Piece of Me

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

So guess who got the last laugh? "Gimme More," Britney Spears' launch single from fifth studio album "Blackout," peaked at a robust No. 3 on The Billboard Hot 100, garnering plenty of top 40 attention and consumer download love, while the album catapulted in at No. 2. Follow-up "Piece of Me" has already fostered scrutiny with lyrical response to obsessive media attention: "I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's shameless/ I'm Mrs. 'Extra,' 'Extra,' this just in, I'm Mrs. she's too big, now she's too thin." Musically, the song drips and drools '80s synths, alongside a drowsy midtempo clip, as Brit sings in a heavily layered near-monotone. Again, the cover of Us will be as big a catalyst for radio as vocal prowess. —Chuck Taylor

Labels: ,



Dirt Farmer

Sunday, November 11, 2007

In 1998, the singer of "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" was almost driven down by throat cancer. Almost, but not quite: "Dirt Farmer" is former the Band-member Levon Helm's return from voicelessness, and he's used the unexpected opportunity to express his deep and abiding devotion to the roots music he first heard growing up in rural Arkansas. Helm's singing is more ragged for the wear, but his weathered tone suits traditional material like "False Hearted Lover Blues" and "The Blind Child." Produced with rough-hewn tenderness by Helm's daughter Amy (a member of Ollabelle) and Bob Dylan sideman Larry Campbell, the album also includes tunes by Steve Earle as well as Buddy and Julie Miller, the latter of whom add old-pal harmony vocals to "The Mountain." Spirited and moving.—Mikael Wood

Labels: ,