BTM February 2012 81 downtimemusic Dia Frampton Red RATING: WHAT’S THE STORY? Dia Frampton’s solo debut, Red, isn’t your typical mainstream pop album, especially lyrically. The folksy, banjo-laden sabella is a note of support to her younger sister, who was dealing with a rough time in their parents’ marriage; Good Boy is about her close friend who was molested as a child. Walk Away details a woman taking revenge on her abusers. The latter tune in particular is deceptively cheery with its jaunty whistling, church bell peals and easygoing guitar riffs. Frampton collaborated with multiple songwriters on Red, including members of Foster the People and Florence +the Machine; as a result, the album is certainly polished. WORTH A LISTEN? Daniel is a moving acoustic number lamenting the break-up of a relationship, while Billy the Kid is a wicked-cool synth-pop freeze and Don’t Kick the Chair is an homage to early ‘80s Madonna. Red’s weakest spot is its stab at crossover chart success — I Will. The song sticks out like a sore thumb among all the other, more introspective tracks, simply because it feels so calibrated for maximum radio airplay. VERDICT: While too many co-writers are often detrimental to an album, Red is pleasingly diverse. TOP TRACKS: Isabella, Daniel and Billy the Kid. Chevelle Hats Off to the Bull The sixth album from the Chicago alternative hard rock trio sold 43,000 copies in the United States in its first week after release, debuting at No. 20 on The Billboard 200 chart. The first single, Face to the Floor, with its hypnotic, grinding riff, is one of the most explosive songs of the band’s career. The track rails against corporate corruption and the likes of Bernie Madoff and others on Wall Street. Rapper Big Pooh Dirty Pretty Things This is exactly what the title implies — a flawed project that with a bit of polish would have been beautiful. It ultimately fails to meet the expectations that Pooh set for himself. Charlotte Gainsbourg Stage Whisper Her ability to blend her audio environment is usually an asset on her albums, but with live recordings it can mean the 'sound' misses the mark. This performance, though, delivers. ALBUM OF THE MONTH The Bull Sees Red This month, we see a standoff between the two genders with power-packed tracks from Chevelle and powerful lyrics from Dia Frampton. Two artists don’t cut it this month, however.
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