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POP
Akon
Freedom (Universal/Motown)
***
The former Aliaune Thiam is a serial musical collaborator, standing accused of various felonies, from polygamy to embellishing his alleged criminal record. As a sideline, he's the current, multi-million selling hit machine of hip-hop lite. He's now going for even more gold and his third album drops most of the hip-hop, keeping it simply lite. Surprisingly, he's made the correct artistic as well as commercial decision. Former Fugee Wyclef Jean, Freedom's most obvious influence, guests on the haunting Sunny Day, but it's run close for surprisingly affecting pathos by the title track. He might be in it for the long haul.
JOHN AIZLEWOOD

Neil Young
Sugar Mountain (Reprise)
***
You can almost smell the dope and patchouli as the MC announces this Neil Young concert recorded back in 1968. It's just Neil and his acoustic guitar strumming through a collection of songs that include old favourites and lesser-known ditties. The recording quality is fine and Neil's voice retains that peculiar timbre which recalls a precocious teenager trying to wheedle more pocket money out of his dad. Most prospective purchasers, I would guess, will be attracted by the enticing prospect of Neil's between-song raps, on subjects ranging from how his hair's longer than ever — "I wish I'd brought a comb tonight" — to his vintage Bentley in the garage.
PETE CLARK

David Byrne
Big Love: Hymnal (Todomundo)
***
Like the recent film soundtracks of Nick Cave and Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood, David Byrne's work on HBO's polygamy drama Big Love has little in common with his day job as an art-rock figurehead. These 21 short compositions sound distinctly old-fashioned. There's even something a bit Salvation Army about the muted horns and sombre air of tracks such as Art Thou Greater Than He? and Written On Golden Plates. Crooned novelty Blue Hawaii (the only time Byrne actually sings) and the skeletal guitar of Great Desolations prevent things from being too strait-laced, but are mostly pleasant, unfussy melodies to enjoy with your many wives.
DAVID SMYTH

JAZZ
Chris Hodgkins Quartet
Boswell's London Journal (Bell)
***
Jazz Services, an administrative and employment agency for UK professionals, is headed by a talented trumpeter, Chris Hodgkins, who plays in the unfashionable classic style of Ruby Braff and the great Louis Armstrong. Assisted by guitarist Max Brittain and two members of the Guest Stars, bassist Alison Rayner and altoist Diane McLoughlin, this is his best album yet. An original suite by veteran arranger-educator Eddie Harvey, it's a tuneful tribute to Dr Johnson's biographer, craftily arranged and gracefully played.
JACK MASSARIK

WORLD
Gotan Project
Live (Ya Basta!)
****
Just in time for the Gotan Project tour (sold out at the Roundhouse on Thursday), this is a live double album from the group who made tango cool again. There's a London Forum concert from the La Revancha del Tango tour and from Neuchatel, Switzerland of the Lunático show. The dark vocals of Veronika Silva sigh over plaintive bandoneón in Vuelvo al Sur, the musicians are closely recorded, but there's a real sense of the audience as they respond to a favourite song. The musician-audience mix is just right. And for real fans the "Gotan Object" giftbox contains the double album and DVD of the stage projections.
SIMON BROUGHTON