Although we have before us another rather short list of new album releases this week, there are quite a few interesting ones to consider. The biggie this week is of course the new one from Beck — produced by Danger Mouse no less. Our own Josh "Meet Him At Mary's Place" Hathaway will be along shortly to talk about that.
Also worthy of note is the new one from Patti Smith, a collaboration of her poetry set to the soundscapes of My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields. Perhaps more worthy to regular readers of NAR however, is that Mark Saleski has returned to the fold following a long sabbatical to give his thoughts on the Smith/Shields collaboration.
Some of the other more interesting things you'll find this week at the record store include the new solo release ¿Como Te Llama?, from Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr., which is said to sound quite a bit like a Strokes record itself. From the Melvins — these are the guys who put the "sludge" in Seattle's nineties grunge sound — comes their latest, Nude with Boots. Jordan Richardson has a full review of that one up on the site which you can check out by going here.
The trend of expanded versions of albums, classic or otherwise, continues this week with last year's Maroon 5 album It Won't Be Soon Before Long getting the deluxe treatment with the usual additional live tracks. Billy Joel's landmark multi-platinum The Stranger gets itself a full boxed set on the 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition, that includes a previously unreleased DVD performance from Carnegie Hall recorded just before the album was recorded in 1977.
And now to talk about the new Patti Smith, we welcome back our missing brother in action, Mark Saleski.
I've always loved it when Patti Smith busts out the poetry notebook. Long before I ever knew what the hell she was talking about, I loved the passion. Aside from a few of the more mainstream poets (Robert Frost, etc.), poetry has always been considered a fringe sort of art.
So be it.
This is the kind of release that might send a few people screaming out of the room. Patti Smith puts on a live performance of her long form prose poem/requiem for friend and icon Robert Mapplethorpe. Guitarist Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) provides the backing soundscapes.
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Article comments
1 - Josh Hathaway
I can't believe Saleski hasn't already commented. I did, in fact, use the word "vinyl."
2 - Glen Boyd
And you didn't even mention how much you don't like "Marys Place." Not once. Not to worry though, I managed to sneak in a reference...
-Glen
3 - El Bicho
And the side goes down swinging. You all missed "the" album of the week. Willie and Wynton captured performing together live is a classic. Better luck next time.
4 - Glen Boyd
It does look like a goodun' Bicho. But since I just covered a Willie release last week, I figured I'd give the rest of the artistic world some ink this time around.
-Glen
5 - Mark Saleski
i knew about the Wynton and Willie thing...but i just stared at it and didn't know what to day. plus, Patti really trumps almost all.
and the fanboy is using the word 'vinyl' these days....scary.
6 - Pico
Damn, I wonder if there's an artist out there Willie hadn't teamed up with yet. Just last night I was listening to him trade vocals with Dr. John on a cut from Rebennack's latest album. He's gotten his duets with Tony Bennett out of the way, right?
Abe Vigoda...now that's a band name you don't forget.
7 - Mark Saleski
Willie Nelson and Bruce Eisenbeil!!!
ok, maybe not.
8 - Glen Boyd
How about Willie and Abe Vigoda? (no, not the band...)
-Glen