What's new in the pop music spotlight?
- What's new is that David Cook, fresh off his "American Idol" victory, appears on the charts with five different songs. He's a pleasant enough singer, with a nice rasp he can call on when needed, but these songs suffer from awful studio musician work. "Hungry Like The Wolf", the old Duran Duran song, suffers the most from a busy, careless backing performance. Dolly Parton's classic "Little Sparrow" fares better with a leaner, calmer arrangement but it also brings out Mr. Cook's inner Michael Bolton (I couldn't even find one of the songs, probably next week).
- Out of eleven new songs this week, seven are from "American Idol". Aside from David Cook, we get a new song from Jordin Sparks (not a great one: "One Step At A Time") and another faux honky-tonk hell-raiser from Carrie Underwood, "Last Name". Golly that Carrie Underwood song is as plastic and polished as anything we've heard from Nashville (we also hear a new one from Brooks & Dunn--less plastic, but a weak song).
- Some years ago, there was a wry, funny song from Jill Sobule called "I Kissed A Girl". She was sweet and cute in the song and the video was a hilarious bit with beefcake model Fabio playing a funny cameo. Now there's another song with the same title from Katy Perry. It's a sleazy club number exploiting bisexuality, missing the charm of innocent awakening in the older tune. And Ms. Perry has a strident voice!
- Rand Steiger: Hexadecathlon: "A New-Slain Knight"
- Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 2
- Billie Holiday: The Quintessential Billie Holiday, Volume III
- The Earlies: These Were The Earlies
- David Diamond: Symphony No. 5
- Aimee Mann: I'm With Stupid
- Franz Schubert: Piano Quintet In A, "The Trout"
- Charles Ives: Sonatas For Piano
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