The Lonely Goatherd Blog

New CD Album Releases, 5-13-2008: Death Cab for Cutie, Foxy Brown

2008-05-13T09:24:00.002-05:00

New CD Album Releases, 5-13-2008: Death Cab for Cutie, Foxy Brown
I'm sure I'm missing something, but I don't see one damned thing in this week's new album releases that looks like much. The big release and current Amazon #1 CD is Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie. Can't blame a band that's doing good at selling records for continuing to make them, but I completely don't see the appeal of this group. I know I've heard them, and seen them on SNL, but I can't remember not one song nor lick of their music.

I've just dutifully listened to samples of every song from this new album, and it just doesn't sound like anything. Now, I can't really review an album that I haven't fully heard, but I didn't hear anything that would even vaguely approximate a hook. This just sounds like utterly generic mopey modern rock. Yuck.

Brooklyn's Don Diva is the latest from Foxy Brown. I'm not big on a lot of half-assed rap, but she made a permanent little spot in my pantheon with the classic "Letter to the Firm." On the one hand, she starts out here in the first track with sampled news audio about her being in jail. This gives her street cred and all. Pause while I roll my eyes. Still, the bits of this new album I've heard sound like this might be listenable at least once or twice. It's a lot more promising than Death Cab.

Hottest tracks

T.I. - No Matter What Lyrics

Jon McLaughlin - Beating My Heart Lyrics

Usher - This Ain't Sex Lyrics

Veronicas - Goodbye To You Lyrics

Lisa Lavie - Angel Lyrics

Jason Mraz - Details In Fabric Lyrics

Hilary Duff - Your Phone Cut Out Lyrics

Akon - Hold My Hand Lyrics

N.E.R.D. (The Neptunes) - Spaz Lyrics

The Ting Tings - Shut Up And Let Me Go Lyrics

Get your free list here.

Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Death Cab for Cutie
Narrow Stairs
Atlantic/WEA
Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Duffy
Rockferry
Mercury
Neo-Soul, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Jason Mraz
We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
Atlantic/WEA
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock

Old 97's
Blame It on Gravity [Deluxe]
New West
Alternative Country-Rock, Americana, Pop Underground

Abysmal Dawn
Programmed to Consume
Relapse
Death Metal/Black Metal, Heavy Metal

Botticellis
Old Home Movies
Antenna Farm
Indie Pop, Chamber Pop

Cleo Brown
Complete Recorded Works
Document
Swing, Boogie-Woogie, Stride, Jive

Foxy Brown
Brooklyn's Don Diva
Koch
Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap

Ryan Cabrera
The Moon Under Water
Papa Joe
Pop/Rock

Renaud Capucon
Capriccio
Virgin Classics
Violin Selections

Arthur Conley
More Sweet Soul
Collectors' Choice Music
Deep Soul, Southern Soul, Soul

Arthur Conley
Soul Directions
Collectors' Choice Music
Deep Soul, Southern Soul, Soul

Robert Cray
Live at the BBC
Mercury
Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Soul-Blues

Dokken
Lightning Strikes Again
Rhino
Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Dave Douglas & Keystone
Moonshine
Green Leaf
Post-Bop

The Feeling
Join with Us
Island
Pop Underground, Alternative Pop/Rock

Fretwork
Birds on Fire: Jewish Music for Viols
Harmoni Mundi
Renaissance Chamber Music

Bill Frisell
History, Mystery
Nonesuch
Chamber Jazz, Post-Bop, Avant-Garde, Modern Creative, Standards, Avant-Garde Jazz

Marc-Andre Hamelin
In a State of Jazz
Hyperion
Jazz-Influenced Piano Music

Hesperion XX
Estampies & Danses Royales [Hybrid SACD]
Alia Vox Spain
Medieval Vocal and Choral Music

Jools Holland
Best of Friends [CD/DVD]
WEA/Rhino
Alternative Country-Rock, Country-Rock, Boogie-Woogie, Rock & Roll, Retro Swing, Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock

Lars Hollmer
Viandra
Cuneiform
Avant-Prog, Classical Crossover, Experimental Rock, Modern Composition, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Neo-Classical

Iron Maiden
Somewhere Back in Time: The Best of 1980-1989
Sony
British Metal, Heavy Metal

Local H
12 Angry Months
Shout! Factory
Post-Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock

Mason Proffit
Come & Gone
One Way
Folk-Rock, Country-Rock

John Miles
Zaragon
Arista
Album Rock, Soft Rock, Pop/Rock

Mink DeVille
Where Angels Fear to Tread
Collectors' Choice Music
New York Punk, Rock & Roll, Roots Rock

Musica Pacifica
Fire Beneath My Fingers
Dorian
Baroque Chamber Music

Xuefei Yang
40 Degrees North
EMI Classics
Modern and Contemporary Guitar Music

Osborne
Osborne
Spectral Sound
Club/Dance, House, Left-Field House, Techno

Plantlife
Time Traveller
Decon
Neo-Soul, Urban, Contemporary R&B

Quiet Village
Silent Movie
K7
Electronica, Downbeat

Duke Robillard
A Swingin Session with Duke Robillard
Stony Plain
Contemporary Blues, Swing

Sahib Shihab
Complete Sextets Sessions: 1956-1957
Fresh Sound
Hard Bop, Bop, Soul-Jazz

Frank Sinatra
Nothing But the Best [Capitol]
Rhino
Vocal Jazz, Traditional Pop, Standards

The Submarines
Honeysuckle Weeks
Nettwerk
Indie Pop, Indie Rock

10cc
...Meanwhile
Polydor
Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

10cc
Food For Thought
Alex
Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

10cc
Live and Let Live
Mercury
Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

10cc
Look Hear?
Warner Bros.
Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

Rufus Thomas
Tiger Man: Earliest Recordings 1950-1957
Document
R&B, Electric Memphis Blues

Tindersticks
The Hungry Saw
Beggars Banquet
Chamber Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Gene Vincent
A Million Shades of Blue
Rev-Ola
Rockabilly, Rock & Roll, Country-Rock

We Are Scientists
Brain Thrust Mastery
Virgin
Indie Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival

Young and Sexy
The Arc
Mint
Indie Pop, Chamber Pop

New CD Album Releases, 5-6-2008: Born Again Floozies, Cup o' Noodle Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond and Clay Aiken

2008-05-06T21:33:00.005-05:00

New CD Album Releases, 5-6-2008: Born Again Floozies, Cup o' Noodle Elvis Costello, Neil Diamond and Clay Aiken
The best things in life are free this week. The scourge of Indianapolis, the Born Again Floozies have an awesome extended nine minute live arrangement of the Sly Stone song "If You Want Me To Stay." The fully three minute guitar introduction is pretty much a whole new instrumental composition in its own rite. Then she-of-the-lungs Nancy Moore turns it out. Find out why Jebus hates Nancy Moore. "If You Want Me To Stay" available for free download from Floozie central. It's about the awesomest new thing I've heard all year.

Here's how Elvis Costello describes his new album Momofuku. It is named for the guy who apparently invented the cup o' noodles concept. "Like so many things in this world of wonders, all we had to do to make this record was add water." And folks, unfortunately that's just what it is, a cheap instant plastic cup full of cheap, bland Elvis-flavored ramen noodles.

Album notes indicate that he may have spent as much as eight days writing and recording this album. I can't see what took him so long. He can't have spent long writing this double handful of nothing. I would think that he could just ad lib and free associate at will at a mic better than this. Seriously.

Not to put too fine a point on it, this may be the worst album Elvis has ever made. It's instant Elvis, with absolutely zero inspiration. I'm Elvis Costello OG, and I can't find anything particularly interesting on any level. It's a generic "Elvis Costello" album - only without a single memorable hook - much less a good song. The only competition among studio albums of Elvis Costello songs is North. I'm pretty much force-feeding to make myself listen to this crap a third time while composing these album release notes.

Turns out that "Pardon Me Madam, My Name Is Eve" was co-written and co-starring Loretta Lynn. That would sound real promising in the theory. I'm the absolute perfect audience for that idea, but there's just nothing inspired or catchy about this song. After hearing it twice, I only found out it was supposed to have Loretta when I saw it in the liner notes. This was a particular disappointment.

I blame Diana Krall. If there is a trophy of a wife, she's got to be it. Elvis goes home to this super hot jazz singer that probably sells more records than he does. Plus, she's given him babies. Holy crap, how are you supposed to find inspiration for a proper evil Elvis Costello song in all this domestic bliss?

On a more constructive note, if you've lost track of Elvis over the years and want to catch up to more modern really good Elvis Costello, discover The Delivery Man from 2004 or When I Was Cruel from 2002.

Neil Diamond is back this week with Home Before Dark. This is his second album with Rick Rubin, and again includes backing Tom Petty's reliable Heartbreakers. His first Rubin album, 12 Songs, was pretty good, but got unfortunately ruined commercially by a dumb DRM malware controversy. I know I wouldn't have put one of those CDs in my computer drive if you gave it to me.

Clay Aiken seems like a real nice fellow, and looking at all the different stuff he's doing I'd gladly front him credit for his work ethic. Still I cannot for the life of me get why anybody would want to listen to this guy sing. On My Way Here is his second album of original songs. It is #5 at Amazon. Fifty million Clay Aiken fans can't be wrong.

Cool Songs

Oasis - Nothin' On Me Lyrics

Sean Paul - Grip Lyrics

Alicia Keys - Teenage Love Affair Lyrics

New Kids On The Block - Summertime Lyrics

Mariah Carey - Side Effects Lyrics

Lil' Wayne - Milli Lyrics

Britney Spears - Something More Lyrics

Donnie Klang - Rolling Stone Lyrics

Lindsay Lohan - Bossy Lyrics

Hot Chip - Over And Over Lyrics

Get your free list here.

Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Elvis Costello & the Imposters
Momofuku
Lost Highway
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Rock & Roll

Gavin DeGraw
Gavin DeGraw
J-Records
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Neil Diamond
Home Before Dark
Columbia
Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary

The Last Shadow Puppets
Age of the Understatement
Domino
Indie Rock

Mindi Abair
Stars
Peak
Smooth Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Instrumental Pop

Clay Aiken
On My Way Here
RCA
Adult Contemporary

Misha Alperin
Her First Dance
ECM
Modern Creative

Ersi Arvizu
Friend for Life
Anti
Latin Jazz, Contemporary R&B, Latin Pop

Barenaked Ladies
Snacktime!
Nettwerk/Desperation
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Sing-Along

Dierks Bentley
Greatest Hits: Every Mile a Memory
Liberty
Contemporary Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country

Brian Blade Fellowship
Seasons of Changes
Verve
Post-Bop, Modern Creative

Blank Blue
Western Water Music, Vol. II
Ubiquity
Neo-Psychedelia, Dream Pop, Post-Rock/Experimental

Christine Brewer
Christine Brewer Sings Songs by Wagner, Wolf, Britten and John Carter
Wigmore Hall Live
Romantic, Post-Romantic, Modern and Contemporary Vocal Music

Carney
Nothing Without You
Interscope
Alternative Pop/Rock

Confederate Railroad
The Very Best of Confederate Railroad
Rhino
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Honky Tonk, Contemporary Country, Country-Rock

Taylor Eigsti
Let It Come to You
Concord
Post-Bop, Modern Creative

Everest
Ghost Notes
Ada/Vapor
Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock

Firewater
The Golden Hour
Bloodshot
Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock

Tim Fite
Fair Ain't Fair
Anti
Indie Pop, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Nik Freitas
Sun Down
Team Love
Indie Pop, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Pop

Josh Groban
Awake Live [CD/DVD]
Reprise
Classical Pop, Adult Contemporary, Vocal Pop, Euro-Pop

Scott Hamilton & Friends
Across the Tracks
Concord
Standards, Mainstream Jazz, Neo-Bop

Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri [Hybrid SACD]
Sony
Romantic Choral Music

Peter Homans
Peter Homans: A Prague Spring
MMC
Contemporary Chamber and Orchestral Music

William Kapell
Kapell Rediscovered
RCA
Piano Selections

Kayo Dot
Blue Lambency Downward
Hydrahead
Experimental Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental, Modern Composition, Avant-Garde

Toby Keith
35 Biggest Hits
Show Dog Nashville
Contemporary Country

Scott Kelly
The Wake
Neurot
Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Hal Ketchum
Greatest Hits
Curb
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Contemporary Country

The Long Blondes
Couples
Rough Trade
New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Rock

Matmos
The Supreme Balloon
Matador
Experimental Techno, Electronica, Ambient Techno

Midnight Oil
Diesel and Dust [CD/DVD]
Columbia
College Rock, Album Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Aussie Rock

Millencolin
Machine 15
Epitaph
Punk Revival, Punk-Pop

Mint Condition
E-Life
Caged Bird/Image
Contemporary R&B, Urban

Jeb Loy Nichols
Days Are Mighty
Compass
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

No Age
Nouns
Sub Pop
Indie Rock, Lo-Fi

Original Sountrack
Ironman [Original Soundtrack]
Lion's Gate
Original Score, Film Music, Soundtracks

Evan Parker/Transatlantic Art Ensemble
Boustrophedon (In Six Furrows)
ECM
Free Jazz, Avant-Garde, Structured Improvisation, Experimental Big Band, Orchestral Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Composition, Free Improvisation

Edith Piaf
La Vie en Rose 1935-1951
Sunnyside
French Pop, Cabaret, Vocal Pop, Torch Songs, Nostalgia

Russian Circles
Station
Suicide Squeeze
Experimental Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental, Instrumental Rock

Chris Sligh
Running Back to You
Brash
Alternative CCM

Socratic
Spread the Rumors
Drive Thru
Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Charlotte Sometimes
Waves & the Both of Us
Geffen
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Pop/Rock

Steve Turre
Rainbow People
Highnote
Afro-Cuban Jazz, Post-Bop, Latin Jazz

Armin van Buuren
Imagine
Ultra
Club/Dance, Progressive Trance, Progressive House

Various Artists
Ayombe!: The Heart of Colombia's Musica Vallenata
Smithsonian/Folkways
Vallenato, Son, Traditional, Merengue

Various Artists
Soul Messages from Dimona
Numero
Psychedelic Soul, Chicago Soul, Northern Soul, Jazz-Funk, Funk

Steve Von Till
A Grave Is a Grim Horse
Neurot
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Americana

Marcin Wasilewski Trio
January
ECM
Modern Creative, Post-Bop
************
ELVIS COSTELLO

RADIO RADIO SNL PICTURES 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Album Review: My Flame Burns Blue, 2006 live jazz album with the Metropole Orkest
DVD Review: The Right Spectacle, an Elvis Costello career retrospective
DVD Review: Elvis Costello & the Imposters - Live in Memphis 2004
Album Review: The Delivery Man , just another outstanding Elvis Costello album
Rock and roll day of the Pentacost with Jerry Lee and Elvis, Live 10-13-2002
Al rebuked
Album of the Year 2002: When I Was Cruel by Elvis Costello
Elvis sings the Declan McManus songbook
Elvis Costello on A&E's Live by Request 9-27-03
Album Review: North is a major Elvis Costello disappointment
Elvis gets hitched! December 6, 2003
Norah Jones sings Elvis Costello: A modest proposal
Presley vs Costello: Advantage, Elvis!
Elvis Costello, record industry tool
Elvis Costello's picks for 500 best albums
ELVIS COSTELLO PHOTO GALLERY
WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 1977
PSYCHO
PILLS AND SOAP 1983
PARTY GIRL 1978
I WANT YOU 1986
RIOT ACT 1980
DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD 1986
HURRY DOWN DOOMSDAY 1991
GOON SQUAD 1978
SHOT WITH HIS OWN GUN 1981

My Libertarian Blues and Ron Paul in Disgrace (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Hillary Clinton)

2008-05-06T00:37:00.002-05:00

My Libertarian Blues and Ron Paul in Disgrace (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Hillary Clinton)
There's always trouble in the land, but all in all I personally feel pretty good about the future of America and the world at large. The country's doing ok, and we'll muddle through well enough whether we elect the giant douche or the turd sandwich.

But I'm not feeling near so good about my Libertarian Party, Ron Paul and the whole reputation that they are earning for the broader libertarian movement. Foolish blind ideological dogma has increasingly made us look like kooks with minimal connection to reality.

For starters, Ron Paul is a goddam disgrace. I voted for him in 1988 with the LP, but I was done with the thought of voting for him in the first debate of the 2008 contest where he uttered the word "blowback." It would be absolutely unacceptable to have a person talking such as the POTUS, for it would utterly destroy our credibility to even pretend to have a right to protect ourselves. It would amount to giving jihadists what Ayn Rand would call "the sanction of the victim."

Paul partisans would argue that it's not really that at all, that it's equivalent to explaining the motivation of a killer - not saying that they're right. College boys can parse that out to make it fall on the right side of the line. But that's just not going to matter. Al Qaeda will be not unreasonably saying, "Hey, your own president says 'They're over here because we're over there.'"

Policy aside, Ron Paul is a major personal disgrace. First, there are these really awful newsletters that Paul has published under various names over at least 30 years. I'd ignored passing mentions of such things until James Kirchik at The New Republic went to the effort of searching obscure university libraries and such to document the true depravity of this stuff that Ron Paul was putting out in his name. Not one or two little politically incorrect cracks, but really ugly white trash bigotry mixed with ugly conspiracy. I was particularly unimpressed with his 1994 Survival Report on "AIDS Dementia" which speculated among other things that gays don't really mind getting AIDS because they enjoy the attention they get for being sick.

I've been told not to talk, but these stooges don't scare me. Threats or no threats, I've laid bare the coming race war in our big cities. The federal-homosexual cover-up on AIDS (my training as a physician helps me see through this one.) The Bohemian Grove--perverted, pagan playground of the powerful. Skull & Bones: the demonic fraternity that includes George Bush and leftist Senator John Kerry, Congress's Mr. New Money. The Israeli lobby, which plays Congress like a cheap harmonica.

Reading this solicitation letter for The Ron Paul Investment Letter, I'm not even sure that that's the worst part of just that stupid pitch letter.

Confronted with these newsletters, Paul not only denied authorship but claimed that he didn't know who actually authored these variously named publications owned and/or licensed by him. (Likely speculation would attribute some of this to Paul's longtime associate and one time staff member Lew Rockwell.) Why, he didn't know about these very many hugely awful things he was putting out. So besides the ugliness of these years of writing, add on that he's lying through his supposedly good Christian teeth.

Now for something not completely different, but more recent: Ron Paul has given endorsement to the infamous John Birch Society. "The John Birch Society is a great patriotic organization featuring an educational program solidly based on constitutional principles. I congratulate the Society in this, its 50th year. I wish them continued success and endorse their untiring efforts to foster ‘less government, more responsibility … and with God’s help … a better world.'" He has agreed to be keynote speaker for the Birchers 50th anniversary conference this coming October.

The Birchers are probably the most infamous cheesy fringe conspiracy kook group in American history, founded in 1958 partly to promote the belief that President Eisenhower was a Soviet agent. The first and most important thing that William F Buckley did as an early founder of the modern American conservative movement was to run these ugly JBS characters out of the conservative movement.

Now here's Paul wanting to recruit and identify them as "libertarians." Oh, HELL no. I have absolutely no desire to affiliate with hateful anti-semitic conspiracy theorists, and I certainly don't want people associating my beliefs with theirs. The Birchers can have Ron Paul, cause I wouldn't vote for him for dog catcher.

But these Birchers aren't any worse than some of the people already prominent in the Libertarian Party. For starters, we've got some 9/11 truthers. Jim Duensing, founder of Libertarians for Justice, is chairman of the Nevada state party. I saw some of his family at our local Indiana Libertarian Party convention in April participating in a workshop on recruiting new members. He was of course encouraging us to seek out members among the 9/11 truth community.

Yeah, that's JUST the retards I want representing for me. Way to boost your credibility with the public. We absolutely do not need members that bad. These conspiracy mongering idiots absolutely do not represent any idea of libertarian philosophy as I understand and believe such things.

Then there is the presidential candidate lineup I was eyeballing in Indy. Actually, I was somewhat partway impressed with latecomer member Senator Mike Gravel. I suspect that if you grilled him good, he's got some substantial libertarian deviationism in the direction of believing in government social programs. I suppose I could live with that. But even he has apparently signed on to Duensing group.

Former Republican Bob Barr (who was not at our Indy convention) is the most likely candidate, thankfully having re-thought his former fierce commitment to the drug war nonsense. But he's also recanted his vote authorizing the Iraq war. That might be a change of heart, but unfortunately apparently at this point you can't be any kind of hawk and seek the Libertarian presidential nomination.

But his top competition for the nomination and favorite of many long time activists is Mary Ruwart. She's been in the party forever, and is known for a 1992 book Healing Our World: The Other Piece of the Puzzle. Watching her and talking to her at the Indianapolis convention, she seemed like a very nice well-preserved 50-something grandmother.

But she's definitely out on the ideological debate society tip, leading her into seriously bad juju, most obviously some faux-philosophical foolishness that somehow leads her to defending the right of children to engage in prostitution and child pornography. In her book Short Answers to the Tough Questions, Mary Ruwart says

Children who willingly participate in sexual acts have the right to make that decision as well, even if it's distasteful to us personally. Some children will make poor choices just as some adults do in smoking and drinking to excess. When we outlaw child pornography, the prices paid for child performers rise, increasing the incentives for parents to use children against their will.

To even start to think that a six year old would have capacity to understand such choices or that this wouldn't simply be license for adult abuse is just ridiculous ideologically blinkered stupidity. But in Indianapolis, she didn't back off from this an inch. I tried nicely to get a preferred term for her position. Would you say you favor "legalisation" of child pornography, or "decriminalization"? The only thing I could get out of her with repeated friendly questions was "not banning." She said that to me at least six times.

But at that, she's got juice in the party. For starters, in the multi-pick Indiana Libertarian presidential straw poll she got 19 votes to Barr's 22. I love my Indiana LP people with my whole black heart, and they're about the most sensible, pragmatic and successful state party. But even here amongst (relatively) sensible Hoosiers, she's a top-tier candidate for the presidential nomination. Do you really want to get branded as the pro-kiddie porn party? Are you out your goddam minds?

More than that though, she swings a big enough stick in the party to run the executive director of the national party out of his job for putting out a press release noting that the party does oppose child pornography.

Shane Cory has resigned as exectuive director of the Libertarian Party, which issued a press release with three top LP officials praising Cory's service to the party.

Cory's exit comes in wake of an internal party uproar surrounding longtime Libertarian activist Mary Ruwart, who is seeking the LP presidential nomination, after it was reported that a passage in a book she wrote in 1999 appeared to defend child pornography. This prompted Cory, who had been the Libertarian executive director since 2005, to issue an official LP press release clarifying that the party opposes child pornography. Ruwart's supporters and others in the party's "left-libertarian" wing responded by accusing Cory of attempting to sabotage her presidential campaign and being a "lackey for Bob Barr," who is considered Ruwart's chief rival for the LP nomination.

Jumpin' Jebus on a pogo stick, what rational reality-based individual would want anything to do with the Birchers, 9/11 truthers and defenders of kiddie porn? I'm not really digging on the big government stands of Democrats, but compared to this supposedly "libertarian" nonsense even Barack Hussein Jeremiah Wright Obama starts looking good.

But that's not what I came to talk about. I'm here to talk about our Indiana primary election. As I type, it's rolling over into primary morning May 2008 here in the Hoosier hills. This is the only time pretty much ever that anyone has given a rat's patoot about Indiana's presidential primary vote all the way out in May.

What's a half-sensible libertarian to do? As an expression of disgust with Ron Paul, some months ago I said that I'd vote for Hillary Clinton before I'd vote for Ron Paul. That is, I'd vote for even a frickin' lying cutthroat CLINTON before I'd vote for Paul. I was saying that facetiously.

But what's really messed up is when your facetious thoughts start sounding reasonable. Hillary's not some Bircher idiot tilting at windmills. At least Hillary is worldly and serious enough to know that the country actually does have to be defended, however better or worse she would do than Bush. We'll muddle our way through the rolling bankruptcy of the welfare state.

I swear to Ayn Rand and Ann Coulter I'm going to go out in a few hours and cast a ballot for Hillary Rodham Clinton. Partly that is a gesture of my contempt for Ron Paul, much as was my 1988 primary vote for Pat Robertson over Vice-President Bush. Plus, if in fact the country is determined to elect a Democrat, I would quite sincerely prefer her over friend-of-the-Weather-Underground Barack. Truly, this giant douche is substantially preferable to this turd sandwich from the Trinity United Church of Christ. And even the most liberal member of the United States Senate is preferable to the John Birch Society or the NAMBLA candidate. Hey, Ann Coulter, Al Barger and Richard Mellon Scaife can't ALL be wrong in supporting Hillary.

Fortunately, there's a lot more to the country than whatever jackleg weasels grease their way to the top. Remember, if you don't see the fnords, they can't eat you. Don't worry about the government.

Jeremiah Wright Ain't Much of a Christian

2008-04-30T22:16:00.004-05:00

Jeremiah Wright Ain't Much of a Christian
First off, you really shouldn't speculate about other people's true inner feelings. How could you know? But then when you get to running for POTUS and wanting keys to the nukes, we all need to understand you as best we can inside and out. Plus, Barack Hussein Obama is some kind of piece of work. Only in God damn America.

This brings us to the infamous Rev Jeremiah Wright late of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, the man who led Obama to Jesus, married him, baptized his children, etc. See, I strongly suspect that neither of these guys nor much of this congregation really actually believe in Jesus Christ.

Obama appears to have had a theoretically ideal multi-cultural upbringing with the secular college professor mom and Muslims on the other side. He's had at least a little taste of mosque going growing up - which is all to the good. But Barry Obama is way too cool, educated and sophisticated to really seriously believe any of that jive.

However, as a young adult wanting to put down roots and go into politics, he becomes a Christian so he can join this cheesy black nationalist church. Jeremiah Wright doesn't believe in Jesus of Nazareth any more than me or Jesse Jackson do. If he did, he'd be too scared of being struck by lightning to talk some of the black foolishness that he does.

Jesus of Nazareth barely shows up during the Jeremiah Wright Show. What does making up hateful nonsense about AIDS conspiracies have to do with the message of the Christ? He's getting over with the million dollar home and fame not for preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ, but cheesy black nationalist shtick about some black God what is going to smite whitey. Not much of a 'love thy neighbor as thyself' message in that. Barack Obama surely doesn't believe this nonsense - but Jeremiah Wright doesn't believe most of this foolishness himself, any more than Al Sharpton really believed Tawana Brawley. These are not stupid men.

Note also Wright's buddy-buddy relationship with Louis Farrakhan - much more so than with most Christian churches, certainly moreso than most white ones. But that's because Calypso Louis truly shares his highest values. They may not be brothers in Christ, but they brothers in black nationalist demagoguery.

The collegiate salons of San Francisco seem the more natural social element for Barry Obama than a real church. So it's understandable that as an Ivy League elite he would think that people "cling" to religion because they're "bitter." That he would say that alone suggests strongly that he doesn't really believe himself. But the sermons of Rev Wright do certainly appeal to bitterness and anger.

If he really did worship Jesus Christ as his savior, he'd be looking for a preacher displaying or at least aspiring to the compassion of Christ. There'd be a lot less god damning of America (most of which damned Americans are Wright's brothers and sisters in Christ). There'd be a lot more gratitude to the maker. I didn't see much sign of that in evidence during his big NAACP and National Press Club gigs.

Conveniently enough, such a sentiment showed up locally on a church display at the Western Avenue Baptist Church in Connersville, Indiana this week, which crystallized the point to me and made me want to write this down. I don't know if they necessarily meant this as a Barack message, but this right here is exactly the opposite of the Rev Wright's presentation - and just what I would hope for from true disciples of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

And they'll know we are Christians by our love.

New CD Album Releases, 4-29-2008: Madonna, Portishead, Steve Winwood

2008-04-29T21:00:00.004-05:00

New CD Album Releases, 4-29-2008: Madonna, Portishead, Steve Winwood
Hard Candy is Madonna's 11th album, and her last for Warner Brothers. She certainly deserved her induction into the Hall of Fame a few weeks back, but for my money the Dick Tracy related 1990 album I'm Breathless was her last worthwhile recording. Plus, ridiculous floozie foolishness like the Sex book and the Britney kiss and Kabalah as a fashion statement make it easy and fun to mock and dismiss her.

Still, that godawful Confessions on a Dance Floor sold some eight million copies worldwide. Can't fault her for sticking with what works, I suppose. Who you gonna believe, Al Barger or eight million Madonna fans? But there's been very little song under anything I've heard from her in a decade and a half. Her and Patrick Leonard wrote some fine classic songs 20 years ago, but there's been precious little but minor production gimmicks masqueraded as "songs" for many years.

In fairness though, I've heard most of this Hard Candy album, and it's got at least one or two tracks that might reasonably be considered at least minimally legitimate songs. Most of these are typical generic dance floor workouts with nothing that could other than extremely charitably be described as a "melody." But I'll give her (and Justin) credit for "Four Minutes." That actually has a fairly snappy tune, and some sharp hooks. I've been getting enough good from it to motivate me to hunt down more. The first song "Candy Shop" also is at least halfway listenable. There's somewhat more than her recent average in actual musical content. It's still better than Mariah Carey, at least.

Madonna, Auteur aka Jill of All Trades
Madonna's Kabbalah Conundrum
Madonna's Boring Shock Tactics
Madonna Louise Ciccone Images 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

But in terms of actual music, the likely top point of interest is Portishead. They've made some beautiful and memorable music from their shimmering world weary ennui. Problem with that though is that beautiful indifference tends to lead to lack of motivation. Thus, this Third album is their first in 11 years. But hey, they deigned to do a headlining show last weekend for the big Coachella festival, and are even threatening to tour!

Snarkiness aside though, I've heard some of these new songs, and they sound pretty good starting out. "The Rip" keeps up an uncharacteristically simple acoustic sound most of the way through that works nicely. I'm more taken though with "Magic Doors," which is broadly in their slowish trip hop mode. I particularly appreciate the little dissonant keyboard solo that kicks in around 2:20. It's like a tiny bit of motivating discontent bubbling past the ennui. This is the #2 album in the land according to Amazon, right behind Madonna Herself.

It always seems like I should dig Steve Winwood more than I do. He's made some pretty good records, and his skills really only get better with time. Nine Lives is his first album in five years.

Up to date music info

Hurt - Loded Lyrics

Baby Bash - Don't Stop Lyrics

POD - Addicted Lyrics

Fergie - Labels Or Love Lyrics

G-Unit - I Like The Way She Do It Lyrics

Colbie Caillat - Realize Lyrics

Coldplay - Violet Hill Lyrics

Jonathan Rhys Meyers - This Time Lyrics

Chuck Wicks - All I Ever Wanted Lyrics

MGMT - Time To Pretend Lyrics

Get your blog's here.

Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Robert Forster
The Evangelist
Yep Roc
Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop

Madonna
Hard Candy
Warner Bros.
Club/Dance

Portishead
Third
Mercury/Island
Electronica, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Trip-Hop

The Roots
Rising Down
Def Jam
Alternative Rap, Hip-Hop

Santogold
Santogold
Downtown
Alternative Dance, Club/Dance, Indie Electronic, Dancehall

Steve Winwood
Nine Lives
Columbia
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary

Augustana
Can't Love, Can't Hurt
Epic
American Trad Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Awesome Color
Electric Aborigines
Ecstatic Peace!
Garage Punk, Noise-Rock

Baby D
A-Town Secret Weapon
KR Urban
Southern Rap, Dirty South

Bobby & Blumm
Everybody Loves...
Morr Music/M.M.
Indie Pop, Ambient Pop, Post-Rock/Experimental

Boris
Smile
Southern Lord
Experimental Rock, Noise-Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental

The Cab
Whisper War
Decaydance/Fueled by Ramen
Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo

Chin Chin
Chin Chin
Definitive Jux
Electro, Jazz-Rock, Techno, House

Cloudland Canyon
Lie in Light
Kranky
Space Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock

Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers
Turbo Ocho [CD/DVD]
Emma Java
Americana, Roots Rock, Heartland Rock

Constantines
Kensington Heights
Arts & Crafts
Indie Rock

David Karsten Daniels
Fear of Flying
FTC
Indie Pop, Alternative Singer/Songwriter

Def Leppard
Songs from the Sparkle Lounge
Bludgeon Riffola/Island
Pop-Metal, Album Rock, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock

Dizzee Rascal
Maths and English
XL
Garage Rap/Grime

Steve Earle
Copperhead Road [Deluxe Edition]
Geffen
Heartland Rock, Roots Rock, Country-Rock, Americana, Alternative Country

Ensemble Belladonna
Melodious Melancholye
Raumklang
Medieval Vocal and Choral Music

Estelle
Shine
Atlantic/Homeschool
Urban, Contemporary R&B, British Rap

Fate
Vultures
Metal Blade
Heavy Metal, Thrash

Forever the Sickest Kids
Underdog Alma Mater
Universal Motown
Punk-Pop, Emo

Ronnie Hawkins
Arkansas Rockpile/Mojo Man
Collectors' Choice Music
Rock & Roll

Hayden
In Field & Town
Hardwood/Universal
Lo-Fi, Alternative Pop/Rock, Sadcore, American Trad Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Heloise & The Savoir Faire
Trash, Rats and Microphones
Yep Roc
Indie Electronic, Indie Rock

Griffin House
Flying Upside Down
RCA
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country

Lyfe Jennings
Lyfe Change
Columbia
Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul

Jimmy Eat World
Bleed American [2 CD Deluxe Edition]
Geffen
Punk-Pop, Emo

David Johansen
David Johansen
Razor & Tie
New York Punk, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll

David Johansen
Live It Up
Razor & Tie
New York Punk, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll

Joy Division
The Best of Joy Division [2 CD]
Rhino/London
Post-Punk

Andrew Kennedy
On Wenlock Edge
Signum
Post-Romantic, Modern and Contemporary Vocal Music

Langhorne Slim
Langhorne Slim
Kemado
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Folk, Americana, Indie Rock

Jamie Lidell
Jim
Warp
Neo-Soul, Experimental Techno

Liverpool Five
Best of the Liverpool Five
Sundazed
Pop/Rock, Garage Rock, British Invasion

Mindless Self Indulgence
If
The End
Industrial Dance, Industrial Metal

Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch
Reprise / Wea
Heartland Rock, Rock & Roll, Bar Band, Pop/Rock, Hard Rock

Music of Remembrance
Jake Heggie: For a Look or a Touch
Naxos
Contemporary Chamber and Vocal Music

Nerf Herder
IV
Oglio
Comedy Rock, Punk-Pop, Post-Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk Revival, Indie Rock

New Found Glory/International Superheroes of Hardcore
Tip of the Iceberg/Takin' It Ova!
B9
Post-Hardcore, Punk-Pop

One Night Only
Started a Fire
Mercury
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Susan Platts
Frauenliebe und Leben
Atma Classique
Romantic Vocal Music

David del Tredici
David del Tredici: Vintage Alice; Dracula
Innova
Contemporary Vocal Music

Puscifer
V Is for Viagra: The Remixes
Zomba/Puscifer
Electro-Industrial, Industrial

Eli "Paperboy" Reed & The True Loves
Roll with You
Q Division
Blue-Eyed Soul, Neo-Soul

Carly Simon
This Kind of Love
Hear Music
Pop, Adult Contemporary, Singer/Songwriter

South
You Are Here
Bluhammock
Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Dream Pop

Phil Stacey
Phil Stacey
Lyric Street
Pop Idol, Contemporary Country, Pop/Rock

Strategy
Music for Lamping
Audio Dregs
Indie Electronic, IDM, Electronica, Post-Rock/Experimental

Tickley Feather
Tickley Feather
Paw Tracks
Experimental Rock, Indie Rock

Mel Tillis
Me and Pepper
Collectors' Choice Music
Country-Pop, Traditional Country

Zappa Plays Zappa
Zappa Plays Zappa
Razor & Tie
Guitar Virtuoso, Hard Rock

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New CD Album Releases, 4-22-2008: Jonathan Richman, Ashlee Simpson, Otis Redding and Love Re-issues

2008-04-22T23:56:00.003-05:00

New CD Album Releases, 4-22-2008: Jonathan Richman, Ashlee Simpson, Otis Redding and Love Re-issues
One new album this week that looks like a must-hear: Jonathan Richman has his 20th or so album this week, Because Her Beauty Is Raw and Wild. He's best known for his songs and cameo in There's Something About Mary - which was just fine, but no fan of Jo-Jo would tell you that's his best. He'd never sold a lot of records, but his original The Modern Lovers album recorded in 1972 was a glorious pre-punk masterpiece.

He was a poor fit for the punk rock scene however, as he was something of a punk rock Buddy Holly - a lover, not a fighter or belligerant. He quickly turned down the volume and tended toward childlike wonder. Some considered classics like "Back in Your Life" or "Dodge Veg-a-Matic" to be emotionally regressive. That he was prone to things like playing acoustic shows in nursing homes probably didn't help his standing with angry Sex Pistols fans and such.

Those critics were very wrong, however, starting with missing the crucial difference between being child-like versus being childish. With age, he has definitely become a more subtle and skillful musician - though it's generally just him on acoustic guitar and long-time partner Tommy Larkin on drums. But he's got a lot more technique as a guitarist over time - not playing fancy solos, but having a broader palette of style and affect. For one thing, he now sometimes does songs or albums in French or Spanish. He has one of each on this album.

Moreover, after singing about lonely dinosaurs and misunderstood abominable snowmen, as an older man he has become quietly and unpretentiously deeper and more preceptive. He's quieted down enough to hear things that others would miss with more recent elusive perceptions such as "I Can Almost Hear Her Fighting with Herself" and "True Love Is Not Nice." Imagine Buddy Holly at age 60.

Because Her Beauty Is Raw and Wild is a particularly beautiful and promising title. From the bits I've heard, "No One Was Like Vermeer" and "When We Refuse to Suffer" sound like particularly hot little jams. His new arrangement of his vintage "Old World" would be a good illustration of his improved musicianship. The album concludes with the "As My Mother Lay Dying" in which he describes listening closely during those last days in the nursing home, eagerly gleaning those last few lessons.

Other than that, the biggest commercial name new release is Ashlee Simpson. Bittersweet World apparently aspires to be competition to Gwen Stefani. Independently, they're both officially designated Enemies of the People. The world situation is too grave even to joke about such things. It's a wearying job being The People's Leader.

But there are also a couple of particularly promising re-issues. The 1965 album Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul may be the very best classic style soul album ever. Among other classics, this was where he first published his most famous song, "Respect." His arrangement of "Satisfaction" was a hit single. Personally, I find this more listenable at this point than the overplayed Stones original. Also, this album contains his very best song, "I've Been Loving You Too Long." This Rhino re-issue has a whole second disc, with b-sides and rarities, and live recordings.

Perhaps a half-notch lower on the food chain, but Love's Forever Changes is right up there in the all-time rankings. If you dig vintage 60s baroque arty pop, this'll run pretty close to up with Pet Sounds or Sgt Pepper. "The Good Humor Man Sees Everything Like This" rates as my personal fave. This two disc Rhino deluxe re-issue has a whole different mix of the original album, plus lots of alternative and outtakes, including "Wooly Bully." Besides the bonus stuff, Brother Glen Boyd assures us that the re-mastering of the basic album sounds really sharp.

Some New Songs

Nelly - Body On Me Lyrics

Ryan Leslie - Rescue You Lyrics

Motley Crue - Saints Of Los Angeles Lyrics

Dukwon - Aww Yeah Lyrics

Lily Allen - I Don't Know Lyrics

Lily Allen - I Could Say Lyrics

Lady Antebellum - Love Don't Live Here Lyrics

Kristine Mirelle - Bring It Back Lyrics

Get your free list here.

Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Billy Bragg
Mr. Love & Justice
Cooking Vinyl
Alternative Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords
Sub Pop
Comedy Rock

The Replacements
Let It Be [Deluxe Edition]
Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino
American Underground, College Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll

Ashlee Simpson
Bittersweet World
Geffen
Teen Pop, Pop/Rock, Dance-Pop

Tokyo Police Club
Elephant Shell
Saddle Creek
Indie Rock

Barry Adamson
Back to the Cat
Central Control
Punk Blues, Retro-Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Retro Swing, Original Score, Film Music, Space Age Pop, Post-Punk, Cabaret, Jazz Blues, Modern Big Band

Atreyu
Lead Sails Paper Anchor 2.0
Hollywood
Punk Metal, Alternative Metal

Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Vibrations
Verve
Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Funk

Tab Benoit
Night Train to Nashville
Telarc
Louisiana Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Swamp Blues, New Orleans Blues

Blind Melon
For My Friends
Adrenaline
Alternative Pop/Rock, American Trad Rock

Terry Callier
Occasional Rain [Remastered]
Verve
Chicago Soul, Folk-Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Folk, Soul

The Cinematic Orchestra
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Domino
Downbeat, Orchestral Jazz, Film Music, Contemporary Jazz

Ornette Coleman
The Art of the Improvisers
Atlantic
Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz

Marilyn Crispell
Vignettes
ECM
Structured Improvisation, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Composition

The Jazz Crusaders
Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes
Motown
Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk

Dov Davidoff
The Point Is
Comedy Central
Observational Humor, Standup Comedy

Van Duren
Are You Serious?
Air Mail
Power Pop

Earles and Jensen
Just Farr a Laugh, Vol. 1 and 2: The Greatest Prank Phone Call Ever!
Matador
Prank Calls

Elbow
The Seldom Seen Kid
Polydor
Dream Pop, Britpop

The Feelies
Crazy Rhythms
A&M
American Underground, College Rock, Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Goldfinger
Hello Destiny...
Side One Dummy
Ska-Punk, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Marilyn Horne
The Complete Decca Recitals
Decca
Operatic Selections

Jorma Hynninen
Elamalle: Songs by Oskar Merikanto
Ondine
Modern Vocal Music

The Jealous Girlfriends
The Jealous Girlfriends
Last Gang
Indie Rock

Stanley Jordan
State of Nature
Mack Avenue
Contemporary Jazz

Carole King
Tapestry [Legacy Edition]
Sony Legacy
Pop/Rock, Soft Rock

Magdalena Kozena
Ah! Mio Cor: Handel Arias
Archiv Produktion
Baroque Vocal Music

Erich Kunzel
Bolero: Music by Ravel, Borodin, Bizet [Hybrid SACD]
Telarc
Romantic and Modern Orchestral Music

Ramsey Lewis Trio
Ramsey Lewis Trio at the Bohemian Caverns [Remastered]
Verve
Soul-Jazz

Love
Forever Changes [Collector's Edition]
Rhino
Baroque Pop, Pop/Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic

Lyrics Born
Everywhere at Once
Anti
Alternative Rap, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop, Neo-Soul

Bennie Maupin
Early Reflections
Cryptogramophon
Post-Bop, Modal Music

Stanton Moore
Emphasis! On Parenthesis
Telarc
Jazz-Rock, New Orleans R&B, Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, R&B

The Night Marchers
See You in Magic
Vagrant
Garage Punk, Indie Rock

Rolando Villazon
Cielo e Mar
Deutsche Grammophon
Italian Operatic Selections

Donny Osmond
From Donny...With Love
Universal Classics
Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop

Nicholas Payton
Into the Blue
Nonesuch
Post-Bop, Hard Bop, Contemporary Jazz

El Perro del Mar
From the Valley to the Stars
The Control Group
Indie Pop, Chamber Pop

Prodigy
H.N.I.C., Pt. 2
Aao Music
Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop

Otis Redding
Otis Blue: Otis Redding Sings Soul [Collector's Edition]
Rhino
Deep Soul, Southern Soul, Soul, Memphis Soul

The Replacements
Hootenanny [Deluxe Edition]
Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino
American Underground, College Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Replacements
Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash [Deluxe Edition]
Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino
American Underground, American Punk

The Replacements
Stink [Deluxe Edition]
Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino
American Underground, American Punk, Hardcore Punk

Jonathan Richman
Because Her Beauty Is Raw and Wild
Ada/Vapor
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Sarandon
Kill Twee Pop!
Slumberland
New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Rock

Scarface
The Best of Scarface
Asylum/Rap-A-Lo
Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap

Story of the Year
The Black Swan
Epitaph
Emo, Punk Revival, Screamo, Post-Grunge

Tea Leaf Green
Seeds
Ada/Surfdog
Roots Rock

Various Artists
Assemblage 1998-2008
Cryptogramophon
Avant-Garde Jazz, Folk-Jazz, Modern Free, Modern Creative

Phil Vassar
Prayer of a Common Man
Universal South
Contemporary Country

The Weepies
Hideaway
Nettwerk
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Folk-Rock

The White Tie Affair
Walk This Way
Epic
Dance-Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival

Whitesnake
Good to Be Bad
Steamhammer
Hard Rock, Album Rock, Arena Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues-Rock, Pop-Metal

Young Knives
Superabundance
Transgressive
Indie Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival

Thalia Zedek Band
Liars and Prayers
Thrill Jockey
American Underground, Indie Rock, Post-Punk, Sadcore