• Speaking of The Clash, Messenger Records has just released two rare CDs from guitarist Chris Whitley, previously only available as rarities on his Web site. The two albums, Weed and War Crime Blues, capture him in a sparse, solo setting, recorded at home, a Paris hotel room, and under the Albert Bridge in his expatriate digs in Germany. One of The Clash's most timely political songs, "The Call Up," from the group's Sandinista set, gets a haunting, pensive take by Whitley, as well as Lou Reed's "I Can't Stand It."
• More bluesy political adventures come this Tuesday from Keb Mo and his new Peace ... Back by Popular Demand CD on the Epic/Okeh label. The new album is an all-covers collection of activist anthems, including Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," The Rascals' "People Got to Be Free," John Lennon's "Imagine," and Elvis Costello's poignant "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, & Understanding."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Ambulance Ltd. tonight, David Crosby & Graham Nash on Friday, Skye Sweetnam on Monday, and The Thrills on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Natalie Merchant on Friday and Green Day on Tuesday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features the Drive-By Truckers on Thursday overnight and Tears for Fears on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn shares Saliva on Thursday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly's house band for the rest of this week is Medeski Martin & Wood; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Usher.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 21:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
The Blind Boys of Alabama - There Will Be Light (Liquid 8) with producer Ben Harper
Jake Brennan & The Confidence Men - Love & Bombs (Yep Roc) new from the former Cast Iron Hike vocalist, featuring a cover of Frank Black's "If It Takes All Night"
Meredith Brooks - Shine (Kissing Booth) featuring the title-track theme to the Dr. Phil television show
Ian Brown - Solarized (Fiction) new import-only solo album from the Stone Roses founder
C.I.A. - Attitude (NMS Music) re-issue of this metal side project of Nuclear Assault's Glenn Evans
Client - City (Toast Hawaii/Mute) with guest Martin Gore of Depeche Mode and Carl Barat and Pete Doherty of The Libertines
Col. Les Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains - The Big Eyeball in the Sky (Prawn Song/Red Ink) all new with Buckethead and Bernie Worrell
Elvis Costello - Il Sogno (Deutsche Grammophon) classical album recorded in 2002 with the London Symphony Orchestra
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Delivery Man (Lost Highway) with guests Emmylou Harris and Lucinda Williams, and a new version of "The Scarlet Tide" from the Cold Mountain soundtrack
The Cramps - How to Make a Monster (Vegeance) starting a 34-date tour next week to support this two-CD set of rare tracks from the vault circa 1976 and 1977
Willy DeVille - Crow Jane Alley (Eagle) featuring a cover of Bryan Ferry's "Slave to Love"
Dwarves - Must Die (Sympathy for the Record Industry) with guests Nash Kato of Urge Overkill, Dexter Holland of The Offspring, and Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age
John Fogerty - Deja Vu All Over Again (Geffen) new from the Creedance Clearwater Revival founder, with guest guitarist Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
Green Day - American Idiot (Reprise)
The High Water Marks - Songs About the Ocean (Eenie Meenie) recently off tour with The Apples in Stereo and Apollo Sunshine
Hot Water Music - The New What Next (Epitaph)
King Missile III - Royal Lunch (Important) new protest spoken-word rock from John S. Hall, featuring the track "America Kicks Ass"
Kevin Kinney - Sun Tangled Angel Revival (Compadre) new from the Drivin' 'n' Cryin' founder, with guests Edwin McCain and Widespread Panic's Dave Schools
Nathan Larson - Film Musik (Commotion) compilation of film scores by the former member of Shudder to Think
Lowen & Navarro - All the Time in the World (Red Hen) all new from this stellar singer-songwriter duo
Mad Caddies - Live in the Key of Eh (Fat Wreck) recorded live in Toronto this past spring
Buddy Miller - Universal United House of Prayer (New West) with guests Emmylou Harris and Jim Lauderdale
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Welcome to Woody Creek (Dualtone) all new pickin' 'n' grinnin', featuring cool covers of The Beatles' "Get Back" and Gram Parsons' "She"
Octet - Cash & Carry Songs (Plain Recordings) pop electronica from this French duo
Orbital - Blue Album (ATO/RCA) the group's final album, with guests The Sparks and Dead Can Dance vocalist Lisa Gerrard
Jonny Polonsky - The Power of Sound (Loveless) featuring A Perfect Circle and Vandals drummer Josh Freese on two songs
Poster Children - On the Offensive (Hidden Agenda) EP of politically charged covers
Potluck - Harvest Time (Lost Koast) straight outta the marijuana fields of Humboldt County, California, comes this rap duo of 1 Ton and UnderRated
River City Rebels - Hate to Be Loved (Victory) produced by Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls
Melvin Seals - The Mix (Rainman) new from the keyboardist and musical director of The Jerry Garcia Band
Shark Tale - original motion picture soundtrack (Geffen) featuring Christina Aguilera and Missy Elliott's duet cover of the 1976 Rose Royce classic "Car Wash"
Elliott Sharp - Radio Hyper-Yahoo (Gaff Music) guitar and spoken-word project with guests Eric Bogosian, Maggie Estep, and Steve Buscemi
Straylight Run - Straylight Run (Victory) featuring John Nolan and Shawn Cooper of Taking Back Sunday
Skye Sweetnam - Noise from the Basement (Capitol) featuring a cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass"
These Arms Are Snakes - Oxeneers or the Lion Sleeps When Its Antelope Go Home (Jade Tree) featuring former members of Botch and Kill Sadie
various artists - The Late, Great Daniel Johnson: Discovered Covered (Gammon) tribute album with the Flaming Lips, Tom Waits, Beck, Sparklehorse, Mercury Rev, and more
various artists - Warp Vision: The Videos 1989-2004 (Warp) DVD featuring 32 music videos from Aphex Twin, Autechre, Sweet Exorcist, and more
Virginia Coalition - OK to Go (Blu Hammock) featuring a cover of Blackstreet's Dr. Dre-penned "No Diggity"
John Waite - The Hard Way (No Brakes) new solo album from The Babys vocalist on his own artist-controlled label
Saul Williams - Saul Williams (Fader Label) excellent new album from this political poet that gets deeper with each listening, with guests Zach de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine and Serj Tankian of System of a Down
Year Future - "The Hidden Hand" (Gold Standard Laboratories) three-track CD EP