Fall 2005 music previews

September

A Bigger Bang The Rolling Stones (Virgin):
Aging rockers’ first studio disc in eight years
bashes hypocrite patriots on new tune “Sweet
Neo Con.” (Sept. 6)

Home To You The Peasall Sisters
(Dualtone): Sweet-voiced, classic country harmonies from
teenage siblings showcased in film O Brother,
Where Art Thou? (Sept. 6)

Hopeless Romantics Michael Feinstein
(Concord): Out cabaret crooner honors Academy
Award–winning composer Harry Warren, with
pianist George Shearing. (Sept. 27)

Naked Truth Lil’ Kim (Queen
Bee/Atlantic): Six days before heading to prison,
risqué rapper drops her latest, featuring guest
producer Kanye West. (Sept. 13)

Souls Alike Bonnie Raitt (Capitol):
Nine-time Grammy winner eschews blues licks in favor of
feting her favorite underrated songwriters. (Sept. 13)

Takk Sigur Rós (Geffen):
Iceland’s queer-inclusive answer to Radiohead offers
up more moody sound collages and unpronounceable song
titles. (Sept. 13)

Where You Live Tracy Chapman (Atlantic):
Chapman’s seventh studio album reflects on home,
place, love, and memory. (Sept. 13)

Wildflower Sheryl Crow (Interscope):
Singer-songwriter draws inspiration from relationship with
champion cyclist–cancer survivor Lance Armstrong and
family. (Sept. 27)

Also in September:
VH1 Storytellers, Bruce Springsteen (Columbia);
Life in Slow Motion, David Gray (RCA); Shadows
and Dust, Lene Lovich (The Stereo Society);
Desperate Housewives OST (Hollywood); Title
TBA, Barbra Streisand (Sony)

October

Catching Tales Jamie Cullum (Verve):
Youthful U.K. jazz pianist returns, collaborates with Dan
“the Automator” Nakamura, and covers
“Our Day Will Come.” (Oct. 11)

Electric Blue Andy Bell (Sanctuary):
Erasure singer’s solo debut, with guests Jake Shears
(Scissor Sisters) and Claudia Brücken (Propaganda)
(Oct. 4)

Life Ricky Martin (Columbia): First
English-language outing in five years, with cameos from
Fat Joe and R&B singer Amerie. (Oct. 11)

Pretty Little Head Nellie McKay
(Columbia): Madcap second album by theatrical young
singer-songwriter. Cyndi Lauper duets on “Bee
Charmer.” (Oct. 18)

The Road Less Traveled Melissa Etheridge
(Island): Greatest hits set includes Grammy duet with Joss
Stone, along with Tom Petty’s
“Refugee.” (Oct. 18)

Those Were the Days Dolly Parton (Sugar
Hill): A star-studded cast (Norah Jones, Keith Urban) helps
Dolly reinvent folk-rock classics by Dylan, Lennon,
and more. (Oct. 11)

Throw Down Your Arms Sinéad O’Connor
(Chocolate And Vanilla): Sinéad comes out of retirement
with a 12-song set of updated reggae classics. (Oct.
4)

You Could Have it So Much Better Franz Ferdinand
(Sony/Domino): Scottish quartet issues sophomore set of
urgent postpunk dance-rock, peppered with brooding
ballads. (Oct. 4)

Also in October:
Playing the Angel, Depeche Mode (Reprise);
Title TBA, Kate Bush (Columbia); Somebody’s
Miracle, Liz Phair (Capitol); Return the
Gift, Gang of Four (Virgin)

November

All That I Am Santana (Arista)
Guitarist’s latest all-star outing, with Outkast,
Mary J. Blige, Black Eyed Peas, and many others. (Nov.
1)

And the Band Played On Jessica Simpson
(Columbia) More country and dance-floor mash-ups, à la
her recent “These Boots Are Made For
Walkin’ ” update. (Nov. 15)

Christmas Songs Diana Krall (Verve) Hot
jazz chanteuse and pianist puts unique spin on seasonal
classics. (Nov. 1)

Confessions on a Dancefloor Madonna
(Warner Bros.) All club fare. “No message. No
ballads. All fun,” report insiders. No more
raps about lattes? Yippee! (Nov. 15)

Also in November:
Greatest Hits, Savage Garden (Columbia);
as-yet-untitled Peggy Lee tribute, Bette Midler (Columbia);
title TBA, the Darkness (Atlantic); Horses: The
Legacy Edition, Patti Smith (Arista/Legacy);
#1’s, Reba McEntire (MCA)

—Kurt B.
Reighley