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New Releases: Beyonce Knowles, Black Eyed Peas, Michelle Branch, Gang Starr, Liz Phair & More

By archive-Jon-Wiederhorn
June 23, 2003 / 3:28 PM

Releasing a solo album isn't exactly a dangerous move for Destiny's Child singer Beyoncé Knowles, whose guest star-studded debut, Dangerously in Love, was pushed forward two weeks in an effort to quash piracy. The disc features appearances by Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Luther Vandross, Sean Paul and Big Boi of Outkast.

Beyoncé isn't the only artist this week to release a disc pumped with guest spots.Eclectic funk-hop group the Black Eyed Peas test both ends of the sonic spectrum on their second record, Elephunk, recruiting Justin Timberlake and hard rockers Papa Roach.

Former indie darling Liz Phair makes the full transition from naughty hipster to foul-mouthed Sheryl Crow wannabe on her fourth album, Liz Phair, which features lyrics such as "You feel like my favorite underwear/ And I'm slipping you on again tonight." R&B singer Blu Cantrell, who once slipped out of her underwear for a photo session that ran in Blacktail, magazine, worked with Lil' Kim, Fat Joe and Sean Paul on Bittersweet.

The Mars Volta's De-Loused in the Comatorium is a fiery prog-rock concept album about a man who overdoses and slips into a coma. The group features former At the Drive-In members Cedric Bixler (vocals) and Omar Rodriguez (guitar). Another sonically extreme disc is the Locust's Plague Soundscapes, which features 23 short and turbulent songs that may cause ear-bleeding.

Son Volt member Jay Farrar's third solo album, Terroir Blues, pokes the gray matter and pulls the heartstrings with a mix of experimental instrumentals and alt-country laments. S.T.U.N., an energetic California political punk band whose name stands for Scream Towards the Uprising of Nonconformity, lash out at complacency on Evolution of Energy.

Now let's take a look at what else is scrambling for your hard-earned cash.

Out Tuesday, June 24:

  • Becky Baeling - Becstacy (Universal)

  • Beyoncé - Dangerously in Love (Columbia)

    • Read: [article id="1472224"]"Beyonce Pushes Up Release Date Of Solo Debut"[/article]

    Buy Now: Dangerously in Love (Columbia)

  • Black Eyed Peas - Elephunk (Interscope)

    • Read: [article id="1455157"]"Black Eyed Peas Exhibit New Breed Of Elephunk On Upcoming LP"[/article]

    Buy Now: Elephunk (Interscope)

  • Michelle Branch - Hotel Paper (Maverick)

    • Read: [article id="1472025"]"Michelle Branch Ignores Sophomore Jinx Like She Ignored Death Threats"[/article]

    Buy Now: Hotel Paper (Maverick)

  • Blu Cantrell - Bittersweet (Arista)

  • Cash Kola - Life in General (Wonder Boy)

  • Brian Culbertson - Come on Up (Warner Bros.)

  • Delerium - Chimera (Nettwerk)

  • Dixie Witch - One Bird, Two Stones (Small Stone)

  • Entombed - Inferno (Koch/Music for Nations)

  • Everman - Everman (BEC/Tooth & Nail)

  • Jay Farrar - Terroir Blues (Act/Resist/Artemis)

  • Gang Starr - The Ownerz (Virgin)

    • Read: [article id="1472631"]"Gang Starr Returning With Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss, Fat Joe"[/article]

    Buy Now: The Ownerz (Virgin)

  • Harry Gregson-Williams - "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas" score (DreamWorks)

  • Iconz - Ya Lookin' at 'Em (Koch/In the Paint)

  • Javon Jackson - Easy Does It (Palmetto)

  • KRS-One - Kristyles (Kela/In the Paint)

  • The Locust - Plague Soundscapes (Anti/Epitaph)

  • Lost Horizon - A Flame to the Ground Beneath (Koch)

  • Lumidee - Almost Famous (Universal)

  • The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium (GSL/Strummer/Universal)

  • Michael McDonald - Motown (Motown)

  • Allison Moorer - Show (Universal South)

  • Motion City Soundtrack - I Am the Movie (Epitaph)

  • Willie Nelson & Friends - Live and Kickin' (Lost Highway)

  • Liz Phair - Liz Phair (Capitol)

    • Buy Now: Liz Phair (Capitol)

  • S.T.U.N. - Evolution of Energy (Geffen)

    • Read: [article id="1472857"]"S.T.U.N. Count Down To Revolution"[/article]

    Buy Now: Evolution of Energy (Geffen)

  • Three 6 Mafia - Da Unbreakables (Hypnotize Minds/Columbia)

  • Ui - Answers (Southern)

  • Vendetta Red - Between the Never and the Now (Epic)

  • Watashi Wa - The Love of Life (Tooth & Nail)

  • Various Artists - "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" soundtrack (Columbia)

    • Read: [article id="1472161"]"New Tracks From Nas, Pink, Nickelback On 'Charlie's Angels' Disc"[/article]

  • Various Artists - RAGGA Originators Round 2 (Jammin/Lightyear)

  • Various Artists - Salsa Around the World (Putumayo)

  • Various Artists - World's Greatest Air Guitar Album (Hollywood)

    • July 15:

  • Da Brat - Limelite, Luv & Niteclubz (So So Def/Arista)

    • Read: [article id="1472076"]"Da Brat Discusses Pain Of Past Breakups, Goes To 'Chuch' On New LP"[/article]

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