New album releases, week of 8-31-2004

Written by Al Barger
Published August 30, 2004
Part of New CDs

Not much exciting in this week's new releases. Bjork has a new album, Medulla, which apparently is pretty much all vocals and samples, with very little live instrumentation. That sounds questionable, but might be worth a listen.

LL Cool J has a new album out, The DEFinition. He seems to turn out about one worthwhile song every three or four albums. Maybe the luck of the draw will turn us out something.

Or perhaps you'd prefer the Kansas box set, Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004.

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

John Adams John Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls Nonesuch
Contemporary Choral and Orchestral Music

Bjork Medulla Elektra
Alternative Dance, Trip-Hop, Club/Dance, Electronica, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Libertines The Libertines Rough Trade
Punk Revival, Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival, Britpop

Jill Scott Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2 Sony
Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Hip-Hop, Urban

The Allman Brothers Band The Essential Allman Brothers Band: The Epic Years Sony
Southern Rock, Slide Guitar Blues, Boogie Rock, Rock & Roll

Asia Silent Nation Inside Out Music
Prog-Rock/Art Rock

Chet Atkins The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years [Sony] Sony
Country-Pop, Jazz-Pop, Instrumental Country, Smooth Jazz

The Beatnuts Milk Me Penalty/Ryko/HRH Management
Hip-Hop, East Coast Rap

Dan Bern & the IJBC My Country II [EP] Messenger
Americana, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Singer/Songwriter

Black Tape for a Blue Girl Halo Star Projekt
Goth Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

The Blue Nile High Sanctuary
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock

Shawn Camp Live at the Station Inn Oh Boy
Contemporary Bluegrass, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Contemporary Country

Melonie Cannon Melonie Cannon Skaggs Family
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Country-Folk, Contemporary Country, Bluegrass

Ray Charles Genius Loves Company Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc.
Jazz Blues, Urban Blues, Piano Blues, Soul

Rosemary Clooney The Essential Rosemary Clooney Sony
Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop, Vocal Jazz, American Popular Song, Torch Songs

David Allan Coe The Essential David Allan Coe Sony
Outlaw Country, Progressive Country, Traditional Country, Singer/Songwriter

Judy Collins Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy Rhino
Contemporary Folk, Folk-Pop

Albert Cummings True to Yourself Blind Pig
Electric Blues, Modern Electric Blues

Danzig Circle of Snakes Evilive
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal

Gluecifer Automatic Thrill SPV
Garage Punk, Punk-Pop

Charlie Haden Land of the Sun Verve
Ballads, Modern Creative, Post-Bop

Merle Haggard The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years Sony
Bakersfield Sound, Honky Tonk, Traditional Country

Insane Clown Posse Hell's Pit [CD & DVD Part 1] Psychopathic
Rap-Rock

Insane Clown Posse Hell's Pit [CD & DVD Part 2] Psychopathic
Rap-Rock

Keith Jarrett Trio The Out-of-Towners ECM
Modern Creative

Waylon Jennings One and Only/Heartaches by the Numbers Collectables
Traditional Country, Progressive Country

Kansas Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004 Sony
Arena Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock, Pop/Rock

LL Cool J The DEFinition Def Jam
East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap

Lamb of God Ashes of the Wake Sony
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal

London Baroque Couperin: Apotheoses Bis
Baroque Chamber Music

Markku Luolajan-Mikkola Marais: Pièces de viole du second livre Bis
Baroque Chamber Music

Mastodon Leviathan Relapse
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal

Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/Teddy Pendergrass The Essential Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Sony
Smooth Soul, Philly Soul, Soul

Massimo Palumbo Joseph Haydn: Complete Piano Concertos Arts
Classical Piano Concertos

Papa Roach Getting Away With Murder Geffen
Alternative Metal

Marc Ponthus Xenakis: Complete Music for Piano; Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit Neuma
Contemporary Piano Musc

Collin Raye Live at Billy Bob's Texas Smith Music Group
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country

Sam Roberts We Were Born in a Flame [Bonus Tracks] Lost Highway
American Trad Rock, Singer/Songwriter

Skindred Babylon [2004] Lava
Rap-Metal, Post-Grunge, Alternative Metal

Percy Sledge Shining Through the Rain Varese
Southern Soul, Country-Soul

The Trash Can Sinatras Weightlifting Spin Art
Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

Various Artists American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 2 Hip-O
Blues Revival, Electric Chicago Blues

Various Artists Everybody Dance Now! Remixed, Remolded & Remade Sony
Club/Dance, House, Dance-Pop

Various Artists Wattstax: Highlights from the Soundtrack Stax
Memphis Soul, Funk, Soul

Unreformed hawkish Hoosier hillbilly and sometimes candidate Al Barger runs the still squeezin' down the psychodelic Kentucky moonshine at MoreThings.com, what with the paranoid religious visions and the Pentacostal music and visions of God and anarchy running amok and such. Somebody oughta call the cops to report his out of control freedom of conscience. Till they come to take him away somewhere where he can't hurt anyone else, you can check out his weekly column of NEW ALBUM RELEASES.
Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Buy from Amazon.com
MedĂșlla MedĂșlla
Björk
Music,
The Libertines The Libertines
The Libertines
Music,
Halo Star Halo Star
Black Tape for a Blue Girl
Music,
Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy
Judy Collins
Music,
Circle of Snakes Circle of Snakes
Danzig
Music,
Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004 Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004
Kansas
Music,
Ashes of the Wake Ashes of the Wake
Lamb of God
Music,
Getting Away with Murder Getting Away with Murder
Papa Roach
Music,
Weightlifting (Bonus DVD) Weightlifting (Bonus DVD)
The Trash Can Sinatras
Music,
Wattstax: Highlights from the Soundtrack Wattstax: Highlights from the Soundtrack
Music,

New album releases, week of 8-31-2004
Published: August 30, 2004
Type:
Section: Music
Part of a feature: New CDs
Writer: Al Barger
Al Barger's BC Writer page
Al Barger's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
Articles in this series
BC articles by Al Barger
All Music Articles
Al Barger's personal weblog
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — August 30, 2004 @ 20:29PM — Aaron, Duke De Mondo [URL]

not much exciting? come now, Al, a fella with the fine taste such as yourself should know that The Libertines is just about the finest record a fella could hope for.
(By taste, i of course refer to your fine taste in music, and not the actual "taste" of you. Although i once licked an "Al", but i don't think he was any relation.)

#2 — August 31, 2004 @ 00:45AM — Al Barger [URL]

I bet I'd be delicious.

#3 — August 31, 2004 @ 01:22AM — HW Saxton

Duke, I think that all those viewings of
"Cannibal Holocaust" are beginning to
show their effect on you.

#4 — August 31, 2004 @ 01:35AM — Tom Johnson [URL]

Bjork's album is more than worth a listen - the little samples on her site show this is easily the most fascinating thing she's ever done. Very much looking forward to picking it up.

I'll also concur with the Duke - the Libertines album is a good dose of fun in a Clash/old XTC type of way.

Anyone looking for something fresh and intelligent in metal should pick up the new Mastodon (be sure to get the one with the DVD featuring live stuff for a couple bucks extra.)

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/19244)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments