Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, Ne-Yo, Elton John and Leon Russell Highlight a Hot Month of New Music This October

October is a busy month for new releases in the music world. A wide variety of established artists from Taylor Swift to Toby Keith to Ne-Yo and Good Charlotte are putting forth their newest efforts in what promises to be a fantastic month for new music. Here's a preview of what's to come:

October 5^th

Ciara - Basic Instinct

This October, R&B singer Ciara tries to hit it big again after her disappointing 2009 set "Fantasy Ride", which did produce the funky top ten hit "Love Sex Magic," featuring Justin Timberlake. The new CD will be the singer's fourth studio album and the contagious lead single "Ride" has already made waves on Billboard's Pop and R&B charts. Billboard's Mariel Concepcion claims that Ciara is "back with a vengeance" on this one. We'll just have to see.

Check out the video for the "Ride" remix, featuring Ludacris here.

Toby Keith - Bullets in the Gun

Country superstar Toby Keith returns with an all new set of ten tracks that are sure to please Keith's legions of fans. He first single, "Trailerhood," was released earlier this summer and is already a big hit in the country music world. Check it out here.

October 12^th

Darius Rucker - Charleston SC 1966

In 2008, former Hootie and the Blowfish front man Darius Rucker recorded his first country album. "Learn to Live" charted three hit singles and earned the South Carolina singer a Best New Artist Award from the Country Music Association. Rucker returns October 12^th with his sophomore country effort, a much anticipated album featuring 12 new tracks. Take a look at the preview of Rucker's "Come Back Song" here.

October 19^th

Elton John and Leon Russell - The Union

This highly anticipated collaboration between two music legends should be interesting. It was John who first approached Russell, whom he calls his "idol," about doing a project together. The pair toured together 40 years ago and are both well respected artisans of their trade. Collaborating with the duo on the record is longtime Elton John songwriter Bernie Taupin and producer T Bone Burnett. Check out their song "Roses" here.

Ne-Yo - Libra Scale

Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo returns this October with his fourth studio album. The R&B crooner has already had success with two lead singles from the forthcoming album ("Beautiful Monster" and "Champagne Life"). This one should fare well!

Rod Stewart - Fly Me to the Moon

The raspy-voiced 70's rocker turned classic crooner is back with the fifth edition of his "Great American Songbook."

October 26^th

Good Charlotte - Cardiology

Alternative punk rock band Good Charlotte is returning with a brand new set following up their successful 2007 album, "Good Morning Revival." The album has been a long time in the making and should very well please fans of the band's sound. Check out their new single, "Like its Her Birthday" here.

Taylor Swift - Speak Now

Country and pop music's latest superstar is back this month with a follow-up to her critically acclaimed, six times platinum smash "Fearless." The new record will consist of 14 all new songs which she wrote all on her own. The singer tells Billboard Magazine, "Through the past two years, I've been through a lot of things that I have been dying to write about and talk about. There were a lot of things that I wanted to say in the moment but couldn't, and this album is my opportunity to do that." Swift's fans will be definitely be lining up for this one. The first single, "Mine"," is about the singer's tendency to "run from love" and finding the one exception to that state. Check it out here.

Other notable releases coming this October:

October 5^th

David Archuleta - The Other Side of Down (*this album was pushed back from its original release date in September.)

KT Tunstall - Tiger Suit

October 12^th

Meat Beat Manifesto - Answers Come in Dreams

October 19^th

Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series: 1962-1964

Kings of Leon - Come Around Sundown

Sugarland - The Incredible Machine

October 26^th

Bryan Ferry - Olympia

Kid Cudi - Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager

See previous issues of new music releases:

New Music Releases for September

Trace Adkins and Katy Perry Highlight New CD Releases for August

New Album Release Highlights for July 2010

New Album Releases in May and June

Sources:

http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/08/20/taylor-swift-speak-now-2010-new-album/

http://artists.letssingit.com/ne-yo-wvp3c/news/

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http://www.billboard.com/news/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-speak-now-1004105259.story#/news/taylor-swift-announces-new-album-speak-now-1004105259.story

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http://undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=11959_Elton_John_and_Leon_Russell_Album_Due_October