Albums of the Week
Ariana Grande
“My Everything”
★★
On her second album, ex-Nickelodeon-turned-pop/R&B star Grande is big-voiced, supple sounding and given serviceable, or worse, material. Big Sean creepily whispering, “I’ve got one less problem without cha” on “Problem” is a distraction. “Break Free,” produced by emerging dance-music superproducer Zedd, pushes the usual ecstatic buttons but never catches fire. “Break Your Heart Right Back” uses a smeared sample of Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out,” and though the song has some winsome appeal, the sample is what you remember. Too bad there’s only one song as snappy as “Love Me Harder,” a buoyant, synth-heavy duet with the Weeknd.
Brad Paisley
“Moonshine in the Trunk”
★½
Paisley is usually the most personable male vocalist in country, and he’s often one of its sharpest songwriters. Although he works hard to sell the songs on his 10th album, the material on “Moonshine in the Trunk” is a clear retreat from his earlier work. The jokes lack bite and wit — “Limes” weakly rewrites old “when life gives you lemons” clichés (“Make margaritas!”) — and the love-and-hearth songs are plain maudlin (especially “American Flag on the Moon,” with its brief but unlikable children’s chorus). The boldest song is also the best: “Shattered Glass,” a power ballad about being proud of his woman’s career ambitions.
Downloads of the Week
Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett
“I Can’t Give You Anything but Love”
★★
Gaga’s old-school cred move comes close on the heels of her first flop, but “Cheek to Cheek,” her album of duets with Tony Bennett, was announced before “Artpop” was even out. Whether the millionth version of this standard was worth their time, or ours, is another matter: not embarrassing, but pointless.
The New Pornographers
“Brill Bruisers”
★★
Canadian indie-rockers the New Pornographers are beloved for their insistent tunefulness, but sometimes singer-songwriter A.C. Newman’s bright melodies can grate. The title track of the band’s sixth album is a good example: The ornate, bombastic arrangement clutters the background, and the “ba-ba-ba” chorus stays with you in a bad way.
The Rentals
“1000 Seasons”
★★★
Surprise! The new comeback single from the Rentals — the band fronted by Weezer bassist Matt Sharp — is actually better than the new comeback single by Weezer itself. From “Lost in Alphaville,” their first album in 15 years, it’s sharp-edged and trashy — a throwback that doesn’t lean on nostalgia.
Ty Segall
“Susie Thumb”
★★½
Normally, San Francisco garage-rocker Ty Segall releases music quickly and constantly, but for his seventh solo album, “Manipulator” (he’s done many more with other bands and aliases), he spent a year fine-tuning material. “Susie Thumb” snarls like ’60s mod, with carefully weighted guitar freakouts and hammering piano as icing.