Playlist

Fans of Arcade Fire, Gorillaz, Hot Chip, Devo, MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Peter Gabriel and David Byrne, you're not alone in your anticipation. According to metacritic.com, 2010 discs from those artists and many others are among the most awaited this year. Metacritic Features Editor Jason Dietz rounds em up here.

I must say, I am anxious to hear the new Devo, which will be the band's first studio album since 1990. Feel free to tell us what your most sought-after new disc of 2010 is. We can all compare notes.

Photo: Arcade Fire in a 2004 photo (Hilary Leftick).

It is probably the most anticipated album of 2010. Yes, I'm talking about Sade's upcoming studio effort, Soldier of Love, which arrives Feb. 9 on Epic Records. It has been 10 excruciatingly long years since the last Sade CD, Lovers Rock. That last album featured the simmering track "Somebody Already Broke My Heart" along with many other nocturnal gems. Sade's music is always tailor made for nighttime romance. Anyway, amazon.com has the video for "Soldier of Love." Of course I checked it out. So seductive, both visually and musically. But then again, it's Sade. Remember, Feb. 9. Soldier of Love. Sade.

You know those annoying people who burst into song at any moment, often with choreographed moves and the occasional flurry of jazz hands? I'm one of them. And I'm obviously not alone, given the tremendous popularity of Fox's Glee, a show that so perfectly sums up the whole glee-club, show-choir thing that I nearly cry at least once every time I watch it.

If you've got people like me on your shopping list -- and you do, you just may not know it; start humming "Don't Stop Believing' " or "Somebody to Love" and see what happens -- make them deliriously happy by giving them the Glee soundtracks, two volumes (the first came out in November, the second last week) of 34 songs. There's everything from Charlie Chaplin to rap to Broadway (LOTS of Broadway) to glam rock here. There's a version of "Sweet Caroline" that'll have you wondering if you underestimated Neil Diamond, and a "My Life Would Suck Without You" that Kelly Clarkson would be proud to sing along to.

It's Gleeky perfection in two little disks. Oh, the joys of singing in unison, dancing under the lights, feeling that amazing moment when you know the audience is with you, making those cheerleaders jealous of you just for once ... oops ... could someone get me a tissue, please?

So while on the phone with Daryl Hall, the most vocal half of enduring pop-R&B duo Hall & Oates, I asked him if there was a song or album that he thought should have been more widely heard and wasn't. He didn't hesitate, immediately answering 1978's Along the Red Ledge album. Although it did produce the Top 20 pop hit, "It's a Laugh," and eventually sold 500,000 copies, Ledge didn't exactly burn up the charts. So Hall has this to say:

"Along the Red Ledge sort of fell between the cracks because of what was going on in the late '70s. We put a lot of effort into it. It was a very musical album, adventurous. It was a unique way of crossing the great divide of music in 1978 -- rock, disco, punk, God knows what. It was a great musical record and when it came out people just kind of went...OK."

Check out my story on Hall, which should run in GuideDaily Tuesday.

Photo: The Along the Red Ledge album cover (RCA Records).

"This is no ordinary love." And she rides again. Sade, known for taking years and years off between albums after ruling adult contemporary and R&B radio for much of the 80s, will release a new album in February, 10 years after the last one.

The waiting will be the easy part, as fans of the band have gotten used to it. Lovers Rock was a triumphant comeback and the remixes of "By Your Side" were all great additions to the singer's catalog.

Here's what AP reported:

LOS ANGELES -- Sade is making music again.
The soulful English group fronted by 50-year-old singer Sade Adu will release a new album Feb. 8, according to Epic Records. Soldier of Love will be the group's first studio album since 2000's Lovers Rock. All five of Sade's studio albums have landed in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200, selling more than 50 million copies worldwide.
Soldier of Love was recorded in England and produced by the band and longtime collaborator Mike Pela.

As I listened yesterday to the 2-CD, 36-tracks Celebration, the new Madonna career retrospective, I found myself skipping back to cuts from her 1983 self-titled debut album. I'm talking about "Lucky Star," "Holiday," "Everybody" and "Burning Up." Yes, "Borderline" is on there, too. But I always thought that song lacked the vibrancy that permeates the rest of the album. "Lucky Star," "Holiday" and "Everybody" are effervescent examples of dance-pop with personality. Then we have "Burning Up," perhaps the best slice of high-energy dance from Madonna Louise Ciccone. The bouncy rhythm, the pulsating synthesizer line and Madonna's pouty-sexy lyrics about female domination all created an irresistible tune.

OK, what's your favorite Madonna song and why?

Photo: The Celebration CD cover (Warner Bros. Records)

The first single from the "companion piece" album to the posthumous documentary, "This Is It," which will be released Oct. 28, was "unveiled" at midnight. Titled "This Is it," the song's just what you'd expect from a comeback record, a return to the Michael that we all knew with Michael's soft voice counting us in to the music. It's a piano-based ballad with tinges of gospel that's all about falling in love. It soars, but it's grounded when it needs to be. And it's earnest, which makes it vintage when-pop-stars-ruled-the-world Michael Jackson.

"And it feels as though I've known you since a thousand years. And you tell me that you've seen my face before."

I can hear it becoming an anthem. Can you?

(Photo of Michael Jackson in rehearsal for the "This Is It" tour taken by Kevin Mazur for AEG.)

If it's Tuesday, it must be time for me to pick some CDs. Here goes:

Ledisi, Turn Me Loose -- One listen and you're hooked. She's real, real and real ...
Terence Blanchard, Choices -- Smooth everything. Yes, sir.
Modest Mouse, No One's First and You're Next -- I bought the first album by the title alone. They always surprise me. Let's see if they do it again.
George Duke, From Me to You/Reach for It -- He's a bandleader, keyboardist and songwriter. And his career has been going strong since he and a singer by the name of Al Jarreau formed a band together in the late 1960s. Can you dig it?
Sticky Fingaz, A Day in the Life -- Let's see what Blade has to say. Hands up for a reunion of Onyx!
Beyonce, Above and Beyonce: Video Collection & Dance Mixes -- As with Destiny's Child before she went solo, remixes earn high marks.
Kings of Leon, Only by Night (Import) -- Yeah ...
Various artists, The History of Rhythm and Blues 1942-1952 --
Moby, Play/Play; The B Sides -- Two-disc set features recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Big Joe Williams. I don't know if you or anyone can go wrong.

For other choices, try Mario Tarradell's weekly music column.

Well, here we go again. Every week, there's some CDs that I wish I had. Good thing there's a place to buy CDs right around any corner:

Michael Jackson, Moonwalking (DVD) -- Why not add to the collection? I remember when the debate around the school was Michael Jackson or Prince.
Bombay Bicycle Club, I Had the Blues but I Shook Them Loose -- You know you want to.
Kings of Leon, The Interview Sessions -- Yeah, much has been made of the clan's fighting tendencies. But have you heard them? Loooove them.
Various artists, Bandslam Original Soundtrack -- You know I like candy, right? And a sing-along with Vanessa Hutchens is just the icing.
Mr. Groove Band, Rocket 88: Tribute to Ike Turner -- Whatever anyone thinks of Ike Turner, this is a guy who helped shape a real sound with real musicians and real singers. Listen to this and find out.
Joe Budden, Mood Muzik, Vol. 1 -- I know it's a reissue, but why not? Huh?

As the music-buying public knows, every Tuesday is the time for new CDs to be released. You've heard the songs online (probably) by now, but Tuesday is when you can feel the physical CD in your hands, try to make out the small type in the liner notes and make jokes about the thank-you note. Here's a list of ones that I'd love to buy:

Z-Ro, My Favorite Mixtape -- Have you heard this guy? He's another rapper from Houston that may have no choice but to break nationally. My favorite song from Crack, his last album that was released this past Sept., is "Call My Phone." A close second is "Baby Girl."

Ashley Tisdale, Guilty Pleasure -- The title is my explanation.

Fabolous, Loso's Way -- Why not? He's got a good sense of humor. You don't find that often bleeding through a rapper's lyrics.

Kristinia DeBarge, Exposed -- If she can capture an ounce of the charm her aunt and uncles displayed in DeBarge, then I want to be a witness.

Michael Jackson, The Collection -- Now that Thriller is about to surpass The Eagles on album sales to take its place again as the best-selling album of all time, go ahead and complete your collection with Collection's five-disc set. I've got HIStory, but this one is more comprehensive.

Among the thrills of going to a concert is leaving with one song whose words and melody won't get out of your head. It's usually a new song, and being among the first to hear it is one of the thrills of live performance. I got to hear two on Friday night, July 17, and can't stop thinking about either. The incomparable Gretchen Peters, who headlined that night at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse, played a new song titled "Mother," which she wrote for a CD tribute to the activist, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones. Despite enormous personal tragedy (she lost her husband and their four children in a yellow fever epidemic and later lost her shop, her home and all her possessions in the Great Chicago Fire), Mother Jones rallied American miners and championed workers' rights like no one ever had. "You were the Madonna of the mines/our Lady of the Picket Lines," Peters sang, to terrific accompaniment by Barry Walsh, her keyboardist, accordion player and fiancé. I'm often skeptical of warm-up acts, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear John Fullbright, whose hometown is Okemah, Okla., the same as Woody Guthrie. The parallels don't stop there. Fullbright looks a lot like Woody, sounds a lot like Woody, and from early indications, writes a lot like Woody. His song "The High Road" is a tale of an extraordinary love. Jack and Suzy are young lovers but share a bond so strong and enduring that it underscores the power of Fullbright's lyrics, which state, "Living comes natural to many/love comes naturally to few ... you take the high road to freedom/And I'll take the low road to you." It was a gift getting to hear such a magical young talent perform. I hope we have many more such chances in the future. Woody would be proud: He could not have a better clone.

Photo: Gretchen Peters

But I'm sure most of you Michael Jackson fans knew that already. I picked up the special CD with DVD set this weekend, and seeing his groundbreaking performance of "Billie Jean" on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" television special made me very happy. So I'm sharing the happiness with you.

It's as if the last eight years never happened. At least that's what it sounds like when listening to Maxwell's new CD, BLACKsummer's Night, which was released on July 7. Maxwell seems to be resistant to all of the trappings that have befallen R&B music while he was away.

Perhaps I'm feeling overly sentimental, but his music still evokes the image of candles in a dark room, you know ... One quibble: The music - at once funky and soothing - sometimes overshadows the lyrics. Not that that's too much of a problem. With Maxwell, it's all about how the music makes you feel, not what you get out of the sometimes vague and poetic lyrics prone to metaphor. Though sometimes what you get is, well, for lack of a better word, freedom.

But, really ... who cares about any of that now that Maxwell is back for what we know are at least two more albums?

Obvious influences: Randy Crawford
Download this: "Cold" and the obvious first single, "Pretty Wings."

I am a child of the 90s, and I must say the name Aqua brings back embarrassing, yet fond memories of being a Barbie Girl. However, I never thought Aqua was ever going to resurface in my life other than out of nostalgia, but boy was I really wrong.

Aqua is back: Back to the 80s actually, which is the title of their new single. The song is full of cheesy lyrics and rhymes like, "When Eminem was just a snack, and Michael Jackson's skin was black..." The lyrics are just the start though. The video, released today, is full of neon lights, smoke machines, and lots and lots of glitter. Click play now.

Today we have a story on local hip-hop duo DMG$ (a.k.a. Damaged Goods) possibly leaving the States for Europe, where they see better chances on making it.

It's a little sad to hear that they want to take their brilliance elsewhere. I got a copy of their CD Hello World when it came out in early March, and I recommend picking it up if you haven't yet. It's like listening to your favorite party mix, but this one you can actually rap along to and you'll want to with its fun and real lyrics. The album, produced with the help of England's Xrabit, reminds me of Mike Monday's Songs Without Words (especially DMG$'s track "Are We Friends") and a little bit of Black Eyed Peas.

If you're 21 or older, catch DMG$ live at 8 tonight at The Lounge in Deep Ellum (2810 Elm St.). Dallas booking operation Parade of Flesh presents the guys plus a couple of other acts performing.

I'm sure you've been hearing the rumors of Whitney Houston's comeback album for some time now. Rumors no more. Here you go:

NEW YORK (AP) -- The date for Whitney Houston's comeback has been set.
Arista Records says her long-awaited album will be released Sept. 1. Houston hasn't released a CD in seven years.

So far, there's no word on a title for the album.

The 45-year-old superstar is one of the best-selling artists of all-time, but in recent years, she's been defined more by drug problems, marital woes and erratic behavior than by her Grammy-winning voice.

But lately, Houston has appeared to return to her pop princess form. She wowed the crowd when she performed at her mentor Clive Davis' pre-Grammy party in February.

(Photo of Whit presenting at this year's Grammys by Mark J. Terrill/The Associated Press)

I hadn't heard of Dallas native Becky Middleton until her debut CD was sent my way a couple of weeks ago. But she's not new to the scene. She has been singing and playing piano for such bands as the Jeff Berry Band, and Tim Ward Band over the last five years.

So much of her first solo venture, No Trouble, reminds me of Jewel's 1998 Spirit, but it's not fair to peg Ms. Middleton to just that. Becky is a true talent who can take on almost any genre, be it folk ("You Never Speak"), country ("There's No You (Austin)" and "You're a Stone"), rock, soul or blues ("Lost My Heart"). And she proves all that on this album. She's a singer-songwriter who understands the power of soft, clean, innocent and emotional melodies and lyrics. And her range is worthy of applause. Seriously, you should hear me try to sing along in the car - there's no reaching those high notes for me, but oh how I try because that's just how much her music overpowers me.

I'd have to say my favorite track on the 11-song disc is the catchy "Abilene, Tx," especially when the full band kicks in. I could easily see that song extended past its 3 minutes, 20 seconds and not mind one bit. I just wander around, with my feet on the ground ...

Dallas musician Carter Albrecht was accidentally shot and killed by his neighbor, who thought he was a burglar, on Sept. 3, 2007. The 34-year-old guitarist and keyboardist was best known for his work with Dallas rock band Sorta, as well as Edie Brickell & New Bohemians.

Seventy-five percent of Jesus Is Alive ... And Living In London was complete when Albrecht was killed. But according to CBS 11's story, the musician's father, Ken Albrecht, couldn't let it remain unfinished. With the help of New Bohemians' Edie Brickell and "some of the best producers and musicians in Los Angeles," the CD's background music was completed and released today. All proceeds from sales will go to the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation.

Tonight at 6pm there will be a CD listening party at Bryan Street Tavern (4315 Bryan St., Dallas), and check out the official CD release concert at the Granada Theater at 8 pm tomorrow, May 27.

A couple week's ago I asked about how you prefer to buy your music, and most preferred CDs or vinyl records because of the accompanying artwork and liner notes. So, here's a follow-up question that anyone can answer: What is your favorite album cover? Think about the use of text, images, artistic style, message and emotion.

See which covers our Twitter followers like the most below (Images included!). Then tell us about which album cover is your favorite.

Has anyone heard Martina's newest CD yet? The album was released today and music critic Mario Tarradell gives it a "B".

"It's that radio-friendly combination of '70s-era pop peppered with a little rock 'n' roll and a smidgen of country," he writes.

What do you think, does that sound right? Let us know what you think of this album or any others released today, which include discs from Papa Roach, the Decemberists, Indigo Girls, Blue October, Yanni and others.

AUSTIN - Jeffrey Steele knows how to sell a song. It's no wonder so many of his compositions turn into huge hits for mainstream country artists. In concert Saturday night at the Ranch, accompanied by his four-man band, Steele delivered 45 minutes of scorching country-rock with more than a few nods to R&B and blues. As a performer he's full-throttle from the first note. He sang with grit, honesty and gusto, letting his soulful wail carry him on a set of songs the crowd knew such as "Help Somebody" (a hit for Van Zant), "I'm Tryin'" (Trace Adkins), "What Hurts the Most" (Rascal Flatts) and "My Town" (Montgomery Gentry). His originals were even better, particularly the hilarious "Drunk Girl" and the Cajun-spiced corker "Something In the Water." This guy's almost too good for Nashville. He belongs in Texas.

Photo: Steele in a concert shot from 2008 (Anthony Scarlati).

Music critic Mario Tarradell gave Willie Nelson's latest disc a "B+" in his review today. He says, "For die-hard Willie fans, this collection is a must."

Well, do you die-hard Willie fans agree?

You might also be interested to know that according to the legend's Web site, his On the Road Again tour is making only one Texas stop -- in Amarillo on April 23.

In today's review, music critic Mario Tarradell says Kelly Clarkson's All I Ever Wanted is "perfectly catchy and radio-ready, a commercial gold mine waiting to cash in," and I kinda agree. I've only heard her song "My Life Would Suck Without You," and it is catchy, fun and totally Kelly. It's hard to believe that it's already been eight years since American Idol discovered her.

Check out the full review and tell us what you think below. I'm a Kelly fan. Any others out there? Does this disc live up to what yo expect from her?

This CD cover is way zen, no? Music critic Mario Tarradell says you may need to spend more time than planned with this disc to truly appreciate it. From his review of U2's No Line on the Horizon:

"By now U2 has perfected the merger of arena rock with electronics, moodiness with melody, and ambience with earnestness. No Line on the Horizon, the Irish band's first studio release since 2004's Grammy-winning How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, screams all of U2's modern hallmarks."

Read the whole review here.

Mario gave the disc a "B" grade. You agree with that? What do you think of the new album?

For those who want to celebrate Black History Month in authentic style, New York-based Putumayo World Music has the soundtrack for the next 26 days. The nifty record label's catalog of Black History Month compilation CDs includes: The new African Reggae, released on January 27; Acoustic Africa from 2006; African Playground from 2003; African Groove, also from 2003; African Party from 2008; African Dreamland, also from 2008; and Africa from 1999. For these titles and more, visit Putumayo's website. You can order the discs from there, too.

Photo: African Reggae CD cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Let's get right to it. Fans of Burleson's favorite American Idol Kelly Clarkson should read the gist of this press release sent today from her record label:

Pop rock sensation Kelly Clarkson and AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets are teaming up to bring fans her highly anticipated new video. AT&T will present a sneak peek of the video during a commercial break of American Idol on Wednesday, Jan. 28 (7-8 p.m. central) on FOX. Following the preview, AT&T will make the full video available to watch online and via AT&T Mobility phones and AT&T U-verseSM TV.

Kelly Clarkson's newest 19 Recordings/RCA single, "My Life Would Suck Without You," debuted earlier this month. The song was the No. 1 most added at Top 40 and Hot AC and currently holds the No. 1 position at iTunes. Wednesday night's commercial break sneak peek on FOX will be the first time fans will have a glimpse of the video.

After the preview airs, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets will offer exclusive access to the full-length video for 24 hours:
* AT&T Mobility customers can get a link to watch it on their mobile phones by texting KELLY to 8008.
* AT&T U-verse customers can access the video for free through the U-verse TV Video On Demand (VOD) library.
* All fans can watch it online at www.att.net.

Photo: Kelly at Grand Prairie's Nokia Theatre in late 2007 (Rex C. Curry/Special to DMN).

After a disappointing and perhaps misguided 2006 self-titled debut CD on RCA Records, former American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee has signed a contract with Verve Records, reports billboard.com. She's currently recording the Verve disc, which should be out before the end of 2009. McPhee, who's also done a little acting in 2008's The House Bunny, sold a relatively paltry 375,000 copies of that first effort, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Let's see what she can do the second time around.

Any Kat McPhee supporters out there?

Photo: Kat on the press line at the 2008 Carousel of Hope 30th Anniversary Ball in Beverly Hills (Dan Steinberg).

Fans of progressive, arty pop group the Alan Parsons Project now have six more reissued CDs with bonus tracks and nifty liner notes. Parsons and Eric Woolfson (APP's noted lead singer) personally oversaw the restoration of Pyramid (1978), Eve (1979), The Turn of a Friendly Card (1980), Ammonia Avenue (1984), Stereotomy (1986) and Gaudi (1987). Those have just been released. They were also involved in the reissuing of I Robot (1977) and Eye In the Sky (1982), which hit stores in March 2007.

I just got my copies, so you can bet I'll be listening to them. I've been a fan for a long time. Any APP admirers out there?

Photo: Back to 1980 with a...friendly card (Courtesy of www.cduniverse.com).

Former American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin is finishing up his sophomore studio album, which is due in stores May 5 on Hickory Records. The still untitled disc follows 2007's gold-selling Elliott Yamin and its platinum-selling hit single, "Wait for You." Working with the curly-headed singer on the new CD are producers Jermaine Dupri, Josh Abraham and the duo Stargate. His debut project scored on both the pop (No. 3) and R&B (No. 2) Billboard magazine charts.

Photo: Elliott on the mike (Jeff Christensen).

No joke, folks. In 2008, 1.88 million vinyl records were sold. That's up from 988,000 in 2007. See this story. The resurgence seems to be all about rallying against the sterility and compression of CDs and especially MP3 files. Plus, it's so cool to dig the artwork of a vinyl album. Hey, even amazon.com is now selling vinyl. Check out this video about the subject.

Who has vinyl out there, both old and new? Tell us!

Photo: The vinyl vindication (courtesy of Google).

Isaac Hayes left this world way too soon. So in his memory, and in his honor, the resuscitated Stax Records will reissue his 1971 epic classic Black Moses Feb. 24. The album will be completely remastered and restored, even with the fold-out package forming a cross-shaped image of the artist. Also coming out that same day on Stax is Juicy Fruit (Disco Freak), Hayes' 1976 disco opus that has never been on CD before. Cool stuff, folks. Yesterday's R&B should still be remembered and revered today.

Photo: The mighty Black Moses (courtesy of Wikipedia).

On Pearl Harbor Day early last month, I found myself stuck in Abilene, Texas: My 12-year-old had a tennis tournament. Tennis parents know all too well that such marathons often end late, and when they do, you're exhausted, not to mention how the kid feels! So my boy and I were cruising the lonely streets of Abilene, late on a Saturday night. Turned out to be one of the best drives I've ever had. As the little guy snoozed in the back, my mind drifted to the sounds of Abilene's National Public Radio affiliate, which was playing music. But not just any music. Unlike the sheer gar-bage heard on commercial radio these days, this was good music. Passionate, beautifully written acoustic music by artists whose names you have yet to hear but will (I hope). And this one song comes on ... and it's the kind of song that drives you crazy when you hear it because you have to hear more -- is there an album? Where can I buy it? What other songs has this amazing artist done? Who is this person anyway?

Photo: Lindsay Katt, whose debut album is a keeper

So red-hot Taylor Swift remains at No. 1 with Fearless, selling 90,000 copies during a slow post-holidays sales week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. The 19-year-old singing and songwriting wunderkind is perhaps the most popular artist du jour next to Lil Wayne.

And now about Bruce. His 16th studio album, Working On a Dream, arrives in stores Jan. 27. The disc, produced by Brendan O'Brien, was essentially recorded soon after he finished 2007's Magic. So the Boss is in prolific mode. I'm looking forward to the CD. Are you?

Photo: Working On a Dream cover courtesy of Wikipedia.

Woo-hoo! The ever prolific Prince plans on releasing three albums this year without any help from a major label. Read the billboard.com story here. Gotta love Prince Rogers Nelson. Like Willie Nelson, he does things his way and on his time. And on his dime, too, for that matter. Cool.

By the way, my fave Prince album remains 1991's Diamonds and Pearls. Not a bad song on there. What's your favorite Prince album?

Photo: His name is Prince (Picasa 2.7).

For those who like to gobble up statistics about the numbers game aspect of the music industry, here's an Associated Press story about 2008 tallies. CD sales are down again and digital downloads sales continue to skyrocket. So what else is new? Anyway, happy reading!

This shouldn't surprise anybody. Rapper Lil Wayne sold the most CDs in 2008, according to Nielsen SoundScan. His Tha Carter III moved 2.8 million copies. Coming in at No. 2 is Coldplay with 2.14 million copies sold of Viva La Vida. At No. 3 we have Taylor Swift. Her Fearless CD sold 2.11 million. Rounding out the Top 5 are Kid Rock selling 2 million copies of Rock N Roll Jesus and AC/DC moving 1.9 million of its huge comeback, Black Ice.

Photo: Coldplay's Viva La Vida CD had to settle for No. 2 (Courtesy of Capitol Records).

Attention Blue October fans: The Austin rockers are getting ready to release Approaching Normal, its fifth album, March 24 on Universal. It was recorded at Texas icon Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios. Also, the October guys want to go global with the disc. They specifically want to conquer Europe. As for the upcoming record, expect a "dramatic-slash-theatrical" affair, according to Blue bassist Matt Noveskey. Read the billboard.com story for more details.

Photo: The Blue boys (Jeremy Cowart).

Seal Henry Samuel took a detour from his original brand of R&B-laced pop-dance on Soul, his disc of a dozen cover tunes with, well, a soulful bent. Now let me say that some of the record is a bit safe sounding. That's no doubt thanks to David Foster's production, which always tends toward the subdued side. "Stand By Me" and "People Get Ready" are just too subdued. But, baby, when Seal sings Deniece Williams' "Free" we all just float. Also good are his takes on "Knock On Wood" and "If You Don't Know Me By Now." The latter fits his relaxed, slightly sultry pipes well, even if he doesn't give it the fire that Teddy Pendergrass originally did. Or even Mick Hucknall did later. It's a listening pleasure, regardless. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to play "Free" again. Aaahhhh.......

Photo: That soulful CD cover (Courtesy of Wikipedia).

A new U2 CD is always an event. So March 3 comes No Line On the Horizon, the group's 12th studio album. Produced by Steve Lillywhite, Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois -- all of whom have helmed records for the band before -- the set still doesn't have an available track list. But it was recorded in Dublin, Fez and New York. Horizon is the follow-up to 2004's How to Dismantle An Atomic Bomb. Read the full billboard.com story here.

Photo: Bono speaking at the Women's Conference Oct. 22, 2008 in Long Beach, California (Chris Pizzello).

Not that we believe in numerology or anything. And not that numbers have anything cosmic to say. But...Neil Young recorded the tunes on Sugar Mountain Live At Canterbury House 1968 Nov. 9 and 10, 1968. So about 40 years ago. Well, hmm, the long-awaited album debuted at No. 40 on Billboard's pop albums chart this week. Weird.

Photo: The Sugar Mountain Live CD cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

I know I'm a tad late on this. Blame it on a slew of Christmas CDs. Anyway, let's forget for a moment Beyoncé's Sasha Fierce nonsense. It's too foolish to entertain. But in such a green-centric world now, the Houston diva wasted so much plastic on a second CD with only five songs. Her two-disc I Am...Sasha Fierce project has only 11 songs total. But the five on the Sasha side contain two terrible tracks ("Diva" and "Video Phone"), a couple of decent ones ("Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" and "Sweet Dreams") and only one truly good cut ("Radio"). For this Ms. B demanded a second compact disc?

Photo: Whatever her name is... (Courtesy of Columbia Records).

It may be the Heaven's Gate of the music industry. Axl Rose's vanity project, Chinese Democracy, disguised as a Guns N' Roses album even though he's the only original member left, has sold 318,000 copies in two weeks, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That is, without a doubt, a commercial bomb. Especially for such a mega-selling, well-known rock entity. Especially for a CD that cost in the millions to make. Especially for a CD that took 17 years to see the bright lights of retail. Especially for a disc that grabbed so much media attention. Many say that selling it exclusively at Best Buy was the problem. That box store isn't as savvy about selling CDs as, say, Wal-Mart and Target. I don't think the vendor mattered. I just think Axl burned his bridges -- all of them -- with those that matter most, the fans.

Any thoughts?

Photo: The Chinese Democracy dud (Courtesy of Geffen Records).

Latin group Los Primos de Durango, gaining momentum in both Mexico and the United States, will sign autographs and help promote their new CD, Con Fuego En Tu Piel: 100% Duranguense Light, Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Discoteca Leo, 1710 S. 1st St., Garland. For more information, call the store at 972-840-9592‎.

Photo: CD cover of Con Fuego En Tu Piel courtesy of cduniverse.com.

The attraction is instant. Aterciopelados, Colombia's veteran Latin rock duo of Andrea Echeverri and Hector Buitrago, immediately draw in the listener to their fine new CD, Rio. That title track, the first cut, is an infectious plea for ecological clarity, particularly in the river waters. The rest of the CD is quintessential Aterciopelados, which means it's a hodge-podge of rock, funk, pop, hip-hop, electronica and even a little waltz thrown in food good measure. Standouts include "Dia Paranormal," a percussive, salsa-jazz-rock fusion that laments the commercialization of nature; "Vals," a gorgeous waltz with a melancholy lilt; the mid-tempo "Tomate," a quirky little story set to a slow shuffle beat; and "Aguita," which closes the disc praising the purity of water. For more on Aterciopelados, check out their website, or that of their cool label, Nacional Records.

Photo: Rio cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

I've never put too much stock in the American Music Awards. After all, it's a popularity contest. But I'm so happy to hear that Christian rockers Third Day finally got their first AMA last night. The Atlanta-based band, nominated twice before for an AMA, won in the contemporary inspirational category. If there's a time this group deserves the honors, it's now. Revelation, produced by rock knob-turner Howard Benson, is lead singer Mac Powell and company's best CD ever. It's an effort loaded with passion, pathos and plenty of melodic rock verve. I recommend it to anybody, whether you like contemporary Christian music or not.

Are there any AMA winners that you're happy about? Let us know.

Photo: Third Day's Mac Powell performing at Superpages.com Center Oct. 2 (Jason Janik/Special to DMN).

Madonna reinvents herself with each album, but never changes her name or adopts an alter ego for the sake of record sales and publicity. If she did, she'd be convincing.

Houston's Beyoncé, calling herself Sasha Fierce, is the latest singer to adopt an alter ego for "creative freedom." She joins previous personality changers Garth Brooks (who was Chris Gaines), David Bowie (Ziggy Stardust, Aladdin Sane, Thin White Duke), Hank Williams (Luke the Drifter), Paul McCartney (the Fireman) and David Johansen (Buster Poindexter).

Most of the time it's just a vanity exercise aimed at getting more attention. Check out my column Thursday in www.guidelive.com and in the print GuideDaily section.

How do you feel about artistic alter egos? Love em or loathe them? Let us know!

Photo: Miss Beyoncé? Or...uh...Miss Fierce? (Jim Cooper)

Even after just one listen, country singer Craig Morgan's just-released CD, That's Why, reveals much-needed stylistic improvements to his sound. In general there's a more sophisticated sonic ambiance here, a necessary change from his hokey, ho-hum last two discs, 2005's My Kind of Livin' and 2006's Little Bit of Life. The Tennessee native is singing with more passion, especially on the single "Love Remembers" and the title cut, "That's Why." On barn-burners such as "Sticks" and the clever "Planet Her" he's likable and full of gusto. Obviously Mr. Morgan's graduation to a major label (BNA Records) after four years with Nashville independent Broken Bow Records agreed with him.

Photo: Cover of That's Why courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Listening to any Eva Cassidy CD is a bittersweet experience. How sad that such a talented vocalist able to seamlessly interpret blues, country, pop, jazz, gospel and folk died so young. She was only 33 when melanoma took her life in 1996. Somewhere, the eighth CD released posthumously, is lovely ("Coat of Many Colors," "My Love Is Like a Red Red Rose"), bluesy ("Ain't Doin' Too Bad") and jazzy ("Summertime"). Two rare originals, "Early One Morning" and "Somewhere," show us that she was more than just a singer for others' songs. If you aren't familiar with the late Ms. Cassidy's music, or even her beautiful paintings, check out her website, www.evacassidy.org. I don't think you'll be sorry you made the trip.

Photo: Somewhere cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Toby Keith might not want to hear this, since he's carved a reputation as a testosterone country king with a penchant for honky-tonk women. But he can really sing a country ballad, as he does on "Lost You Anyway" and "Hurt a Lot Worse When You Go," two stellar tracks from his new CD, That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy, released on his label Show Dog Nashville. What's more, the man belts the blues with gusto. "Missing Me Some You" drips with genuine soul. Nothing wrong with the remainder of the disc. He goes back to the tropics on "Cabo San Lucas," and then waxes about his female friends on "Creole Woman," "I Got It For You Girl" and "God Love Her." But again, yet another ballad, the single "She Never Cried In Front of Me," has power and pathos. His robust voice connects with heavy emotions. Big Bad Toby sure has the R&B heart for deeper, slower songs.

Photo: That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Chicago electronic pop-rock band White Tie Affair -- a quintet consisting of Sean P (guitar programming), Chris Wallace (vocals), Tim McLaughlin (drums), Ryan Cook (bass) and Ryan Hollywood (keyboard, guitar) -- cruise on into House of Blues Wednesday. The young group is touring behind its fun, energetic and hooky debut CD, Walk This Way. They are definitely part of a new wave of synthesized pop-rock acts that seem to be influenced by the sonic elements of '80s synth-pop-rock. To underscore White Tie Affair's youthful, hip audience, the guys recently performed on an episode of MTV's The Hills. The HOB gig Wednesday is part of a package bill that also includes Metro Station, Tyga and Cash Cash.

Check out my story on Metro Station Wednesday on www.guidelive.com.

Photo: The guys from White Tie Affair (Epic Records/Sony).

Not that we need any proof, but if you're looking for evidence of soul singer extraordinaire Maysa's love of R&B for grownups, then click on over to "I Need a Man," one of the tracks on her sumptuous new CD, Metamorphosis, released on Shanachie Records. This isn't a sexual manifesto, like it would be in the hands of any other contemporary R&B diva. Nope. Maysa needs a man who's "strong in mind, body and soul." She sings the mid-tempo track with authority and sensuality. That's the tone of the Baltimore native's entire disc, her seventh solo effort outside of acid jazz ensemble Incognito, for which she has served as off-and-on lead vocalist. One more song on Metamorphosis deserves mention here: "A Conversation With the Universe," a percussive, funk-fortified jam featuring label mates Global Noize.

Photo: Metamorphosis cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Ann Hampton Callaway, the Chicago-born singer-songwriter whose stunning voice can ably command jazz, pop standards, big band, blues and soul music, talks up her upcoming CD, At Last, which will be released in February. She has this to say about it:

It's possibly the best record I've made to date. People keep telling me that I keep getting more open and more powerful as a singer. That's the best news a singer could hear. The rest of my life I want to keep growing, like a good wine. It naturally grows and has a richer and deeper bouquet. It's an album of love songs for grownups. I found the love of my life in the last two years. There are two original songs, great American classics, "At Last" and "Over the Rainbow," "What Is This Thing Called Love," a Cole Porter song, "On My Way to You," an Alan and Marilyn Bergman song. It's my pledge to love and romance and desire. It's a celebration of love.

For more on my interview with Ms. Callaway, check www.guidelive.com and GuideDaily Nov. 6 (or maybe a day or two sooner).

Photo: Ms. Callaway (Bill Westmoreland).

Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, Cardinology (Lost Highway) - The country rocker (emphasis on rock) releases a studio album with his band, the Cardinals.
The Cure, 4:13 Dream (Geffen) - The legendary goth rock band fronted by the much-imitated Robert Smith cranks out 13 songs in its inimitable style.
Celine Dion, My Love: Ultimate Essential Collection (Sony) - Love songs, the Canadian songstress' specialty, in a 26-song compilation.
Toby Keith, That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy (Show Dog Nashville) - The prolific country honcho releases his fourth studio album in as many years.
John Legend, Evolver (Columbia) - Love and relationships get explored on the soul singer-pianist's third studio album co-produced by Kanye West.

I was poking around on Napster just now and got giddy when I found Nightmare Revisited, released just a few weeks ago. Yep, it's the soundtrack to Tim Burton's deliciously melancholy movie Nightmare Before Christmas, but the tracks are covered by a slew of rock acts like Korn, Flyleaf, our own Polyphonic Spree, Marilyn Manson, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Amy Lee, Rise Against, All American Rejects and more. Get a listen of the tracks here and buy the album here.

Right, right, right. I know. But word is that the CD will be released Nov. 23 at Best Buy. I, personally, will believe it when I physically see and touch a wrapped, square plastic case in a store that says Chinese Democracy and Guns N' Roses on the front of it. Read more here.

As Thor reported back in December '07:

Axl Rose is supposedly putting the final touches on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy. Then again, we've been hearing that same story since roughly 1998.

You can already hear the song "Chinese Democracy" online here.

Jet off to Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, France, Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico ... all with the click of your CD player. The enchanting, cosmopolitan A Night In series of 10 discs explore the music of the aforementioned countries. Each CD is packed with 15 songs, packaged in an environmentally safe way and priced at less than $15. Hey, that's a pretty cheap worldly trip. I'll be writing more about these cool musical souvenirs later. But for now, I wanted to give them a quick plug.

Photo: A Night in Italy cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Among the many CDs in stores today, here's a few highlights:
Calle 13, Los de Atrás Vienen Conmigo (Sony BMG Norte) - Third album from Puerto Rico's lauded hip-hop duo of Residente and Visitante.
Brett Dennen, Hope for the Hopeless (Dualtone) - Rolling Stone hails the California folk-pop singer-songwriter as one of 2008's artists to watch.
Waylon Jennings, Waylon Forever (Vagrant) - The late country legend's final recordings backed by son Shooter Jennings and his band, the .357's.
Labelle, Back to Now (Verve) - The return of Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash on a supercool, vocal powerhouse album that sounds old yet new.
Mary Mary, The Sound (Columbia) - Gospel-R&B duo offers up a dozen tunes, one of which features rapper David Banner as a guest.
Craig Morgan, That's Why (BNA) - The feel-good country singer unveils his debut for a major label, the home of Kenny Chesney, after years with strong independent imprint Broken Bow.
Hank Williams III, Damn Right, Rebel Proud (Curb) - The controversial country-rocker, son of Hank Williams Jr., releases his fourth studio album.
Lee Ann Womack, Call Me Crazy (MCA Nashville) - Another stunning traditional country album from Texas' peerless vocalist produced by the renowned Tony Brown.
Photo: Craig Morgan CD cover courtesy of cduniverse.com

I love me some Girl Talk, and here's why: You could hear bits of everything from Arrested Development to Boston to James Taylor to Slim Thug to Elton John to Styx to the Beach Boys to Rick Astley to Rihanna to KRS-One to Jay-Z to Britney Spears — all in the same track. Gregg Gillis (a.k.a. Girl Talk) is a hyper, master mixer — don't think for a second that because he samples Kenny Loggins and Carole King that there's a chill moment in his music.

You can hear for yourself on Girl Talk's Myspace, and you can read up on him in Thor's interview here. Get details on his show tomorrow night at Palladium Ballroom here.

(Photo by Andrew Strasser: Project name = Girl Talk, real name = Gregg Gillis)

So country superstar Tim McGraw has officially disowned his recently released third singles compilation, Greatest Hits Vol. 3. It's a bold move, and we'll let him explain in a statement delivered via his Nashville publicist:

"I am saddened and disappointed that my label chose to put out another hits album instead of new music. I've only had one studio album since my last hits package. It has to be just as confusing to the fans as it is to me. I had no involvement in the creation or presentation of this record. Sure I love the songs and I don't want to take anything away from all the creative people who were a part of making those records. But the whole concept is an embarrassment to me as an artist. In the spirit of an election year, I would simply say to my fans 'I'm Tim McGraw and I don't approve their message.'"

Photo: The disavowed Greatest Hits Vol. 3 cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Massachusetts singer Sonya Kitchell made her name as a precocious 17-year-old shrouded in hoopla for her Starbucks-released debut CD. Now, at 19, she's living up to the hype. Her dusky alto keeps getting richer --- on her new CD, This Storm, she could pass for jazz singer thrice her age, a fact not lost on Herbie Hancock, who's recorded and toured with her. And she's matured as a writer with smart tunes about political apathy ("Borderline") and personal uncertainty ("Soldier's Lament"). Produced by Malcolm Burn (Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois), This Storm proves Ms. Kitchell can sing anything she wants, from jazz to folk to gospel-soul dirges

In addition to new releases from Kenny Chesney and Lucinda Williams, here are a few other CDs in stores today:

Buena Vista Social Club, Buena Vista Social Club at Carnegie Hall (Nonesuch) - Stunning two-disc souvenir of the acclaimed collective of Cuban musicians' performance at Carnegie Hall on July 1, 1998.
Billy Currington , Little Bit of Everything (Mercury Nashville) - Third record by the Georgia newcomer banks on the success of the 2005 platinum Doin' Something Right.
Keane, Perfect Symmetry (Interscope ) - Third album from English piano rock band features a new set of songs written by the trio.
Ray LaMontagne , Gossip In the Grain (RCA) - Folk-pop-rock singer and songwriter from New Hampshire hopes to capitalize on his 2006 breakthrough, Till the Sun Turns Black.
Little Big Town, A Place to Land (Capitol Nashville) - Country-pop band's wonderful 2007 CD gets reissued with new cover art and four extra songs, including three fresh studio tracks.

Photo: Cover of Little Big Town's revamped A Place to Land (courtesy of cduniverse.com).

Tulsa's Eldredge Jackson, an R&B-spiced smooth jazz saxophonist, brings elegence, sultriness and plenty of melody to Listening Pleasure, his new CD produced by fellow jazz man Wayman Tisdale. The 13-track disc features cool originals from Mr. Jackson, such as the seductive "Git Wit It" and the rhythmic title tune, as well as suave covers of Lionel Richie's "Hello" and Michael Jackson's "Rock With You," a Rod Temperton (of Heatwave fame) composition. Catch some sax from Eldredge Jackson Saturday night at Dallas' Brooklyn Jazz Cafe.

Photo: Eldredge "Sax Man" Jackson (Kelly Kerr).

J-Hud's self-titled debut CD enters Billboard's pop albums chart at No. 2 with a healthy 217,000 copies sold its first week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's a good album, save for a few quibbles. Read my review of it here. Of course, as expected, rapper T.I.'s Paper Trail bows at the summit with a whopping 568,000 copies sold. At No. 3 is Robin Thicke with Something Else. That one moved 137,000 copies. Oh, and fear not Metallica fans, Death Magnetic is still in the Top 5. In fact, it's exactly No. 5 with 86,000 copies sold.

Photo: Jennifer Hudson in a photo from last month (Jim Cooper).

I love a glass ceiling crasher. Props to Darius Rucker for becoming the first commercially successful black country singer with his debut single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," since Charley Pride emerged in 1966. Read about it here. Rucker, best known as the lead singer for big '90s band Hootie & the Blowfish, will be at Billy Bob's on Saturday night if you want to check him out.

Mario's compiled a mess-load of CDs that are coming out this fall. We're talking Sarah McLachlan, Tom Jones, Britney Spears, Kevin Coster (yes, the actor), the Cure, Kanye West, Luda, both David cuties from American Idol, Pink, Hilary Duff, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Tesla, Oasis, Taylor Swift, Tracy Chapman, Seal, Taylor Swift, the Pretenders, Snow Patrol, Missy Elliot, Scarface and bunches more. Check out the list here.

Which albums are you most looking foward to this autumn?

(AP photo: Taylor Swift and Britney Spears)

The word giddy pops up in the press clips of Delaware's the Spinto Band as a way to describe its brand of sometimes frenetic, always off-kilter and intermittently guitar-based brand of pop. Check! On Moonwink (Park the Van Records), the six-man group creates ditties that never feel frothy. Think '80s power pop meets '90s alt-rock with dashes of jumpy melodies thrown in. Judging by the single "Summer Grof" these guys sound like they've inhaled too much candy. And yet, that hook immediately sticks in your head. The rest of Moonwink, especially the head-bobbing "Pumpkins & Paisley" and the rock-edged "Vivian, Don't," gets under your skin with repeated listens. This is one of those happy, let's-all-bop CDs that won't leave you feeling guilty for liking it. And at less than 35 minutes, the proceedings have run their course before you start to feel lightheaded.

Photo: Moonwink CD cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

It's been way too long. Hal Ketchum's first stateside CD in five years reminds us what an intelligent, thoughtful and creative artist he is. Blending country with jazz, rockabilly with R&B and then throwing in a few tropical rhythms even, Father Time is that rare record that you can admire and also enjoy for its sheer musicality. Consisting mostly of songs from his own pen, with the one exception of a cover of Tom Waits' "Jersey Girl," the disc showcases his soulful voice as well as his guitar and banjo picking. Standouts abound but pay close attention to "Invisible," "Millionaire's Wife" and "Sparrow."

Photo: Father Time cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

According to CNN, Superstar Janet Jackson has been hospitalized after falling ill shortly before a concert.

In a statement released by W&W Public Relations, the singer canceled her concert in Montreal on Monday after she "got suddenly ill" during her sound check and had to be rushed to the hospital just before show time, according to the Associated Press. The statement says Jackson is being monitored at the hospital and hopes to reschedule the show. No further information was given about Jackson's condition. Jackson, 42, is currently on her North American, "Rock Witchu" tour.

As for her boyfriend, Jermaine Dupri, he's proving that perhaps it's best to keep the personal and business aspects separate...

A 50th anniversary 4-disc box set reissue of Miles Davis' Kind of Blue is coming out tomorrow. Read more about that here. It's the best-selling jazz record ever, but is it the best? Tell us what you think.

(Photo: the Kind of Blue box set)

Houston native Rodney Crowell plays Poor David's Pub Nov. 13 as part of an acoustic trio. Will Kimbrough will be his opening act. Mr. Crowell's newest CD, Sex and Gasoline, is a worthy artistic achievement. Read my review of it here. In such an intimate setting as is Poor David's Pub, let's hope he plays some tracks from 2001's The Houston Kid, his autobiographical masterpiece. Anyway, folks, this man always puts on a good show. He's got an arsenal of intelligent, tuneful and topical songs and his between tunes chatter is smart and funny.

Photo: Sex and Gasoline CD cover courtesy of Yep Roc Records.

Darius Rucker's debut country single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It," hits the No. 1 spot on Billboard's country singles chart. That makes him the first African-American artist with a chart-topping tune in 25 years. It hadn't been done since Charley Pride's last No. 1, 1983's "Night Games." The Hootie & the Blowfish lead singer is basking in the glow of his country CD, Learn to Live, which is solid and authentic. He doesn't sound like a former pop star trying for country success. He sounds real.

Photo: Learn to Live CD cover courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield and their band mates are back at the pinnacle. Metallica's Death Magnetic, produced by Rick Rubin, is No. 1 for a second week on Billboard's pop albums chart after selling 337,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan, for its first full seven days in stores. Remember that Death Magnetic was released on a Friday instead of the usual Tuesday. During its first three days at retail it sold 490,000 copies. So in a mere ten days, the disc has moved 827,000 copies. It's a fierce record, folks, filled with the sharp chops and musicial precision that marks Metallica. It's a return to form after the unanimous embarrassment that was 2003's St. Anger.

Photo: Metallica's James Hetfield and bassist Robert Trujillo unleash the fury during a Berlin concert earlier this month (Clemens Bilan).

David Cook, the 25-year-old from Blue Springs, Missouri, will release his debut album Nov. 18 on RCA Records. The latest American Idol winner has been working on the still untitled CD with producer Rob Cavallo (Green Day, Kid Rock). The disc's first single, "Light On," was co-written by Chris Cornell of Soundgarden and Audioslave fame. "Light On" premieres exclusively on AOL Music today. Check AOL's PopEater.com. The single hits iTunes Sept. 30.

Photo: David Cook performs at American Airlines Center in August (Mike Stone/Special to DMN).

Texas country group the Randy Rogers Band will take the stage Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Billy Bob's Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, in Fort Worth. The gig is a celebration of the new CD, Randy Rogers Band, which hits stores Tuesday as well. It's a really good disc, folks. The guys again worked with fellow Texan Radney Foster, who produced the record and co-wrote a few tunes. Among the standouts are "Better Than I Ought to Be," a radio hit waiting to happen, and "In My Arms Instead," the first single and video. Admission to the Billy Bob's gig is $15 (which includes a copy of the new album). For more information, go to the Billy Bob's Texas website.

Photo: From left to right -- Randy Rogers, Brady Black, Jon Richardson, Les Lawless and Geoffrey Hill (courtesy of www.randyrogersband.com).

Hadn't heard much about Dallas native Lisa Loeb lately until a colleague passed along this offbeat article where she talks about pastries, caffeine and the medicinal power of urine. Loeb's got a new CD out, Camp Lisa, featuring campfire songs she learned while going to camp in Marble Falls, Tex. Topics include pancakes and peanut butter, but alas, there are no bathroom humor ditties.

In today's segmented music world, Los Angeles singer, songwriter and guitarist Keaton Simons would probably sit somewhere between John Mayer and Jack Johnson. But his artistic style, a penchant for crafting seamlessly soulful pop songs with plenty of rhythm and smooth hooks, also harks back to Van Morrison's heyday. On his full-length debut CD, the just-released Can You Hear Me on the relaunched CBS Records, Mr. Simons wrote all 11 tracks solo. His songs, from "Good Things Get Better" to "Can You Hear Me" and many points in between, will keep your foot tapping and your fingers snapping. He'll do it all without histrionics, too.

Photo: Can You Hear Me cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

Jessica Simpson sold 65,000 copies of Do You Know during its first week in stores, according to Nielsen SoundScan. That's good enough for a No. 1 entry on Billboard's country albums chart. On the pop list, Do You Know lands at No. 4. On that same pop albums chart, Metallica starts at No. 1 with Death Magnetic. It sold a whopping 490,000 copies during only three days in stores. Death Magnetic was released on a Friday instead of the usual Tuesday to accomodate a worldwide launch.

Photo: Jess jumps to the top (Sony BMG Nashville).

The Red Rocker returns. But, um, not that he ever went anywhere. Nevertheless, Sammy Hagar has signed a new recording contract with the just-launched Loud & Proud Records, an imprint of Roadrunner Records. His first disc for the label, Cosmic Universal Fashion, is scheduled to be released Nov. 18. It includes "Cosmic Universal Fashion," a song Mr. Hagar wrote as an online collaboration with Iraqi rocker Steven Lost. The tune, sporting a message about "getting involved," has been released through Sammy's website, www.redrocker.com.

Photo: Sammy still can't drive 55 (Randee St. Nicholas).

British soul singer Joss Stone sure has been making the rounds of guest vocals on recent and current albums. Last year she was on Annie Lennox's Songs of Mass Destruction. She was one of the female voices on the soaring anthem "Sing." She's also on three current discs: Belting "I Believe to My Soul" on David Sanborn's Here and Gone; crooning with Raphael Saadiq on "Just One Kiss" from his new The Way I See It; and delivering "Just Walk On By" from Randy Jackson's Music Club, Vol. 1. You can also hear Ms. Stone on "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart," a duet with soul legend Al Green from the Sex and the City: The Movie soundtrack.

Photo: The ubiquitous Joss Stone (Chris Pizzello).

Thor gives Nelly's new disc, Brass Knuckles, a B- but says the rapper gets lost in the soup of all-star contributors, like R. Kelly, Fergie, Snoop Dogg, Usher and others. What do you think of Nelly's new album? Listen to tracks and see videos on his Myspace here.

With less than a week in stores and as a digital download, the new Metillica CD, Death Magnetic, has already generated 242 fan review comments on amazon.com (at the time of this blog post). Four out of five stars is the rating. So I guess most fans are loving it. Produced by Rick Rubin and heralded as a return to the Master of Puppets sound, Death Magnetic is for many a refreshing return to form after 2003's muddy St. Anger. Word is circulating that Death Magnetic will enter Billboard's pop albums chart with more than 500,000 copies sold the first week. Yes, Metallica mania is back!

Photo: The cryptic Death Magnetic cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.

On Sunday evening, we'll have a story by Mario that talks about the new phenomenon of pre-teen music, from baby all the way up to age 12. The Kidz Bop Kids CD series, where kids sing current pop hits, now has 22 volumes and sells like crazy. Then there's the 20 volumes of the Rockabye Baby series, where songs by Pink Floyd, U2, Queens of the Stone Age and other rockers are turned into lullabies. The Hushabye Baby series offers country songs as lullabies, the Praise Baby Collection has religious-themed lullabies, and so on.

Have you purchased any rock- or contemporary music-sounding CDs for your small kids? Why or why not?

Yes, I admit it. I'm an LL Cool J fan. Have been since the '80s. Anyway, spurred on by the very recent release of his newest disc, Exit 13, I popped in my copy of 1990's Mama Said Knock You Out. It's still way cool! New York's James Todd Smith managed to get street tough without losing sight of hooks, rhythms and rhymes. Aside from the great singles, "Around the Way Girl" and "Mama Said Knock You Out," I totally dig "Milky Cereal." It's suggestive without being completely sexist. To me, LL is one of the few rappers who transcended his sales heyday with integrity and artistry pretty much intact.

P.S. I just bought a copy of Exit 13 so I'll be playing that one soon.

Photo: Mama Said Knock You Out CD cover courtesy of Wikipedia.

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss aren't the only ones to cover the Everly Brothers' '64 hit "Gone Gone Gone." We recently heard a wonderful a capella version by Tonic Sol-Fa on A Prairie Home Companion (it'll be on the group's next CD). Dig back far enough and you can also find versions by the Ventures and Fairport Convention. For a little historical perspective, here's a great clip of the Everlys singing "Gone Gone Gone" back in the day - dig those crazy dancers, man -- and here's the Plant & Krauss version.

Lee Ann Womack's upcoming CD, Call Me Crazy, is another traditional country stunner. Along the lines of 2005's award-winning, critically acclaimed masterpiece There's More Where That Came From, Call Me Crazy teams her with respected producer Tony Brown for a dozen tunes that prove country hasn't completely gone frothy pop. In fact, I'm going to go out on a limb here and proclaim the Texas native the Tammy Wynette of our times. Like the late country queen, Ms. Womack has the ability to make pain, resignation and life-altering decisions sound so wonderfully melodic. She sings with the purity of Dolly Parton and the emotional heft of Tammy Wynette. Call Me Crazy arrives in stores Oct. 21.

One more thing: Dig that so retro cool CD cover!

Call Me Crazy cover courtesy of cduniverse.com.