The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 57

THE MORNING CALL, SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1999 A57, OSsst Reviews- Ricky Martin not too dangerous, but catchy as sin. Joey Mclntyre anonymous pop music sure to melt any young girl's heart. I I i i gangsta lifestyle Occasional slurs against Asians and gays also figure in the mix. For the bottom Nne on this one, let me quote "Jigga My "If just us and the 1 guns just the hate provided by y'all, reciprocated and multiplied by more." Now, back to Littleton Len Righi NAUGHTY BY NATURE: 19Naughty9: Nature's Fury (Arista) T9Naughty9: Nature's Fury" is a bit of a comeback for Naughty By Nature because if been four years since the East Orange, NJ trio of Treach, Vin-nie and DJproducer Kay Gee released a record and it may be a little longer before they have another monster anthem-type hit like 1991's "O.PP" or "Hip-Hop Hooray." The hip-hop group changed labels after three albums on independent Tommy Boy, and even dropped Queen Latrfah's Flavor Unit management but the hardcore stories and crossover-potential party jam beats are still in place. Just don't look for anything on the level of "Hip-Hop Hooray." Tracks such as "Holi-day," "Jamboree" (featuring Zhane) and The Blues" (featuring Next) come close, but may not prove to be as infectious.

NBN always had hardcore lyrics for the tracks that never made it to radio, and that also continues on "Live Or Die" (featuring Master Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal and Phiness); Thugs Hustlers" (with rappers Mag and Krayzie Bone), "We Could Do (featuring Big Punisher), and perhaps the best hardcore groove on the disc. The Shivers." Dennis Kelly H20: F.T.T.W. (Epitaph) Perhaps if fitting that H20 has continued to discover pop songwriting, since most old-school hardcore fans have been reluctant to buy into the New York band's blatantly nostalgic, unity-centered image. The naysayers are onto something while H20 can play tightty wound, high-energy punk rock, its positive-tip attitude (directly Please See Page A58 RICKY MARTIN (C2Columbia) Ricky Martin's giddy top-of-the-wortd hit "Livirf La Vida Lo ca" deserves all the attention it gets, mostly because it serves up what will probably stand as most ingenious pop moment: Martin, backed by horn-driven shimmy and shake, kicks a verse about a devilish babe, and then boingl there it is, a snaky, masculine electric guitar lick that's a dash of Texas twang stirred with some 007. Martin, who's pushing 30, is a self-confessed control freak who has churned out Latin pop hits since his pre-teen days in Menudo, but he wisely deferred to producerwriter Desmond Child on the song, and the result is enough to make anyone forget the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync or Cher's "Believe." The Puerto Rican heartthrob's self-ti-tted English-language debut disc lacks anything else as smart (or as lucky), but it has star power, including a Madonna duet, "Be Careful (Cuidado Con Mi Corazon)," a techno washout that's ambient sedate and melodramatic.

If remarkable only because Ms. Sex herself manages to suck the sizzle out of Martin's game. Elsewhere, he takes a few chances with unspectacular results, including the straightforward pop-rock ballad "I Am Made Of You," which borrows freely from 'One," and "Shake Your Bon Bon," which dabbles in the funk, a la George Michael. As expected, Martin sounds most comfortable with stylized ballad soundscapes (i.e. "She's All I Ever or disposable Latin tracks behind him, with "Spanish Eyes" and soccer's World Cup anthem The Cup of Life" offering about half the zest of "Livirf La Vida Loca." And speaking of that song, its Spanish lyrics paint the woman of the title to be more racy, more fiery and addicting, full of hotter kisses and spicier voodoo.

If Martin and Child (who's kind of a male Diane Warren) figured one thing out if that American audiences don't like their pop too dangerous, even if if catchy as sin. Joe Warminsky III JOEY MclNTYRE: Stay The Same (Columbia) Can an old New Kid find success in the new age of boy bands? Of course. On "Stay The u'liiwi jiij. uun L. Same," Joey Mclntyre gets together with fellow old New Kid Donnie Wahlberg for a batch of fairly anonymous pop music thaf sure to melt any young girl's heart Like the material from New Kids' heyday, the pop is lightweight with a veneer of toughness.

Thus, "Couldn't Stay Away From Your Love" has a bouncy pop feel, with a dollop of stinging electric guitar. "Give It Up" visits the disco, while The Way That I Love You" would do George Michael proud. "I Love You Came Too Late" is easily the most memorable song; if where all the disparate elements blend together. The R6B and pop flavors have some hooks and melody to hang on to, giving the track more life than others. Mcln-tyre's voice is about the same as any artist in this genre, as are the sugary, sensitive-guy lyrics.

So what if there's IftrJe depth; thaf beside the point The shelf life of this disc is about the same as a Top 40 hit On that basis, "Stay The Same" succeeds. Larry Printz TEV1N CAMPBELL (QWestWarner Bros.) He's 22 now, and while Tevin Campbell still has his boyish looks, his sound is anything i but juvenile. The first single, "Another Way," is one of a couple of good midtempo adult grooves. Wyclef Jean of Fugees fame produced the percolating track "Never Again," another potential single, but the story of this disc is the tender ballads. James Taylor's "Fire and Rain" is the backdrop for the ballad "Since I Lost You." Faith Evans co-wrote another good ballad with Campbell, The Only One for Me." Campbell doesn't sing with Evans, but he does with a young lady named Coko on the ballad "Everything You Are." And while Stevie J.

contributes a couple of hip-hop tracks, his nicest ESo mv- jw iuj Li 1 and finger-pointing at "irresponsible" parents that adults have been doing since the Littleton, shootout Now guess which record entered the charts at No. 1 last week? Yup, the gun-glorifying "Ruff Ryders: Ryde Or Die Volume One," which, I'd wager, was largely loaded into CD players owned mostly by people under 21. (But who knows, maybe the NRA bought a bunch to give away as premiums to new members.) Anyway, Ruff Ryders is a hip-hop label and "Ryde Or Die" is a sampler. The main perpetrators are rappers Drag-On and Eve (a smart-mouth Philadelphia thugette featured on the Roots single, "You Got the trio Parle and producer Swizz Beatz (best known for his work with Jay-Z and DMX, who both make guest appearances, along with the always oafish Big Pun and the Lex's Jadakiss). Parle's moaning, synth-heavy ballad "I'm A Ruff Ryder" is the most tolerable track, and the Timba-land-style rip-off "Platinum Plus," featuring Jermaine Dupri and (before he found God), is almost catchy.

The rest includes a gruesome flattering portrait of a psychotic killer (The an obnoxiously idiotic gang-banging tale and a horribly repugnant glorification of the Tevin Campbell for quiet time with someone special. addition is the ballad "Dandelion." Campbell also does a rendition of it in Spanish, making it sound even sexier. "Don't Throw Your Life Away" is a slow song meant to be inspirational, more so than romantic, but the overall effect of his excellent disc is quiet time with someone special. Dennis Kelly VARIOUS ARTISTS: Ruff Ryders: Ryde Or Die Volume One (Ruff Ryderslnterscope) Talk about disconnect Think of all the incessant hand-wringing, dime-store philosophizing. First Amendment mutilating Review Loretta Lynn mines the past in Allentown Country legend Loretta Lynn was treated like an old friend by 900 of her fans Wednesday night at Allentown's Symphony Hall.

And like most visits with old friends, Lynn's 75-minute show did not have many surprises. Her son, Ernest, who has been performing with her for many years, opened the show with two country standards. Then Lynn came on for a set that concentrated on her greatest hits, including "They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore," "Your Squaw Is On the Warpath," "Don't Come Home Drink in' (With Lovin' On Your Mind)" and, of course, "Coal Miner's Daughter," which was also the title of her film biography. Lynn santr "WaJkin' After Mid night," a tribute to her late friend Patsy Cline, and a country-oriented version of "Secret Love." Lynn must have made the middle-aged audience feel better about the aging process. At 65, she looked stunning in a long, white sequined dress.

And although her onstage banter with her son was a little forced at times, it contributed to the family atmosphere of the proceedings. The show's one unusual segment worked well, as the Chapman Brothers quartet took oyer while Lynn left the stage for a 10-minute break. The four singers, who backed up Lynn throughout the evening, offered lively renditions of "Sing a Pretty Love Song" and "Down at The Dairy Queen." Lynn's show was well paced, and featured a solid backing band, with excellent lead and steel guitar work. Dave Howell Drive is a free-fence tcriter. v.U:-'7C- Loretta Lynn performed for 900 people Wednesday night at Allentown's Symphony Hall.

LISA LAKE Special to The Momsvj Call.