The covers caravan comes to town next week, as a bumper crop of new spins on old classics comes to record-store shelves. Eurythmics co-founder Dave Stewart is back with a 30-piece orchestra on Surfdog Records' The Dave Stewart Songbook, Vol. 1. Also available in a two-LP edition, the two-CD collection features new interpretations of his own "Would I Lie to You," "Sweet Dreams," and "Here Comes the Rain Again," rubbing up against an odd mix of Bon Jovi's "Midnight in Chelsea," Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More," and No Doubt's "Underneath It All." Other artists getting his lush touch include Bob Geldof, Sarah McLachlan, Bryan Ferry, and Celine Dion.
Former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland and his new Black Light Burns outfit take a more deconstructive approach to the new CD Cover Your Heart. Putting another twist on record distribution in 2008, the I Am Wolfpack Records release is available as a free download of seven teasing instrumentals, a $5 download of the full CD, a $25 physical disc with a bonus Anvil Pants Odyssey DVD, sticker, and T-shirt, and a $100 collector's package that includes all the above and a personally autographed hardcover book. What's on Borland's audio chopping block? From a thrilling take on Sisters of Mercy's "Lucretia My Reflection" to an industrial stomp through PJ Harvey's "Rid of Me," his guilty-pleasures list comes from a variety of sources, from Duran Duran to Fiona Apple to Iggy & the Stooges to Jesus Lizard.
Not to be left out, the wee ones get a hip music-history lesson with the Little Monsters, and the new Soulville CD on Little Monster Records. With guests Chocolate Genius and Tabitha Fair, this kid-friendly disc features covers of Marvin Gaye's hit "How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You)" and Bill Withers' "Lean on Me."
Television Alert
The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Fleet Foxes on Monday and Spiritualized on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien unleashes Gogol Bordello tonight and N.E.R.D. on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Jakob Dylan this evening and The Hold Steady on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents the return of Huey Lewis on Friday overnight; and Larry King Live sits down with the Jonas Brothers on Tuesday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, August 5
Peter Bradley Adams - Leavetaking (Sarathan) new from the eastmountainsouth co-founder, featuring a new recording of his previous band's popular wedding song "So You Are to Me"
Jim Boggia - Misadventures in Stereo (Bluhammock Music) featuring a magic time-capsule chill in "Listening to NRBQ," featuring NRBQ guitarist Big Al Anderson
Fear & the Nervous System - Fear & the Nervous System (Emotional Syphon) from James "Munky" Shaffer of Korn, with guests Brooks Wackerman of Bad Religion, Leopold Ross of Error, and Billy Gould of Faith No More
Denice Franke - Gulf Coast Blue (Certain Records) colored by scenes of Galveston, Texas, with guest Eliza Gilkyson on background vocals
Mike Gordon - The Green Sparrow (Rounder) joined by Phish-mates Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell, the bassist's new solo CD also features the Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Ivan Neville, and horns courtesy of Antibalas
Hawthorne Heights - Fragile Failure (Victory) featuring the aptly titled single "Rescue Me," this reconciliation CD comes after the past year of suing their label to be released from their contract
Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians - Luminous Groove (Yep Roc) the label's second box set in its smashing series of five-CD or eight-LP collections, this time expanding three fan favorites - Fegmania!, On Element of Light, and Gotta Let This Hen Out! - alongside bonus discs of rarities, including a cover of The Byrds' "Wild Mountain Thyme," recorded under the alias Nigel & the Crosses
Ida - My Fair, My Dark (Polyvinyl) CD EP with two new tracks and covers of songs by Dolly Parton, Anne Briggs, and John Martyn
KMFDM - Extra Volume 2 (Metropolis) rarities collection featuring 12-inch mixes, B sides, and previously unreleased tracks
Konrad - Loose Canyons (Radical Turf) percolating, robotic release from the label's enigmatic founder, waging pop war with a variety of old-school instruments including Korg samplers, electric kazoo, and theremin
Jake La Botz - Sing This To Yourself ... and Other Suggestions for a Personal Apocalypse (Charnel Ground) deep, sad, and darkly redemptive, the singer/songwriter is currently on his third tour of performing in tattoo parlors across America
Mike Mangione - Tenebrae (Mike Mangione/Oarfin) Latin for the word "shadows," this melancholy album features guest Karl Dietel of the Samples
Shannon McArdle - Summer of the Whore (Bar/None) new from the former Mendoza Line vocalist
Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy: Legacy Edition (Arista Legacy) expanded reissue from 1993, featuring a bonus DVD and a cover of Tom Waits' "Ol' 55"
Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams - The Great Unravel (High Noon) rural, softly psychedelic sextet from Sleepy Hollow, New York, slowly spinning between Neil Young and Neil Diamond
Randy Newman - Harps & Angels (Nonesuch) in his first new release in nine years, the state of the union falls under his sobering lament in "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country"
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip (Null Corp. Records) after an initial experiment as an artist-supported free download since early May, and in a CD/DVD edition a few weeks ago, this 180-gram vinyl, two-LP set for the audiophiles comes in a gatefold sleeve with a 24-page booklet
Norma Jean - The Anti-Mother (Solid State) with guests Page Hamilton of Helmet and Chino Moreno of the Deftones
Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst (Merge) temporarily abandoning his Bright Eyes namesake and backed by the Mystic Valley Band, this new solo album features guests M. Ward and My Morning Jacket's Jim James
Person L - Initial (Human Interest) new from The Starting Line's Kenneth Vasoli on his artist-controlled label
The Real McKenzies - Off the Leash (Fat Wreck) more kilt-clan punk from Canada
Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band - The Whole Fam Damnily (Side One Dummy) recorded in a church in rural Indiana and featuring the battle cry of "Wal-Mart Killed the Country Store," the blistering finger-style/slide guitar of the Reverend returns with more backwoods frenzy, backed by his wife Breezy on washboard and brother Jayme on the skins
Pineapple Express - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music by Public Enemy, Peter Tosh, Spiritualized, and Huey Lewis & the News
Amy Ray - Didn't It Feel Kinder (Daemon) with guests Arizona and guitarist Tomi Martin
Rithma - Sex Sells (Om) original, funky, sidewalk-gliding beats from the DJ/musician, like a spirited neon tour of an international metropolis
Carrie Rodriguez - She Ain't Me (Back Porch/Manhattan) wielding a mean fiddle and a heart-aching grace, this terrific sophomore solo album was co-written with members of Son Volt, The Jayhawks, and Semisonic
The Rumble Strips - Girls & Weather (Gigantic Music) nervous, zesty pop in the vein of the Undertones and XTC with ska-infused trumpet and plucky guitars
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 - original motion picture soundtrack (Warner Bros) with music by Michelle Branch, Cyndi Lauper, Hot Hot Heat, and Missy Higgins
Rosalie Sorrels - Strangers in Another Country: The Songs of Bruce "Utah" Phillips (Red House) loving tribute to the late traveling storyteller, with guests Peggy Seeger and Kate & Anna McGarrigle
The Ting Tings - "Shut Up & Let Me Go " (Columbia) import-only CD, seven-inch, and 12-inch single, featuring remixes by Tom Neville, Tocadisco, Chris Lake, and Haji & Emanuel
Trapt - Only Through the Pain (Eleven Seven) on tour all summer with Crue Fest 2008
Tropic Thunder - original motion picture soundtrack (Lakeshore) with music by Creedence Clearwater Revival, Quiet Riot, MC Hammer, and Mooney Suzuki