Albums of the Week
Beck
“Morning Phase”
★½
It can seem like no one takes Beck seriously unless he’s being really dull. In that case, this downcast, heavily orchestrated album — his first studio release since 2008 — might as well be a religious tract, because it could put a Mexican jumping bean to sleep. (No surprise that “Morning Phase” is being touted as a sequel to 2002’s equally drowsy “Sea Change.”) Occasionally, something pokes out of the mire to induce pleasure — the looping, jaunty piano line of “Heart Is a Drum,” the near-psychedelic studio effects of “Unforgiven.” Then again, plenty of Gordon Lightfoot albums already exist.
St. Vincent
“St. Vincent”
★★
The fourth album of St. Vincent — the alias of guitarist-singer-songwriter Annie Clark (not counting a recent David Byrne collaboration) — is obviously smart and full of ideas. Her guitar playing is unique, with riffs and brief leads flying at you from every direction, dirty but never cluttered. Their surprise factor is aided by the herky-jerky rhythms of tracks like “Birth in Reverse” and “Digital Witness.” But little of it really sticks. It’s music you have to work to appreciate fully, and even after you zero in, it doesn’t have much give. Highly admirable creativity doesn’t always translate to enjoyment.
Downloads of the Week
Neneh Cherry feat. Robyn
“Out of the Black”
★★½
This single from Cherry’s first solo album since 1996’s “Man” is modest, with pop-star guest Robyn blending into the jazzy, shuffling drums and shimmering keyboard backdrop. They sing well together, and the groove frames them nicely. But it never really takes off.
Dierks Bentley
“I Hold On”
★★½
Nashville star Bentley’s newest album, “Riser,” has a classic-rock grandeur to it, but this single is ready-made for country radio. The big chorus — “I hold on to the things I believe in/My faith, your love, our freedom” — is full of clichés, but Bentley’s weathered voice’s gives it weight.
Schoolboy Q
“Man of the Year”
★★★
This tune from his third album, “Oxymoron,” this LA rapper (part of the Black Hippy collective that sired Kendrick Lamar) is so lively that he can turn even a by-the-numbers, slow-rolling trap track (complete with “spooky” synths) into something that actually feels celebratory — even if it is, ultimately, about butts.
Warning: Graphic content
The Hold Steady
“Spinners”
★★
These Brooklyn rockers’ last album, 2010’s “Heaven Is Whenever,” sounded as indifferent as its title, so the good news is that this new single — from “Teeth Dreams,” out next month — sounds brighter and more vibrant. Too bad the song’s lyrics (“Heartbreak hurts, but you can dance it off”) sound cobbled from earlier Hold Steady songs.
Common feat. Ab-Soul
“Made in Black America”
★★★
Rapper-actor Common has been issuing a clutch of stripped-down, intriguingly flinty new tracks in advance of his next album, “Nobody Smiling” (no release date yet), and this one is the latest. It’s a statement of pride over wheezing reggae organ that sounds off-the-cuff, and that’s why it works.
Warning: Graphic content
The Afghan Whigs
“Algiers”
★★
During their heyday, these Cincinnati-bred rockers led by Greg Dulli were one of the few alt-rock bands to cultivate an R&B tinge. But they were at their best when they moved fast, which this extended sigh — from April’s “Do to the Beast,” their first album in 16 years — does not.