Music

MARCH MUSIC REVIEWS

CHECK OUT CHECK OUT THESE HONEST THESE HONEST REVIEWS OF SOME REVIEWS OF SOME OF THE HOTTEST OF THE HOTTEST NEW ALBUMS IN NEW ALBUMS IN MUSIC! MUSIC

JENNIFER LOPEZ/MALUMA

Marry Me (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Universal Studios/Sony Latin Music

Valentine’s Day may be over, but we can still have love for the Marry Me soundtrack. The 12 pop/Latin tracks are all sung by Jennifer Lopez and Maluma, who star in the film as a famous power couple in the music industry. Lopez chose her songs from over 100 songwriter submissions. Maluma co-wrote his with music producer Edgar Barrera. Combined, they double the heat. “On My Way” is a gorgeous power ballad from Lopez, who pours all of her emotion and heart into the vocals. “Love Of My Life” pulls at the heartstrings, especially for all the single folks out there with, “You know I tried so long/ Every time I thought I found it, I was wrong/ I swear I must've spent a thousand nights/ Looking for somebody who could hold me tight/ Until I realized/ I am the love of, the love of my life." Maluma delivers a dash of reggaeton flavor with "Uno en un Millón.” “Segundo” is also a knockout. The detail, artistry and passion that went into this album is impressive. Not only did we get a great rom-com but the perfect album to accompany it. - Marisa Patwa

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

Heaux Tales, Mo’ Tales: The Deluxe

RCA Records

R&B icon Jazmine Sullivan is back bringing down the house with her latest studio album. It’s a sequel to last year's Heaux Tales - which we've all been craving. There’s something so intoxicating about Jazmine’s vocals. The 10 tracks are a mix of songs and interludes. Each slays, with several cameos from Issa Rae to Mona Love. “Tragic” gives you trippy vibes. Press play and your body will start bumpin' to the beats. “Roster,” “Hurt Me So Good” and “Selfish” hit you straight in your soul. The interludes of “Issa’s Tale,” "Jazzy's Tale,” “A Breaux’s Tale,” “Mona’s Tale” and “Shanti’s Tale” give a beautiful insight into the light and legacy of these strong women. For those who still crave more after a full album listen, Sullivan is on tour this year. She’ll be in Nashville March 8 at the Marathon Music Works. Late V-Day present anyone? - Marisa Patwa

MARY J BLIGE

Good Morning Gorgeous

300 Entertainment

The legend herself is gifting us with new music and it’s truly a blessing. This 14th studio album was released just two days before she killed her Super Bowl Sunday performance during the half-time show. “Amazing” featuring DJ Khaled kicks things off with a powerful bang. It gives you an energized burst of self-confidence with, “My crib is so big I tell the guests to use a map/ He wanna play house/ I ask him, "Where's the fun in that?" (Let's go)/ Seein' all these blessings, man, I think I pray too much/ Lately, I been feeling like I turn up way too much.” It's both a dance anthem and self-therapy. “Good Morning Gorgeous” delivers similar feels with, “I ain't talkin' 'bout getting no hair n' make up (oh, no, no)/ I'm talking about as soon as I wake up (oh, ooh, ah/ I say good morning (say good morning)/ Good morning (good morning) / Good morning (oh, yeah) / Good morning, gorgeous (yeah, yeah, yeah).” You tell ‘em, Mary. - Marisa Patwa

TONY MARTIN

Thorns

Dark Star Records

Tony Martin is best known for his tenure as Black Sabbath’s frontman from 198797. Faced with the unenviable task of replacing Ozzy, Ronnie James Dio and Ian Gillan, Martin carved out a niche during a dark period in Sabbath’s history. Ignored by most at the time, the Tony Martin era of Sabbath is now held in high regard due to his powerful, soaring voice and songwriting skills. 35 years later, Martin has released an album sure to please Sabbath fans, Martin devotees and fans of rock and metal. From song choices to imagery to production, Thorns captures the glory of Martin’s past yet embraces modern metal song structure. He may be 65 years old, but his range and ability to hit the higher-register notes is truly impressive. The album opens with skull-smashers “As the World Burns” and “Black Widow Angel,” before settling into the classic Sabbath-sounding “Book of Shadows.” Don’t miss the title track and “No Shame at All.” - Matt Alschbach

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE

Time Skiffs

Domino Records

After a handful of EPs, a few great solo releases, and one “visual album,” Animal Collective return with their first major studio effort since 2016’s Painting With - and the first with their full lineup since 2012’s Centipede Hz. I'm a huge fan of Animal Collective and have enjoyed all of their output from the past decade, but it's pretty easy for me to say that Time Skiffs is their best work since 2009's acclaimed releases Merriweather Post Pavilion and Fall Be Kind. From start to finish, it's packed with the most beautiful songs of Animal Collective’s career. And though their weirdness is still quite intact, Time Skiffs finds this noise-pop band at their most accessible without doing any disservice to their fans. - Russ Finn

BLACK COUNTRY, NEW ROAD

Ants From Up There

Ninja Tune

Following their acclaimed debut For The First Time, hyped-up London “post-punk” band Black Country, New Road return with their second album in just over a year. Now, I’m not one to care too much about genre-labeling - it’s the music industry that dubs this band "post-punk." But here’s the thing: this isn't post-punk at all. Ants From Up There is a genuine prog-rock album, and probably the best to come out since the genre’s peak in the 1970s. Black Country, New Road channel the likes of Brian Eno, Roxy Music, Pink Floyd, and Yes to create one of the most compelling albums of modern indie rock. And though there are some clunky lyrics that come off as dramatic and juvenile, it also makes them sound sweet and authentic. - Russ Finn

SOFT CELL

Happiness Not Included

BMG

A few years back, UK synth-pop duo Soft Cell sold-out the O2 Arena in London for a farewell concert celebrating 40 years together. It was meant to be the definitive end to a remarkable career dotted with major highs - i.e., the still-popular "Tainted Love" - and long stretches of inactivity. But never say never, of course. Vocalist Marc Almond and keyboardist Dave Ball, perhaps one of the most unlikely pairings in music history, not only reconvened post-"farewell" to tour the 40th anniversary of their iconic debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret, they got the creative bug again. Impressively, this latest collection is a reminder why Soft Cell stand as one of the great synth-pop acts of all-time, containing all the hallmarks of their best work - it's cynically dark and bruising yet equally melodic and emotionally-charged. - Johnny Fletcher

MIDNIGHT OIL

Resist

Sony Music Australia

After a 15 year absence, Australia's Midnight Oil reformed and hit the road for "The Great Circle" Tour in 2017, proving they'd lost none of the power and the passion in the interim. Show after show, frontman Peter Garrett and crew blitzed through wideranging set-lists that often dipped back into their aggro pub-rock past but also celebrated international anthems such as "Beds are Burning" and "Blue Sky Mine." The overwhelming success of this ambitious trek around the globe - a virtual sell-out - inevitably lefts fans craving new material which first came in the shape of 2020's The Makarrata Project, a collaborative effort that focused on Indigenous issues. Well-received, it paved the way for a proper full-length Oils release almost 20 years to the day since Capricornia seemingly ended the band's studio career on an uncharacteristically bland note. Thankfully, Resist looks to right the wrongs, restoring order with not just stronger songs but more organic production that greatly benefits standouts like "Rising Seas," "At the Time of Writing" and "We Resist." This isn't the Oils at their pissed-off best or most memorably melodic, but it's a fine collection, nonetheless, sitting somewhere between the commercial peak of their late 80's/early 90's run of albums and their less-inspired post-2000 period. - Johnny Fletcher

BLUES WITH BRAGIN

THE SUGAR ROOTS

Savage’s Life

Lightning in a Bottle Records

Out of Portland, Oregon, newcomers The Sugar Roots debut with Savage’s Life. The album opens with “Going Nowhere Fast," boasting a west coast feel that really sets the mood as JT Thomas lays down great guitar work. “Havin’ a Party” features Chad Rupp singing about wanting to gather with friends for a good time after a long day of work. The title track talks about wanting to live a simple life of solitude. “Rain Checkin’” features a guest appearance from Lloyd Jones who serves up some stellar guitar playing accompanied by funky bass lines from Timmer Blakely and horns from Chris Mercer and Joe McCarthy.

Chandler Bowerman's solid drumming complements Mercer and McCarthy’s horns on “It’s a Sin.” “Something Wicked This Way Comes” features heavy guitar from Rupp along with great harmonica playing and vocals from special guest Johnny Wheels. A jazzy, slowed down version of Steve Miller Band’s “Rock’n Me” is driven by excellent piano playing from Samuel Gendler. “Next to You” offers heavy instrumentation and melancholy lyrics about wanting to remain close to someone you love. The classic feel and phenomenal horn playing on “Sweet Lovin’ Daddy” will get toes tapping. .- Paul Bragin