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.
Two discs. Not for the faint of heart.
There are dozens of artists who've been labeled innovative and original. Only a few are deserving - and Beck is one of them, which is an amazing and ironic achievement considering his albums are pastiches of familiar sounds and ideas. Also amazing is that a long line of superstar producers have helmed his records – Modern Guilt marks the first collaboration with Danger Mouse – yet each of them sounds uniquely Beck.
On MG, he takes a step forward using his technical wizardry to create soundscapes that express more than the hipster wisecracks of Odelay or heartbreak of Sea Change (both of which I love), and does it in a mere 33 minutes.
Note to audiophiles: Modern Guilt is available on vinyl with a bonus download of the album in DRM-free MP3 included.
Here are all of this week's new album releases courtesy of All Music Guide:
Beck
Modern Guilt
DGC
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Neo-Psychedelia
Albert Hammond, Jr.
¿Como Te Llama?
Red Ink
Indie Rock
Billy Joel
The Stranger [2CD Deluxe Edition]
Sony Legacy
Album Rock, Pop/Rock, Soft Rock
Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis
Two Men with the Blues
Blue Note
Standards
Abe Vigoda
Skeleton
PPM
Indie Rock
Albatros Ensemble
Nino Rota: Improvviso
Stradivarius
Modern Chamber Music
Bad Religion
New Maps of Hell [Deluxe Version]
Epitaph
American Underground, Hardcore Punk, Punk, Alternative Pop/Rock, L.A. Punk
Chiara Banchini
Giuseppe Tartini: Sonate a violino solo; Aria del Tasso
Zig Zag Territoires
Classical Vocal and Chamber Music
The Baseball Project
The Baseball Project, Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails
Yep Roc
Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock, Folk-Pop
Black Ghosts
The Black Ghosts
Southern Fried
Indie Electronic, Electronica
The Capstan Shafts
Fixation Protocols
Rainbow Quartz
Indie Pop, Lo-Fi
Chromeo
Fancy Footwork [Deluxe Edition]
Vice
Indie Electronic
Diplomats of Solid Sound
Diplomats of Solid Sound Featuring the Diplomettes
Pravda
Deep Funk Revival
![The Stranger: 30th Anniversary [Limited Edition] (Deluxe Boxed Set - 2 CDs + 1 DVD)](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/316Jk-EHrcL._SL120_.jpg)
![It Won't Be Soon Before Long [CD/DVD] [Deluxe Edition]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Ubru9YxaL._SL120_.jpg)
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