The Lonely Goatherd

Woo hoo! This week we get a new Richard Thompson album, Dream Attic. Some of his records are inevitably better than others over 40+ years, but they’re pretty much always worth hearing, and often they’re great. In this case, he’s got 13 new songs recorded live.

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:

Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses
Junky Star
Lost Highway
Americana, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Country-Rock, Country-Folk, Contemporary Folk

The Goo Goo Dolls
Something for the Rest of Us
Warner Bros.
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Heart
Red Velvet Car
SMG
Album Rock, Arena Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Hard Rock

Jenny and Johnny
I’m Having Fun Now
Warner Bros.
Indie Pop, Power Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock

Klaxons
Surfing the Void
Polydor
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Weepies
Be My Thrill
Nettwerk
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

King Sunny Ade
Synchro System/Aura
T-Bird
Nigerian, African Traditions, West African

American Bang
American Bang
Reprise
American Trad Rock

Antony and the Johnsons
Thank You Your Love
Secretly Canadian
Art Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Louis Armstrong
The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection
Proper Records (UK)
Jazz

Atom Smash
Love Is in the Missile
Red Ink Records
Pop Idol, Post-Grunge

Bobby Bare Jr.
A Storm, A Tree, My Mother’s Head
Thirty Tigers
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Americana, Indie Rock

Doug Benson
Hypocritical Oaf
Comedy Central Records
Standup Comedy, Comedy

Beta Collide
Psst… Psst!
Innova
Modern & Contemporary Chamber Music

Various Artists
Songs for Endless Cities, Vol. 1
!K7
Dubstep, Club/Dance, Left-Field Hip-Hop, Left-Field House

Carl Broemel
All Birds Say
ATO
Alt-Country, Indie Folk, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock

S. Carey
All We Grow
Jagjaguwar
Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Casting Crowns
Until the Whole World Hears…Live
Reunion
Alternative CCM, Adult Contemporary, Gospel, Contemporary Christian, CCM

The Clientele
Minotaur
Merge
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Comeback Kid
Symptoms & Cures
Victory Records
Hardcore Punk

Miles Davis
Bitches Brew
Sony Music Distribution
Jazz-Rock, Fusion, Trumpet Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Dominican Traditions, Mini Jazz

Devil’s Brigade
Devil’s Brigade
Hellcat Records
Psychobilly, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk-Pop, Punk Revival

Disturbed
Asylum
Reprise
Alternative Metal, Rap-Metal, Heavy Metal

Micky Dolenz
King for a Day
Megaforce
Adult Contemporary

Ensemble Aventure
Ensemble Aventure plays Schulhoff & Wolpe
Ars Musici
Modern Vocal & Chamber Music

Fabolous
There Is No Competition, Vol. 2: The Grieving Music Mixtape
Def Jam
East Coast Rap

Film School
Fission
Hi-Speed Soul
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Bill Frisell
Beautiful Dreamers
Savoy Jazz
Progressive Jazz, Post-Bop, Modern Creative, Guitar Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Progressive Folk

The Graduate
Only Every Time
Razor & Tie
Emo-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Bruce Haack
Farad: The Electric Voice
Stones Throw
Obscuro, Computer Music, Experimental Electronic

Lyfe Jennings
I Still Believe
Jesus Swings
Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, Soul

Kid Loco
Trip-Hop Classics
Wagram Records
Trip-Hop, Club/Dance

Lang Lang
Live in Vienna
Sony Classics
Romantic, Post-Romantic & Modern Keyboard Music

Gerald Levert
The Best of Gerald Levert
Rhino
Adult Contemporary R&B, Contemporary R&B

Madlib
Madlib Medicine Show, No. 8: Advanced Jazz

Murderdolls
Women & Children Last
Roadrunner Records
Hard Rock, Punk Metal, Rap-Metal, Heavy Metal

Stefan Anton Reck
Alban Berg: Lulu
Oehms
Modern Opera

Jose Serebrier
Jose Serebrier: Symphony No. 1; Violin Concerto
Naxos
Modern Orchestral Music

Original Soundtrack
Vampires Suck [Original Soundtrack]
Lakeshore Records
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Emo, Soundtracks, Pop, Punk-Pop

Buck Owens
All-Time Greatest Hits
WEA
Bakersfield Sound, Honky Tonk, Traditional Country

Papa Roach
Time for Annihilation: On the Record & On the Road
Eleven Seven
Alternative Metal, Hair Metal, Heavy Metal

Lee Perry
Sound System Scratch: Lee Perry’s Dub Plate Mixes 1973 to 1979
Pressure Sounds
Dub, Roots Reggae

Calvin Richardson
America’s Most Wanted
Shanachie
Neo-Soul, Urban, Retro-Soul, Soul

Boz Scaggs
Moments
Columbia
Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Album Rock

Boz Scaggs
Other Roads
Columbia
Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Album Rock

Philip Selway
Familial
Nonesuch
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Frank Sinatra
September Of My Years
Reprise
Vocal Jazz, Traditional Pop, AM Pop, Vocal Pop

Smith Westerns
Smith Westerns
Horizontal Action
Indie Pop, Lo-Fi, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Sonny & the Sunsets
Tomorrow Is Alright
Fat Possum
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Folk, Indie Pop

Street Dogs
Street Dogs
Hellcat Records
Punk Revival, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

10 Years
Feeding the Wolves
Motown
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Grunge

Terrible Things
Terrible Things
Universal Motown
Post-Hardcore, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock

Richard Thompson
Dream Attic
Proper Uk
Contemporary Folk, British Folk-Rock, British Folk

Turnpike Troubadours
Diamonds & Gasoline
Onward Music
Alternative/Indie Rock, Americana, Alternative Country-Rock

Chucho Valdes & The Afro-Cuban Messengers
Chucho’s Steps
Four Quarters Entertainment
Afro-Cuban Jazz, Latin Jazz, Piano Jazz, Post-Bop, World Fusion

Various Artists
B.B. King & Kings of the Electric Blues
Proper Records (UK)

Various Artists
Chuck Berry & Rock ‘N’ Roll Giants
Proper Records (UK)

Various Artists
Little Richard & Rock ‘N’ Roll Giants
Proper Records (UK)

Various Artists
Now 35
Capitol
Pop, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Dance-Pop, Pop-Rap, Contemporary R&B

There’s just not a damned thing new that looks interesting this week. I can’t really imagine why anyone except her family and friends would bother with American Idol Fantasia when they’re still printing Aretha Franklin albums.

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
!!!
Strange Weather, Isn’t It?
Warp
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Isobel Campbell/Mark Lanegan
Hawk
Vanguard
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Dandy Warhols
The Capitol Years 1995-2007
EMI Music Distribution
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Eels
Tomorrow Morning
E Works
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Fantasia
Back to Me
J-Records/19
Contemporary R&B, Urban

JP, Chrissie and the Fairground Boys
Fidelity!
La Mina/Rocket Science
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock

Little Big Town
The Reason Why
Capitol
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Contemporary Country, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Country-Rock

Katy Perry
Teenage Dream
Capitol
Pop, Teen Pop, Contemporary Pop/Rock

Ra Ra Riot
The Orchard
Barsuk
Indie Rock, Chamber Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Apocalyptica
7th Symphony
Red Ink Classical
Crossover, Neo-Classical Metal, Progressive Metal, Heavy Metal

Vladimir Ashkenazy
Bach: 6 Partitas
Decca
Baroque Keyboard Music

LaVern Baker
Saved
Castle Music Ltd.
Jump Blues, Early R&B

Barb
Barb
Yep Roc
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

James Blackshaw
All Is Falling
Young God Records
Alternative Folk

Julie Brown
Trapped In the Body of a White Girl
Sire
Novelty, Comedy, Music Comedy, Standup Comedy

Capstan Shafts
Revelation Skirts
Rainbow Quartz
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

S. Carey
All We Grow
Jagjaguwar
Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Margaret Cho
Cho Dependent
Clownery Record
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Music Comedy, Alternative/Indie Rock, Comedy

Paul Collins
King Of Power Pop
Alive Records
Power Pop

John Coltrane
The Definitive John Coltrane on Prestige and Riverside
Fantasy
Hard Bop, Bop

Cotton Jones
Tall Hours In the Glowstream
Suicide Squeeze
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Dead Confederate
Sugar
TAO Records
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Disney
Disney Villains: Simply Sinister Songs
Walt Disney Records
Soundtracks, Musicals

Dave Douglas / Keystone
Spark of Being: Expand
Greenleaf Music
Electric Jazz, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Creative

Fennesz Daniell Buck
Knoxville
Thrill Jockey Records
Experimental Ambient, Experimental

Grass Widow
Past Time
Kill Rock Stars
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival

JJ Grey & Mofro
Georgia Warhorse
Alligator Records
Contemporary Blues, Southern Rock, Roots Rock

David Guetta
One Love
Astralwerks/Gumprod
Club/Dance, House, Progressive House

Lena Horne
The Essential Lena Horne
Masterworks
Traditional Pop, Modern Jazz Vocals, Early Jazz Vocals, Vocal Pop, Vocal Jazz, Cast Recordings, Show Tunes

The Intelligence
Males
In the Red Records
Experimental Rock, Noise-Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Lo-Fi

Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins: Gloria; Te Deum
EMI Classics
Contemporary Choral Music

Tamar Kaprelian
Sinner or a Saint
Interscope
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Kidz Bop Kids
Kidz Bop: Halloween Party
Razor & Tie Music
Childen’s Pop, Halloween, Teen Pop, Sing-Alongs, Contemporary Pop/Rock

Land of Talk
Cloak and Cipher
Saddle Creek Records
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Brad Laner
Natural Selections
Hometapes
Indie Rock, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Shoegaze

Jon Langford & Skull Orchard
Old Devils
Bloodshot
Alternative Country-Rock, Alt-Country, Americana, Roots Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock

Dylan LeBlanc
Paupers Field
Rough Trade US
Americana, Alt-Country, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Magic Kids
Memphis
True Panther Sounds
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Henry Mancini
The Essential Henry Mancini
Masterworks
Spy Music, Movie Themes, TV Music, Original Score, Lounge, Soundtracks, Mood Music, TV Soundtracks, Instrumental Pop, Orchestral Pop, Piano Jazz, Jazz Instrument

Marsalis Family
Music Redeems
Marsalis Music
Mainstream Jazz, Neo-Bop

Mogwai
Special Moves [CD/DVD]
Rock Action
Experimental Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Thelonious Monk
The Definitive Thelonious Monk on Prestige and Riverside
Fantasy
Bop, Piano Jazz, Hard Bop

Charlie Musselwhite
The Well
Alligator Records
Modern Electric Blues, Juke Joint Blues, Delta Blues, Harmonica Blues, Electric Delta Blues, Regional Blues, Modern Blues, Electric Blues, Chicago Blues

Never Shout Never
Harmony
Sire
Emo-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock

One Night Only
One Night Only
Vertigo
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

William Orbit
Pieces in a Modern Style, Vol. 2
Decca
Electronica, Trance, Ambient, Experimental Electronic, House, Ambient Techno, Techno

Steffen Schleiermacher
Philip Glass: How Now
MDG
Contemporary Keyboard Music

Les Witches
Konge af Danmark
Alpha Productions
Renaissance Vocal and Chamber Music

The Pack
Wolfpack Party
SMC Recordings
West Coast Rap, Underground Rap

Pale Sketcher
Jesu: Pale Sketches Demixed
Ghostly International
IDM, Experimental Ambient, Ambient Techno

The Qemists
Spirit in the System
Ninja Tune
Jungle/Drum’n'bass

Gappy Ranks
Put the Stereo On
VP Records
Dancehall

The Randy Rogers Band
Burning the Day
MCA Nashville
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop

Sonny Rollins
The Definitive Sonny Rollins on Prestige, Riverside, and Contemporary
Fantasy
Hard Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Bop

Jimmy Ruffin/David Ruffin
I Am My Brothers Keeper
Motown
Motown, Soul, Smooth Soul

Todd Rundgren
For Lack of Honest Work
Get Back
Live Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Power Pop, Hard Rock, Art Rock, Soft Rock

The Saturdays
Headlines
Polydor
Teen Pop, Dance-Pop

Ricky Skaggs
Mosaic
Universal Music Christian Group
Contemporary Christian, CCM, Gospel

Marty Stuart
Ghost Train: The Studio B Sessions
Welk
Americana, Honky Tonk, Country-Rock, Progressive Country, New Traditionalist, Traditional Country, Contemporary Country

The Sword
Warp Riders
Kemado Records
Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal, Doom Metal

Randy Travis
I’ll Fly Away
Spring Hill Music
Country Gospel, Contemporary Christian, CCM, Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Southern Gospel, Contemporary Country, Gospel

Usher
Versus
Jive
Contemporary R&B, Pop

Various Artists
Franz Schubert, Jörg Widmann: Octets
Avi
Romantic and Contemporary Chamber Music

Various Artists
The Year Without a Santa Claus
Capitol
Christmas

Dale Watson
Carryin’ On
E1 Entertainment
Alternative/Indie Rock, Americana, Alt-Country, Bakersfield Sound

Wildbirds & Peacedrums
Rivers
The Control Group
Experimental Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

John Zorn
Filmworks, Vol. 24: The Nobel Prize Winner
Tzadik Records

Way the most interesting sounding thing this week would be the new Brian Wilson album Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. Besides giving the Gershwin compositions some of the famous Brian Wilson orchestrations and vocal arrangements, this album has two newly completed songs from unfinished George Gershwin music, “The Like in I Love You” and “Nothing But Love.”

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new album releases:
David Gray
Foundling
Mercer Street Records
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Kem
Intimacy
Universal Motown
Adult Contemporary R&B

Ray LaMontagne & the Pariah Dogs
God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise
Red Ink Records
Heartland Rock, Roots Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Americana, Country-Folk, Contemporary Pop/Rock

Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
Walt Disney
Contemporary Pop/Rock, American Popular Song

Trace Adkins
Cowboy’s Back in Town
Show Dog Nashville
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country

Antibalas
Who Is This America?
Ropeadope Records
Afro-Beat, Funk, African Traditions

Arab Strap
Philophobia
Matador
Slowcore, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Sadcore, Alternative Pop/Rock

Arab Strap
The Week Never Starts Round Here
Matador
Slowcore, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Sadcore, Alternative Pop/Rock

Blue Things
Let the Blue Things Blow Your Mind
Cargo
Folk-Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic

Alfred Brendel
Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 17 & 27
Musical Concepts
Classical Keyboard Concertos

Eliza Carthy/Norma Waterson
Gift
Topic Records
Contemporary Folk, British Folk, Celtic, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Folk, Traditional Folk

Chief
Modern Rituals
Domino
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Chocolate Milk
We’re All in This Together/Milky Way
Funky Town Grooves
Funk

Darker My Love
Alive as You Are
Dangerbird Records
Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Benjy Davis Project
The Angie House/More Than Local
Rock Ridge Music
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Matthew Dear
Black City
Ghostly International
Indie Electronic, Club/Dance, Experimental Techno, Techno

The Dollyrots
A Little Messed Up
Blackheart
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Dominant Legs
Young At Love and Life
Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Ronnie Earl / Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters
Spread the Love
Stony Plain
Contemporary Blues, Jazz Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Soul-Blues, Electric Blues

Filter
The Trouble with Angels
Rocket Science
Industrial Metal, Heavy Metal, Industrial, Post-Grunge, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Metal

Joe Firstman
Live at the Treehouse
Rock Ridge Music
American Trad Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Ilya Gringolts
Schumann: Violin Sonatas 1-3
Onyx
Romantic Chamber Music

Jean-Francois Heisser
Albeniz: Iberia
Musicales Actes Sud
Post-Romantic Keyboard Music

Conrad Herwig
The Latin Side of Herbie Hancock
Half Note Records
Latin Jazz, Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, World Fusion, Trombone Jazz, Jazz Instrument

Hey Monday
Beneath It All
Sony Music
Emo-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock

The Hoosiers
The Illusion of Safety
RCA
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop, Britpop

Human Expression
Love at Psychedelic Velocity
Collectables Records
Acid Folk, Garage Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Rock

Human Zoo
The Human Zoo
Accent
Psychedelic Pop, Psychedelic

Iron Maiden
The Final Frontier
Legacy
British Metal, Heavy Metal

The JuJus
You Treat Me Bad “1965-1967″
Garage Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic

The Lemon Drops
Sunshine Flower Power
Sunshine Pop, Psychedelic Pop, Folk-Rock, Garage Rock, Psychedelic

Megan McCormick
Honest Words
Rykodisc
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Blues-Rock

Morning Dew
At Last: 1968-1970
Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Acid Rock

Morning Dew
No More 1966-1969
Folk-Rock, Psychedelic

Nofx
The Longest EP
Fat Wreck Chords
Skatepunk, Punk/New Wave, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk, Punk-Pop, Punk Revival

Maurice Peress
George Antheil: Ballet Mecanique
Nimbus
Modern Chamber Music

Francois-Xavier Roth
Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique
Musicales Actes Sud
Romantic Music for Orchestra

Dolly Parton
The Fairest of Them All/My Favorite Songwriter, Porter Wagoner
The Omni Recording Corporation

Duke Robillard
Passport to the Blues
Stony Plain
Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Jazz Blues

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Let It Sway
Polyvinyl
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Esperanza Spalding
Chamber Music Society
Telarc Jazz
Contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Pop, Post-Bop, Modern Jazz, Adult Contemporary R&B

Superchunk
No Pocky for Kitty
Merge
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Superchunk
On the Mouth
Merge
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock

Taking Back Sunday
Life from Orensanz
Warner Bros.
Emo, Screamo, Punk-Pop, Emo-Pop

Camu Tao
King of Hearts
Fat Possum
Underground Rap, Alternative Rap

Toadies
Feeler
Kirtland Records
Post-Grunge, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Various Artists
60 Bar-B-Que Sizzlers
Proper Records (UK)
Early Pop/Rock, Honky Tonk, Vocal Pop, Jump Blues, Rockabilly, Early R&B

Original Soundtrack
The Switch [2010]
Warner Bros.
Soundtracks, Alternative/Indie Rock, Club/Dance, Urban, Dance-Pop

Porter Wagoner
What Ain’t to Be, Just Might Happen/Sings His Own
The Omni Recording Corporation
Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, Country-Pop

Kenny Werner
No Beginning No End
Half Note Records
Structured Improvisation, Creative Orchestra, Avant-Garde Jazz

J. Frank Wilson & the Cavaliers
Last Kiss: The Definitive Collection
Cicadelic
Teen Idols, AM Pop, Early Pop/Rock

Not to put too fine a point on saying that it’s a slow week for new music, but the most interesting new album appears to be a Billy Ray Cyrus project. Brother Clyde is a rock band with alumni of Hole among others. I have to admit to grudging respect for the guy. He’s kept a credible recording career going for decades with fairly negligible talent. Hell, he’s created a freakin’ family musical dynasty. Ol’ boy’s doing something right. 

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
Brother Clyde
Brother Clyde
Walt Disney
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Mike Posner
31 Minutes To Takeoff
J-Records
Club/Dance, Alternative Rap

Eli “Paperboy” Reed
Come and Get It!
Parlophone
Blue-Eyed Soul, Soul, Neo-Soul

Original Soundtrack
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Abko
Soundtracks

Vladimir Ashkenazy
J.S. Bach: 6 Partitas, BWV 825-830
Decca
Baroque Keyboard Music

Black Label Society
Order of the Black
Koch
Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Black Metal, Heavy Metal

Sarah Blasko
As Day Follows Night
Dramatico
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Buckner & Garcia
Pac-Man Fever
K-Tel Distribution
Novelty, Comedy, Contemporary Pop/Rock

The Budos Band
The Budos Band III
Daptone Records
Deep Funk Revival, Funk, Jazz-Funk

Kathryn Calder
Are You My Mother?
File Under Music
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Colour Revolt
The Cradle
Dualtone Music Group
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Bertrand Cuiller
Scarlatti, Soler: Sonatas per cimbalo & Fandango
Alpha Productions
Baroque Keyboard Music

The Charlie Daniels Band
Land That I Love
Koch
Southern Rock, Country-Rock, Traditional Country

Dreamend
So I Ate Myself, Bite by Bite
Graveface Records
Space Rock, Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

George Duke
Deja Vu
Telarc Jazz
Jazz-Funk, Jazz-Pop, Fusion

Elsinore
Yes Yes Yes
Parasol Records
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alt-Country, Indie Rock

Exile
Radio AM FM
Plug Research
Left-Field Hip-Hop, Underground Rap

Frontier(s)
There Will Be No Miracles Here
Arena Rock Recording Company
Post-Hardcore, Alternative/Indie Rock, Emo, Indie Rock

Orquesta Harlow
La Raza Latina: A Salsa Suite
Fania

The Dave Liebman Big Band
Live: As Always
Mama
Progressive Jazz, Modern Creative

Lost in the Trees
All Alone in an Empty House
Anti
Folk-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Dan Mangan
Nice, Nice, Very Nice
Indie Folk, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Modest Mouse
Moon & Antarctica: 10th Anniversary Edition
Epic
Noise Pop, Emo, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Lo-Fi

Mark Padmore
Schubert: Die schone Mullerin
Harmonia Mundi Franc
Romantic Vocal Music

Maris Sirmais
Rodion Shchedrin: The Sealed Angel
Wergo Germany
Contemporary Choral Music

Pieter Wispelwey
Britten: Cello Symphony; Cello Suite No. 1
Onyx Classics
Modern Concerto and Solo Music for Cello

PVT
Church with No Magic
Warp
Indie Rock, Post-Rock, Instrumental Rock, IDM, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Reporter
Time Incredible
Holocene Music
New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Indie Electronic, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Blake Shelton
All About Tonight
Warner Bros.
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country, Country-Pop

Jimmy Smith
Respect/Livin’ It Up!
Hip-O Select
Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Mainstream Jazz, Fusion

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Extra Width
Matador Punk Blues, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Year One
Shout! Factory Punk Blues, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Blues-Rock

Starflyer 59
The Changing of the Guard
Tooth & Nail Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

 Thom Starr & the Galaxies
South Side Surf: Anthology 1963-1964
Sundazed Surf, Instrumental Rock

Original Soundtrack
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam
Walt Disney Pop, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Dance-Pop, Teen Pop, Soundtracks

Various Artists
…Next Stop Is Vietnam: The War on Record 1961-2008
Bear FamilyProtest Songs, Country-Folk, Political Folk, Country-Pop, Soul

Tin Can Trust is counted the 14th Los Lobos album. I haven’t heard any of this one yet, but these guys are serious musicians and songwriters. Some of their albums are better than others, but they’re always worth a listen.

Croweology is a two disc Black Crowes album with new acoustic arrangements of 20 of their songs – though somehow they couldn’t find room for “Hard to Handle.”

I’m pleased to see a set of re-issues of classic Allan Sherman albums. He’s most remembered now for “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah.” That’s a fine little classic, but not really his best. “Pop Hates the Beatles” is the best answer record to the Beatles invasion that I have heard. But the peak of his art was a satire of the Berkeley free speech movement in the brilliantly conceived story of “The Rebel.”

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
Arcade Fire
The Suburbs
Merge
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Los Lobos
Tin Can Trust
Shout! Factory
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Americana, Roots Rock, Heartland Rock

Queens of the Stone Age
Rated R
Interscope
Stoner Metal, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock

Versus
On the Ones and Threes
Merge
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Wavves
King Of The Beach
Fat Possum
Indie Rock, Noise-Rock, Lo-Fi, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

David Charles Abell
Jonathan Dove: Tobias and the Angel
Chandos
Contemporary Opera

Rinaldo Alessandrini
Chaconne
Naive
Baroque and Modern Harpichord Music

Rusty Anderson
Born On Earth
MRI
Contemporary Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Asia
Omega
Frontiers
Arena Rock, Prog-Rock

Autolux
Transit Transit
TBD
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Dream Pop, Shoegaze, Noise Pop

The Black Crowes
Croweology
Silver Arrow
American Trad Rock, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll

Buckcherry
All Night Long
Eleven Seven
Post-Grunge, Hard Rock, American Trad Rock, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Art Rock

Bun B
Trill O.G
Rap-A-Lot
Southern Rap

Freddy Cole
Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B
Highnote
Vocal Jazz, Standards

Alondra De La Parra
My Mexican Soul
Sony Classical
Modern Orchestral Music

David Dondero
# Zero with a Bullet
Team Love
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Donna Regina
The Decline of Female Happiness
Karaoke Kalk
Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Club/Dance

Dr. John/The Lower 911
Tribal
429 New Orleans R&B, Rock & Roll, Piano Blues

El-P
WeAreAllGoingToBurnInHellMegaMixxx3
Gold Dust Media
Underground Rap, Alternative Rap

Freddie Gibbs
Str8 Killa
Decon
Midwest Rap, Hardcore Rap, Gangsta Rap

Gov’t Mule
Mulennium
Evil Teen
Southern Rock, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, American Trad Rock, Rock & Roll

JLS
JLS
Jive
Contemporary R&B, Teen Pop, Pop Idol, Pop

James
Morning After
Mercury

Jedward
Planet Jedward
Universal UK
Pop, Dance-Pop, Teen Pop

Various Artists
Sidetracked – La Roux (Mixed By La Roux)
Renaissance
Dance-Pop, Pop, Club/Dance

Lady Gaga
The Remix
Universal
Music Pop, Dance-Pop, Club/Dance, Urban

Level 42
Living It Up
Hip-O
Dance-Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Jazz-Funk

Katie Melua
The House
Dramatico
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Mount St. Helens Vietnam Band
Where the Messengers Meet
Dead Oceans
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Sarah Nemtanu
Gypsic
Naive
Modern Chamber Music

Night Horse
Perdition Hymns
Teepee
Hard Rock, Boogie Rock, Blues-Rock

On/Fennesz
Something That Has Form and Something That Does Not
Type
Sound Art, Electro-Acoustic, Experimental Electronic

Patricia Petibon
Rosso – Italian Baroque Arias
Deutsche Grammophon
Baroque Vocal Music

Original Soundtrack
The Kids Are Alright
Lakeshore
Downtempo, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Noise Pop, Art Rock, Soundtracks, Folk-Pop, Contemporary R&B

Original Soundtrack
Middle Men
ABKCO
Nashville Sound/Countrypolitan, Hard Rock, Blues-Rock, Soundtracks

Dax Riggs
Say Goodnight to the World
Fat Possum
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock

Secondhand Serenade
Hear Me Now
Glassnote
Emo, Emo-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Allan Sherman
Allan In Wonderland
Collectables
Music Comedy, Song Parody, Comedy

Allan Sherman
My Son, The Celebrity
Collectables
Song Parody, Standup Comedy, Novelty, Comedy

Allan Sherman
My Son, The Folk Singer
Collectables
Song Parody, Standup Comedy, Novelty, Comedy

Allan Sherman
My Son, The Nut
Collectables
Music Comedy, Song Parody, Comedy

Squeeze
Spot the Difference
XOXO
Contemporary Pop/Rock

Ryan Star
11:59
Atlantic
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary

Thieves and Villains
South America
Victory
Emo-Pop, Punk-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

jj
jj No. 2
Secretly Canadian
Indie Electronic, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock

Out Of My Chelle is the debut album by Rachelle Spector, the 30 year old wife of convicted murdered and legendary genius Phil Spector. It is credited as a Phil Spector production – his first album supposedly in 30 years.

It doesn’t sound like a Phil Spector record – which is probably to the good. Trying to squeeze this young woman into Darlene Love’s old dress might would not be the best thing.

Anyway, this is a fairly listenable modern adult dance pop album. Broadly, she’s looking for the Kylie Minogue market. I’m not particularly the market for this kind of thing really, but I’d take the opening “Here in My Heart” at least head to head with anything I’ve ever heard out of Kylie Minogue. If you dig her – and a lot of people do – you’d probably dig this.

I don’t know that it’s anything that memorable, but I have to say that there’s something about her that makes me want to like it. She seems so nice that standing next to him, she even manages to make the convicted murderer to whom she is married somehow not look like a gargoyle. Nice girl.

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new album releases:
Rachelle Spector
Out Of My Chelle
Rocket Science
Adult Dance Pop

Avenged Sevenfold
Nightmare
Warner Bros.
Heavy Metal, Alternative Metal, Post-Hardcore, Alternative/Indie Rock, Emo

Betty and the Werewolves
Teatime Favourites
Damaged Goods
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

Menomena
Mines
Barsuk Records
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Experimental Rock, Post-Rock

Mark Olson
Many Colored Kite
Rykodisc
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Americana, Alternative Country-Rock

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
Couldn’t Stand the Weather
Epic
Regional Blues, Album Rock, Modern Electric Texas Blues, Texas Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues

Best Coast
Crazy for You
Mexican Summer
Noise Pop, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Christine Brewer
Great Strauss Scenes
Telarc
Post-Romantic Vocal Music

The Robert Cray Band
Cookin’ in Mobile
Vanguard
Contemporary Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Soul-Blues, Retro-Soul

Cyanide Pills
Cyanide Pills
Damaged Goods
Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk-Pop, New Wave/Post-Punk Revival, Punk Revival

Dean & Britta
13 Most Beautiful: Songs for Andy Warhol’s Screen Tests
Double Feature
Indie Pop, Dream Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock

Dru Hill
Indrupendence Day
Kedar
Contemporary R&B

The Dwarves
Must Die Redux
Greedy Records

Fat Joe
The Darkside, Vol. 1
E1 Entertainment
Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap, Gangsta Rap

Eric Gales
Relentless
Blues Bureau International
Modern Electric Blues, Guitar Virtuoso, Blues-Rock, Electric Blues

The Golden Dogs
Coat of Arms
Nevado Records
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Fred Hammond
Life in the Word
Universal Music Christian Gro Contemporary Christian, Contemporary Gospel, Gospel

Jesca Hoop
Hunting My Dress
Vanguard
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock

Incognito
Transatlantic R.P.M.
Shanachie
Club/Dance, Clubjazz, Adult Contemporary R&B, Contemporary Jazz

Jaill
That’s How We Burn
Sub Pop Records
Indie Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Tom Jones
Praise & Blame
Lost Highway Records
American Trad Rock

Seu Jorge
Seu Jorge and Almaz
Now-Again
Brazilian Pop, Brazilian Traditions, MPB

King’s College Choir, Cambridge
A Year at King’s
EMI Classics
Choral Music

Life of Agony
20 Years Strong: River Runs Red, Live in Brussels
I Scream Records
American Punk, New York Punk, Punk/New Wave, Heavy Metal, Hardcore Punk, Hard Rock

Major Lazer
Lazers Never Die
Interscope
Dancehall, Ragga, Club/Dance

Clyde McPhatter
Lover Please: The Complete MGM & Mercury Singles
Universal Distribution
Early R&B

Miniature Tigers
Fortress
Modern Art
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

MusikFabrik
Vom Himmel zur Holle (From Heaven to Hell)
Wergo
Contemporary Chamber Music

Dino Saluzzi
El Encuentro
ECM Records
South American Traditions, Argentinian Folk, Modern Composition, Tango

Trio Goya
The Heart of Invention: Piano Trios by Haydn
Chandos
Classical Chamber Music

Paul Watkins
Martinu: Cello Sonatas Nos. 1-3; Variations on a Theme of Rossini; Variations on a Slovak Theme
Chandos
Modern Chamber Music

Original Soundtrack
Get Low
Rounder
Contemporary Bluegrass, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Bluegrass, Contemporary Country, Traditional Bluegrass, Progressive Bluegrass, Soundtracks

Original Soundtrack
Music From Cats & Dogs: Revenge Of Kitty Galore
Watertower Music
Teen Pop, Soundtracks

Rufio
Anybody Out There
The Militia Group
Emo-Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk-Pop

Saravah Soul
Cultura Impura
Tru Thoughts
Brazilian Traditions, African Traditions, Carnival, Brazilian Folk, Afro-Brazilian, Highlife, Afro-Beat, MPB, Samba, Funk

Rob Schneider
Registered Offender
Oglio Records
Music Comedy, Comedy

Sky Sailing
An Airplane Carried Me to Bed
Universal Republic
Alternative/Indie Rock, Emo-Pop, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Social Studies
Wind Up Wooden Heart
Antenna Farm Records
Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Billy Squier
Don’t Say No
Capitol
Arena Rock, Hard Rock

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band
Live at the Greek Theatre 2008
Hip-O
Contemporary Pop/Rock

Tech N9ne Collabos
The Gates Mixed Plate
Strange

Thin Lizzy
Lynott’s Last Stand
Chrome Dreams

George Thorogood & the Destroyers
Live in Boston, 1982
Rounder
Blues-Rock, Boogie Rock, Slide Guitar Blues, Rock & Roll, Album Rock

J Roddy Walston and the Business
J Roddy Walston and the Business
Vagrant
Indie Rock, Roots Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Christopher Willits
Tiger Flower Circle Sun
Ghostly International
Indie Electronic, IDM, Ambient, Post-Rock

Zo!
SunStorm
Foreign Exchange
Adult Contemporary R&B, Underground Rap, Contemporary R&B

100 Miles from Memphis is the seventh album from Sheryl Crow. The title refers partly to the town in which she grew up, and also of course to the general artistic strategy here. She’s definitely got a Dusty in Memphis idea going, and maybe a little spoonful of Al Green.

This sounds ok. It’s not bad – which I’d pretty much say of her whole career. But it’s far worse than bad – it’s bland and mediocre. I do not understand what people see in her. But what do I know? The album is #2 currently at Amazon.

Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
Sheryl Crow
100 Miles from Memphis
A&M
American Trad Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Jonas Brothers
Jonas L.A.
Walt Disney
Contemporary Pop/Rock, Teen Pop, Soundtracks

Rick Ross
Teflon Don
Mercury
Southern Rap, Gangsta Rap

12 Stones
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
Wind-Up Records
Post-Grunge, Hard Rock

Delphine Bardin
Gabriel Faure: Barcarolles
Alpha Productions
Post-Romantic Piano Music

Bell’Arte Salzburg
Concerti d’Amore
Berlin Classics
Baroque Chamber Music

Big Head Todd & the Monsters
Rocksteady
Big Head Todd & The Monsters
Jam Bands, American Trad Rock, Roots Rock, Rock & Roll

The Books
The Way Out
Temporary Residence
Indie Electronic, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Pop, Post-Rock

Marc Cohn
Listening Booth: 1970
WEA
Adult Contemporary, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Pop/Rock

Brian Culbertson
XII
GRP Records
Smooth Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Jazz Instrument

Department of Eagles
Archive 2003-2006
American Dust
Post-Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Electronic, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Electric Wire Hustle
Electric Wire Hustle
BBE Adult
Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B

Emerson Lake & Palmer
A Time and a Place
Shout! Factory
Art Rock, Prog-Rock, Album Rock

Frazey Ford
Obadiah
Nettwerk
Neo-Traditional Folk, Contemporary Folk

Francis & the Lights
It’ll Be Better
Cantora Records
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Frontier Ruckus
Deadmalls & Nightfalls
Ramseur Records
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Country-Rock

David Garrett
Rock Symphony
Decca
Classical Crossover

Goodnight Loving
The Goodnight Loving Supper Club
Dirtnap Records
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Gyptian
Hold You
VP Records
Contemporary Reggae, Lovers Rock, Smooth Reggae, Reggae-Pop

I Am Arrows
Sun Comes Up Again
Mercury
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock

Instruments of Science & Technology
Library Catalog Music Series, Vol. 7: Music for Paradise Armor
Asthmatic Kitty Records
Experimental Ambient

K-X-P
K-X-P
Smalltown
Indie Electronic, Alternative/Indie Rock, Post-Rock

Mark Knoop
John Cage: Etudes Boreales; Harmonies; 10′40.3″
Wergo
Contemporary Chamber Music

Shawn Lee
Sing a Song
Ubiquity Recordings
Neo-Soul, Funky Breaks, Soul

Charlie Louvin
Hickory Wind: Live at the Gram Parsons Guitar Pull, Waycross, GA
Tompkins Square
Truck Driving Country, Honky Tonk, Bluegrass, Country-Folk, Traditional Country, Country Boogie

Lower Dens
Twin-Hand Movement
Gnomonsong
Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Indie Folk, Post-Rock

Andrea Lucchesini
Schubert: The Impromptus
Avie
Romantic Piano Music

Mad Caddies
Consentual Selections
Fat Wreck Chords
Alternative/Indie Rock, Third Wave Ska Revival, Punk Revival, Ska-Punk

Mahjongg
The Long Shadow of the Paper Tiger
K Records
Indie Electronic, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Kristin Miltner
Library Catalog Music Series, Vol. 8: Music for Dreaming and Playing
Asthmatic Kitty Records
Instrumental Rock, Structured Improvisation, Conceptual Art, Computer Music, Ambient, Experimental Electronic

Mountain Man
Made the Harbor
Partisan
Americana, Indie Folk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Original Soundtrack
Step Up 3D [Original Soundtrack]
Atlantic
Urban, Pop, Pop-Rap, Soundtracks

Max Richter
Infra
Fat Cat Records
Electronica

Dan Sartain
Lives
One Little Indian
Garage Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock

The Brian Setzer Orchestra
Don’t Mess with a Big Band: Live!
Surfdog Records
Retro Swing, Alternative/Indie Rock, Retro-Rock, Roots Rock, Rockabilly Revival

Shannon Stephens
Shannon Stephens
Asthmatic Kitty Records
Contemporary Folk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter

Tokio Hotel
Humanoid City Live
Cherry Tree
Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Martina Topley-Bird
Some Place Simple
Honest Jon’s
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Triffids
Wide Open Road: The Best of the Triffids
Liberation
College Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Original Television Soundtrack
Jersey Shore Soundtrack
Universal Republic
Soundtracks, Club/Dance

Various Artists
The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria
Soundway
African Traditions, Afro-Pop, Psychedelic

Richard Youngs
Beyond the Valley of Ultrahits
Jagjaguwar
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Mystical Minimalism, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock