The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 74

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. 2002 COURIER NEWS Music lie iik lira am Iiiejf bus on 1 7 1 1 I 4) opera pretensions or fall prey to some delusional urge to top Stephen Sondheim at his own game, Shaiman and Wittman offer a fun, frothy, cleverly crafted nostalgia trip. "Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now" and "Good Morning, Baltimore" resurrect girl-group theatrics, while "Run and Tell That" and "You Can't Stop the Beat" distill Motown majesty into irresistible pop-soul hokum. To quote the show's best tune, welcome to the '60s but don't pass up a chance to see this contemporary kitsch-fest live. Elysa Gardner, Gannett News Service Aimee Mann, "Lost in Space" (SuperEgo, $17.98) Indie-folk princess Aimee Mann hit a career high with critically acclaimed "Bachelor No.

2" and the Oscar-nominated soundtrack to the 1999 former star of '80s group Til Tuesday gently pushes her sound in several new directions without losing her signature poetic, mournful style. It's a beautiful collection of bittersweet songs with wrenching words and music that shift from sweet and intimate to big and rocking. Rough lyrics deal with drug abuse, obsession, confusion, loneliness and loss. As always, Mann's greatest power is her low, nasal, my-heart-is-breaking voice. Here she sings about being lost in space.

Listening to her, youll drift away, too. Not rated Catherine Lucey, Associated Press Boy George, "A Night Out With Boy George: A DJ Mix" (Moonshine, $16.98) Given his efforts to segue from pop magnate to radio-show host to production guru, one would think Boy George's musical sensibilities might have become a little weathered. Guess again. This guy is a gorgeously talented DJ. It's more of a house feel though there's a lot of techno influence on "A Night Out With Boy George: A DJ Mix." He gets the beat rolling early with Dark Globe's 'Auto-Erotic" and never Dixie Chicks, "Home" (Open Wide Records, $18.98) Since the Dixie Chicks stomped their way onto the country scene, kicking up a lot of not-necessariry-countrv fans along the way, the muluptatinum, Grammy-winning success of Brother, Where Art Thou?" and other bluegrass performers has branded country with some badly needed downhomey twang.

The Dixie Chicks' third album, "Home," further deepens the country roots eroded by the pop-country sounds of entertainers like Shania Twain and Faith Hill over the last decade. It's a diversion for a group with so much crossover popularity. While the brash female trio's country virtuosity was obvious on "Wide Open Spaces" and "Fly," there was a playful silliness in many of the songs that gave them charm. Not so on "Home," a likable balance of roo ts-country and foot-taping popabilly paeans to the simple comforts of country living. Ks the perfect showcase for Martie Maguire's spirited fiddling and sister Emily Robison's banjo and dobro work.

Natalie Maines' brassy vocals remain the hook. Yet something is missing. Where's the infectious anthem to freewheeling youth, laugh-out-loud punch line and knee-slapping, head-shaking, devil-may-care country romp? Not to be found on this record. A cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" is deftly done, but unnecessary; it captures all too well the contemplative, all-grown-up tone of "Home." Not rated Josh L. Dickey, Associated Press Original Broadway Cast Recording, "Hairspray" (Sony, $18.98) Composer Marc Shaiman's production fails to capture completely the exhilarating candor and goofiness that make this new musical adaptation of John Waters' cult comedy sparkle onstage.

Still, the songs conceived by Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman soar above the mannered dreck that fills most contemporary musicals. Rather than succumb to rock- other instruments, but the foundation of the sound is chiming acoustic guitars and vocal harmonies. Love laments are reminiscent by turns of Nick Drake, Joan Baez, Suzanne Vega and the Cowboy Junkies. Highlights include the dreamy tittle Door" and the wistful "Women Who." Andy takes the vocal lead on "Hollywood," which quotes Lyle Lovett without credit. But aside from that lapse, there's little fault on "Half Smile." Not rated Steven Wine, Associated Press Dolly Varden, "Forgiven Now" (Undertow, $14.50) Chicago's Dolly Varden (the name refers to a trout, not a person) has released another masterpiece of gloriously hooky pop flavored with a generous dash of country.

"Forgiven Now" is a high-water mark for this band and its leaders, Steve Dawson and Diane Christensen. Their thoughtful lyrics, gorgeous melodies, excellent musicianship and wonderful singing add up to just the kind of music the major labels believe consumers aren't interested in. This is one of the best albums you're likely to hear this year, and is well worth searching for on the Internet. Not rated Eric Fi-dler, Associated Press Jerzee Monet, "Love War" (Universal, $12.98) As the tide probably indicates, this is an album about relationships, but newcomer Monet has more on her mind than just lining up the next booty call. The singer discovered by DMX while frying fish at a Virginia Beach restaurant does her fair shareof sweet ballads.

But her more meaningful songs deal with self-respect, keeping a positive outlook and taking responsibility for one's actions. First single, "Most High," urges parents to do a better job of teaching and loving their kids, while "Yeah" (featuring Eve) promotes self-reliance in women. It's nice to see a debut that doesn't rely ly on trends and cliches. l2 SJ i 1... Dixie Chicks' third album, "Home," lets up as he blends some nice conga-laced tracks.

Boy George has great taste in mix track selections, but there's something about the album that appears to lag a little behind today's faster-paced mix session recordings. Still, there's no denying the solid house set that he delivers. Not rated Ron Harris, Associated Press John Mooney, "All I Want" (Blind Pig, $14.98) New Orleans-based John Mooney learned his craft from legendary bluesman Son House. Obviously, Mooney paid attention. He started as an acoustic blues-man, adding the electric element to his style in the early 1980s.

"All I Want" is a mix of both that showcases his talent on the slide guitar. Mooney was born in New Jersey and raised in Rochester, N.Y., tion of recordings have helped him hone a comfortable blues style. It's solid American roots music that calls for cold beer and a dark, sweatyjuke joint Not rated JR, Associated Press Victor Fields, "52nd Street (Regina, $16.98) Fields composed lead song "Five-Two Blues" as a grooving tribute to Joe Williams, and he honors the legend and other great singers with his expressive handling of several jazz and pop standards. He shows his versatility with a mournful "'Round an emotional "And I Love a swinging "A Night in Tunisia" and an elegant "Sophisticated. His wide range and nuanced interpretations give these classic tunes a fresh feeL It's almost as if you're in a club located onNewYorKsfabledmusichaven.

k-k-kl2 Steve Jones, Gannett News Service AZ, "Aziatic" (Motown, $18.98) For years, AZ has been a star in waiting someone whose lyrical skill and natural charisma marked him as a talent but who never caught the break to get him over the hump. But this Brooklyn native's fourth album may pay off for his perseverance. Deftly used old-school soul samples buoy his gritty observations of inner-city There" and'Tan Mail" Club bangers such as "Take It Off" and "Hands in the Air," while not as engaging, are still effective. But if the aptly named "The Essence," on which tie trades provides the purest measure of his skills. SJ The HankDogs, "Half Smile" (spinART, $15.98) The songs of the Hank Dogs are quiet, delicate, ethereal, wispy and lovely.

"Half Smile" is the second CD by the folk trio that includes no lastnames, please-lead vocalist Piano, guitarist Andy and drummer-percussionist Lily. They also play accordion, auto- harp, mandolin and banjo, among Gregg Cagno (left) performed with Path Park in Readington. 4ftfffiiFr7 I V' A tj-r Persistence pays off for Hunterdon singer-songwriter HflM Li GANNETT NEWS SERVICE PHOTO sports a more grown-up sound. but his years in New Orleans have put a drawl in his voice and a shuf-, fleinhisbeatHisnewCDdisplays a technically sound student giving faithful readings of the blues. Not rated James Reindl, Associated Press Duke Robillard, "Living With the Blues" (Stony Plain, $16.98) There's a lot more to Duke Robillard than memories of Roomful of Blues, the group he founded in 1967 and abandoned in 1979.

Robillard has a style that bridges rock 'n' roll, blues and jazz across a river of soul. "Living With the Blues" is a guitar-driven blues album full of up-temponumbersandafewslow ones to vary the pace. Robillard's fat-fingered sound carries well with his growl of a voice. Relentless touring and a steady produc with a demo recorded at Angus' Atomic Productions, also Clinton. "It's between a few nationally recognized producers," says Cagno, who opened this summer's Sixth Annual Black Potatoe Festival, featuring Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Levon Helm of The Band and Dickey Berts of The All-man Brothers Band.

For more info about the singer-songwriter, visit www. greggcagno.com. JERSEY JAMS Robin Renee, "All Six Senses" (www.robinrenee. com) On "All Six Senses," singer-songwriter Robin Renee is funkier and poppier than on her mainly acoustic solo debut, "InProgress." The results prove that while she may be a bit older than Alicia Keyes and Michelle Branch, she can more than hold her own with them. Renee has found an able and generous studio guru in producer Scott Matthews, who plays most of the instruments Six Senses." But having played for a longtime with the New Brunswick funk-rock band Spy Godz, Renee needs to start slugging it out in the live music scene again.

Her songs are too good to be performed sporadically. This is especially true of the atmospheric title track, the opening love song "First Sight," the celebratory Tnursday Morning Afterglow," the quirky, spiritual "Chant" and the gender-bending "My Bride." Caterers 4iAQ Sunday Fmm 1-5 HVf7J Tuesday-Friday I tab gratuity 'Oa N- WV 'if half years ago. But it all came together this summer. You take small victories as they come. I've come to realize that success is a combination of preparation and opportunity." Cagno's fall looks busy too.

He'll perform at a memorial concert on Sept. 11 at Conduit, 439 S. Broad Trenton, with Black Potatoe labelmate Kathy Phillips and the Irish rockband Na Bodach. The free event will start at 6 p.m. with a candlelight vigil.

Call (609) 656-1199 or visit www.conduitmusic.com for details. Other dates comingup include: Sept. 13, Bodies Opera House, Chester, N.Y. Sept 14, Cibo's, Princeton Sept. 22, Union Township Community Day, Hunterdon Hills Playhouse, Union Sept.

28, Riegelsville Inn, Oct 27, Coffee Works, Voorhees Nov. 15, Postcrypt Coffee House, Columbia University, New York. Having won Best Mellow Song for "Just the 3 of Us" at the 2002 South Florida Folk Festival, Cagno will return there next year with a full set on the main stage, perhaps in support of his fourth album. He plans to start recording his second disc soon for Black Potatoe, a Clinton-based label owned by his former high school band-mate, Matt Angus. The singer-songwriter is shopping producers Restaurant $95 Tuesday-- nday FILE PHOTO Livingston Taylor this summer at Deer mm 1 When Gregg Cagno was at North Hunterdon Regional High School, he played songs by Neil Young and The Band in a rock act But rather than pursue rock stardom like the artists whose work he performed, he took a fruitful detour into the folk music scene.

Inspired by fellow New Jer-seyan John Gorka at an open mic they both participated in at Godfrey Daniel's in Bethlehem, Cagno has released several independent CDs and toured around the country many times with his acoustic guitar and small amp. "In terms of small-budget music, one guy going on the road with one guitar and a bunch of CDs in the trunk is more financially feasible then takinganew band on the road," says Cagno, who has several concerts and a television appearance coming up. To drag five guys across the country is hard. I see my cousin, (folk-rocker) Laurie (Cagno) putting bands together, and the logistics of practice and keeping everything in check is just so difficult But professional musicians should be paid for what they do. I don't always pay my guitar.

Sometimes she plays for free." As hot as this summer was, the season was particularly scorching for Cagno (and his guitar). The troubadour's top-notch chops were heard while opening for and sitting in with Livingston Taylor at Deer Path Park in Read-ington. They performed Taylor's "City Lights," a tune on his "Life Is Good" album performed as a duet TOP Singles 1. "Dilemma," Nelly (featuring Kelly Rowland). Fo' Reel.

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Arista. 10. Makin Waves flu. nnn uitriu i dj dud nuuun 1 1 aiaii nincr SM bmakin V-lkUUIII with is brother, James, whom Cagno opened for in 1999 at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel. Cagno, who sounds like the Taylors but actually is influenced by Gorka, singer-songwriter David Wilcox and acoustic guitar great Michael Hedges, also performed this summer at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

He obtained the prestigious gig by networking at the annual National Folk Alliance Conference. Upon returning home from D.C, Cagno found out that "Back-road Driver," the title track of his 1994 debut album, is being played on the nationally syndicated radio show, "CarTalk." Around the same time, he learned that his recent concert at the Baron Arts Center in Woodbridge will be aired by year's end on WNET Channel 13's "Metro Arts" program. "It's like tides, low and high," Cagno says. "All of these things are the culmination of years of just putting stuff out there. The Kennedy Center thing took three years to get.

It took me five years to get into the Baron Arts Center. I sent my stuff to 'Car Talk' two and TENS Albums 1. "The Eminem Show," Eminem. Web. (Platinum 1 million sales) 2.

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