David's album not your average
By MELANIE SIMS
Associated Press Writer

Craig David, "Trust Me," (Warner Bros.)

"Trust Me" isn't just the title of British artist Craig David's fourth studio album. The two-word combination might best serve as instructions for listening to the disc.

The 26-year-old, who made a splash in the United States with his 2001 platinum debut "Born to Do It" but then fell off the radar here, exudes soul. His voice is sweet and sincere on the delicate, slow-moving track "Awkward," with its earthy mix of guitar and organ.

But creatively, David isn't so easily labeled. Perhaps it's because he escapes the usual boundaries of those in his musical genre — going full-throttle with sounds some artists only dabble in.

The tempo, the drums and the electrifying horns on "6 of 1 Thing" and "Don't Play with Our Love" boast Cuban influence. The lead single "Hot Stuff (Let's Dance)" starts with a '50s-era drumbeat and continues with a sound culled from the days of disco.

There are tracks, such as the folksy "Top of the Hill," that might seem out of character, but the guy sounds good, nevertheless. For those who choose to follow David's directions, "Trust Me" is easy to enjoy, even if the selection of tracks doesn't mesh seamlessly together.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: David comes off super smooth on the reggae-driven "She's on Fire," and even shows off some exciting rhyming skills.

Mandolin prodigy's talent belies her age
By TOM GARDNER
For The Associated Press

Sierra Hull, "Secrets" (Rounder)

Combine the angelic voice of Alison Krauss with the fiery mandolin picking of Rhonda Vincent and you have the sound of Sierra Hull on "Secrets."

It doesn't hurt that the 16-year-old Krauss protege is backed by members of Krauss' band Union Station, or that Hull's co-producer is Station's Ron Block. But it's still her album.

She hits the ground running on the title track with a vicious mandolin lick followed by her driving vocal. It's the only cut that includes all four members of Union Station — Dan Tyminski on vocals, Block on guitar and vocals, Barry Bales on bass and Jerry Douglas on dobro.

Two instrumentals highlight Hull's mandolin virtuosity — "Smashville" by Jim VanCleve, who plays fiddle on the track, and Hull's "Hullarious" — on which she's joined by another amazing teen, 17-year-old banjo player Cory Walker from her band Highway 111 and shows she's no slouch at guitar, either.

The lone ballad amid the 13 tracks is a lovely version of "The Hard Way," far softer than Keith Urban's grittier one. Hull also delivers a snappy bluegrass update of "Everybody's Somebody's Fool," which Connie Francis took to No. 1 almost a half century ago. Hull dodges the youthful temptation to oversing or overplay and instead leads what amounts to a track-by-track jam session with some of the most talented musicians in bluegrass. It's dominated by her mandolin and vocal dynamics few artists of any age ever master.

CHECK OUT THIS TRACK: In an album dominated by blazing instruments, Block's "If You Can Tame My Heart" highlights wonderful vocals featuring just Hull, Tyminski and Clay Hess in a clever, complex tune. Bluegrass melodies generally go where you expect them to. This one doesn't.

Another Rick Rubin production flatters Diamond
By DAVID BAUDER
AP Entertainment Writer

Neil Diamond, "Home Before Dark" (Columbia)

While producer Rick Rubin coaxed some fine songs out of Neil Diamond on their first collaboration, 2005's "12 Songs," you could feel the fear of a singer told to stand alone with his guitar in front of a recording microphone for the first time in many years.

With the new "Home Before Dark," Diamond sounds much more comfortable.

That's mostly good.

In fact, we'll defy any singer-songwriter this year to come up with a run of four stronger songs than the ones that open this album. Bookended by the epic "If I Don't See You Again" and the Natalie Maines duet "Another Day (That Time Forgot)," each song is assured and insightful. Years of crusted bangles and beads prevent many people from taking Diamond seriously as a songwriter. That's a mistake.

Diamond's acoustic guitar is the centerpiece of a band that includes Heartbreakers Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench and plays with stately elegance.

Some bombast returns with the confidence. "One More Bite of the Apple" is an overused metaphor that Diamond should have known to avoid. He hasn't quite reached the level of artistry that Johnny Cash did with Rubin, but "Home Before Dark" continues to solidify Diamond's reputation.

CHECK THIS TRACK OUT: "Cherry Cherry." No, we're kidding. "Pretty Amazing Grace" soars, a love story for a second or third act in life.