But speaking of Blogcritics scribes, it's time to check in with Mark Saleski:
Never heard of pianist Marilyn Crispell? I was first exposed to her work via Anthony Braxton's momumental Willisau quartet recordings. Crispell has a unique style of play, which I put on the shelf next to Cecil Taylor and Keith Jarrett. This is her first solo record on the ECM label and I'm expecting great and interesting things. If you've never stepped "out," not even a little, this might be a safe place to start. (Remember, this is me using the word 'safe.' You've been warned.)
Tom Johnson did not contribute a pick this week.
Here are all of this week's new album releases courtesy of All Music Guide:
Billy Bragg
Mr. Love & Justice
Cooking Vinyl
Alternative Folk, Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords
Sub Pop
Comedy Rock
The Replacements
Let It Be [Deluxe Edition]
Twin/Tone/Ryko/Rhino
American Underground, College Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Hard Rock, Rock & Roll
Ashlee Simpson
Bittersweet World
Geffen
Teen Pop, Pop/Rock, Dance-Pop
Tokyo Police Club
Elephant Shell
Saddle Creek
Indie Rock
Barry Adamson
Back to the Cat
Central Control
Punk Blues, Retro-Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Retro Swing, Original Score, Film Music, Space Age Pop, Post-Punk, Cabaret, Jazz Blues, Modern Big Band
Atreyu
Lead Sails Paper Anchor 2.0
Hollywood
Punk Metal, Alternative Metal
Roy Ayers Ubiquity
Vibrations
Verve
Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Funk
Tab Benoit
Night Train to Nashville
Telarc
Louisiana Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Swamp Blues, New Orleans Blues
Blind Melon
For My Friends
Adrenaline
Alternative Pop/Rock, American Trad Rock
Terry Callier
Occasional Rain [Remastered]
Verve
Chicago Soul, Folk-Jazz, Singer/Songwriter, Progressive Folk, Soul
The Cinematic Orchestra
Live at the Royal Albert Hall
Domino
Downbeat, Orchestral Jazz, Film Music, Contemporary Jazz
Ornette Coleman
The Art of the Improvisers
Atlantic
Avant-Garde Jazz, Free Jazz
Marilyn Crispell
Vignettes
ECM
Structured Improvisation, Avant-Garde Jazz, Modern Composition
The Jazz Crusaders
Old Socks, New Shoes...New Socks, Old Shoes
Motown
Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Dov Davidoff
The Point Is
Comedy Central
Observational Humor, Standup Comedy
Van Duren
Are You Serious?
Air Mail
Power Pop
Earles and Jensen
Just Farr a Laugh, Vol. 1 and 2: The Greatest Prank Phone Call Ever!
Matador
Prank Calls
Elbow
The Seldom Seen Kid
Polydor
Dream Pop, Britpop
The Feelies
Crazy Rhythms
A&M
American Underground, College Rock, Jangle Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Goldfinger
Hello Destiny...
Side One Dummy
Ska-Punk, Punk-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Marilyn Horne
The Complete Decca Recitals
Decca
Operatic Selections
Jorma Hynninen
Elämälle: Songs by Oskar Merikanto
Ondine
Modern Vocal Music
The Jealous Girlfriends
The Jealous Girlfriends
Last Gang
Indie Rock
Stanley Jordan
State of Nature
Mack Avenue
Contemporary Jazz
Carole King
Tapestry [Legacy Edition]
Sony Legacy
Pop/Rock, Soft Rock
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Wow. No page break. Boy is Tom Johnson gonna' be impressed.
-Glen
2 - Tom Johnson
See, I told you - I made the terrible sacrifice for the greater good.
3 - JC Mosquito
I heard bits of the new Blind Melon - uncanny how their new singer sounds lke Shannon Hoon. And the material sounds pretty decent, too.
Strong new releases by REM, Counting Crows, and now Blind Melon - what year is this anyway? Feels like about 1993 (give or take) all over again.