One might be skeptical of the severalth live reunion oldies album, but Simon & Garfunkel Old Friends Live on Stage might likely be the exception. Paul Simon has repeatedly done interesting re-thinkings of his old work, solo and with Garfunkel. His songs are rich enough in melody and meaning to be usefully re-worked multiple times. This two cd and one dvd set also features their opening act and inspiration the Everly Brothers.

The big event record this week is probably supposed to be the Jay-Z & Linkin Park "mash up" record. I've never been impressed by a single song from either act, so it doesn't sound like anything of actual musical interest. Knock yourself out if you're into this sort of thing, though.

Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases, courtesy AMG:

Jay-Z & Linkin Park Collision Course Warner Brothers
Pop-Rap, Hardcore Rap, Alternative Metal, Rap-Metal

Kelly Clarkson Breakaway RCA
Teen Pop, Adult Contemporary

Dashboard Confessional Vindicted TVT Int'l
Indie Rock, Emo

Dirty Vegas One Capitol
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Downbeat

The Exies Head for the Door Virgin
Post-Grunge

Thomas Fehlmann Lowflow Plug Research
Experimental Techno, Ambient Breakbeat

Wilhelm Furtwangler Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg Music & Arts
Romantic Opera

Hexstatic Master-View Ninja Tune
Funky Breaks, Trip-Hop, Club/Dance

Gerald LeVert Do I Speak for the World? Elektra
Urban, Retro-Soul

Lusine Serial Hodgepodge Ghostly International
IDM, Experimental Techno, Ambient Techno, Club/Dance

Wynton Marsalis Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise And Fall Of Jack Johnson Blue Note
Contemporary Jazz

Philip Mead George Crumb: The Complete Piano Music Metier
Contemporary Piano Music

Mum Dusk Log Fat Cat
IDM, Electronica, Indie Electronic

Nas Street's Disciple Columbia
East Coast Rap, Hip-Hop

Outrageous Cherry Why Don't We Talk About Something Else [EP] Rainbow Quartz
Indie Pop, Pop Underground, Indie Rock

Patton & Kaada Romances Ipecac
Experimental Rock, Alternative Metal, Post-Rock/Experimental

Placebo Once More With Feeling: Singles 1996-2004 [Bonus Disc] Astralwerks
Neo-Glam, Britpop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk-Pop, Punk Revival

Sandie Shaw Reviewing the Situation [EMI Reissue] EMI
British Invasion

Simon & Garfunkel Old Friends Live On Stage [2 CD+DVD Deluxe Edition] Warner Brothers
Folk-Rock, Pop

Styrofoam Nothing's Lost Morr
Indie Electronic

Tindersticks Working for the Man: The Island Years Universal
Chamber Pop

Urban Mystic Ghetto Revelations SoBe Entertainment
Contemporary R&B, Urban, Neo-Soul

Osmo Vanska Rautavaara: Violin Concerto; Symphony No. 8 "The Journey" Bis
Contemporary Orchestral Music