I reviewed the Idol album for last week, it is very good, but it takes awhile to grow on you. I am also looking forward to the Queens of the Stone Age album.

There's more than enough good stuff coming out this week, Al. The "there's nothing/very little good coming out this week" snark is getting really old - you just happen to not be very interested in new music, is all (unfortunately.) You're missing out on a bunch of great stuff, particularly this week:

John Zorn's Naked City - the Complete Collection (boxset)

Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralize

Decemberists - Picaresque

Yo La Tengo - Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003

Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (haven't heard it myself, but I can't escape the talk on every indie-music related message board I visit)

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - B-sides & Rarities

Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen reissue with bonus tracks

Jars of Clay also has a new album due out this week (today).

Tom, the Ben Folds Five album is absolutely classic. Anyone who doesn't have it should go out and buy two copies. It's not NEW however, and I couldn't even find a listing of what kind of "new" tracks it was going to have. Is it just demos of the familiar songs, or what?

I'm all in favor of new music, if it's any good. In my little solipsistic bubble though, the hot "new" music will likely as not be some 50 year old Miles Davis or bluegrass record I've never heard before.

Maybe I just haven't been paying attention, but I can't remember a single specific song from ANY of those other acts you mention. I'm not going to force myself to pretend to like some half-assed crap so that I can prove that I'm down with the kids or some such.

Wake me up when the next White Stripes album drops.

You don't remember Naked City's songs as much as you remember the experience of hearing them. That music is as far from "half-assed" as it's possible to get.

That box set is crucial, and it's at the top of my 'to buy' list. With any luck, they'll have the cover art hidden away in a booklet where I never have to look at it.

I'm not going to force myself to pretend to like some half-assed crap so that I can prove that I'm down with the kids or some such.

so it must be asked, what does such a musically incurious person get out of writing a new releases column?

sure, all the new music sucks. we've heard that before. whatever.

Al Barger,

The reason you can't remember any of the songs from these acts is because you haven't heard them. It doesn't mean it's no good. You are the problem with why mainstream radio and tv rock sucks. You don't support new artists and are unwilling to give new music a chance unless it's shoved in front of your face 40 times a day.

sickening...

A week when there's a new Vic Chesnutt coming out is not a bad week, ever. This one is terrific, like every last release of Vic's.

In my humble view, Vic is one of the genius songwriters and singers of our generation and a treasure. In addition, he is hilarious. If anyone has any interest in Vic, I could post a little appreciation I once wrote for another place, including some suggestions for what to try first.

The new one, by the way, is more atmospheric and less bare-bones folky than in the past, and features Van Dyke Parks and a cameo from Bill Frisell. It is really dreamy.

And as I may have mentioned, Yo La Tengo is my favorite band. The song selections on this new album, which is a Greatest Hits package, are excellent and very representative of their many sides. Anyone who doesn't have all Ira and Georgia's albums already will definitely want this.

The Louis XIV is fun, too. Glammy like Bowie or Bolan. But probably ultimately inconsequential. Like Bowie or Bolan.

I like Zorn as long as he keeps the saxophone out of his mouth.

I relate to that song about my "little Asian friend," but really it's all been downhill since "I Owe a Lot to Iowa Pot."