With the labels holding off the really big guns — that would be the new ones from people like Janet Jackson, R.E.M., and Coldplay — until a bit later this first quarter of 2007, things still continued to pick up this week as we said goodbye to January. While there isn't any one superstar sort of blockbuster in this week's new releases, what we do have is a nice batch of critical favorites, mixed with some ambitious looking reissue projects.
For the follow-up to 2003's Volume 4, veteran angry new wave popster, musical firebrand, and all around jack-of-all-trades Joe Jackson once again reunites with pretty much the same band of guys that put him on the map back in the seventies and eighties with albums like Look Sharp! and I'm The Man. On Rain, Jackson combines smoother, more sophisticated sounding pop tunes, with just a touch of that edginess that originally made him known as such a notoriously angry young man. A bonus DVD features live performances and interviews.
Singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne returns with Just a Little Lovin', an album inspired by the great Dusty Springfield (Shelby even sports a Dusty-inspired retro look on the sleeve). The album includes several choice covers of Springfield's better known tunes (no "Son Of A Preacher Man," though), as well as a new original song, "Pretend." The legendary Phil Ramone produced this one.
For The Bedlam in Goliath, the Mars Volta continue to mine the unique blending of neo-psychedelic and hardcore influences that have made them both a critical and underground favorite with the college and indie crowds.
In this week's reissues, Polydor has launched an ambitious project for Van Morrison's back catalog, putting out expanded, remastered versions of such classics as Tupelo Honey and Wavelength. There is also a new, deluxe, double-disc version of Beck's landmark Odelay, which features all of the usual unreleased rarities and goodies you've come to expect from these sorts of repackages.
Oh, and lest I forget — some jazz guitar player guy named Pat Metheny has a new one out. But I'll let Mark Saleski tell you all about that:
I know, you're shocked (shocked!) that I'm bringing up a Pat Metheny disc. Hey, you can't have curveballs every week. Besides, I'm tryin' to get this Boyd guy some culture.
Article comments
1 - Pico
Poppa Chubby, Sun Ra and Larry Willis top my shopping list for this week.
Who's this Metheny guy? Never heard of him ;&)
2 - Josh Hathaway
Saleski slurpin' on Metheny. Shocking.
I bought the Beck today. No remastering, which I am neutral on because it was so well produced in the first place. The liner noted blow. The 19 new and rare songs have
some good moments. It is worthwhile but not perfect.
3 - Glen Boyd
Yeah, no kiddin'. I mean, Saleski talking about Metheny...imagine that, right?
-Glen
4 - Mark Saleski
don't worry, i'll conjure up something about Porcupine Tree next week. sheesh!
5 - Mat Brewster
I completely encourage your Metheny picks, Sir Saleski. I'm not near the obsessive you are, but I know the dude has skillz. Plus it is a nice break from the usual Springsteen/Pocupine blathering that usually goes on around here ;)
6 - Glen Boyd
Watch it Brewster, them's fightin' words...
-Glen
7 - Tom Johnson
Day Trip is awesome. That's about all I can say right now. Devoured about 2/3 of it when I got home, but it's another winner. Damn fine stuff.
Josh: I would prepare to see a lot of half-assed "deluxe editions" from here on out. I read somewhere a while back that this is the new routine from now on. Very little will be going into many of these - just compile some extras and toss it out for those of us who have to have it. I know that Def Leppard's Hysteria deluxe was pared back from what it could be on purpose - it had started out with a very elaborate booklet but wound up with a nice, but simple book of notes and a few pictures when it was going to have very extensive notes and tons of previously unpublished photos. The photographer made note of this on his site, I believe, that they had wanted to purchase the rights to the photos, then backed out and said that they wanted to do a "budget release," but the actual release would be normal price. Hence more profit for them, obviously. Scummy, but I guess we shouldn't be surprised. Luckily it still turned out to be a very nice package anyway.
8 - El Bicho
another essential Doors best-of?! WTF?!
Who knew Anderson from YES sang country?
9 - Pico
Furthermore, who knew that Jon changed his name to John?
10 - Mark Saleski
Who knew Anderson from YES sang country?
i am now imagining hearing Jon Anderson sing "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"....
anybody got an ice pick? i gotta shove it in my ear.
11 - El Bicho
Pico, I believe the 'h' is silent.
12 - Mat Brewster
Glen: I'll take you and Porcupine Tree along with half the E-Street band anytime, anywhere. And I'll do it with one hand tied behind my back.
ElB: I didn't know there were any essential Doors tracks from anytime. I can't think of any song of theirs that I couldn't live without.
Wow I guess getting pissed on by the airlines makes me snarky.
13 - Mark Saleski
geezum, what happened to our kinder, gentler mr. brewster?
14 - El Bicho
"I didn't know there were any essential Doors tracks from anytime."
Yeah, and you're the same guy who threw away a return airplane ticket, so I'll consider the source.
15 - Mary K. Williams
You boys are so funny on a Thursday Morning.
16 - FrankyGoesToDetroit
Pico u da man! I purchased the Al Jarreau CD 'Love Songs' along with the new Teddy Brent one 'Fashionable'. Both are great. For the Al Jarreau its very nice. The Teddy Brent CD good too. Keep up the work boyz.
17 - Glen Boyd
Yer on Brewster (comment #12). Just understand that my E-Street backup won't be Patti, Soozie, and little Nils. So you ready to take on Silvio and the Big Man, then pallie?
-Glen
18 - JC Mosquito
Essential Doors is actually a pretty well chosen compilation. I just wish they'd stop compiling and recompiling these guys - I just tried counting them over on allmusic guide - reissues, box sets - greatgawda'mighty - it's like Elvis, with more Oedipus complex.