It's a woman's world in two upcoming CD tribute projects that benefit breast-cancer support and awareness. Later this month New Jersey's Face Down Records will release About a Girl, collecting cover contributions from Philadelphia-area artists taking aim at songs with a woman's name in the title. AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" is found within, covered by Beretta 76, as is the Jukebox Zeroes' spin on The Sonics' "Cinderella" and the Creeping Weeds' hand at Arthur Alexander's "Anna." With proceeds benefiting the Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition, the disc also includes covers of Elvis Costello's "Allison," Weezer's "Suzanne," The Kinks' "Victoria," and the AM-radio nugget by The Looking Glass, "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)."
American Laundromat Records has announced the lineup for its upcoming Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young for Charity tribute. All proceeds from the two-CD set will go to Casting for Recovery, a not-for-profit support and educational program in memory of the label founder's mother. Artists lending a hand to the effort include The Watson Twins, Josie Cotton, Tanya Donelly, Kristin Hersh, Britta Phillips, Lori McKenna, Julie Peel, and Cindy Wheeler of the Caulfield Sisters.
Prices are crashing fast on eBay for a bevy of long out-of-print vinyl LPs from the early 1970s and across the sea, as the UK's Cherry Red Records has debuted a new, satisfying reissue CD imprint, Esoteric Recordings. Prog-rock, Kraut-rock, and psychedelic-British-folk fans alike can get gooey together with bonus-peppered CDs from Paladin, Rare Bird, Arena, Big Sleep, Jonesy, and Gong's Daevid Allen.
It's nice to see a great song brought back to life, even if it's the theme to a new television comedy. Heard on the CW network's new Aliens in America, that's PJ Olsson covering Nick Lowe's "What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love, & Understanding." The song also shows up as a bonus track on next week's release of American Scream on CBS Records.
The most intriguing band name and album title I've heard in a while? Keep an eye peeled for next week's release of Danza II: The Electric Boogaloo, from Tennessee's Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza on Blackmarket Activities/Metal Blade Records.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno slips on the Plain White T's tonight, Vanesa Carlton Thursday, Alicia Keys on Friday, and PJ Harvey on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien boasts the Klaxons on Thursday and Ghostland Observatory on Tuesday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson welcomes Modest Mouse tonight, Tori Amos on Thursday, and They Might Be Giants on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live plugs into Datarock tonight, Jose Gonzalez on Thursday, and Q-Tip on Friday overnight; The Henry Rollins Show on IFC features Chris Cornell this weekend; The Ellen DeGeneres Show gets chatty with Janet Jackson on Tuesday; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Foo Fighters.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, October 16:
Beirut - The Flying Club Cup (Ba Da Bing) a warm summer's daydream journey through France at the turn of the century, lost in Balkan folk and the inspiration of vintage photographs
Camp Burlesque - original motion picture soundtrack (Bird Song) imagined and written by Tony Marsico while touring with Matthew Sweet, this coy, lush love letter to the lost world of burlesque features The Martini Kings, The Del Rays, The Velvet Crush, and Big Sandy's "46 24 46," a beach-campfire delight for his ukulele-bustin' brick-house gal, reminiscent of those hokey songs from Elvis flicks
Ben Forest Davis - Roughs (Bird Song) dynamite solo album from the Sugarcult drummer, showcased on the new label run by another drummer, Ric Menck of Matthew Sweet's band
DJ Spooky - Creation Rebel: Trojan Re-Mixed, Re-Visioned, Re-Versioned (Trojan) 14 mash-ups from the archives, celebrating the label's 40th anniversary
Chuck Dukowski Sextet - Reverse the Polarity (Nice & Friendly) new from the Wurn and Black Flag bassist
Gov't Mule - Mighty High (ATO) taking a new look at tracks from last year's High & Mighty album, with guest "Toots" Hibbert and a cover of Deep Purple's "I'm a Ram"
The Izzys - The Violent Bear It Away (Fat Man) terrific young New York City quartet that mixes an old-timey vibe - covering the traditional "Real Cocaine Blues" - with gnarled electric lead guitars and hedonistic party-rock boogie
Jimmy Eat World - Chase This Light (Tiny Evil)
Lizzy Borden - Appointment with Death (Metal Blade)
Bob Marley & The Wailers - Another Dance: Rare Sides from Studio One (Heartbeat) rare tracks from the mid-1960s from a variety of obscure Jamaican record labels
Me First & the Gimme Gimmes - Dolly (Fat Wreck) seven-inch single available in black or alfalfa-green vinyl, this is the first release in the label's twisted Square Dance Series, covering Dolly Parton's "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You"
Moros Eros - Jealous Me Was Killed by Curiosity (Victory) sophomore release
Underworld - Oblivion with Bells (Side One) also available with a bonus DVD
Pet Shop Boys - Disco 4 (Parlophone) import-only remix series, featuring their knob-twiddling of The Killers' "Read My Mind," Madonna's "Sorry," Rammstein's "Mein Teil," and Atomizer's "Hooked on Radiation"
Polysics - Polysics Or Die!!! Vista (My Space Records) modern-day new-wavers from Tokyo, lost in the synthesized beats of M, Devo, The Flying Lizards, and Oingo Boingo
Pylon - Gyrate Plus (DFA) CD reissue of this Athens, Georgia, gem from 1980, featuring bonus tracks and liner notes by Michael Stipe of R.E.M. and Fred Schneider of The B-52's
R.E.M. - R.E.M. Live (Warner Bros) the band's first ever live album on CD and DVD, filmed in Dublin two years ago
Santana - Ultimate Santana (Arista) best-of collection with new songs featuring guests Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, Tina Turner, and Jennifer Lopez
Dave Seaman - Therapy Sessions 4 (Moist Music) two-CD set putting the DJ's touch on tracks by UNKLE, 16 Bit Lolitas, Superlounge, and King Roc
Soulsavers - It's Not How Far You Fall, It's the Way You Land (Columbia) domestic release of this UK hit, with guests Mark Lanegan and Bonnie "Prince" Billy and covers of Neil Young's "Through My Sails" and the Rolling Stones' killer "No Expectations"
Southeast Engine - A Wheel Within a Wheel (Misra) indie stunner that's joyous, pained, buoyant, spiritual, and kitchen-window pensive
Angie Stone - The Art of Love & War (Stax) with guest Chyno on the duet "Half a Chance"
Thrice - The Alchemy Index: Vols. I & II - Fire & Water (Vagrant)
Umphrey's McGee - Live at the Murat (Sci Fidelity) their first official live album, with two CDs recorded in April in Indianapolis
Dan Wilson - Free Life (American) solo album from the Semisonic frontman, with guests Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, Eric Fawcett of N.E.R.D., Gary Louris, and Sheryl Crow
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II (Reprise) all new, with three lost songs from sessions aborted in 1977, with reports promising a bonus CD tempting fans with a taste from his extensive, long-awaited Archives box set
various artists - The Cake Sale (Yep Roc) this benefit album supports Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign, with contributions from Gemma Hayes, Nick Seymour of Crowded House, Nina Persson of The Cardigans, and Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol
