Sound Advice

Martin Sexton

Sugarcoating

(Kitchen Table)

Every so often I put a CD on with no expectations whatsoever, and end up becoming that artist's latest fan. The latest artist to earn that distinction is Martin Sexton. I had heard smatterings of his music over the years and always thought the guy to be a talented songwriter, but on 'Sugarcoating,' Sexton's latest release, he takes it to an entirely new level. This is an Americana artist who really shouldn't be relegated to one category of music, unless there's a 'good music' section that was recently added to all record stores. With a voice that will remind you of elements of artists such as James Taylor, David Wilcox and John Mayer, Sexton definitely delivers the goods on songs such as 'Found,' 'Boom Sh-Boom,' and 'Stick Around.' In reality, though, there is nary a clunker on this album, which will hopefully help Sexton find a bigger audience.

Key Tracks:

'Found,' 'Boom Sh-Boom,' 'Stick Around'

Teeny Tucker

Keep the Blues Alive

(TeBo)

Although the talent for singing the blues runs in Teeny Tucker's family (her father is Tommy Tucker of 'Hi-Heel Sneakers' fame), it took the acceptance of the notoriously fickle crowd at New York City's Apollo Theater to convince the young singer to make a professional go of it as a singer. After winning over the Apollo audience, though, Tucker hit the ground running and never looked back. More than 15 years later, Tucker has won numerous awards and has performed with blues legends that include B.B. King, Koko Taylor, Etta James and Buddy Guy. On her latest CD release, 'Keep the Blues Alive,' Tucker aims to do just that; singing her heart out with a voice that belies her diminutive physical stature. Tracks such as 'Make Room for Teeny,' 'Old Man Magnet,' and the gospel-infused title song leave little doubt as to why Tucker has performed all over the word. 'Keep the Blues Alive' is a solid album that benefits not just from Tucker's vocals, but also from the guitar work of Robert Hughes.

Key Tracks:

'Make Room for Teeny,' 'I Live Alone,' 'Keep the Blues Alive'

Jack Johnson

To the Sea

(Brushfire)

Jack Johnson has pretty much always played it safe; performing and recording his trademark laid-back surfer folk rock in much the same way that Jimmy Buffett does with his Caribbean-country sound. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. Fans have snapped up millions of Johnson's CDs, which means we likely won't be hearing the guy get very experimental anytime soon. Indeed, on 'To the Sea,' Johnson's latest effort, the musician keeps an even keel, turning in a satisfying yet familiar set of songs. 'You and Your Heart' is a solid opener; with an electric guitar riff that hints that things might be a little harder-edged this time out. Things mellow out soon enough, though, but become no less enjoyable. Tunes such as 'At or With Me,' 'From the Clouds,' and 'Only the Ocean' inviting the listener to groove along. The best song on the CD is probably 'Red Wine, Mistakes, Mythology,' which finds Johnson and his band getting as funky as a surfer-turned musician and his buds possibly can. No surprises here, but if you're a Johnson fan, you'll love this CD.

Key Tracks:

'Red Wine, Mistakes, Mythology,' 'You and Your Heart,' 'At or With Me'

U2

360° at the Rose Bowl

(Interscope)

U2 has always liked to push the envelope when it comes to staging a live concert. The band's ZOO-TV tour from the early '90s, with its huge stage and towering video screens, is still looked at as one of the most groundbreaking concert setups ever. When it came to touring for it latest album, 'No Line on the Horizon,' the band not only had to try to top ZOO-TV, but also subsequent outings that featured similar bigger-than-life effects. '360° at the Rose Bowl' shows how the band managed to top itself yet again. Filmed last fall in Pasadena, Calif., the concert DVD showcases the huge, spaceship-like stage that looms over the venue. Supported by four massive legs that straddle the field of whatever stadium the band is playing, the center stage gives just about everyone an unobstructed view of the band. It's a setup that has to be seen to be believed, and now anyone can, even if they didn't have a ticket to see the actual show. The Rose Bowl show, filmed with more than two-dozen high-definition cameras, is spectacular, and runs through U2's huge catalog of songs. The deluxe version includes a second DVD with a documentary and music videos.

Key Moment: When you realize that the ridiculously huge stage setup has just become the fifth member of the band.

By Devin Grant, Special to The Post and Courier