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.
Links
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 13, 2008
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.
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
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
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
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 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 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
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.
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
New CD Album Releases, 4-15-2008: Mariah Carey, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus, Everclear The top big name release this week is from Mariah Carey, people's enemy #1. She's back with her 11th album E=MC2. Apparently dropping in the famous shorthand for Einstein's theory of relativity is supposed to make us think she's smart. Riiight.
A special moment of derision must be reserved for the arguments of her fans and PR flacks. Leastways I would hope that this "Rudy Palma" commenting about the album on Amazon is on her payroll to be writing stuff like "The biggest surprise about E=MC2 is that, aside from its being a consistently satisfying collection of unshakable pop melodies and inspiring ballads, it shares no obvious commonalities with other LPs in Carey's catalogue."
I've dutifully listened to this "Touch My Body" song that's her lead single, and it's just utter crap. It sounds just exactly like every other song she's recorded again and again her whole career. It's utterly bland Cream of Wheat diva r&b with no real passion or identifiable hook. I would call it "corporate music," except that a high-end corporate music hack would be conjuring much catchier ads/songs. After a half dozen careful listens, I can almost remember how the song goes while I'm actually listening to it. That's the best I can do even TRYING to see what other people see in it. There's no THERE there. I swear I'd rather listen to frickin' Barbara Streisand.
Having crossed swords with Mariah's vicious "lambs" before, I note that they tend to put a great argumentive emphasis on commercial statistics, so many millions of albums sold - as if that were some kind of proof that her music is actually good. It's not.
Which leads to the obvious question: How has she sold so many damned records for a couple of decades and running? I'm not particularly a religious person, but this Mariah conundrum does tend to make me think about belief in the supernatural. Could be that Mariah Carey is a subtle form of punishment from God for whatever he might be mad at us about. Couldn't we just have a plague of locusts instead? More realistically, she might be in a Devil and Daniel Webster deal. I would suspect more the Bill Hicks version, which involves special personal favors for the Dark Lord. It's really the only possible explanation for Mimi's popularity.
But this is still (more or less) a free country, so if Mariah Carey does it for you, knock yourself out. We'll save you a room at Camp Mimi.
In terms of girly pop music, the far better bet this week would be Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert. It's the official #1 "children's album" at Amazon, and comes in a 2 disc CD/DVD version. Besides anything else, I'd certainly take the perfectly catchy, cheerful and modest bubblegum of "See You Again" 10 to 1 over anything from Mariah. Not that it has pretentions to High Art, but I'm actually somewhat infatuated with this good basic pop song.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Alkaline Trio Remains Vagrant Punk Revival, Punk-Pop, Emo
Ellen Allien Boogybytes, Vol. 4 Bpitch Control Club/Dance, Experimental Techno
American Princes Other People Yep Roc Indie Rock
Apocalyptica Worlds Collide 20-20/Jive/Zomba Heavy Metal, Classical Crossover, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal
Asia Phoenix Frontiers/EMI Album Rock, Arena Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Jon Balke Book of Velocities ECM Structured Improvisation, Process-Generated, Avant-Garde
Christopher Bissonnette In Between Words Kranky Experimental Ambient, Ambient, Electronic
Ketil Bjørnstad/Terje Rypdal Life in Leipzig ECM Folk-Jazz, Avant-Garde, Structured Improvisation, Modern Composition
Braille The IV Edition Syntax Hardcore Rap
The Brian Jonestown Massacre My Bloody Underground A Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival, Shoegaze, Space Rock
Mariah Carey E=MC2 Island Club/Dance, Urban, Dance-Pop
Commander Cody Live in the Ozone: 1973 US Tour Cleopatra Western Swing Revival, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll
Does It Offend You, Yeah? You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into Almost Gold Indie Electronic, Dance-Rock, Alternative Dance, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Rock
Dave Douglas Moonshine Green Leaf Post-Bop
Everclear The Vegas Years Capitol Post-Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
The Gossip Live in Liverpool [CD/DVD] Red Ink Indie Rock, Garage Punk
The Hoosiers The Trick to Life RCA Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop, Britpop
James Hey Ma Mercury Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Nik Kershaw You've Got to Laugh Shorthouse Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Carole King Tapestry [Legacy Edition] Sony Legacy Pop/Rock, Soft Rock
The Kooks Konk Astralwerks Indie Rock
Kottonmouth Kings The Kottonmouth Xperience, Vol. 2 Suburban Noize Rap-Metal, Post-Grunge, Alternative Metal, Funk Metal
Marilyn Mazur/Jan Garbarek Elixir ECM Improvisation, Structured Improvisation, Folk-Jazz
James McMurty Just Us Kids Lightning Rod Americana, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country, Roots Rock
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds Concert Disney Teen Pop, TV Soundtracks
Morgan Heritage Mission in Progress VP Contemporary Reggae, Roots Reggae
Elliott Murphy Notes from the Underground Last Call Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Rock & Roll
The Naked Brothers Band I Don't Want to Go to School [Bonus Tracks] Sony Pop/Rock, Teen Pop
Charlemagne Palestine From Etudes to Cataclysms Sub Rosa Contemporary Keyboard Music
John Schneider Por Gitaro: Lou Harrison Mode Contemporary Music for Guitar
Original Soundtrack Forgetting Sarah Marshall Verve Alternative Pop/Rock, Soundtracks
Phantom Planet Raise the Dead FBR Indie Rock
Tristan Prettyman Hello Virgin Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Professor Longhair The London Concert JSP New Orleans R&B, New Orleans Blues, Piano Blues
Rush Snakes & Arrows Live Atlantic/WEA Album Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Hard Rock, Arena Rock
Sally Shapiro Remix Romance, Vol. 1 Paper Bag Alternative Dance, Euro-Dance, Indie Electronic
Southside Johnny 1978 Live in Boston Airline Heartland Rock, Album Rock, Rock & Roll
Tangele Tangele: The Pulse of Yiddish Tango Tzadik Jewish Music, Musical Theater, Jewish Folk, Tango
Various Artists Easy Beatles: Irresistible In-Sound Interpretations from the 60s and 70s Bureau B Vocal Pop, Pop, Folk-Pop
Jacob Young Sideways ECM Modern Creative, Avant-Garde Jazz, Folk-Jazz, Post-Bop
Jordan Zevon Insides Out New West Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Joe Strummer and the Clash's Mindless Graffiti Politics First off, the Clash were a great band. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones wrote some outstanding songs. Between them, they were one of the most exciting rock bands of their era. Plus, London Calling came out when I was 17 and just prime to dig their manly posturing - revolutionary wolves howling out in the night against the oppressors. Ke-wl!
However, the Clash have perhaps unfairly suffered significantly in their canonical rankings with me over their foolish political posturing - and their proponents and the record company put me off even more with that "only band that matters" nonsense. They're super duper triple extra important because they're political - and of course they're down with the people. The Clash think deep.
Except that they didn't. Joe Strummer had his moments as a lyricist, but they didn't have anything that much to say politically other than that they were down for the communist revolution. They named a (crappy) triple album for the brutal Sandinista regime in Nicaragua. At least they weren't actually blowing stuff up and killing people like the Weather Underground. They were just posturing for the press, a new incarnation of radical chic.
The vapidity of their thinking jumped out at me recently watching The Clash Live Revolution Rock DVD, an excellent collection of vintage live Clash performances. Joe Strummer, the charismatic lead singer, was the main one pushing politics. Pop songsmith Mick Jones recalls Strummer's first meeting with the band. Jones had a song about being bored with his girlfriend, "I'm So Bored with You." But of course Strummer immediately makes it "I'm So Bored with the USA." Voila! A mere excellent pop song becomes an Important Social Statement. But really, what the hell did it mean, other than some broad generalized disrespect? The main important thing though, they were raging against the machine.
Most particularly to this point though, there is a 1981 appearance on the Tomorrow Show with Tom Snyder. Tom Snyder was an excellent interviewer, trying to give a sympathetic platform for them to make their case for social justice or such. "You prefer to be identified not so much as a rock and roll group, but as a news giving group. Why?" He spent eight solid minutes of air time trying to get Joe Strummer or anyone else in the band to delineate what exactly the news was that they so urgently needed to communicate.
There was no answer to be had. Joe Strummer, Mr Revolution, was on American network tv with a friendly host begging him to make his case, and he just didn't have one to be made. He and the band sitting with him took to playing with a random stuffed bear on the stage and basically playing shtick to kill time.
The big point of protest when he went dredging around for something concrete was that Joe Strummer is of the opinion that rental housing is too expensive in London, and that "landlords are out of control." Thus, he personally has been squatting for years, not paying rent. From the juvenile nature of that behavior, you can take it that he had no detailed explanation for how he decided what "fair" rental pricing would be. Nor, of course, did he offer any explanation as to what landlords should do if his "fair" prices weren't enough to pay taxes and insurance and maintenance on the property.
For being the great political revolutionaries, they generally had no program of what exactly they were protesting against, other than The Man. He didn't have any marching orders for his followers (fortunately). What was it that they wanted people to do to further the revolution, exactly, other than simply buying more Clash albums from the big corporation they work for?
They were on Snyder's show promoting the largely tuneless Sandinista! album, and played "This Is Radio Clash" shortly before he interviewed them. They even about halfway managed to make that mediocre song fairly compelling, but they had a particularly interesting bit of staging with a graffiti artist spraying messages on the wall behind them during the song.
You could probably pick through on freeze frame and make out some of what he's writing on the wall, but they obviously didn't intend for you to get much and it doesn't much matter. It's mostly the idea of showcasing a graffiti guy. It's from the street! It radical. It's chic.
That Tom Snyder show put it together perfectly. Graffiti slogans spray painted on walls by vandals was their level of political discourse. They absolutely had not a goddam thing to say when someone tried very nicely to draw them out explaining their issues with full sentences and paragraphs.
But that's not important. Thing is, they were on the right side. The People's side. Plus, they were a really good rock band with strong tunesmithing and great creatively expressed passion. They were down with the revolution, so they were deep - "the only band that matters."
New CD Album Releases, 4-8-2008: Nine Inch Nails, Was Not Was, The Rubber Soul Project, POD After a big week of new releases last, this week has pretty nearly nothing of obvious note. Ghosts I-IV is a new release from Nine Inch Nails, 55 instrumental tracks on 4 CDs. These are apparently essentially demo sketch books of Reznor's half-assed sonic doodles. Some of them got developed and turned into songs, but most of them just never went anywhere. I take it as a sign of the level of Reznor's commitment to the material that he didn't bother to come up with names for the tracks.
The most promising new album might be Boo! by Was (Not Was). It's been some years since the dance floor absurdity of "Walk the Dinosaur." Do they still got the goods?
Don't know if there are any songs to back up the conceit, but The Rubber Soul Project on Loud Folk Records gets points for high concept. They concoct an album of original songs based on reputed titles of unreleased Beatle songs. One thing though: there really have been at least scraps of Beatle songs with a couple of these titles circulating among bootleggers, including for example "All Together on the Wireless Machine."
POD was one of the lead purveyors of the dreaded rap-rock craze a decade ago or so. They are back this week with When Angels and Serpents Dance. This is their seventh album, and reunites them with their original guitarist Marcos Curiel. By this point, they have apparently largely given up the hip hop element, playing as more of a traditional guitar band.
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. 
Foxy Brown
Dokken
The best things in life are free this week. The 
But this is still (more or less) a free country, so if Mariah Carey does it for you, knock yourself out. We'll save you a room at 
Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
After a big week of new releases last, this week has pretty nearly nothing of obvious note. Ghosts I-IV is a new release from Nine Inch Nails, 55 instrumental tracks on 4 CDs. These are apparently essentially demo sketch books of Reznor's half-assed sonic doodles. Some of them got developed and turned into songs, but most of them just never went anywhere. I take it as a sign of the level of Reznor's commitment to the material that he didn't bother to come up with names for the tracks.