The Right Track

By Keo Nozari
Former Isotoner Gets Winter's Uke Up

We have such a love/hate relationship with Celine Dion. On one hand, she's got some of the most stellar chops. On the other, she has a propensity to be a damn bore. The formula of a typical Celine song is painfully predictable: halfway through the song she's going to be wailing at the top of her lungs. While the title track to her new album, Taking Chances, does follow formula, the combination of the beautifully written tune with Celine's sheer vocal mastery caressing every note, it's hard not to marvel. And she does take some chances on this 16-track, largely rock album, even giving Shakira a run for her money on booty-licious "Eyes on Me." However, her take on Heart's classic "Alone"—with its cheesy production (including music-box chimes)—fails to hold up to the original. And upon hearing blues song "That's Just the Woman in Me," it's obvious what "Alone" is missing: authentic, gritty emotion that's simply spellbinding. It's a Celine we see too rarely in her pop recordings—if only the whole album were as rich!

Spicing up our lives are Spice Girls! From Mel B "Scary" on Dancing With the Stars to Victoria "Posh" Beckham's cameo on Ugly Betty to Emma "Baby" Bunton peddling Prego spaghetti sauce—the Girls are everywhere. And it's all just a teaser for their Return of the Spice Girls tour beginning in December and their Greatest Hits album featuring two new tracks. First single "Headlines (Friendship Never Ends)"—the subtitle borrowing lyrics from first hit "Wannabe"—plays on their theme of friendship (which in their case seemingly didn't ever end!). But honestly, who wants a ballad for their first new single? (Even if the video is smokin'!). Fortunately, the Girls cast a danceable spell with "Voodoo."

Isn't it curious Seal's new album System comes out the same week as wife Heidi Klum's new season of Project Runway? After all, the supermodel has eclipsed the rock star's celebrity recently. His first single, "Amazing"—with remixes by Thin White Duke, Kaskade, and Bill Hamel—helps remind us how amazing he can be solo. But considering the album features a Seal and Klum duet, "Wedding Day"—on par with a Madonna/Guy Ritchie movie collaboration—we think a little time apart might be a good thing. N