New CDs arrive this week from one of the most popular singer-songwriters on the radio, a new indie voice and an Oregon collective still in mourning.
Jack Johnson, “Sing-a-Longs and Lullabyes for the Film ‘Curious George’ “ (Universal) The Man with the Yellow Hat is one of the few characters in the “Curious George” series who speaks, so the people making the books into a film looked to Johnson to give the non-speaking monkey a voice. This isn’t Johnson’s typical fare – surf ballads about breezes, curls and girls. These are songs for children and parents, including a cover of the White Stripes’ “We’re Going to Be Friends” and the Schoolhouse Rock fave “Three Is a Magic Number.”
KT Tunstall, “Eye to the Telescope” (Virgin) Everybody’s talking about Tunstall, the most recent singer-songwriter enjoying a high buzz quotient. This moody record is as subtle as it is fun-loving, and Tunstall’s gritty voice makes it clear she’s not kidding around.
Various Artists, “To: Elliott, From: Portland” (Expunged) Yes, Portland’s the new Seattle. This covers record has the city’s musicians (The Decemberists, The Thermals, Dolorean, Swords, The Helio Sequence) saying goodbye to Elliott Smith. Most of them knew the late songwriter; 10 percent of the profits will go to Smith’s Free Arts for Abused Children charity.
– Ricardo Baca
