Reviews

This week's reviews begin with a review of Ain’t Nobody Worryin’, the new album from Anthony Hamilton. This R&B singer reminds both of our critics of classic vocalists like Bill Withers and Bobby Womack. While keeping his day job as a barber, Hamilton began recording in Charlotte, North Carolina. He sang back-up for D’Angelo on his Voodoo our, and eventually caught the eye of mega-producer (and mega-boyfriend) Jermaine Dupri during a Grammy performance honoring Stevie Wonder. While Greg initially objected to the lack of up-tempo songs, both he and Jim appreciate the quality of the songwriting and the substance of the lyrics. Therefore Ain’t Nobody Worryin’ gets two Buy It ratings.

The second review is of A Compound Eye, the first solo release from ex-Guided By Voices frontman, Robert Pollard, and our hosts couldn’t disagree more. Sound Opinions fans know that like the spiritied debates about Bruce Springsteen, the GBV/Pollard dispute is almost as old as time. Jim starts off by expressing his wish that Pollard took more time to polish the tracks on this album. Greg, however, disagrees, and finds the lack of polish part the music’s lo-fi charm. Jim also thinks that Pollard is, as always, too prolific of a songwriter, and thinks that over half of the album is just “self-indulgent clatter.” Thus, it’s a Trash It. For Greg, however, A Compound Eye is a beautiful, eclectic double album rolled into one. He recommends fans go out and Buy It.