11
Feb
2003
· Elvis Costello has written a lot of perfect songs. It's hard to even pick a favorite. His "Alison" and "Indoor Fireworks" are songwriting treasures, melodies that stop me cold wherever I hear them. I just have to sit in the parking lot, turn off the engine, and listen.
So, allow me to bow down alongside Virt Records, as it has just released a 14-track love letter entitled Almost You: The Songs of Elvis Costello, a terrific singer-songwriter salute. The CD boasts an all-new collection of cover versions, each recorded specifically for this project with a variety of approaches, satisfying like a box of dark chocolates. For me, it's the female voices that highlight the CD, with Hem's country siren affair of "(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes," The Damnations' sleepy drift of "Still Too Soon to Know," and Brenda Khan's creepy lurk on "Watch Your Step." Other sharp artists that get lost in Costello's lyrical spell include Jon Auer and his butterfly transformation of "Beyond Belief" and Tywanna Jo Baskette's raspy whisper of "Just a Memory." Highly recommended.
· Also mesmerizing as a songwriter is my pick of the week, the highly anticipated You Are Free by Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall of New York City). Stripped down to the acoustic essentials, these new sessions are haunting, achingly fragile, and candle-lit. Bearing the Beggars Banquet imprint, You Are Free features her first new material since 1998, and - shhh! - "secret" guests Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. The gorgeous packaging of the CD warms the vinyl in my blood, as the cardboard gatefold sleeve is wonderfully reminiscent of the LP experience, complete with a poster-sized fold-up insert. In a perfect world, all CDs should look this good. Perhaps the first must-hear release of the season, with simple piano and guitar, the resonating vibe recalls that unshakable tenderness of an album such as Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lionel Richie tonight, The Calling on Thursday, and David Gray on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Lou Reed on Friday; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Tori Amos on Friday overnight and Supergrass on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Beck.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 18:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
AC/DC - Rock Masters (Image Entertainment) live DVD from the London Hippodrome, with original vocalist Bon Scott
Aereogramme - Sleep & Release (Beggars Banquet) pulsating buzz rock reminiscent of The Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins, sweeping at one moment and brutal the next
Antipop vs. Matthew Shipp - Antipop Consortium (Thirsty Ear) hip hop meets free jazz
Born Against - Patriotic Hymns for Children and Battle Hymns of the Race War (Kill Rock Stars) CD re-issues of classic NYC political hardcore from 1991 and 1993
Bouncing Souls - Do You Remember? 15 Years of the Bouncing Souls (Chunksaah) two-DVD set of documentaries, live footage, and videos
Breast Fed Yak - Get Your Greasy Hand Off the Sham (Birdman) new from Paul Lemos of Controlled Bleeding
Butthole Surfers - Butthole Surfers and PCPP EP (Latino Bugger Veil) first time ever on CD for this collection of two early EPs, now featuring bonus live tracks and demos
Calexico - Feast of Wire (Quarterstick) the fourth album from Joey Burns and John Convertino of Giant Sand
Rhys Chatham - An Angel Moves Too Fast to See (Table of Elements) three-CD box set of selected works from 1971 through 1989
Covenant - Northern Light (Metropolis) Swedish synth masters of the "electronic body music" scene
The Cure - Rock Masters (Image Entertainment) live DVD from the Glasgow's Barrowlands in 1984
Dinky - Black Cabaret (Carpark Records) percolating and electronically aloof grooves from Alejandra Iglesias
Dirty Three - She Has No Strings Apollo (Touch & Go) recorded in Paris with producer Fabrice Laureau
DMX - It's Not a Game (Island)
Nicolai Dunger - Tranquil Isolation (Overcoat) anticipated new album from the Swedish singer-songwriter with guest Will Oldham
John Fahey - Red Cross (Revenant) the final album from the late label founder, featuring interpretations of Irving Berlin's "Remember" and the Gershwin standard "Summertime"
Funki Porcini - Fast Asleep (Ninja Tune) also available as a two-LP set
The Go-Betweens - Bright Yellow Bright Orange (Jetset)
Grey Market Goods - TBA (Thrill Jockey) new from Ken Brown of Directions in Music
JFA - We Know You Suck (Alternative Tentacles) this new skate-rock series CD collects more than 30 tracks of early 1980s material
The Melvins - Salad of a Thousand Delights (Music Video Distributors) live DVD release recorded in 1991
Morphine - The Best of 1992-1995 (Rykodisc) hits-and-rarities collection
Aaron Neville - Orchid (Hyena) re-issue of this 1983 EP with four bonus tracks
O.S.I. - Office of Strategic Influence (Inside Out) prog rock dream team with Jim Matheos of Fates Warning and Mike Portnoy and Kevin Moore of Dream Theater, also available as a limited edition with a bonus disc
Outspoken - Bitter Shovel (Lava) debut from Louisville, Kentucky
Pitchfork - Eucalyptus (Swami) vintage sessions from the San Diego band that went on to spawn Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu
The Postal Service - Give Up (SubPop) new from Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello
Red Hot Valentines - Calling Today Off (Polyvinyl) five-piece power pop
Red Kross - Neurotica (Sympathy for the Record Industry) colored-vinyl LP re-issue of this 1987 classic, now with a bonus track
Reggie & The Full Effect - Under the Tray (Vagrant) featuring James Dewees of the Get Up Kids
Sentridoh - Free Sentridoh Songs from Loobiecore (Shelter Music) all new from Lou Barlow of Sebadoh and Folk Implosion
Shipping News - Three-Four (Quarterstick) new collection of three out-of-print limited-edition, handmade EPs, featuring rare solo contributions and new bonus tracks
Squirtgun/Teen Idols - The Dysfunctional Shadowman (Asian Man) two tracks from each band on this split CD EP
Stalag 13 - In Control (Dr. Strange) CD re-issue with bonus tracks
The Ben Taylor Band - Famous Among the Barns (Iris) anticipated debut from the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon
They Might Be Giants - Direct from Brooklyn (Restless) DVD release featuring 14 videos with commentary, home movies, live footage, and a trailer for the documentary Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns
various artists - Carnivals, Cotton Candy, & You (Orange Sky) collection of up-and-coming psychedelic garage bands
various artists - Survive & Advance Volume 2 (Merge) budget-priced label sampler featuring Spoon, Lambchop, the Buzzcocks, and a Clean cover by Superchunk
Dar Williams - The Beauty of the Rain (Razor & Tie) with guests John Popper of Blues Traveler, Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident, Bela Fleck, and Alison Krauss
Zion I - Deep Water Slang Version 2.0 (Raptivism) new from the duo most recently found on Linkin Park's Reanimation CD, featuring guest Aceyalone on "Cheeba Cheeba"
· Also mesmerizing as a songwriter is my pick of the week, the highly anticipated You Are Free by Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall of New York City). Stripped down to the acoustic essentials, these new sessions are haunting, achingly fragile, and candle-lit. Bearing the Beggars Banquet imprint, You Are Free features her first new material since 1998, and - shhh! - "secret" guests Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. The gorgeous packaging of the CD warms the vinyl in my blood, as the cardboard gatefold sleeve is wonderfully reminiscent of the LP experience, complete with a poster-sized fold-up insert. In a perfect world, all CDs should look this good. Perhaps the first must-hear release of the season, with simple piano and guitar, the resonating vibe recalls that unshakable tenderness of an album such as Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lionel Richie tonight, The Calling on Thursday, and David Gray on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Lou Reed on Friday; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Tori Amos on Friday overnight and Supergrass on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Beck.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 18:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
AC/DC - Rock Masters (Image Entertainment) live DVD from the London Hippodrome, with original vocalist Bon Scott
Aereogramme - Sleep & Release (Beggars Banquet) pulsating buzz rock reminiscent of The Pixies and Smashing Pumpkins, sweeping at one moment and brutal the next
Antipop vs. Matthew Shipp - Antipop Consortium (Thirsty Ear) hip hop meets free jazz
Born Against - Patriotic Hymns for Children and Battle Hymns of the Race War (Kill Rock Stars) CD re-issues of classic NYC political hardcore from 1991 and 1993
Bouncing Souls - Do You Remember? 15 Years of the Bouncing Souls (Chunksaah) two-DVD set of documentaries, live footage, and videos
Breast Fed Yak - Get Your Greasy Hand Off the Sham (Birdman) new from Paul Lemos of Controlled Bleeding
Butthole Surfers - Butthole Surfers and PCPP EP (Latino Bugger Veil) first time ever on CD for this collection of two early EPs, now featuring bonus live tracks and demos
Calexico - Feast of Wire (Quarterstick) the fourth album from Joey Burns and John Convertino of Giant Sand
Rhys Chatham - An Angel Moves Too Fast to See (Table of Elements) three-CD box set of selected works from 1971 through 1989
Covenant - Northern Light (Metropolis) Swedish synth masters of the "electronic body music" scene
The Cure - Rock Masters (Image Entertainment) live DVD from the Glasgow's Barrowlands in 1984
Dinky - Black Cabaret (Carpark Records) percolating and electronically aloof grooves from Alejandra Iglesias
Dirty Three - She Has No Strings Apollo (Touch & Go) recorded in Paris with producer Fabrice Laureau
DMX - It's Not a Game (Island)
Nicolai Dunger - Tranquil Isolation (Overcoat) anticipated new album from the Swedish singer-songwriter with guest Will Oldham
John Fahey - Red Cross (Revenant) the final album from the late label founder, featuring interpretations of Irving Berlin's "Remember" and the Gershwin standard "Summertime"
Funki Porcini - Fast Asleep (Ninja Tune) also available as a two-LP set
The Go-Betweens - Bright Yellow Bright Orange (Jetset)
Grey Market Goods - TBA (Thrill Jockey) new from Ken Brown of Directions in Music
JFA - We Know You Suck (Alternative Tentacles) this new skate-rock series CD collects more than 30 tracks of early 1980s material
The Melvins - Salad of a Thousand Delights (Music Video Distributors) live DVD release recorded in 1991
Morphine - The Best of 1992-1995 (Rykodisc) hits-and-rarities collection
Aaron Neville - Orchid (Hyena) re-issue of this 1983 EP with four bonus tracks
O.S.I. - Office of Strategic Influence (Inside Out) prog rock dream team with Jim Matheos of Fates Warning and Mike Portnoy and Kevin Moore of Dream Theater, also available as a limited edition with a bonus disc
Outspoken - Bitter Shovel (Lava) debut from Louisville, Kentucky
Pitchfork - Eucalyptus (Swami) vintage sessions from the San Diego band that went on to spawn Rocket from the Crypt and Drive Like Jehu
The Postal Service - Give Up (SubPop) new from Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello
Red Hot Valentines - Calling Today Off (Polyvinyl) five-piece power pop
Red Kross - Neurotica (Sympathy for the Record Industry) colored-vinyl LP re-issue of this 1987 classic, now with a bonus track
Reggie & The Full Effect - Under the Tray (Vagrant) featuring James Dewees of the Get Up Kids
Sentridoh - Free Sentridoh Songs from Loobiecore (Shelter Music) all new from Lou Barlow of Sebadoh and Folk Implosion
Shipping News - Three-Four (Quarterstick) new collection of three out-of-print limited-edition, handmade EPs, featuring rare solo contributions and new bonus tracks
Squirtgun/Teen Idols - The Dysfunctional Shadowman (Asian Man) two tracks from each band on this split CD EP
Stalag 13 - In Control (Dr. Strange) CD re-issue with bonus tracks
The Ben Taylor Band - Famous Among the Barns (Iris) anticipated debut from the son of James Taylor and Carly Simon
They Might Be Giants - Direct from Brooklyn (Restless) DVD release featuring 14 videos with commentary, home movies, live footage, and a trailer for the documentary Gigantic: A Tale of Two Johns
various artists - Carnivals, Cotton Candy, & You (Orange Sky) collection of up-and-coming psychedelic garage bands
various artists - Survive & Advance Volume 2 (Merge) budget-priced label sampler featuring Spoon, Lambchop, the Buzzcocks, and a Clean cover by Superchunk
Dar Williams - The Beauty of the Rain (Razor & Tie) with guests John Popper of Blues Traveler, Michael Kang of String Cheese Incident, Bela Fleck, and Alison Krauss
Zion I - Deep Water Slang Version 2.0 (Raptivism) new from the duo most recently found on Linkin Park's Reanimation CD, featuring guest Aceyalone on "Cheeba Cheeba"
