Reviews & Previews ARTISTS & MUSIC Zainam (19), Cleopatra (18), and S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T Yonah (16) -has left its British pop - 1NC (ONE NATION CREW) roots behind for a more mature, hip The offers Kirk Franklin Presents 1NC hop- skewed sound. album PRODUCERS: Kirk Franklin, Al West sleek and sexy ditties like "Press \717 Here To and "I Want To B -Rite 6069490341 Start" Just á Gospel's main man emerges from the Be." The set's first single, "U Got It," wake of his 1998 solo set, the double - is driven by a head -nodding bassline \ platinum "Nu Nation Project," as the and lush guitar sample but lacks real creative dynamo fueling this formida- substance. This set finds Cleopatra ble, nine -voice aggregation. Even working with such prime -time hitmak- while co-producing, writing all but one ers as Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, of the album's 13 songs, and exerting a Daryl Simmons, and Dallas Austin. It pervasive, commanding presence as also finds the sisters penning 90% of AIDUMS the material, and although their instrumentalist, singer, and arranger, Franklin still generously shines the efforts are to be praised, it also lends EDIIED BY MICBAEI PARMA spotlight on his powerful, personally to the album's similarities. Too many picked protégés. And as great as 1NC of the songs sound the same, with syn- WYCLEF JEAN is, this is Franklin's moment to make ELASTICA copated beats bleeding from one track POP The Ecleftic: 2 Sides Il A Book or break, and he dazzles at every turn. The Menace to another and lyrics that go on and on PRODUCERS: various The multi -ethnic makeup of 1NC gives PRODUCERS: various about young love and heartbreak. GABRIELLE * Columbia 62180 the already eclectic Franklin Atlantic 83386 Vocally, the three beautiful voices Rise a palette Wyclef Jean plays master storyteller from which to paint boldly, and with Five years after releasing its now clas- seem trapped by the lack of diverse PRODUCERS: various on his latest epic, "The Ecleftic: 2 sic self-titled debut -and following material. In the end, Cleopatra cer- Go! Beat/Universal 314547768 Sides II A Book." As the title sug- - "LANÉRátttÏN considerable internal strife that long tainly has the style and talent to hit it First things first "Dreams" is presents -Gabrielle's gests, Jean reveals his many sides held the fate of the band in question big in the U.S. But for that to happen, one of the best pop/R&B songs of the - on the eclectic 23 -track set, from a Elastica returns with another satisfy- better material will be needed. 19905. Issued seven years ago, the song community activist (the emotional ing collection of quick, tiff-happy new was a hit throughout Europe; it remains RUFF ENDZ "Diallo ") to the G- string aficionado wave/punk rock that, while no match as vital today as it was back then. Sadly, it Love (the bouncy "Red Light District "). for its first album, was nonetheless Crimes failed to click in the U.S., except in PRODUCERS: various under- Throughout, Jean appears to be an worth the wait. Whereas " Elastica" ground clubs where, in all its remixed Epic EK 69719 open book with many chapters. "The was all cool momentum with its con- glory, it was a bona fide smash. The The Baltimore duo of David "Davinch" Ecleftic" is also full of surprising cise bursting structures and speeding acousti -soul recently on Chance and Dante "Chi" Jordan is al- track resurfaced guest stars, including Kenny Rogers hooks, "The Menace" takes time to the "Magnolia" soundtrack. These days, ready drawing comparisons with K-Ci & and Whitney Houston. World brood -most notably on the spoken - is JoJo and Bobby Womack. But there's Gabrielle enjoying much European suc- Wrestling Federation superstar the word "My Sex" and the instrumental cess (again) with the Bob Dylan- sampled more to this urban -honed pair, as evi- Rock joins Jean on the guitar -tinged "Miami Nice " -reflecting more icy, title of album. denced by its current chart -climbing, track her third Cleverly "It Doesn't Matter." Combining one saTTr,s electronic influences. It is also at times incorporating "Knockin' Heaven's c turc body- moving single "No More," which On of the wrestler's trademark phrases frivolous, as on the cover of the Trio's Door," "Rise" is warm, melodic, - boasts production from Eddie F. and Dar- classic with an old- school backbeat, Jean 1982 hit "Da Da Da" and "How He near perfection, into genres that ren Lighty, the team behind Donell Jones' sounding, and spiritually uplifting. It's one gets the party started with this lead Wrote Elastica Man," a collaboration of those tracks that, if given the include hammering hip -hop ( "Movin' top 10 hit "U Know What's Up." Chance opportu- single. On the other end of the spec- with Mark E. Smith that sounds like a nity to spread its wings on radio, On "), salsa- spiced Latin/pop ( "Uncon- and Jordan skip from gritty hip -hop to U.S. trum, Jean teams with Mary J. Blige pep squad cheer. The album's finest would surely find its way into top 10 of ditional"), Sunday -morning gospel traditional R &B without missing a beat on the on "911." This agonizing tale of love moments arguably come first, with both the pop and R &B charts. Of course, ( "Breath Away "), and power -chording this promising debut. They maintain the lost from a man's point of view is a songs that are most reminiscent of this being the U.S., that's a big That pop /rock ( "Could've Been Me "). "No More" momentum with "Are U Mess- if rare one, indeed. Jean's crooning previous material: "Mad Dog" plays said, the fingers are crossed. As a collec- Equally amazing are "Nobody," which ing Around," then go for the slow burn on may not be the most melodic, but it like a sonic cousin of "Connection," tion of songs, "Rise" shines the spotlight merges hooky hip -hop colors and flaw- "I'm Not Just Sayin' That I'm Feeling is heartfelt. "Where Fugees At" is an while "Generator" is an infectious firmly on soulful pop music. It so less Flamenco guitar, and the sophisti- That," "I Apologize," and the title track, deserves interesting open letter to fans -and punk/pop firecracker. But no matter to be heard not few. cated, lavishly orchestrated "Lost guided along the way by such producers -and just by a select anyone else -who may be clamoring what directions the band takes on this (The fingers remain Hearts." as Dru Hill's Nokio, Manuel Seal, and crossed.) for a Fugees reunion. Although not moody effort, lead singer Justine Bryan-Michael Cox. LAIKA as cohesive as Jean's "Carnival," Frischmann remains its heart. Her * "Freak In My Life," which will easily find Good Looking Blues "The Ecleftic" spins a compelling detached attitude, distinctive Brit a niche at radio, where similar fare is PRODUCERS: Margaret Fiedler, Guy Fiesen tale of a hip -hop superstar who snarl, and guitar style remain Elasti- D A N C E dominating the airwaves. Similarly, Too Pure/Beggars Banquet Pure 89 defies convention. ca's signature and strongest asset. She "Dance Me" is * THIEVERY CORPORATION On its third album, "Good Looking Blues," With a definite club track makes "The Menace" a winner. that should move the crowd. Although The Mirror Conspiracy the London -based collective, helmed by Sealy, and Campbellson "Sadiq" Shackle - PRODUCERS: Rob Garza, Eric Hilton Margaret Fiedler and Fixsen, Blayz can keep up with the competition in Guy contin- ton), Blayz offers what some might label CLEOPATRA Eighteenth Street Lounge Music ESL 033 ues its search for that completely different the uptempo department, the key to hip-hop R &B -that combination of "Dear Steppin' Out Since emerging four years ago, Washing- electronic beat. In other words, Laika- Jane" is the ballads. Tracks like brazen attitude and lush vocals that has the sorrowful "Lonely" and the dramatic PRODUCERS: various ton, D.C.'s Thievery Corporation-com - singer Fiedler, guitarist/programmer become quite popular on the charts of Maverick 2.4.47791 prising Rob Garza and Eric Hilton-has Fixsen, bassist John Frenett, and drum- All Alone" showcase the group's true late. The group gets off to an average musicianship. info, For its sophomore effort, "Steppin' been creating some of the most stylish and mer Lou Ciccotelli-aren't content to play colors and For contact enough start with the bouncy track Unplugged Records at 404 -315 -1938. Out," the U.K.'s Cleopatra- sisters sophisticated beats to grace clubland. follow the leader. On the contrary, Laika Sadly, and unlike days gone by, these prefers to be the tastemaking leader, in- aren't the types of beats clubgoers are tertwining rock -etched guitars and VITAL REISSUES® likely to hear in the "big room" of any turntable samples. It's no wonder that major metropolitan club -save for "Air visionary artists like Brian Eno and THE BEACH BOYS digitally remastered sets of twofers. "Pet Sounds ") and Tom Petty for the Batucada" (with delicious vocals by Pam Tricky have welcomed the act with open Carl & the Passions: So Tough/Holland The most artistically momentous -with latter (which also includes an aurally Bricker), which seamlessly straddles the arms. "Good Looking Blues" finds the PRODUCERS: various/the Beach Boys cuts like "Marcella" and "Sail On, exceptional edition of the six-track fence between Larry Heard -vibed house group combining the best elements of its REISSUE PRODUCERS: Cheryl Pawelski, Paul Atkinscn Sailor " -is the "So Tough"/ "Holland" "Mount Vernon And Fairway" fairy and Brazilian rhythms.