RazorFine Review

• Title: Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (Official Soundtrack)

The one-disc Official Soundtrack to Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist containss 15 tracks.  Included here are the light “Nick and Norah’s Theme” and “Baby You’re My Light” by Richard Hawley, “Our Swords” by Band of Horses, “Very Loud” by the Shout Out Louds, “Middle Management” by Bishop Allen, “Silvery Sleds” by Army Navy, and “Speed of Sound” by Chris Bell.

Like most soundtracks the package is a mixed bag.  Although there aren’t really any stinkers here there’s also no big hits.  The entire album is a mello groove that won’t get you too excited but won’t make you get up to skip tracks or change discs either.  My favorite track would probably be either Nick and Norah’s Theme or “After Hours” by We Are Scientists.

For a soundtrack this is a passable entry and for those who enjoy the movie it will leave you with memorable songs from the film.  As a standalone however it doesn’t offer much for the casual observer to pick it up and let it play.

• Title: The Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination

The Pussycat Dolls’ second studio album contains 16 tracks on one disc.  The first single released from the album “When I Grow Up” hit #1 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Play.  Also included here ae “Bottle Pop,” “Takin’ Over the World,” “Happily Never After,” “I’m Done,” and “Whatcha Think About That” featuring Missy Elliott.

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• Title: Patricia Barber – The Cole Porter Mix

In The Cole Porter Mix singer/songwriter Patricia Barber re-records and reinterprets some of the biggest songs of Cole Porter.  The thirteen tracks include Easy to Love, I Get a Kick Out of You, You’re The Top, Just One of Those Things, and In the Still of the Night.

The album also includes three original songs inspired by Cole Porter including The New Year’s Eve Song and Snow.  The new songs fit easily with the reinterpreted Porter originals.

Although Barber has a nice voice and her obvious joy for these songs comes out, there’s nothing here that makes the collection all that interesting.  Yes, it’s competently done, but why?  For all her energy and style the songs don’t feel fresh and for those who own the original recordings, or even those of other musicians (including Frank Sinatra) covering the hits there’s little here to justify the purchase of another album of the same songs.

This collection is more a novelty than anything else.  Longtime Cole Porter fans may enjoy this, but surely they own most of these songs sung by Porter himself and/or one of the many compilations done by other musicians over the years.  And teens who don’t know who Porter is aren’t going to pick this up either.  Still, it’s not an album to groove to, but as some easy listening background music you could do worse.

• Title: Jem – Down to Earth

You’ve probably heard the music of Welsh singer/songwriter Jem, even if you don’t realize it.  Her songs have been used on various American TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Wonderfalls, Six Feet Under, and others.

With her second album Jem returns with a new collection of eclectic sounds mixing various music styles into her own sound.  The Welsh singer with a mix of pop, electronica, dance, hip hop, and soul, may not be your cup of tea, but at least she’s not processed inane tween pop.

This second album includes twelve tracks including the title track Down to Earth with its strong Middle Eastern beat.  Also included here are the uplifting It’s Amazing, the heavy electronica dance track Aciid!, and the softer Norah Jones-like piano tune You Will Make It.

My favorite of the tracks would have to be the catchy Latin flavored track “I Want You To…,” where the electronica influence isn’t quite as heavy as on some of the other songs.

You’ve got to seriously like many different styles of music to enjoy this CD which mixes and matches thoroughly throughout.  You can check out her official site here, and download the title track Down to Earth for free.  Jem’s music might not be for everbody, but for something a little different it’s worth a listen.

It’s Tuesday again, when we take a look at new music and books hitting the shelves this week just for you, our loyal RF readers!  Today’s new music includes albums from Barenaked Ladies, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Neil Diamond, Midnight Oil, The Last Shadow Puppets, and more.  Today’s new books include novels from Carl Hiaasen, Stephenie Meyer, Elizabeth George, John Sandford, plus non-fiction books on Bill Clinton, Washington D.C. and Barbara Walters.  Check out the Full Diagnosis for more.

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New music includes:

Snack Time – Barenaked Ladies

Momofuku – Elvis Costello & the Imposters

Home Before Dark – Neil Diamond

Diesel and Dust – Midnight Oil

On My Way Here – Clay Aiken

Age of the Understatement – The Last Shadow Puppets

Who Knows Where the Time Goes – Kate Rusby

32 Biggest Hits – Toby Keith

Sudden Impact Original Soundtrack

Iron Man Original Soundtrack

New books include:

A Downhill Lie: A Hackers’ Return to a Ruinous Sport by Carl Hiaasen

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Carless in Red by Elizabeth George

The Battle of the Labyrinth (Percy Jackson and the Olympians Series #4) by Rick Riordan

Phantom Prey by John Sandford

Audition: A Memoir by Barbara Walters

Killing Rommel by Steven Pressfield

Clinton in Exile: A President Out of the White House by Carol Felsenthal

The Price of Frogtown by Rick Bragg

Washington: The Making of the American Capital by Fergus Bordewich

Now that you’ve got that tax refund coming what can you spend it on?  How’s ‘bout some books and CD’s?  Here’s a look at new music and books hitting the shelves this week from your pals here at RazorFine!  Today’s new music includes a re-release of the Chipmunks singing the Beatles, plus new albums by Madonna, Def Leppard, Carly Simon, Steve Winwood, The Slackers, and Zappa Plays Zappa.  Today’s new books include a bio of the life of a tribute band, the ethics of travel writing, and new novels from David Baldacci, Iris Johansen, Anne Perry, and Stuart Woods.  Check out the Full Diagnosis for more.

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Today’s new music includes:

Hard Candy – Madonna

Songs from the Sparkle Lounge – Def Leppard

This Kind of Love – Carly Simon

Nine Lives – Steve Winwood

Live in Concert – Martina McBride

Self-Medication – The Slackers

Rarities, B-Sides 2 and Other Stuff, Volume 2 – Sarah McLachlan

Phil Stacey – Phil Stacey

Zappa Plays Zappa – Zappa Plays Zappa

Sing the Beatles Hits – Alvin and the Chipmunks

Today’s new books include:

The Whole Truth by David Baldacci

Quicksand by Iris Johansen

Dark Assassin by Anne Perry

Sante Fe Dead by Stuart Woods

Italian Grill by Mario Batali

Warriors Return (Warriors Manga Series #3) by Eric Hunter

Like A Rolling Stone: The Strange Life of a Tribute Band by Steven Kurutz

Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Do Travel Writers Go to Hell?: A Swashbuckling Tale of High Adventures, Questionable Ethics, and Professional Hedonism by Thomas B. Kohnstamm

Strangers by Peter Kalu

Now that you’ve got that tax refund coming what can you spend it on?  How’s ‘bout some books and CD’s?  Here’s a look at new music and books hitting the shelves this week from your pals here at RazorFine!  Today’s new books include Mariah Carey’s new album E=MC2, the soundtrack for the recent Hannah Montana film, and new music by Rush, Asia, Kris Delmhorst, and The Brain Jonestown Massacre.  New books include Morgan Spurlock’s tie-in with his new film, an updated version of the Hulk DK book, and new mysteries from Parnell Hall and Jane Haddam.  Check out the Full Diagnosis for more.

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Today’s music includes:

E=MC2 – Mariah Carey

Snakes & Arrows – Rush

Mississippi Number One – Eden Brent

Shotgun Singer – Kris Delmhorst

Phoenix – Asia

My Bloody Underground – The Brian Jonestown Massacre

Blooddrunk – Children of Bodom

The Best of Both Worlds Original Soundtrack

Man in the Chair Original Soundtrack

The Life Before Her Eyes Original Sountrack

Today’s books include:

Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? by Morgan Spurlock

Hold Tight by Harlan Coben

The Miracle of Speedy Motors by Alexander McCall Smith

The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia by Michael Gray

Hulk: The Incredible Guide by Tom DeFalco

100 Views of the Golden Gate by Harold Davis

Breaking Free by Herschel Walker

The Sudoku Puzzle Murders: A Puzzle Lady Mystery by Parnell Hall

Cheating at Solitaire (A Gregor Demarkian Novel) by Jane Haddam

Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet: The New Geopolitics of Energy by Michael T. Klare