Like "Amazing Grace" for hipster Baby Boomers, there's nothing like the lifting strains of Leonard Cohen's poetic "Hallelujah" to make me stop in my tracks and let its words wrap all around me, day or night. A four-star interpretation of this classic opens an amazing new debut, Melody Mountain, from Susanna & the Magical Orchestra, delicately breaking the air like stones tossed upon a still lake. Out this week on the import-only Rune Grammafon Records imprint, the CD is a haunting, candlelit affair - an alternative Norwegian Carpenters of sorts in a slow-motion underwater ballet, perfect for the next David Lynch movie. Vocalist Susanna Karolina Wallumrød and keyboard craftsman Morten Qvenild pitter and patter through 10 perfect - and perfectly incomprehensible - cover selections, including Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence," Prince's "Condition of the Heart," AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top," Sandy Denny's "Fotheringay," and Paul Stanley's "Crazy Crazy Nights" from 1987's Crazy Nights album by KISS.
The covers caravan keeps on trucking with next Tuesday's release of Bob Forrest's new solo album, Modern Folk & Blues: Wednesday. I'd love to hear all the days of the week from the former Thelonious Monster frontman, with guests Victoria Williams, Ikie Owens of The Mars Volta, Zander Schloss of the Circle Jerks, and John Frusciante and Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the new Lakeshore Records CD. A two-fisted selection of covers rounds out the set, putting a new stamp on Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here," and the Modern English hit "Melt with You."
Mercury Rev is putting the finishing touches on Stillness Breathes: 1991-2006, a two-CD anthology due in October that promises among its bonus Peel Sessions and remixes some cool covers, including James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's World" and the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."
Carly Simon is back later this fall with Into White on Columbia Records, a collection of original lullabies and pop classics. Receiving her touch: Stephen Foster's "Oh, Susanna," the Beatles' "Blackbird," James Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes," and the title track by Cat Stevens.
Next month the new "super group" Camp Freddy makes its debut with a cover of Cheap Trick's "Surrender" on Lionsgate Records' Employee of the Month soundtrack, with band members' résumés touting Jane's Addiction, Guns N' Roses, The Cult, and Velvet Revolver.
Another "super group" makes the upcoming covers cut, with the October release of Cover to Cover by prog icons Morse Portnoy George, featuring Neal Morse of Spock's Beard, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, and Randy George of Ajalon. The Metal Blade Records CD features 13 cover treatments recorded over the past three years, with highlights including U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name" and Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Pete Yorn tonight and the Foo Fighters on Friday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien welcomes Neko Case this evening overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with Ben Harper on Friday overnight; and Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts Starsailor this evening overnight and The Roots on Tuesday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 5:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Alice Donut - Fuzz (Howler) the band's ninth album
Alice in Chains - The Essential Alice in Chains (Columbia Legacy) two-CD anthology featuring unplugged tracks and two rare remixes from 1993's Last Action Hero soundtrack
Los Amigos Invisibles - Super Pop Venezuela (Gozadera) hot off the stage at Bumbershoot, Coachella, and Lollapalooza
Audioslave - Revelations (Epic) featuring the single "Original Fire"
Beyoncé - B'Day (Columbia) with producers Swizz Beatz, The Neptunes, Rodney Jerkins, and more
The Black Maria - A Shared History of Tragedy (Victory) the album's title comes from a line in HBO's Six Feet Under
Bosque Brown - Cerro Verde (Burnt Toast Vinyl) CD EP of powerful acoustic ballads from hypnotic songwriter Mary Lee Miller - think Cat Power, Jeff Buckley and Marc Bolan - written in response to her beloved grandmother's house under the path of Hurricane Katrina
Billy Bremner - No Ifs, Buts, Maybes (Gadfly) terrific return of the Rockpile guitarist and Pretenders sideman
Criss Angel: Mindfreak - television soundtrack (Koch) featuring remixes of the show's theme with guests Nuno Bettencourt, Jonathan Davis, and Sully Erna
Miles Davis - Cool & Collected (Columbia Legacy) 13 tracks culled from 1956 to 1985, featuring a bonus "2006 remix" of 1969's "It's About That Time" with guest Carlos Santana
Ecstatic Sunshine - Freckle Wars (Carpark) more brilliant with every listen, this instrumental duo of electric guitar frenzy from Baltimore would have found a friendly home on a hybrid of the seminal SST and ECM labels in the 1980s
Kinky Friedman - Last of the Jewish Cowboys: The Best of (Shout! Factory)
Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55 (Because Records) import-only with contributions from Air and Jarvis Cocker of Pulp
Harvey Milk - Courtesy & Goodwill Toward Men (Relapse) two-CD set
Honkytonk Homeslice - Honkytonk Homeslice (Sci-Fidelity) new acoustic side project from The String Cheese Incident's Bill Nershi
Iron Maiden - A Matter of Life & Death (Sanctuary) all new
Jars of Clay - Good Monster (Essential/Provident) with guests Leigh Nash on "Mirrors & Smoke"
Jurassic 5 - Feedback (Up Above) two-LP vinyl DJ edition of the instrumental version of their recently released album
Lakes - "Photographs" (Militia Group) five-track CD EP from Seth Roberts of Watashi Wa
Erin Lee & Marci - Snowdance (Gotta Play) a musical calendar for kids, with a track for each month of the year
Freddie Mercury - Lover of Life, Singer of Songs: The Very Best of (Parlophone) two-CD collection of solo work from the flamboyant Queen vocalist, who would have turned 60 on the day of this release, featuring early versions, remixes, and an a cappella version of "Let's Turn It on"
Rex Moroux - Royal Street Inn (Rex Moroux) excellent homegrown release from this playwright, raised in Cajun Louisiana but honing his songwriting chops in Los Angeles
Pinback - Nautical Antiques (Ace Fu) B-sides and demos collection
Seemless - What Have We Become (Equal Vision) riff-ready and extra-heavy, head-banging in the vein of Black Sabbath and Soundgarden
Sleepytime Gorilla Museum - Grand Opening & Closing (End Records)
Mitchy Slick - Bass Chaser (Up Above) 12-inch single from the Strong Arm Steady frontman, with guest Xzibit
Strike Anywhere - Dead FM (Fat Wreck)
Throbbing Gristle - Part Two (Mute) the band's first new studio album in 25 years; the first 4,000 copies contain one of four totemic gifts made of bone, copper, rubber, or wood
Tony Joe White - Uncovered (Swamp) all new with guests Mark Knopfler, JJ Cale, and Eric Clapton
Whitest Boy Alive - Dreams (Bubbles)
Zilla - All iZ (Sci-Fidelity) new danceable side project from Michael Travis, Jamie Janover, and Aaron Holstein of The String Cheese Incident
various artists - Acoustic Africa (Putumayo) benefiting Mercy Corps' efforts in Darfur, this vacation for the mind is showcased next month in a cross-country tour featuring Habib Koité and Dobet Gnahoré
