Boyz II Men
“Throwback”
(three and one half stars)
Koch Records
After a recording hiatus and the departure of principal singer Michael McCary, the powerhouse R&B band Boyz II Men, now a trio, bounces back with this disc of classic soul covers.
Songs as diverse as Hall & Oates’ “Sara Smile” and Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature ” receive treatments that respect the original arrangements but add the classic Boyz II Men vocal harmonies.
The disc’s top cover is the trio’s version of Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” that speeds up the tune slightly and adds a rich funk bottom groove.
There isn’t a single dog on the disc, but considering this is a collection of cover songs, there should have been more to “Throwback” than the 11 tracks delivered here.
Donovan
“Beat Cafi”
(three stars)
Appleseed Recordings
Donovan Leitch, the Brit folkie turned ’60s pop star, returns for a new-century run with this new release.
This disc – his first since superproducer Rick Rubin unsuccessfully attempted to resurrect his career with the album “Sutras” eight years ago – emphasizes Donovan’s easy, mellow-yellow croon.
While none of the songs has the infectious melodic power of his classics like “Catch the Wind” or “Season of the Witch,” the delivery is unmistakable.
Gone are exotic instruments like sitars and harps; instead, Donovan relies on drums and guitars to carry his voice.
Listen for the blues-to-folk arrangement on “The Cuckoo” and the unexpected “Question,” a jazz/hip-hop hybrid.
Steve Earle
“The Revolution Starts … Now”
(four stars)
Artemis Records
On Steve Earle’s latest, country’s radical son adds his commentary on post-9/11 American life with an antiwar album.
On his 2002 disc, “Jerusalem,” he incited anger by singing about American Taliban John Walker Lindh. This time out, Earle’s songwriting skills are less incendiary, yet just as cutting.
Because war is universal and timeless, this disc manages to transcend current politics.
Sure, his campy love song “Condi, Condi” (dedicated to Condoleezza Rice) has undercurrents of Republican lust, but Earle’s disdain of organized conflict is bigger than any current affair.
On “Warrior,” Earle performs a soliloquy to “Henry V,” a musing on the folly of war.
Ben Folds
“Super D”
(two and one half stars)
Epic Records
In an unusual marketing experiment, pianist Ben Folds’ latest release isn’t an album, but the final part of an EP trilogy that has been released exclusively through the Internet. “Speed Graphic” and “Sunny 16′” preceded his latest EP, which comes on line Tuesday. On this new one, Folds explores complex acoustic piano pop that sounds like an odd mix of Billy Joel, Traffic and Dr. John.
There are three Folds originals here, the best of which is “Adelaide,” a propulsive ballad with his voice, rather than the piano, at the center of the song. “Kalamazoo,” also original, is more interesting musically, but its somber tones are jarring from an artist known for bright melodies.
The collection also includes a version of the Darkness’ “Get Your Hands Off My Woman.”