Singer/songwriter Jesse McCartney has confirmed the track list for his forthcoming 3^rd album, “Departure”, due 20^th May via Hollywood Records. The 12-track set begins with lead single “Leavin’”, co-written by Terius “Dream” Nash (Rihanna, Janet Jackson), and produced by Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Celine Dion, Mariah Carey).

Among the other collaborators on the album are Sean “The Pen” Garrett (Nicole Scherzinger, Gwen Stefani), Kwame Holland (Fantasia Barrino, Christina Aguilera), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Teedra Moses, LeToya Luckett), Eric Hudson (Tiffany Evans, Raven Symone), and The Clutch: Patrick “J.Que” Smith, Balewa Muhammad, Ezekiel Lewis, Candice Nelson & Keri Hilson (Jennifer Lopez, Paula Campbell).

Jesse McCartney – Departure (Official Track List):

1. Leavin’
2. It’s Over
3. Rock You
4. How Do You Sleep
5. Into Ya
6. Make Up
7. My Baby
8. Told You So
9. Relapse
10. Runnin’
11. Freaky
12. Not Your Enemy

Songwriter and performer Lyrica Anderson is currently in the midst of recording her as-yet untitled debut album, and more recently, she finished belting out tunes with producers Soulshock & Karlin: Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin (Victoria Beckham, Toni Braxton), Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Canela Cox, Jennifer Hudson), The Runners (Keyshia Cole, Britney Spears), and The Writing Camp: Evan “Kidd” Bogart, David “DQ” Quiñones, Victoria “Lady V” Horn & Erika “E-Nuri” Nuri (Christina Milian, Fantasia Barrino).

For those who came in late, Anderson’s impressive resume includes doing background vocals for Jennifer Lopez (“Do It Well”), Mya (“Walka Not a Talka”), as well as co-writing Jada’s “I’m That Chick”, which was produced by Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Paris Hilton, Lucy Walsh).

[Visit] Lyrica Anderson @ MySpace

After achieving worldwide success by producing tracks for the likes of Leona Lewis ("Bleeding Love"), Jennifer Lopez ("Do it Well"), and Natasha Bedingfield ("Love like This"), super hitmaker Ryan "Alias" Tedder of One Republic is set to recreate his Midas touch on the forthcoming projects by Beyonce (Sony Music), Rihanna (Island/Def Jam Records), Whitney Houston (J/Arista Records), Pussycat Dolls (Interscope Records), Kelly Clarkson (RCA Records), Paula DeAnda (Arista Records), Robyn Janelle (Geffen Records), Esmee Denters (Interscope Records), and Jennifer Hudson (J/Arista Records).

Island/Def Jam Records artist Lucy Walsh posted a new song on her official MySpace profile entitled “Not Tonight”, so feel free to give it a listen.

Walsh’s forthcoming debut album, “Lost in the Lights”, is set to boast collaborations from Evan “Kidd” Bogart (Britney Spears, Mya Harrison), Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian), Terius “Dream” Nash (Karina Pasian, Wynter Gordon), Christopher “Tricky” Stewart (Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey), and Lester Mendez (Nelly Furtado, Jewel Kilcher).

[Visit] Lucy Walsh @ MySpace

Pop artist Ashlee Simpson has earmarked 22nd April as the release date of her highly-anticipated 3^rd studio album, "Bittersweet World" (Geffen Records). The set will be preceded by new single "Little Miss Obsessive".

"Bittersweet World" is scheduled to spawn alliances from Tim "Timbaland" Mosley (Madonna, Nelly Furtado), Kara Dioguardi (Lyrica Anderson, Tynisha Keli), Mark Ronson (Lily Allen, Nikka Costa), Chad Hugo of The Neptunes (Katharine McPhee, Vanessa Marquez), and John Legend (Karina Pasian, Estelle Swaray).

Norwegian songstress Annie has finally unveiled her new single, "Girlfriend", via MySpace.  Look out for her as-yet untitled sophomore album featuring collaborations with Brian Higgins of Xenomania (Sugababes, Girls Aloud), Richard X (Alesha Dixon, Rachel Stevens), Hannah Robinson (Sophie Ellis Bextor, Dannii Minogue), and Greg Kurstin (Shaznay Lewis, Jessica Simpson).

[Visit] Annie @ MySpace

Songwriter and performer Christina Aguilera is reportedly planning to hit the studio next month to start working on her as-yet untitled forthcoming album with Hip Hop producer DJ Premier, who previously collaborated with the blonde songstress on tracks like “Ain’t No Other Man”, “Back in the Day”, “Still Dirrty” and “Thank You”, off her double-disc “Back to Basics” (RCA Records).

“Back to Basics” spawned additional collaborations with Linda Perry (Celine Dion, Alicia Keys), Kara Dioguardi (Britney Spears, Nicole Scherzinger), Mark Ronson (Nikka Costa, Amy Winehouse), Rich Harrison (Beyonce, Toni Braxton), and Kwame Holland (Fantasia Barrino, Keri Hilson).

Here is the video for Leona Lewis’ new single, “Better in Time”, off her platinum selling debut album, “Spirit” (J/Syco Music). The track was co-written by Andrea Martin (Lauryn Hill, Blu Cantrell), and produced by Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem (Teedra Moses, LeToya Luckett).

“Spirit” boasts additional collaborations with Stargate: Tor Erik Hermansen & Mikkel Storleer Eriksen (Shola Ama, Samantha Mumba), Schaffer “Ne-Yo” Smith (Paula DeAnda, Christina Milian), Eric Hudson (Wynter Gordon, Tynisha Keli), Johnta Austin (Jessica Simpson, Faith Evans), Billy Steinberg & Josh Alexander (Ruth-Anne Cunningham, Fefe Dobson), Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Jennifer Lopez, Lyrica Anderson), and Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald (Ashley Parker Angel, Jeannie Ortega).

[Watch] Leona Lewis - Better in Time

Excellent:

• Let Me Return The Favor: produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Tony Maserati.

Very Good:

• Do You Really: produced by Kenny Kornegay and Darryl Young.
• The Best of You (Remix): produced by Lauryn Hill.

Average:

• Set It Off: produced by Organized Noize.
• Share The Love: produced by Edmund Clement.
• The Best of You: produced by Soulshock & Karlin. 

Poor:

• Baby Can I Hold You: produced by Wyclef Jean.
• Breaking of My Heart: produced by Cutfather & Joe.
• Dear Lord: produced by Andrea Martin and Ivan Matias.
• How Could You Forget: produced by Peter Mokran.
• Hung Up: produced by Tony Maserati and Peter Mokran.
• Steppin': produced by Cutfather & Joe.

My Thoughts:

Andrea Martin has always been one of my favorite songwriters, and when I recently learnt that she had an album of her own, I knew I had to give it a listen!

Unfortunately, the songs on this disc are not as good as the ones she's given out for other artists such as Toni Braxton ("I Love Me Some Him"), Blu Cantrell ("Breathe"), SWV ("You're The One"), Tracie Spencer ("Still in my Heart"), Juice ("Can't Rush"), Pink ("Private Show"), En Vogue ("Don't Let Go"), Monica ("Before You Walk Out of My Life"), Angie Stone ("I Wish I Didn't Miss You"), Adina Howard ("It's All About You"), and Leona Lewis ("Better in Time").

The only joints songs that are on par with Martin's best written work are the Rodney Jerkins produced "Let Me Return the Favor", "Do You Really?", which sounds like the love-child of SWV's "Downtown" and Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing", and the Neo-Soul remix to "The Best of You".

All in all, this is definitely not the best of Andrea Martin!

Rating: (2/5) - Average

“Pocketful of Sunshine” is going to be the 2^nd single released from Natasha Bedingfield’s sophomore album which goes by the same name. The track was co-written by Danielle Brisbois (Kelly Clarkson, Jonathan “J.R.” Rotem), and produced by John Shanks (Michelle Branch, Avril Lavigne).

Other musicians who have contributed to the album include Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins (Linda Kiraly, Keke Palmer), Toby Gad (The Veronicas, Jordan McCoy), Ryan “Alias” Tedder (Lyrica Anderson, Robyn Janelle), Dernst Emile (Janet Jackson, Wynter Gordon), Nate “Danja” Hills (Nelly Furtado, Keri Hilson), and Cristyle “The Ink” Johnson (Brandy, Mariah Carey).