What with the holidays just around the corner... uhmmm, okay, forget I just said that. You see, I got a Josh Groban Christmas CD in the mail this week and it freaked me out a little. Not because it's Groban, but because it's just the beginning of October! It turns out that all manner of such things will be hitting the shelves soon.

Not my shelves! It's too early for that people!

Instead, how about some hot blues, raw country, jazz by way of Elvis, B-movie themes, and almost-instrumental rock? It's all out there.

Buddy Guy - Live at the Checkerboard Lounge (JSP)/Smokin' Blues

A live record from way back in 1979. Just lookit' that handsome devil on the cover! Better still, be ready to be blistered by the guitar.

Dale Watson - Live at Newland.NL (Rounder/Europe)/Real Country

I saw a documentary about country music several years ago. There was a segment with Dale Watson. As he lamented the state of modern country music, he lugged his amps and other equipment out of the back of a van and onto the stage of a small club. Watson is as real as it gets.

Cyrus Chestnut - Cyrus Plays Elvis (Koch)/Jazz

I know, the very idea of this is kind of revolting. Sold!

Jack DeJohnette - Peace Time (Kindred Rhythm)/Jazz or maybe New Age

This is a followup recording to DeJohnette's last relaxation album Music in the Key of Om. Now, normally this isn't something I'd pick up, since I already have a boatload of chant/Tibetan Monk-type stuff. However, somebody swiped my copy of Ambient: Music For Airports a while back and this record looks like a decent replacement. What? Why am I not replacing the Eno disc? It's complicated and I'd rather not go into it.

G.G. Allin - Carnival of Excess [Bonus Track] (Innovative Distribution Network)/Freakish Rock

I have read enough G.G. Allin references (from BC's own Duke De Mondo) to wonder why the hell I don't know who Allin is. Better still, why haven't I done anything about it?! Bring on the reissue!!

Robert Wyatt - Comicopera (Domino)/Rock

I don't know anything at all about either Robert Wyatt or Soft Machine, except that one is related to the other. This probably isn't the right place to start for the beginner, but since when has that ever stopped me before?