New Releases, Oct. 17: The Tragically Hip, Sarah McLachlan, Vince Gill, Diddy
Tragically Hip “World Container”
Gord Downie and his Tragically Hip bandmates some credit for not being the type of band – like 54*40 – who keep making the same album over and over and over and over. They don’t necessarily reinvent their CanRock wheel every time they go into the studio, but they do always give us something fresh.
The single In View may be the most obvious jumping-off point, with its bouncy beat and poppy keyboard hook offsetting Downie’s high-register warble and lovey-dovey lyrics. But the 11-song disc holds several other subtle departures from the 23-year-old quintet’s trademark sound.
The Lonely End of the Rink borrows some ringing reggae-rock guitars from The Police. The Kids Don’t Get It goes one step further, with a skanking guitar and nimble bassline that possess vaguely Clash-like overtones. It’s followed by Pretend, which cunningly recasts Kids’ lyrical dialogue — ” ‘If I ask you a question, are you gonna lie to me?’ / ‘Is that your question? ‘Cause that one is easy’ ” — into a pretty piano-ballad waltz. The title cut also brings out the keyboard, closing the album on an elegantly mellow mood.
* * *
Sarah McLachlan “Wintersong”
The Lilith Fair founder follows 2003’s “Afterglow” with the release of her first holiday CD, “Wintersong.”
The set was produced by longtime McLachlan collaborator Pierre Marchand, and the track list includes such classic seasonal offerings as “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” “Silent Night” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”
The disc also includes one original composition, “Wintersong,” and a cover of John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over).”
* * *
Vince Gill “These Days”
How much Vince Gill can fans handle? The country superstar will find out when he releases the massive “These Days”–a 4-CD set of 43 new original tunes.
Gill is accompanied on this hugely ambitious endeavor by a suitably large cast of guest stars, including Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Diana Krall, Rodney Crowell, Phil Everly, The Del McCoury Band and Emmylou Harris.
* * *
Diddy “Press Play”
Sean “Diddy” Combs calls in his favors on this album, which features a regular “Who’s Who” of the hip-hop and R&B world.
“Press Play” includes performances by such all-stars as Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, Jamie Foxx, Keyshia Cole and Fergie.
* * *
JoJo “The High Road”
Teen star JoJo, who released her self-titled debut at the tender age of 12, is back with her sophomore effort, “The High Road.” Her first record went platinum on the strength of the singles “Leave (Get Out)” and “Baby It’s You.”
The 15-year-old crooner, who also starred in the films “Aquamarine” and “RV,” already has another hit on her hands with the new album’s first single, “Too Little Too Late.”
* * *
Dierks Bentley “Long Trip Alone”
Having mined platinum with his previous two outings, 2003’s self-titled debut and 2005’s “Modern Day Drifter,” the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year nominee returns with the highly anticipated “Long Trip Alone.”
Produced by Brett Beavers, the album features two bona fide hits, “Every Mile a Memory” and “Lot of Leavin’ Left To Do.” Bentley is supporting the new disc on his Locked and Loaded Tour, which is currently scheduled to last through early December.
* * *
Aerosmith “Devil’s Got a New Disguise: The Very Best Of Aerosmith”
The classic rockers deliver yet another greatest hits package, “Devil’s Got a New Disguise.” The main selling point of this set, at least for those who already own copies of the band’s other best-of collections, is the inclusion of two new songs, “Sedonna Sunrise” and the title track.
* * *
Other new releases:
Badly Drawn Boy, “Born in the U.K.” (Astralwerks)
Bananarama, “The Twelve Inches of” (Warner)
Cradle of Filth, “Thornography” (Roadrunner)
Glenn Danzig, “Black Aria II” (Megaforce)
Arielle Dombasle, “C’est Si Bon” (Red Ink)
Jeremy Enigk, “World Waits” (Reincarnate)
Renee Fleming, “Homage: The Age of the Diva” (Decca)
Free, “Live at the BBC” (Universal)
Goldfrapp, “We are Glitter” (Mute)
George Jones, “God’s Country: George Jones & Friends” (Category 5)
Lonestar, “Mountains” (BNA)
Shiny Toy Guns, “We are Pilots” (Universal)
Ruben Studdard, “The Return” (J)
Various Artists, “She Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool: A Tribute to Barbra Mandrell” (BNA)
Soundtracks and scores:
“Mamma Mia! 5th Anniversary Edition” (Decca)
Categories