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, risque 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 Ros (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 Brucken (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 Sinead O'Connor (Chocolate And Vanilla): Sinead 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, a 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

classical music

October

Doctor Atomic (San Francisco Opera, San Francisco): Composer John Adams and librettist Peter Sellars team on an operatic exploration of the life and fateful creation of A-bomb inventor J. Robert Oppenheimer. (Oct. 1)

Orpheus and Eurydice (Lincoln Center, New York): A new theatrical song cycle written by out composer Ricky Ian Gordon in collaboration with out choreographer Doug Varone. (Oct. 5-8)

Aaron Copland and His World (Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.): The music and life of America's great gay composer are celebrated at the Bard Music Festival, including performances by the American Symphony Orchestra. (Oct. 21-23)

The Mines of Sulfur (Lincoln Center, New York): The New York City Opera performs out composer Richard Rodney Bennett's masterful opera combining a sexy ghost story and a frightening drag show. This haunting work was also just released on Chandos. (Oct. 23-Nov. 5)

November

Percussion Concerto (Kimmel Center, Philadelphia): Top American composer and out lesbian Jennifer Higdon delivers her latest creation, performed by soloist Colin Currie and the Philadelphia Orchestra. (Nov. 25-Dec. 6)

--Joseph Dalton