A Little Bit Of Mambo
Lou Bega

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Blues
Eric Clapton

There's a telling subtext to this retrospective of Eric Clapton blues sides. Culled from recordings cut between 1970 (the Layla sessions) and 1980 (when Clapton cut his final Polydor album, Another Ticket), these sides finds EC exploring his beloved blues while in a fragile state of mind and body. After all, he was on heroin when he concocted Layla, and though he kicked that habit in the early '70s, he continued to test his tolerance for alcohol throughout the decade. When you think of the Clapton of the '60s, you think of the fire and ice of his playing with the Yardbirds, John Mayall, and Cream. When you think of his '70s playing, it's wearier and perhaps more reflective. (It was easy to mistake melancholic for mellow at the time.) The 35 selections included on these two discs find the temporarily deflated rock superstar leaning on the blues for support as he draws on likes of Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, and Little Walter for inspiration. Hardcore fans will appreciate previously unreleased versions of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me," a solo take on the traditional "Alberta," a 1974 cover of Willie Dixon's "Meet Me (Down at the Bottom), and a remixed live 1976 version of "Further on Up the Road" with Freddy King sitting in. Just about anyone, however, will be able to appreciate how this music reflects Clapton's strengths as a musician... and weaknesses as a man.

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Brokedown Palace
Original Soundtrack

Rather than settle on a standard vacation to Hawaii, the two young friends in Brokedown Palace--played by Claire Danes and Kate Beckinsale--pick a more exotic locale: Bangkok. A few thrills later, the trip proves to be more than they ever imagined. The soundtrack for this messy adventure? Thankfully, it's just as exotic as the South Pacific. Filled with dreamy dance tunes with a dark underside, this disc is a compelling mix of mostly undiscovered tunes from the worlds of alt-rock and DJ cultures. Nelly Furtado's "Party's Just Begun" is a beat-driven folk tune, perfect for lovers of Ani DiFranco. Solar Twins contribute a perfect techno cover of the Clash's "Rock the Casbah" with dance beats, while Joi's "Fingers" is another East-meets-beats hybrid. Tricky with DJ Muggs, the Asian Dub Foundation, P.J. Harvey, and even Sarah Brightman round out this solid collection. David Newman's morsel of a score is equally globetrotting, with everything from conch shell atmospherics to dance floor rhythms.

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Cafe Atlantico
Cesaria Evora

Unlike Mar Azul or earlier releases Miss Perfumado and Cesaria Evora, which were largely collections of the Portuguese-influenced song form called morna, Café Atlantico finds Evora singing Cuban and Brazilian traditionals. Evora's voice is as smooth as ever, but it's a little odd to hear her croon to a bolero or danzon. Still, the connection fits snugly as this release is a tribute to Evora's hometown of Mindelo, a port on the Cape Verdean island of São Vicente where sailors from Portugal, Argentina, Brazil, and the Caribbean cross-pollinated the music of Cape Verde. On Café Atlantico Evora croons with her usual beauty, poise, and melancholia. Thankfully, instrumental accompaniment again includes the piano and acoustic guitar and bass, but with the flavorful addition of light (and only occasional) orchestral accompaniment, which highlights the creamy richness of this lovely Latin music. Café Atlantico takes a tasteful, innovative step in broadening Evora's repertoire, and its plaintive grace and relaxed romanticism emphasizes what the world has now come to realize: Cesaria Evora is the greatest living singer of our time.

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Californication
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Reunited with producer Rick Rubin and guitarist John Frusciante (both of whom were on board for the 1991's breakthrough Blood Sugar Sex Magik), the Chili Peppers waste no time in burying their last effort, the so-so One Hot Minute. Californication's kickoff cut, "Around the World," swaggers around the room, reacquainting itself with old fans and welcoming new ones. Fuzzy Hendrix vibes and popcorn bass lines still rule the roost, along with a heaping helping of disco magic and some unexpected twists. Ten years ago, Anthony Kiedis and company wouldn't have been comfortable doing revamped new wave ("Parallel Universe") or unpretentious ballads (the acoustic "Road Trippin'"), but such material fits Californication's extra-wide canvas. Except for a few meandering numbers that could have been excised, the Red Hot Chili Peppers succeed and regain their footing on the mountain of adrenalized funk.

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Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera

Like fellow former Mickey Mouse clubber Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera kicks off her debut album with a teen-lust nugget--in this case, the No. 1 single "Genie in a Bottle"--that the rest of the disc can't possibly live up to. Aguilera has a strong voice, but patterns herself after iffy role models such as Whitney Houston (whose '80s hit "So Emotional" she covers) and Mariah Carey. Aside from "Genie," most of this music is straight from the cookie cutter, like the less than successfully sultry "When You Put Your Hands on Me" and the Mulan ballad showpiece "Reflection." In chart terms, though, there'll be no stopping her--at least for a while.

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