Thomas Dolby - The Sole Inhabitant A handful of old friends are back next week after extended sabbaticals from the spotlight. Hypnotic electronic pioneer Thomas Dolby returns with The Sole Inhabitant on Invisible Hands Music, a live CD and DVD set from Boston and Chicago in 2006. Like a chef in a mad laboratory and dressed in steampunk headgear and a post-apocalyptic trench coat, the solo performance revisits his classics from the 1980s, including "Europa & the Pirate Twins," "Flying North," "She Blinded Me with Science" and "One of Our Submarines." Surprises and insights include mixing in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech into "The Flat Earth" and sharing with the audience the origins of the songs.

One half of Steely Dan, Walter Becker, is back with Circus Money on 5 Over 12 Records, co-written and produced by Larry Klien and featuring former members of the Steely Dan touring family. Smooth, sexy, and deliciously cryptic in its lyrical twists, the new CD slips on like a comfortable pair of jeans.

Former Marillion frontman Fish is set to tour the States for the first time in 10 years, in support of his new solo album, 13th Star on Chocolate Frog Records. The CD's title is spun from a variety of mystical origins, from stars painted on the ceilings of Egyptian tombs to the influence of 12 women in his life. Co-written with Steve Vantsis of Horse and River City People, the sweeping layers of loops and guitars are mighty and majestic.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Solomon Burke is back with his deep-country soul in Like a Fire on the Shout! Factory imprint. The highly anticipated release features songs written specifically for him and the new CD from fans and friends alike, including Ben Harper, Eric Clapton, Keb' Mo', Stephen Jordan, and Jesse Harris.

 

Television Alert:

 

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes N.E.R.D. tonight, The Flobots on Thursday, and Ed Harcourt on Friday; The Late Show with David Letterman presents the return of Al Green on Thursday, Gnarls Barkley on Monday, and Alanis Morissette on Tuesday; Last Call with Carson Daly hosts Moby on Monday and Local H on Tuesday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts Coldplay this evening and The Ting Tings on Friday overnight; and Tavis Smiley sits down with Jewel on Friday.

 

New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 10:

 

Priscilla Ahn - A Good Day (Blue Note) featuring a cover of Willie Nelson's "Opportunity to Cry"

Trey Anastasio & the Undectet - Original Broadway Style (Rubber Jungle) recorded in 2006 at Atlantic City's House of Blues

Atari Teenage Riot/Alec Empire - Sixteen Years of Video Material (Crippled Dick Hot Wax/SPV) look for the first pressing to contain a bonus DVD and a limited-edition postcard

The Awkward Stage - Slimming Mirrors, Flattering Lights (Mint) sophomore release

The Beach Boys - U.S. Singles Collection: The Capitol Years 1962-1965 (Capitol) box set of 16 CD singles, expanded to a total of 66 tracks

Black Halos - We Are Not Alone (Acetate) produced by Jack Endino, this is the Vancouver punks' fourth album of room-trashing riffs

The Boxmasters - The Boxmasters (Sawmill/Vanguard) calling it "electric hillbilly music," this smartly dressed trio is the latest vehicle for the actor Billy Bob Thornton

The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale (Chocolate Industries) debut CD EP from this young hip-hop duo

DJ Sneak - Special House Blend (Moist Music) fusing Chicago house music with his native Puerto Rico

Dope - No Regrets (Koch) all new with guest guitarist Zakk Wylde

Jakob Dylan - Seeing Things (Starbucks/Columbia) acoustic solo debut produced by Rick Rubin

Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal (Back Porch) co-written with Chuck Prophet, produced by Tony Visconti, and influenced by Iggy Pop, this four-star return touches down on the singer/songwriter's history with The Dills and Rank & File; also available in a limited-edition two-LP version with a bonus cover of The Stooges' "I Got a Right"

Fates Warning - Perfect Symmetry: Expanded Edition (Metal Blade) featuring a second CD of demos and a DVD of concert performances from 1989 and 1990

Gazelle - Sunblown (Hidden Agenda) debut from Adam Fein of Absinthe Blind and Jeff Dimpsey of Hum, Poster Children, and National Skyline

The Homemade Jamz Band - Pay Me No Mind (Northern Blues) featured this month on NPR's All Things Considered; this sibling trio from Tupelo, Mississippi is light years more mature than their ages of 16, 13 and 9, nailing 10 originals written by their father and a cover of John Lee Hooker's "Boom Boom"

Garth Hudson - The Sea to the North (Woodstock) debut from The Band's keyboardist, featuring guests Levon Helm and a cover of The Grateful Dead's "Dark Star"

The Incredible Vickers Brothers - Gallimaufry (Parasol) forest canyon magic with a British pop glee

The Infamous Stringdusters - The Infamous Stringdusters (Sugar Hill) following up last year's International Bluegrass Music Association's album of the year, the six-piece covers a song by The Bad Livers' Danny Barnes

Joan as Police Woman - To Survive (Cheap Lullaby) featuring a foldout collage poster and a duet with Rufus Wainwright on "To America," the haunting, classical/cabaret alter ego of Joan Wasser unveils new layers with every play

Scott Kempner - Saving Grace (00:02:59 Records) new solo album from the co-founder of The Dictators and The Del-Lords, with guests Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens and Dion

Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter III (Cash Money/Universal)

Madonna - Hard Candy (Maverick/Reprise) vinyl edition spread over three LPs, with the CD version tucked inside

Janiva Magness - What Love Will Do (Alligator) powerful blues vocalist storming through a killer selection of material, highlighted by Little Milton's "That's What Love Will Make You Do," Al Green's "I'm Glad You're Mine," Annie Lennox's "Bitter Pill," and Tina Turner's "Get It, Get It"

Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise) all new, and also available in a deluxe edition featuring a bonus CD with five tracks

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges (ATO Records) all new

My Morning Jacket - Okonokos (Badman/Virtual Label) four-LP box set documenting the band's fall 2005 tour

Porter Block - Off Our Shoulders (Engine Room) the duo's sophomore album, featuring the boxing ballad "Sun Goes Down"

Ben Sollee - Learning to Bend (Thirty Tigers/Sonablast) the cello player's debut, featuring a soulful take on Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Styrofoam - A Thousand Words (Nettwerk) with guests Josh Rouse, Jimmy Eat World's Jim Adkins, and The Submarines' Blake Hazard

Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha (Astralwerks) on tour this summer with Foo Fighters

Chip Taylor - New Songs of Freedom (Train Wreck Records) political new CD EP with songs inspired by Tibet, the Vietnam War, and 9/11

Throw Rag - Second Place (Acetate) 12 new rowdy anthems and cool covers of Link Wray's "So Glad, So Proud" and The Gears' "Don't Be Afraid to Pogo"

Tuner - Totem (Unsung/Inner Knot) remastered and remixed reissue from 2005, from Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Markus Reuter of Germany's Centrozoon

Tyga - No Introduction (Decaydance) 18-year-old rapper's debut, with guests Travis McCoy of Gym Class Heroes and Lil' Wayne

Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too (Zoë/Rounder) with guests Pete Townshend, The Band's Garth Hudson, and Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, two interesting covers make the set: Pink Floyd's "See Emily Play" and The Eurythmics' "Love Is a Stranger"

Robert Walter - Cure All (Palmetto) 13 funky, laid-back New Orleans jazz instrumentals from the Hammond B3 organist

Kenny Wheeler - Other People (CAM Jazz) jazz meets classical brilliance featuring the Hugo Wolf String Quartet

Tony Joe White - Deep Cuts (Swamp/Thirty Tigers) new recordings of 10 of his "swamp rock" classics

Cassandra Wilson - Loverly (Blue Note) featuring a cover of Robert Johnson's "Dust My Broom"

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