2009 Grammy Nominees

I liked some of the music, but I have to admit the Jonas Brothers cut left me cold. And the Eagles? Take a peek at the track listings and see if you're interested in the cd. If you don't care for the artists, you probably won't like the cd. Here's another volume of the annual Grammy Nominees series.

If you like pop music, this is a good collection.

You get almost 80 min. worth of music and a glimpse inside what is "big" in the mainstream music industry at this particular moment. Not all songs are worthwhile, but enough are. My favorite songs on this cd are "Going On" by Gnarls Barkley (I love it so much I bought the music video too), "Paper Planes" by M.I.A. (super-catchy, totally unique song), "American Boy" by Estelle & Kanye West, a fun & entertaining tune, "Closer" by Ne-Yo - he has a beautiful voice, "Love Don't Live Here" by Lady Antebellum, great song, beautifully sung, "So What" by Pink - powerhouse voice, and she rocks this fun song, "Mercy" by Duffy - excellent song, what a great voice this woman has, and "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis - wow, what a voice and she sings so seemingly effortlessly. Great listening!

I liked most of the tracks on this Grammy disc. Duffy's "Mercy" is a fun song to listen and dance to. I also like the track "Paper Planes" by MIA. I also like the country song "Love Don't Live Here". I like the track "American Boy" by Estelle and Kanye West. The unlikely pairing of Robert Plant and Alison Krauss works on the duet "Please Read The Letter" I like Alison's fiddle playing on this track The weakest tracks on this disc are Lil Wayne's "Got Money" and the Jonas Brothers "Burning Love". I know that both artists have legions of fans, but these songs just didn't connect with me. Adele has a good voice, but "Chasing Pavements" is a boring song to me. The disc has some gems, but it also has some weak songs.

If you don't care for the artists, you probably won't like the cd.

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Rockferry

Rockferry, the Welsh singer's lovingly constructed debut album, has already succeeded beyond expectations, and although Duffy may not quite be the ingénue portrayed by a clever press campaign (she nearly won a local television talent show a few years back while a single credited to Aimee Duffy is still available on iTunes) she is surely the most appealing of the current flood of young soul sirens.
The sound of someone singing herself to stardom, Rockferry is at times genuinely amazing.

Radio One's Jo Whiley chose Duffy's title track and album taster `Rockferry' as her Single of the Week in late November, further adding to the momentum. Butler was introduced to Duffy by Rough Trade's Jeannette Lee who,in August 2004 and after hearing demos recorded in this or that mate's home, became the singer's mentor and manager. Jimmy Hogarth & Steve Booker are the other collaborators on this classic-in-waiting. The title track and album opener, as atmospheric, slow-building and idiosyncratic song as you could hope for, leads into a collection of original material that some might call retro in feel (those Dusty flavours, that girl group vibe) but which Duffy herself prefers to identify as classic. Duffy is the real, unspoiled original deal.

"Warwick Avenue" lopes into action with a hint of The Temptations' "My Girl", "Stepping Stone'" s pensive intro seems to scream "Walk On By" and "Syrup And Honey" has more than a whiff of the Stax sound about it.

The comparisons with Dusty Springfield are so wide of the mark. Dusty was a much lustier performer. Yes Duffy has the same look and works in the same pop landscape Dusty strode, but Duffy's voice is much more steeped in the tone of the poppier Motown songstrels.

For Duffy, like Winehouse, is utterly immersed in classic soul music, but where Winehouse now seems blurry and damaged, Duffy is bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Duffy is the sweet to Winehouse's sour, the blonde to Amy's tattered brunette. This is an album every bit as solid as "Back To Black", with tracks that sound like dusty soul standards.

The result is mighty good pop.

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Heaven, Heartache, and the Power of Love

Trisha Yearwood offers up some memorable story songs on this follow-up to 2005's "Jasper County," infusing each tale with her pitch-perfect delivery. "Nothin' 'Bout Memphis" finds a guilt-ridden woman hiding a past romance from her current lover, while "Dreaming Fields" is an achingly beautiful reminiscence of a 1940's couple who lose the family farm.

A great collection of barn burning country rock and gorgeous ballads. Trisha ventures outside previous comfort zones with a novelty song (Cowboys Are My Weakness) and a celtic tinged story song (The Dreaming Fields) with great results. What holds the album together are the gorgeous vocals by Trisha- her strongest studio singing yet, and the high quality of the songs- especially the lyrics. A great ALBUM- from start to finish.

'Heaven' sent; Trisha Yearwood's voice carries straight to the heart on a nearly flawless CD BYLINE: PRESTON JONES, Star-Telegram staff writer SECTION: F; Pg. 3 In country music, more than other genres, artists are often called upon to interpret the work of others. Trisha Yearwood is among those who excel at wringing every last drop of emotion from third-party material that could otherwise feel bland. That Yearwood has one of modern music's most ingratiating instruments doesn't hurt, either. Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love, her first album of new material in 24 months, is a showcase for her warm, buoyant alto; the 13-track disc is split neatly between up-tempo, no-frills country-rockers and haunting ballads with an occasional burst of brassy attitude.

Heaven, Heartache and the Power ofLove's cohesion is also aided by the relative lack of duds -- Yearwood's discerning ear for compelling tracks means that misfires like Drown Meare infrequent. Rather, the album takes flight with songs like The Dreaming Fields, an absorbing sense memory that somehow evokes Terrence Malick's film Days of Heaven and simultaneously reveals Yearwood's debt to such predecessors as Linda Ronstadt.

Yearwood's 13th studio album glows with an easy charm.

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