Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. I'm skimming this list and there are a lot of big names with new albums and I have a feeling I'm going to sit this week out. While that's disappointing for me, it doesn't absolve me of my responsibility to point you lot in the direction of some new music so let's take a look.
Country/roots fans have a couple interesting releases to consider. Terri Clark has gone indie, leaving behind the inanities of corporate Nashville. Lost Highway is bringing out records for Lyle Lovett and The Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit. I'm not a big Lovett fan myself, but he has a certain appeal with a segment of listeners out there. Schmit is an interesting one. I am a casual Eagles fan, but Schmit's limited opportunities in that band have tended to be lighter weight. He's surrounded himself with some talent for this disc, though, and might have come with something good. It will be tuneful, but I'm not sure how much weight it will have. Eagles' fans and fans of the lighter sound will probably find something to enjoy on this set. There's also a new set from superstar Tim McGraw. I'm not a country music fan but if you are, I have to imagine one of those sets is going to have appeal for you.
Sufjan Stevens
The BQE
I am going to have to break down and get one of this guy's records. Soon. I've heard a few songs by him and they've piqued my interest but I've yet to sit and listen to an entire record. I'm not sure he's going to hook me, but I'm not sure he won't. I'm going to have to invest in one of these.
Fuck Buttons
Tarot Sport
If you think I'm going to pass up a chance to talk about a band called Fuck Buttons, you've lost your mind. I heard about these guys last year when one of our readers tried to step to me about my Top 10 of 2008 and namechecked this outfit. The band name alone is almost enough to make me want to investigate them further. Almost.
Coco Montoya
The Essential Coco Montoya
Blues fans know Coco Montoya, and you should, too. Blind Pig releases a compilation this week covering some of the standout tracks from the three solo records he recorded for them. Montoya's best work comes from those records so if you're looking for a great introduction to what he's all about, this is the disc for you.
Terri Clark
The Long Way Home
Jay Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard
One Fast Move or I'm Gone
Flight of the Conchords
I Told You I Was Freaky
Florence and the Machine
Lungs
Lyle Lovett
Natural Forces
Tim McGraw
Southern Voice
Original Soundtrack
New Moon [Soundtrack]
Timothy B. Schmit
Expando
Sufjan Stevens
The BQE
Atlas Sound
Logos
Basshunter
Bass Generation
Bauhaus
In the Flat Field [Omnibus Edition]
Bauhaus
Mask [Omnibus Edition]
Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine
The Audacity of Hype
Bomshel
Fight Like a Girl
Amy Briggs
David Rakowski: Études, Vol. 3
Sam Bush
Circles Around Me
Henson Cargill
On the Road: The Mega Years Plus
The Carpenters
40/40
Cartel
Cycles
Leonard Cohen
Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 [CD/DVD]
Converge
Axe to Fall
The Cult
Love [Omnibus Edition]
Dâm-Funk
Toeachizown
Joey DeFrancesco
Snapshot
Do Make Say Think
Other Truths
The Dooleys
The Dooleys/The Chosen Few
Electric Six
Kill
Espers
III
Robert Francis
Before Nightfall
Fuck Buttons
Tarot Sport
Get Back Guinozzi!
Carpet Madness
Greg Giraldo
Midlife Vices
Gwen Stacy
A Dialogue
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson: The Remix Suite
Jethro Tull
Live at Madison Square Garden
Kings of Convenience
Declaration of Dependence
Peter Maag
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Maddox Brothers/Rose Maddox
From Dancefloor to Devotion
Maps
Turning the Mind
Denis Matsuev
Denis Matsuev: The Carnegie Hall Concert
Loreena McKennitt
The Olive and the Cedar
Coco Montoya
The Essential Coco Montoya
Nouvelle Vague
NV3
Old Canes
Feral Harmonic
Patricia Petibon
Songs from America
Evgeny Svetlanov
Svetlanov Conducts Rachmaninov & Mussorgsky
Elvis Perkins in Dearland
The Doomsday
El Perro del Mar
Love Is Not Pop
Pylon
Chomp [Chomp More]
Rammstein
Liebe Ist fur Alle Da
Otis Redding
The Best: See & Hear
Alasdair Roberts
The Wyrd Meme
Royce da 5'9"
Street Hop
Jimmy Ruffin
Ruff 'n Ready
Russian Circles
Geneva
SOiL
Picture Perfect
Mort Shuman
My Death
The Slits
Trapped Animal
Snow Patrol
LateNightTales
Spiral Stairs
The Real Feel
Kristina Train
Spilt Milk
Lissy Trullie
Self-Taught Learner [Bonus Tracks]
Tina Turner
Tina Live [CD/DVD]
Various Artists
Gotta Have Gospel Christmas
Various Artists
Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome
White Denim
Fits
White Rainbow
New Clouds
Tim Wilson
Mr. Wilson Explains America
Adrian Younge
Black Dynamite [Score]
Richard Youngs
Under Stellar Stream