FFWD Weekly
Copyright © 1998 All Rights Reserved.
| NEW MUSIC GUIDE Me-oh-my what a difference a year can make. Last October, as we headed into the end of 1997, the music industry was already in hibernation, having given up on a calendar that had been none to kind too its bottom line, beating the tar out of the tried and true moneymakers and not elevating anyone new to save the day. Hence the abundance - even more than usual - of greatest hits packages and live albums pushing the new releases off the shelves and into the early months of '98. Not so this year. For whatever reason - a renewed faith in the music-buying public, stubbornness, insanity - the industry has pulled a 180 and is getting aggressive as the year comes to a close. True, there are still innumerable best-ofs and re-issues ready to be pressed and sent to the Christmas consumer, but there are also some big names set to deliver new material in the upcoming months. Once again, Fast Forward offers a list of what you can expect to hear coming down the pipes before we party like it's 1999. Please keep in mind that nothing is set in stone and everything, including names of albums and street dates for releases, is subject to change. POPULAR MUSIC Look no further than within our borders for the most eagerly anticipated albums of not only the upcoming months but the entire year. Two of Canada's biggest exports are ready to storm the charts and airwaves with albums of new material - Alanis Morissette and Bryan Adams. With the first single, "Thank U," already in heavy (bordering on nauseating) rotation on radio and video, Alanis looks set to repeat the success she had with her last album, Jagged Little Pill. Her new CD, Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, is scheduled to hit the shelves on November 3. Adams, with his new album, On a Day Like Today, edges Morissette out by a week, releasing his latest on October 27. Both recordings should still be at the top of wish lists at this same time next year. Two more Canucks, whose fortunes, by comparison, are on the downslope, attempt to prolong their careers with new efforts in '98: Tom Cochrane, forever in the shadow of Bryan Adams, and Corey Hart, forever at the mercy of an '80s-teen-heartthrob past, both throw new albums out and hope their luck improves. Hart's is due at the end of this month, and Cochrane's, called X Ray Sierra, comes at the beginning of next. On the international front, the prodigal sons of Athens, GA have what should be the next big release of October. A trimmed-down R.E.M. - minus long-time drummer Bill Berry -release a new studio album titled Up. The disc, which from early reports is said to feature more experimentation from the band, will be available in a regular version, and a limited edition pressing (2,000 copies in Canada, at a cost upwards of $40) that includes impressive packaging and a 48-page spiral-bound book. Both versions are out on October 27. Other October titles to be aware of include: Merril Bainbridge's latest, Between the Days; the Pleasantville Soundtrack featuring music from Fiona Apple; a new Bruce Hornsby; the infamous live Bob Dylan Bootleg album; an Aerosmith double live collection called A Little South of Sanity; a CD from ex-Eurythmicicist Dave Stewart; a Squirrel Nut Zippers Christmas disc; a two-CD Dire Straits retrospective; a new Tuck and Patti; an album from the band New Radicals; and art rock by way of a double Dream Theatre effort. And, of course, what would the Halloween season be without a blizzard of Oz? The original Black Sabbath lineup - including Mr. Osbourne - reunite for one last bite at the bat. Two weird ones to watch out for before the end of the month are: the soundtrack to Sabrina the Teenage Witch, featuring the Spice Girls, Matthew Sweet, Aqua, Backstreet Boys, Ben Folds Five and more; and a new CD from Sir George Martin that includes new arrangements of Beatles songs featuring Celine Dion (who also has a Christmas album scheduled for release), Phil Collins, Sean Connery (?), Robin Williams (??) and Goldie Hawn (???). Continuing on the Fab Four theme, before the new year there's a Paul McCartney unplugged bootleg, as well as an album from his electronica alter-ego The Fireman, a posthumous release from his wife, Linda McCartney, reissues of John Lennon material (including a box set), and a 30th anniversary edition of the Beatles classic, White Album. (On a saucier note, The Simpsons bounce back from their "Do the Bartman" fiasco and release a new disc called The Yellow Album.) The remainder of the crop for November and December, is well populated with previously released material, with a few notable exceptions. The fresh-faced Jewel tries to put her publishing career behind her and avoid the sophomore jinx with a new album entitled Spirit, which should be in stores on November 17. There's also a new one from Metallica, who seem to be releasing an album every 11 minutes. Other new material comes by way of Phish, The Black Crowes, Vangelis, Stina Nordenstam, James Brown, Midnight Oil, and three real divas, country originals Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris in their Trio incarnation. Also on the country front, the new keep falling and the old guard keep getting stronger and stronger. New ones from Don Williams and Waylon Jennings are in the can (Williams's latest tour will bring him to Calgary in the middle of November), and might give artists like Confederate Railroad, Travis Tritt, Deana Carter, talented but underrated Canadian act Prairie Oyster, and (snicker, snicker) Billy Ray Cyrus reason to look over their shoulders. Also in November, a different approach to the marketing of movie soundtracks comes by way of three CDs for the new animated Dreamworks film, The Prince of Egypt. There's the original score, which features a duet between Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey (not-so coincidentally, both superstars also have greatest hits albums due out around the same time), an inspirational CD with gospel and Christian superstars, and a Nashville recording with artists like Vince Gill and Clint Black. The remainder of the November popular music schedule is highlighted by: an album from actor Joe Pesci available in a clean or explicit version; a Big Head Todd live CD; those wonderful moppets Hanson who also release a live album; another Bruce Springsteen box set; the eagerly anticipated Garth Brooks concert recording; three CDs of Rush performances; an eight-CD Queen collection; one more Rolling Stones live effort (or lack thereof); and greatest hits albums from George Michaels, Mötley Crüe, and U2, who release a single best-of package for the years 1980 to 1990, and a limited edition two-disc version which includes a bonus CD of B-sides and rarities. A new version of a song intended for the Joshua Tree album, "Sweetest Thing," will be released as a single to promote the album, which is being billed as volume number one of an unspecified series of U2 hits albums. ALTERNATIVE Hole, The Smashing Pumpkins and Marilyn Manson, may already own the few spots reserved for alternative acts at the top of the charts, but that doesn't mean there aren't several artists waiting in the wings to knock them off with some new releases of their own. And even if they won't make as big a splash as the hallowed three, that doesn't mean they're not worth keeping an eye out for. Take, for example, the new Mercury Rev album Deserter's Songs. It is perhaps the most stunningly original work released in the past few years, and should capture every it ear touches, however few they may be. Alt rock mainstays Buffalo Tom have also just sent to stores another solid, melody-packed offering by way of their latest disc Smitten. The roots-driven band continue to deliver memorable, accessible songs that inexplicably miss the mainstream's gaze. Your friend and mine Jonathan Richman also has a new album (produced by Ric Ocasek), and the equally eccentric Robyn Hitchcock releases the soundtrack from the Jonathan Demme film about the singing Englishman called Storefront Hitchcock. Other October albums that should be worth a listen include: the new Jon Spencer Blues Explosion album, Acme; the second release from eclectic pop darlings eels, called Electro-Shock Blues; a major label reissue of the previously indie Firewater album, The Ponzi Scheme (the band, which features ex Cop Shoot Cop members, was recently in town opening for Jesus Lizard); They Might Be Giants's Severe Tire Damage; collaborations between Jad Fair and Yo La Tengo, and Desmond Dekker and The Specials; remix albums featuring the music of Skinny Puppy and High Llamas; concert recordings by Spiritualized and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones; Stereolab, The Orb, Morrissey, Dodgy, Millencolin, The Style Council and (their frontman Paul Weller), all release greatest hits or rarities packages; and there's new material from Love and Rockets, The Flat Duo Jets, Candyskins, Combustible Edison, Refused, Union 13, Meat Beat Manifesto, Buck-O-Nine, Reel Big Fish, Bill Laswell, Babe the Blue Ox, Audioweb, Nada Surf, Silver Jews, ex-Waterboy Mike Scott, and The Beautiful South. The first week in November provides the biggest fall release from the alternative roster: the new album by Beck. Mutations - considered by the artist not to be the official follow-up to his huge-selling Odelay, but a "parenthetical work" - is a less sample-driven album of material written over the past few years. The disc is in stores on November 3. More anticipated November discs come from: The Cardigans, who have a new one titled Gran Turismo set for release on the same day as Beck's; marvelous Cincinnati sons of bitches Afghan Whigs; snotty hip hop punkers Bloodhound Gang (album title - Hooray for Boobies); Cal core favorites The Offspring; folk oddity Vic Chesnutt; and Dr. Israel (featuring Rancid), who also shows up on the new album from Trumystic Sound System. Other releases include: new ones from Ash, MxPx, Placebo, Dickies, Sublime, and Sugar Ray; live ones from Pearl Jam, Portishead, and Wayne Kramer; and rarities collections from The Flaming Lips, and Oasis. Also watch for a reissue of the Beastie Boys seminal album Paul's Boutique which has been enhanced, and a four-CD collection of recordings XTC made for the BBC called Transistor Blast (fans will have to make do with this collection while they wait for new recordings from XTC due early next year). URBAN, DANCE AND REGGAE Nowhere is the aggressiveness of the music industry for the fall season more apparent than in the urban market. The new release schedule for the upcoming months reads like the who's who of the hip hop, soul, dance and reggae worlds. Just out of the gates is Lauryn Hill from The Fugees, whose solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is already being hailed as a classic and certainly one of the best hip hop albums in recent memory. Hill has made it difficult for Fugee mate Pras, who also releases a solo album this month called Ghetto Superstar. We'll see who wears the talent in that band. Two of rap's once-weres give it another go as the millennium draws to a close. Vanilla Ice and Maestro (Formerly Maestro Fresh Wes), look to revive their stalled careers with the new albums Hard To Swallow and Built to Last, respectively. Some virtual sure-things finish a busy month including: PM Dawn, who releases a new CD on October 27 called Dear Christian I'm So Very Sorry For Bringing You Here, Love Dad; Brand Nubian; an album from those weed-lovin' Cypress Hill freaks; a solo effort from Bizzy Bone, of Bone Thugs N Harmony fame (it precedes a new Bone Thugs N Harmony double album which is in stores before the year comes to a close); R. Kelly; Usher; Fat Boy Slim; Dru Hill; Faith Evans; and producer/performer extraordinaire Babyface, who releases - what else? - a Christmas album. There's also new recordings from Eminem, Mack 10, Marcus Johnson, 98 Degrees, So So Def All-stars, Prozzak, Beenie Man, Heltah Skeltah, and Billie. Big, big, big time rap albums released in November should keep the registers clangin' out in the suburbs well into next year. Wu-Tang Clansman, and proven solo artist Method Man delivers his sophomore CD on November 10, called Tical 2000: Judgment Day. The album swaggers with contributions from other hip hop artists such as Mobb Deep, Erick Sermon, Redman, and fellow Wu-Tanger RZA (the latter also have their own CDs due in November, RZA under the name of Bobby Digital). Also keep an eye peeled for new ones from Ice Cube, Keith Murray, Pete Rock, Bounty Killer, Plastikman, TLC, Reel Tight, Too $hort, Foxy Brown, and a collective of Big Apple DJs called Flip Squad All Stars featuring Biz Markie, Funkmaster Flex and DJ Enuff. On the smooth side of things, Seal closes out the month as he releases his new album, Human Being. And finally, while the hip hop genre has been known to sell a few soundtracks over the past few years, none have been cartoons. Until now. As a feature-length version of the Rugrats TV show makes its way to the big screen, it takes with it a soundtrack that boasts some names that should earn the film some odd matinee crowds. Mase and Mya, Blackstreet, Rakim and Danny Saber, and Busta Rhymes (expect a solo from Busta in December) co-exist with Lisa Loeb, No Doubt with Elvis Costello, Devo, and Laurie Anderson, to name but a few. ROOTS, JAZZ AND BLUES Unlike the other genres, things slow down to a crawl in the blues and jazz fields with new material scarce and re-issues ample. On the jazz bent, besides all of the rereleases of Miles Davis rereleases, John Coltrane's wife, Alice Coltrane, delivers her musical tribute to her legendary husband. It coincides nicely with the Impulse label's offering of an eight-CD John Coltrane box set featuring all of his studio recordings for Impulse as well as several previously unreleased tracks. Another goldmine for aficionados is the six-CD retrospective of Herbie Hancock material from Blue Note. There's also an album of new Hancock tracks due for release at the end of October titled Gershwin's World. There are new ones, as well, from Oranj Symphonette, Najee, Tony Scott and Renato Sellani, Roy Haynes, The Art Ensemble of Chicago, Marcus Roberts, and Gary Burton. The number of new blues offerings isn't much better, with some notable exceptions being: a new studio album from B.B. King titled Blues on the Bayou; John Lee Hooker's Best of Friends, which includes three new songs and a guest list that includes Charles Brown, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison, and Los Lobos; guitar wiz kid Johnny Lang's release Wander This World; the pairing of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells for a live album; a new Eddy Clearwater; and a CD from Little Charlie and the Nighthawks titled Shadows of the Blues. |