Word: electronica
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With the exception of "Not For Me," whose harder street beats and flourishes of electronica reek of 'NSync's "It's Gotta Be Me," the Boy's up-tempo tracks prove the continuing ability of the Boys to offer pile-driving dance numbers. "The Call," "Get Another Boyfriend" and "Shining Star" are unquestionably the craziest cuts on Black and Blue and pulsate with the energy released when bad-boy pop meets hip-hop bounce...
...would expect more of Sarah Cracknell, lead vocalist for dance-pop band Saint Etienne. Critics have always found it hard to pigeonhole the band (that is, until "electronica" conveniently became a music industry buzzword). Their sonic experiments have consistently yielded intriguing results, drawing from pop's rich past while carrying an attitude which points boldly towards the future. Cracknell's solo LP, Kelly's Locker, isn't particularly bad. However, as an electric pop record, it tries too hard to be eclectic and lacks the cohesion needed to make for a satisfying aural experience...
What's an eternal soul fetching these days? The one belonging to electronica artist MOBY went for a paltry $41 when it was auctioned last week on eBay by a former longtime friend. Indie-film director Paul Yates claims Moby has been selling out: all 18 songs on his platinum album, Play, have been licensed for use in commercials and TV shows ranging from Nissan ads to Dawson's Creek. Yates also alleges that Moby is trying to doctor his image: the musician is now distancing himself from Yates' upcoming comedy, Porno, which includes a scene of Moby playing guitar...
Material mom, faux East Indian princess, club-hopping sugar mama--Madonna moves from phase to phase with lunar remoteness. As on her last CD, Ray of Light, she continues to navigate her way through electronica, this time with French producer Mirwais Ahmadzai. Less adventurous than Ray, Music is more consistent. Madonna has to work hard to summon real emotion, but a few songs, including the skittery Don't Tell Me, manage a dry pathos. Locked in orbit high above mere mortals, she still has the power, on occasion, to turn our tides...
There's also a lot of electronica ballads on the CD--and it's in the context of these ballads that Madonna has made the most progress. Her weakness has traditionally been shallow lyrics; regardless of what emotions she tries to conjure, Madonna always comes off as slightly pretentious, coolly arrogant, and almost never genuine or warm. But Mirwais solves this problem by eliminating the electric contortions on these slower tracks and leaving Madonna's voice naked and credible against the synthesizers...