Now resigned to "classic rock" status, two of the 1980s' biggest arena-rocking bands are back next week with all-new cover collections. Poison passes - thankfully - on the eyeshadow and puckers up with Poison'd on Capitol Records, featuring eight new sessions and other rarities including a take on the Kiss party anthem "Rock & Roll All Nite," from 1987's Less Than Zero soundtrack. The party-people-pleasing set list features Alice Cooper's "I Never Cry," Tom Petty's "I Need to Know," The Cars' "Just What I Needed," and the Marshall Tucker Band's "Can't You See."
Tesla takes complete control of the new cover caravan on its very own Tesla Electric Company Recordings imprint, releasing a single-CD edition of Real to Reel to retail this coming Tuesday, with a special second bonus disc only available on this summer's tour (included in the price of the ticket). Recording the sessions directly to analog tape, the old-school groove plays on with both discs also available in separate, two-LP gatefold vinyl editions. Offbeat selections over the discs include Black Sabbath's "War Pigs," Robin Trower's "Day of the Eagle," the Temptations' "Ball of Confusion," and ZZ Top's "Beer Drinkers & Hellraisers."
A new release showers love and respect down on the legacy of The Clash, with fellow musicians filling each slot of a track-by-track re-creation of 1980's Sandinista three-LP release. The indie 00:02:59 Records label fits the 37 songs onto two CDs and generously splits profits from the set between two charities: the Joe Strummer Memorial Forest and Amnesty International. Simply entitled The Sandinista Project, the retro trip includes Camper Van Beethoven, The Smithereens, Steve Wynn, Willie Nile, Amy Rigby, The Sex Clark Five, and Ship & Pilot with Sally Timms and John Langford. Slipping around in a variety of styles, the alt-country-heavy collection runs the gamut from sweet, front-porch lullaby to cranky old chair-rockin' new-wavers.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Bright Eyes on Monday and Satellite Party on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Kings of Leon on Monday, and Big Sandy and Los Straitjackets on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson presents Patti Smith on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live revs up Black Rebel Motorcycle Club on Thursday overnight; and The Henry Rollins Show on IFC features musical guest Peeping Tom this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 5:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Black Light Burns - Cruel Melody (I Am Wolfpack) new from Limp Bizkit's Wes Borland with drummer Josh Freese and bassist Danny Lohner, and guest vocalist Johnette Napolitano on one song
Cary Brothers - Who You Are (Bluhammock) new from the singer/songwriter whose work has appeared in the film Garden State and television's Scrubs, ER, and Grey's Anatomy
Cinematic Orchestra - Ma Fleur (Domino) featuring a trio of vocalists
Chris Cornell - Carry on (Suretone/Interscope) featuring his theme song from the latest James Bond film and a must-hear cover of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean"
Matthew Dear - Asa Breed (Ghostly International) percolating, paranoid late-night electronica and spooky acoustics
Sara Gazarek - Return to You (Native Language) coy and easy lounge-club jazz with terrific originals by her pianist, Josh Nelson, and covers of songs by Joni Mitchell, Gillian Welch, and Paul McCartney
Get Him Eat Him - Arms Down (Absolutely Kosher) melancholy power pop from Providence, Rhode Island
Hallelujah the Hills - Collective Psychosis Begone (Misra) peppy, sidewalk-strolling indie sextet featuring former members of Boston's The Stairs
Daniel A.I.U. Higgs - Atomic Yggdrasil (Thrill Jockey) limited-edition vinyl LP or CD featuring a hardcover book
The Ion Dissonance - Minus the Herd (Abacus) with new vocalist Kevin McCaughey, and on the road with the Summer Slaughter Tour
The Jesus Lizard - Live (MVD Visual) DVD filmed at Boston's Venus de Milo club in 1994, with five bonus tracks from CBGB's in 1992 and an early home video
Kaipa - Angling Feelings (Inside Out) all new, with Per Nilsson of Scar Symmetry replacing Roine Stolt
The Ladybug Transistor - Can't Wait Another Day (Merge)
W.W. Lowman - Plain Songs (Who-Hey Records) unique guitarist and arranger with guests from The Coctails, Aluminum Group, and Poi Dog Pondering
Mansbestfriend - Poly.Sci.187 (Anticon) features members of Skyrider
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full (Hear Music/Concord) snuggling up to Starbucks in this multi-version new release
O.A.R. - Live from Madison Square Garden (Everfine/Alantic) two-CD or two-DVD set
David Olney - One Tough Town (Red Parlor) growlin', swampy, roadhouse blues, catching a tropical groove in "Panama City"
Pelican - City of Echoes (Hydra Head) punishing monster-riff nirvana and surprisingly tender cubic instrumentals in what guitarist Laurent Schreder-Lebec calls the group's "pop album"
Pissed Jeans - Hope for Men (Sub Pop) label debut of music to riot by
Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound (Touch & Go) featuring a special slipover cover design and a cover of The Raconteurs' "Steady as She Goes"
Sullivan - Cover Your Eyes (Tooth & Nail) on tour now with MXPX
Superchunk - "Misfits & Mistakes" (Merge) seven-inch single from the Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? - Pick Up Sticks (Kill Rock Stars) with a host of horns and a calliope zing, these are nuthouse sing-alongs, with glints of XTC and The Polyphonic Spree
Tiger Army - Music from Regions Beyond (Hellcat/Epitaph) breakneck buzzsaw psychobilly with the soul of The Cult and the stomp of GBH, featuring guest vocalist Davey Havok of AFI and Morrissey guitarist Alain Whyte
Von Súdenfed - Tromatic Reflexxions (Domino) side project from Mark E. Smith of The Fall and Jan St. Werner and Andi Toma of Mouse on Mars
various artists - Anchored in Love: A Tribute to June Carter Cash (Dualtone) heart-warming companion project to the just published biography by her son John Carter Cash, highlighted by covers of "Keep on the Sunny Side" by Brad Paisley, Elvis Costello's soaring "Ring of Fire," and a duet of "If I Were a Carpenter" by Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson
various artists - Chasing the Sun: The Greatest Songs of Summer (Time Life) in a box set shaped like a cooler, this three-CD and bonus-DVD package tracks the season from The Drifters to Kool & the Gang
various artists - MOOGFEST 2006: Live (MVD Visual) DVD featuring Jan Hammer, Keith Emerson, Bernie Worrell, and Jordan Rudess
various artists - We All Love Ella: A Tribute to the First Lady of Song (Verve) with cover contributions by Michael Buble, Etta James, k.d. lang, Linda Ronstadt, and Diana Krall
