Music Review: Jordin Sparks’ sophomore CD ‘Battlefield’ sounds sophomoric; few bright spots

September 30th, 2009 Music Review: Avett Bros. may have special albumThe Avett Brothers, "I and Love and You" (Columbia/American) The Avett Brothers have been the best kept secret in American roots music for nearly a decade — until now.

September 21st, 2009 Music Review: Noisettes bring jazzy, feisty popNoisettes, "Wild Young Hearts" (Mercury) Jazzy, poppy, punky and bluesy, "Wild Young Hearts" is a perfect title for the Noisettes' newest album. The London trio's follow-up to the debut LP "What's the Time Mr.

September 17th, 2009 Young class of divas inducted on VH1 specialNEW YORK — There's a new class of divas in town — and they're ready to rock with attitude. Jennifer Hudson, Miley Cyrus and Kelly Clarkson were among the new inductees at the "VH1 Divas" concert Thursday night.

September 3rd, 2009 New novel, new movies in works for writer SparksRALEIGH, N.C. — So many projects, so much success.

August 26th, 2009 Abdul to host 'VH1 Divas' Sept. 17 concert specialLOS ANGELES — Paula Abdul will see familiar faces when she hosts the "VH1 Divas" concert — former "American Idol" winners Kelly Clarkson and Jordin Sparks are among the singers.

August 25th, 2009 Officials OK Walmart near Va. battlefieldORANGE, Va.

August 24th, 2009 Music Review: Guetta's new CD is one big partyDavid Guetta, "One Love" (Virgin Records) Listening to David Guetta's "One Love" is like partying at a multilevel European nightclub — bright colors shining, speedy beats bumping and intoxicated (or sober) boys and girls dancing the night away — all while vocals from R&B singers blast in the background. And the club's VIP section is packed: The Black Eyed Peas, Ne-Yo, Akon, Estelle and Kelly Rowland make guest appearances on "One Love." Though all those stars lend solid vocals to "One Love," the songs that feature the lesser-known singers are what make the CD an enjoyable one.

August 24th, 2009 Music Review: LeToya Luckett delivers edgy CDLeToya Luckett, "Lady Love," (Capitol) LeToya Luckett calls it like she sees it on her sophomore disc, "Lady Love." The smoldering mix of tracks features a confident, straight-talking 28-year-old who proves she's miles from her Destiny's Child persona of the past. Luckett coos a breathy plea for the kind of man her life's been missing on the sexy "I Need A U." And on the echoing "Over," Luckett confidently warns her mate about what would happen if his fidelity ever came into question.

July 28th, 2009 Music Review: The Fiery Furnaces album is affableThe Fiery Furnaces, "I'm Going Away" (Thrill Jockey) The Fiery Furnaces' "I'm Going Away," for all of its quirky ballads, remains slightly hamstrung by the hipster chic. The experimental approach is fun for a while, but it gets poured on a little thick at times.

July 22nd, 2009 Sparks talks about sophomore disc 'Battlefield'CHICAGO — Jordin Sparks is living a high-decibel life. She's traveling across the country as a special guest on the Jonas Brothers tour, performing at arenas packed with girls who, as Sparks puts it, "scream way up here, and they just hold it for four-hours straight." And even away from the stage, resting in her downtown hotel room on a weekend afternoon, the 2007 American Idol winner is met with the shrill yelps of yet another fan.

July 21st, 2009 Music Review Son Volt's newest album a lovely mixSon Volt, "American Central Dust" (Rounder) Son Volt's newest album "American Central Dust" oozes the kind of sultry alt-country heat that seeps into your ears. Leader Jay Farrar may get less attention than Wilco's Jeff Tweedy, his bandmate in seminal '90s band Uncle Tupelo, but his talent as a singer-songwriter is abundantly clear on "Dust." Farrar's world-weary twang and poetic, politically inspired lyrics elevate such tunes as "Down to the Wire" and "When the Wheels Don't Move," with its distorted guitar and railing against the car industry.

July 20th, 2009 Music Review: Rockers OLP return with 'Burn Burn'Our Lady Peace, "Burn Burn" (Warner Independent). Our Lady Peace maintains their status as one of Canada's strongest bands with the release of their seventh studio disc, "Burn, Burn." The Toronto four-piece made a splash south of the border in the 1990s with their first two efforts — '94's "Naveed" and '97's "Clumsy" — but have since fallen into relative obscurity in the States.

June 22nd, 2009 Music Review: Dinosaur Jr mellows in middle ageDinosaur Jr., "Farm" (Jagjaguwar) Good news: The original lineup of Dinosaur Jr. has a new album out.

June 17th, 2009 Correction: 'Food, Inc.' reviewLOS ANGELES — In a June 15 review of "Food Inc.," The Associated Press reported erroneously that the documentary showed chickens puffed-up and collapsing from steroids. One chicken farmer in the film showed oversized birds that had been given antibiotics.

June 16th, 2009 Taylor Swift's CMT opener sounds simply dreamyNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Taylor Swift's top-secret CMT Music Awards opener promises to be nothing but a dream.