As expected, it's another big week of new album releases here at the mothership, as the big guns continue to be rolled out for the holiday buying season.
Leading the way, we have the new one from Beyonce, who introduces a new alter ego for her new double disc I Am...Sasha Fierce. Dividing the discs between an "I Am" side (that features mainly ballads), and a "Sasha Fierce" side (where she takes on the edgier, uptempo stuff), Beyonce continues to distinguish herself as a singer who can stand apart from the Britneys of the world. What we'd really like to see though is something that challenges the diva a bit more musically. Something along the lines of Christina Aguilera perhaps?
Belle & Sebastian's new one isn't really that new. The BBC Sessions brings together previously unreleased sessions that Belle & Sebastian did for the BBC from 1996 to 2001, including a complete live show on the deluxe version. Nickelback's latest CD Dark Horse should be ringing plenty of cash registers this season, as should the debut album from American Idol David Cook.
Jason Mraz is joined by British soul man James Morrison and Colbie Caillat on his first album of new material in three years, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. The deluxe edition boasts 2 CDs and a DVD. The old school of Rawk n' freaking Roll is represented on Sammy Hagar's new disc Cosmic Universal Fashion. Meanwhile, metalheads have The New Game from Mudvayne to chew on.
With so much great stuff to talk about, we're breaking tradition at NAR and inviting not one, not two, but three of our esteemed contributors to make picks this week. That's right, we're talking three for the price of one here.
Mark Saleski will be along shortly to talk about Tuatara, as will Josh Hathaway to heap fanboy praise upon Mark Lanegan. But first, Pico is here to reveal what Paul McCartney does when he moonlights away from his day job as a beloved ex-Beatle and all around rock and roll institution. Take it away, Pico...
Article comments
1 - Pico
The Femi Kuti and Kieran Hebden/Steve Reid are on my list for this week.
2 - El Bicho
"Leading the way..."
Not at my Hive.
3 - Glen Boyd
It's not on my must buy list either Bicho. But ya' gotta admit she's pleasing to the eye anyway...
-Glen
4 - Jordan "Boss" Richardson
Chad Kroeger? Yeah, she's pretty hot.
5 - Jordan "Boss" Richardson
In all seriousness, Beyonce is very talented vocally. She's got a better voice than most pop singers out today, including Christina. "Listen," from the Dreamgirls soundtrack, gives me chills every time I hear it.
6 - Glen Boyd
There was this thing she did with Prince on one of those awards shows a few years back (Grammys or AMAs, can't remember which), and yeah, I remember she blew some doors down. I'm not real big on her recorded stuff though. Most of it reminds me of stuff that was done ten years ago by TLC.
-Glen
7 - Jordan "Boss" Richardson
Eh, I quite like Dangerously in Love. Damn solid album. "Speechless," "Crazy in Love," and "Naughty Girl" were all great tunes. B-Day wasn't a very good album though.
8 - Mark Saleski
glen, that was Prince and Beyonce doing "Purple Rain"...and yeah, it was pretty hot. might have been at the grammies.
9 - Josh Hathaway
Beyonce should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law for what she did to "At Last." That song was recorded to perfection once, and should never be recorded again. It's criminal.
10 - Mark Saleski
oh fooey. i particularly enjoyed the ventriloquist who did "At Last" on america's got talent.
so there!
;-)