Fall Music Preview

Fall Music Preview

Pop & Rock

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You gotta have faith. And foo. And Fabolous. Welcome to fall, when the leaves f-f-f-fade away but rock, rap, and country find renewed energy, thanks to the impending gift-giving season. Late September through mid-November are the optimal weeks for major releases, which require ample setup time -- but not so much time that, come Christmas, you've, like, totally moved on. The suspense is unbearable: Can Mariah break records post-breakdown? Will buyers be as quick on the draw for Tim McGraw and the missus as in more flush times? Will Justin or Nick be the last ''boy'' standing?

UNCLE KRACKER No Stranger To Shame - Kid Rock's sometime sidekick admits he's waxing ''a lot more sensitive'' on the follow-up to his double-platinum solo debut. ''The last record had more rapping; this one's a lot more singing.... There's a song called 'Letter to My Daughters,' which is an apology for being on the road, and a song to my wife. I figured if I don't ever make another record, I owe a couple people a couple things on this one,'' he laughs. (9/24)

RYAN ADAMS Demolition - Adams' new album isn't a new album at all: It's several of them. Or rather, it's the best tracks from demo CDs he's recorded in the past couple of years. ''All these songs are from whole little dumb-ass records that are probably not that good on their own,'' he says. ''But as a compilation, they sound kind of interesting to me. I listened and thought, Which ones would make sense to the rest of the world? If people like this, we'll release them as a boxed set for Christmas.'' (9/24)

PETER GABRIEL Up - Ten years after his last studio album, Gabriel is sticking with two-letter titles: So, Us -- and now Up. Much of the LP was recorded at the same time as Long Walk Home, Gabriel's soundtrack to the Aussie film Rabbit-Proof Fence, and has a similarly languorous sound filled with drones and distorted clips. ''We were recycling lots of bits and slowing them down and sampling things,'' Gabriel says. Also crossing over are the Blind Boys of Alabama, who appear on both CDs. ''I don't know how it will sell,'' Gabriel admits. ''I know I like it a lot.'' (9/24)

AMERICAN IDOL American Idol: Greatest Moments - If you're already going into American Idol withdrawal, not to worry: The show may be over, but the CD deluge is just around the corner. Producer Steve Lipson assembled the series' 10 finalists and recorded studio versions of 14 tracks that the budding young pop stars originally performed on the show. ''I like Christina's 'Ain't No Sunshine,''' says Lipson. ''I think she got the emotion of it across well. Nikki's very good as well -- very underestimated. And Tamyra is brilliant too.'' Meanwhile, winner Kelly Clarkson -- whose ''(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'' is on Moments -- is working on her full-length debut, due for release early in 2003. (10/1)

LEANN RIMES Twisted Angel - Any elderly country fans who fell for the 13-year-old singer of ''Blue'' should take their medication before listening to Twisted, which Rimes says ''feels like my first album.'' The hip-hop-flavored sexuality of ''Tic Toc,'' in particular, ''will raise a few eyebrows, but I think it's time for people to let me grow up. I'm a married woman and 20 years old, and these are things I can sing about.'' (10/1)

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