New Album Releases 01/29/08: Joe Jackson, Shelby Lynne, The Mars Volta, Beck, Pat Metheny, Van Morrison Expanded Reissues

With the labels holding off the really big guns — that would be the new ones from people like Janet Jackson, R.E.M., and Coldplay — until a bit later this first quarter of 2007, things still continued to pick up this week as we said goodbye to January. While there isn't any one superstar sort of blockbuster in this week's new releases, what we do have is a nice batch of critical favorites, mixed with some ambitious looking reissue projects.

For the follow-up to 2003's Volume 4, veteran angry new wave popster, musical firebrand, and all around jack-of-all-trades Joe Jackson once again reunites with pretty much the same band of guys that put him on the map back in the seventies and eighties with albums like Look Sharp! and I'm The Man. On Rain, Jackson combines smoother, more sophisticated sounding pop tunes, with just a touch of that edginess that originally made him known as such a notoriously angry young man. A bonus DVD features live performances and interviews.

Singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne returns with Just a Little Lovin', an album inspired by the great Dusty Springfield (Shelby even sports a Dusty-inspired retro look on the sleeve). The album includes several choice covers of Springfield's better known tunes (no "Son Of A Preacher Man," though), as well as a new original song, "Pretend." The legendary Phil Ramone produced this one.

For The Bedlam in Goliath, the Mars Volta continue to mine the unique blending of neo-psychedelic and hardcore influences that have made them both a critical and underground favorite with the college and indie crowds.

In this week's reissues, Polydor has launched an ambitious project for Van Morrison's back catalog, putting out expanded, remastered versions of such classics as Tupelo Honey and Wavelength. There is also a new, deluxe, double-disc version of Beck's landmark Odelay, which features all of the usual unreleased rarities and goodies you've come to expect from these sorts of repackages.

Oh, and lest I forget — some jazz guitar player guy named Pat Metheny has a new one out. But I'll let Mark Saleski tell you all about that:

Saleski's Choice 01/29/08: Pat Metheny Trio – Day Trip
I know, you're shocked (shocked!) that I'm bringing up a Pat Metheny disc. Hey, you can't have curveballs every week. Besides, I'm tryin' to get this Boyd guy some culture.

Metheny's level and/or style of play has always been highly influenced by who is sitting behind the kit. With the addition of Antonio Sanchez to his main group, Metheny seems to have found his ultimate partner in rhythm. There were some absolutely sublime guitar/drum moments on The Way Up. The same can be said for the shows from that tour. Just check out this duet version of "(Go) Get It." Crazy, isn't it?

Now Pat has Sanchez in his trio along with the great Christian McBride on bass. I'm expecting great things.

Tom Johnson did not contribute a pick this week.

Here are all of this week's new album releases courtesy of All Music Guide:

The Five Blind Boys of Alabama
Down in New Orleans
Time Life
Black Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Southern Gospel, Contemporary Gospel

The Helio Sequence
Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Sub Pop
Indie-Rock

Joe Jackson
Rain
Rykodisc
Pop/Rock

Shelby Lynne
Just a Little Lovin'
Lost Highway
Vocal Pop, Pop, Adult Contemporary

The Mars Volta
The Bedlam in Goliath
Universal
Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Neo-Psychedelia, Thrash

Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
XL
Indie Rock

John Anderson
All the People Are Talkin'
Collectors' Choice Music
Outlaw Country, Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk,
Country-Pop

John Anderson
Eye of the Hurricane
Collectors' Choice Music
Neo-Traditionalist Country, New Traditionalist, Honky Tonk

Beck
Odelay [Deluxe Edition]
Geffen
Indie Rock, Lo-Fi, Club/Dance, Alternative Pop/Rock, Dance-Rock

Andrea Bocelli
Vivere: Live in Tuscany [CD + DVD]
Decca
Music for Tenor & Orchestra

Bonnie "Prince" Billy
Wilding in the West
Spunk
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Rock, Lo-Fi

Sarah Brightman
Symphony
Manhattan
Show Tunes, Musicals, Adult Contemporary

Bullet for My Valentine
Scream Aim Fire
Jive/Zomba
Punk Metal, Screamo, Alternative Metal

Popa Chubby
Deliveries After Dark
Blind Pig
Blues-Rock, Modern Electric Blues, Contemporary Blues

Billy Ray Cyrus
Love Songs
Mercury Nashville
Contemporary Country, Country-Pop

Dailey and Vincent
Dailey and Vincent
Rounder
Bluegrass-Gospel, Contemporary Bluegrass, Country-Folk

Dimitri from Paris & DJ Muro
Super Disco Friends
Headphone Heroes
Club/Dance, Disco, Funk, Old-School Rap

Dispatch
Dispatch Zimbabwe: Live at Madison Square Garden [CD/DVD]
Republic
Jam Bands, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative Pop/Rock

The Doors
The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors
Elektra/Rhino
Album Rock, Psychedelic, Hard Rock, Pop/Rock, Rock & Roll, Proto-Punk

Donna Jean & the Tricksters
Donna Jean & the Tricksters
Dig
Heartland Rock, Jam Bands, American Trad Rock, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic,
Country-Rock, Rock & Roll

Human Bell
Human Bell
Thrill Jockey
Experimental Rock, New Acoustic

Ida
Lovers Prayers
Polyvinyl
Sadcore, Indie Pop, Dream Pop

Al Jarreau
Love Songs
Rhino
Adult Contemporary, Vocal Jazz, Contemporary R&B, Smooth Jazz, Crossover
Jazz

Paavo Järvi
Prokofiev: Lieutenant Kijé Suite; Symphony No. 5 [Hybrid SACD]
Telarc
Modern Orchestral Music

Jeffrey Lewis
12 Crass Songs
Rough Trade
Alternative Folk, Anti-Folk, Political Folk

Louis XIV
Slick Dogs and Ponies
Atlantic
Indie Rock, Neo-Glam, Garage Punk

Idina Menzel
I Stand
Warner Bros.
Adult Alternative

Pat Metheny Trio
Day Trip
Nonesuch
Post-Bop, Contemporary Jazz, Folk-Jazz

Charles Mingus
The Very Best of Charles Mingus [Rhino]
Rhino
Early Creative, Hard Bop

Van Morrison
Avalon Sunset [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock &
Roll

Van Morrison
Back on Top [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock &
Roll

Van Morrison
It's Too Late to Stop Now [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock &
Roll

Van Morrison
Tupelo Honey [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock &
Roll

Van Morrison
Wavelength [Expanded]
Polydor
Album Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, Pop/Rock, Singer/Songwriter, Soft Rock, Rock &
Roll

Willie Nelson
Moment of Forever
Lost Highway
Contemporary Country, Traditional Country

David "Fathead" Newman
Diamondhead
Highnote
Jazz Blues, Hard Bop, Soul-Jazz

Thao
We Brave Bee Stings and All
Kill Rock Stars
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Indie Pop

Obituary
The Best of Obituary
Roadrunner
Heavy Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal

Kim Sjøgren
Lalo: Symphonie Espagnole
OUR Recordings
Post-Romantic Music for Violin & Orchestra

Leonard Slatkin
Leroy Anderson: Orchestral Music, Vol. 1
Naxos
Modern Orchestral Music

Tabia Zimmermann
Sally Beamish: The Seafarer
Bis
Contemporary Orchestral Music

Original Score
27 Dresses [Original Score]
Varese Sarabande
Original Score

Original Soundtrack
Be Kind Rewind
Lakeshore
Original Score, Soundtracks

Lee "Scratch" Perry
Chicken Scratch
Heartbeat
Dub

Protest the Hero
Fortress
Vagrant
Post-Hardcore, Punk Metal, Progressive Metal, Emo

Sun Ra & His Arkestra
Some Blues But Not the Kind That's Blue
Atavistic
Standards, Post-Bop

Radar Bros.
Auditorium
Merge
Slowcore, Indie Rock

Ed Sanders
Beer Cans on the Moon
Collectors' Choice Music
Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock

Ed Sanders
Sanders' Truckstop
Collectors' Choice Music
Proto-Punk, Folk-Rock, Psychedelic, Rock & Roll, Comedy Rock

Various Artists
Grammy Nominees 2008
Hip-O Select
Pop/Rock, Pop, Pop Idol, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock, Contemporary Jazz, Hard
Rock, Contemporary Country, Contemporary R&B, Urban, Dance-Pop

Various Artists
Pulse Platinum
Razor & Tie
Club/Dance, House, Euro-Dance, Euro-Pop

Various Artists
Smithsonian Folkways: Classic African American Gospel
Smithsonian Folkways
Field Recordings, Spirituals, Traditional Gospel, Gospel Choir, Southern
Gospel, Black Gospel

Christopher Walla
Field Manual
Barsuk
Indie Pop, Indie Rock

Kate Walsh
Tim's House
Blueberry Pie
Contemporary Singer/Songwriter, Contemporary Folk

Webb Wilder
Born to Be Wilder
Blind Pig
Roots Rock, Blues-Rock

Larry Willis
The Offering
Highnote
Post-Bop, Modern Creative

Xiu Xiu
Women as Lovers
Kill Rock Stars
Experimental Rock, Indie Rock, Post-Rock/Experimental

Yoav
Charmed & Strange
Verve Forecast
Alternative Singer/Songwriter, Adult Alternative Pop/Rock