Album Release- June 24 2008

24 June Tuesday
Joseph Arthur	[Title TBA] EP
Dwele	Sketches of a Man
Alejandro Escovedo	Real Animal
Hercules And Love Affair	Hercules And Love Affair
IAMX	Kiss+Swallow US Release
Less Than Jake	GNV FLA
Nelly	Brass Knuckles
Safari So Good	Every Fight is a Food Fight When You're A Cannibal
Three 6 Mafia	Last 2 Walk
Paul Weller	22 Dreams
Withered	Folie Circulaire

Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends (Parlophone)

Release date: 12 June 2008
All the talk before Coldplay released their last album was how an unforeseen delay of the album's release (caused allegedly by Chris Martin being scared witless by, erm, Morning Runner) would lead to a profits warning by EMI - that's how much was riding on what turned out to be a pretty underwhelming record.

This time round, you could be forgiven for EMI's shareholders panicking once again. All the talk is of musical revolution - it's Dylan goes electric, it's Coldplay's very own Achtung Baby, maybe even their Kid A.....

Or maybe not. For, although this is undoubtedly Coldplay's most musically adventurous album, it certainly won't scare away the millions of people who bought their first three albums. True, there's a little less trademark piano, which has been replaced by excessive percussion and some unusual song structures, but it's certainly not an unrecognisable Chris Martin who welcomes us aboard the rather pretentiously titled album.

An instrumental opening up the record is about as avant-garde as Coldplay get here - but as instrumental opening tracks go, it's pretty damn good. Life In Technicolour builds up slowly, then bursts into action, aided by some 'woah-oh-oh's from Martin. It's an uplifting opening, which bodes well for the next 45 minutes.

There are several tracks that merge into each other, giving the impression sometimes of a total shift in time signatures - Yes for example begins as a woozy, doomy ballad, with Martin wearily intoning "I'm just so tired of this loneliness" before effortless spiralling off into Chinese Sleep Chant, which with its barrage of guitars and whispered vocals, sounds like it could be an out-take from a Ride or Asobi Seksu album.

It's a similar story with Lovers In Japan, although slightly more Coldplay-esque. The opening is all chiming guitars and soaring choruses - the closest that the band have ever come to U2 in effect - before quickly changing tone into a more sombre piano ballad, Reign Of Love. The idea behind these 'hidden tracks' is apparently intended to encourage people to download the whole album rather than specific tracks, but it works very well.

Viva La Vida also contains some of Chris Martin's best songs to date, such as the excellent, string drenched Viva La Vida which rivals Arcade Fire for sheer uplifting goodness, and the stomping Violet Hill, which cleverly switches from snarling and aggressive to plaintive and yearning at the click of a finger.

There are other nice touches throughout - the clattering percussion on Cemeteries Of London, the backwards guitar loop on Strawberry Swing and the closing Death And All His Friends which expertedly builds up to a bellowing chorus of "I don't want a cycle of recycled revenge, I don't want to follow death and all of his friends" which is so impassioned you'll have trouble stopping yourself joining in.

Yet there are other moments which stop this being Martin's masterpiece. He's still got that habit of writing lyrics in platitudes and cliches - the otherwise excellent 42 solemnly informs us that "those who are dead are not dead, they're just living in my head" while throughout the album there is mention of time being short, someday the sun will come out, big fish in little ponds and so on.

It's a shame because the aforementioned 42 is probably the furthest they've pushed the boat out musically - there's about 3 different melodies in there, switching from piano ballad, to funky guitar wig-out, a hand-clapping section, before switching back to the piano ballad. Credit for this should go to producer Brian Eno, who's done a similar job to what he did with Paul Simon a couple of years ago - subtly adding little touches here and there in order to develop the band's sound without scaring off the casual fan.

They're a much maligned bunch are Coldplay - mainly because they're so successful. Yet you only become successful if you're good at what you do, and Coldplay are extremely good at what they do. While this doesn't quite hit the heady heights of A Rush Of Blood To The Heads, it's a huge improvement on the beiger than beige X&Y, and if their next album (apparently featuring a Kylie Minogue duet!) continues this trajectory, we could have something pretty special on our hands.

June release 2008 - 17 June

17 June Tuesday
The Briggs	Come All You Madmen
Busta Rhymes	Blessed
Coldplay	Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Anthony David	Acey Deucey
Goo Goo Dolls	Greatest Hits Volume 2
Ice Cube	Raw Footage
MIGGS	Unraveled
Judas Priest	Nostradamus
Missy Elliott	FANomenal
The Notwist	The Devil, You + Me
The Offspring	Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
Ride The Boogie	Ride The Boogie
Silver Jews	Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Tilly and the Wall	O
Sister Hazel	Before The Amplifiers, Live Acoustic
Wolf Parade	At Mount Zoomer

June release 2008 - 10 June

10 June Tuesday
The Bangkok Five	We Love What Kills Us
Solomon Burke	Like a Fire
Jakob Dylan	Seeing Things ex-Wallflowers
Lil Wayne	Tha Carter III
Alanis Morissette	Flavors of Entanglement
My Education	Bad Vibrations
My Morning Jacket	Evil Urges
N.E.R.D.	Seeing Sounds
Plies	Definition of Real
Quitzow	Art College
Railroad Earth	Amen Corner
Setting Sun	Children of The Wild
Martha Wainwright	I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings, Too

Ashanti releases Declaration

Today is the return day for Ashanti, who once was the biggest female R&B artist in the world. Nathan S from djbooth.net writes:

She was the reigning princess, and people across America simultaneously turned up their radios just to listen to her whisper “baby, baby, baby” over and over again. And then, something mysterious happened. Despite two previous platinum albums, sales of her 2004 release Concrete Rose were disappointing at best. Maybe it was Irv Gotti’s legal troubles, maybe it was the quickly shifting landscape of the recording industry, whatever the reason, Ashanti has undeniably disappeared from the spotlight over the last four years. As unthinkable as this would have been in 2001, I just asked my 12-year-old niece who Ashanti was, and she responded “who?””

It is true as time went by I even forgotten Ashanti exists. I forgot how I loved to listen to her unique voice in my car while driving to classes. But you know Nathan is right that Ashanti is still cool and hasn’t changed. She has pretty much been the same and he is right about us changing and not her.

Rolling Stone:

On her fourth album, she’s still doing the diva-by-numbers thing, alternating between angry-at-her-man anthems and lovey pleasantry. The shuffling “Body on Me,” featuring Nelly and Akon, and the shiny electro-pop “So Over You” are a step up from her Ja Rule duets of old. 2 out of 5″

Associated Press:

The disc doesn‘t manage to break any new ground, with Ashanti singing mainly over unremarkable contemporary R&B tracks about her own good loving and cheating boyfriends.”

MSNBC:

Ashanti continues to celebrate her femininity on tracks like the sensual, Robin Thicke-assisted “Things You Make Me Do” and the bass-heavy ”Girlfriend.”

Us Weekly:

While her fourth CD of self-penned R&B tracks contains a few hip beats (such as the piano-driven first single, “The Way That I Love You”), the sound feels out of date. 2 1/2 out of 4″

Ashanti has also been trying herself in acting career which is the latest trend among celebrities whether they go music-to-movies or vice versa. Diva has already starred in Resident Evil, John Tucker Must Die and Coach Carter. But all of her roles were tiny and unimportant. Ashanti says:

I’m always reading scripts. I’m even looking to get into some behind-the-scenes work. Maybe do some co-producing. It’s all about taking chances. You can’t be afraid to try something different.”

Hopefully her album Declaration will give her a boost and she would declare herself as one of the leading vocals in the US.

When you get pushed into a certain position and your back’s against the wall, you’re either gonna sink or you’re gonna swim. I choose not to sink.”

Said singer leaning forward on the conference room table at Universal Motown’s Manhattan headquarters.

Starting today her album is available in stores. See the video of the song from Ashanti’s new album Declaration.

Full article and clips >>

PLIES TO HOST SOPHOMORE ALBUM RELEASE PARTY JUNE 10TH IN TAMPA, FL

For_Immediate_Release:

United States of America (Press Release) May 29, 2008 -- TAMPA, FLORIDA – Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic rap Superstar PLIES will celebrate the release of his sophomore album DEFINITION OF REAL, on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at the all new Club 360 (1609 East 7th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605) in Ybor. This star studded event will not only be a celebration of the rappers 2nd album in less than a year, but has been deemed the most anticipated social experience of the year. The event is open to the public in support and appreciation of PLIES' many fans. In addition, expected attendees will include music, television, film, professional sports and entertainment movers, shakers, and tastemakers. The celebration begins at 9pm EST.

ABOUT:

PLIES, who was recently named Forbes, top 10 "Hottest New Music Stars," hails from Ft. Myers, FL. Signed to Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic records, PLIES made an impressive debut in August of 2007 with his certified gold album The Real Testament which spawned chart topping singles such as "Shawty" feat. T-Pain, "Hypnotized" feat. Akon and "I Am the Club" which sold over 2 million ring tones collectively. In recent months the rapper has launched and interactive, dual purpose fan club, and kicked off a nationwide promotional tour. The tour will pay tribute to his many fans in the U.S. Military with a series of appearances in association with Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and Navy Exchange Service command. PLIES is currently preparing for the June 10th release of his sophomore album DEFINITION OF REAL. To find out more information about PLIES visit www.PliesWorld.com.
DEFINITION OF REAL will be available in stores and online on Tuesday, June 10, 2008. Led by a compilation of chart topping singles including "Bust It Baby pt. 2" featuring Neyo and the official 2nd single "Please Excuse My Hands" featuring Jaime Foxx and Dream. The album caters to a diverse fan base with the contemplative "Worth Goin' Fed For," Plies debates the perils of street life. And with the heart-wrenching "Somebody Loves You," Plies reassures that no matter what's going on in life, there's always someone there for you. "Who Hotter Than Me" most definitely serves the hood, where Plies carries his signature swag and declares the streets on lock. The Trey Songz assisted "I'm the Man" stands perfectly side-by-side with the super-raunchy "I Feel Like F***in'," making "DEFINITION OF REAL" a complete and balanced album, much like Plies' debut The Real Testament

Music Source

June release 2008

3 June Tuesday
Ashanti	The Declaration
Common	The Greatest Story Ever Told
Disturbed	Indestructible
Fleet Foxes	Fleet Foxes
From Bubblegum To Sky	A Soft Kill
The Futureheads	This Is Not The World
Jewel	Perfectly Clear
Journey	Revelation Walmart exclusive 3-disc CD/DVD
Ladytron	Velocifero
Aimee Mann	@#%&! Smilers
Bret Michaels	Rock My World
Midnight Juggernauts	Dystopia
Robert Pollard	Robert Pollard is Off to Business
Radiohead	Radiohead: The Best Of Best-of EMI albums
Gavin Rossdale	Wanderlust
Shearwater	Rook
Spiritualized	Songs in A & E
Weezer	Weezer (Red Album)
Your Highness Electric	The Grand Hooded Phantom Source: www.metacritic.com

Usher, Cyndi Lauper and more

The release of his fifth album, "Here I Stand," may have been delayed by six months, but Usher made up for lost time with his recent smash "Love in This Club," featuring Young Jeezy; the eighth No. 1 hit of the R&B juggernaut's career, the track jumped from No. 51 to the top of the charts in a single week, the third-biggest leap to No. 1 in Billboard history. And although he devoted much of late 2007 to family life (the license plate depicted on the cover of "Here I Stand" bears the digits 1126 -- his son's birthday), he still plays the lover man on "Trading Places" and his current smash duet with Beyonce, "Love in This Club Part II." Listen for additional cameos by Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and will.i.am, and beats and grooves crafted by A-list producers including Jermaine Dupri, Jazze Pha, Dre & Vidal and Tricky Stewart.

Usher has his charms, but when it comes to R&B crooners who set the mood for romance, Al Green remains virtually untouchable; just drop "Let's Stay Together" at a wedding reception sometime and watch the couples pack the floor. The good Reverend continues his recent winning streak with "Lay It Down." The disc was co-produced by Green with two of the most revered young guns around -- Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson of the Roots and keyboard player James Poyser (Erykah Badu, Common, Lauryn Hill) -- and features guest appearances by Corinne Bailey Rae (the sublime "Take Your Time"), John Legend, and the Dap-Kings horn section (Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse). But even with all these youngsters involved, "Lay It Down" still sounds of a piece with Green's classic Memphis sides for Hi Records. As it should be, says Thompson: "The reason why we are doing this is because we all idolize Al Green. Even today, nobody has range like him."

Music Source