Kimberly Locke
Photo: MTV News

For a singer who titled her debut album One Love, Kimberley Locke seems to be stepping out of character with her second single, "Wrong."

"It just basically says, 'Screw you and all the things that you think about me,' " the former "American Idol" contestant said about the song. " 'You're totally wrong and I'm gonna do what I'm gonna do' ... It's slowly but surely becoming the girl anthem of 2004. It's a very empowering song."

Locke, who finished third behind Clay Aiken a year ago, is releasing "Wrong" to radio outlets later in June, and will shoot a video in early July. "We're working on [the concept]," she said.

"Wrong," which includes the chorus " 'Cause you're wrong and I'm strong/ Unafraid I'm moving on/ 'Cause I'm free to be me/ No one tells me who to be," is the follow-up to "8th World Wonder," which hit #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 (see " 'American Idol' Finalist Kimberley Locke Is Radio's '8th Wonder' ").

Now that the song has proven successful, Locke is ready to reveal a secret behind the lyrics.

"The song was written by three guys, which is really funny," she explained. "So although I'm singing the song, the real '8th World Wonder' is actually a girl, not a guy at all."

Locke considers "8th World Wonder" the perfect introduction to One Love, which features production by Guy Roche (Christina Aguilera), Matt Bronleewe (Natalie Imbruglia), Rob Fusari (Destiny's Child), Shaun Shankel (Mandy Moore) and Drew Ramsey and Shannon Saunders (India.Arie).

"It's one of those tunes that you get in your head and you can't get it out," she said. "It's just one of those upbeat, happy love ballads — not a ballad, but a love song."

Love and relationships play a big part in One Love, especially "You've Changed," which Locke co-wrote.

"It's very Mary J. Blige-ish," she said. "It's about what really happens. You start out, you go out every day, you see each other every day, and then one day you look up and it's like, 'We don't spend any time together at all. What are we doing? We're hanging out together, but we're really not talking.' "

Co-writing "You've Changed" has been a big confidence booster for Locke. "Everybody loves that song!" she said. "I'm like, 'Really?' I didn't expect people to like it that much. So on my next album, I will write more."

Kimberley has yet to plan out future singles from One Love, but has also gotten an overwhelming response to "Without You," a duet she recorded with her roommate. It probably helps that she lives with Clay Aiken.

"It worked out great, 'cause Clay and I both have big voices and they just go really well together," Locke said. "And we blew it out. I actually went to sing it with him in Anaheim at one of his shows, and they absolutely loved it." (Clay has since added the song to his show, with one of his back-up singers handling Locke's part.)

Another fan favorite on Locke's album is her rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

"[My label] really wanted me to do it on the album, and I was like, 'I'll do it, but under one condition, and that is if we don't do it the same way,' " Locke said. "It's a standard. Anybody can sing 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' and I've sung it so much on the show I was singing it in my sleep. ... So Guy Roche did an arrangement of that, and we worked on it together and we came out with a fresh, new 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.' "

After shooting the "Wrong" video, Locke plans to promote One Love overseas, and then return for a North American tour in the fall. She's also planning to record a Christmas single for release late in the year.

• Kimberley Locke

In honor of Wave of Mutilation, let's sprinkle a little Pixie dust on this week's new releases. The newly reunited Pixies drop their second version of a complete best-of album (Death to the Pixies being the first), highlighting their work from Doolittle, Surfer Rosa, Bossanova and Trompe le Monde, and including special features like rarities, B-sides and cover songs.

Next up, last season's "American Idol" finalist Kimberley Locke releases her album of adult contemporary songs, One Love, featuring the single "8th World Wonder."

Lola Ray say I Don't Know You, but you will know them and their power pop after the release of their debut album on Benji and Joel Madden's DC Flag label. Meanwhile, the Magnetic Fields' I is an album full of songs beginning with the letter "i," and the French Kicks begin The Trial of the Century this week with their pretty, synthy album.

Mission of Burma's Onoffon presents the band's first new music in 22 years, Porno for Pyros guitarist Peter DiStefano releases his solo album Gratitude, and Icarus Line attend a Penance Soiree.

The Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix features unreleased material from Prince, Eric Clapton, and other tracks by Sting, Santana, Lenny Kravitz, Musiq and Cee-Lo.

Finally, considering this will be the third time this album title has been used (first released as individual EPs and now the two combined into a full album), Ryan Adams really, really thinks Love Is Hell. Meanwhile, the equally negative Beta Band go from Heroes to Zeros with the help of Nigel Godrich, and comedian David Cross isn't too confident about his own work either, because his album is called It's Not Funny.

Out Tuesday, May 4:

• Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell (Lost Highway)
  Buy Now: Love Is Hell (Lost Highway)
  
• Atomship - Crash of 47 (Wind-Up)
• The Beta Band - Heroes to Zeros (Astralwerks)
• Big & Rich - Horse of a Different Color (Warner Bros.)
• Black Cat Music - October, November (Lookout!)
• Blueprint Car Crash - Rhetoric of a Marionette (Militia Group)
• Bo-Keys - The Royal Sessions (Yellow Dog)
• Broken Spindles - Fulfilled: Complete (Saddle Creek)
• Buddahead - Crossing the Invisible Line (Sanctuary)
• David Cross - It's Not Funny (Sub Pop)
• Peter DiStefano - Gratitude (Sanctuary)
• The Divine Comedy - Absent Friends (Nettwerk)
• Eliane Elias - Dreamer (Bluebird)
• Amy Farris - Anyway (Yep Roc)
• Flaw - Endangered Species (Republic/Universal)
• Rosie Flores - Single Rose (Durango Rose)
• French Kicks - The Trial of the Century (Star Time International)
• Happiness Factor - Avoid Danger (Paisley Pop)
• Patterson Hood (of Drive-by Truckers) - Killers & Stars (New West)
• The Icarus Line - Penance Soiree (V2)
• Informatik - Re:vision (Metropolis)
• Jackpot - F+ (Surfdog)
• Carolyn Dawn Johnson - Dress Rehearsal (Arista)
• Eyvind Kang - Virginal Co Ordinates (w/Mike Patton) (Ipecac)
• Angélique Kidjo - Oyaya! (Columbia)
• Patti Labelle - Timeless Journey (Def Jam)
• Oliver Lake - Dat Love (Passin' Thru)
• Mark Lane - Golden State of Mind (Orange Deuce)
• James - Last Spring Fling (Eagle Rock)
• Kimberley Locke - One Love (Curb)
  Read: "American Idol' Finalist Kimberley Locke Is Radio's '8th Wonder' "
  Buy Now: One Love (Curb)
  
• Lola Ray - I Don't Know You (D.C. Flag/Epic)
  Read: "Good Charlotte Hope To Make Lola Ray Rich And Famous"
  
• Los Lobos - The Ride (Mammoth)
• Joe Lovano - I'm All for You: Ballad Songbook (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
• Magnetic Fields - I (Nonesuch/Atlantic)
• Jennifer Marks - Jennifer Marks (Bardic)
• John Arthur Martinez - Lone Starry Night (DualTone)
• David Mead - Indiana (Nettwerk)
• Mirah - C'mon Miracle (K)
• Mission of Burma - Onoffon (Matador)
• Múm - Summer Make Good (Fatcat)
• Willie Nelson - Live at Billy Bob's Texas (Smith Music Group)
• Not Long After - Tomorrow Come Save Us (New School)
• Open Road - In the Life (Rounder)
• Outlie - Companions to Devils and Saints (Porterhouse)
• Pip Pyles Bash - Belle Illusion (Cuneiform)
• The Pixies - Wave of Mutilation: Best of the Pixies (4AD)
• Vernon Reid & Masque - Known Unknown(Favored Nations)
• Lionel Richie - Just for You (Island)
• Seabound - Poisonous Friend (Metropolis)
• Frank Sinatra - Three of a Kind (Capitol)
• Steven Sondheim - "Bounce" soundtrack (Nonesuch)
• Michael Tolcher - I Am (Octone)
• Torchbearer - Yersinia Pestis (Metal Blade)
• Univers Zero - Implosion (Cuneiform)
• University of Errors - Jet Propelled Photographs (Cuneiform)
• Armand Van Helden - New York: A Mix Odyssey(Tommy Boy)
• Vision Divine - Stream of Consciousness (Metal Blade)
• The Wildhearts - Must Be Destroyed (Sanctuary)
• Various artists - The Buzz (Razor & Tie)
• Various artists - "The L Word" soundtrack (Tommy Boy)
• Various artists - Power of Soul - A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Experience Hendrix)
  Read: "Prince, Santana, Others On Board For Jimi Hendrix Tribute Album"
  
• Various artists - Totally Hits 2004 (BMG Heritage/Warner)
• Various artists - "Van Helsing" soundtrack (Decca)
• DVD: Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Godfathers & Sons, Red, White & Blues and the Road to Memphis (Hip-O/UME)
• DVD: Celine Dion - CBS Special (Epic)
• DVD: John Oates - Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House (Phunk Shui/dke)
• DVD: Ween Live in Chicago (Sanctuary)

May 11:

• Judas Priest - Metalogy (Sony)
• Teena Marie - Dona (Cash Money)

May 18:

• Lenny Kravitz - Baptism (Virgin)
  Read: "Lenny Kravitz Ditches Funk, Feels Reborn On Baptism"
  
• Method Man - Tical 0: The Prequel (Def Jam)
  Read: "Missy, P. Diddy, Snoop, Busta Join Method Man On New LP"
  
• Alanis Morissette - So-Called Chaos (Maverick)
• Morrissey - You Are the Quarry (Sanctuary)
• New Found Glory - Catalyst (Drive-Thru)

May 25:

• Everlast - White Trash Beautiful (Island)
• Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin (Arista)
  Read: "Avril Lavigne: No Looking Back"
  
• Monster Magnet - Monolithic Baby (Hunter)
• Slipknot-Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses (Roadrunner)
  Read: "Slipknot Album Preview: More Structured, But Still Programmed To Kill"

June 1:

• Auf Der Maur - Auf Der Maur (Capitol)
• Truth Hurts - Ready Now (Pookie)

June 8:

• The Calling - Two (RCA)
  Read: "The Calling Returning With New LP, New Hired Hands"
  
• The Corrs - Borrowed Heaven (Atlantic)
• Gene Simmons - A--hole (Sanctuary)
• Velvet Revolver - Contraband (RCA)
  Read: "Velvet Revolver Album Preview: GN'R + STP = Uphill Battle"
  
• Stevie Wonder - A Time 2 Love (Motown)

June 22

• Mobb Deep - Amerikaz Nightmare (Jive)

• Kimberley Locke
• The Pixies
• Patti Labelle
• Lola Ray
• The Beta Band