· My pick of the week is the infectious, funky, laid-back perfection of the Animal Liberation Orchestra, waxing a soulful, pensive philosophy of "traversing and rehearsing and perversing along the doubt-laden extension-cord thread of life" in "Welcome to Your Barbeque," one of 10 wickedly tasty jams on the group's new CD, Fly Between Falls.
With flavors from reggae and bluegrass rubbing up to the spice of ukulele and Rhoades keys, this is a warm-the-soul smoked-rib-tips dinner with plenty of saucy lyrics to chew on. Jack Johnson caught the vibe, contributing his guitar and coolly seductive lead vocal to "Girl, I Wanna Lay You Down" - pulling off lines such as "You're smooth and creamy, like peanut butter" like a beach-boy Casanova. Bass Guitar magazine says to "think Phish meets Frank Zappa," but I think it's a much funkier, percolating vibe, crossing more into the bubbly territory of Steely Dan and Talking Heads, or if Unkle Kracker and Kenny Chesney followed the Grateful Dead for a dozen tours. If you missed Animal Liberation Orchestra kicking off its summer tour with the Bonnaroo and Wakarusa festivals, the ensemble is on the road now, supporting Johnson through September.
· This coming Tuesday, 11 selections from the Rolling Stones' catalog have been given new jazz interpretations by the band's touring saxophonist. Tim Reis calls the sessions simply The Rolling Stones Project and got quite an A list of guest contributors, from Norah Jones and Bill Frisell on "Wild Horses" to Sheryl Crow with the Stones' Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ron Wood on "Honky Tonk Woman." Look for the Concord Records release to feature cover art by Ron Wood, who painted the piece for his mother in the 1960s.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Lucinda Williams tonight; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Michael Penn on Thursday, Natasha Bedingfield on Friday, Tommy Lee on Monday, and Nickel Creek on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts David Gray this evening overnight and Erin McKeown on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Missy Higgins this evening overnight, The Ravonettes on Thursday overnight, Straylight Run on Friday overnight, Fat Joe on Monday overnight, and Lifehouse on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live rolls out the red carpet for Queens of the Stone Age on Friday overnight and Velvet Revolver on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is System of a Down.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 9:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Cursive- The Difference Between Houses & Homes: Lost Songs & Loose Ends 1995-2001 (Saddle Creek) collecting rare tracks from seven-inch singles and an expanded booklet illustrated by Yuriko Yoshino
The Fleshtones- Beachhead (Yep Roc) all new from these original garage kings
Bill Frisell- East/West (Nonesuch) two-CD collection of live performances with his trio, featuring covers of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Flat Top Box,' and Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"
Eliza Gilkyson- Paradise Hotel (Red House) gorgeous new album from this Grammy nominee and recent inductee to the Austin Music Hall of Fame
Alex Gold- Back from a Break (Xtravaganza) featuring his remix of Annie Lennox's "Into the West"
Hail Social- Hail Social (Polyvinyl) full-length debut from this Philadelphia quartet that toured with Interpol and Secret Machines last fall
Juliana Hatfield- Made in China (Ye Olde Records) new solo album from the former Lemonheads and Blake Babies multi-instrumentalist, featuring the lyrically controversial "Send Money"
Holopaw- Quit+/Or Fight (SubPop) shy, laid-back indie pop from Gainesville, Florida, that's toured with Iron & Wine
Ellis Hooks- Godson of Soul (Evidence) recently heard lending his vocals to Frank Black's Honeycomb album, this son of a sharecropper gets back in the groove with guitar great Steve Cropper and Memphis Horns trumpeter Wayne Jackson
Hootie & the Blowfish- Looking for Lucky (Sneaky Long/Vanguard) with guests from Cowboy Mouth, The Silos, and Trick Pony
Jurassic 5- Quality Control Instrumentals (Up Above) special instrumental version of the group's latest album on two-LP vinyl
Earl Klugh- Naked Guitar (Koch) featuring the jazz guitarist's signature stamp on The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead from The Wizard of Oz
Latterman- No Matter Where We Go (Deep Elm) DIY hyper punk from Long Island whipping up pogo madness in the pit
Tommy Lee- Tommyland: The Ride (604 Records) with guests Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, Carl Bell of Fuel, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, and Deryck Whibley of Sum 41
John Lennon- Peace, Love, & Truth (Capitol/EMI) with Yoko Ono's blessing, this new import-only collection features rarities and a new remix of "Give Peace a Chance" with vocalists from Mongolia, Taiwan, Pakistan, and other nations
Lil John & The Eastside Boys- Crunk Juice: Chopped & Screwed (TVT) with guests Ice Cube, Chris Rock, 8 Ball & MG, and more
The Jan Martens Frustration- The Jan Martens Frustration (Hidden Agenda/Brass Button) expanded domestic release of this excellent, trippy psych rock from Sweden, with guests from The Hellacopters and The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Mecha Fixes Clocks- Orbiting with Screwdrivers (Alien 8) new collective from Quebec's Musique Actuelle scene
Moggs- The White Belt Is Not Enough (Absolutely Kosher) dark, churning guitar and drum duo of Sir Plus and Miss Minor
Nickel Creek- Why Should the Fire Die? (Sugar Hill) featuring the band's bluegrass cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" and a new song co-written with Gary Louris of The Jayhawks
Heather Nova- Redbird (BMG) import-only new album featuring her cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" and a new song co-written with Dido
David Pack- The Secret of Movin' on (Peak Records) new from the Ambrosia vocalist and guitarist, with guests Steve Perry of Journey, Ann Wilson of Heart, and Timothy B. Schmidt of The Eagles
Proof- Searching for Jerry Garcia (Iron Fist) with guests Obie Trice, Swifty McVay, and 50 Cent, this oddly titled solo debut from the D12 member also contains the song "Kurt Cobain"
Shelby- The Luxury of Time (Gigantic) driven by pop-perfect synthesizers programmed by Kenny Cummings, this glorious, pulsating, full-length debut rings proud and free like a cross between Guided by Voices and U2 on "The Golden Boy" and quite tender on "Let It Be Me"
Staind- Chapter V (Flip/Atlantic) on tour now with 3 Doors Down
Stephen Stills- Man Alive (Pyramid) with guests Neil Young, Graham Nash, and Herbie Hancock
Suicide Machines- The War Profiteering Is Killing Us (SideOneDummy) politically charged sixth studio album
Supergrass- "St. Petersburg" (Pharlophone) new import-only single in advance of the band's upcoming Road to Rouen album
Richard Thompson- Front Parlour Ballads (Cooking Vinyl) his first solo acoustic album in 25 years
Tremelo- Love Is the Greatest Revenge (Flagship) catchy power pop from Justin Dillon and hot session friends, donating half the CD's proceeds to a benevolence trust fund
various artists- Le Souk Sunday Sessions (e03 Records) house mix CD from DJs Swamy and Astro&Glyde
various artists- Mad Dogs & Okies (Concord) superstar project from the Tulsa-raised session player Jamie Oldaker, with guests Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Taj Mahal, and Peter Frampton
· This coming Tuesday, 11 selections from the Rolling Stones' catalog have been given new jazz interpretations by the band's touring saxophonist. Tim Reis calls the sessions simply The Rolling Stones Project and got quite an A list of guest contributors, from Norah Jones and Bill Frisell on "Wild Horses" to Sheryl Crow with the Stones' Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ron Wood on "Honky Tonk Woman." Look for the Concord Records release to feature cover art by Ron Wood, who painted the piece for his mother in the 1960s.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Lucinda Williams tonight; The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Michael Penn on Thursday, Natasha Bedingfield on Friday, Tommy Lee on Monday, and Nickel Creek on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts David Gray this evening overnight and Erin McKeown on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Missy Higgins this evening overnight, The Ravonettes on Thursday overnight, Straylight Run on Friday overnight, Fat Joe on Monday overnight, and Lifehouse on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live rolls out the red carpet for Queens of the Stone Age on Friday overnight and Velvet Revolver on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is System of a Down.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 9:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Cursive- The Difference Between Houses & Homes: Lost Songs & Loose Ends 1995-2001 (Saddle Creek) collecting rare tracks from seven-inch singles and an expanded booklet illustrated by Yuriko Yoshino
The Fleshtones- Beachhead (Yep Roc) all new from these original garage kings
Bill Frisell- East/West (Nonesuch) two-CD collection of live performances with his trio, featuring covers of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," Johnny Cash's "Tennessee Flat Top Box,' and Bob Dylan's "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall"
Eliza Gilkyson- Paradise Hotel (Red House) gorgeous new album from this Grammy nominee and recent inductee to the Austin Music Hall of Fame
Alex Gold- Back from a Break (Xtravaganza) featuring his remix of Annie Lennox's "Into the West"
Hail Social- Hail Social (Polyvinyl) full-length debut from this Philadelphia quartet that toured with Interpol and Secret Machines last fall
Juliana Hatfield- Made in China (Ye Olde Records) new solo album from the former Lemonheads and Blake Babies multi-instrumentalist, featuring the lyrically controversial "Send Money"
Holopaw- Quit+/Or Fight (SubPop) shy, laid-back indie pop from Gainesville, Florida, that's toured with Iron & Wine
Ellis Hooks- Godson of Soul (Evidence) recently heard lending his vocals to Frank Black's Honeycomb album, this son of a sharecropper gets back in the groove with guitar great Steve Cropper and Memphis Horns trumpeter Wayne Jackson
Hootie & the Blowfish- Looking for Lucky (Sneaky Long/Vanguard) with guests from Cowboy Mouth, The Silos, and Trick Pony
Jurassic 5- Quality Control Instrumentals (Up Above) special instrumental version of the group's latest album on two-LP vinyl
Earl Klugh- Naked Guitar (Koch) featuring the jazz guitarist's signature stamp on The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead from The Wizard of Oz
Latterman- No Matter Where We Go (Deep Elm) DIY hyper punk from Long Island whipping up pogo madness in the pit
Tommy Lee- Tommyland: The Ride (604 Records) with guests Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys, Carl Bell of Fuel, Joel Madden of Good Charlotte, and Deryck Whibley of Sum 41
John Lennon- Peace, Love, & Truth (Capitol/EMI) with Yoko Ono's blessing, this new import-only collection features rarities and a new remix of "Give Peace a Chance" with vocalists from Mongolia, Taiwan, Pakistan, and other nations
Lil John & The Eastside Boys- Crunk Juice: Chopped & Screwed (TVT) with guests Ice Cube, Chris Rock, 8 Ball & MG, and more
The Jan Martens Frustration- The Jan Martens Frustration (Hidden Agenda/Brass Button) expanded domestic release of this excellent, trippy psych rock from Sweden, with guests from The Hellacopters and The Soundtrack of Our Lives
Mecha Fixes Clocks- Orbiting with Screwdrivers (Alien 8) new collective from Quebec's Musique Actuelle scene
Moggs- The White Belt Is Not Enough (Absolutely Kosher) dark, churning guitar and drum duo of Sir Plus and Miss Minor
Nickel Creek- Why Should the Fire Die? (Sugar Hill) featuring the band's bluegrass cover of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time" and a new song co-written with Gary Louris of The Jayhawks
Heather Nova- Redbird (BMG) import-only new album featuring her cover of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" and a new song co-written with Dido
David Pack- The Secret of Movin' on (Peak Records) new from the Ambrosia vocalist and guitarist, with guests Steve Perry of Journey, Ann Wilson of Heart, and Timothy B. Schmidt of The Eagles
Proof- Searching for Jerry Garcia (Iron Fist) with guests Obie Trice, Swifty McVay, and 50 Cent, this oddly titled solo debut from the D12 member also contains the song "Kurt Cobain"
Shelby- The Luxury of Time (Gigantic) driven by pop-perfect synthesizers programmed by Kenny Cummings, this glorious, pulsating, full-length debut rings proud and free like a cross between Guided by Voices and U2 on "The Golden Boy" and quite tender on "Let It Be Me"
Staind- Chapter V (Flip/Atlantic) on tour now with 3 Doors Down
Stephen Stills- Man Alive (Pyramid) with guests Neil Young, Graham Nash, and Herbie Hancock
Suicide Machines- The War Profiteering Is Killing Us (SideOneDummy) politically charged sixth studio album
Supergrass- "St. Petersburg" (Pharlophone) new import-only single in advance of the band's upcoming Road to Rouen album
Richard Thompson- Front Parlour Ballads (Cooking Vinyl) his first solo acoustic album in 25 years
Tremelo- Love Is the Greatest Revenge (Flagship) catchy power pop from Justin Dillon and hot session friends, donating half the CD's proceeds to a benevolence trust fund
various artists- Le Souk Sunday Sessions (e03 Records) house mix CD from DJs Swamy and Astro&Glyde
various artists- Mad Dogs & Okies (Concord) superstar project from the Tulsa-raised session player Jamie Oldaker, with guests Eric Clapton, Vince Gill, Willie Nelson, Taj Mahal, and Peter Frampton
