As you might expect, it's slim pickings for new music the week of Christmas. Top pick amongst cool people seems to be Ryan Adams new 29 album. It's noteworthy as his third full fledged new album release of 2005, though I can't speak to the quality of any of it.
Mary J Blige is back with The Breakthrough, said to represent a more mature outlook, and "coming from a better place" as one reviewer says it.
Also, Jamie Foxx has a new album this week called Unpredictable. He certainly did good work playing Ray Charles, but I don't know that this means he has anything at all to say as a songwriter or singer in his own right. I'm pretty skeptical, but this album is currently #8 at Amazon.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Ryan Adams 29 Lost Highway
Alternative Country, Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Mary J. Blige The Breakthrough Geffen
Contemporary R&B, Urban
Jamie Foxx Unpredictable J-Records
Contemporary R&B, Urban
The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: The Final Chapter Bad Boy
Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap, Hip-Hop, Pop-Rap
Eugene Corporon Poetics Klavier
Modern Orchestral Music
Friedrich Gulda Beethoven: The Complete Piano Sonatas Brilliant Classics
Romantic Keyboard Music
Jorg-Hannes Hahn Saint-Saens: Oratorio de Noel, Op. 12; Mass, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD] Cantate
Post-Romantic Choral Music
Tony Hussle Sexy Freaky Electric Reprise
Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B
The Isley Brothers Baby Makin' Music Island
Contemporary R&B, Urban
Keystone Wind Ensemble William Schuman: George Washington Bridge; American Hymn; Fanfare for a Great Occasion; etc. Klavier
Modern Band Music
Original Score Casanova Hollywood
Film Music, Original Score, Soundtracks
Original Soundtrack Match Point Milan
Soundtracks, Film Music, Opera, Classical
John Oszajca First Sign of Anything Record Collection
Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Phish Live at Madison Square Garden New Year's Eve 1995 Rhino
Jam Bands, American Trad Rock
Various Artists Hidden Beach Recordings: Unwrapped, Vol. 4 Sony
Smooth Jazz
Bukka White/Big Joe Williams Delta Blues Masters Fuel 2000
Country Blues, Delta Blues, Acoustic Blues
Article comments
1 - George Dionne
Does any believe this is the last time Diddy is going to exlpoit what little material is left of Biggie?
Phish would be my pick of the week. I'm not really into them, but the 3 CD set looks like a collector's dream.
Please stay away from the Jamie Foxx CD. I think he's gotten enough praise and awards.
2 - Patrice
Justin Guarini has just produced and independently released a fantastic new smooth Jazz cd called "Stranger Things Have Happened"
This new jazz cd is completely different from anything heard on A.I or expected to hear from Justin. Justin breaths life into these songs, and performs them with subtlety, elegance, passion, and love. This is the music Justin was born to sing and he sings every one from the heart.
Every song is a little jewel on this cd and everyone who has heard it loves it!
Justin has created this cd with some of the most talented industrywide respected Jazz musicians in the country . The whole cd is polished, professional and first class all the way.
To hear samples from "Stranger Things Have Happened" and to purchase the cd go to www.justinguarini.com.
You really have to hear the whole cd. Its terrific!