Rock and roll shows off its brainpower next week in two CDs that feature frontmen who've earned the privilege of being referred to as "doctor." Bad Religion is back with its 14th album of smart punk, New Maps of Hell, helmed by UCLA professor of evolutionary paleontology Greg Graffin.
More egghead action arrives in the new CD single "Melody Day" from Caribou on the Merge Records imprint, with guest Jeremy Greenspan of the Junior Boys. Booking promoters and club managers aren't likely to pull the wool over the eyes of founder Dan Snaith, as he holds a Ph.D. in mathematics.
Two new "kids' music" CDs should entertain the young at heart in all of us. A great way to turn the tots onto the sounds of ragtime, gypsy jazz, and swing is through the Asylum Street Spankers' terrific new album, Mommy Says No!, from Yellow Dog Records. The old-timey sextet serves up a dozen sweet smiles guaranteed not to drive parents off a cliff; the songs are so cleverly constructed and executed that you might even forget it's aimed at kids. From the sweet sway of "Be Like You" to the New Orleans beat of "When I Grow Up," this pensive playground romp kicks up its Keds with a playful strut, from name-checking Tony Soprano in "You Only Love Me for My Lunchbox" to hyper acoustic-punk beat of the title track. Two covers will give the adults in the minivan something to grin over: a bluegrass take on Nirvana's "Sliver" and a spooky cool spin through Harry Nilsson's "Think About Your Troubles."
De Soto Records' Play CD is packed with modern hipsters including Mock Orange, Mary Timony, and The Cassettes. Contributing their talents and raising funds for the Vera Project and the Patricia M. Sitar Center for the Arts, highlights include Mudhoney getting its wiggles out with "I Like to Make Noise & Break Things," the Young Fresh Fellows packing up a "Picnic," and the Supersuckers getting nutty with The Chips/Blues Brothers hit "Rubber Biscuit."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes The Decemberists on Monday and Silverchair on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Elvis Costello on Friday, Smashing Pumpkins on Monday, and Interpol Tuesday; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Army of Me on Thursday overnight and Breaking Benjamin on Friday overnight; The gals on ABC's The View talk up Bon Jovi on Thursday morning; and The Henry Rollins Show on IFC features musical guest is Placebo this weekend.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, July 10:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Arcade Fire- "Intervention" (Merge) seven-inch single with a B-side cover of "Ocean of Noise" by Calexico
Beatallica- Sgt. Hetfields Motorbreath Pub Band(Oglio) parody band mixing the Beatles and Metallica with songs "The Thing That Should Not Let It Be," "Blackened in the U.S.S.R." and "A Garage Dayz Nite"
Buffalo Tom- Three Easy Pieces(Ammal/New West) their first new music in nine years
Annie Clark- Marry Me(Beggars Banquet) with guest drummer Brian Teasley of Man Or Astroman?
Crowded House- Time on Earth(ATO) with a new lineup and their first new music in 10 years, look for guest guitarist Johnny Marr on two tracks and one song, "Silent House," co-written with the Dixie Chicks
Darkest Hour- Deliver Us(Victory) heavy, heavy metal fronted by the brutal John Henry
The Dresden Dolls- Live at the Roundhouse London(Eagle Vision) DVD featuring a cover of "Mein Herr" from Cabaret, dancers and circus acts, and a 26-minute behind-the-scenes documentary
Droid - Droid(Emotional Syphon) with guest Chino Moreno of the Deftones and performing this summer on the Family Values tour, this is the debut release on the boutique label run by Korn guitarist James "Murky" Shaffer
Gallows- Orchestra of Wolves(Epitaph) featuring a cover of Black Flag's "Nervous Breakdown" and three exclusive songs on the domestic release
Gogol Bordello- Super Taranta(SideOne Dummy)
The Happy Mondays- Uncle Dysfunktional(Sequel) featuring the single "Jellybean," this import-only new album features producer Howie B. and guest guitarist Ry Cooder
Hawaii Mud Bombers- Mondo Primo(Wicked Cool) featuring the song "Johanna Beach," voted the fifth-best song of the year on Little Steven's Underground Garage radio show
Interpol- Our Love to Admire(Capitol) also available in a deluxe edition featuring a poster and 24-page hardbound book
Iron & Wine- "Boy with a Coin" (Sub Pop) new CD single from the upcoming album, The Shepard's Dog, featuring two exclusive tracks
Jason Isbell- Sirens of the Ditch(New Line) solo debut from the former Drive-By Truckers guitarist
Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers- Glassjaw Boxer(Everfine) with guests Marc Roberge of O.A.R. and Mike Daly & Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown, this is excellent, softly winding Americana to watch fireflies by
The Klaxons- "Gravity's Rainbow" (Dim Mak) first in a series of three special vinyl 12-inch singles with an etched flip side
Kool & The Gang- Still Kool(New Door) all-new two-CD set featuring a cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Happening Brother"
No Use for a Name - All the Best Songs(Fat Wreck) budget-priced 26-track best-of featuring two previously unreleased songs
Patton Oswalt- Werewolves & Lollipops(Sub Pop) darn funny stand-up riffing on KFC, saving the soul of Star Wars, and the Bush administration as the Dukes of Hazzard
Reel Big Fish- Monkeys for Nothin' & the Chimps for Free(Rock Ridge) featuring the quizzical song "Do All Girls Think They're Fat"
Mark Ronson- Version(Allido/RCA) in the producer's seat, with Amy Winehouse, Robbie Williams, Phantom Planet, and Lilly Allen, and featuring a smash cover of The Smiths' "Stop Me" with Daniel Merriweather
Sebadoh- The Freed Man(Domino) expanded CD reissue boasting 52 tracks
Mem Shannon- Live: A Night at Tipitina's(Northern Blues) funky New Orleans blues featuring the guitarist's sizzling take on Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" and The Neville Brothers' "Voodoo"
Smashing Pumpkins- Zeitgeist(Martha's Music/Reprise) with iconic Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker
Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga(Merge) available on vinyl LP with an MP3 download coupon; for the first CD pressing to contain the bonus Get Nice! EP of tasties
Stephen Stills - Just Roll Tape: April 26, 1968 (Eyewall/Rhino) collection of demos featuring the first recorded versions of classics "Wooden Ships" and "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"
They Might Be Giants- The Else(Zoe/Rounder) produced by the Dust Brothers
Trashlight Vision- Alibis & Ammunition(Rock Ridge) glorious, furniture-destroying New York City rock in the vein of Guns N' Roses; helmed by Acey Slade of the Murderdolls
M. Ward - Duet for Guitars #2 (Merge) also available on vinyl LP on the Jealous Butcher Records imprint
Bill Wence- Songs from the Rocky Fork Tavern(615 Records) all new from Tom T. Hall's longtime pianist, featuring a cool cover of Looking Glass' "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" and Marvin Rainwater's 1957 hit "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird"
Women & Children- Women & Children(Gifted Children) four-track 12-inch EP of dark experimental folk
Roddy Woomble- My Secret Is My Silence(7-10 Music) solo debut from the Idlewild vocalist, with band mate Rod Jones on five tracks
Zeke- Super Sound Racing(Relapse) featuring a cover of Deep Purple's "Highway Star"
