(...Story Continued from Previous Page) 19. "Trilla" includes cameos by Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, Trick Daddy, R. Kelly, Akon and T-Pain. And if that title looks familiar, your hunch is
correct; Ross recently revealed it is a nod to the success of "Thriller."
A couple of larger-than-life icons who have crossed in and out of Nashville's
orbit through the years are back, too. Believe it or not, "Backwoods Barbie"
(Feb. 5) is Dolly Parton's first mainstream country release in 17 years.
And she's releasing it on her own terms: Parton wrote nine of the songs,
co-produced with band leader Kent Wells, and is issuing the disc on her own
Dolly Records label. Fiercely independent four-time Grammy winner k.d. lang bounces back with "Watershed" (Feb. 5), her first
album of original material since 2000's "Invincible Summer" — and the first self-produced
disc of her 25-year career.
And, in a comeback befitting a Leap Year, please welcome the full-fledged
return of the "world's greatest party band," the B-52's! "Funplex" is the group's first all-new material
since 1992's "Good Stuff." Not that you'd guess it to hear the Steve
Osborne-produced set, which keeps pace nicely with the work of modern disciples
such as LCD Soundsystem and Scissor Sisters. "'Funplex' sounds like us,
updated," observes Fred Schneider. "It's the B-52's now -- or 15 years from
now." In keeping with that fresh perspective, the disc will be released by
Astralwerks, home to electronic stalwarts Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim.
Stateside release is expected late in the month.
Also in February: Jack Johnson, Foxy Brown, Kenny G, Lenny Kravitz, Bob Mould, Ashlee Simpson, Erykah Badu, Lizz Wright, Tift Merritt, American Music Club, Goldfrapp, Ray Davies, the Raveonettes
March
How many crows are in a murder? At least two are
looming on the horizon for March. And both rock hard. Produced by Gil Norton (of
Pixies fame), "Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings" (March 25) is Counting Crows' follow-up to 2002's "Hard Candy." As the title suggests, the disc is split in two
sections, with electrified ass-kickers and more subtle, acoustic fare on either
side. Recorded in Woodstock, N.Y., "War Paint" (March 8) is the first
full-length in seven years from the rejuvenated Black Crowes, who now number guitarist Luther Dickinson and
keyboard player Adam MacDougall among their ranks.
A few years ago, if you said DeVotchKa, you'd probably get the answer
"gesundheit." But that was before the Grammy-nominated Denver ensemble broke
through to the mainstream via their contributions to "Little Miss Sunshine." Do
independent movies influence record sales? Only the fate of "A Mad and Faithful
Retelling" (March 18) will tell.
By his own standards, Alan Jackson was downright lazy in 2007; his only major
release was "16 Greatest Hits." The year before, he dropped two separate studio
albums. But fear not, fans. On March 6, the three-time CMA Entertainer of the
Year invites the public to join him for "Good Times." Produced once more by
longtime cohort Keith Stegall, the disc includes an homage to his father, "Small
Town Southern Man," as well as "Never Loved Before," a duet with Martina
McBride.
Also in March: Ashanti, the Doors (box set), Panic! at the Disco, Michael McDonald (covers), Lyrics Born, Bauhaus, Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
April
Both Moby and R.E.M. have new albums penciled in for April 1 --
and hopefully, that's no joke. According to the former artist, "Last Night,"
released via Mute, is much more club-oriented than his previous three releases,
including a pair of "piano-driven rave anthems" and grooves inspired by great
dance divas such as Donna Summer and Grace Jones. For their 14th studio album,
R.E.M. teamed with producer Jackknife Lee (Bloc Party, Snow Patrol); among the
cuts slated for inclusion are "I'm Gonna DJ," which the band previewed on last
year's "R.E.M. Live" set.
Continuing the spring alt-rock deluge, Nick Cave -- fresh from the success of his thrilling Grinderman outing in 2007 -- teams once more with the Bad
Seeds for "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" (April 8) co-produced by the band and Nick
Launay. Also worth noting is the pending release of "Mountain Battles" by the Breeders. Produced in part by Steve Albini, Kim and Kelly
Deal began work on the successor to "Title TK" while the former was out on the
road with the Pixies in 2004 and recently put the finishing touches on the disc
at Abbey Road in London.
Beyond that? Well, things get a bit
fuzzy. Reports that Madonna's new disc (the last under her current contract with
Warner Bros.) would be entitled "Licorice" and available in April -- just a few
weeks after her induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame -- have already
been refuted by her publicist. And although a release date of April 22 has been
batted around in connection with an as-yet-untitled new Weezer album, it's probably too soon to say; Rivers Cuomo is
nothing if not unpredictable.
Also in April: Tweet, M83, Billy Bragg
Agree? Disagree? Discuss
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