With the world gone crazy in the Middle East, what better to wash it all down than Devo? Next week Gerald Casale of Devo slides on the Roy Orbison shades and turban of his alter ego, Jihad Jerry, for a nutty, beat-crazy romp in Jihad Jerry & the Evildoers' Mine Is Not a Holy War on Cordless Records. Casale's wit shines in this first solo venture, as his war is a "war on stupidity" with a never-ending list of first-class offenders. Flanked by vocalists Geri Lynn and Alex Brown, and guests appearances from Devo bandmates Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh and Robert Casale, project drummer Josh Freese sums it up as the "best Devo record that never was." A real hip-shaker and house-rocker, I'm ready to sign up for active duty in "Army Girls Gone Wild," the Talking-Heads-meets-Heaven-17 funk of "What's in a Name?," and the frantic fury of "I've Been Refused."
Everything's blowing up for James Kochalka, as the successful underground cartoonist may soon see his space piglets, Pinky and Stinky, developed into a new cartoon series on Nickelodeon. His musical side-life as James Kochalka Superstar is rising too, with the Fox TV sitcom The Loop using his "Hockey Monkey" as its theme, and a silly new CD this coming Tuesday. Entitled Spread Your Evil Wings & Fly, the Rykodisc release is, of course, delightfully illustrated by the artist and chock-full of Ween/King Missile-friendly songs about personal hygiene, rainbows, secret stashes, and Justin Timberlake stuck inside "Britney's Silver Can."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Jessica Simpson on Thursday and Lionel Richie on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Justin Timberlake on Monday and TV on the Radio on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien presents Ben Harper on Thursday overnight, Citizen Cope on Friday overnight, Richard Ashcroft on Monday overnight, and John Mayer on Tuesday overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly gets chummy with Under the Influence of Giants on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 12:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Anthropia - The Ereyn Chronicles: Part 1 - The Journey of Beginnings (Magna Carta) majestic, soaring "prog-rock opera" built around the fantasy writings of Quentin Borderie, featuring bonus video
Barenaked Ladies - Barenaked Ladies Are Me (Desperation/Warner Bros) available simultaneously on physical CD, digital download with bonus tracks, or in a special 27-track deluxe edition on a memory stick
Basement Jaxx - Crazy Itch Radio (XL) letting banjo take the lead in "Take Me Back to Your House"
Miss Violetta Beauregarde - Odi Profanum Vulgus Et Arceo (Temporary Residence) Latin for "I hate the common crowd and I spurn them," this is frenzied blip-drop electronica in deep need of a hug, personified by "I'm the Tiennamen Square Guy & You All Are the Tanks"
Blowfly - Blowfly's Punk Rock Party (Alternative Tentacles) a wild spin on punk classics with his signature dirty kink twist - turning The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" into "Should I Lay This Big Fat Ho" and the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia" into "R. Kelly In Cambodia" with guest Jello Biafra
Richard Buckner - Meadow (Merge) boasting a knockout backing band made up of alumni from Guided by Voices, Cobra Verde, and the Mekons
Confetti - original motion picture soundtrack (Sanctuary) 23 songs from the wedding-minded British hit, featuring music from Ian Dury & the Blockheads, Nina Simone, Ron Sexsmith, and Alison Moyet
Couch Fingers - No Files on Frank (Locust) delicious Beefheart-boogie wanderings led by guitarist George Devoe
Robert Cray - Live from Across the Pond (Nozzle) recorded this past May during his seven-night stint opening for Eric Clapton at London's Royal Albert Hall
Dark Globe - Nostalgia for the Future (Global Underground) with guests Tom Verlaine, Boy George, and Amanda Ghost
DJ Krush - Stepping Stones: The Self-Remixed Best (Red Ink) two-CD set featuring the "Lyricism" disc with Aesop Rock, Mos Def, Esthero, Zap Mama, and Black Thought, and the "Soundscapes" disc of instrumentals with ?uestlove and DJ Shadow
Julie Driscoll - 1969 (Eclectic) remastered CD reissue with Chris Speeding, members of Soft Machine, and Brian Belshaw of Blossom Toes
Everclear - Welcome to the Drama Club (Eleven Seven)
Peter Frampton - Fingerprints (New Door/A&M) new instrumental album with guests Warren Haynes, Hank Marvin, and Brian Bennett of The Shadows, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones, and Matt Cameron and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam
Steve Hackett - Wild Orchids (Inside Out) all new from the former Genesis guitarist on electric sitar, the ancient Greek psaltery, and the novelty Optigon keyboard of the 1970s; featuring his take on Bob Dylan's "Man in the Long Black Coat"
Heavens - Patent Pending (Epitaph) new from Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio and Joseph Steinbrick
Hot Mute - Hot Mute (Hot Mute) channeling the ghosts of vintage Cars, Cheap Trick, Jellyfish, and The Knack, this tasty homegrown release feels like an old favorite
Chris Jones - Too Far Down the Road (Little Dog) with guest Chris Hillman of The Byrds
Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye (Domino) featuring a cover of Frank Sinatra's "When No One Cares"
Kottak - Therupy (Escapi) featuring Tommy Lee's sister, Athena, on drums and covers of Cyndi Lauper's "Money Changes Everything" and the Scorpions' "Holiday"
The Last Kiss - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music from Turin Brakes, Snow Patrol, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, and more
The Matches - Decomposer (Epitaph) with producers Brett Gurewitz and Tim Armstrong, this punchy, theatric pop-punk blends emo heartbreak and the glory of Queen
Eric Matthews - Foundation Sounds (Empyrean) look for a bonus CD EP of five exclusive tracks at select indie retailers
John Mayer - Continuum (Columbia) featuring a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Bold as Love"
The Panic Channel - ONe (Capitol) all new from Dave Navarro and Stephen Perkins of Jane's Addiction
Papa Roach - The Paramour Sessions (Geffen)
Madeleine Peyroux - Half the Perfect World (Rounder) with covers of Tom Waits' "Looking for the Heart of Saturday Night," Joni Mitchell's "River," and Leonard Cohen's title track and "Blue Alert"
The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love (Motown) with production by Danger Mouse, Paul Epworth, and Ewan Pearson
Dan Redder - Sweetheart (Oh Boy) poetic back-porch ditties laced by brutally frank and slippery lyrics; featuring a sweet take on Procol Harum's "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
R.E.M. - And I Feel Fine: The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 (Capitol/EMI) 21-track anthology also available in a collector's edition featuring a bonus CD of rarities
Lionel Richie - Coming Home (Island) all new with collaborators Dallas Austin, Rafael Saadiq, and Jermaine Dupri
Bob Seger - Face the Promise (Capitol) his first new album since 1995, with guests Kid Rock and Patty Loveless
Subhumans Canada - New Dark Age Parade (Alternative Tentacles) all new political punk from the seminal band with roots going back to 1978
Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/Love Sounds (Jive)
Wednesday 13 - Fang Bang (Rykodisc) all new from the former Murderdolls frontman
WovenHand - Mosaic (Sounds Familyre) new dark compulsions from David Eugene Edwards, formerly of 16 Horsepower
Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You & I Will Beat Your Ass (Matador)
