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ping Mountain Soul album, this duet with Tritt is a lovely piece of SINGLES work. Loveless' hillbilly heart is on her sleeve, her vocals angelic. csv Edited by Chuck Taylor DAVID GROW Standing Tall (4:19) iir^a,W14,I' Steeped in the musical magic of her PRODUCER: David Grow "ter Kentucky roots, this music is obvi- WRITER: D. Grow ously what she was born to sing. POP PUBLISHER: 2K Sound And with one of the most distinctive 2K Sound (CD promo) male vocalists in country music, GROUP I've Changed Despite the best intentions, few Tritt also delivers a great perform- (4:13) among the dozens upon dozens of ance. Their combined voices set this PRODUCER: Peter Collins songs inspired by and recorded as a Melba Montgomery /Kostas- penned WRITER: J. Joplin tribute to the victims of the Sept. tune on fire. The simple, acoustic PUBLISHER: Zomba Songs, BMI 11 tragedies have true potential for production provides an eloquent Artemis Records 98 (CD promo) connecting all the dots necessary framework for the wonderful vocal If R.E.M. were to back up about 15 for mainstream impact- specifical- performances. Normally, this type of years and keep things on the mellow ly, vocal quality, production savvy, bare -bones, tradition- minded single tip, it's possible they would sound a lot and lyrical finesse. David Grow, wouldn't stand a shot at country like Josh Joplin Group on its new single who has produced songs for Jim radio, but in the wake of the revolu- "I've Changed," a thoughtful narrative MELISSA ETHERIDGE Lover Please Brickman, Carly Simon, and P.O.D. Youth of the Nation (4:05) tion that recently took place at the that addresses accepting one's own (3:25) PRODUCER: Howard Benson Country Music Assn. Awards (where imperfections -including losing at PRODUCERS: Melissa Etheridge WRITERS: Sonny, Marcos,Traa, and Wuv music from the Oh Brother, Where love. The original mix and David Cole PUBLISHERS: Souljah Music /Famous Art Thou? soundtrack captured features a backdrop of jangly guitars WRITER: M. Etheridge Music, ASCAP both album and single honors), and a full -on acoustic persona; the PUBLISHER: MLE Music, ASCAP Atlantic 3007287 (CD promo) radio may finally consider getting Peter Collins mix feels a little more Island Records (CD promo) P.O.D.'s "Youth of the Nation" is a on board. If anything within the palatable to radio in the best possible Female singer /songwriters have seen chilling account of a high -school genre deserves a shot, it's this gor- way, smoothing out some of the rough better days. Cone is the golden Lilith kid who becomes the random vic- geous single about an old flame edges and including a more melancholy Fair era where so many talented ladies tim of a school shooting -one that's still simmering. Here's to vocal. Joplin sings, "I wanted to be the at last got their due -including Melis- that leaves you pale. Thirty sec- hoping that it ignites a fire under greatest at everything, but I can't sa Etheridge. Her recent Skin, easily onds in, lead vocalist/lyricist hesitant programmers. -DEP be /And I wanted to be exempt from the most emotive collection of her Sonny Sandoval sings, "Who temptation, but I can't be /And I want- career, unfortunately, seems to be one knew that this day wasn't like the ed your love to be everlasting, but it of the casualties of our current male - rest/Instead of taking the test I CHRISTMAS isn't." Good stuff, with a melody to tie dominated rock era: After a promis- took two in the chest." Add to that it all up neatly. This track is deserving ing debut at No. 9 on The Billboard the knowledge that it's based on BOBBY RODRIGUEZ Happiest lime of of some mainstream attention; with 200 in July, the album dropped off the real -life shooting of 15 stu- the Year (3:46) the right amount of legwork at the the chart in just 12 weeks. It would Michael W. Smith, among others, dents at Santana High School in Padna Digital 0211 (CD single) label end, this could be-and should be nice to think that radio would has managed to write, arrange, and Santee, Calif. -just a couple of be -a major breakthrough. -CT open its ears, because "Lover Please" sing a beautiful composition that miles from where P.O.D. was ENYA Oiche Chium (Silent Night) is among Etheridge's finest moments. effectively addresses the pain and recording its current Satellite - 3:45 She relates, "I woke up to find you heartbreak of that infamous day, and it becomes a real cold splash Reprise 100795 (CD promo) RAP had broke all the rules, and you while gently looking forward: in the face, making the group's changed your mind/Didn't I love you "Oh, my God is all we could say/ call to ending the violence a credi- PATSY "Kid "Santa Claus /Happy NAPPY ROOTS Awnaw (4:01) good/Oh, this one's gonna hurt like We could not believe our eyes that ble demand. P.O.D. is coming off Holly -Day (3:21) PRODUCER: James "Groove" Chambers hell." With Etheridge's recent public day /As our world came down," he one of the grittiest songs of 2001, Roperry 2255 (cassette single) WRITERS: W. Hughes, M. Adams, V. Tisdale, break -up with her longtime partner, begins, then implores, "We are "Alive." With the impact that Contact: 212 -371 -4142 R. Anthony, and J. Chambers they are easy words to believe. A standing tall /Somehow I still be- "Youth of the Nation" is destined PUBLISHERS: Success Story, BMI; memorable melody and keen accom- lieve/In the good in us all." The to have, these guys are poised to PERRY PAYNE Santa Claus Won't Full Circle, ASCAP paniment back the lyric and her edgy piano -led ballad quickly builds into become one of the most -heralded Get Lit Up (At the Trailer Park Atlantic 300651 (CD promo) delivery-a single listen could have a a powerful musical mantra. It also breakthrough bands of the day. This Year) (3:29) As proof of hip -hop's ever -expanding fan singing along and strumming air crosses format lines: Top 40, AC, This is heads above most of the Hometown Productions 214 (CD single) reach, witness newcomers Nappy guitar. Let's hope radio listeners are and country could all take this to guitar- drenched stuff out there. Contact: 212 -795 -7278 Roots. The Kentucky -based crew- given that chance. -CT heart. Contact 646- 658 -8300. -CT A song with real purpose. -CT Big V, Ron Clutch, FishScales, R. FOURPLAY /ERIC BENET Prophet, B. Scott, and Saan -is The Christmas Song (3:59) already off and running with its first ing tale of a guy in a bit of an abusive the bright side, that language flies off COUNTRY Warner Brothers 4273 (CD promo) single, "Awnaw." From the collective's relationship, whose girlfriend drags the tongues of many rock DJs these Atlantic debut, Watermelon, Chicken, him to the Jerry Springer Show to days, so it might not a big problem - MARTINA McBRIDE 0 Holy Night (3:39) and Gritz, the organ- driven track is a tell him about her past. If that isn't especially right now, as the quartet's PATTY LOVELESS WITH TRAVIS TRITT RCA 4688 (c /o BMG) (CD promo) fitting introduction to the group's enough, the chorus shows off a risqué last single, "Lipstick and Bruises," Out of Control Raging Fire (3:32) soulful, laid -back style. Lyrically, wordplay: "I'm so addicted to you /And was a top 10 modern -rock track with PRODUCER: Emory Gordy Jr. KENNY ROGERS WITH WYNONNA "Awnaw" is just a fun -loving party you're such a dick to me." The "d" a video unveiling Lit's new mascot, WRITERS: Kostas and M. Montgomery JUDD Mary, Did You Know (3:51) track about much of nothing. The word remains intact on the radio edit, Mulletron, an 8 -foot, mullet-sporting PUBLISHER: Universal Songs of PolyGram Magnatone 108 (CD promo) single is already receiving love at no doubt a deterrent to some pro- robot. And speaking of Springer, Mul- International, BMI mainstream R &B radio nationwide, grammers; yet cleaning it up could letron would be great for an appear- Epic 54964 (CD promo) JIMMY BUFFETT while the accompanying videoclip, sacrifice the integrity of the track. On ance on the show. -EA Culled from Patty Loveless' stun- Christmas Island (2:55) directed Lenny Bass, is gaining equal Margaritaville /MCA 1019 (CD promo) attention at music video outlets. Lis- teners will have to wait for another TRANS- SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA helping of this funkdafied hip -hop, N E W & N O T E W O R T H Y Christmas Eve Sarajevo (3:24) though, since Nappy Roots' album Lava /Atlantic 6928 (CD promo) doesn't drop until next year. -RH ILL NIÑO What Comes Around (3:29) ian Machado, the song surprises at PRODUCER: Dave Chavarri the midsection with a breakdown BUY THIS B4 CHRISTMAS X -Mas WRITERS: C. Machado, M. Rizzo, that is downright pretty, even a lit- Megamix (Radio Edit) (3:55) ROCK and D. Chavarri tle jazzy. It's an impressive me- Navigate Records (CD promo) PUBLISHER: Amigos Songs, BMI lange of disparate elements that LIT Atomic (2:56) Roadrunner Records 10006 (CD promo) really brings something new to the SHANIA TWAIN PRODUCERS: Don Gilmore and Lit "What Comes Around" is a jittery table -and rock and top 40 could God Bless the Child (3:4.8) WRITER: A. J. Popoff explosion of guitar- drenched soul - definitely use that these days. The Mercury 137 (CD promo) PUBLISHERS: EMI April /lagermaestreo rock, yearning and grimacing-but South American -bred sextet has Music, ASCAP with a melodic accessibility that, something to say, and with this LORRIE MORGAN RCA 60505 (CD promo) with III Niño's hard -rocking credo, bull's -eye debut, the chances are My Favorite Things (3:44) The tattooed stalwarts of Lit return the band might want to advertise. that radio will lend a favorable ear. BNA 64687 (CD cut) with the second single from Atomic, Opening with a flame -throwing The single comes from Ill Niño's "Addicted," part of the band's revival slab of guitars and slapped with the Roadrunner Records debut, Revolu- LONESTAR I'll Be Home of vintage arena rock. A. Jay Popoff fortified vocals of frontman Crist- tion /Revolución.-CT for Christmas (3:30) sings the often- witty, always -frustrat- BNA 64688 (CD cut)

Eric Aiese, Rashaun Hall, Deborah Evans Price, Chudc Taylor. SPOTLIGHT: Releases deemed by the review editors to deserve special attention on the basis of musical merit and/or Billboard chart potential. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Exceptional releases by new or C ONTRIBUTORS upcoming artists. PICKS (): New releases predicted to hit the top half of the chart in the corresponding format. CRITICS' CHOICES ( *): New releases, regardless of chart potential, highly recommended because of their musical merit. Send review copies to ChuckTaylor (Billboard, 770 Broadway, 6th floor, NewYork, N.Y. 10003) or to the writers in the appropriate bureaus.

BILLBOARD DECEMBER 15, 2001 www.billboard.com 25 www.americanradiohistory.com