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
Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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To explicitly state the obvious, these external links go to interesting and provocative websites, but they speak for themselves. I don't necessarily agree with anything they say - especially that no-goodnik Richard Marcus.
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April 01, 2008
New CD Album Releases, 4-1-2008: Willie Nelson box, REM, the Rolling Stones, Van Morrison, Moby, Blue Man Group, George Strait, Africa Celebrates U2 There's quite a batch of new big name releases this first day of April, starting with everlovin' Van Morrison. Keep It Simple is counted as his 35th album, and his first album of new material since 2005. Per the title, he has apparently trimmed back the orchestrations, leaving out a lot of the strings and horn sections that he often uses. The record company promo makes special note of the prominent use of ukelele.
For someone who hasn't had a radio hit in a good many years, Van sure seems to keep movin' the product. Keep It Simple is currently #3 at Amazon.
George Strait has been around forever, and hardly makes a headline. But he just keeps making hit album after hit album for a quarter century plus. Troubadour is the #4 album at Amazon, featuring the single "I Saw God Today."
Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack is the soundtrack to an upcoming Martin Scorcese film documenting Rolling Stones concerts from fall of 2006. There's a single CD version, but the two disc version with all the songs from the film and several more besides is going for a modest $12 at Amazon.
For making a big film, they seem to have brought in minimal outside guest stars. Buddy Guy joins the band for "Champagne & Reefer." Christina Aguilera jumps in for some "Live With Me" action, and the chosen one Jack White takes a little sup from the "Loving Cup."
Accelerate is the first new studio album from R.E.M. since 2004. They were never up to their billing as giants in a league with the Beatles and Prince and such, and I quit paying attention a decade ago or so. Nonetheless, this album is the #1 seller currently at Amazon. These 11 songs total about 35 minutes, so at least they get points for concision. If it sucks nads, at least you won't have to listen for an hour and more to figure it out.
Tribute albums are often a particularly disappointing experience to me, but nonetheless In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 sounds intriguing. I'm not familiar with most of these specific artists, but the Soweto Gospel Choir singing "Pride (In the Name of Love)" surely sounds promising.
Willie Nelson turns 75 at the end of this month, and Sony has a 4 CD box set One Hell of a Ride. It contains 100 recordings, going back to 1954 or so. Along with a bunch of hits, Willie songs that were hits for other people, and a couple of unreleased tidbits, there are relatively obscure songs from before he got big. "Bloody Mary Morning" in particular is an old favorite of mine.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
The Black Keys Attack & Release Nonesuch Punk Blues, Garage Punk, Indie Rock
Moby Last Night Mute Electronica, Club/Dance, House, Techno
R.E.M. Accelerate Warner Bros. Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
The Rolling Stones Shine a Light: Original Soundtrack Interscope Album Rock, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop/Rock
Ahn Trio Lullaby for my favorite insomniac RCA Arrangements for Piano Trio
The Apples in Stereo Electronic Projects for Musicians Yep Roc Indie Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Blue Man Group Canta Conmigo Rhino Tribal-House, Club/Dance, Dance-Pop, House
Blue Man Group How to Be a Megastar Live! [CD/DVD] Rhino Alternative Pop/Rock
James Brown Singles, Vol. 5: 1967-1969 Hip-O Select R&B, Funk, Soul, Blaxploitation
Buzzcocks Orgasm Addict Live Cleopatra British Punk, Punk Revival, Punk
Los Campesinos Hold on Now, Youngster... Wichita Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Jennifer Cardini Feeling Strange Kompakt Tech-House, Club/Dance, Techno, House
The Carter Family The Acme Sessions, 1952-56 JSP Traditional Country, Old-Timey, String Bands, Appalachian Folk, Close Harmony
Colour Revolt Plunder, Beg, and Curse Fat Possum Indie Rock
Dream Theater Greatest Hit (....And 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) Rhino Neo-Prog, Progressive Metal, Heavy Metal, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Hard Rock
Fall Out Boy Live in Phoenix Island Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo, Punk-Pop
Far Cry Far Cry [Fallout] Fallout Jazz-Rock, Psychedelic, Blues-Rock
Ferras Aliens & Rainbows Capitol Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Jim Ford Point of No Return Bear Family Country-Rock
Greg Ginn Goof Off Experts & the Taylor Texas Corrugators SST Experimental Rock, Jazz-Rock, Instrumental Rock
Josh Gracin We Weren't Crazy Lyric Street Pop Idol, Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Merle Haggard Hag: Concepts, Live & the Strangers -- The Capitol Recordings 1968-1976 Bear Family Bakersfield Sound, Honky Tonk, Traditional Country, Western Swing Revival
Robyn Hitchcock Shadow Cat Sartorial Alternative Pop/Rock, College Rock, Folk-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Jars of Clay Greatest Hits Essential Alternative CCM, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Karl Jenkins Karl Jenkins: Stabat Mater EMI Classics Modern Music for Chorus and Orchestra
Nigel Kennedy Beethoven: Violin Concerto; Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 4; Horace Silver: Creepin' In Opendisc Classical, Romantic and Modern Music for Violin & Orchestra
Donna Lewis In the Pink Peruzzi Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Pop/Rock
Alexander Liebreich Farewell ECM Classical and Contemporary Music for Orchestra
Christa Ludwig The Art of Christa Ludwig EMI Classics Operatic Selections
Ministry Cover Up Megaforce Industrial, Industrial Metal, Alternative Metal
Van Morrison Keep It Simple Exile/Lost Highway Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Singer/Songwriter, Celtic Rock, Contemporary Blues, Adult Contemporary, Country-Rock, R&B
Muse H.A.A.R.P. Live from Wembley Warner Bros. Alternative Pop/Rock
Fred Neil Trav'lin Man: The Early Singles Fallout Country Boogie, Honky Tonk, Rockabilly, Rock & Roll
Willie Nelson One Hell of a Ride [Box Set] Sony Legacy Progressive Country
No Use for a Name The Feel Good Record of the Year Fat Wreck Chord Punk-Pop, Punk Revival
The Osmonds Live in Las Vegas 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert Denon Pop
Webb Pierce High Geared Daddy Bear Family Honky Tonk, Traditional Country
Poi Dog Pondering 7 BCD Music Group Alternative Pop/Rock
Matthew Ryan Matthew Ryan vs. the Silver State 2:59 Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Joe Satriani Professor Satchafunkilus and the Musterion of Rock Epic/Red Guitar Virtuoso, Pop/Rock, Fusion, Hard Rock, Instrumental Rock
Sevendust Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow Asylum Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Grunge
George Strait Troubadour MCA Nashville New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country
Sun Kil Moon April Caldo Verde Indie Rock
The Sword Gods of the Earth Kemado Heavy Metal, Doom Metal, Stoner Metal
Tally Hall Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum Atlantic Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Pop Underground
Trina Still da Baddest Sas Dirty South, Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap
Various Artists Bushspeak, Vol. 2: Fore More Years Shout! Factory Political Comedy, Speeches, Novelty
Various Artists In the Name of Love: Africa Celebrates U2 Shout! Factory Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Afro-Pop
Various Artists The Very Best of Outlaw Country Sony Legacy Outlaw Country, Americana, Country-Rock, Honky Tonk, Southern Rock
Dionne Warwick Why We Sing Rhino Adult Contemporary
The Wood Brothers Loaded Blue Note Alternative Folk, Americana, Contemporary Folk, Acoustic Blues
Victor Wooten Palmystery Heads Up Crossover Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Fusion, Jazz-Funk, Jazz-Pop, Progressive Bluegrass ************** THE ROLLING STONES
