BATTLE OF THE BANDS: A PREVIEW OF FALL CD RELEASES
By Jim Farber

New York Daily News
Portsmouth Herald News, NH
September 09, 2007 6:00 AM

Sustaining a pop career is like storming Normandy Beach on D-Day – all
by yourself. Every time artists release some music, they’re besieged by
the industry’s equivalent to heavily armed soldiers (i.e. unsympathetic
radio programmers, fickle consumers and cutthroat competing artists),
all firing bullets that could end their career at any moment.

Never is this peril greater than in the fall. That’s when the heaviest
guns come out (i.e., the most starry competition), making the potential
for failure that much more common – and public.

Autumn ’07 has its own bloody battles in store. 50 Cent and Kanye
West will go mano-a-mano on an already loaded day (Sept. 11),
releasing their respective third CDs to create a punishing game
of compare-and-contrast. Alicia Keys will face the daunting task
of topping her excellent first two CDs with a third (out Oct. 23),
while Nicole Scherzinger kicks off a potentially ruinous trend for
the culture at large by becoming the first Pussycat Doll to purr out
a solo CD.

Another nail-biting scenario involves James Blunt, who’ll issue his
make-or-break followup to his zillion-selling wimp-a-thon, "Back to
Bedlam" (which spawned the worldwide terror "You’re Beautiful"). At the
same time, stars who’ve been delinquent on the scene for a dangerous
spell (from Seal to Annie Lennox to Joni Mitchell) will test the
waters with their first works in eons.

Who will survive this fray no one can say. But we can offer a guide
to who’s engaged in the fight, divided by plot.

Members of bands trying to show they can make it on their own
will. i. am "Songs About Girls," Sept. 25. The leader of the Black
Eyed Peas, and a prolific producer in his own right, puts out his
first album as a solo artiste.

Pat Monahan "Last of Seven," Sept. 18. The debut from the ruggedly
handsome singer of Train.

Nicole Scherzinger "Her Name Is Nicole," Oct. 16. The solo debut from
the only Pussycat Doll who can kinda sing.

Serj Tankian "Elect the Dead," Oct. 23. The singer for System of
a Down with his first lone flight. Let’s hope all the songs aren’t
about his favorite subject: the persecution of Armenians.

Jordin Sparks. November. Now standing apart from her "American Idol"
competition, this year’s winner will issue her risky debut. She better
hope it does better than Taylor Hicks’ first, or Katharine McPhee’s
for that matter.

Comebacks from the edge

Ja Rule "The Mirror," Sept. 25. The most vilified man in rap tries
to regain his good name with his first CD in three years.

Joni Mitchell "Shine," Sept. 25. The legend’s first album of new
material in nine years appears on the Starbucks label, a la Paul
McCartney’s latest.

Seal "System," Sept 25. The husky-voiced singer took time away from
model-wife Heidi Klum just long enough to put out his first work in
four years.

Chaka Khan "Funk This," Sept. 25. The deep-soul diva’s first album
in 10 years features production from Jam and Lewis, and guest spots
for Mary J. Blige and Michael McDonald.

John Fogerty "Revival," Oct. 2. The ex-leader of Creedence Clearwater
Revival puts out his first solo album in four years, released on the
label he famously battled for decades, Fantasy.

Annie Lennox "Songs of Mass Destruction," Oct. 2. The great
chanteuse’s first solo album in half a decade – and only her fourth
overall. Features guest shots from a full kick-line of pop women,
including Madonna, Dido, Bonnie Raitt, Pink, Fergie and KT Tunstall.

Kid Rock "Rock and Roll Jesus," Oct. 9. The self-declared white-trash
rap-rocker’s first CD of new material in four years.

Backstreet Boys ("Unbreakable") Oct. 30. The former boy band’s first
release in three years – and their only one without the manliest
member, Kevin Richardson.

Q-Tip "The Renaissance," Dec. 18. The endlessly delayed second solo
album from the seminal and supertalented New York rapper finally
(!) arrives.

It’s Q’s first work in eight years.

Superstars struggling to stay on top

Kenny Chesney "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates," Sept.

11. His second post-Renee Zellweger CD.

50 Cent "Curtis," Sept. 11. Fitty’s third official CD, and his first
in three years. So far his singles haven’t clicked, so the heat is on.

Kanye West "Graduation," Sept. 11. The finale in the Chicago rapper’s
trilogy of school-themed CDs.

Babyface "Play-list," Sept. 18. An all-covers album from mainstream
R&B’s swankiest singer.

Gloria Estefan "90 Millas," Sept. 18. Spanish-language odes to her
native Cuba, featuring Latin guests like Santana, Jose Feliciano,
Johnny Pacheco and more.

Barry Manilow "The Greatest Songs of the ’70s," Sept.

18. The third in Manilow’s series of hit CDs, which previously covered
songs of the ’50s and ’60s. Also known as "Barry Murders Yet Another
Decade’s Hits."

Foo Fighters "Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace," Sept 25. Back to
hard rock from the guys who recently went (sorta) acoustic.

Bruce Springsteen "Magic," Oct. 2. The first album with Bruce and his
E Street band since their 9/11-themed work, "The Rising," five years
ago. A return to what manager Jon Landau calls "high-energy rock."

Santana "Ultimate Santana," Oct. 16. A hits disk featuring three new
songs that pair the guitar ace with Shakira, Lil Wayne and Nickelback’s
Chad Kroeger, respectively.

Ashanti "The Declaration," Oct. 23. The thin-voiced beauty’s third
release.

Alicia Keys "As I Am," Oct. 23. The superstar’s latest studio album
is also her first in four years.

Up-and-comers who’ve got dibs on a breakout

Kenna "Make Sure They See My Face," Sept. 11. Produced by Chad Hugo
of the Neptunes. Kenna opened the NewJersey Live Earth show, giving
him instant exposure to billions. Or at least multi-millions.

Eskimo Joe "Black Fingernails, Red Wine," Sept. 25.

Australia’s No. 1 band tries to become the next Men at Work.

Iron and Wine "The Shepherd’s Dog," Sept. 25.

Following their breakout on the hit soundtrack to "Garden State,"
these guys could be the next indie-pop band to hit big, a la Arcade
Fire, Spoon and The Shins.

J. Holiday "Back of My ‘Lac," Oct. 2. A new R&B singer who already
has a hot hit single with "Bed."

Potential one-hit-wonders going for number two

James Blunt "All the Lost Souls," Sept 18. The first single is titled
"1973," which says a lot about the company, and era, Blunt wants
to keep.

Chamillionaire "Ultimate Victory," Sept. 18. Features no N, B or P
words. What fun could that be?

Keyshia Cole "Just Like You," Sept 18. The best breakout R&B singer
in recent years tries to live up to her terrific debut.

KT Tunstall "Drastic Fantastic," Sept. 18. The Scottish singer gets
rockier this time.

Rick Ross "Miami Taking Over," Sept. 25. The hit Florida rapper,
back for more.

Chris Brown "Exclusive," Oct. 30. The followup from R&B’s
most-scream-inducing teen dream.

Lupe Fiasco "The Cool," Oct. 30. An encore from the innovative rapper.

Carrie Underwood (Title still to come) Oct. 30. The sophomore work
from the biggest country "American Idol." Her debut sold more than
5 million copies.

Amy Winehouse "Frank," Nov. 13. An unearthed, earlier CD that’s coming
out now to exploit her fame.

Cult hipsters who preach to the converted and do what they want

Chris and Rich Robinson "Brothers of a Feather," Sept.

4. A collaboration between the sibling front men of the Black Crowes.

Joe Henry "Civilians," Sept. 11. The brilliant latest CD from one of
the world’s most respected producers.

Hot Hot Heat "Happines Ltd.," Sept 11 Doyle Bramhall "Is It News," Sept
18. The ace second guitarist in Eric Clapton’s band puts out a solo CD.

Mark Knopfler "Kill to Get Crimson," Sept. 18.

Angie Stone "The Art of Love and War," Sept. 18. The excellent R&B
singer (and ex-girlfriend of D’Angelo) returns on the revived, and
revered, Stax Records.

Twista "Adrenaline Rush 2007," Sept. 18. The fastest rapper on the
planet returns.

Devendra Banhart "Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon," Sept. 25. The
king of freak folk hopes to retain his quirky crown.

Steve Earle "Washington Square Serenade," Sept. 25. An ode to the city,
with a political twist, no doubt.

Herbie Hancock’s tribute to Joni Mitchell "River/The Joni Letters,"
Sept. 25. Features Mitchell herself, Leonard Cohen, Corrine Bailey
Rae and Tina Turner covering the Mitchell cannon.

P.J. Harvey "Wolves," Sept. 25. The avant-gardist’s first in three
years.

"Goin’ Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino," Sept. 25.

Features Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Robert Plant, Tom Petty, Norah
Jones and Willie Nelson on the legend’s classics.

Wayne Wonder "Foreva," Sept. 25. The Caribbean star returns.

Bettye Lavette "Scene of the Crime," Sept. 25. While her fantastic
comeback CD matched the soul great to songs written by smart women,
this time she takes on pieces penned by men, from John Hiatt to
Elton John.

Queen Latifah "Trav’lin Light," Sept. 25. Not rap.

It’s jazz standards, like the last one.

Deborah Harry "Necessary Evil," Sept. 25. The ex-Blondie’s first solo
album in 14 (!) years.

David Banner "Greatest Story Ever Told," Oct. 9. The new one from the
respected Southern rapper who just bolted from the "Rock the Bells"
tour without explanation.

Dan Wilson "Free Life," Oct. 16. The former leader of the criminally
underrated band Semisonic, and a writer of the Dixie Chicks’ recent
hits, puts out his solo debut.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss "Raising Sand," Oct. 23. The former
Led Zeppelin singer and the country mainstay form a unique tete-a-tete.

Dave Gahan "Hourglass," Oct. 23. The second solo album from the bosso
profundo singer of Depeche Mode.

Sex Pistols "Never Mind the Bollocks," Oct. 23. A commemorative
package celebrating 30 years since the seminal punk album appalled
the world. What makes it commemorative? Does it come with its own
vintage syringe?

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress