One of the most eagerly anticipated albums of the year is finally out today. Canadian rapper Drake releases his first complete album, Thank Me Later. He recorded it with a host of collaborators under the supervision of his mentor, Lil Wayne, before that rapper went to prison on weapons charges.
Still on this side of the border, internationally acclaimed songstress Sarah McLachlan releases her seventh studio album today, Laws of Illusion. The Lilith Fair tour which McLachlan founded in 1997 also releases a compilation album today, Lilith 2010. Lilith Fair hits the road again in 2010 after a more than 10-year break. Some of the artists taking part this year include Ke$ha, Rihanna, Norah Jones, Corinne Bailey Rae and Sara Bareilles.
Rock ‘n roll is well represented this week with the release of a 12th album by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Petty has recorded other albums with the Traveling Wilburys and solo work like Mojo but this is the first album with his band since The Last DJ came out in 2002.
The curtain finally falls on the British band Oasis. Its compilation album came out yesterday. Time Flies… 1994-2009 includes hits from throughout the band’s career.
And here’s something for diehard fans of the 1980s: U.S. group Devo launches Something for Everybody, their first album in 20 years. The group got back together in 1996 and keeps performing the songs that brought them success back in the day.