SOUND JUDGEMENT

The latest album releases reviewed

ONLY THE STRONG SURVIVE

Bruce Springsteen

HHIII

In his latest album, The Boss covers R&B and soul hits, but does not offer much more than that.

Only The Strong Survive is a love letter to the music he grew up with and serves as a jumping-off point for him to showcase his gruff vocals.

Opening with the 1968 hit by Jerry Butler, Only The Strong Survive, the 73-year-old sings like he is a man possessed.

Springsteen fails to create truly breathtaking new versions, instead recreating his favourite songs like a man in a bar singing karaoke very well.

He does a good job of introducing the music he grew up with to a new audience. But the singer-songwriter, now with 21 albums to his name, can do, and has done, better.

STR4TASFEAR STR4TA HHHHI

Combining classic jazz funk with contemporary influences, STR4TASFEAR both adds and pays tribute to the genre with its catchy and creative songs.

The project, led by broadcaster Gilles Peterson and guitarist Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick, utilises original, recognisable jazz funk melodies of the late 1970s and early 1980s and imbues them with modern doses of expression.

Unexpected partnerships from the different eras blend effortlessly throughout, while each song is interspersed with groovy synthesised sounds.

ELEVATION Black Eyed Peas HHHHI

Black Eyed Peas’ latest offering is a dancefloor-ready album that expands the group’s musical consciousness. It begins with Simply The Best, a collaboration with Brazilian pop superstar Anitta and Dominican rapper El Alfa.

The anthemic album is littered with high-profile names, including Shakira and David Guetta on Don’t You Worry and Nicole Scherzinger on the catchy No One Loves Me.

It’s a reminder that Black Eyed Peas are just as capable of creating invigorating party tracks as they have been since their inception in 1995.