Gorillaz - Plastic Beach (March 9). The "band" that gave us "Clint Eastwood" in 2001 and "Feel Good Inc." in 2005 is back with its third album. What must have been started as a lark has morphed into one of the biggest electronic recording acts of the last 10 years--even if they don't really exist. From what I can glean, Danger Mouse is not a producer this time, but lots of big guests show up, particularly hip-hop acts like Snoop Dogg and De La Soul. Pulsing first single, "Stylo," features R&B great Bobby Womack along with Mos Def. Check out their Web site for lots of cool promotional content, including videos featuring 3-D renderings of the island shown on the album cover.
Goldfrapp - Head First (March 22). British duo Goldfrapp returns with their fifth album, the follow-up to 2008's rather tame fourth outing, Seventh Tree. If first single "Rocket" is indicative of the album's sound, then the group is taking a new direction into sunnier pop territory that is very, very '80s.
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (March 1). This is another new act with a good amount of buzz. They were on the BBC Sounds of 2010 list, although they didn't place in the top 5. A surprise, for a listen to early single "I Can Talk" finds them a confident band that mixes electro-pop with guitar rock, like Delphic blended with the Editors. "Undercover Martyn," the track chosen as the first single to promote the album proper is another winner, mellower than "I Can Talk," but no less interesting.
Jason DeRulo - Jason DeRulo (March 1). His "Whatcha Say" hit #1 in the UK last year, and its follow-up, "In My Head," which recently hit the US top 10, looks set to top the UK singles chart this weekend. The album is produced by J.R. Rotem, one of the hottest pop music producers at the moment who has also worked with JLS and Iyaz.
Broken Bells (March 9). Here's what Danger Mouse has been up to, collaborating with James Mercer, lead singer of The Shins. First single, "The High Road" is high-class laid back electronic pop.
Ellie Goulding - Lights (March 1). Lots of buzz for this singer, winner of the BBC Sound of 2010 poll--the third female singer in a row after Little Boots and Adele to claim this honor. Lights is the English singer's debut, featuring early single "Under the Sheets" and current release "Starry Eyed," that looks set to debut in the UK top 5 this weekend.Alphabeat - The Beat Is... (March 1). This Danish pop act released their second album in the fall, but it doesn't get its UK release until now. It features the hit single "The Spell" and new single "Hole in My Heart."
Sugababes - Sweet 7 (March 8). Having traded out Keisha Buchanan for Jade Ewen, the popular British pop act, now in its fourth incarnation, releases its seventh studio album. This will include early singles "Get Sexy" and "About a Girl," as well as new single "Wear My Kiss."
Boyzone - Brother (March 8). Boyzone reunited in 2008 for a greatest hits album and tour, which apparently went so well that they decided to make a full new album. Sadly, Stephen Gately died recently, and therefore appears on only a few tracks, including the album's first single "Gave It All Away" written by Mika. Also included is a remake of Kaiser Chiefs' #1 hit, "Ruby," and a remake of Boyzone's #3 hit from 1995, "So Good."
Justin Bieber - My World 2.o (March 23). Little Justin turns 16 on Monday, just weeks before the release of his album, the follow-up to his EP debut that spawned hits "One Time" and "One Less Lonely Girl." New album includes current hit single "Baby."
Gabriella Cilmi - Ten (March 22). Australian singer releases her second album, featuring first single "On a Mission."
Craig David - Signed Sealed Delivered (March 22). Craig David releases his fifth studio album, including first single "One More Lie (Standing in the Shadows)."
Lifehouse - Smoke and Mirrors (March 2). Their fifth studio album featuring single "Halfway Gone."
Natalie Merchant - Leave Your Sleep (March 2). The former 10,000 Maniacs singer releases her fifth studio album.
Usher - Raymond vs. Raymond (March 30). It's been delayed several times...in fact, when I first drafted this entry, this was due March 1 and already it's been pushed to the end of the month. And it hasn't yet generated a hit. Usher's bright light has definitely faded.
Ludacris - Battle of the Sexes (March 9). Features current single "How Long."
Madonna - Sticky and Sweet (March 30). A live album, her third.
Mariah Carey - Angels Advocate (March 30). A remix album with tracks from Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.
Agnes - Dance Love Pop (UK) (March 29). This finally gets its UK release. Includes "Love Love Love," the remix of "I Need You Now," and two new tracks, "You Rain" and "Secret Love."
Looking ahead, April looks relatively tame...save for the sophomore release from one of 2008's big breakout bands, MGMT.
4 comments:
Ellie Goulding I am finally warming to - the album is quite lush and consistently good. Looking forward to a Boyzone album for the first time in my life, though my expectations are quite low. And quite liking the reinvention of Gabrielle Cilmi :)
才董 - I know, right! My thoughts exactly.
Paul - I've read some good reviews of Ellie, although, I'm not falling in love with "Starry Eyed." We'll see. I probably won't get the Boyzone album, unless it gets surprisingly good reviews, but I'll surely get the singles. Gorillaz, Goldfrapp and Two Door Cinema Club are definites for me.
Currently jammin' to Two Door Cinema Club because of your introduction post. I am warming up to it, I might like it more than the Delphic album, great stuff. I am on the same page with Paul, Ellie's album is pretty amazing, better than what I anticipate, same goes with Marina's Family Jewels.
Lol at 才董 ! too clever mister!
MGMT, Goldfrapp and Cilmi fingers crossed :)
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