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Britta Phillips, Dean Wareham
L'Avventura
Jetset, 2003
Rating: 7.6/10
Reviewed on: 2004-01-04
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Luna members Britta Phillips and Dean Wareham began to work on L'Avventura after the 2002 release of Luna's Romantica. This album does not conjure up the spirit of the Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood or Serge Gainsbourg/Jane Birkin (Brigitte Bardot too) duets as it claims (There are very few duets between Phillips and Wareham). Instead this side project provides well-chosen covers (Madonna, Buffy Sainte Marie, Silver Jews and The Doors), duets and originals. The opening track, 'Night Nurse,' a song about British medication, features breathtaking cinematic orchestration from producer Tony Visconti (David Bowie and T-Rex) while Phillips and Wareham sings "Sleep together, the milky way/Sleep forever, and a day/Lovely jewels of joy design/La-la-la-la." Everything is set in motion for the rest of the album. 'Ginger Snaps' has more of a disco beat with goofy but sexy lyrics. Then there's Madonna's 'I Deserve It' is a stand out song where Wareham delivers his best strength.

One listen to 'Out Walking' and 'Your Baby' and recollections of Mazzy Star will come to mind. Phillips does her best Hope Sandoval impression on both songs and its astoundingly decent. Also many of you might not know this but Phillips did vocal works for Jem and the Holograms, the popular 80's cartoon. The original, 'Knives from Bavaria,' a non-duet penned by Wareham but sung by Phillips is faintly heartrending and is etched in your mind at the end. L'Avventura ends admirably with 'Indian Summer,' a lesser-known Door's song. Overall, L'Avventura is more of a shimmering breezy soundtrack to have playing in the background and could easily fall into the indie-pop make out album of 2003 or 2004.

Metric
Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?
Everloving, 2003
Rating: 8.0/10
Reviewed on: 2004-11-30
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I don't recall who recommended this band to me a few weeks ago but I'm glad they did. I ended up listening to the first track I.O.U. and immediately was taken by the voice of Emily Haines (ethereal and sexy), rhythm and melodies. The Toronto-New York-Montreal-Los Angeles-Brooklyn band's first full length offering was recorded in two months. Their sound can be described as a little bit of New Order, Blondie and The Cars. Yes, yet another 80s new wave pop band. They would fit perfectly in 1983 and with recent trend of bands also in 2003. Most of the tracks like 'Combat Baby' and 'Succexy' are upbeat and danceable while others like 'Calculation Theme ' and 'Love is a place' presents simple, low-key yearnings about existence. Forget that both Emily Haines and James Shaw were members of the Broken Social Scene or that they shared a pad with members of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the Liars. Metric's catchy lyrics and pulsations doesn't thwart away other elements. I have a feeling that they put on a great live show (performance art and all).

Ben Lee
Hey You, Yes You
F-2 Music, 2003
Rating: 5.8/10
Reviewed on: 2004-11-30
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If someone were to ask me if I was a fan of Ben Lee, I would honestly answer yes. Now if someone were to ask me if I was a fan of his latest effort then I would declare a firm no. Maybe you are aware of how Ben Lee came on the music scene. If not, here's a refresher course. At the tender age of 13, Ben was in an Australian band called Noise Addict. After a few years with Noise Addict, Lee decided to go solo. With three albums under his belt (Grandpaw Would, Something to Remember Me By and Breathing Tornados) before reaching 21, he was coined the boy genius or too mature for his age (see Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes fame). I think that's about it. Oh, forgot to mention his old girlfriend was Claire Danes and he's collaborated with Ben Folds and Ben Kweller forming The Bens. An EP was recorded but might not see the light of day due to their respective label hindrance. Now we are all caught up. This time around for his fourth album, Lee went searching for better production and landed producer Dan the Automater (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030). There's not much there to grab you on this album. It has the prescribed amount of synths, beats and loops. Remnants of libretto barely flit around the beats before tapering away. Perhaps his next attempt will find the balance of lyrics and sonics he was hoping Hey You, Yes You would accomplish.

Jay-Z
The Black Album
Roc-A-Fella, 2003
Rating: 8.5/10
Reviewed on: 2004-11-22
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Jay-Z this and Jay-Z that. He's everywhere. He's exactly where he wants to be. The Black Album leaked over the net before it's original date, Nov. 28th (Black Friday), and prompted an early release from Hova. The best beat makers were recruited to end Jay-Z's legacy as the best emcee since Biggie or Tupac. The first two tracks, 'Intro' and 'December 4th', are produced by Just Blaze. Flowing strings starts off 'December 4th' while Jay-Z's mother, Gloria Carter, tells the story of his childhood. "I'm Supposed to be number one on everybody's list / We'll See what happens when I no longer exist." He raps on 'What More Can I Say', reiterating he's got the gift. A hustler with a CEO's mind.

'Encore' is a hot track. He teases us that he's leaving the game when it's hot but with lyrics about coming back like Jordan you know it's only a matter of time when Jay will be dropping more platinum hits. 'Change Clothes', the first single, is produced by the Neptunes. Of course Pharrell would be singing the chorus in his falsetto style. It's not as tight as I'd hoped for but it does the job. The next track is what will be playing in all the clubs. This has Timbaland's seal of approval and you will find yourself blasting the bass on this track. Next up is Eminem's 'Moments of Clarity'. I can't be the only one who finds this track weak. I just don't feel it. At first listen, you know it's all Eminem (minor chord and all that). I do like Jay's verse though. He is open about his father's death and wanting to rhyme like Common Sense. '99 Problems', cow bells and all, is a hit. Some may think this as misogynistic tale. Jay is saying that although he has 99 problems, the media and the police ain't one. Again Just Blaze's production is too hot on 'Public Service Announcement (Interlude)'. Several straightforward verse comes from Jay where he lay's claim to being the music biz number one supplier. He chimes that he's no saint and wants everyone to know it. The next single should be 'Lucifer'. Kanye West saved his best samples for Hov. You will be shaking your ass definitely. I had to give DJ Quik and the second Neptunes track a few listen to feel it. The last song of the album, 'My 1st Song' by unknown producers Aqua and Joe "3H" Weinberger is decent. Jay raps Biggie's words "The key to staying, on top of things is treat everything like it's your first project."

Where this album was suppose to be like the Reasonable Doubt of '03 it comes off more like The Blueprint. His story is not over. Best believe this isn't Jay-Z's last. He's just taking time out for other endeavors (The Nets?). Sure enough Jigga will be back with another hit.