Blogcritics The critical lens on today's culture & entertainment
I need to divide this week’s New Release column in two segments: the big releases everyone but me cares about and the stuff you should all be listening to that I’ve already ordered. Being the magnanimous sort, I’ll let you go first.
Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is going to be a huge seller. Hip hop doesn’t often let one artist stand atop the mountain very long but West has established himself as a brand. He’s been here for awhile and doesn’t seem likely to go anywhere anytime soon. He says and does outlandish, stupid things which means he’s a hip hop star in the rock star tradition. Another hip hopper who has demonstrated real staying power is Jay-Z, who is releasing a hits compilation this week.
I suspect Ke$ha is going to have the opposite of staying power. She has a new title out this week. I don’t get the appeal but you can’t deny she’s had some serious commercial success at a time when not many are. Other major releases for today include sets from from Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj, My Chemical Romance and re-issues from Pantera and Nine Inch Nails.
Now that your titles are out of the way, let’s talk about what’s new in my collection this week.
Freddie King
Texas Flyer 1974-1976
I hinted at another uber-expensive box set last week and this it. This 5-CD box set is the sequel to Bear Family’s 7-CD Freddie King box set, Taking Care Of Business 1956-1973. Texas Flyer finishes King’s stay at Shelter records and includes four discs of high quality King live performances from those years at the end of his life and includes a hardcover book with photos and biographical notes from noted historian Bill Dahl. I’ve pre-ordered my set and am about to explode waiting for its arrival! According to what I’ve read, these live recordings aren’t shoddy bootlegs but professionally recorded performances of King doing songs from throughout his career. My study of and obsession with King is still in its infancy but my appreciation for his music grows daily.
I will have virtually every note this legend recorded by the time these five discs arrive, joining the seven of Taking Care Of Business. This, boys and girls, is why I have a 160GB iPod and can’t wait until Uncle Steve Jobs fashions one with a higher capacity. I will travel with all this goodness and when I’m at home, I’ll be listening to the magical goodness on my very adequate stereo. Christmas has come early.
The National
High Violet (Deluxe Edition)
Let me begin saying I absolutely hate when bands release deluxe editions of CDs within six months of releasing the standard edition like this but one of the best albums of 2010 has gotten better. A second disc has been added to High Violet, including an alternate (better) recording of “Terrible Love,” two outstanding B-sides, two excellent non-LP tracks, and three live cuts. If you already bought High Violet, buy it again. I’ve bought it four times now (don’t ask). If you haven’t bought it yet, get this edition and do it without another moment’s hesitation. Seriously. Do it now!
King’s X
Live Love in London
King’s X fan? Guilty as charged. I bought their 2-CD Live All Over The Place, which is a solid set collecting performances from numerous shows over a period of years. London boasts 2-CD/1-DVD all from the same show. The 19-song set also features several of my favorite songs. They may be obvious ones to more hardcore KX fans but I like “Black Flag,” “Over My Head,” “It’s Love,” and “Dogman,” just to name a few. I’m really excited about seeing and hearing this. It, too, is on its way.
21st Century Schizoid Band – Live In Japan
After The Burial – In Dreams
Allen, Dave – Colour Blind
Amorphis – Magic And Mayhem
Antix – Flammable Grammar
As They Sleep – Dynasty
Atheist – Jupiter
Atomic Tom – The Moment
Banks, Lloyd – H.F.M.2 (Hunger For More 2)
Bassey, Shirley – I Capricorn/And I Love You So
Bell’aria – Little Italy
Big L – Return Of The Devil’s Son
Bush, Kate – The Document
C Note – Third Coast Born
Chambers, Byron Mr. Talkbox”” – My Time
Clayton Doley’s Organ Donors – Tension
Cook, Dane – I Did My Best – Greatest Hits
Curren$Y – Pilot Talk Ii
Deathspell Omega – Paracletus
Duke Da God – The D.I.P. Agenda
Elephant Revival – Break In The Clouds
Eric Johnson – Vol. 2 Live From Austin Texas
Evensong – Evensong
Expatriate – In The Midst Of This
Fair Warning – Talking Ain’t Enough Fair Warning Live In Tokyo
Five Finger Death Punch – Way Of The Fist Deluxe
FM Static – 3 Out Of 4 Ain’t Bad
Ford, Lita – Stiletto
Freddie King – Texas Flyer 1974-1976
Frith, Fred – Eye To Ear 3
Gaag, Florian – Wholetrain (Soundtrack)
Gangrene (The Alchemist & Oh No) – Gutter Water
Ginsburg, Allen – Beat Poet Figurine & Cd Set
Girls – Broken Dreams Club
Gowan – Strange Animal
Haste The Day – Concerning The Way It Was
Have Heart – 10.17.09
Hi-Power Entertainment Presents – Hipower Holiday
Hipower Collectables – Mr. Criminal
Jackson, Alan – 34 Number Ones
Jay-Z – The Hits Collection Volume One
Joe – Live From Japan / [Cd/Dvd Combo]
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Karen Kingsbury – Songs That Inspire Karen Kingsbury
Ke$Ha – Animal + Cannibal (Deluxe Edition)
Ke$Ha – Cannibal
Kevin Eubanks – Zen Food
Killing Joke – Absolute Dissent
King’s X – Live Love In London
Lake, Chris & Marco Lys – Cross The Line
Lewis, Ramsey – The Movie Album/Dancing In The Street
Lil C – Rap Game, Trap Game
Lucky Luciano – Flyest Meskin Alive
Macdonald Sisters, The – Solas Clann Dhomhnaill – Joy Of Clan Donald
Malmsteen, Yngwie – Relentless
Marley, Bob – Reggaeton Mixes, The
Marz Lovejoy – This Little Light Of Mine
Montañez, Andy – De Andy Montañez Al Combo
Morly Grey – The Only Truth
My Chemical Romance – Danger Days: The True Lives Of The Fabulous Killjoys
National, The – High Violet (Expanded Edition)
Ne-Yo – Libra Scale
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday
Nine Inch Nails – Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remaster
Nordine, Ken – Word Jazz: The Complete 1950s Recordings
Norma Jean – Birds And Microscopes And
Osborne, Bobby & The Rocky Top X-Press – Memories (Celebrating Bobby’s 60th Anniversary As A Professional Entertainer)
Ozric Tentacles – Strangeitude
Pantera – Cowboys From Hell (Ultimate Box Set)(3cd)(W/Xl T-Shirt)
Rihanna – Loud / [Cd/Dvd Combo][Couture Edition]
Robyn – Body Talk / [Explicit]
Rochereau, Tabu Ley – The Voice Of Lightness Vol. 2
Röyksopp – Senior
Rye Rye – Sunshine (Feat. M.I.A.) / [Remix Ep]
Simpson, Jessica – Happy Christmas
Smashing Pumpkins – The Solstice Bare
Smith, Michael W. Tribute – Bluegrass Tribute To Michael W. Smith
Soundtrack – 127 Hours – Music From The Motion Picture
Soundtrack – The King’s Speech
Stephen Clarke (Piano) – Scelsi: The Piano Works 4 Stephen Clarke
Sting – Sting: Live In Berlin / [Cd/Dvd Combo]
Tabi Bonney – Fresh
Taylor Swift – Speak Now Karaoke / [Cd+G/Dvd Combo]
The Chariot – The Chariot: Long Live
The Doors – Live In Vancouver 1970 (2cd)
The Who – Live At Leeds / [4 Cd/Lp/7″ Super Deluxe]
Trae – King Of The Streets Volume 2
Trdaemark Da Skydiver – Supervillain Issue #
Various – Slovenia U.S.A. Slovenian Music Made In America
Various – 100 Beats: Chilled
Various – 100 Beats: Ibiza
Various – Total Breakdown
Various – Burlesque Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Various Artists – Bimexicano, Nuestros Clasicos
Various Artists – The Best Of Sacred Steel
Various Artists – The Annual 2011 / [2 Cd]
Various Artists – Hi-Grade Ganja Anthems 3
Waters, Muddy – They Called Me Muddy Waters/Live At Mister Kelly’s
White Lion – Concert Anthology 1987-1991 Deluxe Pack
William Tyler – Behold The Spirit
Wyatt, Robert – Eps
Yamanaka, Mark – Lei Pua Kenikeni
Yelawolf – Trunk Muzik 0-60 / [Explicit]
