Music Features

On the racks: August 15, 2006

Christina Aguilera, Panic Channel, Skycycle . . .

By MATT ASHARE | August 17, 2006

MARILYN MONROE MEETS KAREN CARPENTER: Christina's latest

In her new quest to out-Madonna Madonna, Christina Aguilera has overhauled her entire look for the new Back To Basics (RCA). Think of it as Marilyn Monroe meets Karen Carpenter, or something like that. It’s a two disc set on which she acts the adult on the first, which draws on real old-school jazz, blues, and r&b for inspiration. The second is all about Linda Perry modern rock with just a hint of new jill groove and a pleasant little reminder that Aguilera is, to quote one song tittle, “Still Nasty.”

Linda Perry also brings her songdoctoring skills to the debut album by a former Broadway Annie, as in “The sun will come out tomorrow.” That’s right, Perry wrote “Miracle” for Joanna Pacitti – just Joanna now that she’s playing the pop game – and, even if it’s not the first single from her debut This Crazy Life (Geffen), the good money has it hitting radio bigtime before the Joanna craze peters out.

But the real treat this week is the return of game show host Dave Navarro, who’s joined by his former Jane’s Addiction bandmate Stephen Perkins on drums in the Panic Channel. Chris Chaney, who was hired to play bass on the most recent Jane’s tour, is also on board. Best of all is Steve Isaacs, formerly of the band Skycycle. What? You don’t remember Skycycle? Well, neither do we. Would it be in bad taste to suggest that Dave shoulda had a TV contest to pick his new frontman? The album’s awful title is (One) (Capitol), which is to say that this band is purely parenthetical.

Ultimately, this week is about one thing, and one thing only. That’s right, Snakes On A Plane: The Album has finally arrived. And, not only is it on Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz’s Dacaydance imprint, but it features a number of FOFOBs, including The Academy Is. . . and Panic! At the Disco, as well as the one-off semi-supergroup Cobra Starship (featuring members of The Academy Is. . . and other FOFOBs like Gym Class Heroes). Everything gets the remix treatment and segues featuring snippets of dialogue from this year’s most anticipated Samuel L. Jackson film. Hell, even Gnarls Barkley’s Cee Lo shows up with a tune (“Ophidiophobia”). It’s like cooler than the last O.C. mix.

Related: ’Round the outside, Rock relaunched, Wicked games, More

Topics: Music Features , Celebrity News, Entertainment, Music Stars, More

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[ 10/08 ] Junior Mance @ Church of the Covenant

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