Sunday April 16th, 2006
New CD's this past week:
- Carol Riddick - Moments like this
Music news headlines this week:
Rowland Wrestles With Relationships On New
Album
Destiny's Child principal Kelly Rowland is putting the finishing touches
on her second solo set, "My Story: Kelly Rowland," which will arrive July
11 via Columbia/Sony Urban Music. The singer previewed cuts from the album
for members of the media last week.
Singer/songwriter Tank wrote and produced several tracks and is featured
on "The Show," while guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Shawnna and Remy
Ma are still in the works. Rowland is also considering adding Houston
rappers to the mix.
Rowland says the upcoming album is more personal than her 2002 solo debut
"Simply Deep," which bowed at No. 12 on The Billboard 200 and has sold
nearly 600,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen
SoundScan.
"This album is very different from the last record. It was so alternative
and this record is urban," says Rowland. "I wanted to go back to my roots
because that's where I started and that's what feels natural to me."
Many of the tracks are relationship-driven, something Rowland says she is
not hesitant about discussing. "I just went in the studio and just did me,
because I think that's when you get your best product," she says. "That's
when it's just natural. It just flew out of my mouth and came out in
lyrics [and] I had great writers involved."
Janet Tunes Leaked
That new Janet Jackson music making the rounds on the Internet is
apparently not as new as you might think.
The pop superstar, who is working on a new album, says someone has leaked
songs she recorded at least two years ago when working with producer Rich
Harrison. At least one song has already made the rounds, titled "Put It On
Me."
"A couple of years ago I recorded some tracks with Rich Harrison. But none
of that music will appear on my new album," Jackson said in a statement
released to The Associated Press. "I have a tight rein on all of the music
that has been recorded."
As previously reported, Jackson's new album, tentatively titled "20 Years
Old," is expected to be released later this year via Virgin.
Lyfe Jennings Rises With Sophomore CD
R&B crooner Lyfe Jennings has set an August release date for his sophomore
album, "The Phoenix" (Columbia/Sony Urban Music). The inmate-turned-artist
penned all the tracks on the album, as with his 2004 debut effort "Lyfe
268-192." A first single is expected to be released next month.
The album's title refers to the mythical Phoenix rising from the ashes,
something Jennings, who spent 10 years in prison for arson, felt many
people could relate to. "I just picked up where I left off and told a
story," he says. "I think that's what happens to everybody. You get stuck
in the ashes and you come through. This is just another situation in my
life where I came through the fire."
While much of the album touches on relationships, the cut "S.E.X.,"
featuring Lyfe's protégé LaLa tackles the topic of young female
maturation. "I've wanted to write this song for a long time," says Lyfe.
"[It's about girls] being confused by all the sudden attention when they
start developing physically but not mentally."
Also notable is a new version of slain rapper Tupac Shakur's anthem "Keep
Ya Head Up," which Jennings hopes will appeal to both rap and R&B fans.
Similar to "Lyfe 268-192" (the title of which referred to his prison
number), many of the tracks on the new offering utilize live
instrumentation, including a 20-piece orchestra.
Jennings' debut peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart and No. 39 on The Billboard 200. It has sold nearly 1 million copies
in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Lead single "Must Be
Nice," reached No. 5 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Prince Says No To “America Idol”
Though Prince was indeed in negotiations with the producers of American
Idol about a possible appearance, the Purple One won't be making a cameo
on the smash Fox competition. The artist, whose 3121 album debuted in the
Number One slot on the Billboard 200, couldn't come to an agreement with
executive producer Nigel Lythgoe about his participation on the show,
according to imdb.com.
Asked about the possibility of Prince coaching the vocal hopefuls and then
performing on the stage of L.A.'s Kodak Theater, Lythgoe said: "I don't
think so. He did not want to talk with the kids and did not have the
time."
Anita Baker Lining Up A Few Summer Shows
Vocalist Anita Baker is currently planning a few concert performances for
this summer that will be announced shortly. The artist, who made her
return to the market with My Everything in 2004 after a 10-year hiatus,
will probably only perform in a handful of markets, according to
SmoothJazzVibes.com. The shows will be the first for Baker since her brief
but acclaimed road trek with Babyface in June of 2005.
My Everything was issued in September 2004 on the Blue Note label, and to
date has been certified gold for sales of more than 500,000. Her previous
album, 1994's Rhythm Of Love, sold more than 2 million copies.
Baker has been reluctant to do extensive road trips since she's busy
raising her two sons, Walter Jr. and Eddie Bridgforth.
A new album from the artist is also in the works.