Weekly US music releases: Katy Perry, Usher, Eels, and Fantasia

On August 24, both pop singer Katy Perry and R&B diva Fantasia release their much-anticipated third albums, plus Usher and Eels both follow up earlier 2010 releases with more music.

Katy Perry, Teenage Dream
With five million copies of her blockbuster One of the Boys topping charts in more than 25 countries, Katy Perry follows up with another hit collection of pop tunes on Capitol Records, already in tenth place on Amazon's bestseller list. Her first single, "California Gurls," featuring Snoop Dogg, was a summer anthem. Collaborating with Weezer's River Cuomo and Rihanna producer Tricky Stewart, other songs from the 12-track album with more danceable tunes include "The One that Got Away," "Peacock," and "Circle the Drain."
http://www.katyperry.com/

Usher, Versus
With the number one album Raymond V. Raymond and number one singles "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" and "OMG" featuring will.i.am, Grammy-winning R&B singer Usher releases a follow-up to his earlier 2010 album with this special 9-track release on La Face Records, in seventh place on Amazon's R&B chart. Featuring songs such as "DJ Got Us Fallin In Love," "Hot Tottie" and "There Goes My Baby," a deluxe edition of Raymond V. Raymond includes an extra CD with these bonus songs and new hits.

http://www.usherworld.com/

Fantasia, Back to Me

Number two on Amazon's R&B chart, this 12-track collection on J Records leads with the single "Bittersweet." The winner of the American Idol television competition, Fantasia was the first artist to debut at No. 1 with her first single, "I Believe," on Billboard's chart. This album features producers and collaborators such as Ne-Yo, Claude Kelly and Cee-Lo Green. The bonus song is "I'm Here," her signature song from performing on Broadway in the play The Color Purple.
http://www.fantasiaofficial.com

Eels, Tomorrow Morning

From the prolific singer/songwriter E (Mark Oliver Everett) the creative force behind alternative rock act Eels, this 14-track collection on E Works Records is the project's ninth studio release. The final part of an album trilogy, including 2009?s Hombre Lobo and End Times from January 2010, features the song "Looking Up," downloadable on the website. The band tours the US through October.
http://eelstheband.com/tomorrowmorning/

RC