New CD Releases, Oct. 23: Carrie Underwood, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Gary Allan
Carrie Underwood “Carnival Ride”
Country star Carrie Underwood is ready to take fans on a “Carnival Ride.” This set follows her 2005 debut, “Some Hearts,” an award-winning, multi-platinum offering that spawned the crossover hits “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Before He Cheats,” “Wasted” and “Don’t Forget to Remember Me.”
“Carnival Ride” was produced by Mark Bright, who helmed seven tracks on “Some Hearts,” and includes Underwood in the songwriting credits.
It’s already been a big year for the fourth-season “American Idol” winner. She scored two Grammys–Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance–and is the reigning Female Vocalist of the Year for both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
Underwood is also up for three trophies at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards, which will be held Nov. 7 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, TN, and aired live on ABC-TV.
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Robert Plant and Alison Krauss “Raising Sand”
Talk about an unlikely pairing–Robert Plant and Alison Krauss recording a studio effort together? Yet, that’s exactly what fans will get with “Raising Sand.”
The story of this project began when former Led Zeppelin frontman Plant phoned contemporary bluegrass star Krauss about seven years ago to tell her he admired her work and wanted to work with her someday. The duo first sang together at a Leadbelly tribute during the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and eventually enlisted producer T-Bone Burnett to help them record together.
The resulting 13-track “Raising Sand” covers a wide spectrum of musical territory, according to the project’s publicist, including R&B, blues, country and folk.
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Gary Allan “Living Hard”
Country singer Gary Allan is looking for a three-peat with “Living Hard.” His last two releases–this year’s “Greatest Hits” and 2005’s “Tough All Over”–both hit No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
Allan is supporting “Living Hard” by living on the road. He’s doing some solo dates, but mostly spending his time as the opening act on Keith Urban’s big road show. The Urban run lasts throughout November and well into December.
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Dwight Yoakam “Dwight Sings Buck”
The country crooner tips his tall cowboy hat to one of his musical idols (and close friends) on “Dwight Sings Buck.” Yoakam collaborated with Buck Owens on numerous occasions over the years, most famously on the hit “Streets of Bakersfield,” so this is a tribute record that really makes sense. On “Dwight Sings Buck,” Yoakam handles such tunes as “Foolin’ Around,” “Act Naturally” and “Above and Beyond.”
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Serj Tankian “Elect the Dead”
System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian walks the solo road with the grimly titled “Elect the Dead.” Tankian produced the album himself and played most of the instruments on the set, though he was joined by guest drummers John Dolmayan (System of a Down) and Brian “Brain” Mantia (Primus). The album’s first single is “Empty Walls.” The singer is supporting the record during a North American tour, currently set to wind up Oct. 28 in San Francisco.
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More new releases:
Coheed & Cambria, “No World For Tomorrow” (Sony)
David Gahan, “Hourglass” (Mute)
Exodus, “The Atrocity Exhibition: Exhibit A” (Nuclear Blast)
Heart, “Dreamboat Annie Live” (Shout)
Helloween, “Gambling With the Devil” (Steamhammer)
Juanes, “La Vida… Es un Ratico” (Universal)
Scum of the Earth, “Sleaze Freak” (Eclipse)
Seether, “Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces” (Wind-Up)
Soilwork, “Sworn to a Great Divide” (Nuclear Blast)
Nick Swardson, “Party” (Comedy Central)
Ween, “La Cucaracha” (Rounder)
Rob Zombie, “Zombie Live” (Geffen)
Soundtracks and scores:
“Battlestar Galactica Season 3” (La-La Land)
“Twin Peaks: All New Season Two Music” (Absurda)
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