This Saturday, the best brick-and-mortar record retailers across North America have organized a holiday of sorts in their own honor. Log on to (http://www.recordstoreday.com) to find out what shops in your area are participating, with a variety of special events and cool stuff that can't be squeezed through the Internet. Happenings include in-store appearances by Metallica, Panic at the Disco, Allison Moorer, Regina Spektor, Will Oldham, Thrice, Marshall Crenshaw, Steve Earle, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and Peanut Butter Wolf. Many participating stores are offering deep discounts and are the only place you'll find Record Store Day-only releases on vinyl from Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks and others who haven't forgotten that the old days were maybe the best ways.
Elvis Costello hasn't forgotten, either, with his latest album, Momofuku. The Lost Highway Records release is due this coming Tuesday as a vinyl-only affair backed with code for digital download as MP3s. The CD version will follow a week later.
Each year beginning in 2000, London's Royal Albert Hall has hosted a week of concerts in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust as an annual project of The Who's Roger Daltrey. Now a DVD collects the best of 2006 and 2007 with, just like the concerts, all proceeds benefiting the worthy organization. Highlights include a teaming of Noel Gallagher of Oasis and Paul Weller of The Jam, a solo performance of "Don't Look Back In Anger," and Daltrey and Razorlight performing Eddie Cochran's hit "Summertime Blues." Others offering their love on TCT at the Royal Albert Hall include The Who, Bloc Party, The Cure, Kaiser Chiefs, Judas Priest, The Coral, and Kasabian.
Also offering up some goodies for the eyes is next week's reissue of Atreyu's Lead Sails Paper Anchor by Hollywood Records. The "2.0" version comes in eco-friendly packaging and sports the new CDVU+ format. Bonus features include 10 videos, covers of Faith No More's "Epic" and The Descendants' "Clean Sheets," a 50-page printable booklet, and a video guitar lesson by Dan Jacobs.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Seether on Thursday, Flogging Molly on Friday, and Goldfrapp on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman spreads Gossip this evening, The Black Keys on Thursday, and Jordan Zevon on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien unchains Grizzly Bear on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Liam Finn on Friday overnight; and Tavis Smiley sits down with Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige on Thursday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, April 22:
Barry Adamson - Back to the Cat (Central Control) seventh solo album from the guitarist whose résumé includes Magazine and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds
Blind Melon - For My Friends (Melonex Audiological Laboratories) reborn with new singer Travis Warren
Billy Bragg - Mr. Love & Justice (Anti/Epitaph) his first new release in six years, backed by The Blokes and featuring Rolling Stones' pianist Ian McLagan and special guest Robert Wyatt of Soft Machine
Buckra - Camouflage Playboys International (Detonation Laboratories) lounge-swanky and barnstormin' the beat to make the ladies squeal
The Death Set - Worldwide (Counter Records) chaotic, twisted frenzy from this Australian DIY duo finding a new home in Baltimore, squeezing 18 pop-punk tantrums into a lively 25 minutes
Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords (Sub Pop) New Zealand duo featured last year in their own series on HBO
Golden Shoulders - Friendship Is Deep (Welcome Home Records) featuring former Cake drummer Todd Roper and Little Wings' Jason Graham, this witty, Americana/Beatle-esque reissue from 2004 with two bonus tracks is pure pleasure
Neil Hamburger - Sings Country Winners (Drag City)
Jeff Healey - Mess of Blues (Ruf Records) posthumous release recorded live and in the studio, featuring soaring covers of Neil Young's "Like a Hurricane," Hank Williams' "Jambalaya," and The Band's "The Weight"
Jellyfish - Best! (EMI) 20-track import-only collection with demos and live selections
Lettuce - Rage! (Velour) eight-piece funk collective featuring members of Soulive and John Scofield's and Robert Randolph's bands, covering Curtis Mayfield's "Move on Up" and Charles Wright & the Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band's "Express Yourself"
Love - Forever Changes (Rhino) expanded reissue from 1967, featuring a bonus disc of 21 alternative mixes
Miguel Migs - Those Things Remixed (Salted Music) super-funky track-by-track bounce through last year's dance-floor storm, with knob-twiddlers Faze Action, Crazy P, Simon Grey, and Cottonbelly
Donny Osmond - From Donny ... with Love (Decca) featuring covers of his own teeny-bop hits and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful," and Johnny Nash's "I Can See Clearly Now"
Otis Redding - Otis Blue/Otis Sings Soul: Collector's Edition (Rhino) two-CD reissue packed with mono and stereo versions, and live tracks recorded at L.A.'s Whisky A Go Go in 1966 and Europe in 1967
The Replacements - Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash; Stink; Hootenanny; and Let It Be (Rhino) deluxe-edition reissues from 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984, respectively, each packed with four to 12 bonus tracks
Sleepercar - West Texas (Civil Defense League) terrific side project of Sparta's Jim Ward, formerly of At the Drive in, with guests Ross Godfrey of Morcheeba on guitar and Farfisa organ, Maura Davis of Denali, and his own father on bass duties
J. Spaceman/Sun City Girls - Mister Lonely: Music from a Film by Harmony Korine (Drag City) mesmerizing succession of spoken-word and instrumental passages
Tantric - The End Begins (Silent Majority) with guest Kevin Martin of Candlebox
Anna Ternheim - Halfway to Fivepoints (Decca) on tour next month with El Perro Der Mar and Lykke Li, the Swedish vocalist/guitarist's first full-length release here in the States is a gentle, spooky butterfly caress, featuring a beautiful, relaxed cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Little Lies"
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell (Saddle Creek) featuring a seven-track bonus disc in the first pressing
Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken - Ampersand (self-release) six-track CD EP from the Caedmon's Call vocalist and his honey-toned wife, featuring a gorgeous cover of Bob Dylan's "If Not for You"
Whitesnake - Good to Be Bad (Steamhammer/SPV) all new with members of Winger and Dio; also available in a two-CD set with a bonus live disc
Young Knives - Superabundance (Transgressive/Ryko) hot off last year's nomination for the Mercury Prize, this domestic issue boasts five bonus tracks and a cover of Adam & the Ants' "Stand & Deliver"
Your Vegas - A Town & Two Cities (Republic/Universal) named as one of 10 bands to watch this year by Playboy magazine, spot on in acknowledging their influences as U2, Depeche Mode, and Coldplay
various artists - Music That Illuminates Your Life: Volume 1 (Gemini Sun) featuring David Arkenstone, Nicholas Gunn, and Mars Lasar
