The moon's turned pink again with a "perfect storm" of projects revolving around Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon from 1973, led by a new interpretation of the album and culminating in Roger Waters' fall tour of the United States, performing the album in its entirety. Following up on its recent Back Against the Wall tribute, earlier this month Purple Pyramid Records released Return to the Dark Side of the Moon, boasting Adrian Belew, Colin Moulding of XTC, Tommy Shaw of Styx, John Wetton of Asia, Gary Green of Gentle Giant, Robby Krieger of The Doors, and actor Malcolm McDowell.
Another song-for-song reincarnation of the album is due next week from Easy Star Records, with the release of the Easy Star All-Stars' Dub Side of the Moon live DVD, following up on 2003's studio CD of the same name. More upcoming DVD buzz surrounds the July 11 release of Pulse, the previously VHS-only document of Pink Floyd's 1994 tour, featuring the album performed live at London's Earls Court. The Columbia Records two-DVD issue is packed with bonus features, including the band's induction in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, backstage footage, and handfuls of rare screen films originally projected behind the band during its 1994 and 1997 tours. Need mo' Moon? Dig deep into editor Russell Reising's brainy Speak to Me: The Legacy of Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon." The 250-page book was published earlier this year as a part of Ashgate's Popular & Folk Music Series. From the stadium-rock aesthetics in 1973 to synching the album to a mute playback of The Wizard of Oz, Reising has collected a series of immaculately researched essays that may baffle as well as enlighten, viewing the album through the eyeglass of the tonal, political, or mythic - even through the ideas of Lithuanian philosopher Emmanuel Levinas. Other food for thought includes Dark Side cover versions based on stages of the moon, the album's influence on Radiohead's OK Computer, and an interview with Mike Gordon of Phish.
Lemmy Kilmister's unmistakable growl has a new home in The Head Cat, laying down his Motorhead bass for an acoustic guitar and harmonica alongside drummer Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats and multi-instrumentalist Danny B. Harvey of the Rockats. This new rockabilly trio storms through a Buddy Holly-heavy set list on next week's release of Fool's Paradise on the Rock-A-Billy/Cleopatra Records imprint, also covering Jimmy Reed's "You Got Me Dizzy," Johnny Cash's "Big River," Carl Perkins' "Matchbox," and Wayne Walker's "Cut Across Shorty," a hit for both Eddie Cochran and Rod Stewart. A DVD is also available, Rockin' the Cat Club: Live from the Sunset Strip, with guest Johnny Bowler of the Guana Bats.
DJ Spooky has crafted the ultimate rock-steady collection after being let loose in the vaults of Trojan Records' nearly four decades of "tighten up" bliss. Rocking degrees in French literature and philosophy, the man knows his musical metempsychosis, as these seminal rock-steady grooves that propelled the Trojan brand as the DJ sound of Jamaica resonate down the timeline of underground and popular music. Due this coming Tuesday, the Sanctuary Records set, In Fine Style: 50,000 Volts of Trojan Records, is a perfect starting point for the uninitiated, with 34 tracks from King Tubby, U-Roy, Desmond Dekker, Winston Williams, and more, spread over two CDs. Highlights include the psychedelic mysticism of Augustus Pablo's "Lama Lava" and Dave Barker giving James Brown a run for his grunts in "Funky, Funky Reggae." A few cover surprises turn up as well, with The Israelites' take on the Beatles' "Come Together," Susan Cadogan turning up the heat on the Peggy Lee hit "Fever," and B.B. Seaton's slow cooker of the timeless "Summertime."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno bring on the "soul patrol" with Taylor Hicks on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Morningwood tonight, Yellowcard on Thursday and Dashboard Confessional on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien has tokens for The Subways this evening overnight, Bruce Springsteen on Friday overnight, and James Blunt on Monday overnight; and Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Buckcherry this evening overnight and the return of The Fixx on Tuesday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 20:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Mike Andrews - Hand on String (Elgin Park/CD Baby) new from the composer of the Donnie Darko soundtrack
Authority Zero - Rhythm & Booze (Suburban Noize) live and acoustic
The Bittersweets - The Life You Always Wanted (Virt) heartbreaking debut of terrific roots-pop from San Francisco, washed in the haunting vocals of Hannah Prater
Boys Night Out - Dude, You Need to Stop Dancing: A Film About Boys Night Out (Ferret) DVD documentary
Nick Castro & The Young Elders - Come Into Our House (Strange Attractors Audio House) psych folk meets Eastern instruments with members of Current 93, Cul de Sac, and In Gowan Ring
Catch 22 - Permanent Revolution (Victory) time-warping comrades back to the Russian Bolshevik revolution, with each track a stop on the historical timeline from 1902 to 1940
Coral Sea - Volcano & Heart (Hidden Agenda) sweetly spinning art rock in the theatrical elements of U2 and Radiohead, backed by a thrilling string quartet
Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer (Vagrant) with guest vocalist Adam Duritz of Counting Crows on "So Long"
Dolemite - original motion picture soundtrack (Relapse) the first time on CD for this soundtrack to the 1975 blaxploitation classic starring Rudy Ray Moore, expanded with original radio spots and bonus tracks
Good Riddance - My Republic (Fat Wreck) enhanced CD featuring a video from PETA
Glenn Hughes - Music for the Divine (Frontiers) the Deep Purple vocalist is back with guests Chad Smith and John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
India.Aire - Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (Motown) with guests Bela Fleck and Rascal Flatts
Jurassic 5 - "Work It Out" (Up Above) 12-inch single featuring the Dave Matthews Band
Mike Keneally Band - Guitar Therapy Live (Exowax) CD and DVD set from the Zappa-tapped prodigy, featuring a guitar pick inside the CD and a bonus cover of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" on the DVD
Kool Keith - The Return of Dr. Octagon (OCD) with guests Princess Superstar on "Eat It" and DJ Dexter on "Ants"
Lord Jamar - The 5% Album (Babygrande) hot off his featured role in this month's season finale of The Sopranos
Steve Miller Band - Fly Like an Eagle (Capitol) 30th-anniversary edition featuring demos and a documentary DVD
Grant-Lee Phillips - Nineteeneighties (Zoe) covers collection from the Grant Lee Buffalo founder, featuring must-hear takes on The Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation," The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry," New Order's "Age of Consent," and more
Riverside - Voices In My Head (Inside Out) reissue of this early Polish prog EP with three bonus live tracks
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet - Husky (Hyena) monster horns and Hammond B3 grooves from this cinematic instrumental hip-hop infused with free-jazz cool
The Spores - Imagine the Future (SideCho) cool, dark space rock from a group that incorporates puppets into its live performances
Various Artists - Drum Machine Gun (Relapse) jacked-up and jacked-in noisecore from Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Decomposing Serenity, and more
