Friday 8
SHELBY LYNNE Though she made some fine albums early in her career, Shelby Lynne has sounded like she’s in retreat ever since Love, Shelby (2001), her miserable, irony-free play at mainstream success. On 2003’s Identity Crisis she favored Nashville cliches and settings that were either stripped-down or nostalgic; on the new Suit Yourself (Capitol), which she produced herself, she takes great pains to demonstrate her authenticity, throwing in lots of behind-the-scenes audio verite. The opener, “Go With It,” starts with her talking about how a specific part of the tune should go, while the half-finished “You and Me” clocks in at less than a minute because, um, it’s not finished. A casual vibe can be appealing if it sounds natural, but it doesn’t here, and the studio chatter just gets in the way of the songs. That’s a shame, because there’s some good stuff on the album, like the dialed-down blue-eyed soul number “I Cry Everyday,” a lovely cover of “Rainy Night in Georgia,” and the twangy folk rocker “You Don’t Have a Heart.” When Lynne is on, she’s tough to beat–hopefully the live setting will eliminate any desire on her part to oversell listeners on how real she is. Raul Midon opens. a 7:30 PM, Park West, 322 W. Armitage, 773-929-5959 or 312-559-1212, $22.50. All ages. –Peter Margasak
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50 CENT I wanted so badly to hate 50 Cent’s new album. I mean, there are so many things to dislike about the guy: his lyrics are lazy, he raps like he’s half asleep, his club singles are more slimy than sexy, and to whip up press for The Massacre (Interscope) he publicly laid into labelmate the Game right before its release. But I’ve got to admit that I’ve fallen under 50’s spell, along with about a bazillion other people who thought they knew better. Despite all his limitations as an MC, he transforms cartoonish arrogance, a supreme sense of entitlement, and a smug aura of invincibility into real charisma–I guess I sorta understand now how so many folks can still think Dubya’s a good president. Plus the new album’s production is consistently excellent, with thundering, symphonic beats from the likes of Dr. Dre, Eminem, and DJ Hi-Tek. In fact, the only skippable tracks on this 77-minute monster are two of its lead singles, “Candy Shop” and “Disco Inferno.” Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz, D12, G Unit, Obie Trice, and Stat Quo open; Eminem headlines. 7 PM, Tweeter Center, I-80 & Harlem, Tinley Park, 708-614-1616 or 312-559-1212, $52.50-$82. All ages. –Kabir Hamid
NEED NEW BODY, PIT ER PAT I’m sure the Philadelphia-based sextet Need New Body could be dangerous if they ever settled down, but they clearly don’t want to: Why focus when you’re rewarded for flinging around bits and pieces of pop tunes like a kindergartner who’s had too many cupcakes? Their new album, Where’s Black Ben? (5 Rue Christine), has a little bit of everything, not enough of any one thing, and overall feels like too much. Hopping arpeggiated prog parts, trilling banjo interludes, and faux-naif songs like “So St Rx,” a tribute to Philly’s South Street, may make for a great live party experience, but the songs don’t hold up too well once the holy-shit factor is gone. Opening tonight’s show (and closing tomorrow’s) are the local trio Pit Er Pat, selling a new limited-edition four-song tour EP, 3D Message (Thrill Jockey). They use just electric piano, bass, and drums, but their music is far warmer and weightier than Need New Body’s–they cradle and soothe you before pulling the rug. See also Wednesday. 9 PM, Open End Gallery, 2000 W. Fulton, 773-276-3600 or 800-594-8499, $10. All ages. –Monica Kendrick
BOSSACUCANOVA Bossa nova has been electronicized and remixed for years, but few do it as well as this Brazilian trio: on its third album, Uma batida diferente (Six Degrees), Bossacucanova combines the best of 60s Brazilian pop with modern club sounds, making the melodic, smoky songs burble and bubble. These guys are a bit lacking in the soul department, but they have a light touch and don’t insult your intelligence the way so many of these projects do. It must help that they get an assist on the album from veteran musicians like bossa nova songwriter Roberto Menescal, father of Bossacucanova bassist Marcio Menescal. The band performs as an eight-piece at this show, and Chicago Samba plays a “special after set.” 9:30 PM, HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo, 312-362-9707, $15. –Monica Kendrick
