Busta Rhymes
“The Big Bang”
HIP-HOP|Aftermath, released today
Busta left J for Dre – J Records for Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Records, that is – and the result is one of the iconic MC’s most disparate releases.
He’s never had a record with such hot production and collaborations. Behind the boards on this, Busta’s seventh full-length in 10 years: Dre, Swizz Beats and the late J Dilla. On the mic: Q-Tip, Stevie Wonder, Missy Elliott, Nas, Kelis, will.i.am, Rick James, Raekwon and, bizarrely, Latoya Jackson.
And while the record is hot, there’s something missing here. This is Busta being Busta, sitting on his laurels and leaning on the talent around him instead of shining his own bright light. The production on “Cocaina” is tripped-out, but the rhymes are stale. “Don’t Get Carried Away” is the obvious Dre banger, and it’s tight all around, but the record’s first single, Swizz Beats’ “Touch It,” is an infectious strip-hop masterpiece that finds Busta in unusually fine (for this record) form. |Ricardo Baca
Sonic Youth
“Rather Ripped”
ROCK|Geffen, released today
To say that “Rather Ripped” is a seminal Sonic Youth album, even on the day of its release, is an understatement. This record marks two milestones: the band’s 25th year, and its split from Jim O’Rourke, who played with (and produced) them since 2002.
Thurston Moore’s “Do You Believe In Rapture?” is a quiet, meditative attack, a potent blast of stripped- down Sonic Youth beauty. Kim Gordon’s “Jams Run Free” is a groover that dips its feet in both tubs: undeniable melody and unsinkable noise. Both tracks reflect what makes Sonic Youth so essential, even a quarter-century after Moore, Gordon and guitarist Lee Ranaldo first got together.|Ricardo Baca
Widespread Panic
“Earth to America”
JAM ROCK|Sanctuary, released today
What’s the point of “Earth to America”? This prolific and popular band doesn’t even need to make albums anymore, having secured its reputation years ago with lengthy live sets that appealed to the Deadhead/Phish set. Still, “Earth to America” finds Widespread Panic trying on different sounds, even if they’re tattered, clichéd ones. The 11-minute opener, “Second Skin,” sets the tone with a leisurely guitar jam, while “Goodpeople” spreads thick horns over wah-riddled riffs. Singer-guitarist John Bell sounds as sharp as ever, a slight snarl even detectable in his vocals. For a band best experienced live, “Earth to America” is a respectable, if sometimes painfully cheesy, entry into a catalog that seems afraid to stop growing.|John Wenzel
John Common
“Good to Be Born”
POP-ROCK|Free School, released today
John Common’s double-edged sword is his voice. The Denver-based songwriter’s husky pipes consistently hit their mark, even when shooting for the highest strains of melody. But his tone occasionally feel so calculated that you wish he’d just let go. Catchy, vaguely alt-country rockers like “It’s Out” probably sound amazing in concert but feel overly compressed on record. Common is a gifted songwriter with a playfully weird sensibility. But a bit less restraint – or a different kind of restraint – might do more to highlight his strengths. John Common plays Saturday at the Highland Street Fair at West 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard.|John Wenzel
Other releases today:
Billy Joel, “12 Gardens Live” (Sony) Joel’s voice is as robust as ever, and on this live two-disc set he takes on the hits (“My Life,” “New York State of Mind,” “An Innocent Man”) as well as the fan favorites (“Goodnight Saigon,” “A Matter of Trust” and “Miami 2017”).
The Futureheads, “News and Tributes” (Vagrant) This British quartet specialized in ’80s revisionism with their post-punk debut, and this sophomore record finds them putting some distance between themselves and their Bloc Party-esque peers the same way Franz Ferdinand did with its second record.
