04
Jan
2005
· With a rush of new films opening over the next few weeks, nearly a dozen soundtracks hit store shelves this Tuesday. From sublime scores to the infectious beat of Punjabi wedding songs, all sorts of soundtracks are itching to get in between your ears and extend the film experience. Known for her work in Eyes Wide Shut and Gangs of New York, Jocelyn Pook is behind the score of the new adaptation of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, on the Decca imprint. From another classy home address is Varese Sarabande's soundtrack release of Spanglish, with music composed by Hans Zimmer - best known for his scores of Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, and The Thin Red Line. Composer Stephen Trask (The Station Agent and Hedwig & The Angry Inch) returns as well, with his original score for In Good Company on the Hollywood Records label. The Capitol Records soundtrack to Coach Carter boasts heavy hitters of the R&B/hip-hop scene with new music by Faith Evans, Kanye West, Chingy, and Fabolous. Jennifer Garner returns to the big screen as Elektra, and Elektra: The Album rocks as hard as the blows dealt by this original warrior grrrl. Artists featured on the Wind-Up Records soundtrack include Jet, The Donnas, Evanescence, Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights, and Finger Eleven. Commotion Records' soundtrack to Hotel Rwanda features Wyclef Jean's Golden Globe-nominated "Million Voices," Ugandan guitarist Bernard Kabanda, and two new Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis productions. Anime buffs have long known the cult of Appleseed, and next week the Tofu Records label releases the feature-film soundtrack with music by Paul Oakenfold, T. Raumschmiere, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Basement Jaxx, and more. Bollywood goes Hollywood with the American release of Bride & Prejudice, a huge Hindi hit originally titled Balle Balle Amritsar to L.A. in its native India. With music by Anu Malik, the Casablanca Records soundtrack might be the next cross-cultural smash à la Bend It Like Beckham. Two of the Big Easy's vocal giants, Grayson Capps and Theresa Andersson, are featured in the Hyena Records' soundtrack A Love Song for Bobby Long. And one re-mastered classic sneaks in as well, with Columbia Legacy's re-issue of Miles Davis' A Tribute to Jack Johnson, nicely timed with this month's PBS-TV broadcast documentary on the fighter.
· Krause Publications, producer of Goldmine magazine, has just issued a glossy introduction to record-collecting in its second edition of Warman's American Records: Identification & Price Guide. Written by Goldmine columnist Chuck Miller, the 256 pages might not dig very deep in their listings of LPs and 12- and seven-inch singles, but the full-color reproductions of album jackets, single sleeves, and the iconic record labels themselves sure get the vinyl pumping in my blood. In an ambitious effort, Miller breaks down the general history of all the popular genres - from doo-wop to the British Invasion and from children's records to northern soul - and what to look for if you decide to collect in those areas. For an old vinyl hound like me, the rush of images is a delicious ride, featuring rare Rolling Stones' picture sleeves, $12,000 Beatles' rarities, Ma Rainey's original 78 RPM blues-imprint labels, and one-of-a-kind colored-vinyl "after hours" editions - created out of boredom by pressing-plant employees. Further investigations for the beginning collector are found at the end of each genre, with specific books of interest and informative Web pages to surf.
· One superstar, Elvis Costello, tips his hat to the vinyl enthusiast later this month with a new collection of rarities that will only be available as a 10-inch EP. Entitled The Clarksdale Sessions, the Lost Highway Records release features demo versions of songs from his latest album, The Delivery Man, a new song, and a cover of Dan Penn's "Dark End of the Street."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts a rare appearance by Brian Wilson this evening, Mario on Thursday, and Wyclef Jean on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman features The Black Keys this evening and Wilco on Friday; and Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Skindred this evening overnight, Randy Newman on Thursday overnight, and Elvis Costello on Monday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 11:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
DJ Linux - The Return of the Geary Act! (Underground, Inc) new seven-song CD EP from Chris Haskett of The Rollins Band
Esthero - We R in Need of a Musical Revolution (Reprise) highly anticipated new EP from this Toronto trip-hop chanteuse
Glass Tiger - No Turning Back (Capitol) celebrating its 20th anniversary with this CD and DVD set, featuring two new songs
Petra Haden & Bill Frisell - Petra Haden & Bill Frisell (Sovereign Artists) beautiful, joyous noise from the That Dog vocalist and guitarist extraordinaire, performing new originals and covers of songs by Tom Waits, Elliott Smith, Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl
Davey Ray Moor - Telepathy (Lakeshore) solo debut from the Cousteau founder
Old School Freight Train - Blue Safari: The Bluegrass Tribute to Air (CMH)
Genesis P-Orridge & Psychic TV - A Hollow Cost (Underground, Inc) all new spoken-word and ambient-music project
Paris Combo - Motifs (Koch) new from Belle du Berry and company
Roomful of Blues - Standing Room Only (Alligator) featuring cool covers of Little Milton's "She Put a Spell on Me" and Jimmy Nolen's "I Can't Stand You No More"
Scissor Sisters - We Are the Scissor Sisters ... and So Are You (Universal) DVD filmed this past August at the Brighton Dome and directed by Julian Temple, packed with videos, a 30-minute documentary, and a 10-minute short film
Shivaree - Who's Got Trouble (Zoe/Rounder)
Corky Siegel - Corky Siegel's Traveling Chamber Blues Show (Alligator) blending chamber music and blues with piano, string quartet, and blues harp
Jill Sobule - Pink Pearl (Eagle) re-issue from 2000
Soul Asylum - After the Flood: Live From the Grand Forks Prom (Columbia Legacy) yes, performing for a North Dakota town's senior prom in 1997
Kinnie Starr - Sun Again (Lakeshore) featuring a bonus remix by Hybrid
Summer's End - Summer's End (Hand of Hope) featuring former members of Blood Runs Cold and Abysmal Gates, and guest vocalist Michael Graves of The Misfits on "Headwound"
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Welcome Home: Live at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara (Columbia Legacy) originally only available online
Trembling Blue Stars - The Seven Autumn Flowers (Bar None)
The Vanished - Favorite Scar (Kirtland) emotional, hook-heavy rock with a gothic wail
Viktor Vaughn AKA MF Doom - Venomous Villain (Insomniac) with guest Kool Keith
The Waifs - A Brief History (Compass) recorded live over four years, this two-CD set features covers of Willie Nelson's "Crazy" and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"
Janusz Wojtarowicz - Pictures from the Street (Asphalt Tango) curbside busking from the founder of the accordion ensemble, The Motion Trio
various artists - KCRW Sounds Eclectic 3 (Palm Pictures) featuring a cover of the Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman" by Iron & Wine, and other intimate radio-station sessions from Radiohead, Paul Weller, Steve Earl, and Damien Rice
various artists - Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough (Fat Possum) kneeling at the alter of the Mississippi blues legend with cover contributions from Spiritualized, The Black Keys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, and more
· Krause Publications, producer of Goldmine magazine, has just issued a glossy introduction to record-collecting in its second edition of Warman's American Records: Identification & Price Guide. Written by Goldmine columnist Chuck Miller, the 256 pages might not dig very deep in their listings of LPs and 12- and seven-inch singles, but the full-color reproductions of album jackets, single sleeves, and the iconic record labels themselves sure get the vinyl pumping in my blood. In an ambitious effort, Miller breaks down the general history of all the popular genres - from doo-wop to the British Invasion and from children's records to northern soul - and what to look for if you decide to collect in those areas. For an old vinyl hound like me, the rush of images is a delicious ride, featuring rare Rolling Stones' picture sleeves, $12,000 Beatles' rarities, Ma Rainey's original 78 RPM blues-imprint labels, and one-of-a-kind colored-vinyl "after hours" editions - created out of boredom by pressing-plant employees. Further investigations for the beginning collector are found at the end of each genre, with specific books of interest and informative Web pages to surf.
· One superstar, Elvis Costello, tips his hat to the vinyl enthusiast later this month with a new collection of rarities that will only be available as a 10-inch EP. Entitled The Clarksdale Sessions, the Lost Highway Records release features demo versions of songs from his latest album, The Delivery Man, a new song, and a cover of Dan Penn's "Dark End of the Street."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts a rare appearance by Brian Wilson this evening, Mario on Thursday, and Wyclef Jean on Monday; The Late Show with David Letterman features The Black Keys this evening and Wilco on Friday; and Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts Skindred this evening overnight, Randy Newman on Thursday overnight, and Elvis Costello on Monday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 11:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
DJ Linux - The Return of the Geary Act! (Underground, Inc) new seven-song CD EP from Chris Haskett of The Rollins Band
Esthero - We R in Need of a Musical Revolution (Reprise) highly anticipated new EP from this Toronto trip-hop chanteuse
Glass Tiger - No Turning Back (Capitol) celebrating its 20th anniversary with this CD and DVD set, featuring two new songs
Petra Haden & Bill Frisell - Petra Haden & Bill Frisell (Sovereign Artists) beautiful, joyous noise from the That Dog vocalist and guitarist extraordinaire, performing new originals and covers of songs by Tom Waits, Elliott Smith, Stevie Wonder, Henry Mancini, and the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl
Davey Ray Moor - Telepathy (Lakeshore) solo debut from the Cousteau founder
Old School Freight Train - Blue Safari: The Bluegrass Tribute to Air (CMH)
Genesis P-Orridge & Psychic TV - A Hollow Cost (Underground, Inc) all new spoken-word and ambient-music project
Paris Combo - Motifs (Koch) new from Belle du Berry and company
Roomful of Blues - Standing Room Only (Alligator) featuring cool covers of Little Milton's "She Put a Spell on Me" and Jimmy Nolen's "I Can't Stand You No More"
Scissor Sisters - We Are the Scissor Sisters ... and So Are You (Universal) DVD filmed this past August at the Brighton Dome and directed by Julian Temple, packed with videos, a 30-minute documentary, and a 10-minute short film
Shivaree - Who's Got Trouble (Zoe/Rounder)
Corky Siegel - Corky Siegel's Traveling Chamber Blues Show (Alligator) blending chamber music and blues with piano, string quartet, and blues harp
Jill Sobule - Pink Pearl (Eagle) re-issue from 2000
Soul Asylum - After the Flood: Live From the Grand Forks Prom (Columbia Legacy) yes, performing for a North Dakota town's senior prom in 1997
Kinnie Starr - Sun Again (Lakeshore) featuring a bonus remix by Hybrid
Summer's End - Summer's End (Hand of Hope) featuring former members of Blood Runs Cold and Abysmal Gates, and guest vocalist Michael Graves of The Misfits on "Headwound"
Toad the Wet Sprocket - Welcome Home: Live at the Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara (Columbia Legacy) originally only available online
Trembling Blue Stars - The Seven Autumn Flowers (Bar None)
The Vanished - Favorite Scar (Kirtland) emotional, hook-heavy rock with a gothic wail
Viktor Vaughn AKA MF Doom - Venomous Villain (Insomniac) with guest Kool Keith
The Waifs - A Brief History (Compass) recorded live over four years, this two-CD set features covers of Willie Nelson's "Crazy" and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright"
Janusz Wojtarowicz - Pictures from the Street (Asphalt Tango) curbside busking from the founder of the accordion ensemble, The Motion Trio
various artists - KCRW Sounds Eclectic 3 (Palm Pictures) featuring a cover of the Flaming Lips' "Waitin' for a Superman" by Iron & Wine, and other intimate radio-station sessions from Radiohead, Paul Weller, Steve Earl, and Damien Rice
various artists - Sunday Nights: The Songs of Junior Kimbrough (Fat Possum) kneeling at the alter of the Mississippi blues legend with cover contributions from Spiritualized, The Black Keys, Mark Lanegan, Cat Power, and more
