Annie
Don't Stop
Smalltown Supersound ****
Annie Berge-Strand's debut album, Anniemal (2005), was chock-a-block with the sort of pop class that puts a big grin on your gob. Great sounds begat great expectations, and the world waited for the Norwegian to take her place at the top of the queue. However, label shenanigans and contractual hoops ensnared her to the extent that a follow-up album is only now getting a release. Not that the delay put a halt to Annie's creative gallop, and she's recorded new songs since last year's "release" to refresh the album. Don't Stop is full of playful, giddy, infectious and inventive sounds and fabulous melodies. There are production assists from Paul Epworth and Timo Kaukolampi, but it's Annie's own ice-cool sass that turns tunes such as I Don't Like Your Band, My Love Is Better, Hey Annieand Locointo sophisticated electropop gold. JIM CARROLL www.myspace.com/anniemusic
Download tracks: I Don't Like Your Band, My Love Is Better, Hey Annie, Loco
What Will We Be
Reprise
***
Freak-folkster Devendra Banhart's first album on a major label would suggest that the Venezuelan is ready to take on the mainstream. Don't be fooled: What Will We Be is as fuzzy and vague as his past endeavours. Banhart has certainly made some good albums (2005's Cripple Crowwas undoubtedly his best), but his missteps have all been attributable to a lack of direction. Sure, there are some likeable songs here. The bluesy Rats channels Jim Morrison jamming with Led Zep, 16th Valencia is a shoulder- shrugging Rundgren-esque gem, and Goin' Back to the Placeembodies the warmth of the best shuffling 1970s guitar folk-pop. For every peach, however, there's a song that meanders aimlessly before eventually petering out. And what's with the misplaced reggae pomp of the closer, Foolin'? LAUREN MURPHYwww.devendrabanhart.com
Download tracks: Rats, Goin' Back to the Place
Kings of Conveinience
Declaration of Dependence
Virgin
**
The first time I heard this album I nearly crashed the car – I fell asleep at the wheel. Kings of Convenience debuted in 2001 with Quiet Is the New Loud, a nice album of nice songs with nice lyrics set to nice airs and nice harmonies, all embedded on nice acoustic guitar arrangements. In 2004, Riot on an Empty Streetrepeated the Simon and Garfunkel- lite formula, but a couple of charming videos stopped anyone from really noticing. Now the Norwegian duo are back and, nearly a decade into their journey of musical discovery, are offering us a nice album of nice songs with nice lyrics set to, etc. Nice may once have been the new edgy, lads, but it's time to move on. In the meantime, this soporific album really ought not to be sold without a prescription. DARAGH DOWNESwww.kingsofconvenience.com
Download tracks: 24-25, Power of Not Knowing
Michael Jackson
This is it
Sony ***
The big “reveal” on this was the previously unreleased song This Is It, which was supposed to draw fans towards this not-really-new-at-all album. The song proved to be a bit of damp squib – more like a B-side than the spectacular hinted at. And you’d really think Paul Anka (who co-wrote it) could have done better. That apart, everything else here is familiar.
The first disc is made up of Jackson’s greatest hits; the second one is just a bunch of remixes of the hits with an added spoken word bit thrown in for good measure. The disappointment aside, there is still some amazing stuff on this – if you haven’t got it already. There’s the odd flash of inspiration on the second disc, but nothing to get that excited about.
BRIAN BOYD
Download tracks:
Smooth Criminal, The Way You Make Me Feel
