Top 5 - Linda Scott
1) Sting, Brand New Day (A&M). Sting leads the pack with his most stylistically integrated album thus far. Tracks with bossa novas, Bach revisions, country flairs, soft rock begin with the smashing "Brand New Day" and building to the big finale, "End of the Game". All that musical talent in one man. Who'd have guessed The Police would spawn this man for all musical seasons?
2) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Echo (Warner). Tom Petty has been in the musical business for 23 years. Not a man to chase trends, Petty has released another in his series of perfectly consistent, mellow albums. Echo has a tougher bite than the others with lyrics that are cutting and defiant. So many singles can come off this one, and they'll be a standout at any concert where Petty can barely fit his hits into a two hour program.
3) Nine Inch Nails, The Fragile (Interscope). The long awaited Trent Reznor album needs two CDs and 102 minutes to complete. Fragile is deliberately misnamed - it snarls and bites all the way through. Disc one has the expected NIN overload with big guitar sounds and pounding drum machines. Disc two has more emphasis on the beat. Listen to The Fragile in one sitting. Despite their vocal fans, Marilyn Manson and the new Axl Rose can't touch the Reznor genius.
4) Counting Crows, This Desert Life (Geffen). Adam Duritz, frontman, singer and lyricist for Counting Crows, has reached back to the band's debut album, August and Everything After and found some joy missing in the sophomore effort. This third album is everything you could wish for from this fine pop band. Duritz' legendary slowness in penning lyrics succeeds in giving us the variety of "Hanginaround", "Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" and "All My Friends". A dramatic singer backed by an outstanding band - Counting Crows' This Desert Life is thought provoking and fun.
5) Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Looking Forward (Warner). This band has been playing together off and on for thirty years and has released just four albums. Each is a jewel, and Looking Forward is a magnificent acoustic-based album with the beautiful harmonies we've come to expect from CSN&Y. Deja Vu was their first and best, but Looking Forward is a wonderful bookend. Neil Young is excellent on guitar and vocals, and all four men have something important to contribute. CSN&Y: long may you run.
