Critical darlings still on the horizon....
With 2007 entering its stretch run, the deluge of year-end lists and Grammy predictions are about to get in full swing. We are already in on the action, with Ann Powers running down some of the most important albums of the year here, and Gold Derby guide Tom O'Neil calling on his Grammy experts from some well-informed predictions.
Perhaps it's a little early for the former. The World Series isn't even over yet, and there's still some big-name releases on the horizon. Granted, none will likely have the cultural impact that Powers outlines, but there are still some anticipated critical darlings in the near future.
1. Alicia Keys, "As I Am." Due in stores Nov. 13, "As I Am" has already spawned a top-10 single in "No One." Keys may over-sing a little bit in the tune, but once the vocals are paired with a surprisingly minimal piano groove the result is a rather striking single. Hopefully, it foretells an album that's just as sharp, but with John Mayer guesting, that's likely wishful thinking.
2. Jay-Z, "American Gangster." A splendid example of marketing synergy, Jay-Z pulls a Prince/"Batman" to record an album for his Universal-distributed label inspired by the Universal-distributed movie of the same name. But advance word has the superstar moving away from the self-boasting that marred last year's "Kingdom Come," and supposedly crafting a grittier album that sees him returning to form. Out 
Nov. 6, although it just leaked.
3. Mary J. Blige, "Growing Pains." Yet another heavy-hitting R&B album due by year's end, and one that's managed to maintain an air of secrecy around it. Listen to a little bit of the disco-inspired first single "Just Fine" here, a song produced by the team behind Rihanna's "Umbrella" (Blige recently told MTV.com that the hit was almost hers). The follow-up to her critical and commercial smash "The Breakthrough" has been the subject of a release date shuffle (Nov. 27 or Dec. 11?), which is reason for skepticism, but the artist has a history of being more consistently good than not.
4. Buck 65, "Situation." The latest from indie rapper Buck 65 sees him fine-tuning his folksy hip-hop, and crafting an album with enough commercial appeal that he may finally break out of an underground status. This album is streaming on his MySpace page, and check the "Dragnet"-inspired beats of "Spread 'Em" or the retro-effects and hand-clap of "Way Back When." The album is officially released on Oct. 30.
5. Lupe Fiasco (pictured), "The Cool." The sophomore effort from the Kanye West-protege won't be released until Dec. 18, but sample some of it on his MySpace page. The eerie space effects of cautionary title track already make for one of the year's finest singles. Things get even darker on "Dumb It Down," where the Chicago rapper tosses in a references to "Toy Story" and "Star Trek" amid a colorful, essay-like attack on hip-hop marketing.
(Photo courtesy Getty Images)
