Doug Taylor

Natacha AtlasMishmaoul(Mantra)Though a variety of flavours has come to be expected from Atlas, she steps up as one of the most prominent singers in Arabic. Mishmaoul is not as food-court multi-cultural as her old band, Trans Global Underground. “Ghanwah Bossanova” finds accord between Middle Eastern phrasing and Brazilian tempo that has been heretofore inconceivable. Princess […]

Various ArtistsBlack Snake Moan OST(New West)Maybe the producers of Black Snake Moan concocted some wild story about North Mississippi hill country just to deliver the area’s blues. Being chained to a radiator might chase the demons if one had some of these tunes to ease the pain. Samuel L. Jackson’s songs are unlikely to spark […]

FloetryFlo’ology(Universal)At its best, Flo’ology is nothing special. At its worst, it is so tedious you’ll wonder if the major labels laid off everybody in quality control. A stinker escaped. The two British gals, now based stateside, rate a cameo here by Common (on “SupaStar”) and did manage to shine when they were included on the […]

Los Amigos InvisiblesThe Venezuelan Zing Son(Luakabop)For a Latin American band to register with Anglos, it needs to be 75 years old or indulge in some gringo tricks. You throw a record like this on to get the floor throbbing and the women into a tropical reverie of movement and clothes-removal. “Gerundio” sets up a theremin-like […]

Cowboy MouthVoodoo Shoppe(Eleven Thirty)The album kicks off with arguably the sharpest tribute song since Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke.” Besides referring to various Clash songs and rocking nonstop, “Joe Strummer” asserts that being cute is, by itself, not enough. Very big in New Orleans, this quartet has been going for a decade. Hurricane Katrina is addressed […]

Lindsey BuckinghamUnder the Skin(Reprise)This American x-factor, who helped transform Fleetwood Mac from an interesting British blues band into a monster, plays and sings 98 percent of this album. The influence of Brian Wilson on Buckingham’s multitracked harmonies is ever present, and most effective on “It Was You.” His voice fits many shapes and keys, though […]

Paul McCartneyMemory Almost Full(MPL)McCartney, possibly the wealthiest entertainer in history, has been reticent about using the events that put him there as fodder. He loosens up a bit on Memory Almost Full, and it gives proceedings a sense of connection and warmth. The four songs that run from “Vintage Clothes” through “House of Wax” flow […]

Rodney CrowellThe Outsider Columbia At 55, Rodney Crowell is acting like an elder. He’s cranky and no longer cares to hide it. Known mostly as a country songwriter, he delivers 10 new ones and a Dylan cover with rockin’ authority. There are times Crowell sounds more like his ex- brother-in-law (in the Cash-Carter clan) Nick […]

Reckless KellyWicked Twisted Road(Sugar Hill)On its fifth album, the Austin quintet displays some range. “Seven Nights in Eire” jigs convincingly, with just a trace of pedal steel. The beat propelling “Broken Heart” has a perfection that merits more stomping replays than your neighbours might bear. The slow numbers are trite enough not to scare off […]

The RaconteursBroken Boy Soldiers(V2)This quartet would rate attention for its sweetness and fury even if it didn’t include Jack White and Brendan Benson. A stumble and a feint before the main melody is the Raconteurs’ signature. White’s intensity has a way of selling a tune that might ultimately be forgettable. A listener hip to these […]