The following rock, funk and soul music reviews are by Deseret News staff writers.
SCREAMING TREES; "Dust" (Epic). * * 1/2.
If they hadn't waited so long to make and release it, maybe Screaming Trees' new album wouldn't sound so dated.
It's been four years since the Ellensberg, Wash., quartet released "Sweet Oblivion," which blended grunge with late '60s psychedelia quite nicely. But in that time, grunge has largely died (it's been replaced by punk rock) and the Trees didn't make so much as a sound in the forest.
The band did scrap one album in that time, preferring to start from scratch. Working with producer George Drakoulias (the Black Crowes, the Jayhawks), "Dust" isn't much of a departure from "Sweet Oblivion" at all.
Mark Lanegan's memorably brooding baritone vocals still evoke Jim Morrison at times, and Gary Lee Conner's snaky guitar riffs are stunning. Unfortunately, Drakoulias adds too many drippy arrangements (the strings on "Sworn and Broken" are a big goof) that smother the overall effect.
- Jeff Vice
SPIN DOCTORS; "You've Got to Believe In Something" (Epic). * *
After learning the difference between a good song ("Two Princes"), a bad album ("Turn It Upside Down") and terrible live shows (name any place it played), Spin Doctors humbly return with "You've Got to Believe In Something."
While the album is not as catchy as "Pocket Full of Kryptonite," its still better than "Turn It Upside Down."
Still, "Believe" isn't a masterpiece. The only memorable track is a hidden remake of K.C. & the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)." But other tunes, like the psychedelic slide of "House" and the banjo-pickin' in "I Can't Believe You're Still With Her," broaden the Docs' horizons - even if the band appears to be going over the edge.
After 10 funky jams and one bluesy lament ("She's Not You"), the album gets a little tired. And so will listeners.
Spin Doctors needs to regroup and reassess its approach. The musicality is there . . . the band just seems to need a little direction.
- Scott Iwasaki
THE ISLEY BROTHERS FEATURING RONALD ISLEY; "Mission To Please" (Island/Polygram). * * 1/2
It's nice to know the Isleys are still around crooning sweet melodies of love. But the new disc is more of a new-jack, mack-daddy pose for this enduring one-time quartet, much to its detriment.
Ever careful to bridge the gap between sweet love and reckless abandon, the Isleys in their current incarnation have lost a certain edge with the new posture. The approach is more let's-get-busy quick! rather than the tried-and-true you're-all-I-need form from the good old days. In addition, the tracks have a certain monotony to them, with few actually standing apart as new classics - or even songs that you might want to listen to next week.
The disc screams "comeback," but the music, for the most part, leaves you yearning for a better effort from these very talented brothers.
Most of the R. Kelly-produced cuts are the best - as is the lovely "Slow Is the Way," produced by Keith Sweat. Angela Winbush (a Mrs. Isley) produces six of the disc's 10 tracks.
- Dion M. Harris
RATINGS: four stars (* * * * ), excellent; three stars (* * * ), good; two stars (* * ), fair; one star (* ), poor, with 1/2 representing a higher, intermediate grade.