None of this has to do with my pick of the week except that I happened to see that Seasons In The Sun is being reissued this week. Really? A person would actually purchase and listen to that record? Yeesh!
OK...Vance Gilbert and Up On Rockfield. This is a concept album of sorts, with Vance writing songs as if he was somebody else. For example, one tune was written as if Lynyrd Skynyrd collaborated with Al Jareau. Gilbert explained this concept at a show a while back in his usual hilarious manner and I've been looking forward to the album ever since. It might sound like a gimmick but, believe me, Gilbert has the vocal and musical chops to pull it off.
Here are all of this week's new album releases courtesy of All Music Guide:
Christina Aguilera
Keeps Gettin' Better: A Decade of Hits
RCA
Pop, Teen Pop, Pop/Rock, Dance-Pop, Urban, Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Adult Contemporary
Cheap Trick
At Budokan: 30th Anniversary Collectors Edition [3CD/1DVD]
Epic/Legacy
Album Rock, Arena Rock, Pop/Rock, Power Pop, New Wave, Early Pop/Rock, Hard Rock
The Flaming Lips
Christmas on Mars
Warner Bros.
Noise Pop, Dream Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Experimental, Alternative Pop/Rock, Experimental Rock, Original Score
New Order
Movement [Collector's Edition]
Rhino
Dance-Rock, College Rock, Post-Punk, Club/Dance, Synth Pop
Taylor Swift
Fearless
Big Machine
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop
T-Pain
Thr33 Ringz
Jive
Urban, Pop-Rap
David Archuleta
David Archuleta
Jive
Pop, Teen Pop, Adult Contemporary
Sara Bareilles
Between the Line: Sara Bareilles Live at Fillmore
Epic
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Natasha Bedingfield
Pocketful of Sunshine [Bonus DVD]
Epic
Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Adult Contemporary
cover
The Boxmasters
Christmas Cheer
Vanguard
Christmas, Alternative Country
Colbie Caillat
Coco [Deluxe Edition]
Republic
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter
Tracy Chapman
Our Bright Future
Atlantic
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Folk, Contemporary Folk
Clutch
Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings 2007-2008
Weathermaker
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Kevin Costner & Modern West
Untold Truths
Universal South
Heartland Rock, Americana, Country-Rock
Deborah Cox
The Promise
Image
Contemporary R&B
Dennis Russell Davies
Anthony Davis: Amistad
New World
Contemporary Opera
Hilary Duff
Best of Hilary Duff
Hollywood
Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Pop/Rock
88-Keys
The Death of Adam
Decon
Underground Rap, Hardcore Rap, Alternative Rap
Enya
And Winter Came
Reprise
Contemporary Celtic, Ethnic Fusion, Adult Alternative, Celtic New Age, Holiday, Christmas, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Celtic Pop, Contemporary Instrumental
Thierry Fischer
Honegger: Une Cantate de Noël; Horace Victorieux
Hyperion UK
Modern Music for Voices, Chorus & Orchestra
Genesis
Genesis 1970-1975
Rhino
Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock
Beres Hammond
A Moment in Time
VP
Dancehall, Lovers Rock
Enrique Iglesias
Greatest Hits
Interscope
Pop, Adult Contemporary, Latin Pop, Dance-Pop
Bill Ives
Duruflé: Requiem, Op. 9 [Hybrid SACD]
Harmonia Mundi Franc
Modern Music for Voices, Chorus & Organ
Article comments
1 - Pico
Hey Mark, you're a little too harsh on Paper Lace; "The Night Chicago Died" is where rap was born ;-)
2 - Mark Saleski
ugh!
3 - El Bicho
Mudcrutch, thanks for nothin'. Four songs?!
4 - JC Mosquito
Fours songs - but the 15 minute long version of Crystal River is supposed to be worth a big spliffy or two.
5 - Mark Saleski
the Mudcrutch IS perplexing. it's really good...so why not a whole show?
6 - El Bicho
I read where Petty didn't want to basically do a live version of the album, but then why release half an album? who does he think is going to buy this other than people who bought the first one anyway? either mix in more covers in your set, or put out another Mudcrutch album and follow that with a live one.
7 - Glen Boyd
Springsteen kinda went the Mudcrutch route with that four song live Magic tour EP earlier this year...but at least that had a loose concept to it (the whole duets thing) and it went towards a good cause in the Danny Federici melanoma fund.
But I definitely understand the frustration. Here I was looking forward to a Magic tour DVD and instead it looks like were getting a new Springsteen album in January...
...oh wait, that's GOOD news isn't it?
-Glen
8 - El Bicho
"...oh wait, that's GOOD news isn't it?"
maybe for a site like this that shills for the Boss.
9 - Pico
What are you talking about? I count only two Springsteen articles out today ;-)
10 - Mat Brewster
ElB, I've got a full Mudcrutch bootleg that you can have if it will keep you from whining.
11 - Glen Boyd
Keep El Bicho from whining? Better throw in some cheese with that, Mat.
-Glen
12 - El Bicho
I already have one. try and keep up.
13 - Mat Brewster
You have wine? Cheese? Mudcrutch? I'm so behind. I'm so confused. I'm so now hungry for some good cheese, some good wine and a little Mudcrutch.
14 - Tom Johnson
Good luck finding that damned vinyl/audiophile-CD version of the Mudcrutch EP. Damned thing is sold out on Amazon, where I PRE-ORDERED it a month ago. It's now listed as "discontinued by the manufacturer" and there's no telling if Amazon will actually get more in. See, it appears that Amazon doesn't understand "first come, first served" and so just ships stuff however they feel, so people ordering a few days ago might actually score this while people like me, who pre-ordered a month ago, lose out.
In other news, don't forget Best Buy has their exclusive live DVD or Blu-Ray+2-CD set for the Police out this week. It is flat-out awesome, performance-wise. Packaging-wise, this might just be the most appaling CD/DVD package I've ever seen. It defines the words "cheap" and "stingy," almost as if it was designed to be recycled from the get-go. Truly awful crap. If you buy it, be VERY careful opening it. Most reports mention that discs fall out as soon as the book is removed from the slip case. Three of the four discs in mine fell out when I took it out. Pile-o-crap packaging, seriously. Reminds me of the old AOL disc holders. Awful.
15 - El Bicho
Gadzooks, you sensitive fellas don't know what whining is. No doubt something fell on Brewster's head before it damaged his toe. I have the 4/14 show. Now go play with your rabbit, Lenny. Should I post one of your meltdowns when you have trouble with MT, Glen? Now that's some grade-A whining.
16 - Mark Saleski
Now that's some grade-A whining.
Neil Young ticket prices?
anyone?
bueller?