortunately,
one of the most popular members of the Wu Tang Clan, Ol’
Dirty Bastard, makes only a small and mediocre appearance on the
album. In addition to ODB’s absence, the large assortment of
guest appearances on “The W” is also disappointing. In
it’s previous albums, Wu Tang strictly relied on the creative
input from its nine members and Wu-ette Cappadonna. With such a
large posse to begin with, there isn’t enough room on the
album to fit in an extra seven guest performances. The only
awe-inspiring songs on “The W” are tracks like
“Careful (Click, Click)” and “Gravel Pit,”
that feature only the Wu members. The one exception to the lack of
guest-fueled tracks is the appearance of soul-singing guru Isaac
Hayes, whose funky laid-back demeanor enriches the melancholy vibe
on “I Can’t Go To Sleep.” Whether taking turns
spitting out wicked verbs in a dizzying frenzy, or whispering whiny
pleas in a lackadaisical manner, the members of the Wu Tang Clan
have returned, and they are truly the juggernauts of the east coast
rap scene.

Antero Garcia Rating: 7