A couple of titles that have had their release dates shuffled around more than a deck of cards finally see the light today, led by Cee-Lo Green’s “The Lady Killa”. The long-awaited third solo effort from the Goodie Mob/Gnarls Barkley member has received some pretty solid reviews so far. If it’s anything like first single “Fuck You” or his cover of Band of Horses’ “No One’s Gonna Love You”, then I’m all over this one. Cee-Lo hasn’t disappointed me yet.
Kid Cudi’s had quite an eventful year or so since the release of his gold debut “Man on the Moon: End of Days”. There was his assault of a fan that led to him being dropped from the Lady GaGa tour. There was his arrest on assault and drug possession charges shortly after that. He also came under fire for making some supremely asshole-ish comments in a magazine interview (what do you expect? He’s a Kanye protege). While I may not be as sold on Cudi as Cudi himself seems to be, “Man on the Moon 2: Mr. Rager” will be finding a home in my collection as well.
Cee-Lo, Kid Cudi and Susan Boyle: which doesn’t belong? Some of you may go with Cudi, seeing as Cee-Lo and SuBo could both probably eat him out of house and home, but that’s not the direction I was going in. The British reality show champ unexpectedly turned out one of last year’s biggest selling albums, and with her sophomore effort “The Gift” (which mixes holiday fare with a few interesting covers), folks are hoping lightning strikes twice. If you’re over 45, this may be the only album you buy this week. Hell, it may be the only album you buy this YEAR!
But wait! There’s more!
Hip-hop/soul duo Floetry always came across as kinda awkward to me. Their mixture of singing and rapping didn’t always mesh, so maybe it’s best that the individual members went their separate ways. While singer Marsha Ambrosius has been making the most noise with her single “Hope She Cheats on You (with a Basketball Player)”, “floacist” Natalie Stewart is striking first on the solo album tip. Also in stores today: “Soul Bossa Nostra”, the new album that pairs Quincy Jones with an unfortunate roster of modern talent (I’m going to buy this because…hey, the man produced “Off the Wall” and “Thriller”, but I’m already prepared to be disappointed). There’s a new album by Alter Bridge, which doesn’t interest me except for wondering if Scott Stapp’s still such an asshole that his bandmates left him AGAIN. Um, what else? A new “Now That’s What I Call Music” album (#36, for those keeping score), an Aaron Neville gospel set (produced by Joe Henry), new sets from Cassandra Wilson and Twista, and on the reissue tip: a deluxe version of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ “Damn the Torpedoes” as well as a hits set from Bon Jovi.
Pause and Play is the place to go for a complete list of new releases. Make sure you’re checking it out!