also be released in a single -disc, 18 -track edi- and her own innocence and purity," Santana BO BICE tion and a cloth- bound, photo -laden version. CASSIE says, adding that Turner was the original in- TBA (STARTART) -SEPT. TBA In a first, Dylan allowed producer-of- the -mo- TBA (NEXTSELECTION/BAD BOY)-OCT. 2 tended guest on the cut, but that label politics Season four "American Idol" runner-up Bice ment Mark Ronson to remix "Most Likely You'll This model -turned- singer was one of Bad Boy's got in the way. "However, when you hear these is getting back to his Southern roots on the fol- Go Your Way (And I'll Go Mine)," but it is un- biggest artist- development surprises of 2006 notes that Tina hits, every hair on your body low-up to his 2005 debut, "The Real Thing." "I clear if any other reinterpretations will appear. with her self-titled debut, which spawned the stands up." As for "Into the Night," Santana enjoyed 'The Real Thing,' but [the new album] No. 3 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Me & U." Despite says it has that "kind of chant in a coliseum is more a labor oflove," says the Helena, Ala., that, Sean "Diddy" Combs had to recently deny when your team is ahead, like 'We Will Rock native, now inked to indie StartArt. "It's really MATCHBOX TWENTY rumors that Cassie was dropped from the label. You.' I am very grateful that Chad has shared me getting back to the roots of what Bo is, which "EXILE ON MAINSTREAM" (ATLANTIC) - In fact, she has been in the studio with Kanye it with me." is a Southern rock album and nothing more." OCT. 2 West and will also collaborate with Pharrell Recorded in Nashville with producer Frank Lid- It's been awhile since anyone has heard from Williams and Ryan Leslie, the latter of whom dell, the album boasts more songwriting cred- Matchbox Twenty, whose frontman Rob co -wrote and produced "Me & U." ALICIA KEYS its from Bice, who had little say the first time Thomas has enjoyed solo success in the five "AS I AM" (J) -OCT. 23 around. He also hand -picked all of his collab- years since the band's last album. But after a Gauging by a six -song preview of her third orators, including Gary Nichols and Chris month's worth of recent sessions in Los Ange- SANTANA album, "As I Am," Keys is truly what has be- Tompkins, whom Bice has known for more les with producer Steve Lillywhite, Matchbox "ULTIMATE SANTANA" (ARISTA)-OCT. 16 come a rarity in the music industry: a career than a decade. "American Blood," one song co- emerged with a dozen new songs, up to six of Amid all the Santana classics on this retrospec- artist. Sporting a more rock- and funk -edged penned by the pair, is a slower, country- driven which will appear on this best -of. "We got to- tive are three new tunes: a Shakira /Lil Wayne vibe to her usual grooves, Keys worked here support song for U.S. troops. gether for a week at my house and we all had collaboration that has yet to be named, an "in- with Mark Batson, Kerry "Krucial" Brothers song ideas, but they didn't sound like what we fectious" rocker penned by and featuring Nick - and Harold Lilly Jr. Guests include John Mayer wanted to play together," says Thomas, who had elback's Chad Kroeger titled "Into the Night" and Floetry singer Marsha Ambrosius, while BOB DYLAN never collaborated on the songwriting with his and a new version of the 2002 Michelle Branch - songwriter Linda Perry chipped in with three "DYLAN" (COLUMBIA) -OCT. 2 bandmates. "Between that vibe and working featuring hit "The Game of Love" with vocals songs, including "The Thing About Love." Keys Fans are helping guide the track list for this with Steve, it's a much more raw, energetic, live - from Tina Turner. "We got a Grammy with characterizes their brainstorming as "not quite three -disc, 51 -song retrospective, which will sounding record than we've done in the past." Michelle, and Michelle brought her own spirit the same old thing. My roots are soul, hip -hop

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face, Diane Warren and Jermaine Dupri. ing that the comeback -which is being helmed by Sean Garrett, Jonathan Rotem GREEN DAY and others -will have to wait for '08. At least The multiplatinum punkers have been it gives her time to generate a few more carefully plotting a smart follow - tabloid headlines. up to "American Idiot." Consid- ering that album went COLDPLAY through a few permutations The British quartet is in the before it emerged, the wait studio with Brian Eno work- to '08 isn't surprising. ing on its fourth release, but doesn't plan to have anything R.E.M. ready before the new year. The trio has been working at Those in the know say Chris Major Releases Shift From Fourth studios in Vancouver, Dublin and Martin's lyrics are more "abstract Quarter Into 2008 BY GARY GRAFF Athens, Ga., with producer Jacknife and visual" this time, while the accom- Lee, who reportedly is pushing the band panying music is "less straightforward" and nyone who has received UC hard -and in a rocking direction. New songs "more oblique." one too many ties, The group has logged time in Fez, Morocco, include "Until the Day Is Done," "Horse to robes, pairs of slippers with longtime production collaborators Brian Water" and the "Monster " -ish "Staring JANET JACKSON or fragrances can tell Eno and Daniel Lanois, who have been active Down the Barrel of the Middle Distance." After the disappointing sales of "20 Years you we don't always get in the songwriting process for the Old," Ms. Jackson is taking a little extra time what we want for the first time. Bono says, "We have PANIC! AT THE DISCO with producer/boyfriend Jermaine Dupri. holidays. So can the no plans for the music yet. Expectations for a sophomore Recording is set to happen in hitmaking hot record labels, who pine for big releases - We're just going to make it release in '07 were greatly ex- spot Miami. and as many as possible -leading up to De- until we can't not put it out!" aggerated by erroneous re- cember's gift -o -rama. And while ports. The Las Vegas up- MICHAEL JACKSON I I I I I I I release his we're already getting indications of this WHITNEY HOUSTON starts are still writing and Janet's big bro isn't quite ready to year's big fourth -quarter releases, there are With Arista's focus on Jen- aren't expected in the studio own comeback venture, which features col- will.i.am, Ne -Yo, Rodney quite a few whose companies hoped would nifer Hudson's debut, due be- until late summer or fall. laborations with see the light of day that now look likely to fore the end of the year, Houston Jerkins and Neffu. His rep claims he's "put- album emerge in 2008. But never fear. There's al- is taking time to hone her comeback BRITNEY SPEARS ting finishing touches" on his first R. Kelly, Baby- Those around her are officially acknowledg- since 2001. ways exchanges . . . with help from Akon, Ne -Yo,

JULY 14, 2007 24 i BILLBOARD

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