By John M. James Television soundtracks and other boob tube delights are rocking the stereo. Another creepy exclusive release that’s only available at Target hit store shelves earlier this week, with Sony / BMG’s Live From SNL!
Music Performances From Saturday Night Live. Focused on the past four seasons, the 11-track CD features Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Foo Fighters, Arctic Monkeys, The Strokes, and Maroon 5. What, no Ashley Simpson lip-synched hoedown?
Now, that’s entertainment. Up ahead, another SNL disc promises the show’s R B side, and a new DVD collection of appearances… Airing 58 episodes from 1969 through 1971, The Johnny Cash TV Show is brought back alive in a new two-DVD set next week from the Columbia Legacy imprint. Sixty-six performances are collected, showcasing a magnificent line-up, highlighted by Bob Dylan.
Joni Mitchell, Merle Haggard, the Everly Brothers, Tammy Wynette, Ray Charles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival… Trading in their stethoscopes for instruments, next week’s release of the original television soundtrack to House features the cast recording a clever interpretation of The Rolling Stones’ classic “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” Alongside tracks from Joe Cocker, Ben Harper and Lucinda Williams, other cover nuggets include Sarah McLachlan’s prayer through XTC’s “Dear God” and Elvis Costello performing Christina Aguilera’s hit, “Beautiful.” Also due next week is a new audio party from The Simpsons.
Shout Factory Records’ The Simpsons: Testify looks like a tasty, glazed treat, with a “Everybody Hates Ned Flanders” medley featuring David Bryne, Kelsey Grammer’s “The Very Reason I Live,” Ricky Gervais’ “Lady,” and Los Lobos’ take on the show’s closing credits theme. Other participants include The B52’s, the Baha Men, Jackson Browne, and “Weird Al” Yankovic… Sporting CD cover art that makes Aphex Twin look tame on the creepiness scale, my pick of the week is Happy Birthday!, released this week from the ultra grimy, bristling, infectious electronic duo Modeselektor.
Sure, the CD boasts an appearance by Thom Yorke of Radiohead in the Morse code funk of “The White Flash,” and the slippery French rap group TTC on the robot-freak reverberation of “2000007,” but these crazy dubstep-techno beats are the real star of the show. Buoyant and piping-hot fresh, the German efficiency of their electronic lash is a sexy, magnificent beat master, whipping the backs of strobe-light dancers into a fantasia meltdown. Due stateside on BPitch Control Records, the domestic issue features a bonus track with Maximo Park, “I Can’t Sleep (Without Music).
” yeahyeah@cinci.rr.com New Releases Coming Tuesday, September 18: (…and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
..) A Life Once Lost — Iron Gag (Ferret Music) monster riffs and tortured headbanging poised to shake the follicles from your scalp.
Between the Buried and Me — Colors (Victory) part Pink Floyd, part Tool and part metallic tantrum; this is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Alaska album. James Blunt — All the Lost Souls (Custard / Atlantic) featuring songs he’s been showcasing live for the past months. Danny Reid Carter — Barcelona (Tree O Records) solo debut backed by Allman Brothers alumni.
Cinematic — Classic Film Music Revisited (Six Degrees) bold, inspired, tumbling grooves through the soundtracks of Carrie, Ben Hur, Inherit the Wind, For a Few Dollars More, and The taking of Pelham One Two Three. Cipes and the People — Conscious Revolution (KG2 Music) debut from television actor Greg Cipes, swaying through the cool breezes of the Bahamas. Clare the Reasons — The Movie (Un Disque Frogstand) with guests Sufjan Stevens and Van Dyke Parks, this lush, heavenly debut features a seven-piece mini-orchestra with 1940s Jazz nightclub chanteuse soul.
The Donnas — Bitchin’ (Purple Feather) all new on their artist-owned label. Kevin Drew — Spirit If (Arts Crafts) solo album from the Broken Social Scene cofounder. David Evans — Needy Time (Inside Sounds) tasty traditional front porch Blues, picking, plucking and hypnotizing through sober originals like the timely “Bring the Boys Back Home” and takes on songs by Blind Lemon Jefferson and Joe Williams.
Good Luck Chuck — original motion picture soundtrack (Lionsgate) featuring the title track by The Dandy Warhols and a new Flaming Lips song, “I Was Zapped By the Lucky Super Rainbow.” The Grey Race — Give It Love (Unfiltered) debut from Tracy Bonham guitarist Jon Darling. The Green Pajamas — Box of Secrets: Northern Gothic Season 2 (Hidden Agenda) 16 new tracks of mellow, gorgeous, psychedelic storytelling from the Pacific Northwest.
Ryan Groff — People In the Midwest (Parasol) tender solo debut from the Elsinore front man and multi-instrumentalist. Emmylou Harris — Songbird (Rhino) four-CD box set and bonus DVD featuring a duet with Elvis Costello in “Love Hurts,” and rare footage from the BBC’s Old Grey Whistle Test and PBS TV’s Soundstage. PJ Harvey — When Under Ether (Island) new single backed by the1988 rarity “Wait.
” Kraftwerk — Hot Chip Remixes (Astralwerks) CD and 12-inch single reworking “Aerodynamik” and “La Forme.” Diana Krall — The Very Best of Diana Krall (Verve) with a bonus cover of Tom Waits’ “The Heart of Saturday Night.” Jeremy Larson — Jeremy Larson (Outlook Music) produced by Chris Stamey of the dB’s and Paul Meany of Mute Math.
Ben Lee — Ripe (New West) featuring the quizzical “What Would Jay-Z Do?” and guests Mandy Moore, Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek and Nenji Madden of Good Charlotte; also available on 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Pat Monahan — Last of Seven (Columbia) solo debut from the Train vocalist in duet with Brandi Carlile on “Pirate On the Run,” and featuring Richie Sambora’s acoustic guitar work on “Someday.
” Carolyn Mark — Nothing Is Free (Mint) backed by Neko Case guitarist Paul Rigby, the laid back Canadian recalls the golden age of AM Country radio and late nights drives and arms wrapped around your sweetheart. Kevin Michael — Kevin Michael (Downtown / Atlantic) opening for Lily Allen this month, and touring with Maroon 5 in October. Ingrid Michaelson — Girls and Boys (Cabin 24) often heard on TV’s Grey’s Anatomy, her new song, “The Way I Am,” is featured in Old Navy’s fall campaign.
Ministry — The Last Sucker (13th Planet) Al Jourgensen’s studio swan song with Prong guitarist Tommy Victor and Killing Joke bassist Paul Raven, and no love whatsoever for George W. Bush and Dick Cheney. New Found Glory — From the Screen To Your Stereo: Part 2 (Drive-Thru) with guest vocalists from Dashboard Confessional, Say Anything, Fall Out Boy, and Taking Back Sunday, this collection of covers of soundtrack hits from The Breakfast Club, Reality Bites, She’s All That, Napoleon Dynamite, Pretty Woman, and more.
Plastiscines — LP1 (Caroline) four hot young Parisian babes possessed with the energy of The Ramones and The B52’s. Rammstein — Volkerball (Interscope) CD and DVD set. Rouge Wave — Asleep at Heaven’s Gate (Brushfire) with guest Matthew Caws of Nada Surf.
Simon Garfunkel — Live 1969 (Columbia Legacy) selections culled from six concerts that year, months before their breakup. KT Tunstall — Drastic Fantastic (Relentless / Virgin) featuring a bonus live track on the domestic issue. Voodoo Glow Skulls — Southern California Street Music (Victory) the Casillas brothers are back with an all-new album of Latino ska-punk blaring signature horns.
Hope Waits — Hope Waits (Radarproof) smoky smooth debut of sweet originals and covers of Bob Dylan’s “Ring Them Bells,” Tom Waits’ “Get Behind the Mule,” and the Jackie Wilson hit “I’ll Be Satisfied.” various artists — Dear Mr. Fantasy: A Celebration for Jim Capaldi (Eagle Rock) two-CD live covers collection of the drummer’s solo work and Traffic hits by The Jam’s Paul Weller, Bad Company’s Simon Kirke, Joe Walsh, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, and Cat Stevens.
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