Ricky Martin, Musica + Alma + Sexo – Martin is back with his ninth studio album, his first in more than six years. The Desmond Child-produced opus includes English and Spanish tracks and collaborators including Puerto Rican reggaeton sensation Wisin and Yandel and Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte. The album’s debut single, “The Best Thing About Me Is You,” featuring British singer Joss Stone is already a hit. Feb. 1.
P.J. Harvey, Let England Shake – Harvey takes album making very seriously, trying to make each successive effort musically and stylistically distinct from the last. In that fashion, she began work on her latest effort during the release of the piano-driven White Chalk. The result is an album, which will recall hardcore Harvey from her Rid of Me days, but with a political message – and an autoharp. Feb. 15.
Drive By Truckers, Go Go Boots – The Athens, Georgia-based sextet is one of the more unique musical acts performing today. Originally hailing from the storied Muscle Shoals, Ala. area, the group’s music draws on diverse styles from country to gospel to southern rock. The songs on Go Go Boots were recorded along with those on 2010’s The Big To-Do and continue in the same vein. However, frontman Patterson Hood describes this as their most “Muscle Shoals sounding album.” That’s probably a good thing. Feb. 15.
Adele, 21 – Adele burst onto the scene in 2008 with a soulful, mature sound that belied her young age (19) and garnered her two Grammys, two Brits and a Mercury Prize to name a few. 21 is a perfect sophomore album. It’s everything we love about Adele, but it marks a continued evolution of her talents. Oklahoma connection: One of Adele’s collaborators is none other that One Republic frontman and hitmaker, Tulsa’s own Ryan Tedder. Feb. 22.
