04
Oct
2005
· Got cash? This Tuesday the Gang of Four are sharing a little loot with the release of their new two-CD set, Return the Gift. Back in 1979, when their debut album, Entertainment, rocked the art-punk zeitgeist, the album's cover art presented a timeless image and a radically truthful message - the Indian smiles, and thinks the cowboy is his friend.
Flash-forward to 2005 and all enlightened minds are a bit more up front, glaring at the filthy lucre that runs the planet. Call it graft, extortion, bribery or simply a gift, but the first 10,000 copies of the V2 Records CD will contain a crisp, single dollar bill, sparkling like a shiny carrot hanging from the rotten, curled hand of the record industry. Return the gift, indeed. The new album sports 14 of their beloved songs re-recorded for the new age, and a second disc of remixes in collaboration with The Futureheads, Hot Hot Heat, Dandy Warhols, Ladytron and Tony Kanal of No Doubt.
· Celebrating his 60th birthday earlier this week, Don McLean makes a glorious return this Tuesday with Rearview Mirror, a new collection of rarities, live tracks, and a bonus DVD. The Hyena Records release contains favorites like "Vincent" and "American Pie" (voted the fifth greatest song of the 20th Century by the National Endowment of the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America) and a new song, "Run Diana Run," from his current recording sessions for a new album of originals due next year. Highlights include a handful of cool covers, including Frank Sinatra's "(It Was) A Very Good Year," Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," and a duet with Nanci Griffith on the Elvis Presley hit "Love Me Tender." The DVD features footage with The Jordanaires at a 1984 Christmas concert, and the only video clip McLean has done, for "Headroom."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno flips Nickelback tonight, Blue Man Group on Thursday and The Killers on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts David Gray on Thursday, Alicia Keys on Monday, and Fiona Apple on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the return of Cars founder Ric Ocasek on Thursday overnight and Nada Surf on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Sinead O'Connor this evening overnight and former Yaz vocalist Alison Moyet on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly unfolds The New Pornographers on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Jack Johnson & Rilo Kelly this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 11:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Agents of the Sun - Monarchs of a Fallen Society (DCide)
Atmosphere - You Cant Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers) underground hip hop from Slug and Ant
Audioslave - Live In Cuba (Epic) DVD and CD set documenting this concert from May when the band became the first American rock band to play in the country since the embargo
Christopher Bissonnette - Periphery (Kranky) piano-based textures manipulated into a fragmented ballet of surreal underwater movements
Boris and Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave (Hydra Head)
Cindy Bullens - Dream #29 (Blue Lobster) with guests Elton John and Delbert McClinton
Brimstone Butterfly - Normality Killed the Cat (Silverline) DualDisc synth pop from Denmark, drinking deep at the well of T.Rex and other glam pop stars
Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic: Volume 1 (Inside Recordings) new on his own artist-controlled label
Celebration - Celebration(4AD) produced by David Sitek of TV on the Radio
Chocolate Genius Inc. - Black Yankee Rock (Commotion) with guests Meshell Ndegeocello, Mark Ribot and Van Dyke Parks
Clientele - Strange Geometry (Merge) featuring string arrangements by Louis Philippe
Colossus - West Oakland (Om) well-chilled in the spirit of Gil Scott Heron, Roy Ayers, and the Shaft soundtrack, this deep groove hip-hop from the former bassist of the Big Cheese Allstars features a bonus CD of remixes
Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (SubPop) third album from this Toronto quintet of creepy, sexy cool basement rock with snarled edges
Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph) featuring characters from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, this is a new teaming of MC Danger Mouse and MF Doom
DJ Muggs vs. The GZA - All In Together (Up Above) 12 new singles pitting co-founders of Cypress Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan against each other
Einsturzende Neubauten - Liebeslieder (!K7 Records) DVD documentary
Warren G - In the Mid-Nite Hour (Hawino / Lightyear) with guests B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mike Jones, Snoop Dogg, and Raphael Saadiq
Jerry Garcia - Ladder To the Stars: Garcia Plays Dylan (Rhino) two-CD set of covers
Mark Gardener - These Beautiful Ghosts (United For Opportunity) solo debut from the co-founder of Ride, with guests Robin and Joe Bennett of Goldrush
Gris Gris - For the Season (Birdman)
Alicia Keys - MTV Unplugged (J Records) featuring the new single, "Unbreakable," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" with Adam Levine of Maroon 5
Lambchop & Hands Off Cuba - CoLab (Merge)
Mouse On Mars - Live '04 (Sonig) live CD and vinyl LP of blip-blop robot pop recorded over last year
Robert Pollard - Bubble (Recordhead) all-new six-song EP featuring songs from the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film
Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly (Compass) with guest vocalist Roddy Woomble of Idlewild and cover art by Graham Coxon of Blue, this sunny-sweet collection of folk traditionals and dawn-dew originals were recorded in collaboration with her husband, acclaimed musician and producer John McCusker
Sevendust - Next (WineDark / Fontana) featuring new guitarist Sonny Mayo
Dawn Smithson - Safer Here (Kranky) fragile, intimate melodies and sound play from the former Jessamine bassist
Straylight Run - Prepare To Be Wrong (Victory) all-new six-track CD EP
t.A.T.u. - Dangerous and Moving (Interscope) with guests Sting and Richard Carpenter, a deluxe limited edition is also available with remix-it-yourself technology
Susan Tedeschi - Hope and Desire (Verve Forecast) produced by Joe Henry, this masterful new album features her husband, Derek Trucks, and covers of Bob Dylan's "Lord Protect My Child," the Rolling Stones' "You Got the Silver," and songs by Iris DeMent and Percy Mayfield
Tera Melos - Tera Melos (Springman) jazzy, shadowy, aural tinklings and driving instrumental collage from this Sacramento quartet
Tokyo Rose - New American Saint (SideCho) pop punk from New Jersey featuring guest Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday, and a Japanese version of "Meghan Again"
Tom Verlaine - Warm and Cool (Thrill Jockey) my pick of the week is this seductive, jazzy instrumental reissue from the Television and Neon Boys founder, laying back with brushed drums, smoky improvisational noodlings, and twangy guitar bends; now expanded with eight bonus tracks
Paul Weller - As Is Now (Yep Roc) new solo album from The Jam founder, also available in a special bonus DVD box set
Robert Wyatt - Theatre Royal Drury Lane (Hannibal) in concert with Nick Mason, Fred Frith, Hugh Hopper, and Mike Oldfield in 1974
various artists - Numbers From the Beast: An All Star Tribute to Iron Maiden (Restless) with a talent pool featuring members of KISS, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Rainbow, Whitesnake, and more
various artists - Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic Legacy) tribute project featuring cover contributions by Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Buddy Guy, and Janet Jackson
various artists - The Best of the Land of Nod (Land of Nod) cool collection of children's music performed by Peter Himmelman, Dan Zanes, They Might Be Giants, and more, including a cover of the Banana Splits theme by Ralph's World
· Celebrating his 60th birthday earlier this week, Don McLean makes a glorious return this Tuesday with Rearview Mirror, a new collection of rarities, live tracks, and a bonus DVD. The Hyena Records release contains favorites like "Vincent" and "American Pie" (voted the fifth greatest song of the 20th Century by the National Endowment of the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America) and a new song, "Run Diana Run," from his current recording sessions for a new album of originals due next year. Highlights include a handful of cool covers, including Frank Sinatra's "(It Was) A Very Good Year," Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," and a duet with Nanci Griffith on the Elvis Presley hit "Love Me Tender." The DVD features footage with The Jordanaires at a 1984 Christmas concert, and the only video clip McLean has done, for "Headroom."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno flips Nickelback tonight, Blue Man Group on Thursday and The Killers on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts David Gray on Thursday, Alicia Keys on Monday, and Fiona Apple on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the return of Cars founder Ric Ocasek on Thursday overnight and Nada Surf on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Sinead O'Connor this evening overnight and former Yaz vocalist Alison Moyet on Monday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly unfolds The New Pornographers on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Jack Johnson & Rilo Kelly this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 11:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Agents of the Sun - Monarchs of a Fallen Society (DCide)
Atmosphere - You Cant Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (Rhymesayers) underground hip hop from Slug and Ant
Audioslave - Live In Cuba (Epic) DVD and CD set documenting this concert from May when the band became the first American rock band to play in the country since the embargo
Christopher Bissonnette - Periphery (Kranky) piano-based textures manipulated into a fragmented ballet of surreal underwater movements
Boris and Merzbow - Sun Baked Snow Cave (Hydra Head)
Cindy Bullens - Dream #29 (Blue Lobster) with guests Elton John and Delbert McClinton
Brimstone Butterfly - Normality Killed the Cat (Silverline) DualDisc synth pop from Denmark, drinking deep at the well of T.Rex and other glam pop stars
Jackson Browne - Solo Acoustic: Volume 1 (Inside Recordings) new on his own artist-controlled label
Celebration - Celebration(4AD) produced by David Sitek of TV on the Radio
Chocolate Genius Inc. - Black Yankee Rock (Commotion) with guests Meshell Ndegeocello, Mark Ribot and Van Dyke Parks
Clientele - Strange Geometry (Merge) featuring string arrangements by Louis Philippe
Colossus - West Oakland (Om) well-chilled in the spirit of Gil Scott Heron, Roy Ayers, and the Shaft soundtrack, this deep groove hip-hop from the former bassist of the Big Cheese Allstars features a bonus CD of remixes
Constantines - Tournament of Hearts (SubPop) third album from this Toronto quintet of creepy, sexy cool basement rock with snarled edges
Danger Doom - The Mouse and the Mask (Epitaph) featuring characters from Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, this is a new teaming of MC Danger Mouse and MF Doom
DJ Muggs vs. The GZA - All In Together (Up Above) 12 new singles pitting co-founders of Cypress Hill and the Wu-Tang Clan against each other
Einsturzende Neubauten - Liebeslieder (!K7 Records) DVD documentary
Warren G - In the Mid-Nite Hour (Hawino / Lightyear) with guests B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mike Jones, Snoop Dogg, and Raphael Saadiq
Jerry Garcia - Ladder To the Stars: Garcia Plays Dylan (Rhino) two-CD set of covers
Mark Gardener - These Beautiful Ghosts (United For Opportunity) solo debut from the co-founder of Ride, with guests Robin and Joe Bennett of Goldrush
Gris Gris - For the Season (Birdman)
Alicia Keys - MTV Unplugged (J Records) featuring the new single, "Unbreakable," and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" with Adam Levine of Maroon 5
Lambchop & Hands Off Cuba - CoLab (Merge)
Mouse On Mars - Live '04 (Sonig) live CD and vinyl LP of blip-blop robot pop recorded over last year
Robert Pollard - Bubble (Recordhead) all-new six-song EP featuring songs from the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film
Kate Rusby - The Girl Who Couldn't Fly (Compass) with guest vocalist Roddy Woomble of Idlewild and cover art by Graham Coxon of Blue, this sunny-sweet collection of folk traditionals and dawn-dew originals were recorded in collaboration with her husband, acclaimed musician and producer John McCusker
Sevendust - Next (WineDark / Fontana) featuring new guitarist Sonny Mayo
Dawn Smithson - Safer Here (Kranky) fragile, intimate melodies and sound play from the former Jessamine bassist
Straylight Run - Prepare To Be Wrong (Victory) all-new six-track CD EP
t.A.T.u. - Dangerous and Moving (Interscope) with guests Sting and Richard Carpenter, a deluxe limited edition is also available with remix-it-yourself technology
Susan Tedeschi - Hope and Desire (Verve Forecast) produced by Joe Henry, this masterful new album features her husband, Derek Trucks, and covers of Bob Dylan's "Lord Protect My Child," the Rolling Stones' "You Got the Silver," and songs by Iris DeMent and Percy Mayfield
Tera Melos - Tera Melos (Springman) jazzy, shadowy, aural tinklings and driving instrumental collage from this Sacramento quartet
Tokyo Rose - New American Saint (SideCho) pop punk from New Jersey featuring guest Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday, and a Japanese version of "Meghan Again"
Tom Verlaine - Warm and Cool (Thrill Jockey) my pick of the week is this seductive, jazzy instrumental reissue from the Television and Neon Boys founder, laying back with brushed drums, smoky improvisational noodlings, and twangy guitar bends; now expanded with eight bonus tracks
Paul Weller - As Is Now (Yep Roc) new solo album from The Jam founder, also available in a special bonus DVD box set
Robert Wyatt - Theatre Royal Drury Lane (Hannibal) in concert with Nick Mason, Fred Frith, Hugh Hopper, and Mike Oldfield in 1974
various artists - Numbers From the Beast: An All Star Tribute to Iron Maiden (Restless) with a talent pool featuring members of KISS, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Rainbow, Whitesnake, and more
various artists - Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic Legacy) tribute project featuring cover contributions by Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Buddy Guy, and Janet Jackson
various artists - The Best of the Land of Nod (Land of Nod) cool collection of children's music performed by Peter Himmelman, Dan Zanes, They Might Be Giants, and more, including a cover of the Banana Splits theme by Ralph's World
