· Three terrific new tribute projects are due next week, saluting two superstars and the unique talents shared by a father and son. Failure to Communicate Records is releasing 2. Contamination, a two-CD collection of darkwave artists covering the songs of David Bowie. The 35-track set features highlights including Voltaire's take on "China Girl," Tragic Vitality's gush of "Oh You Pretty Things," and The Dresden Dolls' trip through "Life on Mars." A numbered limited edition is also available featuring a 36-page booklet.

· The queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson, is still going strong at 68 with her new tribute to the king of rock 'n' roll, Elvis Presley, in I Remember Elvis. Another Elvis, as in Mr. Costello, wrote the liner notes to the 14-song collection from Goldenlane Records, which features the Jackson original "I Wore Elvis' Ring" - fitting, as the young singer dated the king and toured with him in 1955 and 1956. As a bonus, the CD wraps up with Wanda's fond spoken-word memories of her friend.

· Rykodisc Records has collected a tasty baker's dozen of British and American indie artists gracefully bowing down to the songwriting genius - and the hair-raising vocal chills - of two artists who left this world much too early in Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim & Jeff Buckley. From Sufjan Stevens' cover of "She Is" to The Magic Numbers' spin of "Sing a Song for You," this CD is a great way to discover, and bask in the light of, this father-son legacy. Other contributors include King Creosote, Clayhill, Micah P. Hinson, and Bitmap.

· Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine has emerged with mega-remixes of two Go! Team songs on the band's new "Ladyflash" single, out next week on the Memphis Industries imprint. The single is available as a seven-inch or a two-track or four-track CD, also featuring remixes by RJD2 and Simian Mobile Disco.

· This Tuesday brings two nice treats for the turntable-friendly. Rykodisc is releasing a special 180-gram vinyl audiophile LP of Nine Inch Nails' Pretty Hate Machine, while Columbia is issuing a special vinyl LP version of Neil Diamond's recent return with 12 Songs (guaranteed not to screw up your audio system like the first pressing of the rootkit-infecting CD did).

Television Alert:

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Nickel Creek tonight and P.O.D. on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien welcomes Yellowcard this evening overnight, Lewis Taylor Friday overnight, and Broken Social Scene on Tuesday overnight; Last Call with Carson Daly presents Switchfoot overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts Kid Rock Tuesday overnight; Austin City Limits lets loose Widespread Panic this weekend; Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is James Blunt; and VH1's Decades Rock Live this weekend features Cyndi Lauper, Scott Weiland, Ani DiFranco, Train, and The Hooters.

New Releases Coming Tuesday, January 31:

... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.


Arctic Monkeys- Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (Domino) import-only debut album, featuring the single "When the Sun Goes Down"

Be Your Own Pet- Be Your Own Pet(XL Recordings) featuring the single "Let's Get Sandy (Big Problem)"

Norman and Nancy Blake- Back Home to Sulphur Springs (Dualtone) featuring the bonus track "Don't Be Afraid of the Neo-Con"

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone- "Young Shields" (Tomlab) CD and seven-inch single with Jherek Bischoff of Dead Science, featuring a cool electro cover of Prince's "When You Were Mine"

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Wichita) featuring the hit single "Is This Love," this import-only debut album is available on CD and LP

DJ Cam- DJ Cam Revisited By ...(Recall)

The Doors- Live in Philadelphia (Bright Midnight/Rhino Handmade) two-CD set recorded on May 1, 1970, at the Spectrum

Ilona Europa- Euro-Cize(Gemini Sun) high-energy dance beats created with a sweaty power workout in mind

The Flaming Lips- The Soft Bulletin (Warner Bros) long awaited CD/DVD reissue in 5.1-channel surround sound, packed with bonus unreleased versions, live BBC sessions, and videos for "Waiting for Superman" and "Race for the Prize"

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones- The Hidden Land (Columbia) featuring an interpretation of J.S. Bach's "Bach Fugue"

Eric Gales- Crystal Vision (Blues Bureau) new from the blistering guitarist who was signed to a major label at age 16

Green Carnation- The Acoustic Verses(The End Records) prog metal from Norway

Moistboyz- Moistboyz IV (Sanctuary) new from the naughty side project from Mickey Moist (Ween's Dean Ween) and Dickie Moistboy (Guy Heller)

Morning Star- The Opposite Is True(Microbe/Ici D'Ailleurs)

Mozez- So Still(Apace Music) debut from the vocalist of Zero 7, with guests Ben Chapman and Nightmares on Wax

P.O.S.- Audition(Rhymesayers) with guests Slug from Atmosphere, Craig Finn of The Hold Steady, Greg Attonito of Bouncing Souls, and Mictian of Doomtree

Proto-Kaw- The Wait of Glory (Inside Out) second album from this new project of former Kansas guitarist Kerry Livgren

Rhapsody- Live in Canada 2005 (Magic Circle Music) Italian metal stars recorded on tour last year with Manowar

Lee Rocker- Racin' the Devil(Alligator) new from the Stray Cats bassist, featuring a cover of Carl Perkins' "Say When"

The Tangent- A Place In the Queue (Inside Out) featuring members of Flower Kings

Livingston Taylor- There You Are Again (Coconut Grove/Chesky) with guests James Taylor, Vince Gill, Take 6, David Sanborn, and Carly Simon

Jimmy Thackery- The Essential Jimmy Thackery (Blind Pig) new collection from the former leader of The Nighthawks, with guests Duke Robillard and Lonnie Brooks

Three Burials- original motion picture soundtrack (Recall) with a score by Marco Beltrami and songs by Hank Williams Jr., Freddie Fender, and Roger Miller

Train- For Me, It's You (Columbia) featuring the single "Cab" and producer Brendan O'Brien

The Twilight Singers- Twilight Live! (One Little Indian) DVD of this performance by Greg Dulli's post-Afghan Whigs experience, filmed in April 2004 at the Southgate House in Newport, Kentucky; featuring encore guests John Curley and Marcy Mays

Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3- ... tick ... tick ... tick(Down There) new from the Dream Syndicate founder

Wolfmother- Dimension (Interscope) CD EP from this Australian band now roaming the canyons of Los Angeles

Robert Wyatt- Eps (Hannibal) import-only five-CD EP box set featuring his icy cool covers of Peter Gabriel's "Biko" and Elvis Costello's "Shipbuilding"

Warren Zevon- Reconsider Me: The Love Songs (Artemis) collection of 13 songs from a multitude of past albums and labels, featuring the live acoustic "Don't Let Us Get Sick" recorded at KGSR-FM in Austin, Texas

various artists - I Am a Cold Rock, I Am Dull Grass (Tract Records) CD reissue of this 2004 tribute to Will Oldham, now featuring new covers from Court & Spark, Mark Kozelek, Unbunny, Viking Moses, and Jolie Holland

various artists - Sly & the Family Stone: Different Strokes by Different Folks (Epic Legacy) now available outside the walls of Starbucks, this killer tribute project features covers from Isaac Hayes, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, Big Boi, Chuck D, Maroon 5, Moby, John Legend, Steven Tyler, Buddy Guy, Janet Jackson, and many more

various artists - The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins (Reignition/Suburban Home) with cover contributions from Armor for Sleep, Poison the Well, A Thorn for Every Heart, and more

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher