Like a refreshing summer rain in the Clinch Mountains of Virginia, a new tribute CD to a national legacy has swept me deep in piney-woods bliss. From the electrifying intonation of Elvis Presley's voice and Johnny Cash's bass profundo, to the taste of butter, salt, and pepper over yellow corn grits, some things just blast straight down one's chain of American DNA, regardless of where you call home. That's the way it is with this Tuesday's release of The Unbroken Circle: The Musical Heritage of the Carter Family, with a nifty list of modern artists raising up these gorgeous 75-year-old heirloom harmonies, similar to the heart-swelling lonesome pine of the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack. If these songs don't break your heart on the spot, or bring a playful hunchin' of Appalachian boogie into creaking hips, you're already dead! Highlights from the Dualtone Records release include Sheryl Crow's take on "No Depression in Heaven," Willie Nelson's simple shining of "You Are My Flower," and one of the most chilling murder ballads ever, "Never Let the Devil Get the Upper Hand on You," by Marty Stuart & His Superlatives. Other artists drinking deep from the well include Emmylou Harris, John Prine, George Jones, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with guest Kris Kristofferson, and family members Janette and Joe Carter.

Television Alert:

The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes the Yeah Yeah Yeahs tonight, Loretta Lynn on Thursday, and Phish on Friday; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn hosts Tommy Stinson of the Replacements this evening overnight, Saliva on Thursday overnight, and The Mooney Suzuki on Monday overnight; and Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts The Dresden Dolls on Thursday overnight and G Love & Special Sauce on Monday overnight.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 24:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change

ATB - No Silence (Radikal) featuring music from the upcoming LL Cool J film, Mindhunters

Boyz II Men - Throwback (Koch) all-covers collection featuring material by Hall & Oates, Al Green, Michael Jackson, the Isley Brothers, and more

Junior Brown - Down Home Chrome (Telarc) featuring his wild 12-string steel guitar version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Foxey Lady"

Jeff Buckley - Grace: Legacy Edition (Columbia Legacy) expanded CD re-issue now featuring a bonus disc of rarities and a DVD

Burrito Deluxe - The Whole Enchilada (Luna Chica) new from Flying Burrito Brothers Garth Hudson and Sneaky Pete Kleinow, featuring covers of John Prine's "You Got Gold" and Merle Haggard's "Way Back in the Mountains"

Vassar Clements - Livin' with the Blues (Acoustic Disc) first ever blues-bent album from the master bluegrass fiddler, with guests Elvin Bishop, Charlie Musselwhite, Roy Rogers, and Maria Muldar, and a cover of Booker T. Jones' "Green Onions"

Jimmy Cliff - Black Magic (Artemis) featuring one of Joe Strummer's last recording sessions, this new album also features guests Annie Lennox, Jools Holland, and Kool & The Gang

Clinic - Winchester Cathedral (Domino/Universal)

Donovan - Beat Café (Appleseed) featuring double bassist Danny Thompson and drummer Jim Keltner, this new album features a cover of the folk classic "The Cookoo"

Steve Earle - The Revolution Starts ... Now (Artemis) with guest Emmylou Harris

Faultline - Your Love Means Everything (Capitol) re-issue from 2002, now with three new tracks, including a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses" featuring vocalist Joseph Arthur; with guests Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., and former Verve guitarist Nick McCabe

The Finn Brothers - Everyone Is Here (Nettwerk) new from the Crowded House and Split Enz founders

Groundtruther - Latitude (Thirsty Ear) featuring Charlie Hunter and Bobby Previte

Guided by Voices - Half Smiles of the Decomposed (Matador) the group's final studio album

Gibby Haynes - Gibby Haynes & His Problem (Surfdog) solo debut from the Butthole Surfers' shaman

Inouk - No Danger (Say Hey Records) awesome debut of driving passion pop from Philadelphia, reminding me of an American Verve

Instruction - God Doesn't Care (Geffen) new from Quicksand guitarist Tom Capone

Jackie-O - Poe Little Rich Girl (TVT) with guests Wyclef Jean and Foxy Brown

Danny Johnson - Over Cloud 9 (Rainman) new from the Steppenwolf guitarist

Janis Joplin - Pearl: The Legacy Edition (Columbia Legacy) expanded to two CDs with a 1970 concert in Canada

G Love & Special Sauce - The Hustle (Brushfire/Universal) on tour with Jack Johnson

Mase - Welcome Back (Fo' Reel/Bad Boy) with guest Nelly

Tiff Merritt - Tambourine (Lost Highway) with guests Gary Louris of The Jayhawks, Marie McKee, and Robert Randolph

Mooney Suzuki - Alive & Amplified (Red Ink/Columbia)

Mouse on Mars - Radical Connector (Thrill Jockey)

Jason Mraz - Tonight, Not Again: Live at the Eagles Ballroom (Elektra/Atlantic) CD and DVD set featuring his solo acoustic cover of Elton John's "Rocket Man"

NRBQ - One in a Million (Music Video Distributors) DVD release featuring a photo slideshow

O.A.R. - 34th & 8th (Everfine) two-CD live set recorded at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom

David Pack - Travellin' Light (Peak) new solo album from the Ambrosia vocalist, with guests Ann Wilson of Heart, Steve Perry of Journey, and Dewey Bunnell of America

Alan Parsons - A Valid Path (Artemis) with guest David Gilmour of Pink Floyd

Pinetop Perkins - Ladies Man (M.C. Records) the 90-year-old in duet with Madeline Peyroux, Marcia Ball, Susan Tedeschi, Odetta, and more

Ray! - original motion picture soundtrack (Atlantic/Rhino) featuring a bonus DVD with the Ray Charles biopic's star, Jamie Foxx

Rich Robinson - Paper (Key Hole) solo debut from the Black Crowes guitarist, now playing all the parts and vocals, and showing off his oil-painting skills on the front cover

The Rolling Stones - Jump Back: The Best of the Rolling Stones 1971-1993 (Virgin)

The Sadies - Favourite Colours (Yep Roc) fantastic new album of mellow psychedelia with special guest Robyn Hitchcock co-authoring one track, and Greg Keelor of Blue Rodeo and Joe Burns of Calexico

Billy Joe Shaver - Billy & The Kid (Compadre) completing the album he was working on at the time of his son's death

Six Parts Seven - Everywhere & Right Here (Suicide Squeeze) cool instrumental sound paintings from Kent, Ohio

T. Rex - For the Lion & the Unicorn (United States of Distribution) soundboard recording from 1969 as a part of John Peel's Midnight Court concert series, featuring a 16-page booklet and a replica of the original concert poster

The Twilight Singers - She Loves You (One Little Indian) Greg Dulli's revealing collection of cover songs, including Hope Sadoval's "Feeling of Gaze," Fleetwood Mac's "What Makes You Think You're the One," and favorites from Martina Topley-Bird, Mary J. Blige, Marvin Gaye, and Nina Simone.

various artists - Beautiful Dreamer: The Songs of Stephen Foster (Emergent Music) with Ron Sexsmith, Michelle Shocked, BR-549, Raul Malo, John Prine, Roger McGuinn, and more

Butch Walker - Letters (Epic) new solo album from the member of Marvelous 3

Walking Concert - Run to Be Born (Some Records) mature new album from Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, and Quicksand

Mike Watt - The Secondman's Middle Stand (Red Ink/Columbia)

Wicker Park - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music from Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol, Mogwai, and Mazzy Star, and a cover of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds" by the Postal Service

Frank Zappa - Cucamonga (Del-Fi/Rhino) collection of novelty songs recorded under various pseudonyms

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher