Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Music

Listen to this

An overview of some new music.

By Sean Daly
Published April 8, 2007

Fountains of Wayne

Album: Traffic and Weather Virgin

In stores: Now

Why we care: The N.Y.-N.J. hipsters are the clown princes of power pop, penning Bubble Yum hooks and snarking at the middle class. If you think they pick on easy targets (yuppies, the Gap, Coldplay), consider this: I've interviewed Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood, and they're as proudly uncool as their subjects. Seriously. Total dorks.

Why we like it: Okay, so this is the weakest FOW album yet - their trademark punology borders on self-parody (Revolving Dora), and there's nothing as incandescent as past hits Stacy's Mom and Radiation Vibe. But several bittersweet love songs pack a punch, including Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim, which sounds like Raymond Carver meets The Graduate.

Reminds us of: The Molly Pitcher Travel Plaza, NJ Turnpike. Try the Arthur Treacher's hush puppies.

Download these: Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim and I-95

Grade: C+

Klaxons

Album: Myths of the Near Future (Geffen)

In stores: Now

Why we care: Are you ready for the U.K.'s "nu rave" movement? If you keep glow sticks in your purse, pacifiers in your mouth and clunky black dancing shoes in your car trunk, the answer is yes.

Why we like it: British pop star Lily Allen is a big fan of the Klaxons, whose strobing beats, anthemic choruses and distorted effects are currently thumping at London's randiest dance clubs.

Reminds us of: That giant spinning dance floor at Mannequin's in Disney's Pleasure Island. (I almost barfed. It was awesome.)

Download these: Atlantis to Interzone and As Above, So Below

Grade: B

Martina McBride

Album: Waking Up Laughing (RCA)

In stores: Now

Why we care: McBride isn't the best country singer. She's not the prettiest or funniest or tallest, either. But there's something about the Nashville star (16-million albums sold, 22 Top 10 singles) that makes her so much more appealing than Faith or Shania. Maybe it's that sweet, stable voice? Or maybe it's those cyborgian blue eyes?

Why we like it: McBride's ninth studio album kicks off with If I Had Your Name, the kind of boy-snubbing anthem (a la 2003 smash This One's for the Girls) that makes her a fave with fiery women. Cry Cry ('Til the Sun Shines) is a buck-up charmer with a great chorus. Martina gets way too maudlin for way too long, but fans will eat this up regardless.

Reminds us of: Harper Valley PTA

Download these: If I Had Your Name and Cry Cry ('Til the Sun Shines)

Grade: C+

SONG OF THE WEEK

Jennifer Lopez

Song: Que Hiciste

Album: Como Ama Una Mujer (Epic)

In stores: Now

Why we care: After that Bennifer nonsense, we were sooo over Jenny from the block. But we're strangely digging this single from her new Spanish-language album. We have no idea what Fly Girl is saying, but our booty hasn't stopped shaking since we heard it.

Why we like it: It's silly and fun, and the shimmying guitar strums and conga-line beat make us bust out embarrassing moves. Plus Jen seems more honest singing in another language. Weird, huh?

Reminds us of: How she should dump creepy husband Marc Anthony. Really. He's a drip.

Song grade: B

Sean Daly can be reached sdaly@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8467. His Pop Life blog is at blogs.tampabay.com/popmusic.

[Last modified April 5, 2007, 12:40:50]