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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November 10, 2009
New CD Album Releases, 11-10-2009: Tori Amos, Bon Jovi, The Jackson 5, The Kinks Top new album this week is a "seasonal" not Christmas album from Tori Amos, Midwinter Graces. It has workings of a couple of actual Christmas songs, like "Star of Wonder" with other old winter songs and original compositions.
The Jackson 5 I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters appears to contain at least five unreleased original songs recorded by the early Jackson 5, as well as various alternate takes and a Stevie Wonder cover ("Buttercup"). I'm at least somewhat interested in Ray Davies & the Crouch End Festival Chorus The Kinks Choral Collection. It has orchestral arrangements of Kinks classics, including "Waterloo Sunset" and Celluloid Heroes."
Here's the complete list of this week's major new CD album releases:
AC/DC Backtracks Columbia/Albert Productions Aussie Rock, Album Rock, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Arena Rock
Bon Jovi The Circle Island Contemporary Pop/Rock, Arena Rock
The Cribs Ignore the Ignorant Warner Bros. Indie Rock
Dashboard Confessional Alter the Ending Vagrant/DGC/Interscope Emo-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Jackson 5 I Want You Back! Unreleased Masters Motown Pop-Soul, Motown, Soul, AM Pop
Snow Patrol Up to Now Fiction/Geffen Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Britney Spears The Singles Collection [Jive] Jive Pop, Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Pop/Rock
100 Proof (Aged in Soul) Somebody's Been Sleeping/100 Proof Aged in Soul Edsel Funk, Soul
Lisa Moore Julia Wolfe: Dark Full Ride Cantaloupe Contemporary Chamber Music
Jason Mraz Jason Mraz's Beautiful Mess: Live on Earth Atlantic Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Bryan Pezzone Sudoku 82 Cold Blue Contemporary Keyboard Music
Original Soundtrack 2012 [Soundtrack] RCA Film Music, Soundtracks
Original Soundtrack Californication: Season 3 Lakeshore Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, TV Music, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, TV Soundtracks, Garage Rock, Hard Rock, Punk
Original Soundtrack A Christmas Story [Rhino] Rhino Holidays, Original Score, Film Music, Christmas
Pants Yell! Received Pronunciation Slumberland Indie Pop
Dolly Parton Live from London Dolly Contemporary Country, Country-Pop, Traditional Country
Oscar Peterson Debut: The Clef/Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951 Verve/Hip-O Select Mainstream Jazz, Bop
Grant Lee Phillips Ladies' Love Oracle Yep Roc Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Americana
Porcupine Tree Up the Downstair Delerium Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Post-Rock
Radian Chimeric Thrill Jockey Post-Rock
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Xenophanes Rodriguez Lopez Productions Experimental Rock, Post-Rock
Switchfoot Hello Hurricane Atlantic Alternative CCM, Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Grunge, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Koko Taylor What It Takes: The Chess Years [Expanded Edition] [Bonus Tracks] Hip-O Select/Geffen Modern Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Chicago Blues
New CD Album Releases, 11-3-2009: Rickie Lee Jones, Weezer, Carrie Underwood, Morrissey Top likely pick unheard this week would be Balm in Gilead from the venerable Rickie Lee Jones. Like anyone, some of her albums are better than others, but she's just two years out from the outstanding The Sermon On Exposition Blvd. The little bits I've heard sound like the album is intended to be calming - a balm.
Carrie Underwood is back with Play On. I know that I'm prejudiced against anything American Idol related, because I'm into music. So I try to overcome this prejudice by at least giving the samples a listen. Crikey, is this stuff just awful. And by awful, I mean unbelievably bland and generic. She's theoretically a "country" singer, but this crapola is absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any American rural music tradition. This is less country - and less catchy - even than old Shania Twain records.
This leads me to wonder how it is that so many American Idols have sold so many damned records. You would think that anyone stupid enough to want to spend money on an American Idol would be too stupid to maintain even a job at McDonald's to pay for them. Perhaps they're buying these things out of their welfare checks.
Weezer has a new album called Raditude. I've tried listening to them, but except for the half-assed "Buddy Holly" song, I couldn't teller you another one of their mediocre at best songs. But perhaps this is a masterpiece.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new CD album releases:
Amerie In Love & War Mercury Contemporary R&B, Pop
Julian Casablancas Phrazes for the Young RCA New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Rock
Glee Cast Glee: The Music, Vol. 1 Columbia Soundtracks, TV Soundtracks, Cast Recordings
Nirvana Bleach [Deluxe Edition] Sub Pop Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock
Nirvana Live at Reading [CD/DVD] DGC/UMe Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock
Original Soundtrack Fantastic Mr. Fox [Soundtrack] ABKCO Soundtracks, Children's Folk, Traditional Folk, Film Music, British Invasion
The Rolling Stones Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out [40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set] ABKCO Pop/Rock, Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll, Album Rock, Hard Rock
Say Anything Say Anything RCA Punk-Pop, Emo-Pop
Slayer World Painted Blood American Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash
Carrie Underwood Play On Sony Pop Idol, Contemporary Country, Adult Contemporary
Weezer Raditude DGC/Interscope Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk-Pop
The Almost Monster Monster Tooth & Nail/Virgin Alternative CCM, Post-Hardcore, Post-Grunge
Bee Gees Ultimate Bee Gees: The 50th Anniversary Collection Reprise Pop/Rock, AM Pop, Baroque Pop, Soft Rock, Disco, Adult Contemporary
Devo Freedom of Choice [Bonus Tracks] Warner Bros. Dance-Rock, American Punk, Post-Punk, New Wave, Synth Pop
Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! [Bonus Tracks] Warner Bros. American Underground, American Punk, Punk/New Wave, Post-Punk, New Wave, Dance-Rock
Kate Earl Kate Earl [11 Tracks] Universal Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Neo-Soul
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs El Arte de La Elegancia de LFC Nacional Rock en Español
Foo Fighters Greatest Hits RCA Alternative/Indie-Rock, Post-Grunge, Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock
Grampall Jookabox Dead Zone Boys Asthmatic Kitty Experimental Rock, Indie Rock
Kathy Griffin Suckin' It for the Holidays Music With A Twist Standup Comedy
Emmanuelle Haim George Frideric Handel: La Resurrezione Virgin Classics Baroque Oratorio
Halford Halford III: Winter Songs Metal God Holiday, Carols, Heavy Metal, Christmas
Isaac Hayes Shaft [Deluxe Edition] [Bonus Track] Stax Blaxploitation, Funk, Soul
Hell Rell Live from Hell MME Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap
Taylor Hollingsworth Life with a Slow Ear Team Love Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Jussi Jaatinen The Minimalists Mode Contemporary Chamber Music
Paavo Jarvi Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 6 & 2 RCA Red Seal Romantic Symphonies
Rickie Lee Jones Balm in Gilead Fantasy Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Pop/Rock
Simon Keenlyside Schumann: Dichterliebe; Brahms: Lieder Sony Classics Romantic Vocal Music
Ryan Leslie Transition Casablanca/Universal Motown Contemporary R&B, Pop
Little Dragon Machine Dreams Peacefrog Indie Electronic, Alternative Dance
Vera Lynn We'll Meet Again: Very Best of Vera Lynn [Decca UK] Decca Vocal Pop, Nostalgia, Traditional Pop
The Mary Onettes Islands Labrador Swedish Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Molina & Johnson Molina & Johnson Secretly Canadian Indie Rock, Indie Folk
Morrissey Swords Polydor/UMe Alternative Pop/Rock
Nile Those Whom the Gods Detest Nuclear Blast Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
On Fillmore Extended Vacation Dead Oceans Post-Rock/Experimental, Instrumental Rock
Original Soundtrack Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Have Yourself a Meaty Little Christmas Williams Street Christmas, Song Parody
Original TV Soundtrack NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack, Vol. 2 CBS Television Music, TV Soundtracks
Plumb Beautiful History: A Hits Collection [2 Disc] Curb Alternative Pop/Rock, Christian Rock, CCM, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative CCM, Post-Grunge
The Residents Ten Little Piggies Cryptic/MVD Audio Avant-Prog, Experimental Rock
The Residents The Ughs! Cryptic/MVD Audio Avant-Prog, Experimental Rock
Max Richter Memoryhouse Fatcat Electronica, Classical
Shwayze Let It Beat Suretone/Geffen Party Rap, Pop-Rap
Frank Sinatra Sinatra: New York [Box Set] [4CD/1DVD] Reprise Vocal Jazz, Tin Pan Alley Pop, Traditional Pop, Standards, American Popular Song, Vocal Pop, Swing, Ballads, Show Tunes
New CD Album Releases, 10-27-2009: Del McCoury, Dolly Parton, Sting, Michael Jackson The big find this week is Los Lobos Goes Disney. Obviously, this outstanding and flavorful band coupled with some of the best pop songs of the last six or seven decades offers many choice goodies. "The Bare Necessities" rocks righteously. They pick also several lesser known songs from the canon, including "Grim Grinning Ghosts" and "The Ugly Bug Ball." I'm particularly pleased to note that they picked two songs from the Robin Hood movie, which is to say Roger Miller songs. I'm a little disappointed though that they didn't take a crack at "The Phony King of England," which would seem like the most obvious song for them there. But it's all good, however you want to look at it.
Sting has a Christmas album, If on a Winter's Night.... It's got two new Sting compositions, but mostly really old stuff, obscure enough stuff that I don't know any of it. Some of this stuff goes back to at least the 14th century, and he's after at least some modern incarnation of very old traditional English sounds. He's obviously consciously avoided anything holly and jolly, looking for somber invocations of the season and the Christ child. I tend to think of Sting as becoming progressively way too precious over his career, but this is perhaps where such traits pay off.
Also, there's the soundtrack to the new film of Michael Jackson's big concert rehearsal film Michael Jackson's This Is It. There seems to be one actual new song, and I'm to understand that the recordings are mostly not new live recordings, but basically backing tracks of the hit recordings to which the live dance rehearsals were set.
Here's the complete list of this week's new CD album releases:
Devendra Banhart What Will We Be Warner Bros. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Acid Folk, Neo-Psychedelia, Lo-Fi
Broadcast & the Focus Group Broadcast & the Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age Warp Ambient Pop, Dream Pop, Post-Rock/Experimental, Indie Electronic
Creed Full Circle Wind-Up Post-Grunge
Gov't Mule By a Thread Evil Teen Jam Bands, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock
Heavy Trash Midnight Soul Serenade Big Legal Mess Rockabilly Revival, Garage Punk
Michael Jackson Michael Jackson's This Is It Epic Club/Dance, Pop/Rock, Motown, Dance-Pop
Dolly Parton Dolly [RCA/Legacy] Legacy Country-Folk, Country-Pop, Progressive Country, Traditional Country, Contemporary Country
R.E.M. Live at the Olympia [2CD/1DVD] Warner Bros. Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
The Swell Season Strict Joy Anti Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
U2 The Unforgettable Fire [Super Deluxe Edition] Island/Universal Album Rock, Post-Punk, Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, College Rock
Wolfmother Cosmic Egg DGC/Interscope/Modular Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
3 Revisions Metal Blade Alternative Metal, Progressive Metal
Matias Aguayo Ay Ay Ay Kompakt Left-Field House, Club/Dance, Experimental Techno
Tony Allen/Jimi Tenor Inspiration Information, Vol. 4 Strut Clubjazz, Afro-Beat, Contemporary Reggae, World Fusion
Atreyu Congregation of the Damned Hollywood Alternative Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal, Screamo
Between the Buried and Me The Great Misdirect Victory Alternative Metal, Post-Hardcore
Boat Setting the Paces Magic Marker Indie Rock, Indie Pop
James Brown Live at the Garden [Expanded Edition] Hip-O Select Funk, Soul
Sara Davis Buechner Jazz Nocturne: The Collected Piano Music of Dana Suesse E1 Modern Piano Music
A Day to Remember Homesick Victory Post-Hardcore, Heavy Metal
Dave Douglas A Single Sky Green Leaf Post-Bop
Melissa Etheridge A New Thought for Christmas [Deluxe Edition] [CD/DVD] Island Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Christmas
The Blind Boys of Alabama Duets Saguaro Road Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel, Reggae Gospel, Country Gospel, Blues Gospel
The Blind Boys of Alabama Enlightenment Great American Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel
Rosie Flores Girl of the Century Bloodshot Americana, Alternative Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Honky Tonk
Garage a Trois Power Patriot Telarc Post-Bop
Egberto Gismonti Saudacoes ECM Brazilian Folk, Brazilian Jazz, Modern Composition
Sarah Lee Guthrie & Family Go Waggaloo Smithsonian/Folkways Children's Folk, Sing-Along
Everette Harp First Love Shanachie Straight-Ahead Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Hem Twelfth Night RCA/Nettwerk Musicals, Contemporary Celtic
New CD Album Releases, 10-20-2009: Lyle Lovett, Timothy B. Schmit, Tim McGraw Ever lovin' Lyle Lovett is back this week with Natural Forces. Notably, he seems to have made a relatively stripped down sound, taking leave of his Large Band approach. He seems to be in a fairly playful mood, what with Farmer Brown choking his chicken and speculating about a lover whom he suspects of cheating with the condiments and admonishes to keep it in their "Pantry."
Eagle Timothy B Schmit has an album Expando. What I've heard doesn't sound particularly distinctive in any way. But this is as close to an Eagles album you're getting anytime soon, if you are one of the many who still care about such things. It can't be any worse than that last crappy Eagles studio album.
Also, Tim McGraw is back with Southern Voice. I know he's sold a buttload of records, but danged if I could tell you a single song. Anyway, he's a country singer - that one that wears the cowboy hat, I think.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new CD album releases:
Terri Clark The Long Way Home TLC/Capitol Contemporary Country, Country-Pop, Neo-Traditionalist Country
Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard One Fast Move or I'm Gone Atlantic/F-Stop Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Americana
Flight of the Conchords I Told You I Was Freaky Sub Pop Comedy Rock
Florence and the Machine Lungs Island Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock
Lyle Lovett Natural Forces Lost Highway Alternative Country, Contemporary Country
Tim McGraw Southern Voice Curb Contemporary Country, Country-Pop, Neo-Traditionalist Country
Original Soundtrack New Moon [Soundtrack] Atlantic Indie Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Soundtracks, Alternative Pop/Rock
Timothy B. Schmit Expando Lost Highway Soft Rock, Country-Rock
Sufjan Stevens The BQE Asthmatic Kitty Classical Crossover
Atlas Sound Logos Kranky Post-Rock/Experimental, Experimental Rock, Indie Rock
Basshunter Bass Generation Ultra Alternative Dance, Club/Dance, Euro-Dance
Bauhaus In the Flat Field [Omnibus Edition] 4AD Post-Punk, Goth Rock
Bauhaus Mask [Omnibus Edition] Beggars Banquet Post-Punk, Goth Rock
Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine The Audacity of Hype Alternative Tentacles American Underground, Hardcore Punk, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk Revival
Bomshel Fight Like a Girl Curb Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Amy Briggs David Rakowski: Etudes, Vol. 3 Bridge Contemporary Piano Music
Sam Bush Circles Around Me Sugar Hill Contemporary Bluegrass, Country-Folk, Progressive Bluegrass
Henson Cargill On the Road: The Mega Years Plus Omni Recording Corporation Country-Pop, Progressive Country, Traditional Country
The Carpenters 40/40 A&M AM Pop, Soft Rock
Cartel Cycles Wind-Up Emo-Pop
Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 [CD/DVD] Columbia/Legacy Singer/Songwriter
Converge Axe to Fall Epitaph Hardcore Punk
The Cult Love [Omnibus Edition] Beggars Banquet Alternative Pop/Rock, College Rock, Goth Rock, Hard Rock
New CD Album Releases, 10-13-2009: Flaming Lips, Bob Dylan, Brian Setzer God bless the Flaming Lips, one of the most underrated bands of the modern era. The authors of "Sponge Bob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy" and "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" are back with Embryonic. This is one of only three or four acts working today on whom I would spend actual money on a new album unheard. I'm waiting with baited breath for this to show up from Amazon.
The #4 album at Amazon currently is Christmas in the Heart from Bob Dylan. He's made an album of traditional Christmas songs with with rich instruments and warm harmony vocals. The idea of Bob Dylan seriously singing "Here Comes Santa Claus" sounds freaky - which is an argument for it. On the other hand, his voice is so far shot at this late date that he sounds like a parody of Tom Waits. I just don't know what to think of this - which is a good thing, if I have to think on it.
Brian Setzer is back with his groovy orchestra and an album of original songs intended to sound like 1940's and 50's film noir music, Songs from Lonely Avenue.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases:
Bob Dylan Christmas in the Heart Columbia Christmas, Americana, Rock & Roll
The Flaming Lips Embryonic Warner Bros. Noise Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative Pop/Rock, Experimental Rock
Hall & Oates Do What You Want Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates RCA/Legacy Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Dance-Rock, Adult Contemporary
Mario D.N.A. J-Records Contemporary R&B, Pop
Nellie McKay Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day Verve Cabaret, Vocal Pop, Vocal Jazz, American Popular Song
Ben Allison Think Free Palmetto Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz
Gregg Allman The Solo Years 1973-1997: One More Silver Dollar Raven Album Rock, Southern Rock, Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll
David Archuleta Christmas from the Heart Jive Christmas, Vocal Pop, Adult Contemporary
Joan Baez How Sweet the Sound Razor & Tie Folk Revival, Political Folk, Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk
Baroness Blue Record Relapse Sludge Metal, Progressive Metal, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Hardcore
Beaten Awake Thunder$troke Fat Possum Records Indie Rock
Bowling for Soup Sorry for Partyin' Jive Punk-Pop, Punk Revival
Jack Bruce Seven Moons Live Ruf Hard Rock, Blues-Rock
Various Artists Nick Cave's Jukebox United States Of Distribution Album Rock, Prewar Blues, Swamp Blues, Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, Delta Blues, Prewar Country Blues, Folk-Rock, Progressive Country, Cowboy, Old-Timey, Acoustic Blues, Rock & Roll
Nels Cline/G.E. Stinson Elevating Device Sounds Are Active Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Improvisation, Modern Free, Avant-Garde, Modern Creative
Charlie Daniels Joy to the World: A Bluegrass Christmas Koch Christmas, Bluegrass
Dead by Sunrise Out of Ashes Warner Bros. Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
Del the Funky Homosapien/Tame One Parallel Uni-Verses Gold Dust Media Alternative Rap, Underground Rap
Ariana Delawari Lion of Panjshir David Lynch Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk, Indie Rock
The Destro Harmony of Discord Metal Blade Grindcore, Death Metal/Black Metal
Neil Diamond A Cherry Cherry Christmas Sony Christmas, Vocal Pop, Adult Contemporary
Bob Dylan Christmas in the Heart [Deluxe Version] Columbia Americana, Christmas, Rock & Roll
Linda Eder Soundtrack Verve Movie Themes, Adult Contemporary, Show Tunes
Five for Fighting Slice Sony Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary
Valery Gergiev Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Moscow Cantata; Slavonic March Mariinsky Russian Romantic Orchestral & Choral Music
John Gorka So Dark You See Red House Contemporary Folk
Har Mar Superstar Dark Touches Mega Force Indie Rock, Left-Field Hip-Hop
The Jackson 5 Ultimate Christmas Collection Motown Motown, Christmas, Holiday
Joglaresa Dreams of Andalusia Metronome Medieval Vocal Music
Sharon Kam Brahms: Sonatas & Trio Berlin Classics Romantic Chamber Music
King Crimson In the Court of the Crimson King [2 CD] Discipline Global Mobile Album Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Kottonmouth Kings Hidden Stash 4-20: Suburban Noize Suburban Noize Rap-Metal, Post-Grunge, Alternative Metal, Funk Metal
Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins Fascinating Fingers Ubiquity Big Beat, Electronica, Neo-Soul, Funky Breaks
Los Lonely Boys 1969 Playing in Traffic/Mega Force Roots Rock, Tex-Mex
Barry Manilow In the Swing of Christmas Hallmark Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary, Christmas, Holiday
Erin McKeown Hundreds of Lions Righteous Babe Alternative Folk, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
James McMurtry Live in Europe Lightning Rod Americana, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country, Roots Rock
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down Know Better Learn Faster Kill Rock Stars Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop
1997 Notes from Underground Victory Emo, Indie Rock
Jessica Ryckewaert Percutronique Fuga Libera Modern & Contemporary Music for Percussion and Electronics
Barbara Schlick Georg Philipp Telemann: Ino Brilliant Classics Baroque Music for Voice & Orchestra
Original Soundtrack 90210 CBS Emo-Pop, Television Music, TV Soundtracks, Alternative Pop/Rock
Original TV Soundtrack The Best of Ally McBeal - The Songs of Vonda Shepard Sony Legacy Television Music, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary
Grant Lee Phillips Little Moon Yep Roc Americana, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Piano Magic Ovations Darla Post-Rock/Experimental
The Righteous Brothers The Definitive Collection Polydor Blue-Eyed Soul, Brill Building Pop, AM Pop
A Rocket to the Moon On Your Side WEA/Fueled by Ramen Emo-Pop
Linda Ronstadt Hand Sown... Home Grown/Silk Purse Raven Soft Rock, Country-Rock
Brian Setzer Songs from Lonely Avenue Victor Retro-Rock, Retro Swing, Rockabilly Revival
Harper Simon Harper Simon Vagrant Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Nick Swardson Seriously, Who Farted? Comedy Central Standup Comedy
The Temper Trap Conditions Lib Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Thomas Function In The Valley Of Sickness Fat Possum Records Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival
Jonny Trunk Scrapbook Trunk Electronica
Various Artists Disco Discharge: Classic Disco Harmless Club/Dance, Disco, Post-Disco, Contemporary R&B
Various Artists Disco Discharge: Disco Ladies Harmless Club/Dance, Disco, Post-Disco, Contemporary R&B
Various Artists Look Out! We Got Soul: Sweet Soul Music Bear Family Soul-Blues, Early R&B, Soul
Various Artists Sherman Brothers Songbook Walt Disney Film Music
Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1966 Bear Family Soul, Pop-Soul, Motown, Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul, Early R&B
Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1967 Bear Family Soul, Pop-Soul, Motown, Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul, Early R&B
Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1968 Bear Family Soul, Pop-Soul, Motown, Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul, Early R&B
Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1969 Bear Family Soul, Pop-Soul, Motown, Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul, Early R&B
Various Artists Sweet Soul Music: 1970 Bear Family Soul, Pop-Soul, Motown, Chicago Soul, Uptown Soul, Northern Soul, Early R&B
Various Artists The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection Motown Holiday, Christmas
Rick Wakeman The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Live at Hampton Court Palace Eagle Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Film Music, Soundtracks, Pop/Rock
Andy Williams Moon River: The Very Best of Andy Williams Legacy Traditional Pop, Standards, Vocal Pop, AM Pop, Soft Rock, Early Pop/Rock, Show Tunes
New CD Album Releases, 10-6-2009: Toby Keith, Betty Davis, Roseanne Cash American Ride is the 13th album by Toby Keith. Little bits I'm hearing sound half decent, but nothing that jumps out as being in the league with the angry American.
Betty Davis was Miles Davis' wife for about a year, which was long enough for her to turn him inside out and inspire Bitch's Brew and thus the entire jazz fusion movement. She was also a pretty fair musician in her own rite. A couple of her albums are being re-released this week on Light in the Attic records.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases:
Air Love 2 Astralwerks Ambient Pop, Electronica
Michael Buble Crazy Love 143/Reprise Vocal Jazz, Adult Contemporary, Standards, Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop
Built to Spill There Is No Enemy Warner Bros. Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Brandi Carlile Give Up the Ghost Columbia Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Toby Keith American Ride Show Dog Nashville Contemporary Country
Osso Run Rabbit Run Asthmatic Kitty Chamber Music
Tokio Hotel Humanoid Cherry Tree/Interscope Emo, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Kurt Vile Childish Prodigy Matador Americana, Indie Rock
Brian Auger Definitely What!/Open Yellow Label Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Backstreet Boys This Is Us Jive Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop
Backstreet Boys This Is Us [Bonus DVD] Sony Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop
Bad Lieutenant Never Cry Another Tear Triple Echo Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Lou Barlow Goodnight Unknown Domino Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Lo-Fi, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Black Hollies Softly Towards the Light Ernest Jenning Garage Rock Revival, Neo-Psychedelia
Karl Blau Zebra K Indie Pop, Lo-Fi
Blue Collar Comedy Tour The Best of Blue Collar Comedy Warner/Reprise Standup Comedy, Country Comedy
Luke Bryan Doin' My Thing Capitol Contemporary Country
Joe Budden Escape Route Koch East Coast Rap
D.L. Byron This Day and Age Arista Power Pop, Jangle Pop
Califone All My Friends Are Funeral Singers Dead Oceans Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental, Experimental Rock
Rosanne Cash The List Manhattan Neo-Traditionalist Country, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Country
Exene Cervenka Somewhere Gone Bloodshot Alternative Folk, Neo-Traditional Folk, Alternative Pop/Rock, Roots Rock
Riccardo Chailly Mendelssohn Discoveries Decca Romantic Orchestral Music
Ray Charles The Spirit of Christmas [Remastered] [Bonus Track] Concord Holiday, Christmas
The Clientele Bonfires on the Heath Merge Indie Pop
Joe Cocker Live at Woodstock A&M Blues-Rock
John Coltrane Side Steps Prestige Hard Bop, Post-Bop
DJ Spooky The Secret Song [Bonus DVD] Thirsty Ear Illbient, Experimental Techno, Electronica
Betty Davis Is It Love or Desire Light in the Attic Funk, Soul
Betty Davis Nasty Gal Light in the Attic Funk, Soul
Dead Man's Bones Dead Man's Bones Anti Indie Rock
John Denver Unplugged in the U.S.S.R. AAO Soft Rock, Singer/Songwriter, AM Pop, Folk-Pop
Joyce DiDonato Rossini: Colbran, the Muse Angel Romantic Opera Arias
Amy Dickson Amy Dickson plays Glass, Tavener & Nyman Sony Music Contemporary Music for Saxophone & Orchestra
Mike Doughty Sad Man Happy Man ATO Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Gustavo Dudamel Discoveries Deutsche Grammophon Orchestral Favorites
The Dutchess & the Duke Sunset/Sunrise Hardly Art Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Eddie & the Hot Rods The Singles Collection Captain Oi! British Punk, Pub Rock, Power Pop, New Wave, Punk, Rock & Roll
Tinsley Ellis Speak No Evil Alligator Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues
Bill Engvall Aged and Confused Warner Bros./Jack Standup Comedy, Country Comedy
Evangelista Prince of Truth Constellation Experimental Rock
Everclear In a Different Light 429 Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Fat Joe Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E. 2) Relativity East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap, Latin Rap, Gangsta Rap
Orenda Fink Ask the Night Saddle Creek Indie Folk, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland JLRG Pop-Metal, Guitar Virtuoso, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Gogol Bordello Live from Axis Mundi Side One Dummy Gypsy, Punk Revival, Alternative Pop/Rock
Gossip Music for Men Columbia Indie Rock, Garage Punk, Lo-Fi
Vince Guaraldi The Definitive Vince Guaraldi Fantasy Cool, Latin Jazz, West Coast Jazz, Mainstream Jazz
Calvin Harris Ready for the Weekend Ultra Alternative Dance, Pop, Indie Electronic
Grant Hart Hot Wax Con d'Or American Underground, Alternative Pop/Rock
Headlights Wildlife Polyvinyl Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Hockey Mind Chaos Capitol New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Rock
HORSE the Band Desperate Living Vagrant Post-Hardcore, Noise-Rock
Shafiq Husayn Shafiq En' A-Free-Ka Plug Research Left-Field Hip-Hop, Contemporary R&B
The Jesus Lizard Down [Deluxe Remastered Reissue] Touch & Go American Underground, Noise-Rock, Alternative Metal, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Jesus Lizard Goat [Deluxe Remastered Reissue] Touch & Go American Underground, Noise-Rock, Alternative Metal, Indie Rock, Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Jesus Lizard Head [Deluxe Remastered Reissue] Touch & Go American Underground, Noise-Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Metal, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Jesus Lizard Liar [Deluxe Remastered Reissue] Touch & Go American Underground, Noise-Rock, Alternative Metal, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
King Tubby & The Dynamites Sound System International Pressure Sounds Dub
Lake Let's Build a Roof K Records Indie Pop
Blake Lewis Heartbreak on Vinyl Tommy Boy Club/Dance, Dance-Pop
Lights The Listening Sire Indie Electronic
Lucero 1372 Overton Park Universal Republic Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock
Dean Martin My Kind of Christmas Polydor Christmas, Holiday, Traditional Pop
Mayday Parade Anywhere But Here Fearless/Atlantic Emo-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Eugene Mirman God Is a Twelve Year Old Boy with Asperger's Sub Pop Standup Comedy, Observational Humor
Mission of Burma The Sound the Speed the Light Matador Indie Rock
Morphine At Your Service Rhino/Rykodisc Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
The Mountain Goats Life of the World to Come 4AD Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Music Go Music Expressions Secretly Canadian Dance-Rock, Dance-Pop
Me'Shell Ndegeocello Devil's Halo Downtown Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary R&B, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Noah and The Whale The First Days of Spring Cherrytree/Interscope Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Pop
New CD Album Releases, 9-29-2009: Mariah Carey, Kris Kristofferson, Ghostface Killa Mariah Carey is back this week with Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel. I suppose there's really no point in trying to explain to anyone with little enough taste in music to have bought one of these tens of millions of albums that she's sold in the last three decades. I'll just say that her decades of multi-platinum success is a potent argument against democracy. People dumb enough to buy a Mariah Carey album simply have no business making decisions about running the country. She's #1 on the official list of Enemies of the People. Being caught with a Mariah Carey album could land you a trip to Camp Mimi. Do what you will though. I'm just saying...
Kris Kristofferson is back with Closer to the Bone. He was never an even passably decent singer, but he's one of the songwritingest sonsabitches to ever make a country record. Plus, I'm quite touched that a decade a half later, he's written a beautiful tribute and defense of Sinead O'Connor, "Sister Sinead."
Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases:
Mariah Carey Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel Island Contemporary R&B, Pop
Dethklok Dethalbum II Williams Street TV Soundtracks, Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
Ghostface Killah Ghostdini the Wizard of Poetry in Emerald City Def Jam East Coast Rap, Contemporary R&B, Hardcore Rap
Miranda Lambert Revolution Sony/Columbia Nashville Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Paramore Brand New Eyes Fueled by Ramen Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo-Pop
AFI Crash Love DGC/Interscope Punk Revival, Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo, Goth Rock, Hardcore Punk
Alice in Chains Black Gives Way to Blue Virgin Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Antipop Consortium Fluorescent Black Big Dada Underground Rap
The Avett Brothers I and Love and You American Progressive Folk, Alternative Folk, Progressive Country, Alternative Country
Beaujolais Admirations Parasol Indie Pop
Joshua Bell At Home with Friends Sony Classical Classical Crossover
Big & Rich Greatest Hits Warner Bros. Contemporary Country, Country-Pop, Progressive Country
Breaking Benjamin Dear Agony Hollywood Alternative Metal, Post-Grunge
Buckcherry Live & Loud 2009 Eleven Seven Post-Grunge, Hard Rock, American Trad Rock, Alternative Metal
Cherry Poppin' Daddies Skaboy JFK: The Skankin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies Rock Ridge Retro Swing, Third Wave Ska Revival, Alternative Pop/Rock
Chromeo DJ-Kicks K7 Indie Electronic
Elvis Costello The Costello Show: Live at the El Mocambo Hip-O/UMe New Wave, Rock & Roll, Pop/Rock
Digital Leather Warm Brother Fat Possum Industrial Dance
Drivin' n' Cryin' The Great American Bubble Factory Vintage Earth Roots Rock
The Ettes Do You Want Power Take Root Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival
Matthew Friedberger Winter Women/Holy Ghost Language School [Bonus Tracks] Thrill Jockey Indie Rock
Genesis Live 1973-2007 Atlantic/Rhino Pop/Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary
Bebel Gilberto All in One Verve Brazilian Pop, Bossa Nova
Selena Gomez & the Scene Kiss & Tell Hollywood Pop, Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Punk-Pop
Corey Harris Blu. Black Telarc Acoustic Blues, Contemporary Blues, Modern Acoustic Blues, Folk-Blues, Electric Blues, Roots Reggae
Hatebreed Hatebreed E1 Punk Metal, Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
Gary Higgins Seconds Drag City Acid Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Will Hoge The Wreckage Rykodisc American Trad Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Al Jarreau The Very Best Of: An Excellent Adventure X5 Adult Contemporary R&B, Smooth Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Quiet Storm, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Adult Contemporary
Robert Earl Keen Jr. Rose Hotel Lost Highway Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Americana
Jennifer Koh Rhapsodic Musings Cedille Contemporary Music for Violin
Kris Kristofferson Closer to the Bone New West Americana
La Roux La Roux [US Bonus Track] Cherry Tree Dance-Pop, Pop
Langhorne Slim Be Set Free Kemado Alternative Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Americana
Ramsey Lewis Songs from the Heart: Ramsey Plays Ramsey Concord Crossover Jazz, Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Pop-Soul
Patty Loveless Mountain Soul II Saguaro Road Close Harmony, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Country Gospel, Honky Tonk, Bluegrass, Traditional Country
Lynyrd Skynyrd God & Guns Roadrunner/Loud & Proud Southern Rock, Album Rock, Hard Rock, Boogie Rock, Arena Rock, Blues-Rock
Madness The Liberty of Norton Folgate Yep Roc Pop/Rock
Madonna Celebration Warner Bros. Pop, Club/Dance, Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop
Madonna Celebration [Deluxe Edition] Warner Bros. Pop, Club/Dance, Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Dance-Pop
Michael McDonald This Christmas Razor & Tie Pop/Rock, Christmas
Melvins Chicken Switch Ipecac Alternative Metal, Grunge, Noise-Rock
Eliesha Nelson Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works Dorian Modern Chamber Music
Karen O. & the Kids Where the Wild Things Are DGC/Interscope Original Score, Indie Rock, Soundtracks
Robert Page Leonardo Balada: La Muerte de Colon Naxos Contemporary Opera
Sandrine Piau Between Heaven & Earth Naive Baroque Vocal Music
Hector Valdivia Music by Amy Beach Centaur Post-Romantic Orchestral Music
Original Soundtrack Music Inspired by the Film More Than a Game Streamline/Interscope Contemporary R&B, Pop-Rap
Original Soundtrack Whip It [Soundtrack] Rhino Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Soundtracks
Landon Pigg The Boy Who Never RCA Indie Pop, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Playaz Circle Flight 360: The Takeoff DTP Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap
Princeton Cocoon of Love Kanine Indie Pop, Chamber Pop
Hope Sandoval Through the Devil Softly Nettwerk Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk
State Radio Let It Go Ruff Shod Contemporary Reggae, Alternative Pop/Rock, Jam Bands
Rod Stewart The Rod Stewart Sessions 1971-1998 Rhino Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Folk-Rock, Soft Rock, Adult Contemporary, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll, Dance-Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, British Blues, Arena Rock, Singer/Songwriter, AM Pop
Barbra Streisand Love Is the Answer Columbia Vocal Pop, | Composer Songbook, American Popular Song
Barbra Streisand Love Is the Answer [Deluxe Edition] Columbia Vocal Pop, | Composer Songbook, American Popular Song
Strung Out Agents of the Underground Fat Wreck Chord Punk-Pop, Punk Revival, Alternative Metal
The Supremes/The Four Tops Magnificent: The Complete Studio Duets Hip-O Select Motown
Turbo Fruits Echo Kid Fat Possum Indie Rock, Punk Blues
Steve Vai Where the Wild Things Are Favored Nations Guitar Virtuoso, Heavy Metal, Fusion, Hard Rock, Instrumental Rock
New CD Album Releases, 9-22-2009: They Might Be Giants, Pearl Jam, Harry Connick Jr The best bet this week is Here Comes Science, a children's album on Disney from They Might Be Giants. Got to love catchy custom TMBG songs like "Meet the Elements" and "Why Does the Sun Shine?" Most especially, I particularly appreciate that they end the album with a song called "Put It To the Test." Plus, there's a DVD.
Yeah, uh, Pearl Jam keeps making albums. Not having made a vaguely memorable song since their first album, I would suggest that they should just save themselves a lot of bother with titles, and call the rest of their interchangeable albums NOT Ten. Thus, being their ninth album, this would be NOT Ten VIII.
Harry Connick Jr has Your Songs. It's an album of smoochy covers, including "Besame Mucho" and "Can't Help Falling in Love With You."
Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases:
Basement Jaxx Scars Ultra/XL Left-Field House, Club/Dance, Progressive House, House
Harry Connick, Jr. Your Songs Columbia Vocal Jazz, Traditional Pop, American Popular Song
Mika The Boy Who Knew Too Much Casablanca/Universal Republic Alternative Pop/Rock
Pearl Jam Backspacer Island Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
Various Artists Where the Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets 1965-1968 Rhino Sunshine Pop, Folk-Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Baroque Pop
Alarm Will Sound a/rythmia Nonesuch Medieval, Renaissance & Comtemporary Music for Chamber Ensemble
BarlowGirl Love & War Fervent/Curb/Warner Bros.CCM
Beastie Boys Hello Nasty [Bonus Disc] Grand Royal/Capitol Alternative Rap, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hip-Hop, Underground Rap
Joshua Bell The Best of Joshua Bell: The Decca Years Decca Violin Favorites
The Big Pink A Brief History of Love 4AD Indie Rock, Shoegaze, Neo-Psychedelia
Billy Talent Billy Talent III Atlantic UK Punk-Pop, Punk Revival, Emo
Brand New Daisy DGC/Interscope/Procrastinate! Indie Rock, Emo
Castanets Texas Rose, The Thaw and the Beasts Asthmatic Kitty Indie Rock
Nick Cave & Warren Ellis White Lunar Mute Movie Themes, Original Score, Film Music
Vic Chesnutt At the Cut Constellation Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Urban Folk
Guy Clark Somedays the Song Writes You Dualtone Alternative Country, Country-Folk, Progressive Country
Alan Cumming I Bought a Blue Car Today Yellow Sound Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Musicals, Show Tunes
Early Day Miners The Treatment Secretly Canadian Indie Rock, Sadcore, Space Rock
Five Finger Death Punch War Is the Answer Prospect Park Heavy Metal, Thrash
Renee Fleming Verismo Decca Post-Romantic & Modern Opera Arias
Girls Album True Panther Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Robert Gordon/Link Wray/Chris Spedding Live Fast, Love Hard Fuel 2000 Rockabilly Revival, Roots Rock, Rock & Roll
David Gray Draw the Line Mercer Street Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Hawk Nelson Live Life Loud! BEC Recordings Emo-Pop, Alternative CCM
Richard Hawley Truelove's Gutter Mute Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Hornet Leg Ribbon of Fear K Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival
I'm OK You're OK Presents... Dream Emo-Pop, Punk-Pop
Islands Vapours Anti Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Sean Kingston Tomorrow Epic Contemporary R&B, Pop-Rap, Urban, Reggae-Pop
Diana Krall Quiet Nights [Deluxe Edition] Verve Vocal Jazz, Traditional Pop, Standards, Bossa Nova, Contemporary Jazz
Larry the Cable Guy Tailgate Party Warner/Reprise Standup Comedy, Country Comedy
Le Loup Family Hardly Art Indie Pop, Indie Electronic, Post-Rock/Experimental
Mae (m)orning Cell/Tooth & Nail Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Emo-Pop
The Majority The Decca Years 1965-1968 Rev-Ola British Invasion
Rose Melberg Homemade Ship K Indie Pop
Amy Millan Masters of the Burial Arts & Crafts Contemporary Folk, Indie Rock
Monsters of Folk Monsters of Folk Artist First/Shangri-La Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Mum Sing Along to Songs You Don't Know Hostess Indie Electronic, IDM, Electronica
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Speed of Life Sugar Hill Progressive Country, Americana, Country-Folk, Country-Rock
Noisettes Wild Young Hearts [Bonus Track] Mercury UK Indie Rock
Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band Between My Head and the Sky Chimera Experimental Rock, Experimental, Pop/Rock, Avant-Garde
Original Game Soundtrack Halo 3: ODST Sumthing Else Original Score
Original Soundtrack Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure [Original Soundtrack] Walt Disney Pop, Teen Pop, Soundtracks
Pastels/Tenniscoats Two Sunsets Domino Indie Pop
Rain Machine Rain Machine Anti Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental
Sea Wolf White Water, White Bloom Dangerbird Chamber Pop, Indie Folk, Indie Pop
Manassas Manassas Pieces Rhino Pop/Rock, Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Rock & Roll, Soft Rock
A Sunny Day in Glasgow Ashes Grammar Mis Ojos Discos Indie Electronic, Dream Pop, Ambient Pop, Shoegaze
Angel Taylor Love Travels Sony Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Thee Midniters Thee Complete Midniters: Songs of Love, Rhythm and Psychedilia Micro Werks Latin Rock, Rock & Roll, Garage Rock, Blues-Rock, Soul, Psychedelic, Soul-Blues
They Might Be Giants Here Comes Science Walt Disney Children's Rock, Educational, Alternative Pop/Rock
Three Days Grace Life Starts Now Jive Alternative Metal
Times New Viking Born Again Revisited Matador Lo-Fi, Indie Rock
To Kill A Petty Bourgeoisie Marlone Kranky Indie Electronic, Post-Rock/Experimental
The Twilight Sad Forget the Night Ahead Fat Cat Indie Rock
Various Artists Crayon Angel: A Tribute to the Music of Judee Sill American Dust Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Vertical Horizon Burning the Days Outfall American Trad Rock, Post-Grunge, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Volcano Choir Unmap Jagjaguwar Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Post-Rock/Experimental
Rufus Wainwright Milwaukee at Last!!! Decca Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Chamber Pop, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Why? Eskimo Snow Anticon Indie Rock, Underground Rap
Ted Kennedy & Mary Joe Kopechne Together in Heaven Memorial Buttons Mary Jo Kopechne and Senator Ted Kennedy were tragically parted on that dark night in Chappaquidick in 1969 in the cold dark waters. Celebrate their reunion in heaven with these lovely buttons and magnets from an exclusive Barger's Boutique design from noted graphic artist and deviated prevert Gary Roberts. KENNEDY-KOPECHNE PIN KENNEDY-KOPECHNE BIG PIN KENNEDY-KOPECHNE KEYCHAIN
New CD Album Releases, 9-15-2009: Ricky Skaggs, Bruce Hornsby, Mark Knopfler God bless and keep Ricky Skaggs. He's out this week with Solo: Songs My Dad Loved. This is a beautiful bluegrass album. For being old songs his daddy loved, I only recognize one of them. So it's pretty much an album of new songs for most people. His mandolin picking is beautiful and his singing is better than I remember. He's distinctly got a bit of a Ralph Stanley thing going on vocally, which is a wonderful thing. You probably ought to hear this.
Also, Mark Knopfler has his sixth solo album, Get Lucky. Just on the basis of a few samples, this sounds pretty good. He's not Mr Charisma - just a talented songwriter and guitar player. He's rootsy with minimal self-consciousness, quiet and contemplative. This album is as high as #5 currently at Amazon.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases:
Big Star Keep an Eye on the Sky Rhino Proto-Punk, Pop/Rock, Power Pop
Drake So Far Gone Cash Money/Universal Motown Pop-Rap, Contemporary R&B, Hardcore Rap, Southern Rap
Nelly Furtado Mi Plan Universal Latino Pop/Rock
Kid Cudi Man on the Moon: The End of Day Universal Motown Left-Field Hip-Hop, Underground Rap, Alternative Rap
Muse The Resistance Warner Bros. Alternative Pop/Rock, Neo-Prog
Q-Tip Kamaal the Abstract Battery Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Alternative Rap
Pete Yorn/Scarlett Johansson Break Up Atco/Rhino Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Pop/Rock
Anvil This Is Thirteen VH1 Classics Speed Metal, Heavy Metal, Thrash
Armed for Apocalypse Defeat Metal Blade/Ironclad Death Metal/Black Metal
Big Punisher The Legacy: The Best of Big Pun Loud/Legacy Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap, Hip-Hop, Latin Rap
The Black Dahlia Murder Deflorate Metal Blade Death Metal/Black Metal
Luiza Borac Chopin: Etudes; Six Polish Songs (transcribed Liszt) Avie Romantic Piano Music
Butterfly Boucher Scaryfragile Nettwerk Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Tyondai Braxton Central Market Warp Experimental, Post-Rock/Experimental, Creative Orchestra
Brownout Aguilas and Cobras Six Degrees Deep Funk Revival, Latin Rock, Afro-Beat
Cafe Tacuba Yo Soy Warner Music Latina Foreign Language Rock, Rock en Español
Cougar Patriot Counter Post-Rock/Experimental, Instrumental Rock, Indie Electronic
Cowboy Troy Demolition Mission: Studio Blue Sessions Winding Road Pop-Rap, Contemporary Country
Charlie Daniels Midnight Wind [Midnight Wind...Plus] Raven Urban Cowboy, Country Gospel, Southern Rock, Country-Rock, Traditional Country
New CD Album Releases, 9-8-2009: The Beatles, Phish, Jay-Z The Beatles whole catalog finally gets a long awaited digitally re-mastered gussied up proper treatment this week with The Beatles: Stereo Box Set and The Beatles: Mono Box Set. It's about damned time.
"This is Sinatra at the opera" declares Jay-Z in "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)" which is the lead single from The Blueprint 3. Besides the utterly ridiculous chutzpah of comparing his own dumb ass to Sinatra, one might explain it partly just through ignorance. Sinatra was totally not any kind of opera singer.
I'm not hearing anything even vaguely musically interesting, but does that really matter with this rap crap? He's tougher, badder and richer than you. In fairness, this crapola is currently #5 at Amazon. Good for him. It also features appearances by Kanye West, Rihanna and slumming from Alicia Keys.
Joy is the re-union album from Phish. On the one hand, this stuff is fairly indistinguished compositionally from my partial listening - about the mediocrity I would expect from this band. On the other hand, there are 10 songs on this album. So you might should be grateful that this "jam band" didn't just jack off for 80 minutes worth of CD on one song.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new CD releases:
The Beatles The Beatles: Stereo Box Set Capitol Pop/Rock, British Invasion, Rock & Roll, AM Pop, British Psychedelia, Folk-Rock, Merseybeat
Jay-Z The Blueprint 3 Roc Nation Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop
Sondre Lerche Heartbeat Radio Rounder Indie Pop, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Os Mutantes Haih...Ou Amortecedor... Anti- Brazilian Pop, MPB
Phish Joy Jemp/ATO Jam Bands
Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Pt. 2 Ice H2O East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap, Hardcore Rap
The Stone Roses The Stone Roses [20th Anniversary Collector's Edition - 2CD/1DVD] Silvertone/Legacy Dance-Rock, College Rock, Madchester, Alternative Dance, Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop, British Trad Rock, Indie Rock, Shoegaze
Vivian Girls Everything Goes Wrong In the Red Noise Pop, Indie Pop
Yo La Tengo Popular Songs Matador Noise Pop, Indie Rock
The A-Bones Not Now! Norton Garage Rock Revival, Rock & Roll
AIDS Wolf Dustin' off the Sphynx Skin Graft Experimental Rock, Noise-Rock
John Abercrombie Wait Till You See Her ECM Progressive Jazz, Post-Bop
BLK JKS After Robots Secretly Canadian Indie Rock, Worldbeat
Nathan Barr True Blood [Score] Varese Sarabande Original Score
The Beatles The Beatles: Mono Box Set Capitol Pop/Rock, British Invasion, Rock & Roll, AM Pop, British Psychedelia, Folk-Rock, Merseybeat
Boys Like Girls Love Drunk Columbia Emo-Pop
Brooks & Dunn #1s...and Then Some Arista New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country
Circulatory System Signal Morning Cloud Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock
The Clean Mister Pop Merge New Zealand Rock, Indie Rock
Danko Jones Never Too Loud Bad Taste Alternative Metal, Hard Rock
Stephen Darlington Howard Goodall: Eternal Light EMI Classics Contemporary Choral Music
Howie Day Sound the Alarm Epic Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Spencer Day Vagabond Concord Jazz Vocal Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Vocal Pop
Jackie DeShannon Jackie DeShannon Collectors' Choice Music Brill Building Pop, Early Pop/Rock
Jackie DeShannon Me About You/To Be Free [Bonus Track] Collectors' Choice Music Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter, AM Pop, Sunshine Pop
Early Day Miners The Treatment Secretly Canadian Indie Rock, Sadcore, Space Rock
The Feelies Crazy Rhythms [Bonus Tracks] Bar/None American Underground, College Rock, Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Feelies The Good Earth [Bonus Tracks] Bar/None College Rock, Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
A Fine Frenzy Bomb in the Birdcage Virgin Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
New CD Album Releases, 9-1-2009: Whitney Houston, Black Crowes, Juliette Lewis Whitney Houston is back after a half dozen years of the tabloid crapola with I Look to You. Frankly, I never saw what the big deal was about her in the first place. She was second only to Mariah Carey as someone whose music would cause me to change the radio station.
I'm seeing a lot of comments around Amazon about this album showing that her voice is shot, or such. I can't really tell it myself. I guess maybe she had some little special vocal tricks that she used to be able to do or something, but they were just attached to such generic and souless songs that I didn't notice them. But from what I can hear here, she's perfectly well carrying the tunes - though they are if anything more generic and less distinguished than her old stuff. Look, if you're into Whitney, you'll probably dig this.
Probably the best thing to take a flyer on this week is Before the Frost/Until the Freeze from the Black Crowes. It was recorded live in front of a small audience in Levon Helms' barn/studio. The parts I've heard do sound like a band pushing itself creatively. I don't know if there's anything here up to "She Talks to Angels," but it'll be at least halfway worth hearing a time or two. Plus, they're also giving out code in the CDs for a free download of a second studio album recorded in the same sessions.
Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases:
The Black Crowes Before the Frost/Until the Freeze Silver Arrow/Angelus American Trad Rock, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll
Drive-By Truckers Fine Print: A Collection of Oddities and Rarities 2003-2008 New West Alternative Country-Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock
Whitney Houston I Look to You Arista Adult Contemporary R&B, Pop, Adult Contemporary, Urban
Andrew W.K. 55 Cadillac Skyscraper Music Maker Instrumental Rock, Experimental Rock, Structured Improvisation
The Apples in Stereo #1 Hits Explosion Yep Roc Indie Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Vladimir Ashkenazy Works for Two Pianos by Debussy & Ravel Decca Modern Music for Two Pianos
Susana Baca Seis Poemas Luaka Bop Afro Peruvian, Latin Folk, Worldbeat
Banner Pilot Collapser Fat Wreck Chord Punk Revival, Punk-Pop
A.A. Bondy When the Devil's Loose Fat Possum Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Folk
Chevelle Sci-Fi Crimes Epic Alternative Metal
Rick Danko Live at Dylan's Cafe, Washington D.C., December 1987 Bear Folk-Rock, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll
Rick Danko & Richard Manuel Live at O'Toole's Tavern, Scranton, PA, December 1985 Bear Country-Rock, Folk-Rock, Rock & Roll
Speech Debelle Speech Therapy Big Dada British Rap, Underground Rap
Dr. Dre The Chronic [Re-Lit and From the Vault] Wideawake/Death Row West Coast Rap, G-Funk, Gangsta Rap
Emerson, Lake & Palmer The Essential Emerson, Lake & Palmer [Limited Edition 3.0] Shout! Factory Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock
Emmy the Great First Love Close Harbour Alternative Folk
Liam Finn + Eliza Jane Champagne in Seashells Yep Roc Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Claus Peter Flor Josef Suk: Asrael Symphony Bis Romantic Symphony
Karina Gauvin Nicola Porpora: Arias Atma Classique Baroque Vocal Music
Robin Guthrie Carousel Darla Experimental Ambient, Ambient
Haydn Trio Eisenstadt Dedicated to Haydn Capriccio Contemporary Chamber Music
John Lee Hooker Live at Soledad Prison/Never Get Out of These Blues Alive Beat Goes On Blues Revival, Electric Delta Blues, Acoustic Blues
David Russell Hulme Edward German: Tom Jones Naxos Post-Romantic Opera
Juliette Lewis Terra Incognita The End Alternative Pop/Rock
Richard Lloyd The Jamie Neverts Story Parasol Indie Rock
Lullabye Arkestra Threats/Worship Vice Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental
Deborah Lurie/Danny Elfman 9 [Soundtrack] E1 Entertainment/Focus Featur Original Score, Film Music
The Marshall Tucker Band The Essential Marshall Tucker Band [Limited Edition 3.0] Shout! Factory Boogie Rock, Southern Rock, Country-Rock
Mr. Scruff Keep It Unreal [10th Anniversary Edition] Ninja Tune Ambient Techno, Trip-Hop, Electronica
Original Soundtrack Sorority Row [Soundtrack] E1 New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Pop, Hardcore Rap, Film Music, Soundtracks, Dance-Pop, Hip-Hop
Ozzy Osbourne Essential Ozzy Osbourne [Limited Edition 3.0] Epic/Legacy Album Rock, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Neo-Classical Metal
Pitbull Rebelution J-Records Pop-Rap, Latin Rap
Reverend Horton Heat Laughin' & Cryin' with Reverend Horton Heat Yep Roc Roots Rock, Rockabilly Revival, Psychobilly
Brandi Shearer Love Don't Make You Juliet Vinyl Tiger Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Contemporary, Vocal Jazz
Susanna & the Magical Orchestra 3 Rune Grammaphon Ambient Pop, Vocal Jazz, Chamber Pop
These United States Everything Touches Everything United Interests Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock
Those Bastard Souls Twentieth Century Chemical [Bonus Tracks] Darla Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Used Artwork [Limited Edition] [CD/DVD] Reprise Emo, Screamo, Post-Hardcore, Punk Revival
Various Artists Definitive Jux Presents, Vol. 4 Definitive Jux Underground Rap, Alternative Rap
Various Artists The Roots of Led Zeppelin Great American Music Folk-Blues, Country Blues, British Invasion, Blues-Rock, Electric Blues, Acoustic Blues, Early R&B
Derek Webb Stockholm Syndrome INO/Columbia Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative CCM
Chris Young The Man I Want to Be RCA Contemporary Country
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The big find this week is Los Lobos Goes Disney. Obviously, this outstanding and flavorful band coupled with some of the best pop songs of the last six or seven decades offers many choice goodies. "The Bare Necessities" rocks righteously. They pick also several lesser known songs from the canon, including "Grim Grinning Ghosts" and "The Ugly Bug Ball." I'm particularly pleased to note that they picked two songs from the Robin Hood movie, which is to say Roger Miller songs. I'm a little disappointed though that they didn't take a crack at "The Phony King of England," which would seem like the most obvious song for them there. But it's all good, however you want to look at it.
Whitney Houston is back after a half dozen years of the tabloid crapola with I Look to You. Frankly, I never saw what the big deal was about her in the first place. She was second only to Mariah Carey as someone whose music would cause me to change the radio station.
