Off the radar in the States since its European issue on Frontiers Records last summer, a new heavy masterpiece from hard-rock royalty is released domestically next week. The former voice of Deep Purple and Trapeze, Glenn Hughes may have turned 55 last year, but let the legend show what a frontman is really all about. With his classic, soulful, golden tone refreshingly grand in response to so many whiny emo broken hearts and edgy malcontents, the new album - Music for the Divine - is also one heck of a players' album, ready to feed a nation of hungry, head-banging guitarists and drummers. Fueled by the beat of Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and the expressive guitar work of J.J. Marsh, the album also features Chili Pepper guitarist John Frusciante on two tracks, including the lone cover on the album, The Moody Blues' "Knights in White Satin." Recorded in Smith's Hollywood Hills home - the former residence of Gary Grant - the magic is bristling and alive.
Will Hodgkinson chronicles his brave attempt at the age of 34 to learn the guitar and perform an emotive piece for a live audience in months. Humorously supported by his wife and small children, the quest in Guitar Man: A Six-String Odyssey, or, You Love That Guitar More Than You Love Me is a terrific story, as without any real lessons or plan, the author goes it on his own, only guided by the wisdom and impromptu teachings of the celebrity artists he interviews, from Byrds founder Roger McGuinn and Delta bluesman T. Model Ford to Johnny Marr of The Smiths and folk icon Bert Jansch. Other agents of enlightenment include Cat Power/Chan Marshall, Sufjan Stevens, and guitarist Davey Graham - proponent of the DADGAD tuning system.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno learns all about The Bird & the Bee on Thursday, and hosts Katherine McPhee on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Mandy Moore tonight, Gwen Stefani on Thursday, and Evanescence on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the return of the New York Dolls on Thursday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson presents Daughtry on Friday overnight; and Austin City Limits' musical guest this weekend is Jack Johnson.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
The 69 Eyes - Savage Garden (Cleopatra) reissue from 1995 featuring a bonus cover of The Stooges' "TV Eye"
Lily Allen - Allright, Still (Capitol) domestic issue of this UK smash with exclusive bonus tracks on the stateside issue, including a new version of "Smile"
Bonnie "Prince" Billy - "Lay & Love" (Drag City) beautiful third single from The Letting Go album, enhanced with a video of the song and bonus covers of Bob Dylan's "Senor" and "Going to Acapulco"
Busdriver - RoadKillOvercoat (Anti) sputtering, staggering tripped-out MC madness that makes Eminem sound like Steven Wright; produced by DJ Nobody and Boom-Bip
Tommy Castro - Painkiller (Blind Pig) featuring covers of Freddie King's "If You Believe (In What You Do)" and guest Coco Montoya on Albert Collins' "A Good Fool Is Hard to Find"
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder (Wichita)
Clemente - Whilst Honey Hums (Moodswing) a.k.a. Jefrey Siler, this storytelling roots-pop Southerner is backed by Elf Power and Mendoza Line alumni
Coyote Poets of the Universe - Unmistakable Evidence (Square Shaped) third album of cosmic "gravity-free jazz" that took form 10 years ago in Denver's Jazz Tales radio program, blending mellow world beats and spoken-word passages
Deerhunter - Cryptograms (Kranky) pick your poison, lower the lid closed on the sensory depravation tank, and strap yourself in for takeoff in this droning, spinning, twinkling tour de force; tumbling and orbiting like backwards winds blowing through an orchestra of early Pink Floyd and Kraftwerk
Mike Dillion's Go-Go Jungle - Battery Milk (Hyena) itchy, funky, buggin' jazz with the soul of Raymond Scott, propelled by the Frog Brigade percussionist's vibraphone mastery
Art Garfunkel - Some Enchanted Evening (Atco) collection of standards including "Someone to Watch Over Me," "It Could Happen to You," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face"
Roddy Hart - Bookmarks (Compass) with guests Eddi Reader, Kris Kristofferson, and the Trashcan Sinatras
Norah Jones - Not Too Late (Blue Note) 13 new originals
Ted Russell Kamp - Divisadero (Kufala) new solo album from the .357's member, featuring guest Jessi Colter on "Looking for Someone"
Bill Kirchen - Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods (Proper American) new from the Lost Planet Airman best known for the hit "Hot Rod Lincoln"; with guest Nick Lowe
Love Me Destroyer - The Things Around Us Burn (Suburban Home) powerful Denver tantrum punk reborn from the ashes of Pinhead Circus
Lymbyc Systym - Love Your Abuser (Mush) full-length debut from Tempe, Arizona's Bell brothers
John Németh - Magic Touch (Blind Pig) produced by Anson Funderburgh with guest guitarist Junior Watson, this is juke-joint blues heaven helmed by the talented singer and harmonica player
Nine Horses - Money for All (Samadhisound) new mini-album from David Sylvain, Burnt Friedman, and Steve Jansen
Radical Fashion - Odori (Hefty) fractured, experimental piano treatments by Hirohito Ihara
The Residents - Freak Show (Mute) deluxe CD and DVD reissue in a hardback-book-style case, featuring a 30-page booklet with comic-book interpretations by Brian Bolland, Savage Pencil, and Richard Sala
Jill Scott - Collaborations (Hidden Beach) collection of duets with Al Jarreau, Common, Mos Def, Darius Rucker, Kirk Franklin, and more
The Smithereens - Meet the Smithereens (Koch) song-by-song re-creation of the Meet the Beatles album from 1964, featuring liner notes from Lenny Kaye, promoter Sid Bernstein, and other Beatles scholars
The Sneakers - Non Sequitur of Silence (Collector's Choice) collection of early tracks from Chris Stamey and Mitch Easter
Sunn/Boris - Altar (Southern Lord) limited-edition two-CD set featuring guest Dylan Carson of Earth on the 28-minute track "Her Lips Were Wet with Venom"
The Trucks - The Trucks (Clickpop/SpinART) smart, fresh, playful, and sexually political all-girl electro quartet from Bellingham, Washington, keeping it percolating with two keyboards and art-punk vogue
Vixen - Live & Learn (Demolition) Jan Kuehnemund's "queens of metal" are back with an all-new album, letting her monster guitar scream in a cover of David Bowie's "Suffragette City"
Warm in the Wake - Gold Dust Trail (Livewire) debut seven-track CD EP of sunny, dreamy jangle rock to hold hands by
Youth Group - Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti/Epitaph) featuring a cover of Alphaville's "Forever Young," which became a number-one hit for the band last year in its native Australia
Zozobra - Harmonic Tremors (Hydra Head) new from Cave In bassist Caleb Scofield
various artists - Endless Highway: The Music of The Band (429) 17 heartfelt cover contributions from Death Cab for Cutie, Gomez, Widespread Panic, My Morning Jacket, and Jack Johnson, saluting the 30th anniversary of Martin Scorsese's concert film The Last Waltz
