BENZINO
Arch Nemesis
(ZNO)
The infamous, marginally talented Eminem-hater stumbles from tired crunk
to Kris Kross-style bubblegum hip-hop to that most unfortunate of
genres, rap-rock, on this overzealous, 25-track mess.
C -
BLUE MERLE
Burning in the Sun
(Island)
A test-tube alliance of bluegrass twang and Britpop swoon, this
quartet's full-length debut is undeniably pleasant, even if the
songwriting is slight.
B -
CORALIE CLÉMENT
Bye Bye Beauté
(Nettwerk)
French chanteuse Clement tosses indie-rock nuggets (''L'Enfer'' is like
the Strokes go to Paris) into her Gauloise-jazz repertoire for a soigne
CD sure to seduce both hipsters and their parents.
B+
BOOM BIP
Blue Eyed in the Red Room
(Lex)
Combining solitary styles — acoustic indie-folk and
experimental-electronica — Cincinnati-based producer Boom Bip's Red Roomis a meditative mix of blips and strums. Computer programmers, this is
your bedtime music.
B
IVY
In the Glear
(Nettwerk)
The New York City trio's latest breezy offering brims with pop tunes
that are bar-of-soap, barefoot-in-the-park fresh. It'll remind you of
St. Etienne. And springtime.
B
