New Album Releases, 4-3-2007: Kings of Leon, Martina McBride, Hillary Duff, Fountains of Wayne

The likely top thing to take a chance on this week is a vicious rock band from Nashville. The Kings of Leon are back with their third album, Because of the Times. I just know that I'll be willing to lend an ear to the reprobates that created the immortal "Holy Roller Novacaine." For one thing, it's the perfect song to be blaring out of the truck of a violent and volatile redneck cop like Shane Vendrell on The Shield. Plus, I've seen multiple high reviews for this new album, all talking about artistic growth and expanding their sonic palette. Also, they're rated as high as #6 in Amazon sales currently.

Martina McBride is Waking Up Laughing, and why shouldn't she? Personally, I can't remember a single song from among her numerous hits [something I'd say of very many interchangeable modern "country" singers], but she's sold tens of millions of albums, and this is top ten already.

Hilary Duff has a new album this week. I haven't seen anything to suggest that she has any actual talent [then again maybe I just haven't paid sufficient attention], but per the album title I will grant that she has Dignity. I suppose we should be grateful at this point for a teen idol who is not flashing beaver like arch-rival Lindsay Lohan, or just generally not acting like a stupid spoiled whore.

From the archives, there's a tasty sounding 3 disc box covering the entire recording career of Ralph and Carter Stanley, the Stanley Brothers The Definitive Collection 1947-1966.

Here's the complete list of this week's major new album releases, courtesy AMG:

Hilary Duff Dignity Hollywood
Teen Pop, Dance-Pop, Pop/Rock

Fountains of Wayne Traffic and Weather Virgin
Pop Underground, Indie Pop

Kings of Leon Because of the Times RCA
Alternative Pop/Rock, Garage Rock Revival, American Trad Rock, Southern Rock

Timbaland Timbaland Presents Shock Value Blackground/Interscope
Urban, Pop-Rap, Dance-Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock

The John Abercrombie Quartet Third Quartet ECM
Modern Creative

The Academy Is... Santi Fueled by Ramen
Indie Rock, Emo

Leif Ove Andsnes Schubert: Piano Sonata D. 958; Lieder; Fragments Albany
Romantic Piano Music

Article Author: Al Barger

Unreformed hawkish Hoosier hillbilly Al Barger runs the still squeezin' down the psychodelic Kentucky moonshine at More Things. What with the paranoid religious visions, the Pentecostal music, visions of God and anarchy running amok and such, somebody …

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