Drop the bass
Meghan Trainor delivers more of the same sugary pop
Albums of the Week
MEGHAN TRAINOR
“Title”
IF having two similarsounding songs in the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 doesn’t indicate Meghan Trainor’s formulaic approach, then her first album certainly hammers it home. The Nantucket starlet’s penchant for doowop is hardly unpleasant, but the bubblegum coating of “Dear Future Husband” and “Walkashame” will be hard to swallow for anyone still suffering from the sugar overload of the ubiquitous “All About That Bass.” It’s a shame, because Trainor does have more than one trick up her sleeve. Her natural sass and personality comes through more effectively on the Bruno Marsinfluenced funk of “Bang Dem Sticks,” in which the 21yearold cheekily confesses her love of drummers. Clearly, she can dance to a different kind of beat when she wants to.
MARK RONSON
“Uptown Special”
THE single “Uptown Funk” will undoubtedly rule the dance floors of the world in 2015, but with his fourth album, Mark Ronson also provides plenty of material for the afterparty. The AngloAmerican DJ/producer uses much of the album to showcase his immaculate taste, broad musical ability and impressive contacts: “Daffodils,” featuring Kevin Parker of Tame Impala, echoes the spacey R&B of Prince’s early ’80s work; “In Case of Fire” finds Ronson and guest vocalist Jeff Bhasker riff ing on ’70s stonedsoul; and the great Stevie Wonder makes two brief cameo appearances, bookending the album with blasts of his blissful harmonica. When the funk gets played out, “Uptown Special” ensures that there are plenty more places to go.
Downloads of the Week
PANDA BEAR
“Boys Latin”
LOVERS of underground psychedelic pop know Noah Lennox as a member of acclaimed Baltimore outfit Animal Collective, but his solo work as Panda Bear continues to be excellent. On this single (taken from his fifth album, “Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper”), a slow churn of menacing industrial sound is enveloped in Lennox’s serenely harmonic chanting. It’s as if the Beach Boys got fed into a grinder.
ELLIE GOULDING
“Love Me Like You Do”
THE latest tease from the upcoming “Fifty Shades of Grey” soundtrack comes courtesy of Britpopper Ellie Goulding in this timid synth ballad. Although the singer attempts to get sultry and capture the electric magnetism between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele, Goulding is hampered by the fact that her voice possesses about as much sensuality as Siri with a headache.