05
Oct
2004
• Smiles and tenderness abound with a hug-full of new CDs in which big stars sing to the child in all of us. Last week Epic Records released Mary Had a Little Amp, a delightful benefit CD funding the People for the American Way's preschool organization, Project Kid Smart. From the opening track of Maroon 5's take on the Willie Wonka treat "Pure Imagination" to the Dixie Chicks' rendition of the Muppets' "Rainbow Connection," everything is sweet and delightful. Other cover gems are sprinkled throughout this cheerful sundae, including Joe Henry's "When You Wish Upon a Star" and Ann & Nancy Wilson's spin on Harry Nilsson's "Lifeline," but a few originals pop up too, from Rosanne Cash, Madonna, and - dig this - "Gentle Breeze" by Lou Reed & Laurie Anderson. Other highlights include Jack Johnson's acoustic reminder that "three is the magic number" and the Blue Man Group's "Sing Along," with guest Dave Matthews.
• Also released last week was Sony Wonder's Sing a Song With Six Strings: Guitar Players Rock the Family. A baker's dozen of guitar patriarchs were brought into the project by famed producer Eddie Kramer, with contributions from Lenny Kravitz guitarist Craig Ross, Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Peter Frampton, Keb' Mo', Slash, Vernon Reid, Jorma Kaukonen, and more.
• Later this month the Nettwerk imprint is releasing its own kid collection, For the Kids Too!, benefiting The Lili Claire Foundation and its efforts with neuro-genetic disorders. A bit more on the eclectic side, the CD features Robyn Hitchcock, They Might Be Giants, Lisa Loeb, Matthew Sweet, Ron Sexsmith, Jason Mraz, and more.
• In other kid-related news, look for the new Batman theme song by The Edge from U2 on the WB network's new animated series, and the Flaming Lips' contribution to the upcoming Spongebob Squarepants feature film soundtrack.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lenny Kravitz tonight, Ryan Cabrera on Thursday, and Yellowcard on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Minnie Driver on Thursday, and Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Red Hot Chili Peppers this evening overnight and Interpol on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show features Mark Knopfler on Thursday overnight and De La Soul on Friday overnight; and look for Duran Duran in the a.m. next week - showing up on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday and Live with Regis & Kelly on Wednesday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 12:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
'89 Cubs - There Are Giants in the Earth (Slowdance) Omaha trio featuring members of Bright Eyes and The Good Life
American Music Club - Love Songs for Patriots (Merge) first new music since 1994
Joseph Arthur - Our Shadows Will Remain (Vector) recorded in New Orleans
Frank Black Francis - Frank Black Francis (Spin Art) a disc of his pre-Pixies demos and a disc of newly re-recorded selections from his Pixies years
Breather Resist - Charmer (Jade Tree/Level Plane) from Louisville, Kentucky
Brother JT - Off Blue (Birdman) new from the Original Sins guitarist
Richard Buckner - Dents & Shells (Merge)
Camper Van Beethoven - New Roman Times (Pitch-A-Tent/Vanguard) the group's first new studio recordings in 15 years
Crash Test Dummies - Songs of the Unforgiven (Deep Fried/SPV) with guest Suzzy Roche
The Dears - No Cities Left (Spin Art) domestic release from this Canadian band
Defiance - Rise or Fall (Punkcore) featuring a cover of Menace's "Screwed Up"
Duran Duran - Astronaut (Epic) also available in a limited edition with a bonus DVD
Entrance - Wandering Stranger (Fat Possum) unconventional 21-year old bluesman
Holly Golightly - Slowly but Surely (Damaged Goods) her 13th album
Gun Club - "Secret Fires" (Sympathy for the Record Industry) three-song seven-inch single of rarities to coincide with the label's expanded CD re-issues of Death Party, Las Vegas Story, and Miami
Jobraith - Lonely Planet Boy (Attack)
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Believe! (Yep Roc) killer Southern Gothic swamp-cave boogie, wailin' a megaphone and fiddle like a soul preacher in a tent revival meeting or a hayseed incarnation of The Pogues gone Klezmer
Magnolia Sisters - Apres Faire le Boogie Woogle (Rounder) all-woman Cajun quartet
Maroons - Ambush (Quannum) new collaboration from Lateef the Truth and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious
The Metrolites - In Spy-Fi (Go-Go Golem) debut release from Quad Cities band
Ministry - Early Trax & Side Trax (Rykodisc) one CD featuring early 12-inch singles and another CD collecting all the group's side projects in Pailhead, Acid Horse, PTP, and 1000 Homo DJs
Eugene Mirman - The Absurd Comedy of Eugene Mirman (Suicide Squeeze) pee-your-pants funny stand-up from this comedian who toured as an opening act for Modest Mouse, featuring a bonus DVD of four short films
Mos Def - The New Danger (Geffen)
Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots (Alternative Tentacles) solo album from the member of Slim Cessna's Auto Club, featuring a string quartet
Naz Nomad & The Nightmares - Give Daddy the Knife Cindy (Dionysus) re-issue of this Damned side project of garage revival, also available as a purple-vinyl LP edition
No Doubt - Everything in Time (Interscope) condensed from the recent box set, this is a single-CD collection of rarities, highlighted by the live title track, two Rock Steady re-mixes, and Elvis Costello joining in on a cover of his own "I Throw My Toys Around"
The North Mississippi Allstars - Hill Country Revue (ATO) recorded live at Bonnaroo this past June, with guests Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and R.L. Burnside
Pain of Salvation - Be (Inside Out) heady new progressive metal from Daniel Gildenlow of The Flower Kings, asking big questions about earthly existence
Michael Pinnella - Enter by the Twelfth Gate (Inside Out) solo album from the Symphony X keyboardist
Paul Reddick - Villanelle (Northern Blues) smart, terrific new Americana blues from this Canadian singer-songwriter with guitarist-producer Colin Linden
The Ike Reilly Assassination - Sparkle in the Finish (Rock Ridge) excellent return of this clever lyricist last heard in 2001's critically acclaimed Salesmen & Racists
The Rolling Stones - Rock & Roll Circus (Abkco) DVD of this amazing television broadcast from 1968, featuring unseen footage from the original 16-millimeter negatives and commentary by attendees Yoko Ono, Marianne Faithfull, and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull
Sum 41 - Chuck (Island) the album is named for UN worker Chuck Pelletier, who came to the rescue of the band during an outburst of civil war in the Republic of Congo earlier this year
various artists - Matador at Fifteen (Matador) label retrospective
various artists - Peace Not War Vol. 2 (Peace Not War) two-CD benefit project featuring Ani DiFranco, Spearhead, Sonic Youth, Anti-Flag, Le Tigre, Jane's Addiction, and more
Volta Sound - Dandelion Wine (Orange Sky)
Wire - On the Box: 1979 (Pink Flag) CD and DVD set capturing live performances at WDR in Germany during the band's Chairs Missing/154 period
Yohimbe Brothers - The Tao of Yo (Thirsty Ear) with guests DJ Logic and Living Colour's Vernon Reid
• Also released last week was Sony Wonder's Sing a Song With Six Strings: Guitar Players Rock the Family. A baker's dozen of guitar patriarchs were brought into the project by famed producer Eddie Kramer, with contributions from Lenny Kravitz guitarist Craig Ross, Dean DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots, Peter Frampton, Keb' Mo', Slash, Vernon Reid, Jorma Kaukonen, and more.
• Later this month the Nettwerk imprint is releasing its own kid collection, For the Kids Too!, benefiting The Lili Claire Foundation and its efforts with neuro-genetic disorders. A bit more on the eclectic side, the CD features Robyn Hitchcock, They Might Be Giants, Lisa Loeb, Matthew Sweet, Ron Sexsmith, Jason Mraz, and more.
• In other kid-related news, look for the new Batman theme song by The Edge from U2 on the WB network's new animated series, and the Flaming Lips' contribution to the upcoming Spongebob Squarepants feature film soundtrack.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lenny Kravitz tonight, Ryan Cabrera on Thursday, and Yellowcard on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Minnie Driver on Thursday, and Ben Harper & The Blind Boys of Alabama on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Red Hot Chili Peppers this evening overnight and Interpol on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show features Mark Knopfler on Thursday overnight and De La Soul on Friday overnight; and look for Duran Duran in the a.m. next week - showing up on ABC's Good Morning America Tuesday and Live with Regis & Kelly on Wednesday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 12:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
'89 Cubs - There Are Giants in the Earth (Slowdance) Omaha trio featuring members of Bright Eyes and The Good Life
American Music Club - Love Songs for Patriots (Merge) first new music since 1994
Joseph Arthur - Our Shadows Will Remain (Vector) recorded in New Orleans
Frank Black Francis - Frank Black Francis (Spin Art) a disc of his pre-Pixies demos and a disc of newly re-recorded selections from his Pixies years
Breather Resist - Charmer (Jade Tree/Level Plane) from Louisville, Kentucky
Brother JT - Off Blue (Birdman) new from the Original Sins guitarist
Richard Buckner - Dents & Shells (Merge)
Camper Van Beethoven - New Roman Times (Pitch-A-Tent/Vanguard) the group's first new studio recordings in 15 years
Crash Test Dummies - Songs of the Unforgiven (Deep Fried/SPV) with guest Suzzy Roche
The Dears - No Cities Left (Spin Art) domestic release from this Canadian band
Defiance - Rise or Fall (Punkcore) featuring a cover of Menace's "Screwed Up"
Duran Duran - Astronaut (Epic) also available in a limited edition with a bonus DVD
Entrance - Wandering Stranger (Fat Possum) unconventional 21-year old bluesman
Holly Golightly - Slowly but Surely (Damaged Goods) her 13th album
Gun Club - "Secret Fires" (Sympathy for the Record Industry) three-song seven-inch single of rarities to coincide with the label's expanded CD re-issues of Death Party, Las Vegas Story, and Miami
Jobraith - Lonely Planet Boy (Attack)
Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Believe! (Yep Roc) killer Southern Gothic swamp-cave boogie, wailin' a megaphone and fiddle like a soul preacher in a tent revival meeting or a hayseed incarnation of The Pogues gone Klezmer
Magnolia Sisters - Apres Faire le Boogie Woogle (Rounder) all-woman Cajun quartet
Maroons - Ambush (Quannum) new collaboration from Lateef the Truth and Chief Xcel of Blackalicious
The Metrolites - In Spy-Fi (Go-Go Golem) debut release from Quad Cities band
Ministry - Early Trax & Side Trax (Rykodisc) one CD featuring early 12-inch singles and another CD collecting all the group's side projects in Pailhead, Acid Horse, PTP, and 1000 Homo DJs
Eugene Mirman - The Absurd Comedy of Eugene Mirman (Suicide Squeeze) pee-your-pants funny stand-up from this comedian who toured as an opening act for Modest Mouse, featuring a bonus DVD of four short films
Mos Def - The New Danger (Geffen)
Jay Munly - Munly & The Lee Lewis Harlots (Alternative Tentacles) solo album from the member of Slim Cessna's Auto Club, featuring a string quartet
Naz Nomad & The Nightmares - Give Daddy the Knife Cindy (Dionysus) re-issue of this Damned side project of garage revival, also available as a purple-vinyl LP edition
No Doubt - Everything in Time (Interscope) condensed from the recent box set, this is a single-CD collection of rarities, highlighted by the live title track, two Rock Steady re-mixes, and Elvis Costello joining in on a cover of his own "I Throw My Toys Around"
The North Mississippi Allstars - Hill Country Revue (ATO) recorded live at Bonnaroo this past June, with guests Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes and R.L. Burnside
Pain of Salvation - Be (Inside Out) heady new progressive metal from Daniel Gildenlow of The Flower Kings, asking big questions about earthly existence
Michael Pinnella - Enter by the Twelfth Gate (Inside Out) solo album from the Symphony X keyboardist
Paul Reddick - Villanelle (Northern Blues) smart, terrific new Americana blues from this Canadian singer-songwriter with guitarist-producer Colin Linden
The Ike Reilly Assassination - Sparkle in the Finish (Rock Ridge) excellent return of this clever lyricist last heard in 2001's critically acclaimed Salesmen & Racists
The Rolling Stones - Rock & Roll Circus (Abkco) DVD of this amazing television broadcast from 1968, featuring unseen footage from the original 16-millimeter negatives and commentary by attendees Yoko Ono, Marianne Faithfull, and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull
Sum 41 - Chuck (Island) the album is named for UN worker Chuck Pelletier, who came to the rescue of the band during an outburst of civil war in the Republic of Congo earlier this year
various artists - Matador at Fifteen (Matador) label retrospective
various artists - Peace Not War Vol. 2 (Peace Not War) two-CD benefit project featuring Ani DiFranco, Spearhead, Sonic Youth, Anti-Flag, Le Tigre, Jane's Addiction, and more
Volta Sound - Dandelion Wine (Orange Sky)
Wire - On the Box: 1979 (Pink Flag) CD and DVD set capturing live performances at WDR in Germany during the band's Chairs Missing/154 period
Yohimbe Brothers - The Tao of Yo (Thirsty Ear) with guests DJ Logic and Living Colour's Vernon Reid
