BROOKE WHITE "High Hopes & Heartbreak" (June Baby) 3 stars
"American Idol" judge Randy Jackson has never executive-produced an album for any of the myriad contestants in the eight-year history of the popular program. Until now.
It's surprising to see his name attached to Brooke White's first post-"Idol" release (she'd issued "Songs From the Attic," a promising indie album, pre-"Idol"). The gifted singer-songwriter played guitar and piano and sang well, but always seemed an anachronism on the teen-driven program when she somehow managed to make it into Season Seven's Top 5.
Her musical heroes, she had said, were '70s icons like Carole King, Fleetwood Mac and Carly Simon, and her goal was to create an album for today that had the song-to-song flow of the oldies she cherished.
"High Hopes & Heartbreak" doesn't have the import or musical heft of a "Tapestry" or "Rumours." Some of the tracks, like the single "Radio Radio," feel lightweight by comparison. Still, it's thankful Jackson allows White to continue in her easygoing '70s vibe and doesn't push her to be overly contemporary, even when she pulls out a credible Kings of Leon cover ("Use Somebody").
White is best in thoughtful singer-songwriter mode, as on this CD's melancholic "Out of the Ashes," a ballad that could easily have been plucked from a Carly Simon album, or the breezy "California Song" in which she name-drops America, the Mamas & the Papas, and Joni Mitchell's early-period LP, "Ladies of the Canyon." White ably evokes the sunny spirit of all of these icons without slavishly quoting them.
The disco-lite title track is the closest to modernity Jackson prods White toward. But, even here, the infectious melody and reliance on timeless instrumentation -- as opposed to trendy hardware -- makes White's engaging "High Hopes" a peaceful easy feeling to take on the road. -- Howard Cohen, MCT
JORDIN SPARKS "Battlefield" (Jive) 1 .5 stars
Jordin Sparks won the "American Idol" Season Six title in 2007 at age 17 and remains the youngest winner to date.
On "Battlefield," her sophomore CD, Team Jordin nudges the 19-year-old into slightly more grown-up territory, but at the expense of the two things that helped Sparks win "Idol": her estimable vocal prowess and her ebullient personality.
Contemporary producers including Dr. Luke & T-Pain ("Watch You Go"), Ryan Tedder ("Battlefield") and Harvey Mason ("Don't Let It Go to Your Head"), provide generic, formulaic beats and a steady stream of depressing broken-relationship lyrics. Sparks, who famously talked of wearing a purity ring, could be the most unlucky-in-love teen in "Idol" history if her constant songs of heartache are to be believed.
She's certainly unlucky in music, this second time around. This faceless pop/R&B, and a pointless refashioning of the 1983 Shannon hit, "Let the Music Play," drifts by like weightless sea foam. Only the catchiness of the title track's hook leaves a small impression. The overproduced songs are also pitched in a key too high for Sparks' voice so she winds up sounding thin or desperate as on the opening "Walking on Snow," a mediocre soft rocker that sounds like a Kelly Clarkson or Miley Cyrus reject.
Sparks needs to rally better troops and find a voice and style she can call her own. One suggestion: lighten up and sing age-specific material. It's worked for superstar Taylor Swift and that country-pop songwriter doesn't have 1/10th the vocal ability Sparks displayed weekly on "Idol." -- Howard Cohen, MCT
CHALI 2NA "Fish Outta Water" (Decon) 2 .5 stars
"Fish Outta Water" is a disappointingly accurate title for the overdue debut album from Chali 2na, the distinctly deep-voiced Chicago rapper from two critically acclaimed Los Angeles groups: the now-defunct hip-hop sextet Jurassic 5 and Latin funk band Ozomatli. The self-described "friendly neighborhood baritone" was often the highlight of the songs he contributed to, but when left to his own devices on first solo release, the results are often monotonous.
The most glaring problem on "Fish" is the lackluster production. Without the old-school breakbeats and funky horns his groups were known for, the album is relegated to sparse, looped synth beats that, matched with his James Earl Jones-esque voice, create quite a boring equation. This is most evident on songs like "So Crazy," and the Talib Kweli-assisted first single, "Lock St Down."
Much stronger tracks include odes to fatherhood ("Righteous Way"), classic hip-hop ("When Will I See You Again" with Elzhi from Slum Village) and the artistic side of graffiti ("Graff Time"), all of which combine focused narratives and soulful backdrops to bring the best out of 2na.
With a star-studded guest list including Anthony Hamilton, Beenie Man, Stephen and Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley and sometime Ozomatli rapper Kanetic Source, Chali 2na is never left alone for too long. But none of the artists are able to duplicate the harmony he had with his former bandmates. Here's to a Jurassic 5 reunion. -- Adrian Ruhi, MCT
