Entertainment :: Music
Dig These Discs :: Chris Willis, Lights, Florence + The Machine, Brooke White, Bob Schneider by Padraic Maroney
EDGE ContributorFriday Nov 6, 2009
Debut albums are a way to introduce yourself to the world. For better or worse, the old saying of first impressions tend to stick with the album buying public than most record executives would like. With three artists making their big splash (albeit one had a little help from reality TV), they each offer something different and come out with a mixed bag of results.
Brooke White - High Hopes and Heartbreak
Brooke White was the squeaky clean, easy listening singer from the seventh season of "American Idol."
But being the winner of the talent contest guarantees you not much more than promotional power for your eventual debut album (which many of the top 10 are guaranteed to receive).
During her season, White was compared to Carol King. On her debut album, High Hopes and Broken Promises, she doesn’t stray far from the early expectations.
White takes control of the album by collaborating to co-write the album. It gives "High Hopes" an authentic feel as she straddles the line between folksy, easy listening, and country. Making the odd move of including a cover on the album further exemplifies this by adding a twang to Kings of Leon’s hit "Use Somebody."
The singer, who came in fifth place during her season on the top rated show, does nothing to go beyond what she already demonstrated during the talent contest. It’s the crux of her album, it’s not bad but it’s similar to everything that was previously displayed--and failed to garner her enough votes to win her season. With more of the same, it’s unlikely she is going to get many more votes with High Hopes and Broken Promises.
Chris Willis - Gettin’ Over The David Guetta Sessions 2002-2009
There is no denying that Chris Willis is a talented singer. But the problem is the recycling that he and producer David Guetta are doing on the new album. Gettin’ Over The David Guetta Sessions 2002-2009 chronicles the former gospel singer’s history of collaborating with the mega-producer.
Title track "Getting’ Over" and "Love is Gone" are both taken from previously released Guetta albums. Thought they were on albums two years apart, they both sound like recycled version of the summer hit "I Got A Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas.
It would be fine to listen to that, but blatantly recycling Ray Parker Jr.’s theme to the 80s film "Ghostbusters" on the new track "My Freedom" is maybe taking things too far.
Especially in the case of the latter incident, the music doesn’t serve as anything other than a distraction from the more well known other usages.
Lights - The Listening
After taking MySpace by storm, Canadian artist Lights is making her debut as a recording artist with The Listening. Many of the songs included on the full length album have previously been available in an EP format.
Lights is able to craft fluffy, bubble gum pop music. However, like piece of chewing gum the songs on The Listening don’t have a long-lasting effect. By the time the next song is over you’ll be hard pressed to remember the previous one. Many of the songs are simplistic and repetitive, and it’s not hard to figure out the title of the songs because they tend to be sung often as part of the chorus.
As vocalist, Lights sounds a lot like 90s one-hit wonder Donna Lewis (I Love You, Always Forever). There is a childlike quality to her voice mixed with a bit of nasal, which might make her an acquired taste.
Florenace and the Machine - Lungs
Florence Welch is releasing her studio debut under the moniker Florence and the Machine with the new album, Lungs.
The album is one of those in which every song gives rise to a tidal wave of emotions. This isn’t something that you can just listen to while doing something else around the house. With haunting instrumentals and deep throated vocals by Welch, Lungs stands up and demands that you pay attention to it.
Welch keeps thins moving along, instead of staying static. Lead track "Dog Days Are Over" is a poppy, throwback track that blends the days of the Supremes with today’s indie music. To counterbalance that, she sends the listener off with the harder "You’ve Got the Love."
Bob Schneider - Lovely Creatures
It’s hard to not get lost in the music that Bob Schneider has put together on Lovely Creatures. He creates music that carries you away with its whimsical feel. Keeping the mood light on the album is important, with songs like "40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)" talking about relationships.
But Lovely Creatures is like two albums in one, as around midway through he begins to give the songs a Latin flare thanks to the increased presence of a horn section. "Bombonanza" is a fun song that would surely get even the most rhythmically challenged people out of their seats.
Schneider continues the party with "Tarantulas." There’s nothing wrong with adding some Latin flare, it just seems to come out of nowhere on the album and goes away just as quickly as the set’s closing track is a return to that of the beginning songs.
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