If It's Tuesday, It Must Be Street Date: 11/17/09

ELVIS COSTELLO- SPECTACLE SEASON 1- DVD

A music television highlight of this past year gets some pretty shabby treatment for its DVD release. From what I can see, only 4 unaired bonus tracks have been added from the dozen or so episodes that were filmed. That's a bit of a Momofuku to the fans, no? Anyone remember seeing the snippet of Elvis doing Elton's "Ballad Of A Well Known Gun" over the closing credits of Episode One? Well, that's here at least. Still, the entire season of this brilliant show is worth more than its weight in bonus features.







DAVID BOWIE- SPACE ODDITY 40TH ANNIVERSARY (2 CD EDITION)

Bowie's 1969 debut gets the big upgrade with new remastering and an entire CD of unreleased material, including early demos, stereo mixes and live BBC tracks. Not quite "there" yet, Bowie tries his hand at a few different styles of music on this debut, but most of it works. One of my favorites and certainly an underrated gem.







SHERYL CROW- TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB 2 CDs/1 DVD

The record that put Miss Crow on the map after years of paying her musical dues, gets the usual "bells and whistles" treatment applied to it. A bonus disc with unreleased material includes covers of Led Zeppelin & Eric Carmen, as well as a DVD of videos have been added. Nice package. (The CD set, that is.)










FALL OUT BOY- BELIEVERS NEVER DIE

This is a greatest hits collection. They've put out 4 records. Testing...testing...Is this thing on?







TIM FINN- NORTH/SOUTH/EAST WEST

2 CD retrospective of Split Enz founder and quirky older Finn brother, Tim, features songs from the Enz, Crowded House, Finn Brothers and his solo career, some newly recorded. Nicely done, me thinks.

FULL TRACK LIST

Disc: 1
1. I See Red
2. My Mistake
3. Poor Boy
4. Six Months In A Leaky Boat
5. I Hope I Never
6. Dirty Creature
7. Maybe
8. Stuff And Nonsense (New Recording Featuring Missy Higgins)
9. Fraction Too Much Friction
10. Made My Day
11. So Deep (New Recording)
12. How Am I Gonna Sleep
13. Not Even Close
14. Many'd The Time (In Dublin)
15. Persuasion
16. Into The Water
17. Nothing Unusual
Disc: 2
1. Weather With You (New Recording Featuring Neil Finn & Liam Finn)
2. How Will You Go
3. It's Only Natural (New Recording Featuring Bic Runga)
4. Underwater Mountain
5. Dead Man
6. What You've Done
7. Subway Dreaming
8. Angels Heap
9. Disembodied Voices
10. Luckiest Man Alive
11. Winter Light
12. Couldn't Be Done
13. Astounding Moon
14. Straw To Gold
15. Out Of This World
16. The Saw And The Tree
17. Light Years Away
18. Poor Boy (Instrumental)








NORAH JONES- THE FALL

Norah Jones dumped both her boyfriend and her band of 8 years, hooked up with some friends of Tom Waits and now releases the fruits of her new life. It's a slightly different sound for Norah and it's actually not bad. Her voice still rarely gets above a peep, but the songs and overall feel give "The Fall" and her career a welcome jolt. This is Norah Jones' "rock record." Still, I wouldn't be so quick to trade in your Bass Weejuns for some MC boots.







MADNESS - ONE STEP BEYOND (2 CD ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

You know the drill, kids. Remastered sound, unreleased tracks, b-sides, remixes, recipes, travel plans, super 8 footage of Suggs in Niagara Falls and more, all make this twice as exciting as the original release. At least this record is a classic.


FULL TRACK LIST

Disc 1

Audio:
1. “One Step Beyond”
2. “My Girl”
3. “Night Boat To Cairo”
4. “Believe Me”
5. “Land Of Hope and Glory”
6. “The Prince”
7. “Tarzan’s Nuts”
8. “In The Middle of the Night”
9. “Bed and Breakfast Man”
10. “Razor Blade Alley”
11. “Swan Lake”
12. “Rockin’ In Ab”
13. “Mummy’s Boy”
14. “Madness”
15. “Chipmunks are Go”

Video:
1. “The Prince”
2. “One Step Beyond”
3. “Bed and Breakfast Man”
4. “My Girl”
5. “Night Boat To Cairo”

Disc 2
1. “The Prince” (Peel Session)
2. “Bed and Breakfast Man” (Peel Session)
3. “Land of Hope & Glory” (Peel Session)
4. “Stepping Into Line” (Peel Session)
5. “One Step Beyond” ( 7-inch single version)
6. “My Girl” (Mike Barson demo)
7. “Mistakes” (B-side “One Step Beyond”)
8. “Un Paso Adelante” (”One Step Beyond” Spanish version)
9. “Nutty Theme” (B-side “One Step Beyond”)
10. “My Girl” (Ballad-Flexipop)
11. “Stepping Into Line” (B-side “My Girl”)
12. “Un Paso Avanti” (”One Step Beyond” Italian version)
13. “Deceives The Eye” (Work Rest & Play EP)
14. “The Young And The Old” (Work Rest & Play EP)
15. “Don’t Quote Me On That” (Work Rest & Play EP)
16. “Razor Blade Alley” (Live from “Dance Craze”)
17. “Night Boat To Cairo” (Live from “Dance Craze”)
18. “One Step Beyond” (Live from “Dance Craze”)







PAUL MCCARTNEY- GOOD EVENING, NEW YORK CITY

Paul has toured the USA 5 times as a solo act and each time has released a live document. "Wings Over America" is legendary and "Tripping The Live Fantastic" was just that, in that it had been 13 years since we heard Macca rock up the Beatles' catalogue. And boy, did he sound great. But since then, his repertoire hasn't changed that much, with the exception of the inclusion of some weak-ass new material, so the next two live sets, "Paul Is Live" and "Back In The U.S.," seem pointless, cute titles notwithstanding. This new 2 CD document of his historic CitiField stint, got a big ol' eyeroll from yours truly, but as a fan, I had to listen, and you know what, it's damn good! The band rocks, Paul sounds fantastic, and it's not that expensive. Stocking stuffer!!








JOHN MAYER- BATTLE STUDIES

Mayer is not a blues guitarist. He is not a jazz man. He is not a soul singer. He is not Burt Bacharach. He isn't even Babyface, yet he's tried on all those hats. He appeals to the tender souls who are frightened by the real thing. This is Mayer's attempt at big, pop radio. I just don't care for him. And what's with the cover of this CD? Who is he "The French Lieutenant's Woman?"








DAVID RAWLINGS MACHINE- A FRIEND OF A FRIEND

"The much anticipated debut album from Gillian Welch's secret weapon, David Rawlings, includes appearances by Morgan Jahnig (Old Crow Medicine Show), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers), Nate Walcott (Bright Eyes) and Karl Himmel (Neil Young), and of course, Gillian Welch. It's a coming out party for an unsung hero of American roots music, and it's on Acony."

I can't wait to hear this one.



On the other hand...





THEM CROOKED VULTURES- THEM CROOKED VULTURES

This is an unpleasant and colossal disappointment from John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. Don't tell him I said this, but I blame Josh Homme. There isn't a single song here. It's a series of 3rd rate Zep riffs being chugged out on top of Grohl's always powerful drumming, but it's Josh Homme's non-voice and even nonner personality fronting it all that stands out most. Bad.



NEW FROM THREADHEAD RECORDS

2 excellent new releases from the fan-funded, New Orleans inspired Threadhead Records Label:


PAUL SANCHEZ- FAREWELL TO STORYVILLE





Singer-songwriter Sanchez' offers up more than most on this autobiographical musical journey, as he tells stories about the inspiration behind the music, and mesmerizes the listener with his heartbreaking voice and heartfelt words. Each song is an engrossing slice of life and Paul Sanchez welcomes you into his world with the warmth and grace one expects from the great people of the great city of New Orleans.


A VERY THREADHEAD HOLIDAY





The impressive Threadhead roster of artists gets their yule logs on and delivers one of the finest Christmas CDs in recent memory. Susan Cowsill, John Boutte, Paul Sanchez, Matt Perrine, Glen David Andrews, Shamarr Allen, Ingrid Lucia, Alex McMurray and more all contribute to this collection of mostly original tunes served up in a New Orleans style.


Remember, the names and titles of each CD are live links to Amazon, making your holiday purchases just one click away. (Did that sound like a Walmart commercial?)

And there's your lot.