Album of the Week: Jordin Sparks - Battlefield

Music

Jordin Sparks - Battlefield ***

Hopes are high for the 2007 American Idol's follow-up to her self-titled debut, and she doesn't disappoint with Battlefield. As well as sticking to radio-friendly songs such as the title track (produced and co-written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder), Don't Let It Go To Your Head and Let It Rain, the 19-year-old also tries to break away from the conventional pop fare with Emergency (911) and SOS (Let The Music Play), which are more Rihanna-esque or Kylie-influenced. Jordin's strong voice carries the tracks well, especially on ballads like the Leona Lewis-esque Walking On Snow and Faith.

Paul Steel - Moon Rock ***

BRIGHTON boy Paul Steel's new album is a bright collection of sugary sweet power-pop. But the lyrics lend it a more interesting dimension, with the opening track In A Coma about being trapped in your own body while Moon Rock describes travelling to the moon. Steel's falsetto voice adds to the squeaky clean images that his cheeky pop melodies invoke. It is however, an inventive catchy debut with a happy Sixties California vibe reminiscent of the Beach Boys, an album for the summer.

Bill Frisell - Disfarmer ****

VETERAN avant-jazz guitarist Bill Frisell prepared this set as a celebration of the work of Depression-era Arkansas photographer Mike Disfarmer. With a band consisting of stand-up bass, steel guitar and fiddle, for the most part Frisell plays it pretty straight. The best tracks, such as Little Girl, have a ragged, haunting edge to them, coming over like a genteel, dinner party-friendly version of The Dirty Three. He also throws in covers of Hank Williams's Lovesick Blues and Elvis's That's All Right Mama.

Riceboy Sleeps - Riceboy Sleeps ****

RICEBOY Sleeps sees Jon Thor Birgisson team up with his partner Alex Somers. The two have worked together previously on visual art projects, but this is their debut album. Hypnotic opener Happiness sets the tone: a few minutes of rising synth chords which morph into a gentle, rustic main section. Riceboy Sleeps is all about mood and delicatelycrafted, slowly-shifting textures. Very soundtrack, very Eno.


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