‘Take Me On’ and ‘Something About It’
The Green
(Easy Star)
The Green — Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winner in 2011 for its self-titled debut album — starts the countdown to the Aug. 20 release of the group’s third full-length album with two download-only singles, "Take Me On" and "Something About It."
Both songs bring forward the group’s commitment to traditional Jamaican-style rhythms, original compositions and tight commercial arrangements. "Take Me On" shows that The Green is fully in touch with its Jamaican reggae roots. "Something About It" ends with a guitar solo that brings rock traditions into the picture. Both songs position The Green as front-runner for best reggae album at next year’s awards.
www.thegreen808.com
"Take Me On"
‘Key’
Victoria Vox
(Obus Music)
After several albums that placed the ukulele in pop and "alternative music" contexts, Victoria Vox is out with a project that emphasizes her versatility as a songwriter rather than ukulele player. Vox explains in the liner notes that she spent a year writing "the Original 52 Song Project" and then partnered with producer Geoff Stanfield to select 11 songs for the album. Ukulele is prominent on some. Larger orchestrations with horns, drums and keyboards are used on others.
"Let It Go" takes Vox into Taylor Swift territory with a spare, acoustic, country-style arrangement and a hint of a Southern accent in her voice. Romantic context is not a question as Vox describes the problems of trying to reach someone who has a "Guarded Heart," another selection from the album.
Dark tones percolate elsewhere. "Daffodil" notes the fleeting life of blossoms and speculates about their thoughts in memorable style; lyrics and instrumental arrangement mesh effectively. Putting live strings behind the basic "duet" of Vox and her ukulele adds soothing textures to "Crazy Love" and makes it a mesmerizing requiem for another fading relationship.
"Empty Apologies" also stands out on all counts — lyrics, melody, the instrumental arrangement and Vox’s delivery. Should anyone still think of her primarily as a ukulele player, the lyrics of these songs show she is equally talented as a lyricist.
Vox’s ukulele becomes more prominent as the album plays out. "Remember the Music," a whimsical look at living with forgetfulness, returns the ukulele to its familiar role of providing strummed accompaniment to cheery or humorous lyrics. "Ship Goes Down," the only instrumental, is an eloquent reminder of the melodic textures that can be created with the instrument’s four strings.
www.victoriavox.com
"Daffodil"
