· Everything is sunny, warm, and bright when Mister Rogers comes strolling down your shady side of the street. This coming Tuesday, a star-studded tribute shows the love in song to the late PBS-TV icon with Songs from the Neighborhood.
Packed with Grammy and Dove winners, these original songs by Fred Rogers are transformed into ballroom jazz, bluegrass, and pop styles by artists including Maureen McGovern, Amy Grant, Crystal Gayle, BJ Thomas, Ricky Scaggs, Donna Summer, and Jon Secada. Sweetly showcasing the tenderness of "It's You I Like," "Did You Know?" and "Let's Think of Something to Do While We're Waiting," the CD is a happy breeze down memory lane, and I salute the Family Communications label for the effort, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Fred Roger Fund. A bonus DVD features a "making of" documentary and the stars reminiscing on their childhood affection for the man in the red sweater.
· Hot on the heels of last month's release of two new songs on the new Ultimate Collection CD, the Eurythmics are reissuing eight of their albums next week in remastered RCA Legacy editions, each with bonus remixes, acoustic rarities, and interesting covers. Highlights include Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) from 1983, featuring a cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love"; Revenge from 1986, featuring a cover of Mary Wells' "My Guy"; and Savage from 1987, featuring a cover of The Smiths' "Last Night I Dreamed Somebody Loved Me." Other artists covered among the many bonus tracks include Joan Amatrading, the Beatles, and David Bowie.
· After fueling the dreams and success of a gazillion bands, the hugely successful cyberspace hot spot MySpace is stepping into its own as a real record label next week. Distributed by the Interscope imprint, MySpace Records Volume 1 will feature songs from Dashboard Confessional, The Click Five, Weezer, The Plain White T's, and others, including the label's first full-length signing, Hollywood Undead.
· King Crimson fans have two post-Halloween treats headed their way next week, first with a box set covering the band's incarnations over the past 25 years. Discipline Global Records' four-CD box set, 21st Century Guide Volume Two: 1981-2003, is a lavish affair, housing two studio discs and two live discs in a handsome case. And a cool new jazz trio is working out the band's cubist jams in a whole new rock tumble. Slipping into a wickedly slick after-hours vibe, Fripp-heads must also check out The Crimson Jazz Trio and its new King Crimson Songbook on the Voiceprint label. Helmed by drummer Ian Wallace, who played on the band's Island album from 1971, with pianist Jody Nardone and former Vital Information bassist Tim Landers, the trio's new interpretations of classic selections such as "21st Century Schizoid Man," "Cat Food," and "Red" are playful, lush, and highly recommended.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes the return of Garth Brooks on Thursday, Kenny Chesney on Friday, Neil Diamond on Monday, and Audioslave on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Trey Anastasio tonight and Pharrell Williams on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Patti Smith this evening overnight and Alison Krauss on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson slips on My Morning Jacket this evening overnight, Buddy Guy on Friday overnight, and Matisyahu on Monday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Jamiroquai on Friday overnight and Staind on Monday overnight; Green Day drops in on MTV's TRL this Thursday; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is the Foo Fighters.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, Nov. 15:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Bowling for Soup- Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies (Jive) collecting rare songs from television and film soundtracks, including covers of Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time," and the Gilligan's Island and Drew Carry Show themes
Jackson Browne- Running on Empty (Rhino) expanded and remastered reissue, featuring a bonus 5.1-channel surround sound DVD and a gallery of 300 photographs by Joel Bernstein
Les Claypool- 5 Gallons of Diesel(Prawn Song) DVD collecting three and a half hours of videos and live performances from his many incarnations as Sausage, Oysterhead, Frog Brigade, and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
Hilken Mancini & Chris Colbourn - Hilken Mancini & Chris Colbourn (Kimchee) thrilling debut from the former Fuzzy guitarist and the former Buffalo Tom bassist, with guest J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.
The Darkness- "One Way Ticket" (Must Destroy/Atlantic) new single from the group's upcoming album
Embrace- A Glorious Day(Eagle Vision) DVD filmed this past June in Leeds, England
Michael Franti & Spearhead- Live in Sydney(Music Video Distributors) DualDisc featuring an acoustic version of "Bomb the World"
Galaxie 500- Peel Sessions(20/20/20 Records) recordings from 1989 and 1990, featuring originals and covers of songs by the Sex Pistols, Modern Lovers, Buffy St. Marie, and Young Marble Giants
Green Day- Bullet in a Bible(Reprise) live DVD of the band's concerts at London's Milton Keynes Bowl in June
Guided by Voices- The Electrifying Conclusion(Plexifilm) DVD filmed at the band's final how on December 31, 2004, at Chicago's Metro
Guitar Wolf- Golden Black (Narnack) remastered greatest-hits CD made up of 26 tracks voted on by the fans
Howling Hex- You Can't Beat Tomorrow (Drag City) CD/DVD set debuting the new side project from Neil Michael Hagerty of Royal Trux
The Ice Harvest- original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music from Peter Wolf, the Eels, Louis XIV, and Funeral for a Friend
Kottonmouth Kings- Joint Venture(Suburban Noize) CD-and-DVD set featuring six new tracks
Lady Sovereign- Vertically Challenged (Chocolate Industries) big buzz on this British DJ and self-proclaimed "big midget," featuring a remix by Ad Rock of The Beastie Boys
Madonna- Confessions on a Dancefloor(Warner Bros) continuous mix CD
MC Supernatural- S.P.I.T. (Up Above) with guests B-Real and Raekwon, and producers DJ Muggs, Jake One, and Marco Polo; the album's title stands for "spiritual poetry ignites thought"
Alanis Morissette- The Collection(Maverick) "best of" collection featuring her new cover of Seal's "Crazy"
P.O.D.- Warriors EP Vol. 2 (Atlantic) with demos and live tracks
Todd Rundgren- Best of Todd Rundgren Live(Sanctuary) selecting songs from 1979 to 2004, featuring his must-hear cover of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run: 30th Anniversary Edition (Columbia) now expanded with a live DVD and a documentary DVD
Carrie Underwood- Some Hearts(Arista) debut album from this year's American Idol winner
Walk the Line- original motion picture soundtrack (Wind-Up) alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, look and listen for Shelby Lynne and Shooter Jennings
The White Stripes- "The Denial Twist" (XL Recordings) import-only new single, available as a two-part seven-inch or an enhanced-CD single featuring the Michel Gondry-directed video
Wilco- Kicking Television: Live in Chicago(Nonesuch) two-CD set recorded over four nights at the Vic Theater in May
Pharrell Williams/Skate Board P- In My Mind(Star Trak/Interscope) with guest Gwen Stefani
· Hot on the heels of last month's release of two new songs on the new Ultimate Collection CD, the Eurythmics are reissuing eight of their albums next week in remastered RCA Legacy editions, each with bonus remixes, acoustic rarities, and interesting covers. Highlights include Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) from 1983, featuring a cover of Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love"; Revenge from 1986, featuring a cover of Mary Wells' "My Guy"; and Savage from 1987, featuring a cover of The Smiths' "Last Night I Dreamed Somebody Loved Me." Other artists covered among the many bonus tracks include Joan Amatrading, the Beatles, and David Bowie.
· After fueling the dreams and success of a gazillion bands, the hugely successful cyberspace hot spot MySpace is stepping into its own as a real record label next week. Distributed by the Interscope imprint, MySpace Records Volume 1 will feature songs from Dashboard Confessional, The Click Five, Weezer, The Plain White T's, and others, including the label's first full-length signing, Hollywood Undead.
· King Crimson fans have two post-Halloween treats headed their way next week, first with a box set covering the band's incarnations over the past 25 years. Discipline Global Records' four-CD box set, 21st Century Guide Volume Two: 1981-2003, is a lavish affair, housing two studio discs and two live discs in a handsome case. And a cool new jazz trio is working out the band's cubist jams in a whole new rock tumble. Slipping into a wickedly slick after-hours vibe, Fripp-heads must also check out The Crimson Jazz Trio and its new King Crimson Songbook on the Voiceprint label. Helmed by drummer Ian Wallace, who played on the band's Island album from 1971, with pianist Jody Nardone and former Vital Information bassist Tim Landers, the trio's new interpretations of classic selections such as "21st Century Schizoid Man," "Cat Food," and "Red" are playful, lush, and highly recommended.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes the return of Garth Brooks on Thursday, Kenny Chesney on Friday, Neil Diamond on Monday, and Audioslave on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Trey Anastasio tonight and Pharrell Williams on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Patti Smith this evening overnight and Alison Krauss on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson slips on My Morning Jacket this evening overnight, Buddy Guy on Friday overnight, and Matisyahu on Monday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents Jamiroquai on Friday overnight and Staind on Monday overnight; Green Day drops in on MTV's TRL this Thursday; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is the Foo Fighters.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, Nov. 15:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Bowling for Soup- Bowling for Soup Goes to the Movies (Jive) collecting rare songs from television and film soundtracks, including covers of Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time," and the Gilligan's Island and Drew Carry Show themes
Jackson Browne- Running on Empty (Rhino) expanded and remastered reissue, featuring a bonus 5.1-channel surround sound DVD and a gallery of 300 photographs by Joel Bernstein
Les Claypool- 5 Gallons of Diesel(Prawn Song) DVD collecting three and a half hours of videos and live performances from his many incarnations as Sausage, Oysterhead, Frog Brigade, and Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains
Hilken Mancini & Chris Colbourn - Hilken Mancini & Chris Colbourn (Kimchee) thrilling debut from the former Fuzzy guitarist and the former Buffalo Tom bassist, with guest J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr.
The Darkness- "One Way Ticket" (Must Destroy/Atlantic) new single from the group's upcoming album
Embrace- A Glorious Day(Eagle Vision) DVD filmed this past June in Leeds, England
Michael Franti & Spearhead- Live in Sydney(Music Video Distributors) DualDisc featuring an acoustic version of "Bomb the World"
Galaxie 500- Peel Sessions(20/20/20 Records) recordings from 1989 and 1990, featuring originals and covers of songs by the Sex Pistols, Modern Lovers, Buffy St. Marie, and Young Marble Giants
Green Day- Bullet in a Bible(Reprise) live DVD of the band's concerts at London's Milton Keynes Bowl in June
Guided by Voices- The Electrifying Conclusion(Plexifilm) DVD filmed at the band's final how on December 31, 2004, at Chicago's Metro
Guitar Wolf- Golden Black (Narnack) remastered greatest-hits CD made up of 26 tracks voted on by the fans
Howling Hex- You Can't Beat Tomorrow (Drag City) CD/DVD set debuting the new side project from Neil Michael Hagerty of Royal Trux
The Ice Harvest- original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music from Peter Wolf, the Eels, Louis XIV, and Funeral for a Friend
Kottonmouth Kings- Joint Venture(Suburban Noize) CD-and-DVD set featuring six new tracks
Lady Sovereign- Vertically Challenged (Chocolate Industries) big buzz on this British DJ and self-proclaimed "big midget," featuring a remix by Ad Rock of The Beastie Boys
Madonna- Confessions on a Dancefloor(Warner Bros) continuous mix CD
MC Supernatural- S.P.I.T. (Up Above) with guests B-Real and Raekwon, and producers DJ Muggs, Jake One, and Marco Polo; the album's title stands for "spiritual poetry ignites thought"
Alanis Morissette- The Collection(Maverick) "best of" collection featuring her new cover of Seal's "Crazy"
P.O.D.- Warriors EP Vol. 2 (Atlantic) with demos and live tracks
Todd Rundgren- Best of Todd Rundgren Live(Sanctuary) selecting songs from 1979 to 2004, featuring his must-hear cover of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"
Bruce Springsteen- Born to Run: 30th Anniversary Edition (Columbia) now expanded with a live DVD and a documentary DVD
Carrie Underwood- Some Hearts(Arista) debut album from this year's American Idol winner
Walk the Line- original motion picture soundtrack (Wind-Up) alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon as Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, look and listen for Shelby Lynne and Shooter Jennings
The White Stripes- "The Denial Twist" (XL Recordings) import-only new single, available as a two-part seven-inch or an enhanced-CD single featuring the Michel Gondry-directed video
Wilco- Kicking Television: Live in Chicago(Nonesuch) two-CD set recorded over four nights at the Vic Theater in May
Pharrell Williams/Skate Board P- In My Mind(Star Trak/Interscope) with guest Gwen Stefani
