ALBUM REVIEWS
DAMN. Kendrick Lamar Interscope
Two years since the release of his Grammy Award-winning To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar is back with an album as bold and declarative as its title: DAMN. And while Lamar grapples with familiar subject matter — God, violence, survival and self-worth among them — the energy has shifted away from the jazz, funk filled sound of his previous studio set.
Sonically, that much is clear with lead single HUMBLE., which begs repeat play, thanks in part to an irresistibly dark piano and bassheavy beat from producer Mike Will Made It, who also has a hand in the album’s DNA. and U2-assisted XXX.
The latter is one of the album’s most gripping tracks, and finds Lamar on the receiving end of a call from a friend, whose only son has been shot and killed.
DAMN. has the power to resonate, with tracks provoking thought without coming across as preachy. And guests make their contributions count, with Rihanna bringing a slinky vibe to the sexy (but not about sex) LOYALTY.
INFINITE Deep Purple earMUSIC
This album is so Purple even Prince would love it.
Deep Purple, those space truckers from the late ’60s whose fourchord intro to Smoke on the Water became the go-to practice riff for every kid picking up guitar for the first time, is back with what may or may not be the final album in its Hall of Fame career.
But whether this is as deep as they ultimately go, this album has plenty of what keeps Deep Purple great. Singer Ian Gillan’s glassshattering screams of yesteryear have been replaced by mid-range rock rumblings, and founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has been gone for 20 years now, ably replaced by the fluid licks of Steve Morse.
Morse and keyboardist Don Airey deserve particular credit for keeping the trademark Purple sound fresh on tracks like Time for Bedlam and All I Got Is You.
AMERICANA Ray Davies Legacy Recordings
Think of Americana, the first release of new material from former Kinks frontman Ray Davies in nine years, as a musical memoir of sorts. It’s a welcome return for one of rock’s signature voices and it finds Davies in a reflective and introspective mood.
Cowboys. Coca-Cola. Highways. New York. Silent movies. The Kinks.
They all get referenced over 15 tracks, as Davies sings about his life working and living in the United States over the past 50 years.
Davies, who penned some of rock’s most well-known songs including Lola and You Really Got Me, is also one of the best — and perhaps most underrated — storytellers. His signature sharp wit and razor-sharp insight are in full force on Americana.