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)


Depeche Mode evolves, doesn‘t violate past

Depeche Mode
“Delta Machine”
(Columbia Records)

If you haven’t caught up with Depeche Mode since “Catching up With Depeche Mode” or other collections from the band’s 1980s and early `90s heyday of synthesizer-drenched, impossibly addictive pop, it’s time to check in.

The British modern rock trio‘s 13th studio album, “Delta Machine,” presents a group that’s older, wiser and evolving. There’s not, at least on initial listens, an abundance of hooks. While the ear-candy quotient might be lower than on records of yore, the result encourages -- and often rewards -- deeper listening.

The men who once made many music fans fear the demise of the guitar have become masters of their electronic machines -- in part by recognizing when less is more. The spare, industrial start of “Welcome to My World” gives way to the strains of choral string sounds in a section that sonically and lyrically recalls 1990’s “World in My Eyes.” “Broken” opens with disjointed, tinny sounds that retreat to the background and provide a discordant twist to an otherwise catchy, straightforward chorus.

Other standouts include the more traditionally modal “Secret to the End,” with a theatrical lead vocal by frontman Dave Gahan, and the bluesy, snaky “Slow.”

(AP)


Rapper Eve’s new album unimpressive

Eve
“Lip Lock”
(From The Rib/RED)

With her first studio album in 11 years, Eve returns with an unimpressive, unfulfilling new offering, “Lip Lock.”

The rapper’s rhymes lack passion, her wordplay is too simple, her hooks come across as mundane and she fails to find a musical identity on the 12-track album -- particularly on single “She Bad Bad” and “EVE,” featuring Miss Kitty.

The album includes top producers like The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz and Rico Love, but even they were unable to save this poor album.

The bright spots are the guest appearances that include Snoop Dogg (“Mama in the Kitchen”), Missy Elliott (“Wanna Be”), Dawn Richard (“Keep Me From You”), Chrisette Michele (“Never Gone”) and Gabe Saporta (“Make It Out This Town”). But each talented guest overshadows Eve in every way.

On “Grind or Die,” Eve reminds critics she’s been banking millions of dollars internationally from Belgium to Japan despite not releasing a studio album since 2002. She won a Grammy and ventured into television and movies, but fell into music irrelevance after two disappointing singles in 2007.

She may need to go back to the drawing board after this lackluster display.

(AP)