New This Week

M.I.A., Savage, Brutha and more

Dec. 23-29, 2008

HEAR MUSIC
Listen to Faith Hill's "Joy to the World" (only on MSN) and more holiday music

By Kurt B. Reighley
Special to MSN Music

Global fusion artist M.I.A. had already generated tons of buzz, via the Internet and file-sharing, before she crossed over. But it was a motion picture, specifically "Pineapple Express," that propelled her "Paper Planes" onto the charts. Now another film is keeping her profile high: "Slumdog Millionaire," the rages-to-riches black comedy by Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "28 Days Later"), features "O ... Saya."

Along with this brand new collaboration with film composer A.R. Rahman (who M.I.A. has called "the Indian Timbaland"), "Paper Planes" pops up twice on the soundtrack album. Don't skip the lean-and-funky, new-wave-textured remix by DFA. The rest of the OST is stellar, too, forward-thinking electronic cuts that mirror the chaos and color of Mumbai, from the hip-hop of "Gangsta Blues" to "Aaj Ki Raat," a delightful tune pitched somewhere between a Bollywood production number, classic ABBA and an arms-in-the-air trance anthem.

Speaking of hip-hop from exotic locales, and Seth Rogan comedies: New Zealand rapper Savage has done well by the motion picture biz, too. His track "Swing" featured prominently in "Knocked Up," and he made a cameo on the "Superbad" soundtrack. An original member of the Down Under hip-hop posse Deceptikonz, his U.S. debut, "Savage Island," includes two versions of "Swing," with guests spots by Souljah Boy Tell'Em and Pitbull, respectively. And Akon pops up on "Moonshine," which already went No. 1 in Australia and New Zealand. Members of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. and YoungBloodZ, as well as Baby Bash, are also among the castaways on this "Island."

While Savage's set sounds like something from "Survivor," the story behind Brutha is a better case of art imitating reality TV. The self-titled debut from this South Central quintet is the product of their highly rated BET program "Brothers To Brutha," which follows the attempts of these real-life siblings (just like the Jackson 5 and, um, the Osmonds) to achieve pop stardom while putting family first. Recorded in Atlanta and including contributions from Jazze Pha (Ciara, Nelly), the 10-song set includes the lean and effervescent "Can't Hear the Music," featuring Fabolous, "She's Gone (It's Too Late)," and the contemporary quiet storm cut "Set It Off." (Alas, their a capella version of Kanye's "Love Lockdown" isn't here, but check it out on YouTube.)

Remember when compact discs were introduced in the '80s and folks replaced all their favorite albums? Now, with the resurgence of vinyl LPs, labels are getting smart and reissuing classic titles on wax. (So fans can buy them yet again. Thanks, guys!) Three of Van Morrison's finest, from what is generally considered his Golden Age, are back this week: "Astral Weeks" (1968), "Moondance" (1970) and the less-mystical "His Band and the Street Choir" (1970). The folks at Rhino/Warner Bros. are making all of them available on heavy, 180-gram vinyl -- just in time for devotees to bone up on Van's back catalog before the early 2009 release of the "Astral Weeks" live shows he recorded at the Hollywood Bowl this past November.

Rhino has also been diligent about digital-only reissues of out-of-print titles from its deep, well-stocked vaults. This month, acts being rolled out include R&B crooner Patti Austin; a whopping nine albums by soft-rock icons Seals & Crofts; Chic protégées Sister Sledge; solo discs by the Who's Roger Daltry; and many more. Especially exciting is the return of two sought-after full-lengths by Los Angeles' Mael brothers, better known as Sparks: Their self-titled 1971 debut and its 1972 follow-up "A Woofer In Tweeter's Clothing," generally regarded as a high mark in the vast canon (21 studio albums -- all of which they played live in London earlier this year -- and counting) of this eccentric, ever-changing act. And if you missed their 2008 smash, "Exotic Creatures of the Deep," when it snuck into U.S. markets a few weeks back, seek it out now. How can you not love an album that features the lyric "Photoshop me out of your life"?

Not all zombies are as vile as the flesh-eating ones in Danny Boyle's "28 Days." Heck, some of them are much-loved. Like the '60s rock group of the same name, featuring the sublime vocals of Ron Argent and Colin Blunstone. Clearly, the Rollo Treadway, a rising indie four-piece from Brooklyn, clearly adore those Zombies, as well as the Beach Boys and High Llamas, judging from the lush, baroque pop of their self-titled new album. It's so sunny and seductive, it takes a minute to realize the 13 songs form a narrative about kidnapping! But hey, isn't that what the holidays are about? It's the time of the season ... ahem.

Discuss | Send us an e-mail | More features