With an unplanned delay and a title change, Sam Smith's third album has been finally given a release date. "Love Goes" is the new name of the record and is due out on October 30th. The altered record does feature a few recently recorded tracks with the first official single, "My Oasis", a guitar-driven, dance-pop song featuring Nigerian performer, Burna Boy, came out in July. And the follow-up single out now, "Diamonds" is an emotion-filled, kiss-off dance track that the singer does so well. I love the music video for the song where Smith appears free and dancing with passionate abandon.
There were several promotional singles released last year (which includes their hit duet with Normani, "Dancing With a Stranger", the cover of Donna Summer's disco classic, "I Feel Love" and the ballad, "To Die For" which was the original title of this album) that were originally supposed to be a part of this collection but they will now appear as bonus tracks.
This year, musician, Janelle Monae will be flexing her acting muscles with a starring role in the psychological horror thriller, "Antebellum" (which is due out Friday on VOD) and makes an appearance as feminist/activist, Dorothy Pitman Hughes in the bio-pic of Gloria Steinem in "The Glorias" with plans of a theatrical release on September 30th.
But thankfully, Monae has not abandoned her music although her latest song is for an upcoming movie. "Turntables" is for the soundtrack of the Amazon Prime documentary, "All In: The Fight for Democracy" which examines the insidious development of voter suppression happening in this country right now. This song, which she raps over a pulsating hip-hop beat, stresses the importance of "turning the tables" by getting out and voting in this election, done in a way that only Ms Monae can deliver.
It's been four years since the release of the debut album, "Ctrl" from alt-r&b artist, SZA. The record was met with universal acclaim and placed a spotlight on an exciting new talent. And while she's made several guest appearances on records by other performers (most notably with Maroon 5 on 2017's "What Lovers Do" and teaming up with Kendrick Lamar on the top-ten hit, "All The Stars" for the "Black Panther" soundtrack which also was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar), we have been waiting for new music from the singer born Solána Rowe.
SZA had also been frustrated, publicly grumbling recently about the hold-up of her follow-up album from her label, Top Dawg Entertainment which had announced the record's release back in 2019. But now a new song has just materialized called "Hit Different" and that certainly describes this track. Written by SZA, Rob Bisel, Ty Dolla Sign (who also performs on the tune) along with the track's producers, The Neptunes, the song rides a sensual yet choppy beat, which deals with a dysfunctional love affair that she just can't end.
There is also a music video for "Hit Different" directed by SZA that is a striking visual wonder. The clip features the singer seen in a several settings (in a junkyard and a farm surrounded by animals) while performing slick choreography with dancers while wearing various sexy and stylish outfits. But there are also shots of SZA covered in blood like some sort of new-born embryo. Then almost near the end of the video, we are briefly introduced to another song, a smooth ballad. What does it all mean? Who knows and who cares as it all looks and sounds great. I know I can't wait to hear more from SZA.
Victoria Monét has been creating popular, chart-topping songs for a number of years. But it's been other artists who have largely benefited from her songwriting talent. Some of the musicians who have recorded songs co-written by Monét include Nas, T.I., Chrisette Michele, Fifth Harmony, Chris Brown, Chloe x Halle, Brandy and most notably, Ariana Grande. Monét has worked on the singer's last four albums including "Thank U Next" which she received two Grammy Award nominations for Album of The Year and Record of The Year for "7 Rings".
Raised in Sacramento, CA, Monét was passionate about poetry, dance and music as a child. She became interested in music production and got in touch Rodney Jerkins through social media. The producer also known as "Darkchild" was in the process of assembling a girl group and invited the teenage Monét to join. The act was signed to Motown Records yet never released any music. Monét decided to move away from performing and focus on songwriting which lead to her meeting Sean Combs to write a song for his 2010 Diddy Dirty Money album project.
Monét would sing on her demos with the hope that a record label would hear them and want to sign her. And that is exactly what happened with Atlantic Records and she was signed to the label. Monét would release two EPs, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 1" in 2014 and a follow-up in 2015, "Nightmares & Lullabies: Act 2" yet they failed to generate much attention for the singer.
But it would be Monét's songwriting that actually brought her attention and success. Now after years of writing for other artists, she has saved some songs for herself with her recently released first studio album, "Jaguar". The collection certainly spotlights her gift as writer and the twenty-seven year old singer delivers sensual, groove-driven r&b. Yet the production doesn't do enough to make these songs and Monét stand out in a distinctive way. I definitely admire "Jaguar" and I hope we will hear more from Victoria Monét the singer.
In celebration of the thirty years since the release of her self-titled debut album, Mariah Carey will be releasing "The Rarities", a collection of previously unreleased songs that hold personal relevance and meaning to the singer. One of the first songs recently dropped is "Save The Day", a track recorded fifteen years ago and features a duet with the now elusive vocalist, Miss Lauryn Hill. While the song (which features a sample of "Killing Me Softly", the popular cover by Hill's former band, the Fugees) is a thrilling collaboration and features these divas at the height of their powers, I understand perfectly why it was not release before. This recording is lacking in those magical moments that would have been expected by such a team-up of two big-name artists.
The album will also feature live performances of some of her classic songs recorded during a concert at the Tokyo Dome back in the '90s. "The Rarities" will be released on October 2nd, just a few days after the long-awaited memoir, "The Meaning of Mariah Carey" on September 29th. Have a listen to "Save The Day" and see what you think:
Bread was an American soft-rock band who enjoyed a height of popularity throughout a large part of the 1970's with such songs as "If", "Baby I'm-a-Want You", "Everything I Own" and "It Don't Matter To Me". But the group reached the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart only once and that was with their breakout single, "Make It With You" which hit number one during this week fifty years ago.
David Gates was a singer/songwriter from Oklahoma and met fellow musician, Leon Russell playing around local clubs in the Tulsa area. They both decided to head out to Los Angeles to try their luck there. While Russell would forge his own musical path, Gates kicked around playing with a few bands before meeting bass guitarist, Robb Royer and guitar/keyboardist, Jimmy Griffin, who were also a songwriting team. The trio came together to form a band called "Bread" and signed with Elektra Records in 1969.
Bread's first single, "Dismal Day" had a dismal outcome, failing to chart. Session drummer, Jim Gordon briefly joined the band during the recording of Bread's 1969 self-titled debut album and touring appearances. But Mike Botts, a drummer Gates had previously worked with, was asked to become a permanent member when Gordon had a scheduling conflict.
With their second album, "On The Waters", Bread would achieve their first hit with the sensual ballad, "Make It With You". The single (written and sung by Gates) would find worldwide success, ranking number thirteen on the songs of 1970 chart and selling well over a million copies.
By 1973, Bread experienced what many rock groups have gone through when they have immediate success; the difficulties and stress of the recording/touring grind and the intense clash of egos would ultimately lead to the break-up of the band. The label would express a desire for another Bread album in 1976. And with enough time having passed so the members could put aside their differences, they were able to make that happen.
"Lost Without Your Love" would be Bread's sixth studio album and the title track would be their final top-ten hit in 1977. However, while on road to support the album, all those previous personal tensions would flair back up and by the end of the tour, the band was once again toast.
I have always had a take or leave attitude towards Miley Cyrus, usually leave in most cases. However with the recently dropped single from the twenty-seven year old performer, "Midnight Sky", I really loved the song after the first listen. This sparkling dance-pop track utilizes classic disco (and samples "Edge of Seventeen" from Stevie Nicks) to tell a story about finding inner strength and self-love through challenging times. This is the first single from "She is Miley Cyrus", the long-delayed seventh studio album from the singer which had been postponed due to some personal struggles including her marriage and separation with actor, Liam Hemsworth and the shutdown of the world due to the Coronavirus. There is no exact release date yet for the album.
While Dua Lipa's latest album, "Future Nostalgia" was already dance-floor ready, the British singer decided to take it up another notch. And that has lead to "Club Future Nostalgia", a remix collection of songs from the record that takes them in some interesting new directions. This mixtape forges 1990's house with 2020 pop music and a splash of 1980's soul. The first single released is "Levitating" which was remixed by the DJ, The Blessed Madonna and features Missy Elliott and the Queen of Pop, Madonna. It's been revealed that Mark Ronson will take on the song, "Physical" with Gwen Stefani but no additional info on other tracks has been made available at this time. But the album will be out on August 28th.
Alicia Keys has released another song from her forthcoming album simply called, "Alicia". "So Gone" is a guitar-driven ballad that teams the singer with the young alt-r&b artist, Khalid which results in a thrilling meeting of classic and contemporary soul. I love the music video which features actress, Sasha Lane. The clip, which takes place at a prom with Keys and Khalid as the live entertainment, humorously looks at our youth's obsession with their phones and creating social media content instead of interacting with the people right next to them.
Finally we have another generational musical pairing but this time in country music. The rising alt-country artist from Canada, Orville Peck comes together with fellow Canadian, the legendary, Shaina Twain on the new song, "Legends Never Die". This is the latest track from Peck's recently released EP, "Show Pony" which pays tribute to the style of country music he grew-up listening to and also features a cover of Bobbie Gentry's 1970 classic, "Fancy". The music video cleverly uses social distancing with Peck and Twain performing the song at a drive-in. I love seeing these two over-the-top performers, who never fitted comfortably in the traditional country music format, come together on this great track.
