Review: Michael Buble - Crazy Love

Michael Bublé - Crazy Love
2009, 143/Reprise Records

Michael Bublé is back with his latest, an album entitled Crazy Love. The multiple Grammy-winning Bublé turns introspective and autobiographical on Crazy Love, which features 11 standards/covers and two original tracks. Bublé has sold over 22 million albums around the world, and his 2005 release, It's Time, holds the records for the longest run on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Charts at two years (with 80 weeks at #1). Guests on Crazy Love include the acapella group Naturally 7, and Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. Production responsibilities were shared between David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica.

Bublé opens with a darkly modern take of Cry Me A River. With a martial air, Bublé illuminates the song in bright new fashion while holding on to it's classic nature. All Of Me is done in more classic style with a touch of Vegas flair. Bublé does a good job with Georgia On My Mind, but I have been forever spoiled by the late, great Ray Charles on this song. Bublé's version is good but just doesn't stand up to the original. Bublé does much better with his cover of Van Morrison's Crazy Love. This is a classic song that mixes elements of Folk, Rock and Soul, and Bublé and his ensemble work magic here. Bublé opens up to a Broadway meets The Partridge Family style tune with the ebullient Haven't Met You Yet. This is a hopeless romantic's tune with a bouncy chorus you won't be able to get out of your head. Bublé is inspired here, and the arrangement as a whole plays to all of his strengths in a golden Pop moment.

Bublé visits the 1950's for his rendition of All I Do Is Dream Of You. The collective spirit of Louis Prima and Bobby Darin shines down on this particular number in one of the brightest moments on Crazy Love. Bublé creates a moment of musical déjà vu with Hold On, a song so instantly familiar I was certain it was a cover. This is an incredible tune that could be a pop classic, sounding like something that might have been written by Elton John or Billy Joel. Bublé goes Honky-Tonk with a live jazz/rock cover of The Eagles' Heartache Tonight. This is a fun version that's a bit livelier even than the original and certain to inspire some dancing. You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You is done in classic Sinatra style and paves the way for Baby (You've Got What It Takes), featuring Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings. This is the highlight of the album, as singing with Sharon Jones seems to bring out a more soulful side of Bublé.

Bublé's cover of Billy Vera & The Beaters' At This Moment is another bit of magic. Bublé sticks pretty close to the original here, and while his voice may be prettier he doesn't hope to match the sound and heart of Billy Vera. Nevertheless, Bublé's performance is dynamic in it's own fashion and serves the song very well. Accapela group Naturally 7 lends their vocal talents on Hoagie Carmichael's Stardust. The result is a rendition that sounds like a young Bobby Darin singing with The Mills Brothers. The vocal arrangement here, in particular of Naturally 7, helps to build a classic sound for one of the greatest compositions of the twentieth century. Bublé closes out with the Latin-styled Whatever It Takes, a song of love and devotion that's a bit cliché but sweet.

Michael Bublé does it again. Crazy Love is the sort of transitional album that will allow Bublé to keep his traditional fans while beginning to build more present among folks with slightly more modern tastes in music. Crazy Love is certain to continue Bublé's string of Gold and Platinum albums while earning him serious Grammy consideration. Crazy Love is the work of a consummate professional at the top of his game.

Rating: 4 Stats (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Michael Bublé at http://www.michaelbuble.com/ or www.myspace.com/michaelbuble. You can purchase Crazy Love as either a CD or download via Amazon.com.

Review: Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra

Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra - Self-Titled
2009, Righteous Enough Records

Today we get to hear the words of the secular gospel of Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra, an 11-piece band from New York City who sounds like they just stepped off the steamer from New Orleans. Ray Charles Soul and R&B, southern Gospel and New Orleans Jazz all get thrown into the mix to create one of the most dynamic and enjoyable recordings to come out of the New York City scene in quite some time. Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Orchestra was released in February of 2009 and has already made a splash in New York, but something this good can't be contained even in a city the size of New York. Brother Joscephus brings his message of universal love, harmony and peace wrapped up in some of the warmest feel good music you can find.

The CD opens with A Child Shall Lead, done in classic southern gospel style. It's an amazing listen and poignant regardless of your belief system. Like many of the songs on Brother Joscephus, A Child Shall Lead is written from the perspective of the downtrodden; the folks who know they can't live up to the standard of perfection but continue to try to be good and hope for one to come along to lead them all into the path of righteousness. The same ideal has transcended philosophical and religious thought in culture after culture, and there is a strong history of this resigned persistence in jazz in particular. Brother Joscephus captures this heavy dynamic perfectly in a song that is deep yet entertaining. Bon Temps Roulez is a New Orleans expression in French Creole meaning Let The Good Times Roll. The song is written in a jazz fueled style reminiscent of some of Randy Newman's best work and is a definite highlight.

Brother Joscephus channels the late, great Ray Charles on Can't Help Myself, getting the same sort of gritty soul and pop mix that Charles practically invented. O Moses and More Than I Need fit into the secular gospel model that Joscephus brings to this CD and to his live shows, whereas Bury Me In New Orleans hits the perfect blend of Rock, R&B and Jazz. It's hard to pick one or two highlights here, as everything on the disc is a great listen.

Brother Joscephus is a showman in the most classic sense. It would be easy to imagine seeing Brother Joscephus on the same stages as greats such as Louis Prima and Bobby Darin. Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra is a must-listen, must own CD. While the style isn't original, there are so few people doing this sort of music these days that it will sound new and original, much like Brian Setzer reintroducing the world to Louis Prima and swing a decade ago. You don't want to miss this Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra at www.myspace.com/brotherjoscephus or http://www.brotherjoscephus.com/. You can purchase a copy of Brother Joscephus And The Love Revival Revolution Orchestra at www.cdbaby.com/cd/brotherjoscephus.

Review: Josh Weinstein - Love & Alcohol

Josh Weinstein – Love & Alcohol
2009, Randomlogo Records

Josh Weinstein is a philosopher/poet who happens to play amazing piano (plus whatever else he can get his hands on). The New York City based resident of the world has carved out a sound that’s part Tom Waits and part Ron Hawkins with a healthy dose of lyrical content ala Charles Bukowski. With the grit and tragedy of life lived a half-step off the streets running through his songs, Weinstein opens listeners’ eyes to a world of dark actions fueled by good intentions. Weinstein will release his third album, Love & Alcohol in the Spring of 2009 (date not yet available). With Love & Alcohol, Josh Weinstein may fully establish himself in critical circles as one of the most talented songwriters the US has to offer.

Josh Weinstein takes great please in exposing the seedier aspects of life on Love & Alcohol. The result is fourteen songs of less than the best of intentions against the backdrop of some deliciously dirty blues arrangements. Weinstein the songwriter wallows in the imperfections of his protagonists, steeped in love, addiction, desire and loneliness. Weinstein the singer/musician delivers an inspired performance that should gather significant critical acclaim. Every New York captures the street-wise grit of another era in New York City. You can almost imagine Kurt Weill’s Mack The Knife (ala Bobby Darin) frequenting the sort of clubs this song would have been played in. One More Blues features some inspired guitar work, and Weinstein absolutely lives the song as a performer. This is the sort of performance that gets considered for awards.

She Rolls Jaunty uses a pair of windshield wipers as the primary percussion in a bit of sonic genius. The piano hook at the center of this is amazingly catchy. The arrangement expands to include strings in a slow building crescendo that falls away at times to reveal just Weinstein and piano. Song A Drunk Man Sings is a bit of levity framed by some viscious harmonica work and a filthy bass line. Tennessee is one of the more memorable tunes on the disc, built on a great piano hook and a “March of the elephants” style bass line. The workman’s chorus is also a nice touch. She Do Not Listen is a “moment” song. Amidst all of the action and controlled chaos from which Weinstein’s songs spring, She Do Not Listen is a moment of quiet composure. It’s a wonderful song that illuminates a side of Weinstein we had yet to see on Love & Alcohol. Other highlights include F**k Is F**k and Trying To Find The Crime.

Josh Weinstein has found a voice that while not unique in popular music is certainly a refreshing break from the norm. Populating his songs and characters in the same fashion as Randy Newman, Weinstein illuminates the darker side of human nature in tunes full of the beauty and angst of the human spirit. It’s a musical street’s eye view of the world that is difficult to capture and even harder to convey in song. Weinstein is a bard in blue, and Love & Alcohol is the set list he plays from. It took a few listens to really get into this one, and now I can’t put it down. Make sure that Love & Alcohol is on your to-do list.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Josh Weinstein at http://www.joshweinstein.com/ or www.myspace.com/joshweinstein1. Love & Alcohol is due in early Spring of 2009, but an official release date has not been announced as of the date this review was published. Keep checking back to Weinstein’s website for release information, as well as both CDBaby and Amazon.com, both of whom have carried his two prior releases. In the meantime you can stream some of the new songs at his MySpace page (above).