Weezer
Maladroit
Geffen
In 1994 they came out and just blew up the alternative rock scene. At the time it was exactly what the music industry needed. Then in '96 they came out with Pinkerton which for many people didn't live up to their perceived potential. After that Weezer was gone. For five years fans waited and waited for something new. And in 2001 they came back. People even called it "Weezer Mania". What was up with that? Where did all these TRL bandwagon Weezer fans come from. With a more poppy sound and a few catchy tunes the "Green Album" was a let down. Yeah they gained millions of new fans because of their slight change of sound, but what about those who liked the abstract nerd rock? One year later they released Maladroit. Still not as good as the "Blue Album" but I guess we'll never get that Weezer back. My disappointment in this CD is that there isn't a track that totally sticks. "Dope Nose" is their hit and it's a good song, but after enjoying it once or twice I'm over it. "Death and Destruction" is worth a listen and "Burndt Jamb" is quite catchy, but besides these few tracks there's nothing outstanding or new sounding. The other thing about this CD that it's only 33 minutes long. Not even long enough to last the drive home from work. If you are a diehard fan of Weezer you may enjoy it; if not, you might want to skip this one or just borrow a friend's copy. Anyway, their live recordings, their covers of other songs, or their acoustic versions of their own songs are the best things to look for by them; and you can get that online. Check out www.weezer.com -Chux
Will Smith
Born To Reign
Columbia
The former Fresh Prince is back, after a hiatus to dedicate his time to training for the movie "Ali", as well as shooting the sequel to "Men In Black". His new album states that he was destined to rule everything; and after finding success in music, TV, and film, it's a point that's hard to argue. From the looks of the album, it would seem that Will has taken on a tougher persona, but one listen to the tracks and it's obvious that the notoriously nice rapper still indulges in the good, clean fun sound that has made him famous. Although this is supposed to be a solo album, his vocal protg Tr-Knox appears on every song. There is even a duet with his wife Jada Pinkett on the song "1,000 Kisses," an update of the Luther Vandross hit "Never Too Much." The one person missing from this album is Jazzy Jeff, who has been Smith's partner ever since day one, and executive produced his last album. Although he is mentioned on the track "Block Party", his production touch is noticeably missing; and the slower, R&B flavor is different than what fans may be used to. Will even sings on "Willow Is A Player." The promo for his new movie, "Black Suits Comin' (Nod Your Head)" is a guitar-laced track that allows him to sound edgier, but when rapping about aliens, there's not much street cred to be had. Overall, it is an average outing that doesn't break new musical ground. -85 Mics
Korn
Untouchables
Epic
The story goes that Jonathan Davis, the lead singer, was actually studying to be a mortician by day and singing for a local band by night, or maybe it was the other way around, who knows. In any case, he and his bandmates were not the type to keep their day jobs, nor would they have to. After two great albums, and two decent CD's, they have returned to form with Untouchables. Rumors in the music industry say this was one of the most expensive albums ever made. But I'd say it was worth it. The heavy, dark sound and the haunting vocals are as affecting as ever. "Here To Stay" deserves to be the radio hit that it is. I usually find a track besides the hit that I like the most but I can't argue with this one. Fieldy's bass is just amazing and Davids drums are heart pounding. Sorry to say it but Fieldy (the bassist) really gave Korn a distinctive sound. "Thoughtless" is one of their other hits, but this time it's Jonathan's voice that sets this track apart from everything. His transition from a melodic chorus to a warrior's battle roar is stunning. With this CD it seems as if Korn is trying to get back to its roots. At the same time, this album also seems to be a bit more experimental than their previous stuff. Check out all the crazy little abstract sounds throughout. Untouchables is definitely up to the hype. See www.korn.com -Chux