Each week I try to find at least one title I plan to buy, or at least one that mildly interests me. Most weeks it's been easy. Some weeks, like this week, it gets tougher. When I can't find anything for myself, I try to find something for you. When that doesn't work, I at least try to warn you away from the rubbish. With that, we go once more into the void…
Cheap Trick
The Latest
I mention this one more for you than for me. I know we have some regular readers who are Cheap Trick fans. I find myself more casual about them. I have Budokan! and a couple other albums. I like a good fistful of singles from them. That's about it, for me. Anyway the album that was the latest before The Latest, Rockford, got some outstanding reviews when it was released in 2006 so these guys clearly haven't lost their touch. If you're of a mind, you might need to check out The Latest.
Bo Diddley
Ride On: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3 – 1960-1961
Hip-O Select has been doing some great re-issues of some of the classic material from the classic artists who recorded for Chess. We've gotten two massive volumes of Chuck Berry, a massive volume of Little Walter, and two big scoops of Muddy Waters. Now we get the third installment of Bo Diddley. This isn't going to be the place for beginners as this will drown listeners in alternate takes and previously unreleased material and this set is going to be pricey. For the Bo Diddley devotee, those alternate takes and previously unreleased tracks are going to be pure gold.
Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs
Under The Covers, Vol. 2
They put Vol. 1 in the title the first time they paired up so you had to expect a second installment would show up and indeed it has. It was a pleasant collaboration but felt a bit unnecessary. How much less necessary is this second outing? The song selections are slightly less obvious than the first volume but not because Sweet and Hoffs got creative but because it would have been damn near impossible to get more predictable. I can't imagine this actually being bad, nor can I imagine myself listening to this one.
The Working Title
Bone Island
Another band who started independently, tried life with the majors, and is now back on their own. The Working Title got some great ink from their debut EP, Everyone Here Is Wrong. I never heard the EP but I love the title. That's great. It's the sequel to Neil Young's "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere." Okay, they're not actually sequels, but I like the pairing. They followed up Everyone Here is Wrong with a full-length for Universal called About Face and now return with a brand new album Bone Island
Brooke Hogan
The Redemption
Sugar Ray
Music for Cougars
I beg you, each and every one of you, please ignore these records with the same zeal and alacrity with which you crassly bought Michael Jackson records the week after he died. The power and intensity of your indifference could save starving children.
Let's start with Brooke. If you're wondering if the redemption she speaks of in the title is her apologizing for her family or previous attempts at music, you'll be disappointed. In fact, if you've spent any time at all thinking about this record you're going to be disappointed because I'll bet everything in my wallet versus everything in your wallet no one aligned with this project put any thought into it either. What separates this heavy dose of AutoTune'd vocals (because she can't actually sing) and canned beats from previous Brooke Hogan songs? How about a clip of an argument between Brooke and Mommy Dearest? I shit you not.
As for Sugar Ray, they were harmless enough the first time with a couple dumb, disposable hits in the '90s. I don't know what they were on about and neither do they, but Mark McGrath was eye candy for the female crowd so no one bothered to ask. They cleverly titled one of their records 14:59, a seeming acknowledgment they knew their 15 minutes of fame were just about up. That was 10 years ago. Rather than naming this record 15:20, they've named it Music For Cougars. I'm sorry, but that's vile. I know, I know. I have no sense of humor. I'm sure Mr. McGrath is being funny and ironic. Folks, it's not that I don't get the joke. It's that it's just not funny, and neither is Sugar Ray anymore. If we ignore them, maybe they'll go away for good this time.
Here's your full list of New Album Releases for 7/21/2009:
The Fiery Furnaces
I'm Going Away
Brooke Hogan
The Redemption
Ian Hunter
Man Overboard
Michael Jackson
Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection
Jordin Sparks
Battlefield
Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs
Under the Covers, Vol. 2
American Steel
Dear Friends and Gentle Hearts
The Average White Band
Warmer Communications [Bonus Tracks]
Beat Farmers
Fulmination
Book of Love
Book of Love [Bonus Tracks]
Book of Love
Candy Carol [Bonus Tracks]
Book of Love
Lovebubble [Bonus Tracks]
Book of Love
Lullaby [Bonus Tracks]
Cheap Trick
The Latest
Clark
Totems Flare
Crooked Fingers
Forfeit/Fortune [CD+DVD]
Bo Diddley
Ride On: The Chess Masters, Vol. 3 – 1960-1961
Bill Frisell
Disfarmer
Gary Go
Gary Go
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene: The Man
Hartmut Haenchen
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 60, 94 & 103
Her Space Holiday
Sleepy Tigers
In the Country
Whiteout
Jay & the Americans
The Complete United Artist Singles
Jonsi & Alex
Riceboy Sleeps
Dejan Lazic
Liaisons, Vol. 2: Schumann & Brahms [Hybrid SACD]
Demi Lovato
Here We Go Again
Magnolia Electric Co.
Josephine
Maher Shalal Hash Baz
C'est la Dernière Chanson
Mighty Sam McClain
Betcha Didn't Know
David Robertson
John Adams: Doctor Atomic Symphony
Jan Vogler
Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas; Variations concertantes; Song without Words
Original Soundtrack
Bonnie and Clyde [Collectors' Choice Soundtrack]
Our Lady Peace
Burn Burn
Our Lady Peace
Burn Burn [Bonus Tracks] [CD/DVD]
John Phillips
Andy Warhol Presents Man on the Moon
RX Bandits
Mandala
Ty Segall
Lemons
Set Your Goals
This Will Be the Death of Us
Ricky Skaggs
Don't Cheat in Our Hometown [CD/DVD]
The Skygreen Leopards
Gorgeous Johnny
The Starlight Mints
Change Remains
Sugar Ray
Music for Cougars
Robin Trower
What Lies Beneath
Various Artists
Kontra Wagner
Moritz von Oswald Trio
Vertical Ascent
Brooke White
High Hopes and Heartbreaks
Wye Oak
The Knot