Let us entertain you: Recordings

9/14/2003

POP/ROCKDave Matthews, "Some Devil" (RCA, Sept. 23) For his maiden solo voyage, Matthews gets a helping hand from the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Phish's Trey Anastasio, and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The first single closes with some seriously guttural caterwauling, suggesting Dave is embracing his inner rocker.

Elvis Costello, "North" (Deutsche Grammophon, Sept. 23) The alter ego to last year's rocking "When I Was Cruel," Costello's new album is an intimate chronicle of love lost and found (with fiancee Diana Krall) -- beautifully orchestrated and tenderly delivered.

Rufus Wainwright, "Want" (DreamWorks, Sept. 23) Artistic fallout from the singer-songwriter's descent into drug abuse and sexual obsession. Wainwright's inimitable way with a gorgeous melody should sweeten the proceedings.

Sting, "Sacred Love" (A&M, Sept. 30) The studio follow-up to 1999's multiplatinum "Brand New Day" -- reportedly a ballad-heavy collection -- features guest spots from Mary J. Blige and

Anoushka Shankar.

Sarah McLachlan, "Afterglow" (Arista, Nov. 4) The Canadian songbird's first album of new material in six years. First single "Fallen" falls neatly into the new mother's melodious folk-pop catalog.

Pink, "Try This" (Arista, Nov. 11) Pink's third album features collaborations with female rock producer du jour Linda Perry (see Courtney Love) and pornographic punk-rapper Peaches -- a dynamic duo indeed.

Britney Spears, untitled (Jive, Nov. 18) Not a girl, not yet a woman, and no longer a pop star unless she can deliver musical goods of some sort on her third disc. Moby, the Matrix, and R. Kelly pitch in.

ALT-ROCK
Courtney Love, "America's Sweetheart" (Virgin, Oct. 21) After a string of bad hair days, rehab rumors, and tales of grandpa Brando, the former Hole frontwoman finally gets around to testing her rock 'n' roll relevance with an ironically titled solo outing.

R.E.M., "In Time: Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003" (Warner Bros., Oct. 28) The band cherry-picked 18 tracks for its first retrospective, which spans the big hits and band favorites and includes two new songs, "Bad Day" and "Animal."

The Strokes, "Room on Fire" (RCA, Oct. 21) Rock's latest great hope stares into the gaping maw of the proverbial sophomore album. Expect tinges of soul and reggae, a bona fide ballad, and slicker production values.

Paul Westerberg, "Come Feel Me Tremble" (Vagrant, Oct. 21) The former Replacements frontman burrows into scruffy roots tunes on this soundtrack to a documentary of the same name.

Ryan Adams, "Rock 'n' Roll" (Lost Highway, Nov. 4) The prolific alt-country songwriter releases the follow-up to 2001's "Gold"; on the same day, the first EP in a two-part package, "Love Is Hell," comes out (part 2 drops Dec. 9).

R&B/HIP-HOP
Erykah Badu, "Worldwide Underground" (Motown, Tuesday) Three years in the making, Badu's third studio album features guest spots from Lenny Kravitz, Angie Stone, Bahamadia, and Queen Latifah.

OutKast, "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below" (La Face, Sept. 23) A double disc divided into solo albums from Big Boi and Andre 3000.

Jay-Z, "The Black Album" (Roc-A-Fella, Nov. 18) The rapper's final work, so he says.

Alicia Keys, untitled (J Records, Nov. 18) The singer says her follow-up to 2001's multiplatinum, Grammy-winning "Songs in A Minor" was inspired by the traditional Spanish flamenco performers and African singers she encountered during travels overseas. Expect some familiar piano-based soul ballads as well. Other notable releasesDavid Bowie, "Reality" (Sony, Tuesday) Emmylou Harris, "Stumble Into Grace" (Nonesuch, Sept. 23)

Matmos, "The Civil War" (Matador, Sept. 23)

Nickelback, "The Long Road" (Roadrunner, Sept. 23)

Nelly Furtado, "Folklore" (DreamWorks, Nov. 25)

Dido, "Life for Rent" (Arista, Sept. 30)

Belle & Sebastian, "Dear Catastrophe Waitress" (Rough Trade, Oct. 7)

Rickie Lee Jones, "Evening of My Best Day" (V2, Oct. 7)

The Distillers, "Coral Fang" (Warner Bros., Oct. 14) Barenaked Ladies, "Everything to Everybody" (Reprise, Oct. 21)

J. A.