The Slush Pile: Janet, Sting and a band I like

It’s albums such as these that make me consider some crazy New Year’s resolutions.

Janet Jackson, 20 YO

There was a time when Janet set the pace. Now she’s just trying to catch up.

Sting, Songs from the Labyrinth

I actually like the fact Sting sings someone else’s music on this album. His songwriting had become insufferable to me over the past few years. He tries to be clever for the sake of being clever. That worked well back in 1985 and 1987, when I didn’t know any better. I can find clever well enough in the indie sector.

I could have done without the dramatic readings of John Dowland’s letters, though.

… And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, So Divided

I so didn’t want to list this album here, but the fact of the matter is, I don’t feel compelled enough to write about this album. It’s not even a fraction of Worlds Apart, and even Worlds Apart doesn’t really stand up to Source Codes & Tags and Madonna.

I give credit to … Trail of Dead for not being locked into the sturm und drang they do so well, but they do it so well, it’s tough being open to something different. So Divided is certainly different, but it also comes across as quite deflated.

Akasau, Akasau

Kirilola of eX-Girl sings meditative music. She’s got the vocal prowess for it, but the music itself doesn’t rise above background music. It’s not even Music for Airports-level background music.

Buffalo Daughter, Euphorica

I’m going to let the fans handle this album. There were moments on this album that I thought Buffalo Daughter were channeling the Sugarcubes or the B-52’s. moOog Yamamoto sometimes reminded me Einar Orn.

LISA, ELIZABETH

I thought it was kind of too soon for another album by LISA.