New Album Releases Oct. 13, 2009: Bob Dylan, King Crimson, Flaming Lips, David Archuleta, Hall & Oates

I've been looking forward to today since the end of August when it was announced everybody's favorite uncle, Bob Dylan, was going to release a Christmas album.  We'll talk more about that one in just a bit.  Let's skim the rest of our releases and dispense with them first.

There are three other Christmas records on the roster this week:  there's one from former American Idol contestant David Archuleta, Charlie Daniels has a bluegrass Christmas collection, and I believe this is the third Christmas collection from Neil Diamond.  Oh, wait.  There's a fourth.  I saved the worst for last: Barry Manilow.  I'm not the only one noticing a trend here, am I?

One of our regular readers is a huge King Crimson guy, so I should mention it appears In The Court Of The Crimson King is getting some manner of re-issue.  I'm not a KC guy so I went tell you if it's worth buying or not; best you check that out on your own, is what.

Bob Dylan
Christmas In The Heart

A Bob Dylan Christmas!  How cool is that?  I mean, think about it!  Dylan does Christmas?  I can't wait to hear Dylan take on "Winter Wonderland" and "Here Comes Santa Claus."  How can you not get excited about hearing Dylan bray and croak "O Little Town of Bethlehem" or "Hark The Herald Angels Sing?" 

I've listened to some song clips and it sounds exactly like I thought it would.  This is going to be fun, people.  He's got his current band and he's playing these songs with a sense of fun, cool, and swing.  He's even enlisted a schmaltzy choir of background singers.  This is a traditional Christmas record without the stuffiness or the annoying family members.

The best part:  this is a charity benefit record.  Dylan is donating the proceeds.  Talk about the spirit of Christmas.  Everybody wins.  I'm having one of these!

Bob Dylan
Christmas in the Heart

The Flaming Lips
Embryonic

Hall & Oates
Do What You Want Be What You Are: The Music of Daryl Hall & John Oates

Mario
D.N.A.

Nellie McKay
Normal as Blueberry Pie: A Tribute to Doris Day

Ben Allison
Think Free

Gregg Allman
The Solo Years 1973-1997: One More Silver Dollar

David Archuleta
Christmas from the Heart

Joan Baez
How Sweet the Sound

Baroness
Blue Record

Beaten Awake
Thunder$troke

Bowling for Soup
Sorry for Partyin'

Jack Bruce
Seven Moons Live

Various Artists
Nick Cave's Jukebox

Nels Cline/G.E. Stinson
Elevating Device

Charlie Daniels
Joy to the World: A Bluegrass Christmas

Dead by Sunrise
Out of Ashes

Del the Funky Homosapien/Tame One
Parallel Uni-Verses

Ariana Delawari
Lion of Panjshir

The Destro
Harmony of Discord

Neil Diamond
A Cherry Cherry Christmas

Bob Dylan
Christmas in the Heart [Deluxe Version]

Linda Eder
Soundtrack

Five for Fighting
Slice

Valery Gergiev
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture; Moscow Cantata; Slavonic March

John Gorka
So Dark You See

Har Mar Superstar
Dark Touches

The Jackson 5
Ultimate Christmas Collection

Joglaresa
Dreams of Andalusia

Sharon Kam
Brahms: Sonatas & Trio

King Crimson
In the Court of the Crimson King [2 CD]

Kottonmouth Kings
Hidden Stash 4-20: Suburban Noize

Shawn Lee & Clutchy Hopkins
Fascinating Fingers

Los Lonely Boys
1969

Barry Manilow
In the Swing of Christmas

Erin McKeown
Hundreds of Lions

James McMurtry
Live in Europe

Thao with the Get Down Stay Down
Know Better Learn Faster

1997
Notes from Underground

Jessica Ryckewaert
Percutronique

Barbara Schlick
Georg Philipp Telemann: Ino

Original Soundtrack
90210

Original TV Soundtrack
The Best of Ally McBeal – The Songs of Vonda Shepard

Grant Lee Phillips
Little Moon

Piano Magic
Ovations

The Righteous Brothers
The Definitive Collection

A Rocket to the Moon
On Your Side

Linda Ronstadt
Hand Sown… Home Grown/Silk Purse

Brian Setzer
Songs from Lonely Avenue

Harper Simon
Harper Simon

Nick Swardson
Seriously, Who Farted?

The Temper Trap
Conditions

Thomas Function
In The Valley Of Sickness

Jonny Trunk
Scrapbook

Various Artists
Disco Discharge: Classic Disco

Various Artists
Disco Discharge: Disco Ladies

Various Artists
Look Out! We Got Soul: Sweet Soul Music

Various Artists
Sherman Brothers Songbook

Various Artists
Sweet Soul Music: 1966

Various Artists
Sweet Soul Music: 1967

Various Artists
Sweet Soul Music: 1968

Various Artists
Sweet Soul Music: 1969

Various Artists
Sweet Soul Music: 1970

Various Artists
The Ultimate Motown Christmas Collection

Rick Wakeman
The Six Wives of Henry VIII: Live at Hampton Court Palace

Andy Williams
Moon River: The Very Best of Andy Williams