Having a hard time finding many new albums to get excited about so far this year? You’re not alone. Big-name releases are few and far between during the first few months of every year, and 1995 has been even worse than most.
But don’t sell your CD player. Relief is on the way.
June promises a flood of tantalizing choices. New albums scheduled include a collaboration between Neil Young and Pearl Jam, a two-disc live set by Pink Floyd and the Natalie Merchant solo debut anticipated by fans of 10,000 Maniacs ever since she left the band last fall.
Also part of the boom are freshly recorded CDs by Bon Jovi, Jodeci, Soul Asylum, Rod Stewart, Teenage Fanclub, the Breeders, Tears for Fears, Primus and other notables.
And June 20 is Epic’s latest ETA for Michael Jackson’s much-discussed, much-delayed two-CD mix of new and old songs–once called “HIStory” and now expanded to “HIStory Past, Present and Future: Book I.”
The following are other specific dates and titles, plus additional details.
Leading off Tuesday’s releases are fresh offerings by several ’90s college-rock faves. Perhaps the most widely anticipated of the bunch is “Pacer,” third album by the Breeders, the vibrantly bratty band formed by the Pixies’ Kim Deal (still leading the group) and Throwing Muses’ Tanya Donelly (who left to form the similarly praised and popular Belly).
Almost as eagerly awaited are the jagged San Francisco trio Primus’ “Tails From the Punch Bowl” and the more mellifluous Scottish outfit Teenage Fanclub’s “Grand Prix.” Also: Ugly Kid Joe’s “Menace to Sobriety” and Catherine Wheel’s “Happy Days.”
Other notable new albums being released Tuesday include Van Morrison’s “Days Like This,” Shabba Ranks’ “A Mi Shabba” and Paul Weller’s “Stanley Road.” And Nelson, the long-maned, much-maligned duo composed of the late Rick Nelson’s sons, comes out of hiding with “Because They Can,” its first album since the 1990 debut CD “After the Rain.”
June 13 is a veteran’s day, but at least one of the old soldiers on parade gets a helping hand from one of the ’90s’ biggest alternative-rock bands, as Pearl Jam guests on Neil Young’s as-yet-untitled new album. Two other new CDs aim to revive the careers of English pop icons who, like Young, have been around since the ’60s. Rod Stewart disproves recent retirement rumors with an album boldly deemed “Delicious.” And Dusty Springfield, who hasn’t had an album released in the States since 1982’s “White Heat,” returns with “A Very Fine Love.” Daryl Hall guests.
And the Jeff Healey Band checks in with “Cover to Cover,” offering versions of songs made famous by Jimi Hendrix, the Beatles and others.
June 20 is the latest date for Michael Jackson’s “HIStory Past, Present and Future: Book I.” If that title and other current designs for the two-CD set hold up, one disc will compile 15 Epic-era hits, such as “Billie Jean,” “Thriller” and “Beat It,” while the other will be devoted to the same number of new recordings.
The fresh material includes a duet with sister Janet (“Scream”) and the participation of other guests, such as Boyz II Men, Slash and Shaquille O’Neal, as well as interpretations of the Beatles’ “Come Together” and Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile.”
Even if the release date for “HIStory” gets launched once again into the future, June 20 has more in store:
Natalie Merchant finds out if there’s life after 10,000 Maniacs with the solo debut, “Tiger Lily.” Bjork (from Iceland’s Sugarcubes) follows her 1993 “Debut” with “Post.” Pink Floyd’s big-budget U.S. tour last year is commemorated on “Pulse,” a two-CD live set that includes a full-length “Dark Side of the Moon.” In contrast to such sparse CD titles, Jodeci’s youthful soul superstars harmonize on “The Show, the After Party, the Hotel.”
Also on the 20th: the ’90s spirit of Kyuss’ “And the Circus Leaves Town,” Grand Puba’s “2000” and an as-yet-untitled new album from Phish. Plus ghostly spirits Black Sabbath (“Forbidden”) and the Ramones (“Adios Amigo”).
June 27: The month ends with an eclectic selection–Bon Jovi’s “These Days,” Tears for Fears’ “Raoul and the Kings of Spain,” Vince Neil’s “Carved in Stone,” and yet-untitled albums by Rickie Lee Jones and Toni Braxton.
And just in case there still aren’t enough star names for you to look forward to, there’s one more June 27 album that’s loaded with them.
Every track on Quincy Jones’ “Le Q’s Juke Joint” will be a collaboration with such admirers as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Bono, Phil Collins, Gloria Estefan and Babyface. Also, the CD will be interspersed with spoken sections featuring the voices of, among others, Eddie Murphy, Maya Angelou, Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Nicholson, and Marlon Brando.
