Not much exciting in this week's new releases. Bjork has a new album, Medulla, which apparently is pretty much all vocals and samples, with very little live instrumentation. That sounds questionable, but might be worth a listen.
LL Cool J has a new album out, The DEFinition. He seems to turn out about one worthwhile song every three or four albums. Maybe the luck of the draw will turn us out something.
Or perhaps you'd prefer the Kansas box set, Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004.
This week's major releases, from All Music Guide:
John Adams John Adams: On the Transmigration of Souls Nonesuch
Contemporary Choral and Orchestral Music
Bjork Medulla Elektra
Alternative Dance, Trip-Hop, Club/Dance, Electronica, Alternative Pop/Rock
The Libertines The Libertines Rough Trade
Punk Revival, Indie Rock, Garage Rock Revival, Britpop
Jill Scott Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds, Vol. 2 Sony
Neo-Soul, Contemporary R&B, Hip-Hop, Urban
The Allman Brothers Band The Essential Allman Brothers Band: The Epic Years Sony
Southern Rock, Slide Guitar Blues, Boogie Rock, Rock & Roll
Asia Silent Nation Inside Out Music
Prog-Rock/Art Rock
Chet Atkins The Essential Chet Atkins: The Columbia Years [Sony] Sony
Country-Pop, Jazz-Pop, Instrumental Country, Smooth Jazz
The Beatnuts Milk Me Penalty/Ryko/HRH Management
Hip-Hop, East Coast Rap
Dan Bern & the IJBC My Country II [EP] Messenger
Americana, Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Singer/Songwriter
Black Tape for a Blue Girl Halo Star Projekt
Goth Rock, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
The Blue Nile High Sanctuary
Adult Alternative Pop/Rock
Shawn Camp Live at the Station Inn Oh Boy
Contemporary Bluegrass, Neo-Traditionalist Country, Contemporary Country
Melonie Cannon Melonie Cannon Skaggs Family
Neo-Traditionalist Country, Country-Folk, Contemporary Country, Bluegrass
Ray Charles Genius Loves Company Ray Charles Enterprises, Inc.
Jazz Blues, Urban Blues, Piano Blues, Soul
Rosemary Clooney The Essential Rosemary Clooney Sony
Traditional Pop, Vocal Pop, Vocal Jazz, American Popular Song, Torch Songs
David Allan Coe The Essential David Allan Coe Sony
Outlaw Country, Progressive Country, Traditional Country, Singer/Songwriter
Judy Collins Judy Collins Sings Leonard Cohen: Democracy Rhino
Contemporary Folk, Folk-Pop
Albert Cummings True to Yourself Blind Pig
Electric Blues, Modern Electric Blues
Danzig Circle of Snakes Evilive
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Gluecifer Automatic Thrill SPV
Garage Punk, Punk-Pop
Charlie Haden Land of the Sun Verve
Ballads, Modern Creative, Post-Bop
Merle Haggard The Essential Merle Haggard: The Epic Years Sony
Bakersfield Sound, Honky Tonk, Traditional Country
Insane Clown Posse Hell's Pit [CD & DVD Part 1] Psychopathic
Rap-Rock
Insane Clown Posse Hell's Pit [CD & DVD Part 2] Psychopathic
Rap-Rock
Keith Jarrett Trio The Out-of-Towners ECM
Modern Creative
Waylon Jennings One and Only/Heartaches by the Numbers Collectables
Traditional Country, Progressive Country
Kansas Sail On: The 30th Anniversary Collection 1974-2004 Sony
Arena Rock, Prog-Rock/Art Rock, Album Rock, Pop/Rock
LL Cool J The DEFinition Def Jam
East Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap
Lamb of God Ashes of the Wake Sony
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
London Baroque Couperin: Apotheoses Bis
Baroque Chamber Music
Markku Luolajan-Mikkola Marais: Pièces de viole du second livre Bis
Baroque Chamber Music
Mastodon Leviathan Relapse
Alternative Metal, Heavy Metal
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/Teddy Pendergrass The Essential Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Sony
Smooth Soul, Philly Soul, Soul
Massimo Palumbo Joseph Haydn: Complete Piano Concertos Arts
Classical Piano Concertos
Papa Roach Getting Away With Murder Geffen
Alternative Metal
Marc Ponthus Xenakis: Complete Music for Piano; Ravel: Gaspard de la nuit Neuma
Contemporary Piano Musc
Collin Raye Live at Billy Bob's Texas Smith Music Group
New Traditionalist, Contemporary Country
Sam Roberts We Were Born in a Flame [Bonus Tracks] Lost Highway
American Trad Rock, Singer/Songwriter
Skindred Babylon [2004] Lava
Rap-Metal, Post-Grunge, Alternative Metal
Percy Sledge Shining Through the Rain Varese
Southern Soul, Country-Soul
The Trash Can Sinatras Weightlifting Spin Art
Indie Pop, Alternative Pop/Rock
Various Artists American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1969, Vol. 2 Hip-O
Blues Revival, Electric Chicago Blues
Various Artists Everybody Dance Now! Remixed, Remolded & Remade Sony
Club/Dance, House, Dance-Pop
Various Artists Wattstax: Highlights from the Soundtrack Stax
Memphis Soul, Funk, Soul
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
not much exciting? come now, Al, a fella with the fine taste such as yourself should know that The Libertines is just about the finest record a fella could hope for.
(By taste, i of course refer to your fine taste in music, and not the actual "taste" of you. Although i once licked an "Al", but i don't think he was any relation.)
2 - Al Barger
I bet I'd be delicious.
3 - HW Saxton
Duke, I think that all those viewings of
"Cannibal Holocaust" are beginning to
show their effect on you.
4 - Tom Johnson
Bjork's album is more than worth a listen - the little samples on her site show this is easily the most fascinating thing she's ever done. Very much looking forward to picking it up.
I'll also concur with the Duke - the Libertines album is a good dose of fun in a Clash/old XTC type of way.
Anyone looking for something fresh and intelligent in metal should pick up the new Mastodon (be sure to get the one with the DVD featuring live stuff for a couple bucks extra.)