Dido's fall 2008 excursion Safe Trip Home must have been a little more quiet than the U.K. singer (and her label) had expected. After selling millions of her earlier albums, the comparatively anemic sales of the more reflective collection of songs with producer Jon Brion (Fiona Apple) -- and the changing industry and radio landscape --must have been something of a wake up call. Dido has announced that a planned summer tour has been scrapped and she's back in the studio again working on her next studio effort.
Jack Johnson's upcoming live CD/DVD release has a slightly new name and street date. Formerly listed as simply Live, the new project is now En Concert, the name of the documentary live concert film directed by Brushfire co-founder (and surfing filmmaker) Emmett Malloy that chronicles Johnson's 2008 Sleep Through the Static European tour. And the collection is now pushed back a couple of weeks to August 25. More here.
We're frankly a little curious about what former American Idol finalist Katharine McPhee's September 22 Verve label debut will sound like. We do know that after a disappointing contemporary dance/pop debut album a couple of years back, McPhee is looking for a more mature mainstream approach with her new jazz/adult label home and has been working with some fine songwriters like Lucie Silvas on choosing the right mix of songs.
John Mellencamp's (pic) career spanning four-CD box set On the Rural Route 7609 is now scheduled for an October 6 drop date. As we noted a month ago on our larger Mellencamp update, the title is a reference to 1976, the date of his debut album, to the present. Meanwhile, his 8-song live mini album Life Death LIVE and Freedom drops next Tuesday, June 23.
M. Ward (She + Him), Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and Jim James (My Morning Jacket) are billing themselves as Monsters of Folk for a new eponymous collaboration scheduled for release September. The 15-track album is being produced by Mike Mogus and recorded in Malibu and Omaha, according to Paste.
Look for a Live at the Olympia CD/DVD package from R.E.M. this fall. Also: the fine "deluxe" expanded 2-CD version of their classic Reckoning album is in stores next Tuesday.
One of our faves, Martha Wainwright, just finished a series of live dates in New York where she, and noted producer Hal Wilner, recorded a collection of Edith Piaf songs for release later this year.
Meanwhile brother Rufus (pic) will release a CD/DVD package of an August 2007 show titled Milwaukee At Last! on August 25 via Decca. Rufus' commissioned opera Prima Donna premieres next month in Manchester, England.