SPOTLIGHT


Since 2011 seems chock-full of T.B.A. (or To Be Announced, for the initial-impaired) CD releases, with everyone from Amy Winehouse


(oh, really?) to Justin Timberlake listed as having new music out this year. I thought I’d put my investigative journalist hat on to uncover the truth behind the rumors. And, yes, it’s on at a jaunty little tilt.


Lady GaGa seems to be eyeing a spring release date for her Born This Way CD, since her newest single will reportedly be out in February. The


“Bad Romance” singer told the BBC that the project is “a marriage of electronic music with major, epic, dare I even say, metal or rock ‘n’ roll, pop, anthemic style melodies with really sledge-hammering dance beats.” Gee…I wonder if her gay fan base will like that? Sounds like a long shot, really. Surely I jest. Yes I do, and don’t call me Shirley!


According to Billboard.com Britney Spears took to Twitter to discuss her presently untitled follow-up to 2008’s Circus. But then again, most of you might already know that! She Tweeted on December 2, which is her 29th birthday (again, you probably knew that factoid) that “I’m almost done with my new album and it will be coming out this March. I AM IN L-O-V-E WITH IT!” Her seventh album finds the Pop Princess


working with producers and songwriters Max Martin and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald. The latter dropped a hint about the potential sound of the soon-to-be-released CD, back in October, saying he “wants [the sound] to get harder in some ways, and maybe a little more deep into electronic -- grimier.” So, I will just assume they recorded it while Brit Brit made one of her many stops to a convenience store restroom, sans shoes, which is the epitome of “grimier.” Besides, the acoustics are better in there, y’all.


Other artists that are “allegedly” coming out with new material include: Nelly Furtado, The Beastie Boys, No Doubt, Jay-Z & Kanye West, Ting Tings, Eve, Diana Ross, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Panic! At The Disco, Outkast and Blondie.


However, leave it to the dependable gays to give us something firm to grab a hold of, as in a release date, you gutter minds. Ricky Martin’s Musica+Alma+Sexo, which translates to Music+Soul+Sex (see, you learned something here today!), is set for a February 1 release date. The bilingual CD, which is the singer’s first studio album in six years, even has a first single in both English and Spanish. “The Best Thing About Me Is You,” features guest vocals by Joss Stone, while its south-of-the-border counterpart, “Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tu,” has Martin singing with Natalia Jimenez. The single has already made an impact by being #1 on the Latin Charts. Look for him to tour in support of his latest endeavor during 2011.


by tim parks


JANUARY 2011 | RAGE monthly 33


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84