Santana, 3 Doors Down single reviews

11/26/2005 5:30 PM, Reuters


SINGLE: JUST FEEL BETTER. Santana's previous "I'm Feeling You," the been-there-heard-that first single from his new "All That I Am," showed that any acclaimed musician can fall victim to complacence. Second release "Just Feels Better" features Steven Tyler delivering a spirited, typically over-the-top vocal, which makes this song a fun, loose listen. The only thing not playing in its favor is another ho-hum guitar solo from Santana, whose licks have become as humdrum and predictable as a rusty wheel squeaking in the background. Unfortunately, much of this project smells a lot more like commerce than creativity.

ARTIST: 3 DOORS DOWN FEATURING BOB SEGER

SINGLE: LANDING IN LONDON

3 Doors Down's high-impact, down-in-the-dumps "Landing in London" oozes all sorts of loneliness, despair and regret. What a great sulk. With lines like "As the night falls in around me/I don't think I'll make it through" and "I need your love to hold me up/When it's all too much to bear," this song is a definitive ode to the notion that boys do cry. Add in melancholy strings and some gritty guest vocals from Bob Seger, and you have got this decade's lovelorn "Faithfully," a la Journey. In a good way.

ARTIST: ASHANTI FEATURING PAUL WALL & METHOD MAN

SINGLE: STILL ON IT

The fact that Ashanti's "Still on It" opens with 45 seconds of rap posturing from her featured guests Paul Wall and Method Man -- with another 45 seconds at the midsection -- is pretty telling about how integral the singer really is to this production. As usual, her whispy light vocals deserve a place in the background rather than representing the marquee namesake of this single. Ashanti's star was tarnished by her previous lackluster album, so this time, she truly needs an effective song and a show of talent to elevate her on the charts. Not happening here. Even her risque clothing may not be enough to distract from this nameless offering.

ARTIST: VARIOUS ARTISTS

SINGLE: SEASONS OF LOVE

"Seasons of Love," the leadoff single from the motion picture version of "Rent," catches the ear instantly as the cast repeats the chorus, "Five hundred twenty five thousand, six hundred minutes." Accompanying production is modest, letting the vocalists lead the charge with harmonies all around, solo ad-libs, hand clapping and an overall celebration of timeless love. For those who have seen Jonathan Larson's beloved "Rent" on Broadway, "Seasons of Love" stands as a classic in modern musical theater. For first-timers, though, it is also an easy catch -- you cannot help but start humming the melody and singing along to the simple lyric.

ARTIST: NATALIE GRANT

SINGLE: WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR

Established Christian and burgeoning Adult Contemporary artist Natalie Grant hits another home run with this sprightly, self-empowering song. It is the follow-up to her devastatingly emotional "Held," which at last gave the chanteuse deserved crossover exposure. This time around, she implores, "So you wanna change the world/What are you waiting for?" Angelic harmonies elevate the chorus, which Grant delivers with her usual gusto and panache. We have said it before and it holds true: This artist offers everything that AC radio needs in a staple artist -- and she is yours for the asking. So what are you waiting for?

ARTIST: TORI AMOS

SINGLE: CARS AND GUITARS

"Cars and Guitars" is the new offering from Tori Amos' latest album, "The Beekeeper." As an artist very much in control of her sound, it is a credit to her production skills that she has created a pop-leaning song while maintaining her alternative roots. The lighthearted nature of "Cars and Guitars" is conveyed with skipping drums, a touch of piano and chants of "cha ch ch cha," wrapped in a blithe melody. Since her lyrics always have layered meanings, no clear interpretation of the song is apparent: Lines like "If I choke boy you start me up again/Restring my wires y'know/This gear box can make the shift polish my rims" are full of possibilities. But the words do relay a sense of a relationship lost, adding some bitter to the music's sweetness.

ARTIST: SARA EVANS

SINGLE: CHEATIN'

Country music fans have always loved a good cheatin' song, and Sara Evans serves up an instant classic in this outstanding effort. The lyric finds her admonishing a down-and-out ex who should have thought about his future circumstances before he was unfaithful. Lines like "How do you like that beat-up car/I think it's fair we traded/Your pickup truck is running fine/It's a cozy ride for dating" just drip with sarcasm and the sweet taste of revenge. The song's classic flavor plays to her strengths as one of the format's most gifted traditional vocalists. This is country music at its very best and yet another example of Evans' potent charm and talent.

ARTIST: FORT MINOR

SINGLE: PETRIFIED

Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda has enough name recognition to get a side project off the ground. But he topped off his upcoming album, "The Rising Tied," by having Shawn Carter (better-known as Jay-Z) as executive producer. Those two factors would spell a hit whether a song was deserving or not. However, the energetic "Petrified" has merit. As the rap voice of Linkin Park, it is no surprise that Shinoda is fully diving into the genre for his solo turn, as evidenced here. The booming, hollow synths form a slinky melody that dominates the track, which is braced by drums that are more hip-hop than heavy metal. Shinoda's lyrical flow is confident and smooth, and he has already got a minor beef: "You really must be so lonely/Puffed up like you're tough but so phony." Guess he is preparing for all the potential haters out there who are "petrified" of his sound.

Reuters/Billboard