CD Reviews

Pitbull The Boatlift TVT Records / 2007 ♥	Fortunately, for music lovers everywhere, Pitbull is not a well-known rapper; judging by The Boatlift, his fourth album, he is destined to stay that way. Indeed, there are more breaths between words than there are rhymes. This MC is not the next Jay-Z. The Cuban-American rapper’s 18 tracks are so rife with awkward and crude lyrics it’s hard to believe he’s not joking. Pitbull himself says that this album is “strictly for the ladies,” so it’s rather puzzling why he would rap about a crack you could slide a credit card through. Hmmm. . . . Though vulgarity is not uncommon in hip hop, Pitbull’s mélange of lame rhymes, unnecessary Spanish lyrics, and a definite ode to Backstreet-Boys-style melody is enough to induce a seizure — the likes of which the record labels promise in the press release. I give one star, owing to the semblance of melody through the 18 tracks. By selectively tuning out the lyrics to songs like “Sticky Icky” and “Stripper Pole,” you might be all right. Unfortunately, even the songs with a decent beat have all been done before — by someone better. All in all, I’m not willing to charge the cost of this CD; not even to my ass. — Magally Zelaya, staff
Twilight Hotel Highway Prayer Independent / 2007 ♥♥♥♥	I recall watching this duo before they billed themselves as Twilight Hotel (TH). Since then, I’ve always enjoyed their spry, bluesy folk tunes. Highway Prayer is produced by blues master Colin Linden (famous for his contributions to O Brother Where Art Thou? and Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and features the very last recordings of musician Richard Bell (a bonus track of just Linden and Bell is added as a tribute to his memory). TH’s Brandy Zdan and Dave Quanbury don’t need these vets but certainly benefit from skilled backing. The off-the-cuff recording manner, capturing the odd background sound or counting into their songs, gives a natural vibe that insists that this is the quality that you’ll receive each time you hear Twilight Hotel, live or otherwise — all one needs to do is set up a recorder at any given occasion to catch it. I get reminders of Mark Bragg, Sarah Slean, and (the major acid test for my reviews) Tom Waits on differing tracks. The two voices are young but skilled without pretension. This is the sort of stuff our local Folk Fest thrives on. — William O’Donnell, staff
Sonic City Sonic City Independent / 2006 ♥♥♥	Considering the album cover, I assumed Sonic City was hard, semi-chaotic rock played by mediocre musicians. Instead, the first track, “So Far Away,” grabbed me with its simple beat and synthesized harmony. From here, Sonic City eases into the harder and generic stuff. Rod Burn’s lyrics are juvenile and too emo for my taste. “Fire Down The Mountain,” could be used as a summation of Sonic City: it’s trying to cram too much into one space. My initial assumption about the musicianship, however, was skewed by the fact that Danny Sveinson is on lead guitar. This kid’s solos are clean and technically impressive. And I do mean “kid”; on the cover he assumes a power stance that says that even as a 13–year-old, he knows he has control in Sonic City. Sveinson was involved in the writing of most of the tracks I enjoyed on this album. “Stomp” (the stand-out track on the album) is a collaborative effort that maintains a solid foundation. Here, Sveinson showcases his individual skill — a guitar solo weaving through an intriguing tribal beat which moves into the blues. It seems that this kid already knows how to get the spotlight without being turned into a gimmick. — Jacqueline Hogue, staff