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Pop Rock Nation

Category: Releases

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  • New Releases 11/13/07

    Welcome, folks, to the biggest New Release Tuesday of 2007, where big-name artists in several genres enter a steel cage match for chart supremacy. Well, no, it’s not that serious, but there is a lot of music coming out today. Here’s what you should (or should not, depending) be looking for.
    It’s a good day to be a diva. Alicia Keys unleashes her third studio album, As I Am today. Preceded by the Top 5 hit “No One” and containing collaborations with John Mayer and 4 Non Blonde Linda Perry, this album has more of a pronounced singer/songwriter feel to it than her previous albums. Also in diva-dom, Celine Dion returns from a longer-than-normal absence with her new album, Taking Chances. Once the biggest-selling artist in the world, this album represents a comeback try after laying dormant (or just performing in Vegas) for the past four years. Now for a diva that likely influenced both the aforementioned artists: Aretha Franklin. Big Ree is releasing a highly publicized duets album called Jewels In The Crown. This set contains previously released hits like the #1 “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” with George Michael, and also contains new songs with the likes of Fantasia, Mary J. Blige and John Legend.
    Speaking of returning veterans, it’s hard to believe, but Duran Duran is closing in on their 30th Anniversary. Red Carpet Massacre is the name of their new album, and it contains boldface collaborations with the likes of Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. While we’re on the topic of funky Brits, you might wanna check out System, the fifth album from Seal. While his last couple of albums found him perfecting the ethereal ballad thing, this album teams him with producer Stuart Price and returns him directly to the dance floor. On the country side, Trisha Yearwood follows her hubby by a week, releasing a new album entitled Heaven, Heartache & The Power of Love.
    Greatest hits albums more your thing? Check out the two-CD best of Led Zeppelin called Mothership. David Gray’s Greatest Hits also arrives today, featuring all the hits from his ATO/RCA tenure, including “Babylon”, “Please Forgive Me” and “The One I Love”. There’s also a compilation summing up the past decade or so in the land of The Goo Goo Dolls. This album contains the massive hits “Iris”, “Name” and “Slide”. Stretching the definition of “hits compilations”, there’s also a live CD/DVD set from James Taylor called One Man Band, and the 26th edition of the venerable Now That’s What I Call Music! series.
    Finally, if you have a jones to relive the Nineties, two albums might interest you. First off, there’s the return of Boyz II Men with an album of Motown covers. Might this be enough to restore interest in the biggest-selling R&B group of all time? Well, it debuted in the Top 10 overseas, so this just might do the trick. If not, you can always pick up the new album by Shaggy, called Intoxication. As with every R&B, reggae or hip-hop album released in 2007, it contains an obligatory Akon cameo.
    Get a complete list of new releases here: http://www.pauseandplay.com/cdfront.htm

  • At The Wrecka’ Sto’: 11/6/07 Edition

    Novembers usually bring what the recording industry likes to call “Super Tuesdays”, when tons of “A”-list acts compete against one another for chart supremacy. With the industry in the state it’s in, the star quality of this November’s releases is slightly dimmer than usual, especially later in the month. But that’s not to say there’s not a couple of releases that have the capability of doing boffo business. To wit:

    It wouldn’t be the end of the year without a Jay-Z album, and 2007 is no different, but this one’s a doozy. His American Gangster is based on the movie of the same name, and comes with tons of pre-release hype calling it Jay’s best album in quite some time. This should be the album that reconnects him with his “street” audience, considering the glossy, mature “Kingdom Come” went over a lot of folks’ heads. For those who can’t get enough “Gangster”, the film’s official soundtrack comes out today, merging Seventies classics with new songs by the pristine-voiced soul singer Anthony Hamilton (whose new album comes out in February…I can’t wait).

    http://www.jayzonline.com

    In today’s game of Six Degrees of Separation from Jay-Z, there’s also a greatest hits album from former nemesis Nas. This album rounds up the biggest hits from his Columbia years, along with a new song called “Surviving The Time”. Considering this, is it really going to make sense to release a new album from Nas just a month from now?

    There are two albums that might challenge Jay’s cruise to the #1 spot next week. If you have a daughter under the age of 19, you probably know who Chris Brown is, although you’ve probably not heard his name unaccompanied by an “OMIGOD!! AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”. Filling in nicely for Usher during Ush’s prolonged absence, Brown is the latest of teen dreams. His sophomore release Exclusive, already contains two huge hits: “Wall To Wall” and “Kiss Kiss”, which is currently the #1 single in the country.

    http://www.chrisbrownworld.com

    Speaking of country, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about a release from a little guy named Garth Brooks. After 1999’s Chris Gaines fiasco, Brooks has been remarkably quiet, but the heat is being turned up. Not only was he recently awarded as the biggest selling American solo artist in HISTORY (sorry Elvis and Michael), but his new single “More Than A Memory” became the first to enter the U.S. Country charts at Number One. The Ultimate Hits is a 2-CD/1-DVD Hits compilation released and distributed by Garth himself (like he needs more money) and contains 4 new songs.

    http://www.garthbrooks.com

    And that’s not all, folks! There’s a new album from Blink-182 side project Angels & Airwaves, the comeback album from rapper Cassidy (following an overturned murder conviction and a near-fatal car accident) and, for those who are reissue crazy, a plethora of live albums (Jimmy Buffett, Bright Eyes, Barenaked Ladies, Five For Fighting…who the hell wants to see THEM live??), hits compilations (the 675th greatest hits album from Aerosmith, plus new comps from Van Morrison and Teddy Pendergrass), and…Christmas albums (from The Captain & Tennille and Rick Springfield!)

    Get a complete list of this week’s new releases here: http://www.pauseandplay.com/cdfront.htm

    Happy shopping!!

  • At The Wrecka Sto’ 10/30/07: Party Like It’s 1999

    Ah, it almost feels like the glory days of the music industry are back. Seven or eight years ago, if The Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears were releasing albums on the same day, record executives would be pissing themselves with anticipation and it would practically be raining money.
    Nowadays, not so much.
    Britney still has some cachet. The “Gimme More” single has been surprisingly successful. Actually, it’s her highest charting record since her debut single, “…Baby One More Time” back in 1998/1999. In addition, her new album Blackout has gotten some very good reviews (although most reviewers are quick to point out that the quality of the album has very little to do with Britney herself). Despite all her efforts to sabotage it, Brit-Brit’s career might not be over just yet.
    On the other hand, BSB, who were the first act to break the million-in-sales barrier in the first week with 1999’s Millennium, are probably done for. Losing Kevin Richardson, who really did nothing but smolder visually, doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. But their sound is passe, their 2005 “comeback album” fell slightly short of a million copies sold, and something tells me this new album might be their sayonara and to expect members to start popping up on “Dancing With The Stars” in the next year or two.
    Not to say these are the only two artists with albums in stores today. You can grab The Eagles’ first studio album in nearly three decades today-but only at Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club stores (or through walmart.com). You’ll have a much easier time finding the new efforts from VMA-winning metal band Avenged Sevenfold and Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan’s solo project, called Puscifer. New albums also arrive today from jazz/soul specialist Will Downing (his first since being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that has left him wheelchair bound) and alt-rap/country artist Buck 65.
    On the re-issue tip, soccer moms everywhere can rejoice in the first hits compilation of Andrea Bocelli’s more pop-oriented work, while eyeliner clad Eighties freaks will dig a series of expansive Joy Division re-releases that hit stores today. Speaking of eyeliner (among much other make-up) there is an Insane Clown Posse hits collection arriving in stores today, and somehow it seems appropriate to end my listing of this week’s key releases on that note.
    Get a complete list of today’s new releases here: