· Also just cresting 70 is Academy Award-nominated actor Danny Aiello, debuting with an album of jazz standards this week. The record, I Just Want to Hear the Words, bears the IN2N Records label and features his lush crooner's take on "I'm Gonna Sit Down & Write Myself a Letter," "Pennies from Heaven," "All of Me," and more.
· Generosity is in the air this spring as a handful of new CDs are supporting worthy causes. Due May 11, a two-CD collection from Megaforce Records is aiding the fight against Parkinson's Disease by benefiting the ParkinSong Foundation. Entitled ParkinSong Volume 1: 38 Songs of Hope, the set features Chuck Prophet, Dave Alvin, Bonnie Raitt, Neko Case, Michelle Malone, Amy Rigby, Richard X. Heyman, Jen Chapin, and Dar Williams. Nettwerk Records has two benefit compilations in the works, with the first due May 18 and supporting Big Brothers/Big Sisters International. Entitled Modern Day Troubadours, the singer-songwriter collection features Ron Sexsmith, Neil Finn, Johnny Cash, Grant Lee Phillips, and more. Due June 1 is Nettwerk's Americana salute, The Grass Is Always Bluer, benefiting the musician's health fund Sweet Relief. Participants include The Jayhawks, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, Iron & Wine, Jason Ringenberg, and Emmylou Harris. Merge Records is celebrating its 15-year anniversary this summer with a super-cheap collection entitled Old Enough to Know. Priced at just $14.98, the three-disc set features 19 new tracks, rare gems, and previously unreleased recordings from Superchunk, The Ladybug Transistor, Portastatic, and more. All proceeds go to support the Future of Music Coalition, a Washington, D.C.-based group that tries to bring creative solutions to music technology issues.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Kid Rock and Ozzy Osbourne this evening, Janet Jackson on Thursday, The Cure on Friday, and Alicia Keys on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Todd Rundgren this evening and The Roots on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features John Mayer on Thursday overnight, Patti Smith on Friday overnight, and Carly Simon on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn boasts the return of Joe Jackson on Thursday overnight, Bright Eyes on Friday overnight, and The Crystal Method on Tuesday overnight; and Jimmy Kimmel Live is must-see Friday overnight, as Kimmel welcomes The Flaming Lips and Xzibit.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, May 4:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Tori Amos - Welcome to Sunny Florida (Epic) DVD
Devendra Banhart - Rejoicing in the Hands (Young God) first album recorded in a professional studio
Beta Band - Heroes to Zeroes (Astralwerks)
Black Cat Music - October, November (Lookout) featuring members of The Criminals, Hatebreed, and The Receivers
Blueprint Car Crash - Rhetoric of a Marionette (Militia Group) six-track CD EP
Broken Spindles - Fulfilled/Complete (Saddle Creek) new from Joel Peterson of The Faint
Drop - Suckerpunch (Dark Star/Direct Impact) featuring new vocalist Russ Stevens
Far - Water & Solutions (Immortal) remastered CD re-issue with a bonus DVD
Rosie Flores - Single Rose (Durango Rose) recorded live
Hederos & Hellberg - Hederos & Hellberg (Hidden Agenda) collection of intimate covers including Tom Waits' "Soldier's Things" and Lou Reed's "Pale Blue Eyes" by the Soundtrack of Our Lives keyboardist Martin Hederos and Hellacopters guitarist Mattias Hellberg
Patterson Hood - Killers & Stars (New West) home solo recordings from the Drive-By Truckers frontman, recorded in his dining room in 2001 and featuring a cover of Tom T. Hall's "To Alice"
John Lee Hooker - Jack O'Diamonds (Eagle Rock) rare acoustic recordings from 1949
Lola Ray - I Don't Know You (DC Flag/Red Ink) Orange County quartet newly signed to the boutique label owned by Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte
Los Lobos - The Ride (Hollywood/Mammoth) with guests Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Bobby Womack, Richard Thompson, Dave Alvin of the Blasters, and Garth Hudson of The Band
Joe Lovano - I'm All for You (Blue Note) with guest pianist Hank Jones and an interpretation of John Coltrane's "Countdown"
Magnetic Fields - i (Nonesuch)
Carolyn Mark - The Pros & Cons of Collaboration (Mint) with guests Kelly Hogan and Ford Pier
Jennifer Marks - Jennifer Marks (Bardic)
Michael McDermott - Ashes (Pauper Sky) with guests Mike Malinin of the Goo Goo Dolls and Jennifer Condos of Whiskeytown
Midnite Snake - Midnite Snake (Birdman) featuring drummer Paul Quanttrone of Modey Lemon
Mission of Burma - "Dirt" and OnoffOn (Matador) seven-inch single and all-new CD
OCS - 2 (Narnack) new from John Dwyer of Coachwhips
Outlie - Companions to Devils & Saints (Porterhouse) new from Luke Pabich, guitarist for Good Riddance
The Peacocks - It's Time for the Peacocks (Asian Man) the fourth album from this Swiss trio
A Perfect Circle - Lost in the Bermuda Triangle (Virgin) new DVD single featuring the Bikini Bandits on "The Outsider"
The Pixies - Wave of Mutilation (4AD/Beggars Banquet) 23-track best-of CD collection featuring a bonus DVD and a cover of Neil Young's "Winterlong"
Pink Floyd - The Final Cut (Capitol) re-mastered re-issue
Vernon Reid & Masque - Known Unknown (Favored Nations) with guest DJ Logic and covers of Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" and Thelonious Monk's "Brilliant Corners"
Lionel Richie - Just for You (Island) with guest Lenny Kravitz
Matt Sharp - Matt Sharp (In Music We Trust) new solo album from the former member of Weezer and Rentals
Silent Drive - Love Is Worth It (Equal Vision) featuring former members of Bane and Cartridge Funeral
Small Faces - Misses, Thrashers, & Crashers (Varese Sarabande)
Throbbing Gristle - The Taste of TG: A Beginner's Guide to Throbbing Gristle (Mute) best-of compilation
various artists - Power of Soul (Image) tribute to Jimi Hendrix featuring Bootsy Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Seal, Prince, George Clinton, and Earth, Wind, & Fire
various artists - reMIXED (Om Records) collection of down-tempo house rarities from Thievery Corporation, Mark Farina, Derrick Carter, and more
Ween - Ween Live in Chicago (Sanctuary) concert DVD filmed at the Vic Theater, featuring a cover of Led Zeppelin's "All My Love" and different choices of camera angles
Young Heart Attack - Mouthful of Love (XL/Beggars Banquet) featuring a cover of AC/DC's "Get It Hot"
Zebrahead - Live at the House of Blues (Kung Fu) DVD