Glee and Broadway superstar Lea Michele surprisingly is putting out her first solo release after a half decade on the “hit” Fox show despite hundreds of singles under the Glee moniker. So far, Louder (due out March 4) is looking so good with two different Sia collaborations released as singles. The dramatic “Cannonball,” and the oddly coincidentally named but quieter “Battlefield,” seem to indicate a more serious and reflective pop star, much like her show idol, Barbra Streisand would do if she were in her late 20s and looking to move from showtunes diva to the pop charts.
The highly underappreciated soul singer Ledisi releases her new LP, The Truth, March 11. From early listens and singles, it sounds mostly on target with her grown-up neo-soul sound of the past but a tad more soulful and sexy. Think closer to Angie Stone and Jill Scott and less Floetry. Might have something to do with her apparently newly tightened sexy body.
March 18 sees two releases from two ends of the gay fan spectrum. First up is Foster the People, whose seemingly one-hit outing “Pumped Up Kicks” slayed the pop charts three years ago, ushering in a new era of commercial-friendly pop rock. Three years on and their new material on Supermodel feels so much less forced and manipulated, and quite frankly, more likeable. The first single “Coming of Age” skirts the edge of bigger acts like U2, Muse and Coldplay, while still maintaining their youthful appeal.
If you’ve not heard Lady Gaga’s duet with Tony Bennett, (“The Lady Is a Tramp”) and only know her from her contemporary sound, you might not see what a natural fit their new full-length release Cheek To Cheek is going to be. Following her disappointing third album this past season, Cheek to Cheek will hopefully serve as a reset for those of us getting weary of her schtick and get her back “on the right track, baby.”