Playlist

So London's enigmatic, haunting, dreamy singer-songwriter Dido is starting to emulate the equally elusive Sade. Well, at least when it comes to CD releases. Dido's upcoming third studio album, Safe Trip Home, arrives in stores Nov. 4. That's five years after her last disc, 2003's Life for Rent. Her solo debut, No Angel, was released in 1999. In nearly a decade, Dido has recorded just three studio efforts. She's got a bit to go before she ties Sade -- who thus far has a mere five studio projects in 16 years --but Dido's on her way. For a free download of Dido's "Look No Further," a track from Safe Trip Home, go to www.didomusic.com.

Photo: Dido in 2004 (Lionel Cironneau).

Back in 2007, I gave ex-Soundgarden/Audioslave singer Chris Cornell's second solo CD, Carry On, a reasonably positive review (generally, reviews were mixed on the album). Though it lacked any strong singles beyond "You Know My Name" (the theme from the James Bond movie Casino Royale), I called it a watershed work because of its subtle and playful reimagining of 1970s and 80s pop rock and soul.

Somehow, Mr. Cornell saw the review and thought well enough of it to request an informal meeting Saturday at the Projekt Revolution tour.

What was supposed to be a hey-thanks, great-to-meet-you, two-minutes-tops rendezvous backstage turned into a 13-minute discussion about art, music as escapism, technology, and the effect of place and experience on expression.

Local boy Jason Castro and the other American Idol finalists take the stage tonight at American Airlines Center.

Tell us: Are you going to the show? Which Idol are you most excited to see? Which songs are you hoping to hear? (Anyone for David Cook's rendition of "Billy Jean"?)

Fall is fast approaching, and soon after that, the Christmas season. Can you tell? That explains the list of upcoming high profile country CD releases. It begins with Jessica Simpson's country debut, Do You Know, which is out Sept. 9. Kenny Chesney drops a deluxe fan edition of his new CD, Lucky Old Sun, Oct. 14. Come Oct. 28, we'll get Rascal Flatts' first compilation, Greatest Hits Volume 1, which will contain a limited edition second disc of three newly recorded Christmas songs. Also coming up: Fresh music by Patty Loveless (Sept. 9), Lee Ann Womack (Oct. 21) and Brad Paisley (Nov. 4). There'll probably be even more. Stay tuned.

Photo: Miss Jessica's CD cover courtesy of amazon.com.