· Delightfully British in the campy flavor of go-go boots and paisley house dresses, my pick of the week is Zap the World by Death by Chocolate, released this coming Tuesday on the Jetset label. This fresh and sassy sophomore effort is fronted by Angela Faye Tillett, a time-traveling London pop girl channeling a splendidly droll vibe whether she's musing on the perfect scrumptiousness of Cinnamon Grahams cereal or her favorite "lime-green fitted blouse with rounded collar and puce cuffs.
" More Top of the Pops-worthy than Austin Powers' growl, this lounge-jazz concoction of hypnotic Doors-esque keyboards and vintage Vox wah-wah guitar winks at even the most rhythmically challenged listener to join the finger-snapping frenzy. Highlights include "A B & C Part Two," a churning easy-beat musical bed over which Tillet recites an alphabet of indelible images such as fricassee, glycerin, harlequin, and I Love You Alice B. Toklas, and the title-track cover - originally recorded by the character of Witchiepoo in a long lost HR PuffnStuff episode.
· Also due next week from across the pond is the rush release of Party at the Palace, the recent musical celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. Special guests on the 20-track CD include the surviving members of Queen, Shirley Bassey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Cocker, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, and Atomic Kitten. Proceeds benefit the Golden Jubilee Trust.
· The independent Eenie Meenie Records label is serving up something hot from its kitchen this Tuesday, a vegetarian-charged 11-track menu of beats 'n' eats simply entitled Cookbook. This various-artist collection is the brainchild of From Bubblegum to Sky's Mario Hernandez, who asked his favorite bands to contribute a tune and a recipe. Participants include The Anubian Lights, DJ Me DJ You, Japanese Tiger, and The Evolution Control Committee alongside tasty plans for Delight-Shroom Pie, Bossa Blanco, and Green Tomatillos Salsa. And what is cooking without a cold beverage on hand? Rest easy: Also included in the CD package is a handsome drink coaster.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno features Abandoned Pools this evening and Ryan Adams on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Dolly Parton on Monday; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn gets jiggy with Gov't Mule this evening overnight, Robyn Hitchcock on Thursday overnight, and Five for Fighting on Friday overnight; and Late Night with Conan O'Brien showcases Billy Bragg on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 9:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Barry Adamson - The King of Nothing Hill (Mute)
Aden - Topsiders (Teenbeat)
All Natural - No Additives, No Preservatives (All Natural Inc) re-issue of this indie hip-hop debut featuring new tracks with the help of Daily Plannet
American Analog Set - Updates (Tiger Style) six-track EP
Bobby Bare, Jr. - Young Criminal Starvation League (Bloodshot)
Kenny Barron Trio - Live at Bradley's (Sunnyside) featuring the jazz pianist's take on Miles Davis' "Solar"
Bis - Plastique Nouveau (Spin Art) mini-album with remixes by Ectomorph, Tommie Sunshine, and Adult
Tim Carroll - Always Tomorrow (Sideburn) solo release from the Gizmos founder
The Cherry Valence - Riffin' (Estrus) live twin-drummer attack from North Carolina
Counting Crows - Hard Candy (Geffen) with guests Ryan Adams, Leona Naess, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew Sweet
Echocast - Where the Future Ends (XS Records)
Alvin Youngblood Hart - Down in the Alley (Memphis International) acoustic country blues with liner notes by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
Hockey Night - Rad Zapping (LMG)
The Insomniacs - "Mary Ann Lightly" (Estrus) seven-inch single
Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Heads Up! (Alligator)
Jason Loewenstein - At Sixes & Sevens (SubPop)
Lycia - Tripping Back into the Broken Days (Projekt)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - A Jackknife to a Swan (Side One Dummy)
Bill Miller - Spirit Train (Paras)
Dolly Parton - Halos & Horns (Blue Eye/Sugarhill) featuring a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"
The Pixies - The Pixies (Spin Art) collection of demos from 1987 recorded at Boston's Fort Apache Studios
The Prodigy - "Baby's Got a Temper" (XL/Maverick) CD, DVD, or 12-inch single from the upcoming Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned album
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (Interscope) with guest Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters
Quix*o*tic - Mortal Mirror (Kill Rock Stars) new from the Washington, D.C., garage-rock three-piece featuring covers of Black Sabbath's "Lord of This World" and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is"
Silverchair - Diorama (Eleven/Atlantic) featuring arrangements with guest collaborator Van Dyke Parks of Beach Boys production fame
Six by Seven - The Way I Feel Today (Mantra/Beggars Banquet) the group's third album
Sixer - Beautiful Trash (Better Youth Organization) featuring former members of Hot Rod Circuit and Ann Baretta
The Slip - Angels Come on Time (Rykodisc) look for this improvisational trio to open for Page McConnell's new Vida Blue project this month
Speedking - The Fist & The Laurels (Tiger Style) limited-edition two-CD set
Time in Malta - A Second Engine (Equal Vision)
Toxic Narcotic - We're All Doomed (Go Kart)
Twinemen - Twinemen (Hi-N-Dry) from the ashes of Morphine, this new band features Dana Colley, Billy Conway, and Laurie Sargent
· Also due next week from across the pond is the rush release of Party at the Palace, the recent musical celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. Special guests on the 20-track CD include the surviving members of Queen, Shirley Bassey, Ozzy Osbourne, Joe Cocker, Steve Winwood, Rod Stewart, Tom Jones, and Atomic Kitten. Proceeds benefit the Golden Jubilee Trust.
· The independent Eenie Meenie Records label is serving up something hot from its kitchen this Tuesday, a vegetarian-charged 11-track menu of beats 'n' eats simply entitled Cookbook. This various-artist collection is the brainchild of From Bubblegum to Sky's Mario Hernandez, who asked his favorite bands to contribute a tune and a recipe. Participants include The Anubian Lights, DJ Me DJ You, Japanese Tiger, and The Evolution Control Committee alongside tasty plans for Delight-Shroom Pie, Bossa Blanco, and Green Tomatillos Salsa. And what is cooking without a cold beverage on hand? Rest easy: Also included in the CD package is a handsome drink coaster.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno features Abandoned Pools this evening and Ryan Adams on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Dolly Parton on Monday; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn gets jiggy with Gov't Mule this evening overnight, Robyn Hitchcock on Thursday overnight, and Five for Fighting on Friday overnight; and Late Night with Conan O'Brien showcases Billy Bragg on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 9:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Barry Adamson - The King of Nothing Hill (Mute)
Aden - Topsiders (Teenbeat)
All Natural - No Additives, No Preservatives (All Natural Inc) re-issue of this indie hip-hop debut featuring new tracks with the help of Daily Plannet
American Analog Set - Updates (Tiger Style) six-track EP
Bobby Bare, Jr. - Young Criminal Starvation League (Bloodshot)
Kenny Barron Trio - Live at Bradley's (Sunnyside) featuring the jazz pianist's take on Miles Davis' "Solar"
Bis - Plastique Nouveau (Spin Art) mini-album with remixes by Ectomorph, Tommie Sunshine, and Adult
Tim Carroll - Always Tomorrow (Sideburn) solo release from the Gizmos founder
The Cherry Valence - Riffin' (Estrus) live twin-drummer attack from North Carolina
Counting Crows - Hard Candy (Geffen) with guests Ryan Adams, Leona Naess, Sheryl Crow, and Matthew Sweet
Echocast - Where the Future Ends (XS Records)
Alvin Youngblood Hart - Down in the Alley (Memphis International) acoustic country blues with liner notes by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top
Hockey Night - Rad Zapping (LMG)
The Insomniacs - "Mary Ann Lightly" (Estrus) seven-inch single
Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Heads Up! (Alligator)
Jason Loewenstein - At Sixes & Sevens (SubPop)
Lycia - Tripping Back into the Broken Days (Projekt)
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - A Jackknife to a Swan (Side One Dummy)
Bill Miller - Spirit Train (Paras)
Dolly Parton - Halos & Horns (Blue Eye/Sugarhill) featuring a cover of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"
The Pixies - The Pixies (Spin Art) collection of demos from 1987 recorded at Boston's Fort Apache Studios
The Prodigy - "Baby's Got a Temper" (XL/Maverick) CD, DVD, or 12-inch single from the upcoming Always Outnumbered Never Outgunned album
Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (Interscope) with guest Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters
Quix*o*tic - Mortal Mirror (Kill Rock Stars) new from the Washington, D.C., garage-rock three-piece featuring covers of Black Sabbath's "Lord of This World" and Aaron Neville's "Tell It Like It Is"
Silverchair - Diorama (Eleven/Atlantic) featuring arrangements with guest collaborator Van Dyke Parks of Beach Boys production fame
Six by Seven - The Way I Feel Today (Mantra/Beggars Banquet) the group's third album
Sixer - Beautiful Trash (Better Youth Organization) featuring former members of Hot Rod Circuit and Ann Baretta
The Slip - Angels Come on Time (Rykodisc) look for this improvisational trio to open for Page McConnell's new Vida Blue project this month
Speedking - The Fist & The Laurels (Tiger Style) limited-edition two-CD set
Time in Malta - A Second Engine (Equal Vision)
Toxic Narcotic - We're All Doomed (Go Kart)
Twinemen - Twinemen (Hi-N-Dry) from the ashes of Morphine, this new band features Dana Colley, Billy Conway, and Laurie Sargent
