Posted on: Friday, August 25, 2006
Hilton has a voice, but it's one made for the deaf
USA Today
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Socialite, home-movie star and celeb pop tart Paris Hilton showed off her new self-named CD at a publicity event in Tokyo on Tuesday. Think twice about spending your lunch money.
SHUJI KAJIYAMA | Associated Press
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"Paris Hilton" by Paris Hilton: Were I in Hilton's designer shoes, I don't know that I would jump at the chance to once again be recorded in a potentially embarrassing situation. But in a celebrity culture where shamelessness is a greater asset than talent, this CD was inevitable. The heiress enlisted a posse of experienced producers to hone these dance-pop tracks, which include a limp cover of Rod Stewart's cheesy disco classic "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." But Hilton's colorless, wafer-thin singing reminds us there are still limits to what technology can do for the human voice. In the end, the album isn't any worse, or better, than you would expect it to be — which is to say, not worth your lunch money.
— Elysa Gardner
"On the Outside" by Starsailor: Starsailor recorded its third album in Los Angeles with producer Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith), and the sunshine must have provided enough alternative energy and enlightenment to lift the British band out of its former gloom. Less reflective or melancholy than past works, "Outside" rides along at a spirited clip in such lush tunes as the U2-inspired "Faith Hope Love," and is upbeat "In the Crossfire and Counterfeit Life," a lively anti-materialism rant stoked by guitar distortion. When the band slows down for the dark "I Don't Know" or murder ballad "Jeremiah," the enchanting moodiness is a reminder of how "Starsailor" cast a spell in the first place.
— Edna Gundersen
"Unappreciated" by Cherish: The Atlanta sister act's infectious single "Do It to It" is the latest snap-music anthem to catch fire in the clubs. And with producer Jazze Pha at the helm, there's plenty more where that came from. The quartet, which has also done an instructional video on snap-dance moves, don't stray from the up-tempo mode too often, either stepping to a hot guy ("That Boy," "Show and Tell") or throwing ice on a buster ("Stop Calling Me"). The title track is a passable ballad, but it's not their strong suit. Derivative tracks such as "Chevy" — in which they plead for a guy to baby them like he does his favorite ride — aren't the best way to gain appreciation.
— Steve Jones
"Lust Stained Despair" by Poisonblack: Last year's untimely demise of Finnish doom-and- gloom masters Sentenced left a hollow space in the hearts of fans. Vocalist Ville Laihiala steps up to try to fill that void with the second release from his former side project and now full-time gig. After only playing guitar on Poisonblack's first record, 2003's "Escapextacy," Laihiala takes over vocal duties here, a definite improvement. The band also strips away some of the goth influence, taking the songs in a heavier direction, more similar to Sentenced. The guitar work of Laihiala and Janne Markus is excellent, smacking the listener around on charging tunes like "Nothing Else Remains" and "Rush." But perhaps the most poignant moment on the record is the melancholy "Pain Becomes Me," which strips the sound down to an acoustic guitar and Laihiala's vocals. It's a release worthy of the Sentenced legacy.
— Fred Phillips
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