Bieber fever… in acoustic

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines -- Fame is showing no signs of letting up on Justin Bieber. I mean, has anybody else’s shorn hair gone for $40,668 in the auction block? Exactly! So let’s look at one of the main reasons (besides the hair) why this teen sensation is breaking hearts – not to mention records, all across the globe.

The Bieber phenomenon started with the EP “My World” and went global with “My World 2.0,” the latter on the strength of “Baby.” Now, the double disc “My Worlds: The Collection” brings together most of the songs from these two sets – as if we need another Bieber album to listen to. Then again, this set is for the true Bieber fans.

One disc of “My Worlds” is made up mainly of acoustic versions of his hits, namely “One Time,” “One Less Lonely Girl,” “Stuck In The Moment” and, of course, the ultra catchy (admit it!) “Baby.” Surprisingly, the tracks lend themselves well in this bare-bones approach. For example, “U Smile” showed some bluesy swing in its acoustic guitar driven incarnation. And the rhythmic “Never Say Never” earned some shades of Santana-esque Latin rock in it. As to how his biggest hit fared in this acoustic setting, we could only say… “baby, baby, baby, oh…” Ready for Bieber fever, Manila?

‘Sting Live in Berlin: featuring The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra’, Sting (MCA Music)

We gave Sting’s “Symphonicity” CD a fair review here a couple of months ago. This time we’re grading the live performance of that album and we must say that this one is better. The big draw for this live set is the DVD of the concert, which also features the 46-piece Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. That the album includes Sting’s biggest hits – from his years as a Police to his solo career – is also a big plus.

“Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and “Englishman In New York” are instant crowd pleasers, while Sting’s solo era songs lends itself well in an orchestral setting, particularly the charming “When We Dance.” Conductor Steven Mercurio and the Royal Orchestra stepped up the drama on “Russians” and the theatrical “Moon Over Bourbon Street.” The DVD’s only drawback is the exclusion of the live performances of “If I Ever Lose My Faith in You” and “Shape of My Heart,” which are on the disc two CD.

This travesty aside, enjoy the funky duet between Sting and back-up singer Jo Lawry, with Branford Marsalis answering with some bluesy saxophone runs. Also noteworthy is “She’s Too Good For Me,” which got the whole orchestra dancing. The exceptional “King of Pain” and the obligatory inclusion of “Every Breath You Take” complete the live “Symphonicity” experience.

‘Sucker Punch – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack’, Various Artists (Sony Music)

This album is a mishmash of ambient and industrial-sounding rock, and reinterpretations of moody rock n’ roll covers and classics, starting off with a somewhat feverish version of the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of These).” The movie’s director, Zack Snyder, said that in choosing the tunes for his movie, “each reinvisioned song had to add depth, dimension and meaning to the sequences they exist within” – as should always be the case in any movie, especially one that brings together fantastical dragons, gun-bearing samurai zombies and sci-fi robots, and a mélange of cleavage baring, long-lashed pretty protagonists. Think “Moulin Rouge” as envisioned by Tim Burton. As such, the soundtrack includes Icelandic wonder Bjork dishing out the jagged and industrial rock, “Army of Me,” featuring English rock band Skunk Anansie—who also rocks out “Search and Destroy.”

Perhaps a nod to the trippy sequences of the film, “Sucker Punch” OST also includes an Emiliana Torrini cover of ‘60’s LSD rockers Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.” Rapper Armageddon aka Geddy delivers a tasty mash-up featuring the classic recording of Queen in “I Want It All/We Will Rock You.” Adding to the weirdness and edginess of it all is a cover of The Beatles’ proto-metal classic “Tomorrow Never Knows” by two of “the most rockingest ladies in the biz today,” Alison Mosshart of The Kills/Deadheart and Autolux drummer Carla Azar.

source: mb.com.ph