Quick list of relatively new CDs that are good, but shouldn’t be (and vice versa)
Surprisingly good:
Jagged Little Pill Acoustic, Alanis Morissette - what should have been a tired, shameless quest to milk a last few dollars out of a stunning debut that was never improved upon (although Under Rug Swept was actually quite good), is a very nice listen. Except for one really forced ad lib in Ironic, it’s really nothing more than re-done arrangements of the original CD. But it’s done very well. there’s a few spots where Alanis sings â??too many notesâ?, but overall, quite good.
Rock Swings, Paul Anka - when this disk was pitched to some record exec, he had to think it was a joke. Paul Anka singing Nirvana? Van Halen? Well, joke or not, Anka can still sing, and the swing arrangements of popular songs is really interesting, and fun to listen to.
Little Jr. King, Elvis T. Busboy and the Blues Butchers - OK, it’s not a major release, but I like these guys, so they get an entry. Much more hard core blues than their earlier efforts. To me, that’s a good thing. Less covers of Barry White, more covers of B. B. King and Etta James on this one.
Surprisingly bad:
X & Y, Coldplay - Can someone call me when these guys do something that does not sound exactly like their first CD?
Don’t Believe the Truth, Oasis - [yawn] see notes for Colplay, except that these guys weren’t original in the first place, they just sounded like the Beatles. With less talent.