ISMIEM "Lucy Woodward

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stance, has an expansive, POP groove, he playfully rhymes PISTOLERA downtempo jazz feel, under- LUCY WOODWARD about meeting a girl and sub- LUDACRIS En Este Camino written by string and piano Slow Recovery (4:36) sequent attempts to woo her. Let's Stay Together (4:12) Producer: Charlie Dos flourishes that are quite Producer: Tim Kvasnosky With a mixture of name - Producers: Juicy J, DJ Paul Santos impressionistic. "N'Tana" Writers: L. Woodward, dropping ( "She looking for a Writers: C. Bridges, J. Houston, Luchadora/Thirty Tigers pushes an intense rhythmic J. Michael, S. Brawley man that could give her a P Beaugard Release Date: Aug. 5 groove that invites the jazz - Publishers: Diesel Liesel/ break, like Usher or Justin Publisher: not listed ©Sandra Velasquez has inflected horns and flute. "Fi- Warner/Chappell /Little Big Timberlake ") and slightly Disturbing Tha Peace/Def Jam not given herself an easy mani" reprises the irresistible Guy/Wishart Songs, BMI naughty innuendo ( "I'm re- On his latest single, Atlanta rapper Ludacris assignment: write searching, dancefloor vibe that has Barnes & Noble ally not sure if her breasts are attempts to foster Southern hospitality by telling often politically conscious been Bagayogo's signature Lucy Woodward graz- fake /Cause with whipped public figures to set aside their differences and lyrics in Spanish with tradi- sound, though even here we 113 ed top 40 in 2003 with cream on 'ern, they taste just make up. The gratifying thing about this song, from tional Latin music instrumen- catch elliptical comments Avril -lite "Dumb Girls" and like cake "), the king of Cool upcoming "Theater of the Mind," is that the longtime tation (such as jarana, accor- from horns and keyboard wrote Stacie Orrico's charm- aims for -and succeeds superstar rapper approaches it from the perspective dion and tuba) for a diverse that are a new idea in his ing 2005 tune "(There's Got- with -a tasty, hearty helping of a fan. Regardless that he is an entertainer con- audience. Even with her lim- sonic repertoire. -PVV ta Be) More to Life." The 28- of summer jam. -KJH nected to two breakups that are referenced, ited vocal range, the results year -old has regrouped with Ludacris points out how public disputes wound all are often glorious ( "Eres Tú ") ISMIEM "Lucy Woodward ... Is Hot KARDINAL those who look up to those involved. Backed by a and galvanizing ( "Guerra," a DAVID BOWIE and Bothered," a sonic turn- OFFISHALL beat from Academy Award winners Juicy J and DJ translation of Bob Marley's Live Santa Monica '72 stile that flips through FEATURING AKON Paul of Three 6 Mafia, and given Luda's skills on the "War," couldn't be more rele- Producer: none listed dreamy pop, jazz and bluesy Dangerous (4:12) mic, the song has the edge to command the charts. vant). The musicianship is su- Virgin bebop, distributed exclu- Producers: DJ Kemo, hAZEL In a genre that's been known to elevate the compet- perb here, and it's a pleasure Release Date: July 22 sively by Barnes & Noble. Writers: J. Harrow, A. Thiam itive spirit into real conflict, it's terrific to hear some- to listen to a whole museum ©Thanks to the increasing First single "Slow Recovery" Publisher: not listed one encouraging the opposite. -SR of brass, bongos, congas, cax- affordability of high - lovingly revisits '60s Britpop, Kon Live/Geffen /Black Jays ixi, maracas and pandereta in- quality recording gear, the live with a cool finger- snapping With a distinct, pow- corporated beautifully into a album isn't much of a valuable rhythm, stings of strings erful voice and spit- rocketed into the top 10 on ROCK sound that doesn't fit neatly commodity these days. ( "Live and percussive snaps, and a ting clarity similar to that of the Billboard Hot 100 -and BUCKCHERRY into any genre. If this is home- albums are dead," announced performance that fosters an Ludacris and Busta Rhymes, employing hitmaking ma- Too Drunk ... (4:02) work, it gets an A. -ABY a recent headline in England's image of the vocalist cling- Kardinal Offishall is making chine Akon certainly wasn't Producers: Marti Independent.) Yet the official ing to the mic stand with one a name for himself (with a bad move. When a Frederiksen, Keith Nelson WORLD release of this long- bootlegged hand, glass of champagne in clever poetic license). Com- "body's like weapons of Writers: J. Todd, K. Nelson, ISSA BAGAYOGO David Bowie gig still feels like the other and a faraway look bining elements of dance - mass eruptions" and a sonic S. Dacanay Mali Koura an event, and not just because in her eyes, toying sensu- hall, reggae and hip -hop vibe that approaches a mil- Publishers: Cash and Carry/ Producers: Yves Wernert, the sound is crisper and ously with her audience. The with lyrical references to "Sex lennium "Poison" (as in Bell Lick the Star/Chiva, ASCAP Philippe Berthier louder than what you'll find album boasts staggering and the City," Halle Berry Biv DeVoe), the rising club 10th Street Entertainment Six Degrees on YouTube. "Live Santa versatility as Woodward and "Black Snake Moan," banger will continue to Buckcherry, having Release Date: Aug. 5 Monica '72" captures Bowie transitions to new wave -y the Canadian MC of Ja- strike past anything that first hit pay dirt with Malian Issa Bagayogo on his first U.S. tour in full Sub Love," Shirley Bassey- maican descent has already gets in its way. -MM cocaine anthem "Lit Up" in has, in the last decade, Ziggy Stardust mode, back esque "Love Is Gonna" and 1999, returns to the party tracked some of the most in- before American audiences torchy "I Won't Care." Lucy's scene of the crime with novative and vibrant music knew quite what to make of a ball, equally appreciable MATT ZARLEY "Too Drunk ... " It's another

to emerge from West Africa. this slightly scary, totally for fans of melodic singalong Here I Am (3:59) song about a parent's worst His studio work with Yves sexy new version of a rock baubles and highbrow afi- Producer: Andy Zulla nightmare: a rock group Wernert and Philippe star. There's a confronta- cionados of finely honed Writers: M. Zarley, C. Curtis wallowing in getting wasted Berthier has produced a tional thrust to Bowie's per- musical composition. -CT Publisher: not listed nightly and prowling for distinctive fusion of Malian formance here that fame MattZarleycom sex. Buckcherry takes the traditional grooves and su- would soften during the R&B/HIP-HOP Matt Zarley began his career at 12, busting a move most basic blues rock perbly executed electronica. years to come. The set list LL COOL J with Tony the Tiger in a Frosted Flakes commercial, structure and leaves it bare, With "Mali Koura," Bagayogo includes plenty of hits - FEATURING then roared across Broadway in "A Chorus Line," "Kiss for the song is all about vul- delivers 11 songs that are "Changes," "Suffragette City," THE -DREAM of the Spider Woman," "Chicago" and numerous gar language that will re- not only rhythmically com- "Space Oddity " -as well as Baby (4:07) other productions. He's also been named one of quire a lot of beeping be- pelling, but also stretch his a sympathetic cover of the Producer: Tricky Stewart People's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors. So Mr. Z sings, fore the song gets on -air. sound in the direction of jazz. Velvet Underground's "Wait- Writers: J. Smith, T. Nash dances, acts and possesses grrr- dreamy appeal. Now Singer Josh Todd makes "Tcheni Tchemakan," for in- ing for the Man. " -MW Publisher: not listed toss in a beautifully produced EP of power pop tunes, like a rock star pimp with Def Jam and a marquee mainstream artist is born. Emphasis the prize- winning, laugh - 11aNavOWDr1aM1111M DIThe first official single track "Had I Known" is a consummate power ballad, out -loud lyric, "I got so from LL Cool J's 13th showcasing a lamenting lyric and full- bodied key- many women comin' after EDITED BY JONATHAN COHEN the corresponding format. studio album, "Exit 13 "- boards, strings and instrumental hooks galore -but me /I put some pussy on (ALBUMS) AND CHUCK TAYLOR CRITICS' CHOICE *: A new (SINGLES) marking 20 years with Def more so, Zarley's stunning tenor range, crafty har- layaway." But that's all for release, regardless of chart Jam -shows the enduring monic layers and spine -tingling money notes. naught when he professes CONTRIBUTORS: Ayala Ben - potential, highly recommended Yehuda, Gary Graff, Ron Hart, for musical merit. rapper staying close to fa- Reminiscent of Nick Lachey, there's more: Uptempo that he's gotten "too drunk Katie Hasty, Kamau J. High, All albums commercially available miliar themes: enjoying the "Where Did You Come From," finger- snapping groove to fuck." If the song doesn't Michael Menachem, Jill Menze, in the United States are eligible. Gail Mitchell, Shad Reed, Wayne company of ladies. While LL "Deep Inside" and romantic love tome "Here I Am" permeate beach bashes be- Send album review copies to Robins, Chuck Taylor, Christa L. has found momentous suc- are as hit worthy. Tweens have plenty of idols to fore ends, a Jonathan Cohen and singles summer it's Titus, Ken Tucker, Philip Van review copies to Chuck Taylor cess with slow come -ons and swoon over. Here's a crush for grown -ups, whose ready -made evergreen that Vleck, Mikael Wood, Lavinia (both at Billboard, 770 Broadway, Jones Wright harder posturing, he goes for earthy machismo is quite the complement to his musi- can be worked to the frat Seventh Floor, New York, N.Y. the smooth approach here. cal muscle. -CT crowd at the start of the PICK : A new release predicted 10003) or to the writers in the to hit the top half of the chart in appropriate bureaus. Over a snappy summer school year. -CLT

I 9, 46 I BILLBOARD AUGUST 2008