Upcoming 2010 CD releases reach beyond pop genre

With the top acts of 2009 being primarily from the genres of mainstream pop, country, and rap, with names like Eminem, Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga, plus the standards of TV phenomenon Susan Boyle doing well on the US charts, upcoming releases in 2010 are anticipated by fans of a variety of musical genres, coming from artists like Sade and Spoon to k.d. lang and David Bowie. There are also releases from Christina Aguilera, Diddy and Dr. Dre.

Here are some highlights of CD releases for the first three months:

Charlotte Gainsbourg, IRM
January 26
Daughter of Serge Gainsbourg, the actress/singer's brand of folky electronica is produced by alt-rocker Beck.
Label: Because Records
Website: www.charlottegainsbourg.com

Peter Gabriel, Scratch My Back
February 15
Absent from the pop-rock music scene to work with world music and special projects, Gabriel returns with classic rock producer Bob Ezrin covering songs by acts from Bon Iver to Lou Reed.
Label: Virgin
Website: www.petergabriel.com/

David Byrne and Fatboy Slim, Here Lies Love
February 23
This collaboration involves an elaborate song cycle on two CDs and a DVD about Imelda Marcos with a range of guest singers including Cyndi Lauper, Natalie Merchant, and Tori Amos.
Label: Nonesuch
Website: www.davidbyrne.com/

Ry Cooder/The Chieftains, San Patricio
March 9
Eclectic guitarist Cooder collaborates with the venerable Irish group, on a project that tells the story of Irish-Americans who deserted the US to join the Mexicans in the Mexican-American war. Actor Liam Neeson and singer Linda Ronstadt also appear.
Label: Fantasy
Websites: www.ryland-cooder.com/ and www.thechieftains.com/

Joan Armatrading, This Charming Life
March 30
The singer songwriter is back again, after a "comeback" of sorts in 2007 with Into the Blues. The new album is accompanied by a major European tour.
Label: 429 Records
Website: www.joanarmatrading.com

Release dates given are for the US market.

RC