New CD Releases, October 21st: ‘High School Musical,’ KISS, Hank Williams III
Various Artists “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” (Disney)
The Disney Channel’s Emmy-winning, mega-popular franchise–which already has produced two hit TV films: 2006’s “High School Musical” and “High School Musical 2: Sing It All or Nothing!”–is now set to make its big-screen debut.
Directed and choreographed by Kenny Ortega, the “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” film is scheduled to open in US theaters on Oct. 24. The film’s cast includes young stars Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens and Ashley Tisdale.
Seemingly everything with the “High School Musical” name on it–from concert and ice-skating tours to video games–has been incredibly successful. It will be a shocker if this “High School Musical 3: Senior Year” soundtrack makes its chart debut anywhere other than the top spot.
* * *
KISS “Ikons” (Mercury)
The multimillionaires in make-up release yet another collectible: a four-disc greatest-hits package. What’s intriguing about “Ikons,” however, is how it is organized: Each disc spotlights the career highlights of a different member from the signature KISS lineup.
Gene Simmons, of course, goes first, and disc one features such Simmons signatures as “God of Thunder” and “Calling Dr. Love.” Paul Stanley’s showcase comes on disc two, with such tunes as “Detroit Rock City” and “Strutter.”
Disc three is dedicated to Ace Frehley’s major accomplishments, which include “New York Groove” and “Shock Me.” The set concludes with disc four, featuring such Peter Criss cuts as “Hard Luck Woman” and “Beth.”
* * *
Hank Williams III “Damn Right, Rebel Proud” (Curb)
The rowdy, alt-country performer–grandson of Hank Williams, Sr. and the son of Hank Williams Jr.–will continue to carry on the family tradition with the release of his fourth studio album.
“Damn Right, Rebel Proud” follows 2006’s “Straight to Hell,” an ambitious, two-disc affair that (we kid you not) included a “Hidden Track” that clocked in at 42 minutes. Williams is expected to tour in support of “Damn Right, Rebel Proud,” though no dates have yet been announced.
* * *
Lee Ann Womack “Call Me Crazy” (MCA)
The two-time Grammy-winning country star returns with her seventh studio album, a follow-up to the 2007 offering “Finding My Way Back Home.”
The first single from the Tony Brown-produced album is the track “Last Call.” “Call Me Crazy” also features duets with George Strait (“Everything But Quits”) and Keith Urban (“The Bees”), as well as a re-make of the Strait classic “The King of Broken Hearts.”
* * *
Of Montreal “Skeletal Lamping” (Polyvinyl)
The indie-rock troupe–which actually hails from Georgia, not Montreal–returns with its ninth studio album. The set, which follows 2007’s “Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?,” was produced by Of Montreal singer/songwriter Kevin Barnes.
* * *
More new releases:
Brett Dennen, “Hope for the Hopeless” (Dualtone)
The Doors, “Perception” (Rhino)
Electric Six, “Flashy” (Epitaph)
Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, “Evening Star” (DGM)
Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, “No Pussyfooting” (DGM)
Escape the Fate, “This War is Ours” (Epitaph)
Sara Groves, “O Holy Night” (Dedicated)
Jimmy Herring, “Lifeboat” (Abstract Logix)
Jazzanova, “Of All the Things” (Verve)
Waylon Jennings, “Waylon Forever” (Vagrant)
Labelle, “Back to Now” (Verve)
Craig Morgan, “That’s Why” (UBEU)
The Nields, “Rock All Day Rock All Night” (Nields)
OhGr, “Devils in My Details” (SPV)
Categories