The Autumn Defense, "Fifth" (Yep Roc Records)
When not rocking out with Wilco, multi-instrumentalists John Stirratt and Patrick Sansone dish out smooth '70s-sounding pop as the Autumn Defense. Their latest and fifth release, the appropriately titled "Fifth," comes four years after their last effort.
The wait was worth it.
The Autumn Defense is all about melodic hooks and harmonies. Fans looking for some of the rougher musical edges that Wilco dives into will be disappointed. The approach is clearly on display with the opening track, "None of This Will Matter," a song so easy on the ears it feels like a warm auditory hug.
Stirratt and Sansone find a groove and stick with it through all 12 tracks. That consistency can be either monotonous or entrancing, and sometimes both at the same time.
The songs' lyrics touch on feelings of melancholy, longing, sadness, love and depression. It's a broad spectrum, all tied together under the rich musical tapestry created by Stirratt and Sansone.
Watch out, Wilco. The Autumn Defense is on the offensive, albeit in a very mellow way.
Al3 r?G ??H rley makes an appearance on previously released club anthem "Go Hard," which also features Assassin, Aidonia, I-Octane, Bounty Killer and Vybz Kartel. More flavor is added by the likes of Baby Cham, Ace Hood and Waka Flocka as they join the party on the remix "Go Harder." The resulting mash-up is piled high with energy, and everybody shines.
"Tru Colors" is well put together and delivers a refreshing curve to the dancehall game, outshining Marshall's previous releases.
auto;ms?? ri?G ??H alt:auto; mso-line-height-alt:11.25pt;background:white'>In California, the singer remains under investigation for an egg-tossing incident that left his neighbor's house with thousands of dollars in damage. If Bieber is charged in that case, a California judge may look at him more harshly in light of the Florida and Toronto cases, said Stan Goldman, a criminal law professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
"The fact that you've got three is a heck of a lot worse than one," Goldman said.
Bieber has not addressed the vandalism claim in California, and his attorney Howard Weitzman has said the singer's legal team believes their client is innocent in the Toronto case.
Friedman agreed and said Bieber's other cases might make it more likely that he will be charged in Los Angeles. Prosecutors have a lot of discretion in how they pursue cases, and a judge has limited influence in the early stages about what deal Bieber might be offered or whether the case goes forward.
If Bieber is convicted in any of the cases, he would lose the benefit of the doubt that judges often give first-time offenders, Goldman said.
For example, a judge could opt to keep Bieber on a long probation sentence to make sure he stays out of trouble, Goldman said, citing the case of Lindsay Lohan.
The actress has been on some form of probation constantly since taking a plea agreement after being arrested twice for driving under the influence and drug possession in 2007.
Numerous stars have had their international travel curtailed because of legal trouble, and attorneys said the U.S. and Canada both view drug offenses harshly when deciding immigration issues.
A Los Angeles judge restricted Lohan's travel during the height of her probation. Japan blocked the entry of The Rolling Stones over drug convictions and in 1980 deported Paul McCartney for marijuana possession at Narita International Airport. In 2010, Japan blocked Paris Hilton from entering the country just days after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor drug charge in Las Vegas.
R&B star Chris Brown must still have his international travel approved by a judge overseeing his probation for a 2009 attack on then-girlfriend Rihanna.
David S. Kestenbaum, an attorney who represents a paparazzo charged with driving recklessly to obtain shots of Bieber, said the pop star's troubles will likely affect his travels.
Kestenbaum agreed with other experts who said Bieber's chances of being deported from the U.S. remain low but said that doesn't mean the pop star will quickly clear customs if he's convicted. Agents could scrutinize Bieber and his entourage more closely in screenings for narcotics or other contraband, and some countries may require him to obtain a special visa, Kestenbaum said.