The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
October 23, 2007
New Album Releases, 10-23-2007: Alison Krauss & Robert Plant, Neil Young, Carrie Underwood Robert Plant & Alison Krauss have the most promising sounding new album, Raising Sand. This represents a pretty big reach between the most upscale chick singer in Nashville today and perhaps the greatest heavy metal singer ever, if you wish to frame it that way. It's a pretty big deal, and not surprisingly is the #1 top selling album at Amazon currently.
Previews suggest that Plant is more reaching into her domain rather than Alison Krauss being turned into any kind of rock singer. The big name crew gives a pretty good idea of what to expect. Ever lovin' T Bone Burnett produced this, and among the big name players is guitarist Marc Ribot. Burnett was apparently influential in the choice of material, most of which are lesser known old songs by major writers like Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, and at least one new song from Sam Phillips, "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us."
Carnival Ride is the second album by Carrie Underwood. I'm at something of a loss to know what to say to someone who thinks that any of these American Idols are actually legitimate musicians whose records you should buy. Much less would I know where to begin with someone who buys a "country" singer who was on that show. What the hell's even wrong with you people, anyway? On the plus side, at least she's not recording any more god forsaken Diane Warren songs. Still, we're building a special wing for American Idols over at Camp Mimi.
Then there's Neil Young. Chrome Dreams II is the sequel to an album he apparently got too stoned to finish making in the 1970s. The centerpiece is an 18 minute cut called "Ordinary People" based on a 20 year old recording with his Bluenotes horn section.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Coheed & Cambria Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol. 2: No World for Tomorrow Columbia Progressive Metal, Album Rock, Hard Rock, Alternative Metal, Emo
Dave Gahan Hourglass Virgin/Mute Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Dance, Alternative Pop/Rock
Robert Plant/Alison Krauss Raising Sand Rounder Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Contemporary Folk, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Modern Delta Blues, Folk-Rock, Modern Acoustic Blues
Serj Tankian Elect the Dead Warner Bros. Neo-Prog, Progressive Metal, Industrial Metal, Hard Rock
Carrie Underwood Carnival Ride Arista Pop Idol, Contemporary Country
Ween La Cucaracha Rounder Comedy Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Neil Young Chrome Dreams II Reprise Album Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Rock, Hard Rock, Country-Rock
Ryan Adams & the Cardinals Follow the Lights Lost Highway Americana, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Gary Allan Living Hard MCA Nashville Contemporary Country
Babyshambles Shotter's Nation EMI/Parlophone Indie Rock
Bobby Bare Drunk and Crazy [Bonus Tracks] Raven Outlaw Country, Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, Progressive Country, Traditional Country
Bizarre Blue Cheese 'N' Coney Island KR Urban Hardcore Rap, Underground Rap
Bush Tetras Very Very Happy Roir No Wave, Post-Punk
Cassius 15 Again EMI/Virgin Progressive House, House, Club/Dance
Castanets In the Vines Asthmatic Kitty Indie Rock
Coke Na Na: A Funk Anthology Essential Media Group Latin Rock, Funk, Latin Soul
Justin Currie What Is Love For Wea/Rykodisc Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Bo Diddley I'm a Man: The Chess Masters, 1955-1958 Hip-O Select Rock & Roll, R&B, Electric Chicago Blues
Jermaine Dupri Ya'll Know What This Is...The Hits Island Pop-Rap, Urban, Hip-Hop
Enthroned Tetra Karcist Napalm Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
Ghost Overture: Live in Nippon Yusen Soko Drag City Improvisation, Free Improvisation, Experimental Rock, Experimental, Psychedelic, Avant-Garde
Everette Harp My Inspiration Shanachie Crossover Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Instrumental Pop, Smooth Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Heart Dreamboat Annie Live Shout! Factory Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, Arena Rock
Hurricane Chris 51/50 Ratchet Polo Grounds/J-Records Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap
Shooter Jennings The Wolf Universal South Alternative Country, Contemporary Country, Outlaw Country, Southern Rock, Country-Rock
Paavo Jarvi Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 "Pathetique"; Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy [Hybrid SACD] Telarc Romantic Orchestral Music
Roman Kofman Liszt: Christus MDG Romantic Oratorio
Ulrich Krieger The Marvellous Aphorisms of Gavin Bryars: The Early Years Mode Contemporary Chamber Music
Julie London All Through the Night [Bonus Track] Capitol Traditional Pop, Cool
Taj Mahal Oooh So Good N'Blues/Recycling the Blues Raven Folk-Blues, Electric Country Blues, Modern Acoustic Blues
Motley Crue Carnival of Sins: Live, Vols. 1-2 Eleven Seven Music Hair Metal, Heavy Metal
Susan Narucki Kernis: Simple Songs; Valentines; Songs of Innocents Koch International Classics Contemporary Vocal Music
Lisa O'Kane It Don't Hurt New Light/Universal Contemporary Country
Of Montreal If He Is Protecting Our Nation... Who Is Protecting Big Oil, Our Children? Track And Field Indie Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Original Video Game Soundtrack Guitar Hero 3 Interscope Video Game Music, Soundtracks
Phosphorescent Pride Dead Oceans Indie Rock, Alternative Folk, Lo-Fi
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss have the most promising sounding new album, 
