Emeli Sande stuns with her debut

Emeli Sande
“Our Version of Events”
(Capitol)

For at least the next year or so, every U.K. female singer who has a soulful voice and favors ballads has to deal with an unenviable fate -- being compared with fellow Brit Adele.

That’s what Emeli Sande is facing with her debut, “Our Version of Events.” It doesn’t help that Emeli Sande’s real name is Adele -- she started using her middle name when the current queen of pop became a sensation. Also like Adele, Sande has some mournful, heart-wrenching tunes in her repertoire. And like Adele, Sande is a gifted songwriter, co-writing all 14 tracks (including the last song, the gripping “Hope,” with Alicia Keys) on her album.

And finally, like Adele, she makes brilliant music. But what will make her a sensation is that she has a sound that is distinctly her own. While her piercing soprano is reminiscent of a lot of R&B and pop singers (perhaps most like Tamia’s), what sets Emeli apart is her material. “Our Version of Events” is a stunning collection of songs that creatively and imaginatively express age-old themes like heartache, love and more. “Suitcase” is a quivering song about a lover who walks out the door with no explanation. On the stark and beautiful “Breaking the Law,” Sande expresses her devotion to her man by offering to do a litany of criminal acts. And “River,” in which she offers to be a guide, is a gorgeous, piano-based track that is as majestic as its words.

There’s not one throwaway song on the album, just song after song that are must-listens. And yes, that’s another instance where she’s like Adele -- or better yet, like Emeli Sande.

(AP)


With ‘Looking,’ Usher in strong form

Usher
“Looking 4 Myself”
(RCA)

In the last decade, Usher, along with Justin Timberlake and Beyonce, was part of an elite group of pop acts who released back-to-back albums that were epic and masterful.

He kicked off the new millennium with “8701,” an album full of R&B gems that became enduring staples. Though it’s nearly impossible to follow an album like that with something even better, he did with “Confessions.” The 2004 blockbuster was his superstar-making album and still ranks as one of the top 10 best-selling discs ever.

These days, Usher still racks up hit singles (“OMG,” "Love In This Club” to name a few), but he hasn’t produced an album as brilliant since.

But the new, entertaining “Looking 4 Myself” is his best attempt at making magical music following “Here I Stand” and “Raymond v. Raymond,” lackluster albums saved by a few sterling songs.

Usher’s 14-track set is a multi-genre affair: There are mid-tempo grooves like “Show Me,” as well as bedroom R&B (“Dive”), rhythmic hip-hop (“Lemme See”), upbeat pop (“Twist”) and electro-dance numbers (“Scream,” "Numb,” "Euphoria”).

But the be-all-things-to-all-people approach doesn’t always work. “Scream,” the current single produced by Max Martin, is like everything else on top 40 radio. Like many of Chris Brown’s Euro-flavored jams, this one could easily be performed by another act. It’s flavorless and generic -- words normally not used to describe Usher’s music.

Usher sounds better on “Numb” and “Euphoria,” both written and produced by Swedish Mafia House and Klas Ahlund, the main producer behind Swedish dance singer Robyn. Still, those songs don’t come close to “Yeah!” or even “Without You” with David Guetta.

The producers on the album range from Pharrell to will.iam, though Jermaine Durpri, the mastermind of behind much of “8701” and “Confessions,” is missing.

Still, Overall, “Looking” is a hit. The title track, which features Luke Steele of Empire of the Sun, is amazing, Rick Ross adds to the greatness of “Lemme See” and “Lessons for the Lover” is Usher doing R&B like it should be done.

(AP)