Raheem DeVaughn, Kate Nash, Sia and The Magnetic Fields.

the music press

tue 1/15/2008

A collage of Raheem DeVaughn, Kate Nash, Sia and The Magnetic Fields.

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Raheem De Vaughn is “arguably the most underrated R&B artist of his time,” according to Billboard.com. His sophomore album, Love Behind The Melody, offers “a flawless blend of serene, soulful music with emotion-filled lyrics about his love, respect and appreciation for women." Webzine Did You Hear That also loves DeVaughn's sultry voice and the “radio-ready R&B package.”
British pop singer and Internet darling Kate Nash debuts in the U.S. with Made Of Bricks, a "rushed, glossed-over misfire that almost trips over itself to hide the reasons why Nash became such a web phenom in the first place," snarls Pitchforkmedia. Web log Music Ohm disagrees entirely: “If there's one thing that Made Of Bricks proves, it's that the advance word about Nash's songwriting talents was right on the money.”
Australian singer Sia Furler, whose music has appeared on TV shows "Grey's Anatomy" and "Six Feet Under," returns with her third solo album, Some People Have Real Problems. Mainstream bellwether Entertainment Weekly is pleased that Sia "ditches the sleepy pace of prior efforts for a throatier soul sound.” But Rolling Stone gives the album only two out of five stars: “[T]he main attractions are Sia's smoky voice and quirky personality," but "not enough of that personality makes it into the music."
Pop-rockers The Magnetic Fields return with Distortion, a collection of "clever songs that are sweet and bitter, comforting and subversive," according to Popmatters. England's New Musical Express loves the noise pop a la Jesus and Mary Chain, recommending the album be filed in the “Purest, starkest genius” section of record stores. You know, like they have at Wal-Mart.