The
UK's Parlophone Records imprint has announced an upcoming benefit
album to raise funds for War Child's efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq,
Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Heroes
is due November 24, and
follows in the tradition of Help!
in 1995, Hope
in 2002, and the fastest-selling digital album in history, Help:
A Day In the Life, in 2005.
The new collection puts a unique twist on the "covers caravan" with a popular artist or band selecting one of its own songs to be reinterpreted by another artist of its nomination. A handful of confirmed participants make this a must-seek CD, with Beck trying on Bob Dylan's "Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat," The Kooks offering their hand to The Kinks' "Victoria," and Duffy slipping into the James Bond tuxedo of Paul McCartney & Wings' "Live & Let Die."
In related news, Eagle Rock Records' home video arm, Eagle Vision, has just released a DVD of London's War Child benefit concert last year, curated by Keane. Highlights include friends Brendan Benson, The Magic Numbers, Teddy Thompson, and Lily Allen.
This week, another Eagle Vision treat arrives in stores: two complete Tori Amos concerts from 1991 and 1992. Together on one DVD or an abridged CD, Tori Amos Live at Montreux captures the blossoming solo artist a few months before Little Earthquakes was released, and then again shortly after. Two cool covers made their appearances at the 25th and 26th annual summer jazz concerts: Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love."
Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Nikka Costa tonight, Jack's Mannequin on Thursday, and Adele on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman presents Lucinda Williams on Thursday and The Pretenders on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Ben Folds on Thursday, Nick Cave on Friday, Jenny Lewis on Monday, and Death Cab for Cutie on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson offers Michael Franti & Spearhead on Thursday and Randy Newman on Friday overnight; Tavis Smiley sits down with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine tonight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is The Killers.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 7
The Acorn - Heron Act (Paper Bag) rarities compilation featuring a cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Good Enough," XM Radio sessions, and exclusive tracks only previously found on the Web sites Daytrotter.com and My Old Kentucky Blog
Antony & the Johnsons - Another World (Secretly Canadian) this CD EP is the group's first new music since winning the UK's Mercury Prize in 2005
Autumn - Velvet Sky (Bull Creek) featuring a cover of Patty Griffin's "Nobody's Crying"
Castanets - City of Refuge (Asthmatic Kitty) with guests Sufjan Stevens and Jana Hunter, this sparse, haunted crow's flight over baked desert is a spaghetti Western for the mind, searching for water and redemption
The Clash - Live at Shea Stadium (Epic/Legacy) opening for The Who and touring America to promote the release of Combat Rock, this rainy night in October 1982 is documented in the CD's liner notes by photographer Bob Gruen
Crooked Fingers - Forfeit/Fortune (Red Pig/Constant Artists) with guests Neko Case and members of Silver Jews; also available in a deluxe edition with alternative artwork and a bonus DVD of solo performances by founder Eric Bachmann
Deerhoof - Offend Maggie (Kill Rock Stars) divided into two acts
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park (4AD Records) with guests Chris Bear and Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear
D.O.A. - Northern Avenger (Sudden Death) 12th studio album from these punk godfathers from the great white north, back to their earliest ferocity and glory with producer Bob Rock
Donovan - Sunshine Superman: The Journey of Donovan (SPV) three-hour documentary DVD with Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Pete Seeger
The Doors - Perception (Rhino) box set of the band's six albums remastered with 5.1-channel surround sound and lyrics, photo albums, and other goodies
Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8 (Columbia) two-CD set of rarities, also available in a limited edition with a bonus disc, seven-inch single, and 150-page hardcover photo book
Grails - Doomsdayer's Holiday (Temporary Residence) with guest vocalist Alan Bishop of Sun City Girls on "Predestination Blues"
Jolie Holland - Living & the Dead (Anti/Epitaph) with guests M Ward, Marc Ribot, and Be Good Tanyas' Samantha Patton
Hot Lava - Lavalogy (Bar None) sassy, bubblegum-snapping, flashbulb-popping winks from this Richmond, Virginia, collective with a genesis as a Pretenders tribute band called the Pretend Pretenders
I Set My Friends On Fire - You Can't Spell Slaughter Without Laughter (Epitaph)
Gabriel Kahane - Gabriel Kahane (Wasted Storefront Records) with guest Sufjan Stevens on vocals, acoustic guitar, and piano, and Nickel Creek's Chris Thile on mandolin
The Little Ones - Morning Tide (Chop Shop/Atlantic) on tour this month with The Walkmen
Medeski Martin & Wood - Radiolarians 1 (Indirecto) the first in a three-part series, soon to be compiled in a box set
Megapuss - Surfing (Vapor) meaning "big kiss" in Swedish, this new duo is made up of Devendra Banhart and Greg Rogove of Priestbird
Michna - Magic Monday (Ghostly International) sample-free debut from the DJ formerly known as Egg Foo Young
Juana Molina - Un Dia (Domino) fourth album from the Argentinean singer/songwriter, with guest Vashti Bunyon guitarist Gareth Dickson
Jay Nash - The Things You Think You Need (Bonded Records) with guests Sara Bareilles and members of Counting Crows
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul (Big Brother) featuring the single "The Shock of the Lightning," the new album is available in five different editions with the sweetest configuration boasting two CDs, a DVD, four LPs, and a book in a box set
The Panics - Cruel Guards (Dew Process/Music Allies) domestic issue of last year's winner of Australia's Triple J Award for "Album of the Year," this soaring, modestly majestic quintet takes to the American highway this winter
Charlie Pickett - Bar Band Americans: The Best of (Bloodshot) 19-track compilation of this hard-workin' blues punk from the early 1980s, reaching back to rare seven-inch singles, long-out-of-print albums, and live recording from their swampy, backwoods Florida home
The Pretenders - Break Up the Concrete (Shangri-La Music) featuring two bonus tracks on the iTunes edition
Lou Reed - Lou Reed's Berlin: Original Film Soundtrack (Matador) also released on DVD this week, the CD companion features guests Sharon Jones, Rob Wassermann, and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Silver Darling - Your Ghost Fits My Skin (Crossbill Records) last-call wails and prayers from this soul-stirring Americana trio from Sacramento, like Nick Cave taking residency in the Deadwood Saloon
The Spinto Band - Moonwink (Park the Van) emulsifying the offbeat effervescence of Pavement and XTC, this euphoric power pop was honed while touring with Rilo Kiley and the Arctic Monkeys
Static-X - Cannibal Killers Live (Reprise) DVD filmed earlier this year in Spokane, Washington
The Status - So This Is Progress (Doghouse) with guests from Bayside and Taking Back Sunday
The Streets - Everything Is Borrowed (Vice) fourth album from Mike Skinner
Tesla - Forever More (Tesla Electric Company)
Frank Turner - Love Ire & Song (Arbor Records) a big hit on the UK independent charts, this sophomore release carries the proud, billowing flag of Billy Bragg and social consciousness, name-checking Gram Parsons and St. George in "I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous"
The Windupdeads - The Windupdeads (One Eleven Records) melancholy debut from Sweden
various artists - Amazon/Tribe: Songs for Survival (Kensaltown Records) compiled by Bruce Parry of the BBC, this benefit CD for Survival International features Yusuf Islam, the Go! Team, Hot Chip, and a new super group, Apparatjik, made up of members of Coldplay, Mew, and a-ha
various artists - Rich Man's War: New Blues & Roots Songs of Peace and Protest (Ruf Records) with Candye Kane, Bob Brozman, Guitar Shorty, and Norman & Nancy Blake
