hottrax The Streets A Grand Don’t Come For Free (Locked On/679/Warner) Proof you don’t have to be hot, proper or even in tune to possess star quality. The U.K.’s The Streets, aka Mike Skinner, is the musi<strong>ca</strong>l equivalent of Coronation Street or The East Enders. While he’s considered a rapper, Skinner’s flow is more Cockney–spoken word, a kind of stac<strong>ca</strong>to monotone that’s so regular it’s brilliant. Over a blend of hip hop, soul and garage beats, he unpacks the “sh** in my ‘ead,” and his is filled with wonderfully mundane stories. The guy has lower-class charm that could score a bird in any Laundromat. Shiftyy Happy Love Sick (Maverick/Warner) The former co-leader of Crazy Town (remember “Butterfly”?) makes his solo debut with this collection of upbeat, hip hop/pop songs. Co-written with various people, including No Doubt guitarist Tom Dumont and Paul Oakenfold, the songs are so chipper they could give LFO a run. He even keeps the vibes high on “Better Place,” a tribute to his best friend who passed away. But on the stand-out cut, “Take Away The Pain,” he gets real about his battle with alcoholism, talking of being “one slip away from death/12 steps from paradise.” Happy Love Sick is the perfect title. Pearl P Jam Live At Benaroya Hall October 22nd 2003 (Ten Club/BMG) The band finally releases its first official full-length (mostly) acoustic album, a 24song double disc recorded live at the benefit for YouthCare Y at the 2500-seat Seattle venue. Among the songs are the first live performance of “Man of the Hour,” and covers of Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War,” the Ramones’ “I Believe in Miracles” and Johnny Cash’s “25 Minutes to Go.” Between– song cheers max out for such hits as “Black,” complete with an impressive crowd sing-along. Eddie Vedder has one of the most commanding voices in rock, so to hear these songs performed live is amazing 44 www. w tribute.<strong>ca</strong> Coheed And Cambria In Keeping p g Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3 (Equal Vision/Columbia/Sony) With indie success that could not be ignored, this progressive NYC rock band’s second album, In Keeping Secrets Of Silent Earth: 3, has been reissued by Columbia. The followup to 2002’s The Second Stage Turbine Blade is Part Two of an epic saga about a parallel world to which characters Coheed and Cambria belong. From the blistering title track to the more radio-friendly prog-pop of “A Favor House Atlantic,” this is a complex, dramatic band that really doesn’t fit in with any modern genre — not unlike another cerebral band, Rush. The Tea Party Seven Circles y (EMI Music Canada) The writing’s on the wall and The Tea Party’s seventh studio album is poised to be its biggest. It certainly is the Canadian rock trio’s most accessible, with potential singles in the soaring “Stargazer,” powerful “Wishing You Would W Stay” (featuring Holly McNarland), poppy “Empty Glass,” and ballads “If I Promise An Ocean” and “The Watcher.” The first single, “Writing’s On The Wall,” however, is more familiar TTP hard rock, as are the Middle Eastern-introed rocker “Luxuria” and heavy “Overload.” Having experienced a difficult year with the passing of their manager, The Tea Party are gonna fulfill his wish. Doctor High Is As High Gets (SUMO/MapleMusic/Universal Music Canada) If you liked The Watchmen, Doctor is the new band from Toronto-based T singer Danny Greaves and bassist/guitarist Rob Higgins, formerly of The Royals and Change Of Heart. Billed as a duo (even though there is a full band), the songs are like a cooler, heavier, upto-date version of the band Greaves fronted for over 12 years. The first single, “What Makes You Think He’s Lucky,” is a fierce rocker, as are many of the tracks. “Sweet U,” however, is a trippy sexy sounds<strong>ca</strong>pe, and the propulsive “Me And Nick Drake,” by title alone, is wicked. —Karen Bliss <strong>Tribute</strong> October 2004
TM “Totally Cool!” –Gene Shalit,The Today Show the storm is coming! ON DVD AND VIDEO OCTOBER 12 © 2004 Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Inc. All Rights Reserved. "Twentieth Century Fox", "Fox" and their associated logos are the property of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.
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