Who says only "the kids" can rock? A handful of new CDs from older, established artists are on the horizon for the new year, tickling my ears with hip collaborations, serious ambitions, and a "supergroup" to slay all supergroups.
Next month America returns with Here & Now on Sony's Burgundy Records label, featuring the duo's first new music on a major label in 20 years. Packed with guests Ben Kweller, Ryan Adams, Stephen Bishop, and members of Nada Surf, My Morning Jacket, and Fountains of Wayne, co-production is by Adam Schlesinger and Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha. A bonus CD is included in the first pressing, presenting a dozen classics performed live at the XM satellite-radio studios last year.
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Belinda Carlisle is taking a sophisticated turn from her image as the voice of The Go-Go's by releasing a new album that salutes the popular music of France from the 1940s to the 1960s. Sung entirely in French, Voilà! features guests Natacha Atlas, Brian Eno, and Hothouse Flowers guitarist Fianchna O'Braonain, with songs by Edith Piaf, Francoise Hardy, and Jacques Brel. A limited-edition pressing of the Rykodisc release will contain a bonus CD with four of the tracks sung in English, including Serge Gainsbourg's "Bonnie & Clyde."
Country Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin is back with his first new music in a decade, a CD on the Tompkins Square Records imprint. Due in February, the yet-untitled album features members of Superchunk, Bright Eyes, and Lambchop, with special guests Elvis Costello, George Jones, Will Oldham, Jeff Tweedy, Bobby Bare, Tom T. Hall, and Paul Burch - who duets with Louvin on "Long Journey Home."
Rickie Lee Jones is rocking hard on her upcoming album, The Sermon on Exposition Boulevard, incorporating the teaching of Jesus into each song. Highlights on the New West Records CD including cruising to the pearly gates in "Elvis Cadillac" and the transfixed "Nobody Knows My Name." A deluxe edition will also be available with a SACD disc and a DVD of mini-films, photography, and MP3 files to share with all your digital devices.
Regardless of whether she truly "broke up the band," Yoko Ono stands tall in her vilification with Yes, I'm a Witch, due in February on Astralwerks. A wild ride of guests were given access to her catalog and asked to create new interpretations from whatever elements in the original recordings intrigued them. Participants include Jason Pierce of Spiritualized, Hank Shocklee of Public Enemy, Cat Power, Le Tigre, the Flaming Lips, Porcupine Tree, Peaches, DJ Spooky, Apples in Stereo, and the Polyphonic Spree.
We're just a few weeks away from the debut single, "Kingdom of Doom," by a killer quartet produced by Danger Mouse that boasts former members of The Clash (Paul Simonon), The Verve (Simon Tong), and Blur (Damon Albarn). Calling themselves The Good, the Bad, & the Queen, that trio is joined by former Fela Kuti drummer Tony Allen. Tune into the band's page on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/thegoodthebadandthequeen) on December 18 to watch their debut concert from London.
One of rock's most beloved documentaries is getting a digital facelift with a bonus book and a new film by director D.A. Pennebaker. Docurama is releasing Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back - '65 Tour Deluxe Edition in February, newly edited and expanded. The two-DVD set features audio commentary, a reproduction of the 168-page companion book from 1968, and a "flip book" of the famous "Subterranean Homesick Blues" cue-card segment, often cited as the first rock-video clip.
More long-lost video archives are seeing the light of day on DVD next month from Shout Factory. The label has assembled a three-DVD box set of ABC Television's Hootenanny series, debuting in 1963 as a traveling jamboree of popular folk music. Featuring vintage performances from Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Carly Simon, and The Chad Mitchell Trio, the short-lived series also included comedy from Bill Cosby, Vaughan Meader, and Woody Allen. So, where are Bob Dylan, the Kingston Trio, Joan Baez, and other greats of the era? Unfortunately, the show blacklisted left-leaning artists who refused to sign McCarthy-flavored "loyalty oaths."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes the Christmas spirit of Twisted Sister tonight, Sarah McLachlan on Friday, and The Killers on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Aimee Mann this evening overnight and Tony Bennett on Monday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson boasts Jet this evening overnight and Oingo Boingo founder turned Hollywood hit composer Danny Elfman on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly gives the green light to OK Go on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live presents The Living End this evening overnight, Beck on Thursday overnight, and (+44) on Tuesday overnight; Austin City Limits' musical guests this weekend are Corinne Bailey Rae and K.T. Tunstall; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Justin Timberlake.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, December 19:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Anagram - The Lights Went Up (Scenery Records) with guests from Steel Pole Bathtub, Faith No More, and Rouge Wave
Bullet for My Valentine - The Poison: Live at Brixton (Trustkill) multi-camera concert DVD filmed earlier this year, with five music videos, backstage footage, a photo gallery, and rare episodes of Bullet TV
DJ Clue - The Professional: Part 3 (Def Jam) with guests Young Jeezy, Paul Wall, and Fat Joe, and the first single, "Like This," co-written with Kayne West
The Purple Fox - Tribute to Jimi Hendrix (Fallout) super-fuzzy, tripped-out reissue of this psychedelic nugget of mysterious origins from 1971, sampled in its rare vinyl form by Fatboy Slim in his "Build It Up, Tear It Down"
Neil Young - Living with War (Reprise) remixed CD reissue featuring a bonus DVD of videos for each song directed by the artist
