Street Date July 23: ‘Now! 10,’ Toby Keith
Also: Smilez & Southstar, TRUSTCompany, Boyz II Men and more.
Also: Smilez & Southstar, TRUSTCompany, Boyz II Men and more.
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Various Artists - “Now That’s What I Call Music! 10” (Sony)
Using a success-proven formula, the folks behind the “Now That’s What I Call Music!” series release the franchise’s tenth installment, which features 20 previously released radio hits. Artists featured on the compilation include Britney Spears, Shakira, Marc Anthony, Vanessa Carlton, Celine Dion, Lenny Kravitz, ‘NSync and the Baha Men. The “Now!” series’ Vols. 4, 6, 7 and 9 all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
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Toby Keith - “Unleashed” (DreamWorks)
Keith co-produced “Unleashed” with his longtime producer James Stroud, who also heads DreamWorks Records Nashville. According to DreamWorks, the album’s release date was moved up from Aug. 6 because of the buzz surrounding the single “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” which Keith wrote after the Sept. 11 attacks. It became the center of controversy when Keith claimed that ABC TV pulled his performance from a Fourth of July special, allegedly because host Peter Jennings didn’t think the lyrics were appropriate. Keith launches a summer tour next month.
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Smilez & Southstar, “Crash the Party” (ArtistDirect)
This Orlando, Fla. duo was paired up by Dakari, a former in-house producer for Transcontinental Records who has worked with ‘NSync, O-Town and LFO. An MP3 of the album’s first single, “Who Wants This,” is available for download at the official Smilez & Southstar website.
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TRUSTcompany - “The Lonely Position of Neutral” (Geffen)
This Alabama quartet’s debut album features current hit single “Downfall,” the music video for which is firmly seated in MTV’s weekly Top 20 chart. The enhanced CD includes behind-the-scenes footage of the making of the video, a bonus MP3 track and other extras, according to the band’s official website. The group is currently on the road as part of the Vans Warped Tour, and is slated to open the second leg of Korn’s headlining tour.
Click here for a shot at a pair of tickets to see TRUSTCompany on the Vans Warped Tour.
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Boyz II Men - “Full Circle” (Arista)
The Color of Love,” the lead single on this R&B quartet’s sixth studio album (and first for Arista), was written and produced by Babyface. The group will perform two other new album tracks, “Relax Your Mind” and “End Of The Road” on the CBS Early Morning Show on Wednesday (7/24). Samples of “The Color of Love” and “Relax Your Mind” are streaming at the official Boyz II Men website.
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Other new releases:
32 Frames - “32 Frames” (Revelation)
Aquanote - “The Pearl” (Astralwerks)
Solomon Burke - “Don’t Give Up on Me” (Fat Possum)
J.J. Cale - “20th Century Masters: Millennium Collection”
Kirstin Candy - “Another Sweet Mess” (Liquid 8)
Fourplay - “Heartfelt” (Bluebird)
Haystak - “The Natural” (Koch)
The Irish Tenors - “The Very Best of The Irish Tenors” (Music Matters)
J-Zone - “Pimps Don’t Pay Taxes” (Fat Beats/Razor & Tie)
Lil’ Wayne - “500 Degrees” (Universal)
Mack 10 - “Presents da Hood” (Hoo Bangin)
Mario - “Mario” (J)
Marian McPartland - “Live at Shanghai Jazz” (Concord Jazz)
Micro - “Music Through Me” (Moonshine)
Various artists - “Monsta Jamz” (Razor & Tie)
Motorhead - “Extended Versions” (BMG)
Joe Nichols - “Man with a Memory” (Universal South)
Mark Olson & the Creekdippers - “December’s Child” (DualTone)
Stephen Pearcey - “Social Intercourse” (Triple X)
Places to Park - “Better Sights Were Set” (MCA)
Public Enemy - “Revolverlution” (Koch)
Smilez & Southstar - “Crash the Party” (ArtistDirect)
Anthony Smith - “If That Ain’t Country” (Mercury Nashville)
Sometimes Seven - “The Songs I Was Telling You About” (Round Circle)
Tony Bennett - “Ultimate Tony Bennett [2002] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]” (Sony)
The Waifs - “Sink or Swim” (ATO)
Joe Louis Walker - “In the Morning” (Telarc)
Various artists - “Fat Beats Compilation Vol. 2” (Fat Beats)
Various artists - “How We Rock” (Epitaph)
Various artists - “In the Pocket: A Taste of Blues Harmonica” (Telarc)
Various artists - “Sonar 2002” (Milan)
Soundtracks and scores:
“The Country Bears” (Disney)
“Master of Disguise” (Sony)
“Reign of Fire” (Varese)
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