Tuesday, October 20, 2009

If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 10/20/09




LEONARD COHEN- LIVE AT THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The legendary artist captured live at the Isle Of Wight in 1970, back when Cohen was a mere 63 years old. Available as a separate CD or DVD, and a CD/DVD combo. Unfortunately, no Leonard Cohen "Rock Band" yet.








JAY FARRAR & BEN GIBBARD- ONE FAST MOVE AND I'M GONE


Soundtrack to the film of the same name, "One Fast Move or I'm Gone- Kerouac's Big Sur," takes us back to the cabin he retreated to in the Big Sur woods, the Beat haunts of San Francisco and New York City for an unflinching look at the compelling events his book is based on. Original music composed and performed by recording artists Jay Farrar of Son Volt and Benjamin Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie.








LYLE LOVETT- NATURAL FORCES

The always consistent Lyle Lovett pays tribute yet again, to great Texas songwriters such as Townes Van Zandt, David Ball, and Robert Earl Keen to name a few, on his strong new release. My vote for Lovett's best record since "Joshua Judges Ruth."

TAKE NOTE
: full album available for download on Amazon for $3.99 Offer expires at midnight tonight.




JUST IN TIME FOR THE DEPRESSION....






PIXIES- MINOTAUR


"Special Order Only. (5-CD + 6-Blu-ray + 6-DVD + 54 Page Book set) Minotaur is curated by legendary graphic designer, Vaughan Oliver with photographer Simon Larbalestier, who created the album artwork for all five Pixies' studio albums. Oliver and Larbalestier have teamed up once again on Minotaur, to create their largest Pixies body of work to date. Includes all five Pixies' studio albums (Come on Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa, Doolittle, Bossanova, and Trompe le Monde) in the following formats: 24k gold plated CD's; Blu-ray audio mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/192; DVD mastered for 5.1 surround sound and 2 channel stereo at 24/96. Unreleased Pixies 1991 live performance from Brixton, on both Blu-ray and DVD, mastered for 5.1 surround sound at 24/192 and 24/96, respectively. All discs are housed in a custom designed folio. Also included is a 7.75'' x 8.25,'' 54-page book featuring the duo's work. Weighs approximately 6 pounds."

I'm not sure I even understand what that said, but it DOES weigh 6 pounds, so that's good, right?

By the way, the list price is $230.99!

BUT WAIT!
There's more....

How about the even more deluxier edition:

In addition to reinterpreting all of the original album covers, Oliver's and Larbalestier's extensive work is featured in a 96-page fine art book, measuring 22" x 14" inches, and an additional 54-page book, measuring 7.75" x 8.25". Also included is a 12" x 19.5" giclee print of the duo's work, and two double-sided fold-out posters measuring 48" x 36." Each copy of the Limited Edition is individually numbered, and hand-signed by every member of the Pixies and Vaughan Oliver. Additionally, at random, 25 of the 3000 Limited Edition sets will include test pressings of the vinyl albums. Housed in an oversized clamshell case and weighing over 25 pounds. List price, $629.99.

Pssst....all 5 Pixies CDs can be bought on Amazon for a grand total of $30, $18 if you buy'em used. (I hope all involved, "at random," end up in hell.)






LOU REED REISSUES

2 of Sweet Lou's later, not so great LPs, although Robert Christgau gave each of them 4 stars if that means anything, "New Sensation" and "Legendary Hearts" get remastered with expanded packaging.






SUFJAN STEVENS- BQE


"Sufjan Stevens is proud to present The BQE, a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Hula-Hoop. Commissioned by Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), The BQE was originally performed in the Howard Gilman Opera House in celebration of the 25th anniversary Next Wave Festival in October of 2007."

In these desperate financial times, I recommend saving your money for the upcoming 2 CD set "JRP," Stevens' all polka tribute to the Jackie Robinson Parkway. KILL ME NOW. (How's "Point Of Know Return" looking to you NOW?")




PICK OF THE WEEK





KRISTINA TRAIN- SPILT MILK


I raved about this back in August and it is still as strong as it was then. Kristina Train channels Dusty Springfield with strong material, heartbreaking melodies, and absolutely perfect production. BUY THIS NOW! (Weighs a lot less than 6 pounds.)

8 comments:

The Phantom Creep said...

Actually, I'm not buying any of these until Bright Eyes does a rock opera about Major Deegan.

cmealha said...

You really hate the indie stuff don't you! But Kristina Train is why we all wade through the crap. What a gem! I checked it out in August on your recommendation and it's been my fave this year so far. Good call.

Sal Nunziato said...

Yes, I really the indie stuff. I find it lazy, like one giant in-joke. Does that mean there is nothing worthy? Absolutely not. But the raves over so many of these NON bands will forever baffle me.

Anonymous said...

Hello my friend, i am from India and love your commentary on music, it is so difficult to find such witty writing on music here.
Thank you for the work you do, please keep it up!

Buljuldar Singh

Anonymous said...

Sal, i've always thought that Lyle Lovett was soooo cool i'm glad you gave the new cd a good review.


Randy Fillmore

Anonymous said...

If you say "BUY THIS NOW" I do.

Spilt Milk is a great record!

Hope the challenges of last week are behind you. We need you Sal!

Thanks.

big bad wolf said...

wonderful take on sufjan stevens. the raves he has gotten in the past have utterly baffled me. you demoted him succintly and amusingly.

point of know return still sounds a bit cheesy to me, but i didn't like it when i was 17 and it came out. it's not the song's accessiblity or popularity or some such other indie sin, it's just not my thing. i would pick it over most indie songs, though. you are dead on that the in-joke superiority, and i would add lack of passion, just kills most indie songs. didn't indie used to have those things, long ago when indie was stuff like the replacements?

Sal Nunziato said...

Interesting point, Big Bad Wolf. I was considering an entire post on how indie used to mean "not on a major label," whereas now it seems to mean, low-fi and lifeless.