25
May
2004
· Two cool new soundtracks are flying low under the commercial radar but are worthy of finding. The Zero to One Records imprint has just released Eric Holland's soundtrack to Dopamine, recently the winner of the 2003 Alfred P.
Sloan Feature Film Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Special guests aiding the Milk Cult alumnus in these sessions include members of Faith No More, I Am Spoonbender, Slackjaw, and Steel Pole Bathtub. And next month the Family Recordings label is releasing a "Cannonball Run-approved" CD for cross-country lead-foot high jinks. Gumball 3000 is the new film that documents a no-rules, six-day race from San Francisco to Miami, and the soundtrack boasts an ultra-hip track listing. Between tracks from The Herbaliser, Mr. Scruff, Cabbage Boy, Magic Eye, and Lamb are dialogue clips from the film's narrator, Burt Reynolds, and cameos from Ryan Dunn of Jackass, Tony Hawk, and Jodie Kidd.
· Two highly anticipated rap albums share the distinction of having a white-hot comedian in the mix. Dave Chappelle shows up on The Roots' upcoming set, The Tipping Point, alongside Devin the Dude, guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas, and Martin Luther. The Roots' own label, Okayplayer Records, promises a June 29 release. On the same date, Raptivism Records releases Twisted Mister from underground emcee Mr. Complex. The CD features comedic input from Will "Frank the Tank" Ferrell and beat advice from guests Morcheeba, Dilated Peoples, Biz Markie, Large Professor, Pharoahe Monch, and DJ Spinna.
· Before she was Peg Bundy or the star of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Katey Sagal was an up-and-coming singer, backing up Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, and Etta James. Following 1994's Well ... album, this Tuesday Valley Entertainment releases Room, a terrific new record of originals and wicked covers of Gene Clark's "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and The O'Jays' "(For the Love of) Money." Special guests include Don Was of Was Not Was and Ivan Neville of the Neville Brothers.
· Hold on to your eBay money, as a handful of lost psychedelic treasures commanding big bucks online have just been re-issued on CD with lots of love. Thanks go to Eclectic Discs for making gems like Locomotive's sole album, We Are Seeing Everything from 1970, available to more curious ears around the planet. A psych-jazz masterpiece that featured keyboardist Norman Haines, this re-mastered re-issue features six bonus tracks. Another five-star head-trip is the re-issue of Touch's self-titled album from 1969, featuring former Kingsmen organist Don Gallucci, who had arranged Elyse Weinberg's 1968 album and later went on to produce The Stooges' Fun House LP in 1970. Featuring five bonus tracks, restored original artwork, and a fold-out poster, this one was recently featured in Mojo magazine's "Buried Treasures" column. This month a subsidiary label of Eclectic, Dream Nebula, releases three classic Nektar albums to coincide with the band's reformation and an American tour in September. The CD re-issues put a cool twist on the idea of bonus tracks, with each CD featuring both the original album mix and an alternative take. A Tab in the Ocean features the original German mix from 1972, as well as the American mix from a few years later, and Recycled, from 1975, boasts the restored mix by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. Journey to the Center of the Eye (from 1971) takes it a step further, adding a 5.1-channel surround re-mix from this year and an additional SACD layer.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Dido on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Counting Crows tonight and Blink 182 on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Mandy Moore on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn is graced with "special musical guest" Morrissey all this week; Jimmy Kimmel Live raps with Alanis Morissette on both Thursday and Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is N.E.R.D.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 1:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
A Life Once Lost - Open Your Mouth for the Speechless (Robotic Empire) CD re-issue with bonus tracks, featuring a young Vadim Taver of This Day Forward on guitar
Afterlife - Speck of Gold (Bar De Lune) ultra-smooth down-tempo electronica helmed by UK chill-out master producer Steve Miller, featuring a bonus CD of re-mixes
Amp Peddler - Waltz of a Ghetto Fly (Pias America) with guest George Clinton on the title track
BAADASSSSS! - original motion picture soundtrack (BBE/Studio) featuring dialogue from Mario Van Peebles and music from King Floyd, War, Roy Ayers, and Pete Rock with Pharoahe Monch
Black Eyes - Cough (Dischord) aggressive noise combo that features two drummers, two bassists, and two singers
Gary U.S. Bonds - Back in 20 (M.C. Records) with guests Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Dickey Betts, and Southside Johnny
Kasey Chambers - Wayward Angel (EMI Australia) new album available only as an import
Max de Wardener - Where I Am Today (Accidental) debut from this London artist, recently scoring the film The Last Resort
Downset - Universal (Hawino) all new
Ronnie Earl - Now My Soul (Stony Plain) with guests Greg Piccolo of Roomful of Blues and Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Fluke - Puppy (One Little Indian) new from the electronic duo of Jon Fuglera and Mike Bryant
Mic Harrison - Pallbearer's Shoes (Valley Entertainment) with guest musicians from Guided by Voices, and his own bandmates from the V-Roys and Superdrag
Hawthorne Heights - The Silence in Black & White (Victory) from Dayton, Ohio
Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle - Nightlight (Hybrid) new from the multi-instrumentalist of the Barenaked Ladies, and featuring a must-hear cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs"
Hollywood Rose - The Roots of Guns N' Roses (Dead Line) collection of 15 demos from Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, before they formed Guns N' Roses
Cary Hudson - Cool Breeze (Black Dog) new solo album from the former member of Blue Mountain and The Hilltops
Truth Hurts - Ready Now (Pookie) with guests Loon and Battlecat
John Kay - Heretics & Privateers (Rainman) all new solo album from the Steppenwolf founder
Liars - "We Fenced Other Gardens with Bones of Our Own" (Mute) new CD single featuring song's video directed by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and a cover of The Germs' "Sex Boy"
Miss Kittin - I Com (Astralwerks) debut featuring the single "Clone Me"
Molasses - Trouble at Jinx Hotel (Alien 8) fourth album from this eclectic Montreal collective
The Muffin Men - More Songs from the Campfire, Live at the Cavern 2002, and Bakers Dozen (United States of Dist.) three CD re-issues from this Frank Zappa cover band
OPM - For the Masses (Suburban Noise) new from the skate-culture kings of Southern California, with guests Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, and Dave Grohl
Pitbull - M.I.A.M.I. (TVT) the album title stands for Money Is a Major Issue
Duke Robillard - Blue Mood (Stony Plain) a collection of songs by Aaron "T-Bone" Walker
Dexter Romweber - Blues That Defy My Soul (Yep Roc) new from the Flat-Duo Jets founder
Bobby Rush - Folk Funk (Deep Rush) with guest guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart
Skye Sweetnam - Noise from the Basement (Capitol) featuring a cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass"; 15-year-old on tour now with Britney Spears and Kelis
various artists - Confuse Yr Idols: A Tribute to Sonic Youth (Narnack) with cover salutes from Elf Power, Twink, Steel Pole Bath Tub, and more
XFILESX - Excruciation (Trash Art) old school straight-edge hardcore
· Two highly anticipated rap albums share the distinction of having a white-hot comedian in the mix. Dave Chappelle shows up on The Roots' upcoming set, The Tipping Point, alongside Devin the Dude, guitarist Captain Kirk Douglas, and Martin Luther. The Roots' own label, Okayplayer Records, promises a June 29 release. On the same date, Raptivism Records releases Twisted Mister from underground emcee Mr. Complex. The CD features comedic input from Will "Frank the Tank" Ferrell and beat advice from guests Morcheeba, Dilated Peoples, Biz Markie, Large Professor, Pharoahe Monch, and DJ Spinna.
· Before she was Peg Bundy or the star of 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter, Katey Sagal was an up-and-coming singer, backing up Bette Midler, Bob Dylan, and Etta James. Following 1994's Well ... album, this Tuesday Valley Entertainment releases Room, a terrific new record of originals and wicked covers of Gene Clark's "Feel a Whole Lot Better" and The O'Jays' "(For the Love of) Money." Special guests include Don Was of Was Not Was and Ivan Neville of the Neville Brothers.
· Hold on to your eBay money, as a handful of lost psychedelic treasures commanding big bucks online have just been re-issued on CD with lots of love. Thanks go to Eclectic Discs for making gems like Locomotive's sole album, We Are Seeing Everything from 1970, available to more curious ears around the planet. A psych-jazz masterpiece that featured keyboardist Norman Haines, this re-mastered re-issue features six bonus tracks. Another five-star head-trip is the re-issue of Touch's self-titled album from 1969, featuring former Kingsmen organist Don Gallucci, who had arranged Elyse Weinberg's 1968 album and later went on to produce The Stooges' Fun House LP in 1970. Featuring five bonus tracks, restored original artwork, and a fold-out poster, this one was recently featured in Mojo magazine's "Buried Treasures" column. This month a subsidiary label of Eclectic, Dream Nebula, releases three classic Nektar albums to coincide with the band's reformation and an American tour in September. The CD re-issues put a cool twist on the idea of bonus tracks, with each CD featuring both the original album mix and an alternative take. A Tab in the Ocean features the original German mix from 1972, as well as the American mix from a few years later, and Recycled, from 1975, boasts the restored mix by Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick. Journey to the Center of the Eye (from 1971) takes it a step further, adding a 5.1-channel surround re-mix from this year and an additional SACD layer.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Dido on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Counting Crows tonight and Blink 182 on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features Mandy Moore on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn is graced with "special musical guest" Morrissey all this week; Jimmy Kimmel Live raps with Alanis Morissette on both Thursday and Friday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is N.E.R.D.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 1:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
A Life Once Lost - Open Your Mouth for the Speechless (Robotic Empire) CD re-issue with bonus tracks, featuring a young Vadim Taver of This Day Forward on guitar
Afterlife - Speck of Gold (Bar De Lune) ultra-smooth down-tempo electronica helmed by UK chill-out master producer Steve Miller, featuring a bonus CD of re-mixes
Amp Peddler - Waltz of a Ghetto Fly (Pias America) with guest George Clinton on the title track
BAADASSSSS! - original motion picture soundtrack (BBE/Studio) featuring dialogue from Mario Van Peebles and music from King Floyd, War, Roy Ayers, and Pete Rock with Pharoahe Monch
Black Eyes - Cough (Dischord) aggressive noise combo that features two drummers, two bassists, and two singers
Gary U.S. Bonds - Back in 20 (M.C. Records) with guests Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Snow, Dickey Betts, and Southside Johnny
Kasey Chambers - Wayward Angel (EMI Australia) new album available only as an import
Max de Wardener - Where I Am Today (Accidental) debut from this London artist, recently scoring the film The Last Resort
Downset - Universal (Hawino) all new
Ronnie Earl - Now My Soul (Stony Plain) with guests Greg Piccolo of Roomful of Blues and Kim Wilson of The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Fluke - Puppy (One Little Indian) new from the electronic duo of Jon Fuglera and Mike Bryant
Mic Harrison - Pallbearer's Shoes (Valley Entertainment) with guest musicians from Guided by Voices, and his own bandmates from the V-Roys and Superdrag
Hawthorne Heights - The Silence in Black & White (Victory) from Dayton, Ohio
Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle - Nightlight (Hybrid) new from the multi-instrumentalist of the Barenaked Ladies, and featuring a must-hear cover of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs"
Hollywood Rose - The Roots of Guns N' Roses (Dead Line) collection of 15 demos from Axl Rose and Izzy Stradlin, before they formed Guns N' Roses
Cary Hudson - Cool Breeze (Black Dog) new solo album from the former member of Blue Mountain and The Hilltops
Truth Hurts - Ready Now (Pookie) with guests Loon and Battlecat
John Kay - Heretics & Privateers (Rainman) all new solo album from the Steppenwolf founder
Liars - "We Fenced Other Gardens with Bones of Our Own" (Mute) new CD single featuring song's video directed by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and a cover of The Germs' "Sex Boy"
Miss Kittin - I Com (Astralwerks) debut featuring the single "Clone Me"
Molasses - Trouble at Jinx Hotel (Alien 8) fourth album from this eclectic Montreal collective
The Muffin Men - More Songs from the Campfire, Live at the Cavern 2002, and Bakers Dozen (United States of Dist.) three CD re-issues from this Frank Zappa cover band
OPM - For the Masses (Suburban Noise) new from the skate-culture kings of Southern California, with guests Yellowman, Eek-A-Mouse, and Dave Grohl
Pitbull - M.I.A.M.I. (TVT) the album title stands for Money Is a Major Issue
Duke Robillard - Blue Mood (Stony Plain) a collection of songs by Aaron "T-Bone" Walker
Dexter Romweber - Blues That Defy My Soul (Yep Roc) new from the Flat-Duo Jets founder
Bobby Rush - Folk Funk (Deep Rush) with guest guitarist Alvin Youngblood Hart
Skye Sweetnam - Noise from the Basement (Capitol) featuring a cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass"; 15-year-old on tour now with Britney Spears and Kelis
various artists - Confuse Yr Idols: A Tribute to Sonic Youth (Narnack) with cover salutes from Elf Power, Twink, Steel Pole Bath Tub, and more
XFILESX - Excruciation (Trash Art) old school straight-edge hardcore
