Album of the Week
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
★
What should have been the year’s undisputed aural humping aid is little more than a collection of bland ballads and snoozy synth-pop contributed by artists who normally don’t disappoint. Sia wails like a sedated Tori Amos on “Salted Wound,” the generic electro of Vaults’ “One Last Night” barely registers and, judging by Skylar Grey’s level of disengagement, she was probably reviewing her paycheck while recording the uninspired “I Know You.” Canadian R&B crooner the Weeknd gets the blood racing a bit with a sensual “Where You Belong,” but for the most part, “50 Shades of Grey” seems far better suited to a Bikram Yoga studio than a bondage session.
Downloads of the Week
The Cribs
“Burning for No One”
★★★
Anglophile indie-rockers have long loved this British trio, but “Burning for No One” — the lead single from their upcoming “For All My Sisters” — bubbles with American influences. Strokes-style guitar work and Weezer-esque harmonies help create a transatlantic anthem.
Wardell
“Funny Thing”
★ ½
Talk about close encounters: Steven Spielberg’s kids Sasha and Theo have teamed up in the hipster soft-rock duo Wardell. This mellow and melodic single from the debut album “Love/Idleness” lets Sasha exhibit her wistfully soulful vocals, but for now, Wardell still sounds like a glorified hobby.
Father John Misty
“I Love You, Honeybear”
★★★
Josh Tillman (a k a Father John Misty) has a wickedly funny take on love. On the sweeping title track of his excellent second album, the folk-rocker sings “You’ve got your father’s scorn and your wayward aunt’s schizophrenia” with such touching sincerity, it seems like praise.
Madonna feat. Chance the Rapper and Mike Tyson
“Iconic”
★★
The drip-feed release of Madonna’s new album “Rebel Heart” (out in full March 10) continues with three new tracks, the most notable of which features fleeting verses from Chicagoan Chance the Rapper and an opening speech from Mike Tyson. It’s not her best work, but you can’t deny she’s thinking outside the box.