Overlooked Alternatives: new releases for May 24, 2005

A little bit of everything for every taste in music this week, so it seems:

Dave Brubeck - London Flat, London Sharp: It's hard to believe Brubeck is 85 years old this year and is still turning out new music that is nearly as sprightly and likeable as his classic Time Out, but here it is, another year, another Brubeck. His Quartet this time is filled out by familiar names: Bobby Militello on flute and sax, Randy Jones on drums, and Michael Moore on bass. I think it's safe to assume that it's not that Michael Moore.

Robert Cray - Twenty: My dad introduced me to Cray's urban-blues long ago, and from the looks of things, little has changed with Cray: he's still putting out dependable, if unspectacular albums of his smooth brand of blues music that fills in that overlooked category of music that can be played in the background for pretty much anyone and it won't offend in any way. Cray's blues are soulful, but have enough sheen that they aren't going to drag people's mood down, but they're real, and therefore it never feels like inconsequential background music. Robert Cray's music is the kind of thing that's essentially safe, but not so safe that you'll hear it all over adult-contemporary stations, and guitar-afficianados should find plenty to enjoy in his well-developed sound.

Bruce Dickinson - Tyranny of Souls: It's hard to believe that, in 2005, the voice of Iron Maiden is still able to pull it off. More than 20 years after joining Maiden in the wake of Paul Di'Anno's dismissal, Dickinson is still the "air-raid siren" he was back then, his voice hardly showing any age except for in the very highest registers. After two albums with the 6-piece Maiden collective, Dickinson's turning out another solo album under the direction of producer Roy Z, who was behind his incredible Chemical Wedding and slightly less incredible Accident of Birth albums. Unfortunately, Maiden guitarist Adrian Smith isn't along for the ride this time, but I'm sure he's found a suitable replacement for him. Blogcritics' Marty Dodge gives this one his stamp of full-approval.

Article Author: Tom Johnson

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