Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
Weeks like this are the ones I live for when it comes to doing this column. There are a ton of compelling new releases. I didn't realize some of these were streeting this week. I feel an Amazon order coming on. I'll have the links at the end of this article. Best you go ahead and jump on a few of these as well.
Johnny Cash
American VI: Ain't No Grave
We are pretty sure this is the final chapter of Cash's collaboration with Rick Rubin. I suppose it's possible there is more. Rubin released a terrific box set of previously unissued material and has now released two posthumous volumes. Very little of what Cash and Rubin did was less than excellent and some of it stands among the best things this icon ever recorded. Rubin hasn't always been on the right side of every moment in his career but he deserves a lot for helping Cash get that great final act. I'll likely have a review of this up soon. In the meantime, would you all please read this excellent review my friend El Bicho has written?
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Genuine Negro Jig
I'm not independently familiar with Carolina Chocolate Drops but I'm hearing some buzz about them. My cursory research indicates they have some blues/roots elements in their sound and seeing how I'm — forgive the blatant self-promotion, dear readers — in the midst of an exhaustive examination of albums and artists nominated for the 2010 Blues Music Awards, that is something that has my attention. I've also found that Nonesuch is one of the few major-mini labels that has etched out an identity for itself and I've found myself enjoying some artists that might have otherwise fallen out of my standard musical ambit. This is on my "to-do" list.
Eric Johnson
Tones
This is a remastered, re-issued edition of Johnson's out-of-print debut. Metalheads and guitar geeks know and respect Johnson. Unlike some of the other players in this genre, Johnson can't be strictly pigeonholed as a "metal" guy. He's an interesting player who stays gone for years at a time and only occasionally emerges. Fans of his work will be glad this one is back in print.
Moreland & Arbuckle
Flood
This blues/roots duo is fast becoming one of the more interesting on the blues circuit. This release for Telarc features mainly original numbers. Aaron Moreland and Dustin Arbuckle have a great record collection. They know the right artists to listen to and they've taken good notes. They understand the tradition but have also found their own voice within that scope.
Joanna Newsom
Have One On Me
Let me again confess my ignorance. I know the name, not the music. What I can tell you is this a 3-CD set and I've been seeing/hearing buzz about this in the blogosphere and Twitterverse (I hope to never use those two terms ever again). This is a 3-CD set of new material. I'll give her this: a triple-album is ambitious as balls these days.
There are some other gems tucked away this week. Take a look and get those credit cards ready! This is the week we start America's economic recovery.
Carolina Chocolate Drops
Genuine Negro Jig
Johnny Cash
American VI: Ain't No Grave
George Jones
George Jones: The Great Lost Hits
Joanna Newsom
Have One on Me
The Plimsouls
Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal: October 31, 1981 Whisky a Go Go
Quasi
American Gong
Various Artists
Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox
Xiu Xiu
Dear God, I Hate Myself
Alkaline Trio
This Addiction
Andrew W.K.
Close Calls with Brick Walls/Mother of Mankind
Martha Argerich
Argerich plays Chopin
Balmorhea
Constellations
Cindy Blackman
Another Lifetime
The Blues Brothers
Made in America
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Who Killed Sgt Pepper?
David Broza
Night Dawn: The Unpublished Poetry of Townes Van Zandt
Sarah Buxton
Sarah Buxton
Charlie Byrd
The World of Charlie Byrd
A Certain Ratio
Force
Clem Snide
The Meat of Life
Deadstring Brothers
São Paulo
Georgia A. Muldrow/Declaime
SomeOthaShip
EPMD
Strictly Business
Eazy-E
Eazy-Duz-It
Efterklang
Magic Chairs
Electric President
The Violent Blue
Eluvium
Similes
Flatt & Scruggs/The Stanley Brothers
Flatt & Scruggs and The Stanley Brothers
Dan Fogelberg
Dan Fogelberg Live: Greetings from the West
The Fugs
Be Free: The Fugs Final CD, Pt. II
Robin Guthrie
Sunflower Stories
Merle Haggard
Kern River/Chill Factor
High on Fire
Snakes for the Divine
Hot Tuna
Double Dose
The Irish Tenors
Ireland
Jaga Jazzist
One-Armed Bandit
John Ellis/Double-Wide
Puppet Mischie
Eric Johnson
Tones
Neeme Järvi
Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Brahms: Double Concerto
Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Black Man's Cry
Hector Lavoe
Greatest Hits [2010]
Héctor Lavoe
La Voz: A Man and His Music
Alan Licht/Loren Connors
Into the Night Sky
David Lloyd-Jones
Sir Arthur Sullivan: Ivanhoe
Lonelady
Nerve Up
Madlib
Madlib Medicine Show No. 2: Flight to Brazil
Madlib
Miles Away: The Last Electro-Acoustic Space Jazz & Percussion Ensemble
Master P
Ghetto D
Daniel Merriweather
Love & War
Milow
Milow
Holly Miranda
The Magician's Private Library
Essra Mohawk
Essra Mohawk
Essra Mohawk
Primordial Lover
Sandy Hurvitz
Sandy's Album Is Here at Last!
Moreland & Arbuckle
Flood
Mutiny Within
Mutiny Within
My Dying Bride
Angel and the Dark River/Darkest Eyes [CD/DVD]
Nazareth
Loud 'N' Proud
Carrie Newcomer
Before & After
Terry Riley
Terry Riley: Autodreamographical Tales
Gerard Schwarz
William Schuman: Symphony No. 8; Night Journey; Variations on 'America'
Morgan Page
Believe
Jackie Paris
The Jackie Paris Sound
Past Lives
Tapestry of Webs
Lucky Peterson
Heart of Pain
John Pizzarelli
Rockin' in Rhythm: A Tribute To Duke Ellington
Helen Reddy
Ear Candy/We'll Sing in the Sunshine
Terry Riley
Terry Riley: Autodreamographical Tales
The Rocket Summer
Of Men and Angels
Jack Rose
Luck in the Valley
Diana Ross
Touch Me in the Morning
Sambassadeur
European
Scorn
Evanescence/Ellipsis
Shearwater
Golden Archipelago [Deluxe Edition]
