Minaj’s ‘Pinkprint’ delivers grown-up complexity

Nicki Minaj
“The Pinkprint”
(Young Money/Cash Money/Republic Records)

Maybe we knew -- even in 2010 -- when Nicki Minaj released her debut set that beneath the fluorescent wigs and zany accents, there resided a real-life grown-up. On some level, we surely understood that the now 32-year-old rapper had complex emotions and a past, and all the things that make stars more like regular people and less like characters.

But not until now, with her third release, “The Pinkprint” -- which includes production from Boi-1da, Zaytoven and Dr. Luke, among others -- has Minaj conveyed that message so clearly. The set’s first single “Pills N Potions” captures the heart and soul of the album, even with songs like the Drake and Lil Wayne-assisted “Only” and “Anaconda” (along with its bootylicious music video) drumming up considerable buzz.

Throughout her latest set, Minaj oscillates between boss and broken. “Who had Kanye (West) saying, ‘She’s a problem’?” Minaj boasts on “Want Some More.” She lives up to the compliment with sharp storytelling on the sinister “Four Door Aventador,” which has her name-dropping everyone from designer Donna Karan to actor Shia LaBeouf.

It seems as though the gap is closing between Minaj’s on- and offstage personas, and so far, that’s a good thing. (AP)


Gov’t Mule covers Pink Floyd on new live album

Gov’t Mule
“Dark Side of the Mule”
(Evil Teen Records)

When you’re playing music for 20 years with the caveat that no two shows will ever be the same, you had better write a lot of music, or cover some great songs. Gov’t Mule does both pretty well, most notably during a Halloween concert in Boston back in 2008. For that marathon show, the jam band played some of their own songs, then covered Pink Floyd in the next two sets.

The album title is a play on words, obviously referring to Pink Floyd’s seminal 1973 album, “Dark Side of the Moon,” and while that record is nicely represented here, the 14 songs of varying lengths include an abbreviated version of the “Dark Side” album that goes from “Breathe (in the Air)” to “Money,” but it’s the more intense versions of “Comfortably Numb,” and “One of These Days,” and even the more obscure, “Fearless” that stand out.

The magic with this collection lies in how well it honors the original material, without sounding like a bunch of tired old covers.

Given the fact the band doesn’t like to repeat shows, this live recording may be the closest you get to hearing them cover Pink Floyd. (AP)


Charli XCX’s sophomore CD is no ‘Sucker’

Charli XCX
“Sucker”
(Atlantic Records)

Charli XCX, the British artist with a penchant for teenage churlishness, knows a thing or two about warfare. With her second major label album, “Sucker,” she throws a smoke grenade of rock-pop digestibles and runs for cover while the listeners stumble around intoxicated and confused.

Having made a name for herself in the last 18 months on collaborations such as Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy,” the 22-year-old is one more weird and wonderful song short of becoming the new “it” artist.

First single “Boom Clap” -- also on the soundtrack of the film “The Fault in Our Stars” -- is an electrifying synth with a punchy hook. The dark sound of “Break the Rules” gives her an edge mitigated by the somewhat childish chant, “I don’t wanna go to school / I just wanna break the rules.” The song, however, works as a potent instigator to party.

The title track is another cheeky rock invective thrown at all those boring adults who don’t know how to have fun. The sound throughout “Sucker” borrows riffs heavily from mid-’90s alternative rock bands like Elastica, especially on tracks like “Gold Coins,” “Hanging Around” and “Breaking Up.” (AP)