James Blake shines in electronic glory

James Blake
``Overgrown‘’
(Universal Republic)

If you weren‘t convinced of his talent by James Blake’s debut album, his sophomore release, ``Overgrown,‘’ will do the trick.

The London-born singer-songwriter-producer returns with an album that shines a light on his 2011 self-titled dubstep debut, which earned him a Mercury Prize nomination. ``Overgrown‘’ is a collection of songs that will break ground in electro soul, and Blake does so impressively in a 40-minute run.

The lead single, the soulful ``Retrograde,‘’ is as much fragile as it is powerful. It‘s the ultimate chill-out tune filled with a feeling that does exactly what the song says: ``Ignore everybody else, we’re alone now,‘’ he sings with a hint of refined auto-tune.

The new material reflects and focuses on Blake‘s growth in confidence and songwriting, and his approach is audacious. He spent time with rapper Kanye West and Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon last year, and it seems their musical prowess has rubbed off on the 24-year-old singer. ``Overgrown‘’ has a new direction as Blake shifts from creating songs with various sounds to songs with storytelling and depth.

Wu Tang Clan‘s RZA is featured on the hip-hop-flavored ``Take a Fall for Me,’‘ and Brian Eno donates his talents on the rhythmic ``Digital Lion.’‘ But neither guest takes away from the emotion of Blake’s vocals.

(AP)


Eric Church is rocking on live album

Eric Church
“Caught in the Act”
(EMI Nashville)

On the heels of Eric Church‘s first million-selling album, ``Chief,’‘ and after achieving his first pair of No. 1 hits in the last two years, the country music rebel takes the unusual step of releasing a 17-song concert album, ``Caught in the Act.’‘ The move points out that Church is selling out arenas not on the number of top hits he has, but on his reputation as a macho guy who likes to party -- and put on an exciting live show.

``I like my country rocking,’‘ Church sings in ``How `Bout You?’‘ as Jeff Cease’s inventive hard-rock guitar solo ricochets off the pounding drums of bandmate Craig Wright. Producer Jay Joyce pushes Church‘s voice up in the mix, and the singer’s interaction with the crowd is emphasized throughout.

Church constantly encourages his rowdy audience, exhorting them to bellow the chorus of ``Drink in My Hand‘’ and ``Jack Daniels.‘’ Even when he plays a solo acoustic version of ``Sinners Like Me,‘’ he tells everyone, ``It‘s just going to be us, so sing loud.’‘

Altogether, ``Caught in the Act’‘ presents a much more engaging showcase for Church’s songs than a dry collection of top hits would have.

(AP)


Smith realizes promise with comeback

Alice Smith
``She‘’
(RainWater Recordings)

Six years is a long time to build up anticipation.

That‘s how long it’s been since Alice Smith released her sultry, soulful 2007 debut, ``For Lovers, Dreamers & Me.‘’ With that album, the singer-songwriter was tagged with that coveted ``next big thing‘’ title. And then ... silence.

She went through the label maze, had a child, performed here and there, but ``She‘’ is her first collection of music since that promising first album.

With her sophomore album, Smith shows the promise is still there. Vocally, Smith is still a powerhouse who vacillates between smoldering and soaring; lyrically, she can still craft ear-catching couplets, like on ``The One.‘’ Still, the magic that made ``For Lovers‘’ so strong, and enduring, is largely missing from ``She.‘’ Technically, she gets points, but few songs on the album stir the soul quite like its predecessor: Much of the spark of that album was due to an irreverent sass that‘s missing here. Maybe she just grew up, but ``She’‘ sounds a bit staid at times. The most vital performance on the album is her cover of ``Fool for You’‘ by CeeLo Green -- who could teach her a thing or two about vibrance.

(AP)