Welcome to a mighty big new release week. How big, you ask? Well, instead of albums coming out this week on Tuesday, they’re all being released on Monday. You can chalk this development up to the new album by the biggest female artist in history. Yep, Madonna’s back with a new album called MDNA. There’s been a flurry of Madge-related activity over the past six weeks, from the Super Bowl performance to the two (relatively unappealing) singles to snarky comments made to the press by Madonna regarding artists like Lady GaGa. MDNA is the first album of Madonna’s career to be released outside of the Warner Brothers family, and I’m sure there’s quite a bit riding on this.
Madonna’s not the only ‘80s legend releasing an album today. Lionel Richie has gone country, y’all! His new album,Tuskegee, is a homage to his Southern roots. He’s remaking some of his biggest hits with a lineup that includes Shania Twain, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Willie Nelson, to name a few. Lionel is joined on the covers record train by Macy Gray. Nope, the “I Try” singer and Grammy winner isn’t making a country album (and what kind of a trainwreck would that be?) but she is releasing an album with some very interesting choices in material. Covered features Macy tackling hits by everyone from Radiohead and The Arcade Fire to Kanye West.
Madge, Macy and Lionel are just the tip of the iceberg. The new albums are flying fast and furious, and there’s a good chance that all three of the aforementioned artists will lose out on the coveted #1 Billboard spot to a woman who’s extremely familiar with that position-Katy Perry. A reissue of the multi-platinum Teenage Dream, subtitled The Complete Confection, includes several new tracks, including the #1 hit “Part Of Me.” The original Teenage Dream album spawned five chart-toppers on it’s own, tying a record set by Michael Jackson in the late Eighties.
The All-American Rejects scored a handful of hits in the latter part of the previous decade. After a four-year layoff, Tyson Ritter and company have returned with a new album called Kids In The Street. They’re joined on the release schedule by “Like a G6” singer Dev (whose debut album features a guest spot from Enrique Iglesias,) and reality show staple/ridiculously creepy gay dude Clay Aiken. His new album, Steadfast, appears to be one of those standards-type albums. In other words—yawn.
There are also a ton of diverse releases on the rock tip this week, from the latest by singer/songwriter/troubadour Justin Townes Earle to a new one from prog faves The Mars Volta. Like a little weird electro-type stuff with your metal? Then you might dig the new one from Ministry. More of a rootsy kinda guy or gal? The new one from Joan Osborne might be a worthwhile purchase for you. Still playing your Jam records from the Eighties? There’s a new one from that band’s lead vocalist/main songwriter Paul Weller, and on the “they’re still around?” tip, you’ve got new albums from Shinedown (I guess I shouldn’t be surprised they’re still around; I heard “Second Chance” on the radio this morning) and The Used (seriously, I’m surprised these guys have lasted as long as they have-hell, who’d have thought their pop culture moment in the sun would last longer than The Osbournes (who gave singer Bert McCracken his most major dalliance with success.)
A regular viewer of this column? You know the deal. Check out Pause and Play for a complete listing of this week’s releases!
5 comments
barb says:
Mar 26, 2012
I think you should not be writing articles about music unless you have an appreciation for “all” types of musuc, whether they are to your taste or not. Catty remarks do not make your article better, they just show your immaturity.
Drew says:
Mar 26, 2012
Barb is right. I mean, how DARE you insert your own commentary into what clearly is supposed to be a bare-bones list of new releases? Come on, it’s not like we could go to Pause and Play or Amazon for that.
And while we’re airing grievances, you have some balls writing about music knowing damn well that you don’t love every single artist that’s ever existed in the history of the medium. As Barb has so accurately pointed out, that is the only criteria that would qualify you to write about it; I mean, how would music journalism ever be exciting if you were ever skeptical about something?
Barb, I applaud your courageous comment, and I offer you a few mini-reviews that should be a little more up your alley than the ones this flippant cad has to offer:
LMFAO, “Sorry For Party Rocking”: This is an album of music, made by a couple of guys. A+
Lou Reed, “Metal Machine Music”: I appreciate all types of music, so I applaud this album and will be dancing with my daughter to it at her wedding. A+
Bruce Springsteen, “Human Touch”: This is an album by a guy who often makes musical records! A+
Kid Rock, “Born Free”: At no point is this record anything less than a collection of music notes and phrases. A+
See, Blerd? You can write engaging music criticism without actually criticizing music, you incorrigible cynic. For daring to express your opinion on a website that clearly has nothing to do with the expression of opinions, YOU, unlike Misters Rock, Springsteen, Reed, and FAO, receive an F. Tsk, tsk.
blerd says:
Mar 26, 2012
There needs to be a “like” button on comments.
Gonzo says:
Mar 28, 2012
I frankly am disgusted that anyone would have the audacity to write anything that isn’t 100% completely objective. This is the Internet, Mr. “Blerd” (if that is even your real name). Maybe you should look around the rest of the web. It’s full of totally objective and unbiased content. I don’t know where you get the nerve – or think you have the right – to be so catty. Just the facts, ma’am. Leave the opinions to Siskel and Ebert.
Gonzo says:
Mar 28, 2012
I anxiously await the launch of http://www.popbarb.com