Music

By CHUCK CAMPBELL
Sunday, November 05, 2006
"B'DAY," Beyonce (Sony Urban Music/Columbia)

Beyonce's quadruple-platinum 2003 solo debut, "Dangerously in Love," made a statement with its opening track (and first single), "Crazy in Love": This woman is an icon for the decade.

With her follow-up "B'Day," it's more like: eh.

To be fair, "B'Day's" opening track (and first single), "Dij` Vu," is one of the worst cuts on the release, a jittery bit of irrelevance featuring way too much of Beyonce's bland-rapping boyfriend, Jay-Z.

By RONNA RUBIN
Friday, November 03, 2006
"There's an authenticity, I think, in bluegrass music that you may not find in other genres of music," says Rhonda Vincent, one of that format's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed artists.

Vincent is up for several awards _ including Entertainer of the Year _ at the Sept.

By MARK BROWN
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Even if he hasn't released a new studio album in three years, you can find new Lou Reed recordings and performances.

Recently he has recorded with everyone from The Strokes to Jack White's new group, The Raconteurs, as well as soul legend Howard Tate.

"I'm a working musician.

By CHUCK CAMPBELL
Sunday, October 22, 2006
"A PUBLIC AFFAIR," Jessica Simpson (Epic)

What a relief Jessica Simpson didn't plunge into the disquieting depths of heartbroken self-analysis, baring her soul as she carefully dissected her split from husband Nick Lachey.

We just couldn't take it, y'all.

Instead, "A Public Affair" teases at being just a good ol' empty-headed dance album ...

By RONNA RUBIN
Sunday, October 15, 2006
"This is a place to kind of get in a good mood and get our mind right and remember exactly why we came because you can sit backstage all day and forget sometimes.

By CHUCK CAMPBELL
Sunday, October 15, 2006
"KELIS WAS HERE," Kelis (Jive)

Her milkshake brought all the boys to the yard, and now Kelis is leashing up those dogs with a "Kelis Was Here" that explores a seemingly infinite number of ways to assert her grandiosity.

The modern R&B singer cruises along on her fourth release without the help of The Neptunes, producers of the hit "Milkshake" from 2003's "Tasty."

Kelis would be the first to tell you she doesn't need those guys.

By RICK MASSIMO
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Whether she's working alone or as part of a larger ensemble (the latter often including her husband, the matchless accordionist Marc Savoy), singer-guitarist Ann Savoy is one of the most tireless performers and historians of Cajun and American roots music.

Savoy is also part of The Magnolia Sisters, an all-female Cajun group that recently released "Rabbit Rabbit," a collection of Louisianan children's songs.

By RONNA RUBIN
Friday, October 13, 2006
When it comes to the creation of country music stars, Canada is second only to the United States. Recording artists including Anne Murray, Shania Twain, Terri Clark, Paul Brandt and Carolyn Dawn Johnson all hail from the great white north and have enjoyed successful careers courtesy of contracts with US-based record labels.

This year's Canadian Country Music Awards _ airing on GAC, at 7 p.m.

By MELISSA DAHL
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Feeling emo today? Even if you didn't start your day under a dark cloud, these songs are all that's needed for an instant bad mood.

Author Tom Reynolds analyzes a list of sigh-inducing songs in his recent book "I Hate Myself and Want To Die: The 52 Most Depressing Songs You've Ever Heard" (Hyperion, $10.36, 288 pages).

These are songs you've probably wept over many times, but still you listen with your sad box of Kleenex.

By CASSANDRA HINOJOSA
Teen sensation Paula DeAnda began to make her mark opening hometown shows for hip-hop artists Nelly, Baby Bash and Frankie J. in the spring of 2005.

Then the 16-year-old R&B/pop artist from Corpus Christi, Texas, signed up with music legend Clive Davis, who helped launch the careers of Janis Joplin, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen and Whitney Houston.