POP

"Harps and Angels"

PAMELA SPRINGSTEEN / SPECIAL (ENLARGE)
It's been nine years since social critic / singer-songwriter Randy Newman released a new collection of original music. But the ten songs on 'Harps and Angels' show how worthwhile the wait for more Newman music can be.
MOST POPULAR STORIES David Spade is the father of Playboy pinup's baby Tyler Perry's why I almost left Atlanta Hootie frontman Rucker a hit with country radio Chicken wings Stand Up to Cancer telethon takes over network TV
EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR
RELATED LINKS: • PHOTOS: Lollapalooza rocks downtown Chicago • PHOTOS: Stars shine at Teen Choice Awards • Read more CD reviews • Find this week's Top Live Acts

Randy Newman. Nonesuch. 10 tracks.

Grade: B+

Well, my my my, look who's back. It's the crankiest man in America.

Oh not really. Randy Newman just seems that way sometimes, and a lot of his best known compositions have wavered toward the acerbic side.

If it's seemed like he's softened in recent years — a lot of his writing has been devoted to soundtracks like "Toy Story" — longtime fans will be delighted to hear the old cantankerous, brilliant songwriter is very much present on his first album of new singer/songwriter material in nine years.

It is sparked by one of the best songs he's ever penned, the politically-charged and gloriously sarcastic, "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country," which made its debut on iTunes last year. Its scathing lyrics about the Supreme Court in particular will likely be long remembered, as will Newman's cutting but amusing shots at Jackson Browne and John Mellencamp in "A Piece of the Pie."

Produced by Mitchell Froom and Newman's longtime friend Lenny Waronker, the 10-song disc has a vintage feel that would have sounded as right in 1938 as it does in 2008. Other songs, including "Laugh and Be Happy," the swaggering ode to family life, "Potholes" (complete with a hilarious story about Newman's father) and the gorgeous finale "Feels Like Home," help make this an essential addition to his canon.

— Kevin O'Hare, Newhouse News Service

ALSO OUT

• Country upstart Keith Anderson returns with album No. 2, "C'mon."

• Pre-school faves the Laurie Berkner Band are on a "Rocketship Run."

• New wave-infused dance-punk band the Faint get creative with spelling on the new "Fasciinatiion."

• "The Green Sparrow" is the new solo release from Phish bassist Mike Gordon.

• Conor Oberst, who usually records under the Bright Eyes moniker, releases a self-titled album under his own name.

• The latest from Atlanta-based rockers Norma Jean, "The Anti Mother," includes guest appearances from Helmet's Page Hamilton and Deftones' Chino Moreno.

• Atlanta R&B/hip-hop singer and songwriter Lloyd hits stores with his third album, "Lessons in Love," which includes the single "Girls Around the World" featuring Lil Wayne.

• With "Fragile Future," Hawthorne Heights bounces back from legal issues with Victory Records and the death of guitarist Casey Calvert.

• "We Want In" is the new one from Atlanta rap outfit Outlawz. The quartet will appear at the FYE at Union Station (formerly Shannon Mall) in Union City at 5 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7.

COMING NEXT TUESDAY

• New albums from Fred Eaglesmith, Extreme, the Jonas Brothers, David Sanborn, Irma Thomas, Yung Berg and the soundtrack from the new Toby Keith movie "Beer for My Horses."

— Shane Harrison