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Audioslave
Will the hard-rock supergroup beat the sophomore slump?
The heavy rock band formed by three-fourths of Rage Against the Machine and ex-Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell are in a California studio working on the follow-up to their hard-crunching 2003 debut. "The thing that feels different [about the second album] is there's even more spontaneity to it," guitarist Tom Morello said recently. "Now that they've had time to settle in as a group and know each other, this one should be even better," said Oedipus, vice president of alternative programming for Infinity Broadcasting. "The last one was a staple of rock and alternative radio, and I just hope Morello pushes it even further and experiments musically. It's a good time for that kind of rock." Lisa Worden, program director for Washington, D.C., alt-rock powerhouse WHFS-FM, was even more enthused. "We need good rock music, we need stars," she said. "This will be one of the biggest rock records of the year if they can deliver."
Prediction: The debut set them up as a legit supergroup, and the recent success of Velvet Revolver is a good sign of continued audience acceptance.
Coldplay
Will Chris Martin's tabloid lifestyle affect his band's chemistry?
The emotional rockers are keeping a tight lid on the details of their follow-up to 2002's international smash A Rush of Blood to the Head. Producer Ken Nelson was back on board during New York and London recording sessions, and singer Chris Martin told a British radio interviewer that he was listening to a lot of Jay-Z and Kraftwerk for inspiration. "Their third album will be monumental," Oedipus predicted. "[Singer] Chris Martin is an immense talent, and if there was ever a successor to U2, it's Coldplay. Radio will be all over this."
Prediction: This album could cement their reputation as the next U2, though the old U2 might have something to say about that.
Evanescence/Ben Moody
Can the band recapture the magic without Moody, and can he make it alone?
With former collaborator and band co-founder Ben Moody gone, singer Amy Lee has been working with the band on tunes for the follow-up to Evanescence's 6-million-selling debut, Fallen. "They and their label are smart enough that they'll take their time and find the appropriate songs so they can continue their success," Oedipus predicted. Meanwhile, Moody is about to record his solo debut, due in the summer. He's expected to co-produce, sing lead vocals and play most of the instruments. "I don't have much hope for Moody," Oedipus said. "It's not that he's not talented, but no one knows who he is. Is his voice strong enough to hold up? He's just like a brand new artist who needs to prove himself." Even if Evanescence come up with the songs, it might be too much to expect another Fallen, said Worden. "What makes Evanescence is her voice and his songwriting, so I'm not sure what to think about this one, but that first album was lightning in a bottle. It's hard to come back with an album equally as successful."
Prediction: Ben's struck pay dirt writing with Avril Lavigne, but Amy has the star presence. He could surprise, but more likely he's the new Andrew Ridgley (the forgotten half of Wham!).
System Of A Down
Will two albums be a shock to the System?
Don't get it twisted: System of a Down are releasing a two-album set, Mesmerize/ Hypnotize, but unlike Outkast, the hard-rock experimentalists will wait six months between them. Hypnotize will hit stores in the beginning of the year, while Mesmerize is due in late summer or early fall. "There has been a great deal of upheaval, very troubling times for all of us over the past year or so," vocalist Serj Tankian said of the inspiration for the follow-up to 2001's 5-million-selling Toxicity. "And that has brought forth a lot of emotional material." Worden sees this as a can't-miss proposition. "They're the whole package," she said. "They're talented musicians, the music is intricate and intelligent, yet it gets played on radio and is not formulaic. There's no gimmick. They are the real deal and they will take over next year." No matter what, System have what rock radio needs right now, Oedipus said. "They'll be the saviors of rock radio," he claimed. "This is highly anticipated and it will be played incessantly."
Prediction: These metal experimentalists are on the cusp of a huge breakthrough.
White Stripes
Has the buzz gotten too loud?
Not much is known about the duo's new album, but we do know that singer/guitarist Jack White is producing his Detroit homie Brendan Benson's upcoming album, Alternative to Love, and that Benson says the material White's been writing with him ranges from sounding like Cat Stevens to Led Zeppelin. Like Coldplay's, the Stripes' third major-label album should be a solid staple on radio, Oedipus said. "They'll get play for the cool factor, but Jack's so talented it will go beyond cool. The songs will be great."
Prediction: As long as there aren't any "Dear Renée" ballads, this indie band should continue its flirtation with the mainstream.
The Rest
Making a return appearance in the "Will it ever happen?" file this year are a few major albums we predicted would come out in 2004. Millions are still salivating at the prospect of Dr. Dre's promised swan song as an MC, Detox, which he swears he's hard at work on. The album is tentatively slated for the fall. The new Nine Inch Nails disc, With Teeth, is more than two years in the making. The album is slated to feature drumming from Foo Fighters leader Dave Grohl. No release date has been announced. Also getting people hot and bothered is the prospect of a second solo album from Justin Timberlake, which would likely keep the future of 'NSYNC on ice. Still no word on Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, and a source said the comeback from the reunited Fugees won't likely make it into stores this year.
Weezer are expected to release their long-in-the-works new album, and you can also expect new music from Mary J. Blige, Tori Amos, P. Diddy, Queens of the Stone Age, the Raveonettes, Kelly Osbourne, Janet Jackson, Moby, Mandy Moore, the Dave Matthews Band, DMX, Eve, Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim. Former nü-metal bands Korn, Limp Bizkit and the Deftones are scheduled to try and recapture their '90s glory, and former Smashing Pumpkins/Zwan mastermind Billy Corgan is prepping his solo debut.
The Foo Fighters are working on a two-record set, while Beck is finishing his more eclectic follow-up to 2002's morose Sea Change with the help of the Dust Brothers. The Grammy-nominated Black Eyed Peas recently tapped James Brown to help on Monkey Business, due in the spring. This could be the year Fountains of Wayne and Hot Hot Heat finally break through. And, for those of you waiting for the Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie albums, well, all we can tell you is that Hilton has recorded a cover of David Bowie's "Fame," which famously features the line "puts you where things are hollow."
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Photo: MTV News
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