Thursday , March 28 2024
Satch and Guster have new albums and John Lennon's catalog is being repackaged...

New Music Tuesday: Guster, Joe Satriani, Lennon 70th Birthday Remasters, Jars Of Clay, Phil Keaggy

We got some good ones today in our examination of this week’s new CDs.  A couple of the titles are certainly Hathaway house favorites but there are other noteworthy items and we’ll take a look at those as well.

John Lennon
70th Birthday Campaign

John Lennon was murdered when I was 7 years old but you bet your ass I already knew who he was and could sing many, many of his songs.  I was a Beatles fan before I was anything else and I loved other songs of his from his solo career even though I didn’t completely understand the difference at that point.  Despite the span of generations touched by Lennon and his music, I don’t think it’s easy for any of us to believe he would have turned 70 years old this week. 

Lennon isn’t here to celebrate that with us but Yoko Ono and Lennon’s label are marking the occasion with a series of new titles, repackagings, and re-issues.  The cynical among us will see this as little more than cashing in and for some people involved in this process the bottom line is probably the only line they see.  Beyond the cynicism, this effort to repackage and reissue the Lennon catalog is an opportunity to point old and new fans to the amazing breadth of the man’s post-Beatles work following last year’s long overdue re-release of The Beatles’ discography.

Of note in this year’s set is that each of Lennon’s songs have been digitally remastered.  Again.  What sets these apart is that some of the fine talents that oversaw the revelatory remastering of The Beatles’ catalog joined with Ono to remaster Lennon’s solo material.  The previous Lennon remasters were also remixed.  These new discs are remasters of the original mixes released by Lennon.  I haven’t had the chance to listen to all of this side by side but there is reason to believe these might be the best sounding Lennon tracks made available on CD to date.  Each Lennon album has been re-issued and there are two box sets on sale.  The first, The Signature Box, packages all of Lennon’s discs as well as some rarities.  The 4-CD Gimme Some Truth box packages Lennon’s songs in four thematic discs: “Roots,” which focuses on Lennon songs that reflect his early rock influences, “Working Class Hero,” which emphasizes Lennon’s political side, “Woman,” which collects his love songs, and “Borrowed Time,” which gathers his observations about life.  There is also another title being offered called Double Fantasy Stripped Down, which is a remix of the Double Fantasy album presented in a sparser arrangement.

Guster
Easy Wonderful

I’ve been so pumped for this record for months now as Guster follows up their phenomenal Ganging Up On The Sun with a new record on a new label.  The tour for the album has already kicked off and I was fortunate to see the first show of that tour last week in Nashville.  I’ll be sharing more about that show and this record in the coming days but in the meantime allow me a little spoiler: buy this CD!  Buy it twice.  Buy one for you and one for a friend.  I pre-ordered the deluxe edition of this record, which will include three bonus tracks.  It is not here today and I am weeping with dismay.  They were actually selling these at the show last week and I nearly bought one there, too, just in case this happened.  I now wish I had.  Patience is a virtue and on days like today, I am the least virtuous person I know.  I’ll soon get specific but in the meantime, go forth and purchase, my children.

Joe Satriani
Black Swans & Wormhole Wizards

First off, can I please say God bless Joe Satriani for having great, weird album titles?  Amen.  A quick note on this record:  there is a version exclusive to Best Buy with two bonus tracks.  Loathe though I was to give my money to Satan Best Buy, I bought said edition because I love Joe Satriani and I want every scrap of his legally music available to me.

As my copy of Easy Wonderful is not here today, I’ve started my day listening to Black Swans.  I’ve listened through half of it and I like it very much.  Yes, it’s “typical” Satriani if by that you mean an instrumental guitar record that demonstrates Joe’s virtuosic skill as a player.  Halfway through the record, I’ve been pleased to find some compositions that stand apart from the rest of his catalog.  Satriani will never be known to most people as anything more than a GuitarGod or the guy who sued Coldplay and both of those things are true but that ignores his gift as a composer and melodist.  I’m enjoying the record so far and eager to hear the rest of it.

That’s what I’m buying.  What are you looking for?  Here’s the list, yours if you want them:

33miles – Today
9th Prince – Granddaddyflow
Abandon All Ships – Geeving
Ac/Dc Tribute – Tribute To Ac/Dc’s Greatest Hits
Alain Johannes – Spark
Alexandre Desplat / The London Symphony Orchestra – Tamara Drewe – Original Soundtrack
Alien Vampires – Evil Generation
Analogue Transit – Atr
Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe – An Evening Of Yes Music Plus
Annie – The Broadway Musical – Annie – The Broadway Musical (30th Anniversary Production)
Archuleta, David – The Other Side Of Down
Arguelles, Julian – Partita
Arkenstone, David – Visions Of Christmas
At Vance – Decade (2 Cd)
Autopsy – The Tomb Within
Avett Brothers, The – Live, Volume 3
B.G. – Hollyhood
Baby Lores – Mas
Baker, Chet – She Was Too Good To Me
Barry Tuckwell (Horn); Philharmonia Orchestra – Mozart; Complete Horn Concerti & Fragments
Bennink, Han – Nerve Beats (1973)
Black Ryder – Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride
Black Uhuru With Sly & Robbie – Chicago 84
Blue Oyster Cult – The Music Of Blue Oyster Cult
Brewer, Christian – Seesaw
Bring Me The Horizon – There Is A Hell Believe Me I V
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, The – A Brooklyn Tabernacle Christmas
Bruce, Michael – Be My Lover: The Michael Bruce Collection (2xcd)
Bruno Mars – Doo – Wops & Hooligans
Burrell, Kenny – God Bless The Child
Buzzoven – Sore (Remastered)
Canibus – C Of Tranquility
Cedarmont Kids & Jim Adkins – Jingle Ducks
Charles, Ray – Brother Ray’s Blues
Chiodos – Illuminaudio
Circle Ii Circle – Consequence Of Power
Circle Slide – Echoes Of The Light
Clarke, Stanley – Modern Man/I Wanna Play For You
Cline, Patsy – Fingerprints
Clinic – Bubblegum
Controlled Bleeding – Penetration
Creepshow, The – They All Fall Down
Crimson Glory – In Dark Places…1986 – 2000
Crowbar – Crowbar
Crowbar – Live + 1
Crowbar – Time Heals Nothing
Dale, Dick – Mr. Eliminator
Darkness – Defenders Of Justice
Day, Doris – Sentimental Journey
Debauchery – Kill Maim Burn
Der Blutharsch – When All Else Fails!
Der Blutharsch – Time Is Thee Enemy!
Der Blutharsch – Live In Leiden
Devil Rides Out – The Heart & The Crown
Dion Parson And The 21st Cent – Live At Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola: Vol. 1
Dizzy Gillespie – Performance (Feat. Charlie Parker)
Doc Dauer – The Body Rocks
Duguid, Andy – Miracle Moments
Eales, Geoff – Synergy
Emergency Gate – The Nemesis Construct
Evans, Faith – Something About Faith
Fernandez, Vicente – El Hombre Que Mas Te Amo
Finger Eleven – Life Turns Electric
Fistful Of Mercy – As I Call You Down
Fogelberg, Dan – The Music Of Dan Fogelberg
Frankenreiter, Donavon – Glow
Gamelan – Trance Gamelan In Bali
Gamelan Of Central Java – Xiv. Ritual Sounds Of Sekaten
Gay Blades, The – Savages
Ghost Machinery – Out For Blood
Gilberto, Astrud – The Girl From Ipanema
Giltrap, Gordon & Wakeman, Rick – From Brush And Stone
Gonjasufi – The Caliph’s Tea Party
Goodbye Thrill – Outrageous
Gruntruck – Inside Yours/Push
Guru Of Darkness – Mater Meretrix
Gurus, The – Closing Circles
Guster – Easy Wonderful
Haggard, Merle – The Music Of Merle Haggard
Hammill, Peter – Incoherence
Hammill/Sonix – Unsung
Harrison, Frank – First Light
Harrison, Gavin – Circles
Healy, Fran – Wreckorder
Higginbottom, Chris – One
Holland, Dave And Pepe Habichuela – Hands
Howard, Tom – Piano Christmas
Hubbard, Freddie – Red Clay
I.C.E. – Apocalyptic End In White
Iles, Nikki – Everything I Love
Jaldaboath – The Rise Of The Heraldic Beast
Jamison, Jimi & Jim Peterik – Extra Moments
Jars Of Clay – The Shelter
Java And Ned Shepard – Privilege
Jay Street – Tasty
Jefferson Airplane – The Music Of Jefferson Airplane
Jezzro, Jack – Christmas Jazz
Jobim, Antonio Carlos – Stone Flower
Joe Satriani – Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards
Jones, George – The Music Of George Jones
June, The – Green Fields And Rain
Kasher, Tim – The Game Of Monogamy
Keaggy, Phil – Welcome Inn – A Phil Keaggy
Kickhunter – All In
Kidz Bop Kids – Kidz Bop Christmas Party
Knight, Gladys – The Music Of Gladys Knight & The Pips
Korn – The Lowdown
Koshir – White Girl Diaries
Kussack, Noah – A Momentary Lapse In The Key Of W
Lafille – Tout Attache(E)
Lapthorn, Tim – Natural Language
Lapthorn, Tim – Seventh Sense
Laws, Hubert – Morning Star
Legendary Pink Dots, The – Seconds Late For The Brighton Line
Lennon, John – Walls And Bridges
Lennon, John – Gimme Some Truth Box
Lennon, John – Imagine
Lennon, John – Milk And Honey
Lennon, John – Mind Games
Lennon, John – Plastic Ono Band
Lennon, John – Power To The People: The Hits
Lennon, John – Rock ‘N’ Roll
Lennon, John – Signature Box
Lennon, John/Yoko Ono – Double Fantasy Stripped Down
Lennon, John/Yoko Ono – Sometime In New York City(2cd)
Little Richard – The King Of Rock N’ Roll
Lockheart, Mark – Moving Air
Lou – Et Apres On Verra
Louis Armstrong – Hello, Louis! The Hit Years (1963-1969) / [2 Cd]
Maniac Spider Trash – Dumpster Mummies
Manilow, Barry – The Music Of Barry Manilow
Marley, Bob – Soul Almighty
Martin, Dean – All Of Me
Mayer, John – Battle Studies Expanded Edition
Mcreynolds & Friends, Jesse – Songs Of The Grateful Dead
Method Of Defiance – Jahbulon
Michael Jackson – Do You Remember? Ultimate Tribute: Unauthorised (Shape Disc)
Microscopic Septet, The – Friday The 13th: The Micros Play Monk
Middle Class Rut – No Name No Color
Milsap, Ronnie – The Music Of Ronnie Milsap
Minasian, David – Random Acts Of Beauty
Ministry – Every Day Is Halloween – The Anthology
Mitchell, Elizabeth – Sunny Day
Monk, Thelonius – Monk’s Moods
Monroe, Bill – Father Of The Blues
Mr. Criminal – Presents: Hood Affiliated Part 3
Mystic Roots Band – Constant Struggle
Nelson, Willie – Face Of A Fighter
Noble, Liam – In The Meantime
Noble, Liam – Romance Among The Fishes
Osbourne, Ozzy – Scream
Osment, Emily – Fight Or Flight
Paramore Tribute – Piano Tribute To Paramore – Volume 2
Party Tyme Karaoke – Party Tyme Karaoke – Girl Country Mega Pack (8 Cd+G)
Paul, Jaimee – Christmas Time Is Here
Pendergrass, Teddy – The Music Of Teddy Pendergrass
Person, Houston – Moment To Moment
Peter, Paul & Mary – Weave Me The Sunshine
Phelps, David – Christmas With David Phelps
Pimp C – The Naked Soul Of Sweet Jones
Pink Floyd – Pink Floyd’s Jukebox
Point Of Grace – Home For The Holidays
Ps I Love You – Meet Me At The Muster Station
R.A.R.E. Rhythm And Rap Evange – The Restoration
Rat Pack, The – Christmas With The Rat Pack
Raul Malo – Sinners & Saints
Resnick, Ephie – New York Survivor
Resnick, Ephie – The Struggle
Revolution Renaissance – Trinity
Robinson, Jason – The Two Faces Of Janus
Rogers, Roy – The King Of Cowboys
Savage – Presents The Tribal Council / [2 Cd]
Scott, Bon – Forever (Shape Disc)
Sean Smith – Christmas
Shad – Tsol
Shafer, Fred – Resistor
Shires, Leif – Cool Jazz Christmas
Sinatra, Frank – Street Of Dreams
Skin Chamber – Wound/Trial
Skyzoo & Illmind – Live From The Tape Deck
Smith, Huey Piano – Just Clownin’ (More Of The Best)
Sons Of The Pioneers – Cigareet
Sons Of The Pioneers – My Saddle Pals And I
Sorrow – Hatred And Disgust
Soundgarden – Telephantasm – A Retrospective
Soundtrack – Parenthood (Original Television Soundtrack)
Soundtrack – Sonny With A Chance
Soundtrack/Cast Album – Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Soundtrack/Cast Album – Wicker Man, The 1973 Paul Giovanni
Speake, Martin – Secret
Speake, Martin – My Ideal
Stallings, Mary – Dream
Stephane Grappelli – Performance (Feat. Django Reinhardt)
Stern, Marnie – Marnie Stern
Stimulators – Loud Fast Rules!
Sulzmann, Stan – The Jigsaw
Take 6 – The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year
Tamaryn – The Waves
Tesh, John – Best Of Christmas, The
Tesh, John – Grand Piano Christmas
The Puppini Sisters – Christmas With The Puppini Sisters
This Day Will Tell – Too True To Be Good
Toby Keith – Bullets In The Gun
Touchstone – Live In The Usa…
Trademark Da Skydiver – Super Villain: Issue #1
Trae – Late Night King
Transmission Fields – Transmission Fields
Tricky – Mixed Race
Trower, Robin – 20th Century Blues
Tucker Band, The Corin – 1,000 Years
Tunstall, Kt – Tiger Suit
Turrentine, Stanley – Sugar
Unwritten Pages – Noah
Various – Roots Music Of Rural America- 44 Classics
Various – 5k1 Soundtrack
Various – Plenty Money
Various – Zombie Horror Cd Collection
Various – Freestyle’s Best Extended Versions Vol. 5
Various – Simon & Grassfunkel
Various – Kidsgrass
Various – Bestuvgrass
Various – Claptongrass
Various – Miami / Southbeach Tunes Vol.1
Various – Raices Habaneras
Various – Gay Happening Presents: The Real High Energy Traxx
Various – Happy Christmas Redux: Vol
Various – Season To Remember…, A
Various – Gotta Have Gospel 8
Various Artists – 1959 – The Year Jazz Changed
Various Artists – Chart-Toppers Of The 40s
Various Artists – The Charlston Era: 25 Vintage Recordings
Various Artists – Ninja Tune Xx: Volume 1
Various Artists – Ninja Tune Xx: Volume 2
Various Artists – Bluegrass Number One Hits
Various Artists – Crazy And Psychotic
Various Artists – Gangstas And Hustlaz
Various Artists – Greatest Features
Various Artists – Number 1 Street Hits
Various Artists – Sex, Money, Drugs
Various Artists – Street Life
Various Artists – Swagger Check
Various Artists – Bellydance Superstar Vol 8
Various Artists – The Roots Of Rod Stewart
Various Artists – Life As We Know It (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Veggietales – Bob And Larry Sing The 80’s
Volonte, Derniere – Immortel
Waka Flocka Flame – Flockaveli (Amended)
Waka Flocka Flame – Flockaveli (Explicit)
Waters, Muddy – King Of Chicago Blues
Wet & Reckless + Tracy Shedd – Wet & Reckless / Tracy Shedd Split 7 Inch
Willard – Steel Mill
Williams, Hank – The Hank Williams Story
Williams, Lori – Healing Within
Willison, Kathleen – Close To You
Wong, Dustin – Infinite Love
Woods, Tony – Lowlands
Zorn, John – Ipsissimus

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