If anyone really loved me, they'd plunk down $135 to buy me the new Paul Simon Studio Recordings 1972-2000. They don't have track listings yet at Amazon, but this is a Rhino set, and apparently includes bonus material. 99% of the time, I don't care about demos and alternate takes- but this is Paul Simon. I'd be REAL interested in some alternate takes of, say, "Graceland" or "Adios Hermanos."
Probably the most likely new, mainstream pop pick comes from Brandy, called Afrodisiac.
Dave Matthews has a new live album, Gorge. With two CDs and a DVD for $23, the price ain't bad for fans. I'm not a big fan, but this looks like a pretty decent package.
The Cure has an eponymous new studio album, lucky number 13 for them. Mostly though, the invocation of their name just makes me want to listen to the Ben Folds song.
Dwight Yoakam peaks my interest with a cleverly titled collection of covers, Dwight's Used Records. This isn't his first, but he's really good. Indeed, it occurs to me that he may be better as an interpreter than as a songwriter. He's probably the best country music male vocalist working today, and he definitely recorded the definitive version of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." This time out, he's got a couple of fairly obvious things, such as "Understand Your Man" and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" - as well as some less obvious choices, such as "The Loco-Motion." I bet he does a mean "Paradise."
This week's major releases, from All Music Guide:
Brandy Afrodisiac Atlantic
Contemporary R&B, Urban
The Cure The Cure Geffen
Alternative Pop/Rock, Goth Rock, Post-Punk
Paul Simon Studio Recordings 1972-2000 Rhino
Album Rock, Folk-Rock, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Worldbeat









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