McGill Tribune

A & E

Madeleine Peyroux. Bare Bones.

Southern siren Madeleine Peyroux has been called a modern Billie Holiday. Released on March 10, the pop/jazz vocalist's fourth album Bare Bones proves that comparisons to such legendary songstresses as Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Edith Piaf are entirely warranted.

Peyroux began singing at 15 when she discovered the street musicians in Paris's Latin Quarter, and soon after joined The Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band. Since then, Peyroux has been performing and recording to great critical acclaim. With her interesting blend of French and Southern roots, Peyroux's new album is simultaneously reminiscent of the different styles of Fitzgerald and Piaf.

As she sings in "River of Tears," Peyroux's album seems to suggest that her listeners "turn off the telephone, open up another bottle … let it get real quiet, turn that lamp way down low," and enjoy some soothing jazz. The rich, deep quality of her voice is immediately noticeable on the intro track "Instead." All of the album's 11 songs were co-written by Peyroux-with the exception of "I Must Be Saved," which she wrote on her own-and each is lyrically and melodically beautiful. The album's trajectory moves from feelings of despair, to loss, to acceptance and then hope, gaining momentum as it progresses. The first single off the album, "You Can't Do Me" is a fun song with a strong beat and catchy hook. But Peyroux's slow, enchanting songs, such as "Damn the Circumstances" and "Love and Treachery" are definitely the most memorable. Peyroux is keeping vocal jazz alive and well, and Bare Bones will take you right back to a jazz lounge of the Latin Quarter in the 1950s-a highly enjoyable musical relic of more elegant days.

-Carolyn Gregoire


New Found Glory. Not Without a Fight.

If you have ever listened to an American Pie soundtrack, chances are you've heard of New Found Glory. The Floridian pop punk veterans have just released their seventh full-length album after a three-year hiatus. Not Without a Fight is nothing short of a return to form for the group, who began to make their name in the late 90s with catchy choruses and a healthy dose of power chords. T he aptly titled intro track "Right Where We Left Off" sets the tone for the album: New Found Glory are back and doing it like they always have, but with a little bit of a twist. For Not Without a Fight, the band enlisted the help of Blink 182 singer/bassist Mark Hoppus to produce the album.

Standout tracks include "47," which garners points for having a less predictable form and a sense of humour to it, and "This Isn't You," which is a little too catchy to be buried in the back as track 11. Not Without a Fight is just what you would expect from New Found Glory. They're not about to make the next White Album, but they're not ready to fade away quite yet, either.

-Kyle Carpenter