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.
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
August 19, 2008
New CD Album Releases, 8-19-2008: David Byrne, Glen Campbell, Ice Cube Big Love: Hymnal is David Byrne's instrumental score to the second season of the HBO show Big Love, along with some new Byrne songs - his first since 2004. "I had an idea to base my scoring loosely on Mormon hymns. That would presumably hint at the unspoken spiritual underpinnings that motivate many of the characters' actions - or justify them, in some characters' cases. I got hymnals and Mormon Hymns CDs, read up on the Mormon Church and began to practice writing 'fake' hymns."
Coming from David Byrne, this might be interesting - though you'd generally obviously prefer actual religious music rather than an academic approach to any idea of gospel music.
Meet Glen Campbell seems like an odd title for a new album somewhere near 50 years into a career. He's working with modern pop songs, including Tom Petty's under appreciated classic "Walls." Not that it will make you forget Bono, but from the samples, "All I Want Is You" sounds most interesting. It gets at a different flavor from U2 with Campbell's classic production sound, with the folksy picking and string arrangement.
Raw Footage is the newest joint by Ice Cube. As one of the original Niggas With Attitude, his musical act has mostly been noteworthy for his scary Negro shtick, which you can see in the typically cartoonish cover photo. In fairness though, he's had a couple of worthwhile songs out of maybe a dozen and a half albums. "It Was a Good Day" was actually worthwhile. But I'm hearing nothing hear that sounds like any kind of real song.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Laura Marling Alas I Cannot Swim Virgin Alternative Singer/Songwriter
Music Tapes Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes Merge Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Jennifer O'Connor Here with Me Matador Indie Rock
Andrew Russo Mix Tape Allegro Contemporary Piano Arrangements
Ragna Schirmer Joseph Haydn Revisited Berlin Classics Classical Music for Keyboard
Outrageous Cherry Wide Awake in the Spirit World: The Best of Outrageous Cherry Wicked Cool Indie Pop, Pop Underground, Alternative Pop/Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock
Aaron Parks Invisible Cinema Blue Note Post-Bop, Modern Creative
John Pizzarelli With a Song in My Heart Telarc Vocal Jazz, Standards
Pram The Moving Frontier Domino Experimental Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental, Dream Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Ra Ra Riot The Rhumb Line Barsuk Indie Rock, Chamber Pop
The Royal We The Royal We Domino Indie Pop
Xavier Rudd Dark Shades of Blue Anti Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Aussie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Urban Folk
Wanda de Sah Brasil '65/Softly! DRG Bossa Nova, Samba, Latin Pop, Lounge
Shwayze Shwayze Geffen Pop-Rap
Starling Electric Clouded Staircase Bar/None Chamber Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Indie Rock
New CD Album Releases, 8-12-02008: Jonas Brothers, Beer for My Horses soundtrack, David Sanborn A Little Bit Longer is the third album from the Jonas Brothers. Nick Jonas, Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas are the hottest boy band in America in 2008. So far though, as an actual adult fan of music, I haven't heard anything much noteworthy. This is generic pop rock for little 'tween girls.
But they do seem like fine young Christian men. Good luck to fellows in their position in staying true to the purity rings they've been known to wear, indicating a commitment not to have premarital sex. This is at least better than the ugly rutting sounds of, say, Pretty Ricky.
Beer for My Horses is the soundtrack album for a new movie starring and co-written by Toby Keith. It's purportedly a comedy about a couple of goofy deputy sheriff's taking on a drug dealer. This movie features the acting talents and soundtrack contributions of Ted Nugent, David Allan Coe and Willie Nelson.
Here & Gone is the 23rd David Sanborn album. Among others, this album features playing from Eric Clapton, Sam Moore and Joss Stone.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Jonas Brothers A Little Bit Longer Hollywood Pop/Rock, Teen Pop
Janelle Monae Metropolis: The Chase Suite [Special Edition] Bad Boy Alternative Pop/Rock
Bigelf Cheat the Gallows Custard Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Bo Diddley Road Runner: The Chess Masters 1959-1960 Hip-O Select Rock & Roll, R&B, Electric Chicago Blues
The Dufay Collective The Play of Daniel Harmonia Mundi Renaissance Vocal Music
The East Village Opera Company Olde School Decca Classical Pop, Classical Crossover, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
The Final Solution Brotherman Numero Blaxploitation, Chicago Soul, Original Score, Soul, Funk
David Geringas Peteris Vasks: Gramata cellam; Partita; Episodi e canto perpetuo Haenssler Classics Contemporary Chamber Music
Zach Hill Astrological Straits Ipecac Noise-Rock, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock, Progressive Metal, Guitar Virtuoso, Neo-Psychedelia
Dave Hollister 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection Hip-O Urban, Contemporary R&B
Jason & the Scorchers The EMI Years Acadia College Rock, Heartland Rock, Cowpunk, Roots Rock, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll, Americana
Jefferson Airplane Bark/Long John Silver Acadia Album Rock, Hard Rock, Acid Rock, Rock & Roll, Psychedelic
Wilhelm Kempff Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3; Haydn: Symphony No. 94 "Surprise" Audite Classical and Romantic Orchestral Music
New Kids on the Block Greatest Hits [Bonus Tracks] Sony Teen Pop, Urban, Dance-Pop
James O'Donnell Francisco Guerrero: Missa Sancta et immaculata Hyperion UK Renaissance Choral Music
Original Soundtrack Beer for My Horses Show Dog Nashville Outlaw Country, Contemporary Country
Original Soundtrack Star Wars: The Clone Wars Sony Classical Original Score, Soundtracks
The Pack A.D. Funeral Mixtape Mint Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival, Punk Blues, Blues-Rock
Inara George/Van Dyke Parks An Invitation Everloving Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Vocal Jazz
Rosebuds Discoballs: A Tribute to Pink Floyd Collectors' Choice Music Club/Dance, Disco
S.M.V. Thunder Heads Up Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz
David Sanborn Here & Gone Decca Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Angus & Julia Stone A Book Like This Capitol Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop
Irma Thomas Simply Grand Rounder New Orleans R&B, Soul, Louisiana Blues
Various Artists The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 10: 1970 Hip-O Select Smooth Soul, Motown, Funk, Soul
Various Artists Portland Cello Project Portland Cello Project Arrangements for Cello Ensemble
Leon Ware Moon Ride Stax Smooth Soul, Quiet Storm, Adult Contemporary, Urban
Ben Weaver The Ax in the Oak Bloodshot Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock
Yung Berg Look What You Made Me Koch/Epic Pop-Rap, Hardcore Rap
New CD Album Releases, 7-15-2008: Passing Strange cast album, Randy Travis, John Mellencamp, Dark Knight soundtrack The big deal this week for cool folks comes from the most distinguished composer Stew, The Negro Problem incarnate - and now a Tony award winning Broadway composer and star. The original Broadway cast recording of Passing Strange is out this week. Did I mention that Stew won a Tony for this musical, and was nominated for six others? Spike Lee is filming the show for some kind of movie presentation.
It is an autobiographical tale of the young middle-class boho tripping across Europe. There are fairly many artsy pop music styles here, but early on I'm particularly taken with "We Just Had Sex." It's some kind of light samba or mambo or such, a very catchy and carefully non-chalant by-the-way about how it's no big deal that the characters have just had three way sex.
Brother Stew is one of the greatest songwriters working today. If you don't know Stew, you don't know jack. Download "The Big Game", one of his best songs for free.
Also, here are a couple more outstanding recent Stew songs: DOWNLOAD: Pastry Shop An excellent melody informing a particularly good and understated anti-war sentiment DOWNLOAD: Black Men Ski An outstanding arty pop song
Randy Travis has Around the Bend. That voice is as good as ever. He makes a nice, light fiddle hoedown out of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Hearing his delivery here made me notice what a surprisingly nimble and bouncy touch he can get out of that deep voice.
Life Death Love and Freedom is the newest from our Hoosier hometown hero John Mellencamp. Love the homeboy, but the Little Bastard really hasn't written a song that anyone really needs to hear in at least a decade. The fading of talent isn't so awful. He wrote "Lonely Ol' Night" and "Love and Happiness" if he never wrote another song. But even as one of his biggest fans, I get more disgusted by the year with his increasingly dishonest self-righteous malice in dumb crap like this slanderous "Jena" song.
The less interesting his tunesmithing gets, the more supposedly profound his lyrics become, and the more pronounced his need to establish his cheap sense of righteous superiority over his neighbors. Nothing I'm hearing on this album does anything to change that outlook.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
David Banner The Greatest Story Ever Told SRC/Universal Motown Dirty South, Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap
Dirty Pretty Things Romance at Short Notice Mercury Indie Rock
The Hold Steady Stay Positive Vagrant Indie Rock, American Trad Rock, Rock & Roll
Nas Nas Def Jam Political Rap, Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop
Claudio Abbado Marches and Dances Deutsche Grammophon Marches and Dances for Orchestra
Bajofondo Mar Dulce Vibra Electronica, Tango
Don Braden Gentle Storm Highnote Post-Bop, Modern Creative
Daedelus Love to Make Music To Ninja Tune Indie Electronic, Experimental Techno
Foreigner No End in Sight: The Very Best of Foreigner Atlantic/Rhino Album Rock, Arena Rock, Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons The Motown Years Hip-O Select Pop, Doo Wop
Delta Goodrem Delta Decca Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Gossip Rework It Backyard Indie Rock, Garage Punk, Lo-Fi
The Grascals Keep on Walkin' Rounder Contemporary Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass
Honeybus Story Deram Psychedelic Pop, British Psychedelia
The Imagined Village The Imagined Village Real World Neo-Traditional Folk, Alternative Folk, Worldbeat
Jet Black Stare In This Life Island Post-Grunge, Hard Rock
Gunar Letzbor Wenzel Ludwig Edler von Radolt: Viennese Lute Concertos Challenge Classics Baroque Music for Lute and Ensemble
John Mellencamp Life Death Love and Freedom Hear Music Pop/Rock, Roots Rock
The Music Strength in Numbers Polydor Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Trio Wanderer Messiaen: Quatuor pour la fin du Temps Harmonia Mundi Modern Chamber Music
Original Soundtrack American Teen Almost Gold Soundtracks, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Singer/Songwriter
Original Soundtrack The Dark Knight [#1] Warner Bros. Original Score, Soundtracks
New CD Album Releases, 7-8-2008: Del McCoury in Moneyland, Beck, and Willie Nelson teams with Wynton Marsalis Country music revisits the Dust Bowl this week with the multiple artist concept album Moneyland, re-connecting country music with new and old recordings of songs with themes of economic populism. The album is framed with vintage FDR fireside chats. There are a couple of cuts with Merle Haggard, and also Emmylou Harris singing his "Mama's Hungry Eyes."
Best of all, we get four cuts with Del McCoury. Somehow, McCoury has managed to shoehorn in a country version of "When I'm 64." This seems like pretty much of a stretch conceptually to the idea of the album, but I'm sure glad of it. Turns out that Paul McCartney wrote a classic bluegrass song. Who knew?
Probably the biggest commercial deal this week is Modern Guilt by Beck. It is currently #2 at Amazon. The biggest point of interest to me is that it was produced by Brian Burton aka DJ Dangermouse, half of Gnarls Barkley. Burton's sound palette is not particularly a stretch for Beck, but he's about the best in the business with it. The samples at Amazon sounded pretty good, but probably more for the general production sound rather than anything in the compositions. But that might be subject to further consideration on hearing the full songs.
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis recorded Two Men with the Blues live at the Lincoln Center on January 12 & 13, 2007. They mostly did old jazz and blues standards, including "Caldonia," an old Louis Jordan favorite of mine. It's not really that much of a stretch for Willie Nelson to play jazz. Even doing country music, his vocal inflections in particular often sound pretty jazzy. What I'm hearing sounds pretty hot. This would definitely be worth a couple of good listens.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Beck Modern Guilt DGC Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Neo-Psychedelia
Albert Hammond, Jr. ¿Como Te Llama? Red Ink Indie Rock
Billy Joel The Stranger [2CD Deluxe Edition] Sony Legacy Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock
Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis Two Men with the Blues Blue Note Standards
Abe Vigoda Skeleton PPM Indie Rock
Albatros Ensemble Nino Rota: Improvviso Stradivarius Modern Chamber Music
Bad Religion New Maps of Hell [Deluxe Version] Epitaph American Underground, Hardcore Punk, Punk, Alternative Pop/Rock, L.A. Punk
Chiara Banchini Giuseppe Tartini: Sonate a violino solo; Aria del Tasso Zig Zag Territoires Classical Vocal and Chamber Music
The Baseball Project The Baseball Project, Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails Yep Roc Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Folk-Pop
Black Ghosts The Black Ghosts Southern Fried Indie Electronic, Electronica
The Capstan Shafts Fixation Protocols Rainbow Quartz Indie Pop, Lo-Fi
Diplomats of Solid Sound Diplomats of Solid Sound Featuring the Diplomettes Pravda Deep Funk Revival
Donna the Buffalo Silverlined Sugar Hill Jam Bands, Alternative Folk, Americana, Contemporary Folk, Zydeco
Isabelle Faust Faure: Sonates pour violon & piano Harmonia Mundi Post-Romantic Chamber Music
Jean Grae Jeanius Blacksmith Underground Rap, Hardcore Rap, Hip-Hop
Eddy Grant The Very Best of Eddy Grant: The Road to Reparation Island/Mercury Contemporary Reggae, Reggae-Pop, Urban, Club/Dance, Pop/Rock
Vladimir Horowitz Horowitz In Hamburg: The Last Concert Deutsche Grammophon Classical and Romantic Piano Music
Kerli Love Is Dead Island Alternative Pop/Rock
Leila Blood, Looms and Blooms Warp IDM, Electronica
Little Jackie The Stoop S-Curve Neo-Soul, Urban, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Hip-Hop
Maroon 5 It Won't Be Soon Before Long [US Deluxe Edition] A&M/Octone Pop/Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Del McCoury Moneyland McCoury Music Contemporary Bluegrass, Bluegrass, Traditional Bluegrass
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes Have Another Ball! Fat Wreck Chord Punk-Pop, Punk Revival, Comedy Rock
Melvins Nude with Boots Ipecac Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Mighty Mighty Bosstones Medium Rare Junket Boy Alternative Pop/Rock, Ska-Punk, Third Wave Ska Revival
Mika Miko 666 PPM Punk-Pop, Indie Rock
Opiate for the Masses Manifesto Cma Goth Metal, Alternative Metal
Dennis Russell Davies Philip Glass: Waiting for the Barbarians Orange Mountain Contemporary Opera
Original Soundtrack Weeds: Music from the Series, Vol. 3 Lions Gate TV Soundtracks, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Comedy Rock
Johnny Osbourne Truths and Rights [Deluxe Edition] Heartbeat Roots Reggae, Dancehall, Lovers Rock
Ratatat LP3 XL Indie Electronic, Indie Rock, Indie Pop
Ron Sexsmith Exit Strategy of the Soul Yep Roc Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Patti Smith/Kevin Shields The Coral Sea TBC Experimental Rock, Poetry
Son, Ambulance Someone Else's Deja Vu Saddle Creek Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Street Dogs State of Grace Hellcat Punk Revival
Sunny Day Sets Fire Summer Palace IAMSOUND Indie Pop, Twee Pop
Telepathic Butterflies Breakfast in Suburbia Rainbow Quartz Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Pop Underground
Vancougar Canadian Tuxedo Mint Punk-Pop, Indie Rock
Various Artists Life Beyond Mars: Bowie Covered Rapster New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Electronic, Tribute Albums, Club/Dance
Doc Watson Americana Master Series: Best of Doc Watson Sugar Hill Traditional Folk, Traditional Country, Old-Timey
Whitechapel This Is Exile Metal Blade Death Metal/Black Metal, Grindcore
Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust Fader Label Hip-Hop, Underground Rap, Poetry, Political Rap
Edgar Winter Rebel Road Airline Boogie Rock, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock
New CD Album Releases, 6-10-2008: Emmylou Harris, Alanis Morissette, Walter Becker Emmylou Harris was just this year inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. It's about damned time. All I Intended to Be is the second Emmylou Harris album on Nonesuch, and the #2 seller currently at Amazon.
Bill Payne of Little Feat and Dolly Parton are among the associates playing on this album. Brian Ahern produced this. He's a veteran Emmylou producer, responsible for among others Blue Kentucky Girl. Along with her own compositions, she does the Billy Joe Shaver classic "Old Five and Dimers Like Me" and songs by Patty Griffin and Merle Haggard.
Circus Money is the first solo album from Walter Becker of Steely Dan in some 14 years, and his second ever. Hey, quality before quantity.
Personally, I tend to be a little skeptical of the cheesy girly psychodrama that Alanis Morissette is known for. Plus, she's apparently writing her diary entries/songs for a recent big breakup. I'm probably just not the target market.
Yet for all that, I've been listening to some of this album, and digging it pretty much. I've heard eight songs from this new Flavors of Entanglement, and they all seem to have at least a little of something to them. Some of the arrangements seem somewhat modern rock generic, but "Incomplete" is a nicely forceful wish and prayer. "Citizen of the Planet" is fairly catchy. I don't know if I'll remember this a month from now, but it's striking me as fairly listenable at the moment.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Walter Becker Circus Money 5 Over 12 Jazz-Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock
Jakob Dylan Seeing Things Sony Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter
The Fratellis Here We Stand Cherry Tree/Interscope/Island Indie Rock
Emmylou Harris All I Intended to Be Nonesuch Alternative Country, Contemporary Country
Joan as Policewoman To Survive Reveal Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock
Lil Wayne Tha Carter III Universal Motown Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap
Alanis Morissette Flavors of Entanglement Maverick Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter
My Morning Jacket Evil Urges ATO Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Adele 19 [Bonus CD] Sony Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Afroman Greatest Hitz Live Siccness.net Underground Rap, Alternative Rap, Comedy Rap, West Coast Rap
Priscilla Ahn A Good Day Blue Note Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
The Bangkok Five We Love What Kills Us Megaforce Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
The Beach Boys US Singles Collection Box: The Capitol Years 1962-1965 Capitol Surf, Pop, Sunshine Pop, Rock & Roll
Jiri Belohlavek Martinu: Violin Concerto No. 2; Toccata & due Canzoni Harmonia Mundi Modern Chamber Music
Haley Bonar Big Star Afternoon Indie Rock
The Boxmasters The Boxmasters Vanguard Psychedelic Pop, Truck Driving Country, Americana, Alternative Country-Rock, Bakersfield Sound, Honky Tonk, Roots Rock, Rockabilly, Country-Rock
The Bridges Limits of the Sky Verve Forecast Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Solomon Burke Like a Fire Shout! Factory Deep Soul, Southern Soul, Country-Soul
The Charlatans UK You Cross My Path [Deluxe Edition] Cooking Vinyl British Trad Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Gene Clark Silverado '75: Live & Unreleased Collectors' Choice Music Folk-Rock, Baroque Pop, Country-Rock
Marcus Creed Bruckner: Mass in E minor; Motets [Hybrid SACD] Haenssler Classic Post-Romantic Choral Music
Crusaders Live in Japan 2003 Pra Crossover Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Jazz-Funk
Gas Nah und Fern Kompakt Ambient Techno, Techno, Experimental Techno, IDM
Jeff Gauthier House of Return Cryptogramophon Free Improvisation, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Free, Modern Creative
Guillemots Red Polydor Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Hil St. Soul Black Rose Shanachie Contemporary R&B, Urban
Hiromi Beyond Standard Telarc Contemporary Jazz, Post-Bop, Fusion
Freddie Hubbard On the Real Side (70th Birthday Celebration) Four Quarters/Times Square Post-Bop
James Hunter The Hard Way Hear Music Retro-Soul, Blue-Eyed Soul
The Infamous Stringdusters The Infamous Stringdusters Sugar Hill Contemporary Bluegrass
Ahmad Jamal It's Magic Dreyfus Jazz Post-Bop
KRS-One Maximum Strength Koch Hip-Hop, East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap
Patti LaBelle The Essential Patti LaBelle Philadelphia International/Le Soul, Urban
Patti LaBelle Live in Washington D.C. Philadelphia International/Le Quiet Storm, Urban, Soul
Love False Start Collectors' Choice Music Garage Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Baroque Pop
Love Out There Big Beat Garage Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Baroque Pop
Janiva Magness What Love Will Do Alligator Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Soul-Blues
Manfred Mann The Hit Man: Essential Singles 1963-1969 Raven Pop/Rock, British Invasion, Pop, Rock & Roll
Sergio Mendes Encanto Concord Brazilian Jazz, Latin Jazz, Urban, Bossa Nova, Latin Pop
Montgomery Gentry Back When I Knew It All Sony Contemporary Country, Southern Rock, Country-Rock
N.E.R.D. Seeing Sounds Interscope Alternative Pop/Rock, Rap-Rock, Urban
Carla Olson & the Textones Detroit 85: Live and Unreleased Collectors' Choice Music Country-Rock, Roots Rock, Americana
Carla Olson & Mick Taylor Too Hot for Snakes Collectors' Choice Music Roots Rock, Country-Rock, Americana
The Orb The Dream Six Degrees Ambient Dub, Club/Dance, Ambient House, Techno, Electronica
Svoboda, Mike Phonometrie Wergo Modern Piano Music and Contemporary Vocal Music
moderntimes_1800 Sinfonias from the Enlightenment Challenge Classics Baroque Chamber and Orchestral Music
Original TV Soundtrack iCarly: Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Show Sony Teen Pop, TV Soundtracks
Pentemple 0))) Presents... Southern Lord Doom Metal, Noise, Post-Rock/Experimental
Plies Definition of Real Big Gates/Slip-N-Slide/Atlant Southern Rap, Gangsta Rap
Ponies in the Surf See You Happy Darla Indie Pop, Twee Pop
Rev Theory Light It Up Interscope Post-Grunge, Hard Rock
The Runaways The Runaways/Queens of Noise Raven Hard Rock
Sloan Parallel Play Yep Roc Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Sparks Exotic Creatures of the Deep Lil Beethoven Pop/Rock, Indie Pop
Mark Stewart Edit Crippled Dick/Hot Wax Post-Punk, Experimental Rock, Dub, Alternative Pop/Rock
Styrofoam A Thousand Words Nettwerk Indie Electronic
Supergrass Diamond Hoo Ha EMI Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Chip Taylor New Songs of Freedom Megaforce Folk-Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Country-Rock, Americana
Tyga No Introduction Decaydance Pop-Rap
Various Artists Cash Money Records: 10 Years of Bling, Vol. 2 Cash Money Southern Rap, Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap
Various Artists Soirees musicales: Songs & Duets by Rossini Hyperion Romantic Vocal Music
Martha Wainwright I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too Zoe Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Folk, Folk-Pop
Shannon Walker Shannon Walker DM Nashville Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Country
Tony Joe White Deep Cuts Swamp/Red/Thirty Tigers Pop-Soul, Pop/Rock, Country-Pop, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll
Cassandra Wilson Loverly Blue Note Vocal Jazz, Standards, Contemporary Jazz, Modern Creative
Roy Wood Wizzard Brew [Bonus Tracks] EMI Pop/Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Glam Rock
Dan Zanes Nueva York! Festival Five Modern Son, Norteno, Merengue, Cumbia, Bachata, Latin Folk _____________________________________ ALANIS MORISSETTE IMAGES
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
New CD Album Releases, 3-4-2008: Alan Jackson, Carlene Carter, the Black Crowes, Lynyrd Skynyrd The main action in this week's new releases comes from the country and the country fried. Alan Jackson's last two albums were a romantic deal (Like Red on a Rose) and a gospel album (Precious Memories). His new album is Good Times, with more of the classic honky tonk sound and song titles such as "I Still Like Bologna." This is the #1 country album in the land, and #7 overall at Amazon currently.
Carlene Carter has apparently her first new album in several years, Stronger. In that time, she's had to deal with the deaths of her famous mother and stepfather, and long time boyfriend Howie Epstein. I can't remember any of her songs, knowing I've listened to her, so I wouldn't expect too much artistically. But I was struck by the album cover, and how much she looks like Mom. It gives me warm fuzzy feelings, even if she isn't as talented as June Carter. I mean, who is?
Moving from country to country-fried, the Black Crowes slap on their Warpaint for their first batch of fresh fried greasy country blues since 2001.
Cooler than anything new, however, is a deluxe 2 CD edition of the last and greatest album by Hall of Fame stalwarts Lynyrd Skynyrd. Besides re-mastering, there's a whole second disc. The original album released three days before their plane crash in 1977 showed the band at the height of their powers and expanding their sound, notably with horns. They had the bright pop of "What's Your Name?" and cast an unearthly deathly pall with "That Smell" that Robert Johnson would have been proud of.
The second disc of this Geffen set has two original songs ultimately entirely left off the original album, "Georgia Peaches" and "Sweet Little Missy." There are five live recordings from one of the very best live American rock bands ever. Also, there are early versions of most of the album songs from discarded sessions produced by Tom Dowd. From the descriptions, I'd be particularly interested in hearing the 7:30 alternate version of "That Smell." Sounds like some seriously charbroiled death.
Like Double Fantasy, the Street Survivors album is popular and well known, but they've both been somewhat artistically underappreciated because people are distracted by the sudden deaths of the creators so unexpected and closely timed. To me, Skynyrd's crash was maybe even a little greater loss than the Buddy Holly crash - but they went out on a hell of a note.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Miss Kittin Batbox Nobody's Bizzne Techno, Neo-Electro, Electro-Techno, Club/Dance
David Russell Air on a G String Telarc Baroque Music for Guitar
Adam Summerhayes Gypsy Strings Chandos Traditional Melodies Arranged for Two Violins & Orchestra
Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands Cody's Dream Bloodshot Americana
Rakim The Archive: Live, Lost & Found Fast Life East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop
The Ruby Suns Sea Lion Sub Pop Indie Pop
The Raymond Scott Quintette Ectoplasm Basta Swing, Third Stream
Ashton Shepherd Sounds So Good MCA Nashville Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Valet Naked Acid Kranky Dream Pop, Indie Rock
Various Artists Cage: The Number Pieces, Vol. 5 Mode Contemporary Music for Two Pianos
Various Artists Conquer the World: The Lost Soul of Philadelphia International Records Philadelphia International/Le Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Philly Soul, Urban, Soul, Disco, Funk
Various Artists Don't Stop: Recording Tap Numero Post-Disco, Club/Dance, Urban, Old-School Rap
Various Artists The Sound of Philadelphia: Gamble & Huff's Greatest Hits Philadelphia International/Le Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, Quiet Storm, Philly Soul, Urban, Soul, Disco, Funk
The Waco Brothers Waco Express: Live and Kickin' at Schuba's Bloodshot Americana, Alternative Country, Alternative Country-Rock, Indie Rock
What Made Milwaukee Famous What Doesn't Kill Us Barsuk Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Whiskeytown Strangers Almanac [Deluxe Edition] Geffen Americana, Alternative Country-Rock, Roots Rock
Jim White Transnormal Skiperoo Luaka Bop Americana, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Folk
David Wilcox Airstream What Are? Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter
Mary Lou Williams A Grand Night for Swinging Highnote Standards, Classic Jazz, Stride, Post-Bop, Swing, Bop ******************************** Alan Jackson
New CD Album Releases, 2-26-2008: Dolly Parton, Hayseed Dixie, Erykah Badu, Janet Jackson The top couple most interesting sounding new releases come from the country quadrant. Backwoods Barbie is the first proper commercial country album from Dolly Parton in something like 20 years, after a series of outstanding bluegrass oriented records. Seems like the modern commercial country music industry (far more frightening to me personally than the military-industrial complex) has become even considerably less accepting of aging artists than commercial rock and pop radio.
Thus, it'll be interesting to see if THE most still viable major old country singer still standing can actually be credible with country radio 2008 at the age of 62 - though that's one well preserved old woman on that album cover. In the pink dress spread out across the hay in the back of a pickup, Miss Dolly does indeed look like a backwoods Barbie.
Less exalted on the food chain, Hayseed Dixie have their Cooking Vinyl album No Covers. This comedically oriented bluegrass band has been known for their hot-jammin and surprisingly effective bluegrass covers of hard rock bands, most notably AC/DC. Per the album title, this does appear to be an album of original songs. These guys have shown a lot of creative imagination in their humble jokey interpretations - sort of latter day Homer and Jethro. They're lead by a hillbilly with a PhD who really likes beer, so they're like profound and stuff. But do they have anything to say as songwriters?
Then there is the Jackson family. Michael has apparently abandoned Neverland to foreclosure. Worse yet, Janet Jackson has a new album, Discipline. She was a mediocre talent in her prime, mostly successful because she's a Jackson and because Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis wrote her a few passable hits. But she was at least a nice girl. As her popularity has faded, however, she's become increasingly whorish in her recordings and of course the infamous Superbowl Titty Massacre. Now we have this "discipline" S&M shtick. Shut up, already. Damn. If I might suggest humbly, I think I have a solution.
In the way of re-issues, there's a particularly tasty looking compilation from Stax, Stax Does the Beatles. Booker T and the MGs were digging the Beatles along with other Stax luminaries in Beatle covers. There's an alternate version of Otis Redding's well known version of "Day Tripper." The Beatles were great in many ways, but not particularly a soul band. I'd be particularly interested in Booker T's arrangement of "Got to Get You Into My Life," which is a great soul song.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
Erykah Badu New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War Universal Motown Neo-Soul, Urban, Contemporary R&B
Carl Craig Sessions !K7 Detroit Techno, Club/Dance, Techno, House
Goldfrapp Seventh Tree Mute Alternative Pop/Rock, Electronica
Janet Discipline Island Urban, Contemporary R&B
Dolly Parton Backwoods Barbie Dolly Traditional Country, Progressive Country, Honky Tonk, Country-Folk, Country-Pop
The Cardigans The Best Of [Limited Edition] Polydor Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Swedish Pop/Rock, Twee Pop, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Carl St. Clair Villa-Lobost: Symphony No 10 Amerindia CPO Modern Orchestral Music
Cowboy Junkies Trinity Revisited [Bonus DVD] Zoe College Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Dirtbombs We Have You Surrounded In The Red Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival
Earth The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull Southern Lord Post-Rock/Experimental
Eugenius Mary Queen of Scots Wounded Bird Indie Pop, Jangle Pop, Indie Rock
Hayseed Dixie No Covers Cooking Vinyl Contemporary Bluegrass
Chris Hicks Dog Eat Dog World Shout! Factory Southern Rock
Missy Higgins On a Clear Night Virgin Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Jefferson Starship Timeless Classics Live Rainman Album Rock, Arena Rock, Hard Rock, Adult Contemporary
The Judybats Native Son Wounded Bird Alternative Pop/Rock
King's Singers The Golden Age Signum Classics Renaissance & Baroque Vocal Music
Ludo You're Awful, I Love You Island Indie Rock
Maria McKee Live at the BBC Polydor Alternative Country-Rock, Country-Rock, College Rock, Roots Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Tift Merritt Another Country Fantasy Alternative Country, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Americana
Morrissey Greatest Hits Polydor College Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Dance-Rock
Jose Serebrier Bizet/Serebrier: Carmen Symphony Naxos Modern Arrangement of Romantic Orchestral Music
Robert Spano Michael Gandolfi: The Garden of Cosmic Speculation [Hybrid SACD] Telarc Contemporary Orchestral Music
New Album Releases, 1-29-2008: Willie Nelson, Joe Jackson, The Five Blind Boys of Alabama New CD releases are starting to pick up a little bit. Most notably, Willie Nelson has Moment of Forever, which features production and performing services of Kenny Chesney. Along with some new Willie originals, he does Dave Matthews' "Gravedigger" and Bob Dylan's big gospel hit "Gotta Serve Somebody."
I haven't been knocked out by a Joe Jackson record in a long time, but then I've missed at least a couple. Still, being the author of Look Sharp and Night and Day should earn a good listen for his new album Rain. This features all but one member from his original band, which seems to represent a back to basics approach.
The Five Blind Boys of Alabama have been one of the top gospel groups since forming in 1939. Their new Down in New Orleans album features at least one original member, Jimmy Carter. As the title suggests, it's a NOLA affair, including participation by luminaries such as Allen Toussaint.
Here's the listing of this week's new album releases, courtesy AMG:
The Five Blind Boys of Alabama Down in New Orleans Time Life Black Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Contemporary Gospel
The Helio Sequence Keep Your Eyes Ahead Sub Pop Indie Rock, Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia
Joe Jackson Rain Rykodisc Pop/Rock
Shelby Lynne Just a Little Lovin' Lost Highway Vocal Pop, Pop, Adult Contemporary
The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath Universal Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Neo-Psychedelia, Thrash
Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend XL Indie Rock
John Anderson All the People Are Talink' Collectors' Choice Music Outlaw Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk, Country-Pop
John Anderson Eye of the Hurricane Collectors' Choice Music Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk
Beck Odelay [Deluxe Edition] Geffen Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Club/Dance, Alternative Pop/Rock, Dance-Rock
Andrea Bocelli Vivere: Live in Tuscany [CD + DVD] Decca Music for Tenor & Orchestra
Bonnie "Prince" Billy Wilding in the West Spunk Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi
Sarah Brightman Symphony Manhattan Show Tunes, Musicals, Adult Contemporary
Bullet for My Valentine Scream Aim Fire Jive/Zomba Punk Metal, Screamo, Alternative Metal
Popa Chubby Deliveries After Dark Blind Pig Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues, Contemporary Blues
Billy Ray Cyrus Love Songs Mercury Nashville Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Dailey and Vincent Dailey and Vincent Rounder Bluegrass-Gospel, Contemporary Bluegrass, Country-Folk
Dimitri from Paris & DJ Muro Super Disco Friends Headphone Heroes Club/Dance, Disco, Funk, Old-School Rap
Dispatch Dispatch Zimbabwe: Live at Madison Square Garden [CD/DVD] Republic Jam Bands, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Doors The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors Elektra/Rhino Album Rock, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Proto-Punk
Donna Jean & the Tricksters Donna Jean & the Tricksters Dig Heartland Rock, Jam Bands, American Trad Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Country-Rock, Rock & Roll
Human Bell Human Bell Thrill Jockey Experimental Rock, New Acoustic
Ida Lovers Prayers Polyvinyl Sadcore, Indie Pop, Dream Pop
Al Jarreau Love Songs Rhino Adult Contemporary, Vocal Jazz, Contemporary R&B, Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Paavo Järvi Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite; Symphony No. 5 [Hybrid SACD] Telarc Modern Orchestral Music
Jeffrey Lewis 12 Crass Songs Rough Trade Alternative Folk, Anti-Folk, Political Folk
Louis XIV Slick Dogs and Ponies Atlantic Indie Rock, Neo-Glam, Garage Punk
Idina Menzel I Stand Warner Bros. Adult Alternative
Pat Metheny Trio Day Trip Nonesuch Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Folk-Jazz
Charles Mingus The Very Best of Charles Mingus [Rhino] Rhino Early Creative, Hard Bop
Van Morrison Avalon Sunset [Expanded] Polydor Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison Back on Top [Expanded] Polydor Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison It's Too Late to Stop Now [Expanded] Polydor Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison Tupelo Honey [Expanded] Polydor Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Van Morrison Wavelength [Expanded] Polydor Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock & Roll
Willie Nelson Moment of Forever Lost Highway Contemporary Country, Traditional Country
David "Fathead" Newman Diamondhead Highnote Jazz Blues, Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz
Thao We Brave Bee Stings and All Kill Rock Stars Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop
Obituary The Best of Obituary Roadrunner Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
Kim Sjøgren Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole OUR Recordings Post-Romantic Music for Violin & Orchestra
Leonard Slatkin Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 1 Naxos Modern Orchestral Music
Tabia Zimmermann Sally Beamish: The Seafarer Bis Contemporary Orchestral Music
Original Score 27 Dresses [Original Score] Varese Sarabande Original Score
Original Soundtrack Be Kind Rewind Lakeshore Original Score, Soundtracks
Lee "Scratch" Perry Chicken Scratch Heartbeat Dub
Protest the Hero Fortress Vagrant Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Emo
Sun Ra & His Arkestra Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue Atavistic Standards, Post-Bop
Radar Bros. Auditorium Merge Slowcore, Indie Rock
Ed Sanders Beer Cans on the Moon Collectors' Choice Music Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock
Ed Sanders Sanders' Truckstop Collectors' Choice Music Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock
Various Artists Grammy Nominees 2008 Hip-O Pop/Rock, Pop, Pop Idol, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Jazz, Hard Rock, Contemporary Country, Contemporary R&B, Urban, Dance-Pop
Various Artists Pulse Platinum Razor & Tie Club/Dance, House, Euro-Dance, Euro-Pop
Various Artists Smithsonian Folkways: Classic African American Gospel Smithsonian Folkways Field Recordings, Spirituals, Traditional Gospel, Gospel Choir, Southern Gospel, Black Gospel
Christopher Walla Field Manual Barsuk Indie Pop, Indie Rock
Kate Walsh Tim's House Blueberry Pie Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk
Webb Wilder Born to Be Wilder Blind Pig Roots Rock, Blues-Rock
Larry Willis The Offering Highnote Post-Bop, Modern Creative
Xiu Xiu Women as Lovers Kill Rock Stars Experimental Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental
Yoav Charmed & Strange Verve Forecast Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
New Album Releases, 11-6-2007: Country Blues and String Band Music, Jay-Z, Gram Parsons, David Byrne Way the most intriguing item on this week's release schedule is A Richer Tradition Country Blues & String Band Music 1923 - 1942. This moderately priced four CD boxed set contains 100 songs. Even as a dedicated fan of roots music, I'm not familiar with any of these artists. So unless you're a considerably bigger old-timey music geek than even me, this will all be new stuff to you.
This stuff comes from back before there was anything like an industry, or record company executives thinking they knew what would sell. These people seem pretty much straight off the farm. I can't tell much for sure about the race of the performers, and I strongly suspect that some of these folks are obscured enough that no one does. From the bits that I've heard of this set though, I'd say that most of it sounds closer to Robert Johnson than to the Carters.
It's mostly a lot lighter in tone than the anguish of Robert Johnson though, as evidenced for starters by song titles like "I Heard the Voice of a Pork Chop." Also, a fair amount of this is jug band stylings, as evidenced for starters by the names of several of the artists, ie the Nashville Washboard Band and the Birmingham Jug Band. All in all, this is a fine window into what might seem now like pre-historic times to most of us.
From the famed tape vaults of the Grateful Dead comes Gram Parsons Archive, Vol. 1. It is billed as a Gram Parsons album, but it is specifically the Flying Burrito Brothers. These are never-before-released live recordings from two shows opening for the Dead in April of 1969.
The most interesting thing recorded recently is The Knee Pla
Big Love: Hymnal is David Byrne's instrumental score to the second season of the HBO show Big Love, along with some new Byrne songs - his first since 2004. "I had an idea to base my scoring loosely on Mormon hymns. That would presumably hint at the unspoken spiritual underpinnings that motivate many of the characters' actions - or justify them, in some characters' cases. I got hymnals and Mormon Hymns CDs, read up on the Mormon Church and began to practice writing 'fake' hymns." 
Beer for My Horses is the soundtrack album for a new 
Jonas Brothers
Original Soundtrack
Various Artists
The big deal this week for cool folks comes from the most distinguished composer 
Randy Travis has Around the Bend. That voice is as good as ever. He makes a nice, light fiddle hoedown out of "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright." Hearing his delivery here made me notice what a surprisingly nimble and bouncy touch he can get out of that deep voice.
Original Soundtrack
Randy Travis
Personally, I tend to be a little skeptical of the cheesy girly psychodrama that Alanis Morissette is known for. Plus, she's apparently writing her diary entries/songs for a recent big breakup. I'm probably just not the target market.
Walter Becker
The main action in this week's new releases comes from the country and the country fried. Alan Jackson's last two albums were a romantic deal (Like Red on a Rose) and a gospel album (Precious Memories). His new album is Good Times, with more of the classic honky tonk sound and song titles such as "I Still Like Bologna." This is the #1 country album in the land, and #7 overall at Amazon currently.
Less exalted on the food chain, 
In the way of re-issues, there's a particularly tasty looking compilation from Stax, Stax Does the Beatles. Booker T and the MGs were digging the Beatles along with other Stax luminaries in Beatle covers. There's an alternate version of Otis Redding's well known version of "Day Tripper." The Beatles were great in many ways, but not particularly a soul band. I'd be particularly interested in Booker T's arrangement of "Got to Get You Into My Life," which is a great soul song. 
New CD releases are starting to pick up a little bit. Most notably, Willie Nelson has 
