MUSIC
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 5
Anthologies lack hip-hop albums' focus
Missy Elliott builds great album, U2 and Nirvana greatest hits CDs could be better
U2, The Best of 1990-2000, Island
U2's The Best of 1990-2000 brings together perennial favorites from U2's past albums Achtung Baby, Zooropa, Pop and Beautiful Day. This album also features two new songs, "Electrical Storm (William Orbit Mix)" and "The Hands that Built America," as well as four new mixes. It also includes a few songs unreleased on U2's major albums such as "Miss Sarajevo," which possesses a more ethereal quality than is typical for U2.
The new mixes were unremarkable; either being practically indiscernible from the original, or not as energetic as the
original, such as the new mix of "Discotheque." As is typical of most greatest hits albums, this album culls many of the most popular songs from past albums, but is bound to miss a few quality and lesser-known personal favorites. Overall, this album is a great buy for the diehard U2 fan or the uninitiated U2 fan. However, if you're going to own one U2 album, I would recommend The Best of 1980-1990 as more representative of U2's classic and influential sound.
— Elizabeth Newman
Various artists, Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture 8 Mile, Interscope Records
To create the rap-heavy atmosphere of Eight Mile Road, Mr. Marshall Mathers gathered together a cavalcade of main stream hip-hop heavies to contribute to the album. But the soundtrack to 8 Mile is more steady when Mathers himself has a hand in each song's production. The first track, "Lose Yourself," starts the album out
fast and fierce.
Unfortunately this fierceness comes and goes depending on who's at the production helm. Many of the
other songs simply do not stand out. With "Adrenaline Rush" and "Places to Go," the songs seem to hold no purpose other than to just melt into the background.
Other tracks stand out with a more infectious, fast rhythm. "Rap Game," "Battle," and "Rabbit Run," flow with an aggressive beat that makes up for some of the weaker parts. Jay-Z, Macy Gray, Obie Trice and Nas are among those who contribute on the soundtrack.
However, Nas is the only artist to stand on his own ground with the track "U Wanna Be Me." Macy Gray sticks out like a sore thumb with her song "Time of My Life."
It's overly upbeat and her backup singers sound like the Muppets. Ignoring those few weak tracks, the album very much matches the atmosphere of 8 Mile: it's fast and bleak.
Nirvana, Nirvana, DGC
Leah Shaffer
After years of court battles, the world has finally been presented with the longawaited new Nirvana album simply titled Nirvana.
The album is "new" only because one track "You Know You're Right" is previously unreleased. This album is in all actuality just another greatest hits collection that doesn't feel right.
The problems with creating a single di s c anthology of the most influential band of the '90s are numerous.
Nirvana only had one unplugged and three studio albums during its brief existence, making Nevermind and In Utero virtually the sole source for the new record. It also limits itself to just 14 songs, leaving off several classics and B-side favorites.
The album also lacks the flow of the original albums.
Nirvana was a great band that sent shock waves throughout the music world. But the album, Nirvana, just doesn't do the band justice, although the new song does rock. There is really no point in buying this 50-minute album when you can create and burn a better 80-minute anthology at home.
— Justin La Mort
Missy Elliott, Under Construction, Elektra Entertainment
Hip-hop has changed and Missy Elliott wants to do something about it. In her newest album, Under Construction, Missy
takes a change in direction from her last chart-topping album, Miss E...So Addictive. Instead of using Indian tablas
and moving around to Timbaland's Dirty South beats, Missy takes it back to simple old-school beats and samples.
The rap songs build a solid base for the album, especially her current single, "Work It." The songs, except for the ballads, which are low points, have solid hooks and Missy's lyrics flow as well as always.
She makes sure to stick to her trademark raunchy lyrics. "Pussycat," by far the most sexual of the songs, is a ballad in which Missy requests, "pussy don't fail me now" because she has to impress her new man.
The featured artists enhance Missy on all of the tracks, except for "Nothing Out There For Me," which features Beyoncé Knowles.
Instead of a ballad featuring Beyoncé on Missy's album, it features Missy Elliott in a ballad that should be on Beyoncé's album.
Ludacris and Jay-Z make up for this with their polished rap on "Gossip Folks" and "Back in the Day," a song that epitomizes Missy's yearning for a return to old school hip-hop and is the most retrosounding song on the album.
Missy Elliott proves that, even though she's under construction, she can still put out a great album.
— Kristi Henderson
KJHKTOP10
ARTIST Recording
1 BADLY DRAWN BOY Have You Fed The Fish?
2 SIGUR ROS ()
3 KOUFAX Social Life
4 RICHARD ASHCROFT Human Conditions
5 BJORK Björk's Greatest Hits
6 PAVEMENT Slanted And Enchanted: Luxe And Reduxe
7 JOHNNY CASH American IV: The Man Comes Around
8 LOT SIX Animals
9 MINUS THE BEAR Bands Like It When You Yell "Ar" At Them
10 CHRIS MILLS The Silver Line
1.4 异形变形