Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam has a new album Ukulele Songs. It’s just that – Eddie Vedder and a ukelele. I suppose it’s mildly interesting as a novelty, but I’m not hearing much in the way of SONGS in this, but for a couple of covers. Vedder’s hero Pete Townshend did a song or two with ukelele, so what the hell. I’m all in favor of ukeleles and pretty much any unusual instrumental cover, but Vedder’s using JUST the ukelele. On one hand, he does have a strong voice which is emphasized in this, but it makes for very thin arrangement. I might care more about that if it involved more memorable songs.
Also, there’s a new record from Jordan Knight. He’s notable as the lead singer for New Kids On The Block, which in fairness have been about the longest last boy band ever or something. The samples I’m hearing here sound like utterly contrived modern commercial radio fodder, except that they absolutely lack any hooks. Maybe this would do you some nostalgic good if you’re a girl who use to get funny feelings down there when you were 10 years old and listening to NKOTB. Otherwise, I completely don’t see the point.
Here’s the complete list of this week’s major new CD album releases:
Death Cab for Cutie
Codes and Keys
Atlantic
Indie Rock, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Jordan Knight
Unfinished
eOne Music
Urban, Dance-Pop
My Morning Jacket
Circuital
ATO
Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Neo-Psychedelia
Robert Pollard
Lord of the Birdcage
Guided by Voices
Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Eddie Vedder
Ukulele Songs
Republic
Alcest
Le Secret
Black Metal, Heavy Metal
Jane Archibald
Haydn: Arias
ATMA Classique
Classical Vocal Music
BT
These Re-Imagined Machines
Nettwerk
Progressive Trance, Trance, House
Black Stone Cherry
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Roadrunner
Post-Grunge, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock, Southern Rock
The Black Swans
Don’t Blame the Stars
Misra
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alt-Country, Alternative Country-Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Blasters
Live 1986
S’more
Roots Rock, Rock & Roll
Wayne Brady
Radio Wayne
Walt Disney
Childen’s Pop, Sing-Alongs, Children’s Rock
The Undergods (Canibus & Keith Murray)
Undergods: In Gods We Trust – Crush Microphones To Dust
RBC
Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap
Nick Cannon
Mr. Showbiz
Ingrooves
Comedy
Chino
Chino…the Autobiography of Daniel McGregor
VP
Contemporary Reggae, Dancehall
Duo d’Accord
Ritual Obessions
Genuin
Arrangements for Piano Duo and Percussion
Eliane Elias
Light My Fire
Concord
Brazilian Traditions, Brazilian Jazz, Latin Jazz, Contemporary Jazz
Frank Fairfield
Out on the Open West
Tompkins Square
Neo-Traditional Folk, Acoustic Blues
Flogging Molly
Speed Of Darkness
Punk Revival, Alternative/Indie Rock, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Marvin Gaye
What’s Going On
Motown
Motown, Soul, Psychedelic Soul, Smooth Soul, Pop-Soul, AM Pop
Larry Goldings
In My Room
Varese Fontana
Piano Jazz, Straight-Ahead Jazz, Mainstream Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Jazz Instrument
Tom Harrell
The Time of the Sun
Highnote
Post-Bop, Straight-Ahead Jazz, Trumpet Jazz, Jazz Instrument
Kids on a Crime Spree
We Love You So Bad
Slumberland
Noise Pop, Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Kool G Rap
Riches, Royalty & Respect
Fatbeats
Underground Rap, Hardcore Rap, East Coast Rap
Emmanuel Krivine
Beethoven: Complete Symphonies
Naïve
19th Century Orchestral Music
Madlib
Medicine Show, Vol. 9: NittyVille
Left-Field Hip-Hop
Mando Diao
Give Me Fire!
Militia
Swedish Pop/Rock, Garage Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Dave Matthews Band
Live at Wrigley Field
RCA
Alternative/Indie Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Jam Bands, American Trad Rock
Melvins
Sugar Daddy Live
Ipecac
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal, Alternative/Indie Rock, Grunge, Alternative Pop/Rock
Chrissy Murderbot
Women’s Studies
Planet Mu
Techno Bass, Bass Music, Chicago House, Club/Dance, Techno, House
My Dying Bride
Evinta
Peaceville/Snapper
Neo-Classical, Doom Metal, Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Anna Netrebko
Stabat Mater: A Tribute to Pergolesi
Deutsche Grammophon
Baroque Vocal Music
Jennifer Pike
Jennifer Pike Plays Franck, Debussy & Ravel
Chandos
Modern Chamber Music
Ozzy Osbourne
Blizzard of Ozz
Epic
Album Rock, Neo-Classical Metal, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Ozzy Osbourne
Diary of a Madman
Epic
Album Rock, Neo-Classical Metal, British Metal, Heavy Metal, Hard Rock
Frankie Paul
Most Wanted
Greensleeves
Dancehall
Ray Price
Songs of Inspiration
Varese Sarabande
Gospel, Country Gospel
Reatards
Teenage Hate/Fuck Elvis Here’s the Reatards
Goner
Punk Revival, Indie Rock, Garage Punk, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Seapony
Go With Me
Hardly Art
Indie Pop, Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
JD Souther
A Natural History
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Jazz-Rock, Soft Rock
Alex Turner
Submarine
Domino
Alternative/Indie Rock, Soundtracks, Alternative Pop/Rock
Tommy Tutone
A Long Time Ago
Yellow
The Vaccines
What Did You Expect from the Vaccines?
Sony Alternative/Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock
Various Artists
Red Hot + Rio 2
Vast Aire
OX 2010: A Street Odyssey
Fatbeats
Underground Rap, East Coast Rap
Billy Vera
The Billy Vera Story
S’more
Blue-Eyed Soul, Soul
