But the Methodist minister’s daughter rarely ceases to surprise. With past references to “the little g,” the incriminating questions of “God” and a penchant to debate spiritual issues, Tori Amos hardly seems the type to make a holiday album. ARTIST: TORI AMOSĪLBUM: MIDWINTER GRACES (Universal Republic) Annie lightens the mood on tracks like the swirling Brian Higgins-produced “Loco” (featuring cameos by Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy) and “The Breakfast Song,” on which she repeatedly asks over snare taps and heavy synth, “What do you want?/What do you want for breakfast?” The album includes a five-track EP, which features several songs that originally were intended for a 2008 version of the album that was halted after Annie’s split from Island Records. The haunting Timo Kaukolampi-produced “Marie Cherie” is a dark journey through the life of an abused girl who commits suicide and goes unnoticed. On the electro-tinged “I Don’t Like Your Band,” she reveals her distaste for her lover’s band (“Your latest 7-inch sounds obscene/Unless you spin it at 45”) and suggests seeking inspiration from the “cosmic songs” of Kraftwerk, Bobby O and Giorgio Moroder.
But regardless of the mood, Annie steals listeners’ hearts with her light-as-a-feather vocal delivery and infectious beats. Working with a host of producers on her second release, “Don’t Stop,” Norwegian pop singer/DJ Annie continues to balance her carefree playfulness with darker themes of struggling love to create a bittersweet dance party. The set may be a one-off experiment, but the band’s chemistry points to a potentially bright future. “I don’t need a reason, baby/Put your arms around me,” he sings on “Caligulove” before an unexpected keyboard solo sweeps the track in a different direction. While Jones adds depth on bass and Grohl’s drumming is predictably top-notch, Homme commands the spotlight with sexually charged yet haunting vocals. “Them Crooked Vultures” features technically polished, bluesy guitar-driven bar rock, with the song “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” and first single “New Fang” relying on start-stop tempos and punishing solos. Like Monsters of Folk, this rock supergroup delivers by drawing upon each member’s talents and creating a sound that’s refreshingly singular and remarkably fun. With Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme on guitar and vocals, Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl on drums and Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones on bass/keyboards, Them Crooked Vultures’ self-titled debut comes with a high pedigree and even higher expectations. ARTIST: THEM CROOKED VULTURESĪLBUM: THEM CROOKED VULTURES (Interscope Records) With 18 years and counting under his belt, he reminds us why he remains an R&B force. Leading the charge are the playful “Echo” (abetted by Kelly’s sexy yodeling) and “Whole Lotta Kisses,” the lively “Be My #2” (a nod to his stepping roots) and the sincere ballads “Religious” and “Elsewhere.” The one constant throughout: Kelly’s soul-dripping tenor. Beyond top 10 lead single “Number One” (featuring Keri Hilson), the album is signature Kelly: fantasy-filled romps, club jams and heartfelt ballads brought to life by the singer’s ear for catchy beats and melodies and mood-setting lyrics. But this time around, Kelly eschews the interplanetary sexcapades of “Double Up” for fewer cameos and more down-to-earth fare. But the singer-songwriter redeems himself on his newest release, “Untitled.” Predictably, sex and love are both displayed in ample measure. Kelly’s last album in 2007, “Double Up,” was a guest-heavy exercise in boredom.
Outside of the hits “Same Girl” and “I’m a Flirt,” R.
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