Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs, Poetry on Record, Thank You For Smoking Soundtrack

There's danged little that looks like anything in new music this week. Perhaps the Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers, Vol. 1 album might be worth a listen. Some of their selections of late '60s era pop songs to cover are interesting. I'm not sure what these two could do with it, but I'm pleased to see a Fairport Convention cover.

There are, however, a couple of interesting compilations of older material. The highbrow pick is definitely the Poetry on Record: 98 Poets Read Their Work 1888-2006 which features readings across 4 CDs by, among others, Walt Whitman and William Butler Yeats.

Less intellectually high fiber perhaps, but the soundtrack album to Thank You for Smoking looks fun. The smoking themed songs include everlovin' Ramblin Jack preaching on "Cigarettes and Whiskey" and Jerry Reed issuing his classic call for "Another Puff."

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

AFX Chosen Lords Rephlex
IDM, Experimental Techno, Acid Techno

Drive-By Truckers A Blessing and a Curse New West
Alternative Country-Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock

The Fiery Furnaces Bitter Tea Fat Possum
Garage Rock Revival, Indie Rock

Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs Under the Covers, Vol. 1 Shout! Factory
Pop Underground, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop, Power Pop

Adrian Belew Side Three Sanctuary
Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Experimental Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

Chuck Berry The Definitive Collection Geffen/Chess
Rock & Roll, R&B

Tom Brosseau Empty Houses Are Lonely Fat Cat
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock

Oleg Caetani Alexandre Tansman: Symphonies, Vol. 1 [Hybrid SACD] Chandos
Modern Orchestral Music

The Church Uninvited, Like the Clouds Cooking Vinyl
Neo-Psychedelia, Alternative Pop/Rock

Cities Cities Yep Roc
Indie Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

DAT Politics Wow Twist Chicks on Speed
IDM, Glitch, Experimental Techno

Da Backwudz Wood Work Rowdy/Major-Way
Dirty South, Southern Rap

Demolition Doll Rods There Is a Difference Swami
Garage Punk, Garage Rock Revival, Indie Rock

Bob Dorough Small Day Tomorrow Candid
Vocal Jazz, Vocalese, Post-Bop, Ballads

The Dresden Dolls Yes, Virginia... Roadrunner
Cabaret, Alternative Pop/Rock, Punk Revival

Article Author: Al Barger

Unreformed hawkish Hoosier hillbilly Al Barger runs the still squeezin' down the psychodelic Kentucky moonshine at More Things. What with the paranoid religious visions, the Pentecostal music, visions of God and anarchy running amok and such, somebody …

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