Street Date March 26: Celine Dion, “The Scorpion King” soundtrack
[B]Also out this week:[EB] “MTV: The Best of TRL Pop,” Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Caitlin Cary, Down, Cassandra Wilson and more.
[B]Also out this week:[EB] “MTV: The Best of TRL Pop,” Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Caitlin Cary, Down, Cassandra Wilson and more.
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[B]Celine Dion - “A New Day Has Come"[EB] (Epic)
The celebrated diva is ending her two-year hiatus with her first new studio album since 1997’s “Let’s Talk About Love.” The 16-song album includes the title track, which hit radio stations in early February, as well as Dion’s renditions of Etta James’ “At Last” and Nat King Cole’s “Nature Boy.” Dion will launch the album with a number of television appearances, including a one-hour CBS concert special due to air on April 7. More details about the special and the new album can be found at Dion’s official [L=http://celinedion.com]website[EL].
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[B]Various artists - “Music from and Inspired by ‘The Scorpion King’"[EB] (Universal)
This 16-song soundtrack features 10 new cuts from rockers such as System of a Down, Creed, Nickelback, Sevendust, Coal Chamber, Drowning Pool and others. Among the new tracks is the album’s first single, Godsmack’s “I Stand Alone.” Also included is previously released material from Rob Zombie featuring Ozzy Osbourne, and P.O.D., which contributes a remix of its song “Set It Off.” The soundtrack’s official [L=http://www.scorpionkingmusic.com/site.html]website[EL] features streaming samples of the album’s tracks and other information about the collection.
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[B]Big Head Todd and the Monsters - “Riviera"[EB] (Big/Warner Bros.)
The first album in four years from this straightforward Colorado rock trio is a do-it-yourself effort. Forced to go it alone following the closure of its former label, Giant Records, the band self-produced this CD, which it is issuing on its own label, Big Records, via a distribution deal with Warner Bros. The new album’s debut single is titled “Wishing Well.”
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[B]Caitlin Cary - “While You Weren’t Looking"[EB] (Yep Roc)
This ex-Whiskeytown member’s debut album was produced by Chris Stamey (the dB’s) and features guest appearances from Cary’s former bandmate Ryan Adams, as well as Mitch Easter (Let’s Active), Jon Wurster (Superchunk) and others. Whiskeytown’s Mike Daly, Mike Santoro and Skillet Gilmore played on most songs, and Adams co-wrote three tracks. He also duets with Cary on a limited-edition, four-song bonus disc that is packaged with the album.
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[B]Down - “Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow"[EB] (Elektra)
Headed up by Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo and Corrosion of Conformity frontman Pepper Keenan, Down returns with the follow-up to its 1995 debut, “Nola.” In addition to Anselmo and Keenan, the group’s lineup also features Eyehategod drummer Jim Bower and Crowbar guitarist Kirk Windstein, as well as Pantera bassist Rex Brown. The quintet will spend the month of May touring the U.S. in support of its new album, samples of which can be heard at Elektra’s official Down [L=http://www.down-music.com]website[EL].
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[B]Various artists - “MTV: The Best of TRL Pop"[EB] (Universal/UTV)
One week after delivering to stores the “Now That’s What I Call Music! Vol. 9” compilation of previously released radio hits, Universal offers up this collection of previously released hits that have been featured on MTV’s “Total Request Live.” The track listing includes ‘NSync’s “Bye, Bye, Bye,” Backstreet Boys’ “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” and Sisqo’s “Thong Song,” as well as additional cuts from Mya, Enrique Iglesias, Len, 3LW, BBMak, Smash Mouth, Souldecision, 98 Degrees and Samantha Mumba.
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[B]Cassandra Wilson - “Belly of the Sun"[EB] (Blue Note)
The jazz singer self-produced this album, which is her 14th. A review of the album in Harp magazine says that, as a producer, Wilson followed this “blueprint”: “[Keep] the instrumentation lean and sympathetic; choose hip (and not-so-hip) tunes from the world of rock, blues, folk, and jazz; and rearrange them to suit her deep, sultry voice.” The songs include Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm,” Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” and the Band’s “The Weight.”
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[B]Other new releases:[EB]
Susanne Abbuehl - “April” (ECM)
Claudia Acuna - “Rhythm of Life” (Verve)
All 4 One - “A41” (American Music Corp.)
All That Remains - “Behind the Silence and Solitude” (Metal Blade)
The Atomic Bitchwax - “Spit Blood” (Meteorcity)
Avant - “Ecstasy” (MCA)
Baha Men - “Move It Like This” (Capitol)
Tab Benoit - “Wetlands” (Telarc)
Blend Echo - “Warrior” (Shadow)
Bludgeon - “Crucify the Priest” (Metal Blade)
Michel Camilo - “Triangulo” (Telarc)
Beth Neilsen Chapman - “Deeper Still” (Artemis)
Jack Dangers - “Variaciones Espectrales” (Instinct)
Drag the River - “Closed” (Upland)
Eazy-E - “Impact of a Legend” (Ruthless/Epic)
Mark Elf - “Dream Steppin’” (Jen Bay)
Mark Erelli - “The Memorial Hall Recordings” (Signature Sounds)
Fine China - “You Make Me Hate Music” (Tooth & Nail)
Jeremiah Freed - “Jeremiah Freed” (Universal)
G. Love & Special Sauce - “Best Of”
Funky Green Dogs - “Super California” (MCA)
Jeff Gauthier - “Mask” (Cryptogramophone)
Gerardo - “Gerardo” (Thump)
Jeff Golub - “Do It Again” (Universal)
Eric Hansen - “Nuevo Flamenco Romancia” (Neurodisc)
Ed Harcourt - “Here Be Monsters” (Capitol)
Hatebreed - “Perseverance” (Universal)
Warren Hill - “Love Songs” (Narada)
Hillbilly Idol - “Hillbilly Idol” (Slewfoot)
Ill Harmonics - “Take 2” (Uprok)
Infinity Tha Ghetto Child - “Pain” (MCA)
Iron Maiden - “Rock in Rio” (Columbia)
Mason Jennings - “Century Spring” (Bar None)
Kidneythieves - “Zerospace” (Warner Bros.)
Kinky - “Kinky” (Nettwerk)
Nicole McCloud - “So What” (Artemis)
Mindy McCready - “Mindy McCready” (Capitol)
Estrella Morente - “My Song and a Poem” (Real World)
The Nels Cline Singers - “Instrumentals” (Cryptogramophone)
Pepper - “Kona Town” (MCA)
Roberto Perera - “Sensual” (Heads Up)
Porter Hall, Tennessee - “Welcome to Porter Hall, Tennessee” (Slewfoot)
Pretty Willie - “Enter the Life of Suella” (Universal)
Ra Desperidos - “Tired of Strugglin’” (Koch)
Pepecito Reyes - “Pepecito Reyes” (Narada World)
Rock County - “Rock County” (Rebel)
Louis Sclavis - “Dans la Nuit” (ECM)
The Secret Machines - “September 000” (Ace Fu)
Sleeping Flies - “You Are Superior” (Kindercore)
Sparta - “Austere (EP)” (DreamWorks)
Tony Stampley - “Rebelution” (DreamWorks)
Tomasz Stanko Quartet - “Soul of Things” (ECM)
Taking Back Sunday - “Tell All Your Friends” (Victory)
Tiger Saw - “Blessed Are the Trials We Will Find” (Kimchee)
Two Thirty Eight - “Regulate the Chemicals” (Tooth & Nail)
Pete Yorn - “Live” (Columbia)
Various artists - “The Best of Narada: New Age” (Narada)
Various artists - “Urban Knights Presents: The Chicago Project” (Narada)
Various artists - “United Synthpop Artists - A Tribute for 911” (Panda
Pop/Ninthwave)
[B]Soundtracks and scores:[EB]
“National Lampoon’s Van Wilder” (Artemis)
“The Rookie” (Hollywood)
“Subways Are for Sleeping” (Fynsworth Alley)
“The Time Machine” (Universal)
[I]Click [L=/news/story.php?id=51]here[EL] to check out last week’s “Street Date” feature.[EI]
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