Slash, Jónsi, and Angélique Kidjo Give Us Three New Albums Worth Getting Into

SLASH by Slash

All respect to Swedish strummer Yngwie Malmsteen, but Slash (née Saul Hudson) is arguably the greatest living guitar virtuoso, and on his eponymous solo debut album, proves that (to riff on Mötley Crüe), he’s got the licks that kill.  Each track on Slash features a different A-list vocalist – ranging from Chris Cornell of Soundgarden (“Promise”) and Iggy Pop (“We’re All Gonna Die”) to Ozzy Osbourne (“Crucify the Dead”) and M Shadows (“Nothing to Say”). 

Some of my favorite pairings include “Saint Is a Sinner Too” featuring Rocco DeLuca, “Ghost” featuring Ian Astbury of The Cult, and (in a particularly eye-opening display) “Beautiful Dangerous” featuring Fergie of Black Eyed Peas, channeling her inner Lita Ford.  Simply put, if you like hard guitar riffs with voices you’re sure to recognize, there isn’t a bad track on the album.  Besides, short of Jimi Hendrix coming back from the dead (not ruling it out, mind you – just not counting on it…), guitaring just isn’t gonna get any better than Slash.

GO by Jónsi

Continuing with another mono-monikered musician striking out on his own, is Go, the solo debut from Jónsi (née Jón Þór Birgisson), known to many as the bowed-guitar playing lead-singer of the Icelandic post-rock band, Sigúr Ros.  As much a series of poems set to lush and sweeping melodies as an album of contemporary music, Jónsi’s voice and music harkens back to the likes of Björk, Kate Bush, Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons), Julee Cruise, and Peter Gabriel. 

Jónsi

And while the whole album is just remarkable for its eerie beauty, the tracks “Go Do” and “Tornado” are especially worth getting into.  And as proof that we’re willing to put my money where my mouth is, Jacob and I are gonna catch Jónsi on his world tour, this weekend in Seattle.

ÕŸÖ by Angélique Kidjo

And then there’s Õÿö, the latest from Beninese vocalist Angélique Kidjo, wherein the West African singer and activist takes on a wide array of covers, and pairs her considerable talents with those of such big-time artists as Bono and John Legend (on a rousing cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Move on Up”), with jazz-vocalist Dianne Reeves on “Monfe Ran E” (Kidjo’s take on Aretha Franklin’s “Baby I Love You”), and trumpet maestro Roy Hargrove on “Samba Pa’ Ti” by Santana. 

Angélique Kidjo

Some particular favorites of mine include her interpretation of Otis Redding’s “I’ve Got Dreams” and the rollicking good-time that is had on Kidjo’s cover of “Cold Sweat” by James Brown; as well as a lovely version of the African lullaby “Lakutshona Llanga,” made famous by “Mama Africa” herself, the late, great Miriam Makeba.