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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November 13, 2007
New Album Releases, 11-13-2007: Alicia Keys, Duran Duran, Trisha Yearwood, Celine Dion There are pretty many big name albums new this week as we gear up for the Christmas rush. Top of the pile would likely be Alicia Keys with As I Am. She's a serious and respectable artist, but I will admit that she definitely falls into the ranks of artists whom I like more in theory than in the actual practice of listening. Still, the creator of "Fallin'" bears a listen. Plus, she's a young and growing artist. On her third album, word is that she's getting somewhat away from the basic piano ballad performances toward fuller arrangements and horns. I note that three of these songs are co-written with Linda Perry. Also, this is currently #2 at Amazon.
In the practice, I've gotten a lot more good listening historically out of the lowly Duran Duran. I don't know that they've ever been deep artistes, but the sonofaguns know how to write a hook and serve up a good beat. Or to make it a perhaps slightly closer comparison between 1980s bands, Duran has done me at least as much good as the much higher touted REM or Cure ever did.
I especially like the title of the new Red Carpet Massacre. They've somewhat updated their classic new wave sound with the production efforts of Justin Timberlake's guy Timbaland. The little snatches I've heard sound pretty good.
In theory, I really dislike Celine Dion, but really a lot of that was from the extreme overexposure of that particularly crap Titanic song. In fairness, I recognize that she has some skills and some force of personality. After an extremely lucrative four years in Vegas at Caesar's Palace, she's back this week with Taking Chances. It includes songs written by among others Linda Perry, Aldo Nova and Ben Moody of Evanescence.
Trisha Yearwood is a big name "country" singer for some years now, I know, and now wife to Garth Brooks. (That alone could get her a berth at Camp Mimi.) Yet I can't quite remember even one song of hers. But she's real cute, and she's got a new album, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love. I'm sure it's very nice.
Seal is some kind of superfreak, of a highly urbane and cultured variety. System is his first album in four years. Looking to re-emphasize the dance and club quotient of his vision he's brought in producer Stuart Price, known for one thing for Madonna's Confessions on a Dance Floor. He also has a testimonial duet of devotion called "Wedding Day" with his supermodel wife Heidi Klum.
I never saw much in Robyn Hitchcock personally, though I should have been a good mark for his songwritery niche. Some folks do dig him though, and this week the Yep Rock label has a bunch of new and improved re-releases.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Duran Duran Red Carpet Massacre Epic Dance-Rock, Pop/Rock
Robyn Hitchcock I Wanna Go Backwards [Bonus Tracks] Yep Roc College Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Folk-Rock
The Hives The Black and White Album A&M/Octone Retro-Rock, Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival, Punk Revival, Alternative Pop/Rock
Alicia Keys As I Am J-Records Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Trisha Yearwood Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love Big Machine Contemporary Country
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony T.H.U.G.S. Ruthless Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap, Midwest Rap
Boyz II Men Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA Decca Tribute Albums, Urban, Adult Contemporary
Vashti Bunyan Some Things Just Stick in You Mind: Single and Demos 1964-1967 Fat Cat British Folk
Don Cherry Thinking of You Sepia Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop
Club 8 The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming Labrador Indie Electronic, Swedish Pop/Rock, Indie Pop
Dane Cook Rough Around the Edges: Live from Madison Square Garden Comedy Central Rec. Standup Comedy, Observational Humor
Brian Dewan Words of Wisdom Eschatone Folksongs
The Dillinger Escape Plan Ire Works Wea/Relapse Experimental Rock, Post-Hardcore, Grindcore
Celine Dion Taking Chances Sony Adult Contemporary, Pop/Rock
Ian Dury The Best of Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll The Great American British Punk, Pub Rock, New Wave, Punk, Disco
Fancey Schmancey What Are? Indie Pop, Pop Underground
Aretha Franklin Jewels in the Crown: All Star Duets with the Queen Arista Smooth Soul, Pop/Rock, Contemporary R&B, Adult Contemporary
The Goo Goo Dolls Greatest Hits, Vol. 1: The Singles Warner Bros. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Grunge, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock
Manuel Gottsching Live at Mt. Fuji MG Art Kraut Rock, Experimental, Electronic
David Gray Greatest Hits ATO Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Angela Hewitt Schumann: Humoresque; Sonata in F sharp minor [Hybrid SACD] Hyperion Romantic Piano Music
Robyn Hitchcock Black Snake Diamond Role [Yep Rock] Yep Roc College Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Folk-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll
Robyn Hitchcock Eye [Yep Roc] Yep Roc Alternative Pop/Rock, College Rock, Folk-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Robyn Hitchcock I Often Dream of Trains [Yep Roc] Yep Roc Alternative Pop/Rock, College Rock, Folk-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
John Lee Hooker I'm John Lee Hooker Collectables Detroit Blues, Country Blues, Electric Delta Blues, Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues, Juke Joint Blues
Japancakes Loveless Darla Dream Pop, Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental, Indie Pop, Experimental Rock
The Killers Sawdust Island New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Alternative Pop/Rock
Ton Koopman Buxtehude: Opera Omnia V: Vocal Works, Vol. 2 Challenge Classics Baroque Vocal Music
LCD Soundsystem 45:33 EMI Indie Electronic, Alternative Dance
Led Zeppelin Mothership Rhino Album Rock, Arena Rock, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, British Metal, British Blues
Dave Liebman Blues All Ways Omnitone Progressive Jazz
Os Mutantes Live at the Barbican Theatre 2006 V2 Brazilian Pop, Tropicalia, Psychedelic
Peter Schickele P.D.Q. Bach: The Jekyll & Hyde Tour Telarc Contemporary Vocal & Chamber Music
Tokyo String Quartet Beethoven: String Quartets, Op. 18, Nos. 1-6 Harmonia Mundi Romantic String Quartets
Dominique Visse Takemitsu: Songs Haenssler Classic Contemporary Vocal Music
Queensryche Take Cover Rhino Progressive Metal, Arena Rock, Heavy Metal, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Hard Rock
Jimmy Reed Live at Carnegie Hall Shout! Factory Blues Revival, Electric Harmonica Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, R&B
Seal System Warner Bros. Club/Dance, Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Urban, House, Dance-Pop
There are pretty many big name albums new this week as we gear up for the Christmas rush. Top of the pile would likely be Alicia Keys with 
In the practice, I've gotten a lot more good listening historically out of the lowly Duran Duran. I don't know that they've ever been deep artistes, but the sonofaguns know how to write a hook and serve up a good beat. Or to make it a perhaps slightly closer comparison between 1980s bands, Duran has done me at least as much good as the much higher touted REM or Cure ever did.
Trisha Yearwood is a big name "country" singer for some years now, I know, and now wife to Garth Brooks. (That alone could get her a berth at 
Led Zeppelin 