· Cover fever continues as more than 50 pumped-up and punked-over covers are spread over the two CDs of Wolverine Records' recently released Punk Chartbusters Volume 4. A bestseller in its native Germany, this volume features classic material ranging from The McCoys to Tracy Chapman to Willie Nelson to Men Without Hats performed by bands such as UK Subs, Die Toten Hosen, Face to Face, Mad Caddies, and Apocalypse Hoboken.
· And just when you thought it couldn't get any weirder, strap yourself in tight on yer daddy's tractor and pass the jug. A quartet of Appalachian roots-music enthusiasts from Deer Lick Holler, Tennessee, have dubbed themselves Hayseed Dixie and just released a radical hoedown homage with the Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC on the Western Beat label. Transforming Aussie arena rock like "Hell's Bells" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" into banjo, fiddle, mandolin, and acoustic guitar is quite a challenge, but these good ol' boys are right on the Confederate dollar in this very satisfying affair. If that isn't enough bluegrass in your pipe, saunter over to CMH Music's latest in the Pickin' on ... series, this time spotlighting Peter Frampton. I can't put my finger on it, but there's a strange gratification in hearing Frampton's signature voice-box effects from "Do You Feel Like We Do" backed by harmonica, dobro, fiddle, and upright bass.
· Fans of warm psychedelic squawk wafting over their bodies have often found heady delight in the ocean waves of guitar and eccentric imagery from Nick Saloman and his adventures as The Bevis Frond. The United Kingdom icon is a hidden treasure to most, but a secret passion to those who enjoy Hawkwind, Chrome, and blistering fuzz. Finding his records in this country just got a lot easier as the Rubric Records label has begun a domestic re-issue program of the entire Bevis Frond catalog. This deluxe treatment includes his 1982 debut, Miasma, and its follow-up, Inner Marshland, with extensive new liner notes and seven bonus tracks on each. Future re-issues will include a two-CD expanded version of my personal favorite, New River Head.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Britney Spears on Thursday, Ozzy Osbourne on Friday, and Craig David on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts The White Stripes tonight, Alicia Keys on Thursday, and Indie.Arie on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien features guests N Sync on Thursday overnight and Tenacious D on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn gives it up for Mystic this evening overnight and Dashboard Confessional on Thursday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Macy Gray.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 16:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
40 Below Summer - Invitation to the Dance (Sire)
AM/FM - Getting into Sinking (Polyvinyl)
American McGee's Alice - original music score (Six Degrees) music from the video game from Chris Vrenna of Nine Inch Nails
American Roots Music - original mini-series soundtrack recording (Palm Pictures) two-DVD or single-CD retrospective from this PBS documentary
Anathema - A Fine Day to Exit (Koch) recently headlining Milwaukee's Metalfest XV
Bionic Jive - Armageddon through Your Speakers (Interscope)
Blaque - Blaque Out (Columbia)
Toni Braxton - Snowflakes (LaFace/Arista) Christmas album
Leonard Cohen - Ten New Songs (Columbia)
Court & Spark - Bless You (Absolutely Kosher) with guest Gene Parsons of The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers on three tracks
De Facto - How Do You Dub? You Fight for Dub, You Plug Dub in (Restart) new side project from At the Drive In with a reggae-flavored chill-laden vibe influenced by Augustus Pablo
Dictators - D.F.F.D. (Norton) all new from these downtown NYC punk legends, the band's first in 20 years
Don't Say a Word - original motion picture soundtrack (Varese Sarabande) music composed by Mark Isham
Electric Eels - Eyeball of Hell (Scat) CD re-issue from these three-chord Ohio punk pioneers back in 1975
Flaming Stars - Ginmill Perfume (Alternative Tentacles) collecting tracks from the group's six albums
Flickerstick - Welcoming Home the Astronauts (Epic) remastered re-issue of the homegrown debut from the Band on the Run television contest winner
The Grateful Dead - The Golden Road: 1965-1973 (Rhino) 12-CD box set featuring an 80-page book and the two-CD Birth of the Dead rarities collection
Bob Marley - Exodus (Island) deluxe-edition re-issue expanded to two CDs featuring a live concert from London in June 1977
Hugh Masekela - Grazing in the Grass: The Best of (Columbia Legacy)
James Mathus & His Knockdown Society - National Antiseptic (Mammoth) second solo album of swamp boogie from the Squirrel Nut Zipper frontman featuring a cover of Charlie Patton's "Shake It & Break It"
Monsters, Inc. - original motion picture soundtrack (Walt Disney) with music by Randy Newman
Mr. Cheeks - John P. Kelly (Universal) new from the former Lost Boyz member
New Order - Get Ready (Warner Bros) with guests Billy Corgan, Primal Scream, and the Chemical Brothers
Patrick O'Hearn - So Flows the Current (Paras)
Ozzy Osbourne - Down to Earth (Divine/Epic) all-new solo album from the Black Sabbath front man reunited with guitarist Zakk Wilde
Parks & Wilson - Painting on Silence (Bliss) two-CD set from the international DJ partnership
Phish - Live Phish 06 (Elektra) rounding out the band's recent batch of concert albums
Refrigerator - Comedy Minus One (Shrimper)
Dawn Robinson - Dawn (Q Records) vocalist formerly of En Vogue and Lucy Pearl
Schatzi - Death of the Alphabet EP (Mammoth)
Jamie-Lynn Sigler - Here to Heaven (BAB/Edel) Latin-tinged debut from the actress known for her role as Meadow Soprano
The Sonics - Savage Young Sonics (Norton) collection of primitive live performances from 1961 to 1964
Angie Stone - Mahogany & Soul (J Records)
The Man Who Wasn't There - original motion picture soundtrack (Decca) music from the new film from Joel and Ethan Coen
The Wash - original motion picture soundtrack (Interscope) featuring stars Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg busting suds at a crazy car wash
Pete Townshend & Raphael Rudd - The Oceanic Concerts (Rhino) culled from two invitation-only concerts from 1979 and 1980
McCoy Tyner - Plays John Coltrane (Impulse) the pioneering pianist of Coltrane's jazz quartet recorded live at the Village Vanguard
various artists - Chill Out Lounge: Volume 2 (Water Music) mix CD featuring LTJ Bukem, Lovespirals, and Baby Mammoth
various artists - Rhythm Room Blues (Hightone) 10th anniversary celebration for the Phoenix blues club with R.L. Burnside, Nappy Brown, and Kim Wilson
The Velvet Underground - Bootleg Series: Volume One (Universal) three-CD set
Tom Waits - Used Songs: 1973-1980 (Rhino) 16 tracks selected from his seven albums on the Asylum label, including his original versions of "Jersey Girl" and "Ol' '55," later recorded by Bruce Springsteen and The Eagles