The Lonely Goatherd Blog And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats - Matthew 25:32
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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
April 29, 2008
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.
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.
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
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
