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Giddens' first solo release is a grand slam of goodness

Rhiannanon Giddens
"Tomorrow Is My Turn"
Rhiannanon Giddens "Tomorrow Is My Turn"

A Rhiannon Giddens

Tomorrow Is My Turn

Nonesuch

Rhiannon Giddens' first solo album is a breathtaking ramble through a variety of American musical styles and is cause for rejoicing. If you've heard the spirited work of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, you've heard Giddens. She also was outstanding on the recent Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes project, for which several artists and producer T-Bone Burnett created music for a trove of long-lost lyrics written by Bob Dylan in 1967 during the recording of the songs that later became Dylan and The Band's The Basement Tapes.

On her own, Giddens, who also plays violin, is even more impressive. She fully inhabits these 11 songs; emotional connection and vocal chops mesh into a rare, totally satisfying listening experience.

Working again with producer Burnett, Giddens handles an impressive variety of material, such as a knockout reading of Patsy Cline's smash "She's Got You" and a rockabilly-splashed, soulful celebration of Sister Rosetta Tharpe's gospel classic "Up Above My Head." The folk classic "Waterboy" lets her show her bluesy side.

The beat box comes out for a rousing old-school hip-hop version of the folk classic "Black Is the Color." It recalls Giddens' singing on the Drops' cover of Blu Cantrell's "Hit 'Em Up Style." The Celtic-sounding "O Love Is Teasin'" is exquisite and elegant.

Hot tracks: all. There isn't a bad, or mediocre, performance here.

-- ELLIS WIDNER

B The Districts

A Flourish and a Spoil

Fat Possum

The Districts grab your attention. The four members of the Philadelphia-based rock band -- none of whom is legally old enough to drink alcohol -- make an immediate impression with dynamic scream-to-a-whisper song structures that take a page from the playbook of such 1990s bands as Nirvana and the Pixies. That furious energy, and the commanding, frayed-at-the-edges vocals of singer Rob Grote, are on display on the band's second full-length album.

The album was produced by John Congleton, who did laudable work last year with St. Vincent and Angel Olsen. He helps focus the band's energy. The album shows the foursome confidently expanding their palette in subtle yet substantial ways, while unafraid to acknowledge influences, as on the humble bow to Kurt Cobain in the "all we are is all we are" lyric on "6 AM."

This is a coming-of-age album from a band that's full of promise. "I'm sick of this longing, but I feel too dull when it's gone," Grote sings on "4th & Roebling," capturing the anticipatory exhaustion of youth and looking forward to the uncertain journey ahead.

Hot tracks: "6 AM," "4th & Roebling."

-- Dan DeLuca,

The Philadelphia Inquirer

B+ The Mavericks

Mono

Valory Music

Inspired by the band members' favorite vintage records, Mono delivers a big payoff for fans. In mono. The sound is even more retro than usual, lively and engaging as it pulls musical touchstones from Miami to Havana and from Nashville to Texas and more.

Lead singer and songwriter Raul Malo's gorgeous, Roy Orbison-esque voice soars on the horn-splashed "All Night Long" and the astounding "Fascinate Me," with the intensity of an impassioned aria. The late Doug Sahm's Tex-Mex sound shines on the Vox organ-powered "Nitty Gritty."

But romance is at the heart of this band's work, as they explore yearning for, finding and losing love. Their rich rootsy sound pulls one to the dance floor, sparks intimacy and touches the heart.

Hot tracks: "All Night Long," "Fascinate Me," "Nitty Gritty," the soulful "Out the Door."

-- ELLIS WIDNER

B- Father John Misty

I Love You, Honeybear

Sub Pop

Singer-songwriter Father John Misty's meandering musical career seems to have settled reasonably well in the solo realm. His latest album offers a lush look at love, life and the curiosities that complicate it all.

Joshua Tillman, who performs as Misty, sings beautifully when he's not singing too much on the often wordy 11-track album. The lyrics are heavy, and perhaps only the literary cognoscenti will catch all his nuances.

When Misty does pause for air, he's fine on standout songs like "Bored in the USA."

Hot tracks:"Bored in the USA."

-- RON HARRIS,

The Associated Press

B Jeff Bridges

Sleeping Tapes

dreamingwithjeff.com

Among the dippier Super Bowl XLIX ads was the one for Squarespace, in which Oscar-winning thespian Jeff Bridges dozily hummed, mumbled abstract poetry and played a recorder while an eerie ambient breeze blew cold behind his rumbling voice. That breeze was a snippet from Sleeping Tapes -- an album designed for listeners to get a good night's rest -- conceived by Bridges, soundtrack composer Keefus Ciancia (True Detective) and graphic artist/fiction writer Lou Beach.

It is restful, but Sleeping Tapes also has a restless aspect. Through a swirling ambient din of dissonant clucks, distant pianos and tinging bells (it's calming, trust me), Bridges' low, gravely voice growls, chants mantras, tells stories about an Ikea experience or a canyon walk, and reminds the listener that "if you want, we could pretend to be crows."

Who could sleep to this?

Hot tracks: "Temescal Canyon," "The Raven."

-- A.D. AMOROSI,

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Style on 03/03/2015

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