CD
The Bad Plus
Prog
Heads Up
Rating: 4.5
Sonics: 4.5
I hate it when bands do covers on records. On stage it's a different matter, but the idea of a good band using limited track space to redo other people's material seems like a waste. Then there's The Bad Plus. Their version of Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is a revelation. It's like a new composition and a tribute (negative or positive) to the original, which is ideally what a cover should be. Whether there's some kind of irony or ridicule behind the approach, I'll leave that to the listener. Regardless, if you a approach the music as sonic effects rather than listening for subtext, you'll be bowled over by their versions of songs by David Bowie, Burt Bacharach and Rush. The Bad Plus' original work on the CD will get overshadowed, but it deserves equal airtime. -tired ant
Depeche Mode
Black Celebration
Rhino Records
Rating: 5
Sonics: 4
This classic album celebrating the dark side holds up well over time, notwithstanding the artificial electronic sounds that seemed so fresh in the mid-'80s and out of date now. That should serve as a testament to the strong songwriting abilities of Martin Gore. His gift was an ability to combine moody arrangements with energetic rhythms and beats, topped off with very masculine yet pretty vocal lines. It's a strange, distinctive mix that always sets the band apart. "Stripped," "World Full of Nothing" and "New Dress" are still brilliant, if much more obvious than when I heard them as an angst-ridden teen. The two-disc set includes a 5.1 (DTS or Dolby) version of the album, a short video on the band and additional tracks such as "Shake the Disease". Essential for DM fans. -tired ant
Game
Tokyo Xtreme Racer DRIFT 2
Crave Games for PS2
Rating: 3
Tech: 2
Shortly into playing DRIFT 2, your car's bound to spin out for no apparent reason. Whether this lack of control pisses you off or excites you with its approximation of the somewhat erratic nature of actual drifting will define your gaming experience. DRIFT 2 features curvy Japanese mountain tracks and lots of recognizable rides, but the driving can get monotonous. Graphics are weak for a game this late in the PS2's lifespan, but sounds rev-up well. DRIFT 2 isn't for everyone, but it should interest the drifting nut.
SACD
Spyro Gyra
Good to Go-Go
Heads Up Records
Rating: 2.5
Sonics: 4.5
For the record, Spyro Gyra existed before the term "New Adult Contemporary." But going on 20 years, they've been the paradigm of that ridiculous term. This Caribbean-tinged jazz mlange is standard Spyro fare. It's accessible and funky but lacks the out-and-out focus on musicianship that jazz folks crave. Good to Go-Go, released on a hybrid SACD and CD sounds great. The tone of all the instruments, even a steel drum, is excellent. Not a single high-hat tap is lost. Soundstage on the 5.1 SACD is expectedly excellent, but even the 2-channel CD on the album produces a broad but detailed sound. Top-notch dynamics give the music impact.