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.
Hostile bearers of unproven and mostly unlikely evil conspiracies tend to come across to me as hateful seekers after cheap self-aggrandizement for the sake of their supposed arcane knowledge rather than actual seekers after truth or the better benefit of the country. Conspiracy mongering doesn't get me hard.
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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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All original content on MoreThings.com copyright 2008 Albert Barger or the respective authors
May 06, 2008
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.
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
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
The best things in life are free this week. The 
