New Album Update - Whitney Houston, Beverley Knight, Queen Latifah & Avril Lavigne

With my Blog "To-Do" List growing by the day, I'm cramming a few updates into one right here in an abbreviated form. Here's a little bit of information about a few new albums I'm getting excited about.

Whitney Houston - I Look To You (Release Date: 8/31/2009 - UK - 9/1/2009 - U.S.): You know what? I don't think I own a single Whitney Houston album! Sad realization! I think I'm going to have to purchase a greatest hits/greatest remixes compilation one of these days. You might then ask WHY the new Whitney Houston album is something that has me excited. I think, more than anything, it's the hype. Houston is one of the finest vocalists of our time, and despite all of her tabloid-troubles - this woman's music is worth listening to. I wish Houston the best and I sincerely can't wait to hear her new material.

Houston premiered the album first in London on July 14th, and more recently on July 21st in New York City. The most recent "listening party" took place at Lincoln Center and was hosted by RCA mogul, Clive Davis. The list of notable invitees included Swizz Beats, Alicia Keys, L.A. Reid, Monica, R. Kelly, Martha Stewart and many more! According to Billboard, nine songs were played for the guests starting with the Swizz Beatz produced "Million Dollar Bill."

At her London listening party, Houston described the new album as a "labor of love," admitting that she was ready to retire when Davis stepped in and told her that the "people want to hear you." Davis is right, most definitely. This could be quite the comeback album. In order for this to happen, however, the album needs hit singles. I Look To You has been described as contemporary R&B which sort of worries me. To me "contemporary R&B" means BALLAD-OVERLOAD...but I guess that's not necessarily true. There are both up-tempo and slow jamz on the album which is promising. Among the collaborators -Alicia Keys, Diane Warren, Stargate, R. Kelly and Akon. I'm pumped. - Via Billboard

Tracklisting:

"Million Dollar Bill"
"Nothin' But Love"
"Call You Tonight"
"I Look To You"
"Like I Never Left" (featuring Akon)
"A Song For You"
"I Didn't Know My Own Strength"
"Worth It"
"For The Lovers"
"I Got You"

Check out Whitney Houston on the web: Official Site//Classic Whitney//Facebook//YouTube////iLike

Beverley Knight - 100% (Release Date: 9/14/2009 - UK): When I first heard Beverley Knight's new single, "Beautiful Night," this morning (via ArjanWrites) I was impressed. I was expecting just another R&B song but I really am digging this one. Knight not only looks stunning in the video, but the mid-tempo jam is actually quite catchy. Slick production, beautiful vocals...what more could one expect from an industry pro like Knight?

When I was in the UK a few years back, HMV actually had more than just one designated shelf for singles. I was perusing the ENTIRE row of singles and found Beverley Knight's cover of the Janis Joplin classic, "Piece of My Heart." I of course also adore her cover of Robyn's "Keep This Fire Burning." You can't really go wrong with Beverley Knight. I'm looking forward to this new record - her first album post Parlophone-split. With her own label (Hurricane Records), Knight's been hard at work with hitmakers including The Rural, Guy Chambers, DJ Munro and Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis (Janet Jackson). Sounds very promising indeed.

Check out Beverley Knight on the web: Official Site//MySpace//Facebook//Twitter//Flickr//YouTube

Artwork via Coverlandia

Queen Latifah - Persona (Release Date: 8/22/2009): As dated as Latifah's '94 single "U.N.I.T.Y." might sound today, there's no denying it was a solid track. It seems like her days of rapping/singing are but a distant memory, with Queen Latifah (Dana Owens) focusing on acting, singing jazz standards and being a CoverGirl spokes model. The time has come for a return to form! Now that we know Latifah can really SING, put those pipes to use on something NOW...something HIP...something radio stations will latch on to. New album Persona, might just be the ticket.

While I don't really think Latifah needs to prove anything to anyone, I'm just anxious to hear her vocals on the radio. In a recent interview with Billboard, Latifah sheds some light on the new album and what we can expect to hear. In the interview Latifah said "I realize that I haven't been in the game for a while...I just want it to be heard." Working with Cool & Dre on much of the album, there will be singing and rapping as well as collaborations.

According to Latifah, "This album is definitely rooted in hip-hop, but there's a lot of singing too. I've always sung on my records. I was always a person who mixed a lot of melody with rhymes." I, for one, cannot WAIT to hear the Queen return to her hip-hop roots. Download the album's lead single "Cue The Rain." - Via Billboard

Check out Queen Latifah on the web: Official Site


Avril Lavigne - Untiled 4th Album (Release Date: November ??): I first heard Avril Lavigne's breakout track "Complicated" online and immediately was drawn to it's angsty chorus. It's been a love/like/dislike relationship with Avril Lavigne ever since. Loved debut album Let Go; liked follow up Under My Skin; disliked The Best Damn Thing. According to Billboard, her new, as of yet, untitled record is going to be more raw and stripped down.

"A lot of the songs are mainly the acoustic and my vocal. It's a lot different from anything I've done before," Lavigne tells Billboard. "It's not a pop rock record. This is more about emotion and feeling."

Interesting. I could possibly dig this. In listening to her ballads and mid-tempo singles, you can tell Lavigne has the pipes. It's when she starts jumping up and down and "rocking out" that her vocals get all wavery and inconsistent. After the album, which was considerably "poppier" than any of her previous efforts, Lavigne needs to take it down a notch.

While first single isn't a sure thing yet, it could be the full length version of the song Lavigne recorded to help launch her first fragrance called "Black Star." Not bad at all. Husband and Sum41 frontman Deryck Whibley produced much of the album, while Lavigne wrote. In addition, Lavigne collaborated with former bandmate (and aspiring solo artist) Evan Taubenfield. I'll definitely be purchasing the new record - if for no other reason than to complete my Avril Lavigne CD collection. Sounds like she's off on the right track. - Via Billboard

Check out Avril Lavigne on the web: Official Site//MySpace//Imeem//YouTube