Leaves, and new songs, drop
Veterans join the fray.
Classic-rock fans will not lack for choices this fall, with a number of vintage acts planning new releases. Keith Richards’ Crosseyed Heart, the Rolling Stones guitarist’s first solo album in more than 20 years, is due Sept. 18, featuring members of Richards’ X-Pensive Winos and appearances by Aaron Neville and Norah Jones. Don Henley teams with other noted artists on Cass County, set for Sept. 25 and including duets with country stars such as Dolly Parton, Merle Haggard and Martina McBride — as well as a threesome with Miranda Lambert and Richards’ bandmate Mick Jagger.
Rod Stewart, who returned his focus to original material with 2013’s Time — and mixed it up with A$AP Rocky, Mark Ronson and Miguel on this year’s Everyday — continues to craft stories and experiment with new textures on Another Country (Oct. 23). Fellow Brit David Gilmour will once again team with his wife, lyricist and novelist Polly Samson, for Rattle That Lock (Sept. 18), which he co-produced with Roxy Music alum Phil Manzanera.
New Order, whose techno-savvy post-punk stew was hugely influential in the ’80s, welcomes guests such as Iggy Pop and the Killers’ Brandon Flowers on Music Complete (Sept. 25), while a ’90s icon, Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell, enlisted über-producer Brendan O’Brien for Higher Truth (Sept. 18), said to be inspired by the stark sounds of Nick Drake, Daniel Johnston and the White Album- era Beatles.
Janet Jackson's first studio album in seven years, Unbreak
able, drops Oct. 2. Fellow R&B vet R. Kelly serves a Buffet of new tunes, drawing on traditions from doo-wop to country, sometime in November, and Seal unveils an as-yet untitled collection of original songs produced by Trevor Horn Nov. 6. Also expect new albums featuring great old songs by two timeless women, Judy Collins ( Strangers
Again) and Darlene Love (the Steven Van Zandt-produced Introduc
ing Darlene Love), both on Sept. 18, and ’80s survivors Duran Duran’s
Paper Gods on Sept. 11. And to remind us that rock ’n’ roll is truly immortal, the Hollywood Vampires — Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp — will bring a self-titled album to life Friday, with a starry assortment of over-40 guests ranging from Paul McCartney to Dave Grohl.