20
Dec
2005
· After taking a break to sleep off the hangover of the holiday push, next month the major-label conglomerates and the hippest of indies are poised to unveil long-awaited new solo albums and terrific new tributes.
I'm particularly excited about the third solo set from former Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft, entitled Keys to the World. The record is set for release January 23 in the UK on the Parlophone imprint, with the first single, "Break the Night with Colour," due a few weeks earlier, but there's no official word yet on a stateside deal.
· Mavericks vocalist Raul Malo is going the all-covers route on his upcoming solo debut, You're Only Lonely. Some of the selections revealed so far include Etta James' "At Last," Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," and Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home," with rumors of Roy Orbison's "Crying" making the list, as he's been performing the classic lately in concert.
· Another cool classic cover shows up on Rabbit Fur Coat, the new solo effort by Rilo Kelly vocalist Jenny Lewis. Featuring guests Conor Oberst and Ben Gibbard, the trio tries on the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care."
· One posthumous release makes the must-seek list, with Supercat Records' issue of Sandbox by Widespread Panic guitarist and co-founder Michael Houser. Recorded in 2001 (before his death in 2002), the first 900 CDs ordered through the label's Web site (http://supercatrecords.com) come with a bonus disc featuring "Smoke & Burn," which later became Widespread Panic's "Burned Faceless."
· More solo debuts are due in January from former Creed vocalist Scott Stapp, former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, and former Beta Band leader Steve Mason (under the guise of King Biscuit Time).
· My cover-geek antennae are up, up, up for five upcoming CD projects, each a labor of love. Reignition Records is prepping The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins, featuring 32 Leaves, A Thorn for Every Heart, Hopefall, and more. Highlights include Armor for Sleep's take on "Today" and Poison the Well's dose of "Soma."
· Just out last week in Australia, I can only hope that the suits at Capitol Records stateside will release a domestic edition of She Will Have It Her Way: Songs of Neil & Tim Finn. Collecting Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, and 14 other up-and-coming female singers/songwriters from Down Under (and New Zealand), the CD shows the clever energy of girls doing boy-penned songs, selected from both their Split Enz and Crowded House catalogs. The import-only set also comes in a limited-edition package, with a bonus disc of the original versions.
· Australia's own Birthday Party is getting its very own covers salute, with Three One G Records' Release the Bats CD. The 17-track tribute looks to make some serious noise with contributions by Melt Banana, Chinese Stars, T Cells, Rah Bras, Some Girls, Kill Me Tomorrow, and more.
· Vanguard Records commemorates the 40th anniversary of John Fahey's signing with the label with a cool list of contributors on bended knee, all channeling his acoustic genius in I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey. Artists include the Fruit Bats, Grandaddy, Sufjan Stevens, Calexico, Lee Ranaldo, Devendra Banhart, Peter Case, and Howie Gleb. Marking the fifth anniversary of his death, the label also plans to reissue Fahey's The Yellow Princess album from 1968.
· After numerous delays over the past few months, Sony's Epic Legacy line is set to release Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks on January 17. The star-studded tribute features new interpretations by D'Angelo, Big Boi, Chuck D, Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, Janet Jackson, and many more.
· In more cover news, Canadian punk legends D.O.A. are set to release an expanded edition of the 1982 EP War on 45, now dubbed War on 45: March to the End. All about war, the 18-track CD features the band's spin on Bob Dylan's "Masters of War," Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction," CCR's "Fortunate Son," and The Dills' "Class War."
· More history class by song is in session with the upcoming Song of America CD, benefiting the organization that promotes National History Day. Groovier than an afternoon of Schoolhouse Rocks, the album features Devendra Banhart, BR549, the MC5, John Wesley Harding, Janis Ian, and many more, with highlights "Stars & Stripes Forever" from ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, "Rosie the Riveter" from Michelle Shocked, and the Black Crowes side project Folk Family Robinson with "Reuben James."
· If Santa leaves two turntables and a microphone under your tree this weekend, DJ Starscream - a.k.a. Sid Wilson of Slipknot - is ready to set your inner mix-master free, even in the dark. Next month Nitrous Oxide Entertainment is issuing Full Metal Scratch-It, a glow-in-the-dark-vinyl 12-inch LP segmented into more than 40 beats, sounds, and samples clipped from the band's three studio albums on Roadrunner - the same scratch disc he'll be using live on tour.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes girl-group legend Darlene Love on Friday evening; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts John Mayer on Friday overnight and North Mississippi Allstars on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Chris Isaak this evening overnight and RZA on Thursday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly says yes to Nada Surf this evening overnight, 311 on Thursday overnight and Natasha Bedingfield on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live offers a Christmas treat with Brian Wilson on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Joss Stone this weekend.
· Mavericks vocalist Raul Malo is going the all-covers route on his upcoming solo debut, You're Only Lonely. Some of the selections revealed so far include Etta James' "At Last," Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground," and Randy Newman's "Feels Like Home," with rumors of Roy Orbison's "Crying" making the list, as he's been performing the classic lately in concert.
· Another cool classic cover shows up on Rabbit Fur Coat, the new solo effort by Rilo Kelly vocalist Jenny Lewis. Featuring guests Conor Oberst and Ben Gibbard, the trio tries on the Traveling Wilburys' "Handle With Care."
· One posthumous release makes the must-seek list, with Supercat Records' issue of Sandbox by Widespread Panic guitarist and co-founder Michael Houser. Recorded in 2001 (before his death in 2002), the first 900 CDs ordered through the label's Web site (http://supercatrecords.com) come with a bonus disc featuring "Smoke & Burn," which later became Widespread Panic's "Burned Faceless."
· More solo debuts are due in January from former Creed vocalist Scott Stapp, former Stray Cats bassist Lee Rocker, and former Beta Band leader Steve Mason (under the guise of King Biscuit Time).
· My cover-geek antennae are up, up, up for five upcoming CD projects, each a labor of love. Reignition Records is prepping The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins, featuring 32 Leaves, A Thorn for Every Heart, Hopefall, and more. Highlights include Armor for Sleep's take on "Today" and Poison the Well's dose of "Soma."
· Just out last week in Australia, I can only hope that the suits at Capitol Records stateside will release a domestic edition of She Will Have It Her Way: Songs of Neil & Tim Finn. Collecting Kasey Chambers, Missy Higgins, and 14 other up-and-coming female singers/songwriters from Down Under (and New Zealand), the CD shows the clever energy of girls doing boy-penned songs, selected from both their Split Enz and Crowded House catalogs. The import-only set also comes in a limited-edition package, with a bonus disc of the original versions.
· Australia's own Birthday Party is getting its very own covers salute, with Three One G Records' Release the Bats CD. The 17-track tribute looks to make some serious noise with contributions by Melt Banana, Chinese Stars, T Cells, Rah Bras, Some Girls, Kill Me Tomorrow, and more.
· Vanguard Records commemorates the 40th anniversary of John Fahey's signing with the label with a cool list of contributors on bended knee, all channeling his acoustic genius in I Am the Resurrection: A Tribute to John Fahey. Artists include the Fruit Bats, Grandaddy, Sufjan Stevens, Calexico, Lee Ranaldo, Devendra Banhart, Peter Case, and Howie Gleb. Marking the fifth anniversary of his death, the label also plans to reissue Fahey's The Yellow Princess album from 1968.
· After numerous delays over the past few months, Sony's Epic Legacy line is set to release Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks on January 17. The star-studded tribute features new interpretations by D'Angelo, Big Boi, Chuck D, Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, Janet Jackson, and many more.
· In more cover news, Canadian punk legends D.O.A. are set to release an expanded edition of the 1982 EP War on 45, now dubbed War on 45: March to the End. All about war, the 18-track CD features the band's spin on Bob Dylan's "Masters of War," Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction," CCR's "Fortunate Son," and The Dills' "Class War."
· More history class by song is in session with the upcoming Song of America CD, benefiting the organization that promotes National History Day. Groovier than an afternoon of Schoolhouse Rocks, the album features Devendra Banhart, BR549, the MC5, John Wesley Harding, Janis Ian, and many more, with highlights "Stars & Stripes Forever" from ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, "Rosie the Riveter" from Michelle Shocked, and the Black Crowes side project Folk Family Robinson with "Reuben James."
· If Santa leaves two turntables and a microphone under your tree this weekend, DJ Starscream - a.k.a. Sid Wilson of Slipknot - is ready to set your inner mix-master free, even in the dark. Next month Nitrous Oxide Entertainment is issuing Full Metal Scratch-It, a glow-in-the-dark-vinyl 12-inch LP segmented into more than 40 beats, sounds, and samples clipped from the band's three studio albums on Roadrunner - the same scratch disc he'll be using live on tour.
Television Alert:
The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes girl-group legend Darlene Love on Friday evening; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts John Mayer on Friday overnight and North Mississippi Allstars on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Chris Isaak this evening overnight and RZA on Thursday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly says yes to Nada Surf this evening overnight, 311 on Thursday overnight and Natasha Bedingfield on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live offers a Christmas treat with Brian Wilson on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits presents Joss Stone this weekend.
