There doesn't look to be a hell of alot you couldn't live without in this week's new album releases. Perhaps maybe, Billy Idol's Devil's Playground will have a worthwhile tune or two. The release schedule also includes a Charlie Daniels album, Songs from the Longleaf Pines, but it's not even listed at Amazon.
Perhaps I don't pay enough respect to crappy techno stuff, but Moby has a new album this week, Hotel. It's in Amazon's Top 10 already, so SOMEBODY must like this stuff.
Oh, and what could possibly be more fascinating than Trace Adkins singing Songs About Me?
Here's the complete list of this week's major new releases, courtesy AMG:
The A-Frames Black Forest Sub Pop
Experimental Rock, Noise-Rock, Indie Rock
Acetate This Band Makes Me Feel Sanctuary
Indie Rock
Trace Adkins Songs About Me Capitol
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country
Tab Benoit Fever for the Bayou Telarc
Swamp Blues, Modern Electric Blues, Modern Electric Texas Blues, Contemporary Blues, Louisiana Blues, Texas Blues, Electric Texas Blues
Scott H. Biram The Dirty Old One Man Band Bloodshot
Indie Rock, Blues-Rock
Burn the Priest Burn the Priest Sony
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Vic Chesnutt Ghetto Bells New West
Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Urban Folk
Consortium Carissimi Carissimi: Jephte; Jonas (Oratorios) Naxos
Baroque Choral Music
Charlie Daniels Songs from the Longleaf Pines Koch
Southern Rock, Country-Rock
Lea DeLaria Double Standards Telarc
Vocal Jazz
John Doe Forever Hasn't Happened Yet Yep Roc
Alternative Country-Rock, Roots Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Ben Folds Five Whatever and Ever Amen [Bonus Tracks] Sony
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Pop Underground
Natalie Grant Awaken Curb
Praise & Worship, CCM
Billy Idol Devil's Playground Sanctuary
Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop/Rock
Brendan Benson The Alternative to Love V2
Pop Underground, Indie Pop, Power Pop
Bloc Party Silent Alarm V2
Indie Rock
The Decemberists Picaresque Kill Rock Stars
Indie Pop, Chamber Pop, Indie Rock
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Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
I reviewed the Idol album for last week, it is very good, but it takes awhile to grow on you. I am also looking forward to the Queens of the Stone Age album.
2 - Tom Johnson
There's more than enough good stuff coming out this week, Al. The "there's nothing/very little good coming out this week" snark is getting really old - you just happen to not be very interested in new music, is all (unfortunately.) You're missing out on a bunch of great stuff, particularly this week:
John Zorn's Naked City - the Complete Collection (boxset)
Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies to Paralize
Decemberists - Picaresque
Yo La Tengo - Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs: 1985-2003
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (haven't heard it myself, but I can't escape the talk on every indie-music related message board I visit)
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - B-sides & Rarities
Ben Folds Five - Whatever And Ever Amen reissue with bonus tracks
3 - DJRadiohead
Jars of Clay also has a new album due out this week (today).
4 - Al Barger
Tom, the Ben Folds Five album is absolutely classic. Anyone who doesn't have it should go out and buy two copies. It's not NEW however, and I couldn't even find a listing of what kind of "new" tracks it was going to have. Is it just demos of the familiar songs, or what?
I'm all in favor of new music, if it's any good. In my little solipsistic bubble though, the hot "new" music will likely as not be some 50 year old Miles Davis or bluegrass record I've never heard before.
Maybe I just haven't been paying attention, but I can't remember a single specific song from ANY of those other acts you mention. I'm not going to force myself to pretend to like some half-assed crap so that I can prove that I'm down with the kids or some such.
Wake me up when the next White Stripes album drops.
5 - JR
You don't remember Naked City's songs as much as you remember the experience of hearing them. That music is as far from "half-assed" as it's possible to get.
That box set is crucial, and it's at the top of my 'to buy' list. With any luck, they'll have the cover art hidden away in a booklet where I never have to look at it.
6 - Mark Saleski
I'm not going to force myself to pretend to like some half-assed crap so that I can prove that I'm down with the kids or some such.
so it must be asked, what does such a musically incurious person get out of writing a new releases column?
sure, all the new music sucks. we've heard that before. whatever.
7 - sydney
Al Barger,
The reason you can't remember any of the songs from these acts is because you haven't heard them. It doesn't mean it's no good. You are the problem with why mainstream radio and tv rock sucks. You don't support new artists and are unwilling to give new music a chance unless it's shoved in front of your face 40 times a day.
sickening...
8 - ClubhouseCancer
A week when there's a new Vic Chesnutt coming out is not a bad week, ever. This one is terrific, like every last release of Vic's.
In my humble view, Vic is one of the genius songwriters and singers of our generation and a treasure. In addition, he is hilarious. If anyone has any interest in Vic, I could post a little appreciation I once wrote for another place, including some suggestions for what to try first.
The new one, by the way, is more atmospheric and less bare-bones folky than in the past, and features Van Dyke Parks and a cameo from Bill Frisell. It is really dreamy.
9 - ClubhouseCancer
And as I may have mentioned, Yo La Tengo is my favorite band. The song selections on this new album, which is a Greatest Hits package, are excellent and very representative of their many sides. Anyone who doesn't have all Ira and Georgia's albums already will definitely want this.
The Louis XIV is fun, too. Glammy like Bowie or Bolan. But probably ultimately inconsequential. Like Bowie or Bolan.
10 - godoggo
I like Zorn as long as he keeps the saxophone out of his mouth.
11 - godoggo
I relate to that song about my "little Asian friend," but really it's all been downhill since "I Owe a Lot to Iowa Pot."