TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE 4 NOVEMBER 23, 24 & 28, 2002 ‘TIS THE SEASON X A guide to the holiday season’s hottest CDs these days is more awkward than load or burn CDs. Plus, having all Me” (J). By JENNIFER ORDONEZ a middle-school dance. Indeed, the hits newly packaged gives par- The Wall Street Journal this quarter could signal how ents a new excuse to try and influ- RAP/HIP HOP much of a future there is for teen ence their children’s tastes. CONTENDERS: “8 Mile” sound- ith sales down a second pop’s graduates. Mr. Timberlake WILD CARD: Paul McCartney, track (Interscope); Jay-Z, “Blue- year in row, the music is regarded as the most gifted of “Back in the U.S. Live 2002” (Capi- print 2: The Gift & the Curse” Wbusiness is gambling on the ‘N Sync crew, and his “Justi- tol). (Roc-a-fella/Def Jam); Ja Rule, an all-star blitz for the holidays. fied” is seen as a bellwether for “The Last Temptation” (Murder The music industry is scram- the genre’s fate. Some early buzz ALTERNATIVE ROCK Inc./Def Jam) bling this season to make a haul has the album resembling “Off the CONTENDERS: Nirvana, “Nir- THE BUZZ: It’s the most crowd- with holiday shoppers. With Wall” era Michael Jackson. Aguil- vana” (Geffen); Foo Fighters, ed category in music this year, album sales down 10 percent in era, meanwhile, has delivered “One by One” (RCA); Audioslave, and that’s cause for anxiety the U.S. so far this year on top of another racy-themed dance “Audioslave” (Epic); Pearl Jam, among record execs and elation a 3 percent slide in 2001, record album that retailers say should “Riot Act” (Epic) among radio programmers. companies plan to hit shoppers be among their top sellers — even THE BUZZ: Grunge is back. The Retailers agree that “8 Mile,” the with an unusually heavy blizzard with teen pop fading, there are Nirvana compilation, including soundtrack to the movie starring of A-list releases. plenty of 14-year-old girls out one track that was never released, Eminem, should dominate — even Like holiday guests, everyone there. was delayed until now because of if it is the second dose of the rap- from U2 to Eminem to Whitney WILD CARDS: Jennifer Lopez, a recently settled lawsuit by per’s music in less than six Houston will be arriving in stores “This Is Me ... Then” (Epic); Mari- Courtney Love, widow of Nirvana months. The not-quite-autobio- practically all at once, along with ah Carey, “Charmbracelet” singer Kurt Cobain. Meantime, graphical movie chronicles the a barrage of marketing tactics like (MonarC/Island Def Jam). J-Lo former Nirvana drummer Dave bare-knuckled rise of a street- free DVDs and Internet come-ons. puts out more music between Grohl’s band, the Foo Fighters, savvy rapper from Detroit. “It’s Of course, the holiday season films while Ms. Carey, rested after puts out a record so carefully definitely going to introduce him has always been important to the her public meltdown, looks to crafted it was recorded twice. to a much wider-ranging audi- music business, with nearly a make her big comeback. And another grunge pioneer, for- ence,” said Interscope marketing third of music sales typically com- mer Soundgarden lead singer chief Steve Berman. ing in the fourth quarter. ROCK Chris Cornell, joins up with for- WILD CARDS: Nas, “God’s Son” But lately, the stakes have got- CONTENDERS: Santana, mer members of Rage Against the (Columbia); Missy Elliott, “Under ten even higher, with music exec- “Shaman” (Arista); U2, “The Best Machine to release the highly Construction” (Elektra/Asylum). utives fretting about everything of 1990-2000” (Interscope); Bon anticipated debut of their new from Internet piracy and thinning Jovi, “Bounce” band, Audioslave. COUNTRY margins to the last pop of the (Interscope/Island) WILD CARD: Beck, “Sea CONTENDERS: Shania Twain, once-profitable teen acts. Accord- THE BUZZ: Aging guitarist Car- Change” (Interscope). Beck trades “Up!” (Mercury); Faith Hill, “Cry” ing to Nielsen SoundScan, U.S. los Santana is the favorite here, in electronica-laced party songs (Warner Bros.) consumers have so far bought and he’s sticking with the formu- for maudlin tales of heartbreak THE BUZZ: Though there are a about 57 million fewer albums la of pairing up with other artists, laced with slide guitar. few differences — Ms. Twain’s last than in the same period last year. just as he did on his successful album sold 14 million copies in So the industry is turning to its “Supernatural.” This time R&B the U.S. to Ms. Hill’s 6 million, proven winners for help. around, he skews even younger CONTENDERS: Whitney Hous- according to Nielsen SoundScan, The intense competition this on some tracks, sharing tunes ton, “Just Whitney” (Arista); Toni and Ms. Twain’s first single from season will bring some perks for with the likes of teen singer-song- Braxton, “More Than a Woman,” the new album leans way up- shoppers. Several releases, like writer Michelle Branch and hard- (Arista); TLC, “3D” (Arista) tempo, while Ms. Hill gets intro- the soundtrack for “8 Mile,” the rock band P.O.D. THE BUZZ: This is the music spective on hers — it’s the simi- movie starring rapper Eminem, WILD CARDS: The Wallflowers, husbands will buy for their wives, larities that are striking. They’re and the new album from the rock “Red Letter Days” (Interscope); daughters will buy for their moth- both comely country divas look- Photos courtesy of Borders band Foo Fighters, will reward Matchbox Twenty, “More Than ers, and sisters will buy for each ing to cross over to a global main- A blizzard of holiday releases this year include, clockwise from early buyers with a bonus CD or You Think You Are” (Atlantic). other. Whitney returns from the stream audience. Ms. Twain is the top, Justin Timberlake’s solo debut, “Justified,” Badly Drawn DVD. Straightforward rock likely to get tabloid headlines to her R&B going so far as to make her Boys’ “Have You Fed the Fish” and Santana’s latest, “Shaman.” To make shopping more smooth, good radio airplay. roots, while Toni Braxton, preg- release a double album: Buyers here’s a handicap of the holiday nant with her second child, cele- will get the same 19 songs twice, music available. We surveyed CLASSIC ROCK brates motherhood, among other with separate country and pop Album/Artist: Jurassic 5 “Power Album/Artist: Badly Drawn Boy, record executives, retail mavens CONTENDERS: Elvis, “30 #1 things. But perhaps the loudest versions of each. in Numbers” Interscope “Have You Fed the Fish?” Artist and radio heads about some of Hits” (RCA); Rolling Stones, buzz is for TLC, the biggest-sell- WILD CARD: Tim McGraw, “Tim Comments: Indie sensibility Direct/BMG the biggest players in each genre. “Forty Licks” (Virgin) ing female group in the world, McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors” meets major-label backing. Smart, Comments: A follow-up to the We also found some wild cards, THE BUZZ: Aside from remas- which earlier this year lost mem- (Curb). It’s hard to compete with well-produced melodic hip-hop is most critically acclaimed ambi- albums that have a shot at blaz- tered sound, there’s not much new ber Lisa “Left-eye” Lopes in an divas. A big hit single will help, heavy on soul and won’t offend ent rock album of 2000. Badly ing up the charts if their holiday here — and that’s exactly why auto accident. Ms. Lopes’ vocals but odds are Mr. McGraw — who the brunch guests. Drawn Boy, actually a songwriter stars align. these records will sell. “Light are more prominently featured on also happens to be Faith Hill’s maestro named Damon Gough, users,” referring to the roughly 76 this album than on past efforts hubby — will be a distant third. Album/Artist: Willie Nelson & again teaches boys that soft rock POP percent of households that pur- and she’ll also have a posthumous Friends, “Stars & Guitars,” Lost isn’t always wuss rock. CONTENDERS: Christina Aguil- chase music yet make up only 36 presence in the group’s first Highway era, “Stripped” (RCA); Justin Tim- percent of music sales. Many of video. “On everything we do there HIPSTER Comments: Flat-toned legend Album/Artist: Liza Minnelli berlake, “Justified” (Jive); Vari- those light users are baby will be representations of Lisa,” Last, but not least, here’s an sings country standards with all “Liza’s Back,” J Records ous artists, “Now That’s What I boomers with more disposable said TLC Manager Bill Diggins. eclectic selection to juice up your his celebrity friends. Best cut: Comments: This stable of stan- Call Music! 11” (Universal) income to spend on music than WILD CARDS: Craig David, music collection this holiday sea- Ryan Adams, Keith Richards and dards like “New York, New York” THE BUZZ: With boy bands wan- their younger counterparts and “Slicker Than Your Average,” son: Hank Williams III teamed up on and “Cabaret” is both kitsch and ing and Britney on hiatus, pop less time or inclination to down- (Atlantic); Monica, “All Eyez On “Dead Flowers.” craft. Look for the second in the gift guide series DVD box sets do big business Thursday, Dec. 5 in the Record-Eagle the home entertainment scene, is “State Fair” — will have your By VALERIE LEMKE a blast from the past, present and happy recipient humming, danc- Copley News Service future. The three-disc box set of ing and singing out loud. this humorous, sci-fi thriller star- oming to a video store near ring Michael J.