New Releases, April 29: Madonna, Def Leppard, Steve Winwood
Madonna “Hard Candy”
The legendary “Material Girl” will look to add to her already substantial wealth with the release of her 11th studio record. This follow-up to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor” includes the hit single “4 Minutes,” which features guest stars Timbaland and Justin Timberlake.
Madonna reportedly has stated in radio interviews that she intends to tour this year in support of “Hard Candy.” Her last batch of road work came with 2006’s “Confessions Tour,” which was one of that year’s top grossing tours.
The vocalist, who became one of the first of the new generation of MTV stars with 1984’s “Like a Virgin,” was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Hall’s class of 2008 also included John Mellencamp and Leonard Cohen.
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Def Leppard “Songs From the Sparkle Lounge”
The multi-platinum rock act, known for the ’80s mega-hit albums “Pyromania” and “Hysteria,” returns with its 14th studio record. “Songs From the Sparkle Lounge” follows 2006’s all-covers release “Yeah!” and is the band’s first set of newly written material since 2002’s “X.”
The 11-track offering includes the single “Nine Lives,” which is a collaboration with country crooner Tim McGraw. The song has been selected as the featured track in a special opening segment recorded for NBA games airing on ABC television.
Def Leppard plans to support “Sparkle Lounge” on the road, yet it’s had to cancel some shows recently while lead vocalist Joe Elliott recuperates from an upper respiratory tract infection, according to a statement on the band’s website.
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Steve Winwood “Nine Lives”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, inducted in 2004 as a member of Traffic, is set to release his first studio album in five years. “Nine Lives” follows 2003’s “About Time” and, indeed, consists of nine tracks, including the first single, “Dirty City,” which features a guest appearance from Eric Clapton.
“Nine Lives” is yet another milestone in what’s already been a big year for Winwood. Most notably, the singer/songwriter made major headlines when he reunited with Clapton (his old bandmate in Blind Faith) for a three-show run at Madison Square Garden in New York City earlier this year.
He’ll join up with another legendary rock act–Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers–for a massive tour that kicks off May 30 in Grand Rapids, MI. The trek will stop in roughly 40 cities and continues through August.
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Mudcrutch “Mudcrutch”
Before there were the Heartbreakers, there was Mudcrutch. This band–featuring Tom Petty on vocals and bass, Mike Campbell on guitar, Benmont Tench on keyboards, Tom Leadon on guitar and vocals, and Randall Marsh on drums–only recorded one single and dissolved in 1975.
Gone, but Mudcrutch was not forgotten–at least not by Petty aficionados, who always wanted to get the chance to hear Petty’s pre-Heartbreakers band. With the release of this eponymous debut, those fans will finally get to hear Mudcrutch perform its swamp-flavored country-rock tunes.
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Portishead “Third”
The trip-hoppers are back with–you guessed it–their “Third” studio album. The new album follows the studio efforts “Dummy” and “Portishead” from, respectively, 1994 and 1997, as well as the 1998 concert disc “Roseland NYC Live.” The band performed last weekend at Southern California’s mammoth Coachella Valley music festival.
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More new releases:
Augustana, “Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt” (Sony)
Mark Chesnutt, “Rollin’ with the Flow” (Lofton Creek)
Brian Culbertson, “Bringing Back the Funk” (GRP)
Estelle, “Shine” (Atlantic)
Lyfe Jennings, “Lyfe Change” (Sony)
Mana, “Arde el Cielo” (Warner Bros.)
Martina McBride, “Live in Concert” (RCA)
Sarah McLachlan, “Rarities, B-Sides and Other Stuff, Volume 2” (Arista)
The Roots, “Rising Down” (Def Jam)
Santogold, “Santogold” (Downtown)
Carly Simon, “This Kind of Love” (Hear Music)
Phil Stacey, “Phil Stacey” (Lyric Street)
Testament, “The Formation of Damnation” (Nuclear Blast)
Soundtracks and scores:
“Lost: Season 3” (Varese)
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