Also this issue: The Big Con Why Philadelphia bands play the CMJ festival. -Patrick Rapa Tropical Impressions Caetono Veloso tells the truth. -A.D. Amorosi suitespot -Peter Burwasser on Classical Back to Basics Which in The Divine Comedy's case means less rock, more baroque. -Sam Adams Flute Awakening -Peter Burwasser Right On Time -Sam Adams Catherine Irwin -Sam Adams Kim Richey -Sam Adams

November 7-13, 2002

musicpicks

Cody Chesnutt

You've heard his name so many times you'd think he's older than Lou Rawls. The ragged singer/multi-instrumentalist made his bones swinging through the L.A. band biz (his rhythm 'n' rock outfit, The Crosswalk, was signed to Hollywood Records), jumping in a Strokes video and hanging on this year's Smoking Grooves Tour. The Roots cover his song, "The Seed," on their upcoming rock-rapping Phrenology. But it's Cody ChesnuTT's two-CD The Headphone Masterpiece (Ready Set Go) that will make him immortal. Having already made my Top Ten Albums of 2002, this dusty, lo-fi soul-rocker is akin to Prince's Sign o' The Times (if The Purple One had recorded in a time machine sailing from the Beatles' Swinging London '67, through 1980 new wave Germany, and touching down in Nelly's Dirty South). "Look Good in Leather" and the righteously raw, R&B "Serve This Royalty" are but the tip of Headphone's burnt sugar iceberg, a jagged, jively, low-soul epic full of melody, exquisite vocalese and taut rawk-funk unseen in a solo artist in a long time.

Mon., Nov. 11, 8 p.m., $10, The TLA, 334 South St., 215-336-2000.

—A.D. Amorosi