Groove Shorts

Ani DiFranco

Evolve

Sounds like the same old Ani with a new level of soul. On her latest record Evolve, the ever-evolving Ani DiFranco proves that she is still a musical maverick. This recent accomplishment touches on everything from folk to funk to jazz. “Serpentine” is a 10-minute epic featuring DiFranco’s signature finger-picking and political poetry in spoken word. As one of the most expressive singers/songwriters/guitarists of our time, DiFranco writes, performs, produces, and delivers yet another masterpiece. From Righteous Babe Records (www.righteousbabe.com/ani). —Andrea Rodricks

Cher

The Very Best of Cher

I’m not sure I would use the words “very best,” but The Very Best of Cher is the only career-spanning Cher compilation featuring all of her American #1 hits on one disc. There are 21 songs in all, from the Sonny & Cher days (“The Beat Goes On,” “I Got You Babe”) to her recent hits (“Believe,” “Different Kind of Love Song”). It’s a special treat to hear Cher’s early songs—“Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves,” “Half-Breed,” “The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s in His Kiss),” “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)”—especially if you haven’t heard them in some time. And if you haven’t heard “All I Really Want to Do (Is, Baby, Be Friends with You)” in a while, notice that there seems to be only one slight distinction between Cher’s and Sonny’s voices—the deeper one is Sonny’s. From Warner Music (www.). This collection is now available at all retail outlets and online at www.onlyhitmusic.com. —Blase DiStefano

Alpinestars

White Noise

Manchester, England-based artists Richard Woolgar and Glyn Thomas were challenged years ago to write a collection of synth-pop tunes for the now defunct Manchester nightspot Homoelectric. They did so and the results were somewhat difficult to argue with—within days they were signed to Astralwerks and the majority of the material for the debut album was knocked out in no time at all. They have spent considerably more time and effort on their newest release but the product is more of the same—expansive tracks that borrow from funk and disco but keep one foot firmly planted in their synth-pop roots. It is a pop record in the truest sense of the word, focused and simple. From Astralwerks (www.astralwerks.com). —Lance Walker

Celine Dion

One Heart

Grammy Award-winner Celine Dion is back with One Heart. Her powerful voice has recorded many beautiful love songs. On this, her latest album, the Canadian pop superstar delivers strong vocals and lyrics, as in I Drove All Night, a rendition of the familiar Roy Orbisson classic song. From Epic Records (www.epicrecords.com). For more info:

www.celinedion.com. —AR

Fischerspooner

#1

Their live performances have been the stuff of legend—explosions of glitter, fake snow falling onto the audience, dancers dressed in costumes that would leave even Divine gasping for air in admiration—but Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner have far more to back themselves up than cheap gimmicks. The two met in art school in Chicago and soon relocated to New York, where they began writing experimental pieces that depended more on the performance than the actual music. The songwriting, however, has developed and cannot be ignored—this is a collection of absolutely brilliant electro-pop compositions that borrow from the more storied artists of the ’80s such as Gary Numan, yet blend perfectly into what we are hearing today. A cover of Wire’s classic “The 15th” is the highlight of the album in its complete deconstruction of the original song, and yet the duo’s original compositions hold up against it with an ingenious resonance. From Capitol Records (www.capitol.com). —LW

Cooler Kids

Punk Debutante

The chemistry between Cooler Kids’ Kaz Gamble (better know to club enthusiasts as DJ Kazimir) and Sisely Treasure is palpable throughout Punk Debutante. With “All Around the World (Punk Debutante)” as its launching pad, the album cruises through rambunctious beat-fests like “Viva la Fever” and “The Last Summer,” then piston-pops into funk-fortified terrain with tracks like “Bali Hideaway,” “Sugartown,” and “E Is for Everybody.” Every step of the way, the Cooler Kids bring the kind of hooks and catchy refrains that will keep pop audiences as blissful as club kids. From DreamWorks Records (www.dreamworksrecords.com). For more info: www.coolerkids.com and www.flylifemusic.com. —Troy Carrington

Musical

First Lady Suite

First Lady Suite is an imaginative and irreverent musical exploration of three of our most renowned presidential first ladies: Jackie Kennedy, Mamie Eisenhower, and Eleanor Roosevelt. The ladies’ public roles—Jackie’s taste and style, Mamie’s lighthearted and saucy manner, Eleanor’s immense power and influence—often contradict their private lives and true selves. This moving, intimate, and often humorous musical reveals the glories and contradictions as well as the privileges and responsibilities of the world’s “second-hardest jobs.” The premiere production of First Lady Suite at New York’s Public Theatre in 1993 won several Obie awards, including Best Score. From PS Classics (www.psclassics.com). —TC

Weekend Players

Pursuit of Happiness

Music awakens the senses; music has also been known to involuntarily evoke movement of the body. Occasionally, if we’re lucky, it can even feed the soul. The weekend rituals surrounded by music have become a way of life for the Weekend Players—Rachel Foster and Andy Cato. The mixture of sounds presented on Pursuit of Happiness is a taste of the duo’s hugely diverse influences. Their love of so many different genres meld together an eclectic sound with a common thread of positive momentum. Pursuit of Happiness can move quite comfortably from the hoopla of the clubs to the chill sessions on your living room floor. It is a rich staple that continues to give pleasure beyond the weekend rituals. From Full Frequency Range Recordings (www.ffrr.com). For more info: www.flylifemusic.com. —TC

Paul Van Dyk

Global

The influence that Paul van Dyk has had on electronic dance music in his 10-year career is impossible to convey in just a short record review, but this new collection of his work does exactly that. Along with two previously unreleased tracks, the two-disc set features reworked versions of 11 of his original productions in surround sound to provide a perfect companion to his world travels over the years. Van Dyk is only 32 years old but has circled the globe several times over accumulating experience and perspective in his work, retaining his modesty and pushing new boundaries anywhere he can. The results are tremendous evidence of that—a soundtrack to his paths along with a bonus DVD that includes interviews, comments, and a visual narration to his unique music making. From Mute (www.mute.com). —LW

Patricia Kaas

Piano Bar

French chanteuse Patricia Kaas brings back the lost art of the French chanson. Her musical essence is slow and seductive. Piano Bar—inspired by the movie by director Claude Lelouch, And Now . . . Ladies & Gentlemen—stars Kaas as a cabaret singer. The album consists of songs from such European composers as Edith Piaf and Charles Anzavour. Piano Bar is her first album in English. From Sony Music International (www.sonymusiceurope.com). For more info: www.patriciakaasusatour.com, www.patriciakaas.net, or www.flylifemusic.com. —AR

Lauren Kennedy

Songs of Jason Robert Brown

With a voice brimming with color and vitality, Lauren Kennedy brings an exciting pop sensibility to material encompassing rock, gospel, country, swing, and art song. In addition to songs from Jason Robert Brown’s musicals The Last 5 Years, Parade, and Songs for a New World, the CD features premiere recordings of four new songs “And I Will Follow,” “Letting You Go,” “If I Told You Now,” and “Dreaming Wide Awake,” the last two written specifically for Kennedy. Jason Robert Brown serves as musical director and arranger. From PS Classics (www.psclassics.com). —TC

The Crusaders

Rural Renewal

Jazz has remained a significant part of The Crusader's music. A testament to their talent, the long-awaited reunion has led to some inspiring sounds on Rural Renewal. A blend of smooth jazz and soul create the gospel sounds on this new album. In addition, the disc also includes the musical contributions of legendary rocker Eric Clapton and other veteran musicians. From Verve (www.vervemusicgroup.com). —AR

Various Artists

Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen

Stormy Weather is a fitting tribute to the legendary American composer/pianist/vocalist Harold Arlen. The disc is a collection of haunting melodies of such favorites as Come Rain or Come Shine and Stormy Weather. Debbie Harry, Rufus Wainwright, Sandra Bernhard, and other contemporary musical artists breathe life into some of Arlen's classic songs. Arlen is best known as the Oscar-winning composer of Over the Rainbow from the classic film The Wizard of Oz. From Sony Classical (www.sonyclassical.com). —AR

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