NCT Dream’s latest EP offers sonic surprises
LOS ANGELES, April 1, (AP): When is a good dream not a great dream? When you don’t remember it in the morning.
When is a good album not a great album? When it’s bold, but not bold enough and commercial, but not commercial enough.
NCT Dream’s fifth EP, “DREAM( )SCAPE,” (pronounced “dream escape”) explores the beats of a cool, imaginary urban landscape. But it comes in and out of focus through a combination of tempo changes, innovative sounds (smoothie slurp anyone?) and catchy yet somehow forgettable hooks.
It’s a mysterious quandary for the ages: one second you get into it with both feet, but the minute song’s over, it’s gone into musical ether.
Overall, the dynamic sixtrack record “DREAM( ) SCAPE” offers a variety of styles. “UNKNOWN,” is a middling, smooth electronic pop tune. It wisely moves on to the kinetic “BOX,” a catchy, swagger-heavy beast with an unusual scratchy industrial sound.
“Carat Cake” is a fun pun on the run from a specific genre – it’s angling for a bit of a trap cred wrapped in a fastpaced electro sound with the silly yet endearing chorus “Wow, wow wow wow/That’s a Carat Cake.” Try dislodging that from the subconscious.
Opener “icantfeelanything” is the epic-sounding song of the EP with its deep bass interludes. But then “Smoothie” comes along with its chirpy tempo-changing lanes and fun production; while “Breathing” is a fast-paced yet relaxing ballad.
With plenty of certified bops under their belt, the South Korean septet make the best of the material, vocally. But only fans will stick around for this pleasantenough offering.
He’s a lonely dancer, so dance with him so he doesn’t cry! Gen Z musician (and Olivia Rodrigo BFF) Conan Gray’s third studio album, “Found Heaven,” deepens his penchant for synth-pop. Max Martin is a producer (known for his work with Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, Britney
Spears, The Backstreet Boys, Robyn… the list goes on and on). And the lead single, the ’80s revisionist “Lonely Dancers,” is an earworm for the ages. “Your lover left, broke up tonight/My lover’s busy, kissing other guys/We’re both alone now, tears in our eyes,” he sings. “We’re lonely dancers, there’s no need to hide/We’re lonely dancers, baby/Dance with me so we don’t cry.” If it is ascendent depressive tunes with a musical theater sensibility you’re after, well, you’ve found it!
The Fair Grounds Race Course, which plays host to the 2024 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, begins its annual transformation in earnest Tuesday as organizers prepare to take over the field this spring for two weekends of music, food and fun.
“Jazz Fest is back starting today!,” exclaimed festival producer Quint Davis during its one-month-before news conference inside the Fair Grounds’ clubhouse.
The festival’s first weekend runs Thursday, April 25 through Sunday, April 28; the second weekend is Thursday, May 2 through Sunday, May 5.
“This will be the biggest Jazz Fest ever, with the most food ever, the most crafts ever and the most bands ever to come together in our 53-year history,” Davis said.
One of those bands - the Rolling Stones- is getting a lot of attention, he noted, smiling. Their May 2 performance is sold out, he added, still smiling.
“When the Rolling Stones come ... I’ve been trying to say that forever. I guess the third times the charm,” Davis said amid laughter from the crowd.
In 2019, the band’s lead singer, Mick Jagger, was forced to cancel their scheduled appearance because of heart surgery. The 2021 festival, at which the Stones were to perform, was first pushed back to October before ultimately being canceled because of surging numbers brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. “This time,” Davis said, “they’re coming to play!” Davis noted that the festival’s 2024 performance schedule is filled with all types of gems, from country megastar Chris Stapleton to rap artist Queen Latifah, and a bevy of talent in between. The stages and performance times for participating artists - known as the “cubes” - were released Tuesday on the festival’s website, nojazzfest.com
Jazz Fest, presented by the Shell energy company, celebrates the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. The music encompasses nearly every style imaginable: blues, R&B, gospel, Cajun,
Zydeco, Afro-Caribbean, folk, Latin, rock, rap, contemporary and traditional jazz, country, bluegrass and everything in between.
“Fans might love a certain type of music, and we offer it all,” Davis said “But with Jazz Fest, the sum is greater than its parts. People love the festival regardless of whose playing or taking the stage.”
Columbia’s rhythms, from music to dance to food, also will be highlighted this year as part of the festival’s cultural exchange. Close to 200 Colombian artists are scheduled to participate, including New Orleans-based Los Guiros, which performed a traditional cumbia at the news conference, giving fans a taste of what’s to come. Headlining the festival are
Bomba Estéreo on April 27, Choquibtown’s lead singer Goyo in a guest appearance with local band ÌFÉ on April 28, and salsa legends Grupo Niche closing the celebration on May 5.
And don’t forget the food.
One vendor highlighted Tuesday was Clesi’s Seafood Restaurant and Catering, which is making its festival debut this year.
James Clesi and his brother, Carlo, said getting a booth at Jazz Fest is a dream come true.
“We are so excited,” James Clesi said as he dished out cajun crawfish dirty rice. “This is something I’ve been wanting to do forever. Being chosen is quite the honor. It’s like we’ve been anointed and officially recognized. The dream is now a reality.”
The Clesies said their menu will include the dirty rice as well as boiled crawfish, crawfish etouffee and something called a “messi clesi,” which is a combination of the dirty rice and etouffee.
Carlo Clesi said they are preparing for every possible scenario.
“We’re expecting to be very busy, with big crowds and long lines all while getting to absorb all the great music,” he said.