Reggae
Lee “Scratch” Perry
“Panic in Babylon”
Perry is something of an icon in Jamaica. He is a critically important figure in the development of Jamaican music who helped shape the sound of dub and reggae in the 1950s and 1960s.
A producer, writer and mixologist, Perry has done just about everything in Jamaican music and, with a handful of others (Marley mostly), brought reggae to the rest of the world.
This two-CD collection of dubs, loops, Rasta vibrations and beats is a pretty good example of why Perry matters.
– T. MICHAEL CROWELL
Lee “Scratch” Perry performs at 4th & B downtown on Wednesday.
Country
Montgomery Gentry
“Some People Change”
On “Redder Than That,” Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry sing about attending a high school reunion and realizing that they and their friends remain as redneck as ever. The dependable country-rock duo remain at their rousing best when they let that unapologetic good-old-boy side show.
It almost makes up for the serious PC mushiness of “Some People Change” and “Takes All Kinds. “Clouds,” meanwhile, is a howlingly bad ballad that sounds more like a parody of a tearjerker than the real thing.
– NICK CRISTIANO
R&Amp;B
John Legend
“Once Again”
Legend's latest blend of contemporary gospel and hip-hop will have broad crossover appeal. The ambitious 27-year-old protege of Kanye West evokes the traditional R&B of Motown and Sam Cooke, but with a slightly grittier edge in places.
Although the list of credits includes Black Eyed Peas' frontman will.i.am, it's the set's production that brings out the most effective tracks. Legend's pretty, yearning voice continues to please, proving once again that Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway are influences that never go out of style.
– FRED SHUSTER
John Legend will play the House of Blues downtown Nov. 20.
Country
Willie Nelson
“Songbird”
Not classic Nelson, but darn good anyway, this 11-track collection is produced by alt-country darling Ryan Adams with Adams' rockin' Cardinals backing Willie throughout.
What you get is a harder, rocking edge to Nelson's tunes, some originals, most covers. But Adams and his Cardinals give Nelson's opener, “Rainy Day Blues,” an alt-country heart, then go on to tackle Gram Parsons' plaintive “$1000 Wedding.”
Together, these two mine a rich vein of outlaw country with no apologies. Both of these guys put out way too many albums, but in this case, it's a good thing they decided to work together. A nice add to the Nelson canon.
– T. MICHAEL CROWELL
Rock
Deftones
“Saturday Night Wrist”
The Deftones have conjured the ghost of Smashing Pumpkins on its first release since 2003. For “Saturday Night Wrist,” the Sacramento-based fivesome fronted by Chino Moreno worked with Bob Ezrin (who produced Pink Floyd's “The Wall”) with help from Shaun Lopez (formerly the guitarist for Far). The result is a melodic, industrial rocker forged out of loud guitars, chaotic beats and tortured vocals that often recall those of Corgan.
A standout is the album opener and lead single, “Hole in the Earth,” described as a soundtrack to a vivid dream in which Moreno gasps and gets all choked up. This moody, atmospheric set rocks harder than “Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.”
– SANDRA BARRERA
The Deftones will perform at SOMA on Nov.12.
REGGAE
Lee “Scratch” Perry
“Panic in Babylon”
Narnack Records
½
COUNTRY
Montgomery Gentry
“Some People Change”
Columbia
½
R&B
John Legend
“Once Again”
Sony
COUNTRY
Willie Nelson
“Songbird”
Lost Highway
ROCK
Deftones
“Saturday Night Wrist”
Maverick
