March 2001's Best New CDs - Part 1
Many bands experience sophomore slumps. After all, you have your whole life to write your first CD, and six months to do the second. Buckcherry isn’t one of those bands. They follow their 1999 rookie album with an MVP caliber performance. Time Bomb is a great mix of hard rock, blues, and a hint of hair metal. Lead singer Josh Todd’s voice is gritty and bluesy, and guitarist Keith Nelson keeps the riffs coming hard and heavy. Buckcherry is loud, aggressive, melodic, raunchy and above all, good time rock and roll at its best.
Web Link: http://www.buckcherry.com/
Eric Clapton – Reptile
This isn’t a CD about alligators and lizards. “Reptile” is an English slang word that means being one of the boys. And Eric Clapton has always managed to do that while still being a guitar god. Reptile is one of Clapton’s more eclectic works, with songs featuring R&B, soul, rock, country, and even a couple of instrumentals. It’s a mix of Clapton originals and covers of artists as diverse as James Taylor, Ray Charles and J.J. Cale. Reptile is Clapton at his finest, showing that he keeps getting better and better with age.
Web Link: http://www.claptononline.com
Coby Brown Group – Homesick
New York City based Coby Brown Group is a new jam band to be reckoned with. The quintet’s acoustic based songs blend jazz, pop, Motown and country with unique arrangements to create a sonic delight. Their sound can be compared to groups like Jamiroquai, Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler. Lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and band namesake Coby Brown has a soulful and emotional voice, and the strong piano and guitar riffs in the band’s music gives it even more impact. Homesick is an impressive debut from a band we’ll be hearing a lot more from in the future.
Web Link: http://www.cobybrowngroup.com
Shawn Colvin – Whole New You
In the five years since her last CD, Shawn Colvin has gotten married and become a mother. Whole New You is a cohesive and mature recording, both lyrically and musically. Colvin hasn’t lost her gift for striking melodies and personal lyrics, but the mood is different from her previous CDs. Her singing is very emotional, and the prevailing emotion on Whole New You is happiness. The changes in her life since her last CD add new interesting perspectives to her songwriting, and she was already one
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