New CDs in stores today come from the man who tamed “Sweet Caroline,” today’s biggest name in hip-hop and Renee Zellweger’s country-lovin’ ex-husband.
Neil Diamond, “12 Songs” (Sony) It’s Neil’s turn. And this is his late-career outing with producer Rick Rubin. Diamond writes in the liner notes: “After the first few meetings, I realized (Rubin) loved music in the same way I did. … It turned out that we served the same mistress – music – and that was to become our first real connection.”
50 Cent and various artists, “Music From and Inspired By ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’ “ (Interscope) Not to be confused with “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” which was 50’s record-smashing 2003 debut, this record is the sound-track to the artist’s biopic, which hits theaters Wednesday. Packed with new material from 50 and his entire G-Unit crew, the CD includes the new single “Window Shopper.”
Kenny Chesney, “The Road and the Radio” (BNA) Speaking of the radio, this is Chesney’s most pop-rooted record to date. It also caps off 2005, which was fantastically weird for the country singer who was married to actress Zellweger for a strange four months.
– Ricardo Baca
