This is one of those “just in case you’ve been living under a rock…” type situations. Of course you know that Justin Timberlake‘s The 20/20 Experience comes out today. How could you not? For the past month or so, the guy’s been everywhere. The Grammys, Saturday Night Live, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, announcing a tour with Jay-Z. The promotional machine has been on at full blast, and now, it’s show and prove time. Is the record good? (you can read our review of it a little later today.) Will it sell? (all indications point to a resounding “yes.”)
JT doesn’t have the only new album hitting stores today, though. You might have missed our review of Clutch‘s new album, Earth Rocker, when it was published last week (which is why we’ve helpfully linked to it here.) The veteran rockers never disappoint, and those of you who are looking for something a little less light in the loafers than Justin Timberlake will find much to enjoy here (and that’s not an insult to people who like music that’s light in the loafers, as I am quite fond of Mr. Timberlake.)
If you were reading the music press back in the early or mid Nineties, you undoubtedly heard a lot about Suede. The British group came out around the same time as Blur did (and predated Oasis by a year or two,) so it can be argued that they kicked off the new “Britpop” movement. For a brief moment, Suede was the Alpha band. Their debut tore up the UK charts, although it didn’t make as much of an impact Stateside. Led by singer Brett Anderson and guitarist Bernard Butler, Suede continued to score hits in their native land (while being utterly ignored in the U.S.) for a decade. Bloodsports is their first album in over ten years, and has widely been touted as a return to form.
Speaking of the ’90s, Brian McKnight has a new album out. Some folks may remember him for a passel of hits including “One Last Cry,” “Anytime” and “Back at One.” Those ballads pegged him as sort of a modern-day Lionel Richie. Others may remember McKnight as an early benefactor of one Justin Timberlake. He produced tracks on both ‘Nsync’s last album, Celebrity, and Justin’s solo debut, Justified. McKnight’s latest joint is called More Than Words, and somewhat thankfully, it doesn’t include that track he released on the internet last year in which he promises to “show you how your pussy works.” Just for the record, he wasn’t talking about a housecat.
Want a full list of this week’s new releases? Check out the brand new and redesigned Pause and Play.