New and Notable This Week

• Public Enemy: How You Sell Soul to a Soulless People Who Sold Their Soul?
  It’s been nineteen years since It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back was released. Now Public Enemy is back with an album bearing an even longer title. And while it’s hard to ever live up to that first legendary album, this album actually comes amazingly close in quality, even if not in influence. It’s amusing to see them show back up on the scene and show everyone else how it’s supposed to be done. Their musical style hasn’t changed much but the 21st Century studio production values give their sound everything it needs in the way of an update. In my opinion, “Harder Than You Think” and “Black is Back” are the stand-out tracks.
• Grace Potter & the Nocturnals: This Is Somewhere
  Bluesy, folksy, country, soul, rock. If that sounds all over the place: think Bonnie Raitt, think Nora Jones, think Edie Brickell, think Lucinda Williams, think Patti Smith, think Joan Osborne.
• Carla Bruni: No Promises
  The second album by the Italian/French model/singer has a few nice songs, but overall it’s not as good as her first effort. Her first was all in French; this one’s in English and has been out in the UK since January. Still I think she easily takes the trophy for most beautiful singer of the year…
• The Budos Band: The Budos Band II
  Afro-beat with a heavy dose of funk—merging Fela Kuti and The Meters.
• 1990s: Cookies
  I don’t think it’s nearly as good or catchy as Kings of Leon, The Fratellis, OK Go or Louis XIV, but if you like that up-tempo, fun-pop sound you might like it.

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