21
Feb
2006
· What do you do when your former record label compiles a greatest-hits package without your blessing? David Lowery, Johnny Hickman, and their comrades in Cracker took the dispute head-on, re-recording 13 of their own personally selected "best of" tracks and releasing them on the same day with another label.
Both CDs hit store shelves earlier this week, and Virgin Records, the band's previous label, offers up 15 alternative-rock classics in Get with It: The Best of Cracker, featuring the original studio versions. Despite the frustration of not having the artist behind the project, an accompanying DVD of the same name looks mighty tasty, featuring an "acoustic sing-along" version of "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)," a live performance of "Get Off This" from MTV's 120 Minutes, and a "homebody" take on the smash hit "Low." Cooking Vinyl Records offers up the artist-approved Greatest Hits Redux CD, with nine tracks crossing over between the two collections, all newly re-recorded and closer to the energy of the band's live concerts, including the blistering attack on record-label sloth in "It Ain't Gonna Suck Itself." Personally, I give my nod to the artist-initiated Redux set, which contains an all-new bonus song, "Something You Ain't Got," and all the songs' lyrics in its nifty booklet alongside fans' queries to the band about the meaning of each one.
· Published in 1998, the story of Elektra Records in Follow the Music by Gavan Davis and label founder Jac Holzman is a thrilling history of a by-the-bootstraps record label that rose from its humble folk roots into the powerhouse that nurtured The Doors, Queen, Carly Simon, Tim Buckley, and an endless list of important artists. But for me, so much of the label's early story was missing without a connection to the actual music, with all the "misses" long out of print on original LPs. Good things do come to those who wait, as this week the reissue wizards at Collectors' Choice Music unleash a 15-CD series of these long-ignored gems, personally selected by Holzman himself. If you're not ready to dip a toe into these lost albums from The Wackers, Roxy, Steve Noonan, Eric Darling, and the Charles River Valley Boys (who lay down in the bluegrass with their Fab Four tribute Beatle Country), try on Great Lost Elektra Singles Volume 1, a collection of non-LP sides from Judy Collins, the "pre Byrds" Beefeaters (with Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby), and the Stalk-Forest Group, which later evolved into Blue Oyster Cult.
· More advanced studies in the histories of ground-breaking record labels have just debuted from London's Black Dog Publishing, with its "labels unlimited" series. First up is the just released tome to Warp Records, the stylish imprint started by two young college graduates from Sheffield with club-friendly 12-inch singles from Nightmares on Wax, Sweet Exorcist, and Forgemasters in 1989. Beautifully illustrated in 188 glossy pages, all secrets are revealed as the label went on to promote the careers of Aphex Twin, LFO, Boards of Canada, Vincent Gallo, Squarepusher, and Prefuse 73. Up next in this highly recommended series is a focus on Rough Trade, due later this summer.
· While he might be relatively unknown to the casual American audience, France's Serge Gainsbourg is akin to our own Marvin Gaye in his sexual power and smooth, seductive grace. Giving a modern twist to his iconic legacy, the Paris-based Discograph Records label has assembled a new tribute album, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited, due this coming Tuesday. The CD collects 14 of his best, and translates them into English under the modern-rock interpretation of Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Portishead, Tricky, The Rakes, and more. Most interestingly, many of the songs have been tackled by duos, threesomes, and other artist combinations, such as Cat Power and Karen Elson (supermodel and Jack White's new bride) covering "I Love You (Me Either)," Kid Loco and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker confessing "I Just Came to Tell You That I'm Going," Marianne Faithful's crooning "Lola R. for Ever" with reggae superstars Sly & Robbie, and Franciose Hardy, Faultline, and Brian Molko of Placebo working out "Requiem for a Jerk."
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts The Strokes on Monday;Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the legendary Isaac Hayes on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson welcomes The Lashes on Thursday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Sheryl Crow this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 28:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Ass Ponys - The Okra Years (Shake It) remastered two-CD compilation of early material and rarities, featuring a cover of the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Bayside - Bayside Acoustic (Victory) CD and DVD set featuring covers of Elliott Smith's "Baby Britian" and the Smoking Popes' "Megan"
Colossal Yes - Acapulco Roughs (Ba Da Bing) solo debut from Utrillo Kushner of Comets on Fire
Jessi Colter - Out of the Ashes (Shout Factory) with guests Tony Joe White and Waylon Jennings
Elvis Costello - My Flame Burns Blue (Deutsche Grammophon) live concert CD with a 52-piece orchestra
Eels - Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall (Vagrant) recorded last year in New York City
Jesse Harris - Mineral (Secret Sun) new solo set from the member of the Ferdinandos
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam) with guests Raekwon and Cappadonna, and producers MF Doom, J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Madlib
Tony Gilkyson - Goodbye Guitar (Rolling Sea) new solo album from the former X and Lone Justice guitarist, with guests Chuck E. Weiss and Van Dyke Parks
Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely (Victory)
Kid Rock & the Twisted Brown Trucker Band - Live Trucker (Atlantic) recorded in his home state of Michigan in 2000 and 2004; highlights include a cover of the Gap Band's "Outstanding" and a duet with Gretchen Wilson in "Picture"
Madonna - "Sorry" (Maverick) new single featuring a Pet Shop Boys remix
Gil Mantera's Party Dream - Bloodsongs (Audio Eagle/Fat Possum) from Youngstown, Ohio, on the boutique label run by Patrick Carney of the Black Keys
Rhett Miller - The Believer (Verve Forecast) second solo album from the Old 97's frontman, featuring a duet with Rachael Yamagata
Nine Black Alps - Everything Is (Interscope) hot debut from the U.K.
The Prodigy - Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005 (XL Recordings) two-CD set with a bonus DVD of 32 live and studio video clips
Smoking Popes - At Metro (Victory) live CD and DVD set filmed last year at the group's reunion show in Chicago
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Hammersmith Odeon, London (Columbia) two-CD set recorded in November 1975
Pat Travers - P.T. Power Trio (Blues Bureau) featuring covers of monster tracks by Grand Funk, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Humble Pie, and more
Dan Treacy - My Dark Places (Domino) import-only new CD from the founder of Television Personalities
Trespassers William - Having (Nettwerk) beautifully delicate shoe-gazing bliss under the spell of vocalist Anna-Lynne Williams, produced by Dave Fridmann
Why? - Rubber Traits (Anticon) four-song CD EP
Yea Big - The Wind That Blows The Robot's Arms (JIB Door/Locust) down the rabbit hole with this wild ride of jump-cut hip-hop
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres and Fandango! (Rhino) remastered reissues from 1973 and 1975, expanded with bonus live tracks
various artists - Om Lounge 10 (Om Records) sexy, down-tempo chill-out from Samantha James, Stolen Identity, Shazzam, and more
· Published in 1998, the story of Elektra Records in Follow the Music by Gavan Davis and label founder Jac Holzman is a thrilling history of a by-the-bootstraps record label that rose from its humble folk roots into the powerhouse that nurtured The Doors, Queen, Carly Simon, Tim Buckley, and an endless list of important artists. But for me, so much of the label's early story was missing without a connection to the actual music, with all the "misses" long out of print on original LPs. Good things do come to those who wait, as this week the reissue wizards at Collectors' Choice Music unleash a 15-CD series of these long-ignored gems, personally selected by Holzman himself. If you're not ready to dip a toe into these lost albums from The Wackers, Roxy, Steve Noonan, Eric Darling, and the Charles River Valley Boys (who lay down in the bluegrass with their Fab Four tribute Beatle Country), try on Great Lost Elektra Singles Volume 1, a collection of non-LP sides from Judy Collins, the "pre Byrds" Beefeaters (with Roger McGuinn, Gene Clark, and David Crosby), and the Stalk-Forest Group, which later evolved into Blue Oyster Cult.
· More advanced studies in the histories of ground-breaking record labels have just debuted from London's Black Dog Publishing, with its "labels unlimited" series. First up is the just released tome to Warp Records, the stylish imprint started by two young college graduates from Sheffield with club-friendly 12-inch singles from Nightmares on Wax, Sweet Exorcist, and Forgemasters in 1989. Beautifully illustrated in 188 glossy pages, all secrets are revealed as the label went on to promote the careers of Aphex Twin, LFO, Boards of Canada, Vincent Gallo, Squarepusher, and Prefuse 73. Up next in this highly recommended series is a focus on Rough Trade, due later this summer.
· While he might be relatively unknown to the casual American audience, France's Serge Gainsbourg is akin to our own Marvin Gaye in his sexual power and smooth, seductive grace. Giving a modern twist to his iconic legacy, the Paris-based Discograph Records label has assembled a new tribute album, Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited, due this coming Tuesday. The CD collects 14 of his best, and translates them into English under the modern-rock interpretation of Michael Stipe of R.E.M., Portishead, Tricky, The Rakes, and more. Most interestingly, many of the songs have been tackled by duos, threesomes, and other artist combinations, such as Cat Power and Karen Elson (supermodel and Jack White's new bride) covering "I Love You (Me Either)," Kid Loco and Pulp's Jarvis Cocker confessing "I Just Came to Tell You That I'm Going," Marianne Faithful's crooning "Lola R. for Ever" with reggae superstars Sly & Robbie, and Franciose Hardy, Faultline, and Brian Molko of Placebo working out "Requiem for a Jerk."
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts The Strokes on Monday;Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the legendary Isaac Hayes on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson welcomes The Lashes on Thursday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Sheryl Crow this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 28:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Ass Ponys - The Okra Years (Shake It) remastered two-CD compilation of early material and rarities, featuring a cover of the Velvet Underground's "All Tomorrow's Parties"
Bayside - Bayside Acoustic (Victory) CD and DVD set featuring covers of Elliott Smith's "Baby Britian" and the Smoking Popes' "Megan"
Colossal Yes - Acapulco Roughs (Ba Da Bing) solo debut from Utrillo Kushner of Comets on Fire
Jessi Colter - Out of the Ashes (Shout Factory) with guests Tony Joe White and Waylon Jennings
Elvis Costello - My Flame Burns Blue (Deutsche Grammophon) live concert CD with a 52-piece orchestra
Eels - Eels with Strings: Live at Town Hall (Vagrant) recorded last year in New York City
Jesse Harris - Mineral (Secret Sun) new solo set from the member of the Ferdinandos
Ghostface Killah - Fishscale (Def Jam) with guests Raekwon and Cappadonna, and producers MF Doom, J Dilla, Pete Rock, and Madlib
Tony Gilkyson - Goodbye Guitar (Rolling Sea) new solo album from the former X and Lone Justice guitarist, with guests Chuck E. Weiss and Van Dyke Parks
Hawthorne Heights - If Only You Were Lonely (Victory)
Kid Rock & the Twisted Brown Trucker Band - Live Trucker (Atlantic) recorded in his home state of Michigan in 2000 and 2004; highlights include a cover of the Gap Band's "Outstanding" and a duet with Gretchen Wilson in "Picture"
Madonna - "Sorry" (Maverick) new single featuring a Pet Shop Boys remix
Gil Mantera's Party Dream - Bloodsongs (Audio Eagle/Fat Possum) from Youngstown, Ohio, on the boutique label run by Patrick Carney of the Black Keys
Rhett Miller - The Believer (Verve Forecast) second solo album from the Old 97's frontman, featuring a duet with Rachael Yamagata
Nine Black Alps - Everything Is (Interscope) hot debut from the U.K.
The Prodigy - Their Law: The Singles 1990-2005 (XL Recordings) two-CD set with a bonus DVD of 32 live and studio video clips
Smoking Popes - At Metro (Victory) live CD and DVD set filmed last year at the group's reunion show in Chicago
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band - Hammersmith Odeon, London (Columbia) two-CD set recorded in November 1975
Pat Travers - P.T. Power Trio (Blues Bureau) featuring covers of monster tracks by Grand Funk, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Humble Pie, and more
Dan Treacy - My Dark Places (Domino) import-only new CD from the founder of Television Personalities
Trespassers William - Having (Nettwerk) beautifully delicate shoe-gazing bliss under the spell of vocalist Anna-Lynne Williams, produced by Dave Fridmann
Why? - Rubber Traits (Anticon) four-song CD EP
Yea Big - The Wind That Blows The Robot's Arms (JIB Door/Locust) down the rabbit hole with this wild ride of jump-cut hip-hop
ZZ Top - Tres Hombres and Fandango! (Rhino) remastered reissues from 1973 and 1975, expanded with bonus live tracks
various artists - Om Lounge 10 (Om Records) sexy, down-tempo chill-out from Samantha James, Stolen Identity, Shazzam, and more
