Reviews & Previews
Reviews & Previews ARTISTS & MUSIC S P O T L I G H T SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SPOTLIGHT SARA LEE THE OFFSPRING Make It Beautiful Conspiracy Of One PRODUCERS: Peter Scherer, Harvey Jones PRODUCER: Brendan O'Brien Righteous Babe RBRO21 Columbia CK 61419 British bassist Sara Lee has been ply- On the winning follow -up to its 1995 ing her feisty musical wares since the smash "Americana," the Offspring late '70s. As an in- demand session play- doesn't stray far from the brand of er, Lee has toured and recorded with adrenaline- fueled punk/pop it first numerous high -profile acts, including helped popularize with Green Day Fiona Apple, the B -52's, Indigo Girls, back in the mid -'90s. But "Conspiracy Thompson Twins, Gang Of Four, and Of One" proves the SoCal rock act to Ryuichi Sakamoto. Four years ago, she still be among the top practitioners of accompanied singer/songwriter Ani the genre, which has most recently AI J LA DiFranco on tours of Europe and been owned by another group of 1 North America. With "Make It Beauti- smart-ass punk revivalists, Blink -182. EDITED BY MICHAEL PAOLETTA ful," the ultra- photogenic Lee finally The band roars out of the gates on the PRU delivers her greatly anticipated solo MUSIO SOULCHILD aptly titled track "Come Out Swing- Pru debut. Throughout the set's 10 tracks, Aijuswannasing ing" and blisters through the first 10 PRODUCERS: various funky beats seamlessly collide with PRODUCERS: various songs without looking back. But as P P Capitol 7243 5 23120 0 9 Def Soul/Def Jam 8289 O decidedly pop mannerisms, and new- opposed to Blink, which powers Webster's defines the word "prudent" With a moniker like Musiq Soulchild, * SHAWN LEE as "capable of exercising sound judg- expectations are high for this soul - Monkey Boy ment." Capitol artist Pru (nee Ren- ster's debut.
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