Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It

Raphael Saadiq — The Way I See It —(Columbia)

Everyone out there has a friend or relative who is constantly complaining that today's artists don't hold a candle to the ones who recorded music three or four decades ago. There is some validity to those laments, but there are also more than a few exceptions. The latest of the latter comes in the form of "The Way I See It," the new CD by Raphael Saadiq.

Even though Saadiq wrote or co-wrote every track on this stellar CD, most of the tracks sound as if they were written in 1965 alongside Smokey Robinson's "Going to a Go-Go," dropped into a time machine and transported to 2008.

At this point in his career, Saadiq really has nothing left to prove after having fronted Tony! Toni! Tone! and released his own successful solo material. With the music on "The Way I See It" though, Saadiq may have topped even his best earlier work.

Drawing influences from the Motown and Stax sounds of the '60s, songs such as "Sure Hope You Mean It," "100 Yard Dash" and "Just One Kiss" (featuring Joss Stone) will stun you with their authenticity. Stevie Wonder even lends his harmonica to "Never Give You Up." If you think today's music doesn't sound like it did in the good old days, give this one a try. (A)

Download These: "Sure Hope You Mean It," "100 Yard Dash," "Just One Kiss"

Randy Newman - Harps And Angels

Randy Newman — Harps And Angels —(Nonesuch)

Sure, he won an Oscar for writing music for the Pixar cartoon "Monsters, Inc.," but the music that made Randy Newman a household name has never really been what anyone would call suitable for children.

Be it "Short People," "Rednecks" or "You Can Leave Your Hat On," Newman has always delighted in pushing the envelope when it comes to subjects. That spirit seems to be alive and well on "Harps and Angels," Newman's first album of new material in a decade. "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" has already drawn howls of protest from the political right, which seems to have forgotten the definition of the word satire.

"Now the leaders we have, while they're the worst we've had/ Are hardly the worst this poor world has seen," sings Newman in a song that offers up Hitler, Caesar and others as proof of that line. "A Piece of the Pie" examines the "rich get richer" angle while hilariously skewering, of all people, Jackson Browne.

There are plenty of signature Newman compositions here, including "Easy Street," "Losing You" and the title track. Not every song manages to deliver, but "Harps and Angels" shows that Newman's sense of humor is still wickedly sharp. (B+)

Download These: "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country," "Korean Parents," "A Piece of the Pie"

Roy Orbison - The Soul Of Rock And Roll

Roy Orbison — The Soul Of Rock And Roll — (Orbison Music/Monument/Legacy)

There have been more than a few collections of Roy Orbison's music released in the wake of his death in 1988. Until now, however, there hasn't really been anything tailor-made for true fans of the influential singer-songwriter.

"The Soul of Rock and Roll," the new four-CD box set includes all of Orbison's hits, including "Only the Lonely," "Crying" and "Blue Bayou," but this new collection goes several steps further.

Disc one kicks off with a previously unreleased version of "Ooby Dooby" performed by one of Orbison's early bands, the Teen Kings, as well as "Hey, Miss Fannie!" by the Wink Westerners." That alone already puts this collection over any other, but it doesn't stop there. This exhaustive set includes 107 songs from every stage of Orbison's career, including duets with artists including Emmylou Harris, k.d.lang and the Traveling Wilburys.

There is even a recording of "It's Over" from Orbison's final concert that will give you chills. The set includes liner notes with quotes on Orbison's influence from artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello. Even if you already own all of those other collections, this generous set is a must own for any Orbison fan. (A+)

Download These: "It's Over (Live)," "Ooby Dooby," "Only the Lonely"