Which CDs are worth investing in this month? Liselle goes through the latest releases to help you figure it out…

Taylor Swift, Fearless
It’s nice to have something wholesome on the pop charts. An extraordinarily gifted teenage girl, Taylor Swift’s debut album is the offshoot of her high schooling days with more confession than teenage angst. Her country-infused tracks and powerful vocals make her sound mature beyond her years, while her innocent little ditties could have been ripped from your typical school girl’s diary.

It’s this juxtaposition that has contributed to her universal appeal because while the hit generator is on manufacture high, there’s just enough honesty in there for her to pull it off.

Evermore, Truth of the World
Decidedly talented and yet somehow decidedly average, Evermore have attempted a reinvention revolution with their new concept album Truth of the World. It was an ambitious task, with the kiwi lads taking a theatrical approach to album making (complete with babies crying and cars crashing), all with the intent of some trash-media, political propaganda and advertising commentary/rant. It has it’s moments.

And to be fair, it does grow on you. But overall, and rather unfortunately so, the average songs seem to outweigh the real revelating moments.

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Smashproof, The Weekend
From clocking off at work on Friday to parties, hangovers and flicking through the Sunday paper, there’s no secret meanings behind Smashproof’s debut album title, The Weekend. Resting on the poppier side of hip-hop, The Weekend is an album of moments. Hit single Brother, which has spent eight weeks at number one on the NZ charts and features the unique vocals of kiwi darling Gin Wigmore, is a genius track which blends both pop and true-blue hip hop in a relevant local social commentary.
 
It is also the album’s peak. While the other songs on the album aren’t quite as engaging, there are some slick and powerful moments and this isn’t a bad debut.
 

Lily Allen, It’s Not Me, It’s You
Lily’s charm lies in her ability to make you blush, giggle or grimace. A fan of hip-hop at heart, the pop singer continues to entertain her love for rhyming couplets and well placed disses – it is after all, why we love her. With lame-o relationships, boy’s who are bad in bed and a satirical take on fame and society, this little lady is well known for saying what she thinks. It’s that confidence, coupled with such an ironically sweet and fun sound, which makes this an instantly loveable album.
 

Savage, Savage Island
With more rhythm, more hooks and oddly enough, more versions of his hit single ‘Swing’ (even though it debuted on his 2005 album, Moonshine), Savage Island is a decent, but strangely comfortable, return from the South Auckland star. Breaking into the US market has seen an album of bling, sex and violence, which whilst being incredibly charming, is rather lacking in the originality departments. 

Fans of this strain of hip-hop will feel at home with what could be described as a safe step up from his last release – slowed vocals, a bunch of cameos and more testosterone-filled club banger tracks.
 

The Mint Chicks, Screens
A change in line-up has given the new Mint Chicks album a fresh sound for the now trio. While it is up there with it’s predecessor, you won’t receive the instant gratification the thrills and spills of Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! offered, and a few more spins are required to fully appreciate this new direction. Choosing not to replace bassist Michael Logie has made this a more keyboard driven album and while it’s still strongly Mint Chicks at heart, is a record of pastels rather than the wild ride of earlier efforts.
 
Screens is a good album, but is lacking the substance and durability that would make it great.
 
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Liselle