Collapse into Now is by best count REM‘s 5347th album of same-old, same-old. What I’m hearing sounds like every other REM record ever, except that some of the early ones had memorable hooks. Don’t think they’ve conjured up anything that would fit that description in 15 years or more. But hey, there are still people who buy new Dylan albums for whatever reason, and then talk themselves into believing that they’re actually good. Whatever works for you.
Also, Avril Lavigne has Goodbye Lullaby. Poor thing is going through her first divorce from the Sum 41 guy. I’m sure that the album contains some very meaningful meditations on being a divorced pop star.
Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
Buffalo Tom
Skins
Scrawny
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Neil Diamond
Bang Years: 1966-1968
Sony Music Entertainment
AM Pop
Avril Lavigne
Goodbye Lullaby
RCA
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Teen Pop
R.E.M.
Collapse into Now
Warner Bros.
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Kurt Vile
Smoke Ring for My Halo
Matador
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Ellen Allien
Dust Remixes
BPitch Control
Electronica, Club/Dance
Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys
Best of Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys
S’More Records
Americana, Roots Rock, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Western Swing Revival, Alt-Country
Les Breastfeeders
Dans la Gueule des Jours
Blow the Fuse
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Exene Cervenka
The Excitement of Maybe
Bloodshot
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative Folk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Neo-Traditional Folk, Roots Rock
Bruce Cockburn
Small Source of Comfort
True North Records
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Progressive Folk, Singer/Songwriter
The Curious Mystery
We Creeling
K.
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Bo Diddley
Bo Diddley’s Beach Party
Checker Records
Rock & Roll, Early R&B
Elbow
Build a Rocket Boys!
Polydor
Sara Evans
Stronger
RCA
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
Lupe Fiasco
Lasers
Atlantic
Midwest Rap, Alternative Rap, Political Rap
Fuzztones
Preaching to the Perverted
MVD Visual
Garage Rock Revival, Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative/Indie Rock
Glee
Glee: The Music, Vol. 5
Sony Music Entertainment
Soundtracks, TV Soundtracks, Cast Recordings
Grails
Deep Politics
Temporary Residence
Experimental Rock, Post-Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Dobie Gray
Drift Away/Loving Arms
Raven
Pop-Soul, Country Soul, AM Pop
Jonny Greenwood
Norwegian Wood [Original Soundtrack]
Nonesuch Kraut Rock, Experimental, Art Rock
Ann-Margret & Al Hirt
Personalities
Bear Family Records
Vocal Pop, Standards, Jazz-Pop
Sierra Hull
Daybreak
Rounder
Contemporary Bluegrass, Bluegrass, Americana, Country-Folk
Vijay Iyer / Tirtha
Tirtha Act Music + Vision
Progressive Jazz, Piano Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Structured Improvisation, Indian Subcontinent Traditions, Avant-Garde Jazz, Indian Classical, Carnatic, Modern Creative
Etta James
Who’s Blue: Rare Chess Recordings of the 60s & 70s
Kent UK
Soul
Jib Kidder
Library Catalog Music Series: Music for Hypnotized Minds
Asthmatic Kitty
Indie Electronic, IDM, Alternative/Indie Rock
Billy Joel
Live at Shea Stadium
Sony Music Distribution
Album Rock, Contemporary Pop/Rock, Soft Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Alexis Jordan
Alexis Jordan
Columbia
Contemporary R&B, Dance-Pop, Pop
Andy Kim
Happen Again
Angel Air
Al Kooper
Easy Does It / New York City (You’re a Woman) / A Possible Projection of the Future
Raven
Blues-Rock, Rock & Roll, Singer/Songwriter, Retro-Soul, American Trad Rock
Lil Jon/the East Side Boyz
Crunkest Hits
TVT Records
Dirty South, Party Rap, Southern Rap
Dug Dug’s
Los Dug Dug’s
Axis
Psychedelic
Billy Love
Gee…I Wish: The Sun Years, Plus
Bear Family Records
Early R&B
The Megaphonic Thrift
Decay Decoy
Sonic Unyon
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Memphis
Here Comes a City
Arts & Crafts
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock
Joey Negro
The Soul of Disco, Vol. 3
Z Records
Post-Disco, Disco, Club/Dance
Jim Norton
Despicable
EatABullet
Observational Humor, Standup Comedy, Shock Jock, Comedy
Ocean Colour Scene
Moseley Shoals [Deluxe Edition]
MCA
Alternative/Indie Rock, British Trad Rock, Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Parts & Labor
Constant Future
Jagjaguwar
Noise Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Rock, Noise-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Charlie Phillips
Sugartime
Bear Family Records
Elvis Presley
Elvis Is Back!
RCA
Early Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll
Phil Ranelin
Perserverence
Wide Hive Records
Glenn Reeves
Johnny on the Spot: Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight
Bear Family Records
The Raiders
Country Wine
Columbia
Rock & Roll, AM Pop, Hard Rock
Charlie Rich
It Ain’t Gonna Be That Way: The Complete Smash Sessions
Ace
Ringo Deathstarr
Colour Trip
Sonic Unyon
Noise Pop, Shoegaze, Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Rival Schools
Pedals
Photo Finish Records
Post-Hardcore, Emo, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Eartha Kitt & Shorty Rogers
The Velvet Lounge
Bear Family Records
Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop, Vocal Jazz
Simon & Garfunkel
Bridge Over Troubled Water [40th Anniversary Edition] [CD/DVD]
Sony Music Distribution
AM Pop, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Folk-Pop, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock
Jimmy Spellman
Doggonit
Bear Family Records
Ted Taylor
Keep What You Get
Kent Soul
Tiger
Most Wanted
VP
Caribbean Traditions, Calypso, Dancehall, Ragga
Daniel Tosh
Happy Thoughts
Comedy Central Records
Standup Comedy, Observational Humor, Comedy
Allen Toussaint
Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky: The Hit Songs & Productions 1957-1978
Snapper UK
New Orleans R&B
Various Artists
The Ace Story, Vol. 3
Ace
Rock & Roll, Early R&B, New Orleans R&B
Various Artists
Before the Fall: 24 Original Songs
Ace UK
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Various Artists
Manhattan Soul: Scepter, Wand & Musicor
Kent UK
Soul, Pop-Soul, AM Pop, Brill Building Pop
Various Artists
Odd Couples: What Were They Thinking?
Bear Family Records
Various Artists
That’ll Flat Git It, Vol. 27: From the Vault of Sage and Sand Records
Bear Family Records
Wye Oak
Civilian City Slang
Indie Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Tags: New Albums