Pitchfork

Few things in life are lousier than the listless, jazz-lite workouts that fall under the umbrella of "easy-listening" music. Accredited with composing over 500 songs in his long career, (including "What The World Needs Now Is Love," "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself," and "Close to You"), Burt Bacharach has earned his enviable position as easy-listening's numba one stunna, yet has always seemed to bypass the lame qualities associated with that label. Well, he's about to get even cooler... or, perhaps, lamer.

On November 1, Columbia records will release Bacharach's first solo album since 1977, an 11-song record called At This Time. However, the album might not be the typical collection of smooth satisfaction that one would expect from the 77-year-old songwriter. It features contributions from hammy diva Rufus Wainwright, trumpeter Chris Botti, frequent Bacharach pocket-dweller Elvis Costello and... Dr. Dre. That Kanye West/Jon Brion collabo doesn't seem so weird now, does it?

The motherfuckin D-R-E and the motherfuckin B-U-R-T have been trading ideas for the past few years, but a full-fledged collaboration never came to fruition. Dre ended up contributing drum loops to "Is Love Enough" and drum loops and bass loops to "Danger" and the Wainwright-sung "Go Ask Shakespeare". As if that wasn't crazy enough, Dre protégée Denaun Porter (a.k.a. Kon Artis from D12) supplied a drum and bass loop for the opening track, "Please Explain". Yes, please explain indeed.

In a press release, Bacharach explained this new-found direction: "People ask me why a man who has been known for writing love songs all of his life is suddenly rocking the boat. I had to do it. This is very personal to me, and this is the most passionate album I have ever made." Wow, more passionate than the What's New, Pussycat? soundtrack?

For the first time ever, Bacharach (with the help of writing partner Tonio K) also wrote all of the album's lyrics. He was inspired by the current state of the world: "There are things I need to say. It was time for me to ask, 'who are these people who are taking control of our lives and how do we stop the violence?' I've got two little kids and a 19-year-old son and I wonder what they're going to do with their lives. It's so personal to me that I even decided to do some of the singing. This is dedicated to my kids and your kids."

"At This Time" was initially intended for distribution in the United Kingdom only, but was picked up by Columbia for its "universal musical and emotional themes and appeal." Like how bitches ain't shit.

Keep Their Heads Ringin':

01 Please Explain
02 Where Did It Go?
03 In Our Time (featuring Chris Botti)
04 Who Are These People (featuring Elvis Costello)
05 Is Love Enough?
06 Can't Give Up
07 Go Ask Shakespeare (featuring Rufus Wainwright)
08 Dreams (featuring Chris Botti)
09 Danger
10 Fade Away
11 Always Taking Aim

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