Album of the week: John Martyn, Delta Spirit and Chris Cornell

Mar 26 2009

Entert@inment

John Martyn - May You Never-The Very Best Of John Martyn *****

A FINE single CD compilation of work by the late great John Martyn, who at his best sung a truly individual brand of soul-infused folk. Like friend Nick Drake, Martyn never quite transcended cult status, but his work has aged extremely well. This collection is largely culled from his early seventies gold patch and his best-known album, 1973's Solid Air, is well represented. Equally great are heart-on-sleeve songs in the same vein like Couldn't Love You More and Head And Heart. Towards the end of the disc, matters diversify with hints at Martyn's echoplex experiments (Small Hours) and occasional catastrophic misfires (Over The Rainbow).

Delta Spirit

Ode To Sunshine

IF it's not too much of a contradiction to say so, San Diegan quintet Delta Spirit are highly original in their derivativeness, in the same way as The Beesor The Strokes. Delta Spirit are firmly rooted in roots rock and country.

There sult is a rambunctious, irresistible record informed by The Band and The Stones at their torn and frayed best. The song writing and performances are great and varied, from the barrelhouse piano of Trashcan to the an the mic Vietnam/Iraq protest song, People Turn Around. *****

1990s

Kicks

THE1990sareoneof those bands you can't quite understand why they haven't become more popular than they are. Their songs are catchy, indie tunes which have you singing along.

With their latest release, the 1990scontinue along this theme.

Style wise, their up-temp on umbers are similar to Franz Ferdinand, especially Vondel park and Tell Me When You're Ready, while on Every body Please Relax there's a touch of Weezer to them. I Don't Even Know What That Is is an album highlight, seemingly mixing various styles within three minutes. *****

Chris Cornell

Scream

THIS is the third solo outing from the ex-Sound garden and Audio slave singer. The grunge god wanted to do "something different" and has teamed up with top R&B producer Timberland to produce an album that's already had fans accusing him of selling out. Best tracks are the Eastern-inspired Take Me Alive, Enemy and Climbing The Walls.

*****