Furtado’s ‘Folklore’ a hefty look at life

Editor’s Note: In Sound Advice, the first Saturday of every month, veteran NEWS entertainment writer Dale McGarrigle, former British music-press writer Adam Corrigan, NEWS sportswriter and rock buff Andrew Neff and a revolving stable of NEWS writers review new albums from across the musical spectrum.

“Folklore” (Dreamworks) – Nelly Furtado

Those who only know this talented Canadian from her hits “I’m Like A Bird” and “Turn Out the Lights” off her 2000 debut album “Whoa! Nelly” will be pleasantly surprised by the heft of her new album.

On “Folklore,” Furtado shows that she’s one of the more complete artists on today’s pop scene. Her influences don’t come from the pre-programmed pablum of the Top 40 stations. Her style comes from around the globe, with sounds from around the world woven into her music (Portuguese singer Caetano Veluso, jazz banjo player Bela Fleck and the classical Kronos Quartet all makes appearances on her new album).

As the album title suggests, Furtado examines in her 12 self-penned songs the lives and attitudes of herself and others, often beautifully and hauntingly. She’s got something to say, and that’s accompanied by a beat that enthralls the listener and lodges in his or her head.

That’s why the singer of Portuguese descent will still be thriving long after many of today’s pop tarts have gone stale. Short-term trends aside, talent will win out and endure and “Folklore” proves why Furtado deserves to do just that. – Dale McGarrigle

“Life on Display” (Flawless/Geffen) – Puddle of Mudd

What do you do when your debut album sells 116,000 copies, has one of its singles become the most played track on rock radio in 2002 and earns the ASCAP award for most played song of the year, and spawns three other radio hits?

Well, you either retire, because it’s going to be very difficult to do any better, or you suck it up and release another album 18 months later.

The quartet known as Puddle of Mudd went for the second option and decided to go for a no-nonsense, heavier, modern rock sound on the follow-up. Guitarist Paul Phillips calls the sound “bigger” and “rawer.”

Fans will like it, but in all honesty, it fails to live up to the breakout sound and allure of the debut, but that’s what happens when your first album is such a commercial and critical smash hit. “Life” is a solid effort, but is a victim of heightened expectations borne by “Come Clean.”

The band’s no-nonsense approach to songwriting and performing remains, and the occasional dark edge to some of these songs won’t turn off Mudd fans, but they should still temper their expectations a bit. – Andrew Neff

“The Opera Band” (BMG/Victor) – Amici Forever

Amici forever. That’s Italian you know – like all those big opera stars. It means “friends” forever. How nice. And they all look so nice on the cover. And they really are friends, you know!

Yes, horrible as this may sound, Amici is an attempt to cross the ubiquitous manufactured pop group with opera. If you didn’t get that instantly, they’ve helped you grasp the concept by naming this album “The Opera Band.” Obviously this whole thing comes from an idea scribbled on a napkin during a three-bottle lunch.

It’s like opera, but less challenging! It’s something the kids and Grandma can both appreciate. It’s likely to sell at least 10 times what this year’s biggest selling traditional opera recording will sell. And the band will probably go to No. 1 in Britain a few times in 2004. The British are like that.

If I’ve not said much about the music, it’s because there’s little to say. All five of this photogenic, international quintet are accomplished if unremarkable singers of opera, and almost certainly will remain friends forever, or until they are dropped by their label. Not that “The Opera Band” is completely without merit. It is fine on its own terms – gussying up and chopping to four minutes a bunch of stuff from Faure and Puccini, then throwing in some other favorite standards.

But I don’t really want that. Still, if opera for dummies and pretty pictures are your bag, go ahead, and keep these amici friends for a little longer. – Adam Corrigan