New album releases, week of 6-22-04

This looks like an above average week for new albums.

Top likely pick: Brian Wilson has a new album out on Rhino, Gettin' in Over My Head. His last album was pretty disappointing, but this BRIAN WILSON, so that alone rates a careful listen.

The appeal of their last album escaped me, but Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was the consensus Blogcritics pick for album of the year. This week they are releasing the follow up, A Ghost Is Born. I've never known of this band actually being popular, but note that this album is currently #1 at Amazon.

There's a new release of Elvis Presley's Sun sessions, Elvis at Sun, which have been described as "brand new remasterings that are sometimes startling in their clarity." This sounds promising, as I for one have never been satisfied technically with previous CD releases of this key material.

Also, the words "Spider Man" apparently have some magical incantation powers that cause people to helplessly reach for their wallets for no obvious reason. The Danny Elfman produced soundtrack for Spidey 2 is out this week. Uncontrollable urge... Must buy...

This week's major releases, from All Music Guide:

The Album Leaf In a Safe Place Sub Pop
Post-Rock/Experimental, Experimental Rock

Bobby Bare Jr's Young Criminals' Starvation League From the End of Your Leash Bloodshot
Alternative Country-Rock, Americana

BoDeans Resolution Zoe
Heartland Rock, Roots Rock

DJ Spooky Celestial Mechanix: The Blue Series Mastermix Thirsty Ear
Illbient, Turntablism

Morris Day It's About Time Hollywood
Urban, Dance-Pop

Jimmy Dean The Best of Jimmy Dean Columbia
Traditional Country

Nick Drake Made to Love Magic Island
Baroque Pop, British Folk, British Folk-Rock, Folk-Rock, Progressive Folk, Singer/Songwriter

Fourplay Journey Bluebird
Contemporary Jazz, Smooth Jazz

Bob Geldof Under the Influence DMC
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Traditional Pop

Benny Golson Terminal 1 Concord Jazz
Mainstream Jazz, Post-Bop

Rachel Goswell Waves Are Universal 4AD
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Country-Rock

Benny Green & Russell Malone Bluebird Telarc
Contemporary Jazz, Post-Bop, Neo-Bop

David Grubbs A Guess at the Riddle Drag City
Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental

Jadakiss Kiss of Death Ruff Ryders
East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap

Jefferson Airplane Volunteers [Bonus Tracks] RCA
Folk-Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic

Jefferson Airplane Bless Its Pointed Little Head [Bonus Tracks] RCA
Folk-Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic

JoJo JoJo Da Family Entertainment
R&B, Teen Pop

Quincy Jones/Bill Cosby The Original Jam Sessions 1969 Concord Jazz
Soul-Jazz, Hard Bop

Kenny Larkin The Narcissist Peacefrog
Detroit Techno, Techno

Gustav Leonhardt Bach: Goldberg Variations BMG International
Baroque Keyboard Music

Lit Lit Nitrus
Post-Grunge, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Edwin McCain Scream & Whisper RT./Utr Music
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, American Trad Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Ministry Houses of the Mole Sanctuary
Industrial Metal, Alternative Metal

Original Soundtrack Spider-Man 2 Sony
Film Music, Soundtracks

Ozomatli Street Signs Concord Jazz
Hip-Hop, Salsa, Middle Eastern Pop, Latin Pop, Rock en Espanol, Worldbeat

Elvis Presley Elvis at Sun BMG Heritage
Rock & Roll, Rockabilly, Pop/Rock

Pro Cantione Antiqua London Lassus: Requiem; Magnificat BMG International
Renaissance Liturgical Music

Schneider TM Reconfigures Earsugar
Indie Electronic, Electronica, Post-Rock/Experimental

Scorpions Unbreakable BMG International
Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Album Rock

Sequentia Chancelier: School of Notre Dame BMG International
Choral Music

Sequentia Hildegarde von Bingen: Symphoniae BMG International
Medieval Vocal Music

Erick Sermon Chilltown, New York Motown
East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap

Sonia Dada Test Pattern [Bonus DVD] Razor & Tie
American Trad Rock, Roots Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Urban Folk

Sweetback Stage 2 Epic
Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul, R&B

Switchfoot The Beautiful Letdown [Bonus DVD] Columbia
Alternative Pop/Rock, Post-Grunge

Tilly and the Wall Wild Like Children Team Love
Indie Pop

McCoy Tyner Illuminations Telarc
Post-Bop, Mainstream Jazz

Various Artists Another Year on the Streets, Vol. 3 [Bonus DVD] Vagrant
Indie Rock, Emo

Various Artists Ligeti Project 5 Elektra
Contemporary Classical Music

Various Artists Memphis Celebrates 50 Years of Rock 'N' Roll BMG Heritage
Rock & Roll, Soul, R&B, Jump Blues

Bobby Vinton The Best of Bobby Vinton Epic
Pop, Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop

Wilco A Ghost Is Born Nonesuch
Alternative Pop/Rock, Indie Rock, Experimental Rock

Brian Wilson Gettin' in Over My Head Rhino
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Adult Contemporary, Pop/Rock

Young Rome Food for Thought Tug/Universal
Urban, Pop-Rap

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Gettin' in Over My Head Brian Wilson Rhino Records 22 June, 2004 $13.49 at Amazon.com

Elvis At Sun Elvis Presley Bmg Heritage 22 June, 2004 $13.99 at Amazon.com

A Ghost Is Born Wilco Nonesuch 22 June, 2004 $13.49 at Amazon.com

Spider-Man 2 - Music From And Inspired By Various Artists Sony 22 June, 2004 $13.99 at Amazon.com

Houses of the Mole' Ministry Sanctuary Records 22 June, 2004 $14.99 at Amazon.com

The Original Jam Sesssions 1969 Quincy Jones, Bill Cosby Concord Records 22 June, 2004 $14.99 at Amazon.com

Bob Geldof: Under the Influence Various Artists Under the Influence 22 June, 2004 $17.98 at Amazon.com

Bluebird Benny Green, Russell Malone Telarc 22 June, 2004 $14.99 at Amazon.com

Young Criminals Starvation League Bobby Bare Jr. Bloodshot Records 09 July, 2002 $14.98 at Amazon.com

Celestial Mechanix: Blue Series Mastermix DJ Spooky Thirsty Ear 22 June, 2004 $16.98 at Amazon.com