Eddie Vedder – “Earthling”
Oh, you hadn’t expected that. Herbert Grönemeyer isn’t making another record in English? Unmistakable: the sparkling piano, the great pathos, the compressed vocals, and … wait a minute, who is the guy on the cover? But that is Eddie Vedder. The singer of Pearl Jam. Oh, there it is: “Earthling” (Universal), a solo album. But with this Herbertesque opening number you really can be wrong. After that it’s a lot more American. “Power of Right” sounds like that Kings Of Leon“Long Way” is a trucker song in the Tom Petty tradition, “Fallout Today” commemorates the Eagles, “The Dark” could be by Springsteen. Hats off, Vedder can transform into anything and everything, but at some point you start to wonder where Eddie is actually hiding. If you want to find him, you should listen to his “Ukulele Songs” from 2011 again: just one man and his instrument – and a lot of soul. Max Fellman
Alt-J – “The Dream”
Welcome to the 137-room establishment: If the English trio Alt-J When you release a new album, it’s always a wonderful opportunity to lose yourself as in an old haunted house, walking your way through all the echoes, quotes, references. So now “The Dream” (Infectious Music/BMG). Walk in, past a delicate acoustic guitar, suddenly there are harsh rhythms, a breath Beach Boysthen four bars of electropop, around the next corner a barber shop quartet prances by, then a bit of retro beat ecstasy again, followed by a verse of psychedelica, then a church choir, the Pet Shop Boys meet an opera singer, violins rejoice … As fascinating as it is breathless. But the three hold the threads together so well that the whole thing never unravels. And no matter how confused you may be as a visitor to the castle, you will always find your way back to the entrance hall. And then immediately rush down the next corridor again, looking for more rooms. Whoa! Max Fellman
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe
Big Thief have a high output. Two albums in 2019. 2020 Adrianne Lenker’s famous solo album, 2021 a live EP. “By the way” they recorded a double album – “Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe” (4AD) originally contained almost 50 songs. Now there are still 20, but each one has its right to exist. Sometimes they walk very close to banal indie or country folk kitsch, but you can listen to songs like “Certainty” almost indefinitely until you cry. With happiness, of course. Juliana Liebert
Mary J. Blige – “Good Morning Gorgeous”
told last year Mary J Blige in an interview, in 2016 she felt for the first time that she deserved and could enjoy her success. 2016, just do the math again: the woman had been one of America’s greatest R’n’B singers for more than 20 years, had sold 40 million records, won nine Grammys, had fine roles in films and sitcoms, and a Broadway show behind and an Oscar nomination. And yet she was always marked by the hardships of her early years (drugs, marital problems). She seems to be doing better today. The title of their new album sounds like a confident greeting in the bathroom mirror: “Good Morning Gorgeous” (Warner Music). Has actually become a very relaxed affair, even if Blige tackles the serious issues of her life in the songs. It’s never going to be dramatic. Colleagues from the hip-hop neighborhood provide some laid-back beats, guests like Anderson .Paak and Usher add a bit of mustard. And next weekend, Mary J. Blige will be performing at America’s most important concert, the Superbowl halftime show. may she enjoy it. She deserves it. Max Fellman
Sonda School – “Invincible”
One often unknots something reflexively about German-speaking – especially in pop. Especially when the seriousness of the world is being negotiated. But actually also when it’s funny. “Invincible” (Solitary Man Records/BMG), the new album by Sonda school, would definitely offer potential again in all directions. A muscular record full of steroids, the proportion of German rock is higher than that of ska. Very direct with it – few nuances. Complicated work but then too. A mourning album. Naturally. Guitarist Daniel “Blubbi” Junker died last summer. The song “If I ever go (it’s OK)” got a very unexpected meaning. A Corona album probably too. But one that deals with the whole standstill in a very positive way – with beer, for example. Very snappy line: “I’m sorry, it really doesn’t make sense today / Call me when I’m sober.” Bottom up! Jacob Biazza
Trentemøller – “Memoria”
The Dane Anders Trentemøller is always best when he lets it flow, when he just follows the sounds and doesn’t care too much about song structures. Between reduced electropop and ambient reverie, his previous albums were sometimes wonderfully enraptured, a gentle gliding from cloud of sound to cloud of sound. In the meantime he likes it more pop, on “Memoria” (InMyRoom) there is a lot of singing and clear choruses, sometimes it’s almost like classic synth pop. You can like it because it’s more catchy, more concise – on the other hand, the beautiful feeling of being lost is also lost a bit. But hey, the album consists of 14 tracks, and since most people only listen to playlists these days, it would be a good idea to put half of the tracks in the pop-for-the-subway list, the other half in the Look out the window when it rains list. Max Fellman
Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators – “4”
It’s a question of faith again, what to expect from a hard rock album like this. And what about a quasi-mythical figure like the guitarist Slash. So let’s put it this way, with a lot of love for both musicians and project: Slash feat. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators really don’t have a single compelling, new, unheard idea on their new album “4” that they would add to the old lady Rock’n’Roll. But the way they pull it all off – massive, roughly welded riffs, old rumbling rock mechanics, some very subtle, poisonous solos, and all the bang and thump recorded live in a Nashville studio – deserves it but still more than pure age respect. Jacob Biazza
The Jazz Butcher – “The Highest in the Land”
Finally, a little reminder of a forgotten hero. Or, well, he would probably have found “hero” stupid himself. Last year Pat Fish died, who had been known by the name since the 80s The Jazz Butcher made some very nice indie-pop records, very British, very casual, always with a slightly mocking twist at the corners of his mouth. One final album is now being released posthumously, “The Highest in the Land” (Wallpaper Records). Light-footed as before, good-humored grumpy vocals, airy guitars and always a hint of freshly brewed tea. sigh. Thanks again for everything, Mr. Fish. Max Fellman