ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Todd Rundgren
White Knight
(Cleopatra) Out Friday
Fortunately, White Knight has more than a few: a series of superb duet performances on arguably the Philadelphia-born singer and multi-instrumentalist’s most satisfying record since Nearly Human way back in 1989.
There are some dream collaborations here including a jazzy jibe at Donald Trump alongside Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen and Walter Becker (Tin Foil Hat), a soulful duet with Daryl Hall (Chance For Us) which reflects, ruefully, on their own place in the music business now, and a quirky, XTC-like jaunt with Joe Walsh (Sleep).
Singers Betty LaVette and Robyn contribute vocals to tracks (Naked & Afraid and That Could Have Been Me) that are Todd near the top of his songwriting game.
HARRY STYLES
Harry Styles
(Erskine/Columbia) Out now
Teen idols have patchy form when it comes to making solo records; especially if, like former One Direction heart-throb Harry Styles, they pack themselves off to the stifling comfort of the Caribbean to do it.
This is a confused and ultimately self-indulgent debut, Styles shedding the pure teenage rush of his old band’s music for a set of songs that teeter between extended and rather dull exercises in angst (Sign Of The Times) and fame-induced loneliness (the self-pitying From The Dining Table) and lame sub-Def Leppard heavy rock (the truly atrocious Kiwi and Almost An Angel).
Writing with far too many co-composers and surrounded by over-skilful musicians, his personality and freshness is lost on all but two songs, Two Ghosts, a perceptive slice of West Coast balladry that should have formed the template for the album, and Woman, which starts like Elton’s Bennie And The Jets and has a great chorus even though it ends up almost as over-polished as the rest of the record.
Styles has a great voice.
Writing on his own with a less cocksure band he’ll make a great album.
But it isn’t this one.
VERDICT: 2/5
Daily Express :: Entertainment Feed
