2008 Rock & Roll User's Guide
Posted Tuesday 01/01/2008 10:00 AM in
Guide
by
Ryan Dombal, Josh Eells, Tim Grierson, David Piesner, and Mark Yarm
Big MacksFiled Under:
Dance / Dancing, Sheryl crow, Music, Rock, Hip-Hop, DJ, R&B, Kanye west, Rapper, Pop, Performance, Punk, Music Video, Electronica, Indie, Backstage, Band / Group, Emo, Jam, Singer / Songwriter, Madonna, Nickelback, Big Boi, Janet jackson, 2008, Lily allen, Cassie, Vanessa hudgens
UsherAs yet untitled, due spring
What's the Deal: “There’s a lack of substance in music right now,” says R&B hitmaker Usher. But his fifth album has the cure: positive-message songs, like the pro-gentlemen “Chivalry,” and “Here I Stand,” about “the valor of a man.”
Why We're Excited: Planned collaborators include Jay-Z, Ludacris, Beyoncé and T-Pain. “I am the consummate entertainer,” Usher says. “I’m going around the globe to work with the greatest.”
Behind the Music: Married, with a lil’ Usher on the way, the bedroom bandit insists he’s changed: “I’m stepping away from the out-all-night, find-a-woman-and-leave-when-it’s-through type of dude. You can only spend so much time in the club, you dig?”
Big Boi
As yet untitled, due April
What's the Deal: OutKast’s Big Boi has been working for three years on what’s essentially his second solo album. “This is picking up where Speakerboxxx left off,” he says.
Why It's Better Than His Last One: After the sometimes-awkward experiments on the Idlewild soundtrack, Big Boi is getting back to basics, with production from longtime ’Kast affiliates Organized Noize. “It’s the classic OutKast sound,” Big Boi says. “The drums are hard, the beats are hard. It’s banging.”
The Haters Will Say: Where’s André 3000? “We think it’s better to do our solo records now, then come back and do the next OutKast record,” Big Boi says.
Gnarls Barkley
As yet untitled, due April
What's the Deal: The wild and “Crazy” guys started recording the follow-up to their 2006 debut on the road in early 2007. “It’s just bigger, badder, bolder and more arena-friendly,” says singer Cee-Lo.
Why We're Excited: Cee-Lo once again gets emotional over Danger Mouse’s psychedelic-garage-soul beats. “I know we’re always so modest,” Cee-Lo says. “But let me toot my own horn: It’s really fucking good.”
The Haters Will Say: More psychotic freakouts from Cee-Lo? “I don’t mind being vulnerable and bleeding for the music,” he says. “I don’t necessarily want that to be my shtick, but the music makes me want to spill my guts.”
