May 2012
Look for "Rick's Pick"

CLASSICAL
 
$16.99
 
Title:    The Soviet Experience, Vol. 1: String Quartets by Dmitri Shostakovich and His Contemporaries
Label:    Cedille (dist. Naxos)
Composer:    Dmitri Shostakovich; Nicolai Miaskovsky
Performer:    Pacifica Quartet
ISBN:    9786314468910
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00735131912723
Prod.#:    BECDCED 127
Cat.#:    CDR 90000 127
Period:    20th Century
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New (2-discs)
Comments:    Dmitri Shostakovich's string quartets remain some of the most fascinating and controversial works in the classical repertoire: did they represent a craven acquiescence to Stalin, or did they transmit covert messages of resistance? There's no question, however, that they offer a fascinating listening experience on a purely musical level, not to mention a significant challenge to the musicians that take them on. The Pacifica Quartet is more than equal to that challenge, and their pairing of Shostokovich's quartets nos. 5 through 8 with Miaskovsky's quartet no 13 is an inspired move; after the spiky emotional intensity of Shostakovich's pieces, Miaskosky's more conventional turn-of-the-century romanticism feels almost like a palate cleanser. It's an excellent program all around. (RA)
 
$21.98
 
Title:    Il Vero Orfeo: Sonatas for Viola Da Gamba by and Inspired by Arcangelo Corelli
Label:    Accent (dist. Qualiton)
Composer:    Arcangelo Corelli
Performer:    Friederike Heumann; Patrick Sepec; Eduardo Eguez; Dirk Borner
ISBN:    9786314620912
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00675754037772
Prod.#:    BECDACCE24233
Cat.#:    ACC 24233
Period:    Baroque
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    The viola da gamba was hugely popular in early 18th century Europe, and so was the Italian school of chamber music writing. The fact that there was relatively little written for the gamba meant that many players adapted works originally written for violin or other treble instruments, and the fact that everyone wanted to sound Italian meant that German composers like Handel and Schenck went through at least a stage of imitating composers like Corelli. Those two trends converge on this lovely program, on which the wonderful gamba player Friederike Heumann plays transcriptions of three of Corelli's violin sonatas and two works by Handel and Schenck that demonstrate the former's great influence. Early music specialists will be most interested. (RA)
 
$16.99
 
Title:    An Englishman Abroad: Works for Viola da Gamba
Label:    CPO (dist. Naxos)
Composer:    William Young
Performer:    Hamburger Ratsmusik
ISBN:    9786314651992
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00761203756926
Prod.#:    BECDCPO 777569
Cat.#:    777 569-2
Period:    Baroque
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    William Young is yet another of the many brilliant musicians that achieved great success and acclaim in his own time, and has been effectively forgotten in the centuries since. In fairness to the gatekeepers of music history, Young's greatest fame was as a player rather than a composer. Not many of his works survive, and most are presented here: several sonatas and suites, a couple of preludes and fantasies, a few divisions on a ground. All are expertly played by various members of the excellent Hamburger Ratsmusik ensemble, centered on gambist Simone Eckert. A must for all early music collections. (RA)
 
$18.99
 
Title:    Zwolf Geistliche Gesange
Label:    Carus (dist. Naxos)
Composer:    Heinrich Schutz
Performer:    Dresdner Kammerchor / Hans-Christoph Rademann
ISBN:    9786314651695
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    04009350832398
Prod.#:    BECDCARUCV83239
Cat.#:    83.239
Period:    Renaissance/Baroque
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    The twelve motets that constitute Schutz's Sacred Songs collection sound very different from the elaborate polychoral works for which he tends to be most remembered today. These songs are functional pieces for use in both public liturgical settings and moments of private devotion (two of them are designated for performance before and after the meal), and theirstyle is correspondingly simple and straightforward, and at times heartbreakingly beautiful. The apparent simplicity sometimes hides a wealth of contrapuntal invention, making these works a pleasure both to hear casually and to listen to attentively. The performances are top-notch. (RA)
 
$18.99
 
Title:    Grant The King a Long Life: English Anthems & Instrumental Music
Label:    Obsidian (dist. Naxos)
Composer:    Thomas Weelkes
Performer:    Choir Of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; Fretwork / David Skinner
ISBN:    9786314685065
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00658592070828
Prod.#:    BECDOBSD708
Cat.#:    CD708
Period:    Renaissance
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    In the early 17th century, England had no more celebrated composer of madrigals than Thomas Weelkes. As misfortune would have it, he was also a notorious drunk and blasphemer and was frequently absent from his duties as organist and chorister in the Chichester Cathedral. His personal failings give an added poignancy to the yearningly beautiful anthems he produced, which are exquisitely performed here by the Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; no less lovely are the instrumental pieces insterspersed throughout the program, performed by the brilliant viol consort Fretwork. This one is, like virtually every release on the Obsidian label, a must for any classical collection. (RA)
 
$40.00
 
Title:    The Late String Quartets
Label:    Cypress Performing Arts Association
Composer:    Ludwig Van Beethoven
Performer:    Cypress String Quartet
UPC:    666449766121
Cat.#:    CSQBC012-2
Period:    Romantic
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New (3-discs)
Comments:    You can no more expect a quartet of talented and ambitious young string players to resist the temptation of Beethoven's late quartets than a politician to turn down a speaking invitation. And why should they, really, especially when they play with the kind of energy, warmth, and insight that the Cypress Quartet brings to this repertoire? This group is more successful than many at simultaneously expressing the rich emotion and exposing with clarity and grace the fascinating structural complexities of these masterworks, and the recording is a pure pleasure. (RA)
 
$17.99
 
Title:    Phantasia
Label:    Ramee (dist. Allegro)
Composer:    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Performer:    Nicole van Bruggen; Jane Rogers; Anneke Veenhoff
ISBN:    9786313777976
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    04250128510028
Prod.#:    BECDRAME1002
Cat.#:    RAM 1002
Period:    Classical/Romantic
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    There has been a surge of interest lately in the basset clarinet, for which both Mozart and Haydn wrote some of their loveliest chamber music. This very attractive disc features clarinetist Nicole van Bruggen, fortepianist Anneke Veenhoff, and violinist Jane Rogers on a varied program that includes the Kegelstatt trio, a "grand sonata" arrangement of the famous clarinet quintet K. 581, and the Fantasy in C minor for keyboard. All are beautifully played, but the grand sonata arrangement is particularly interesting and will be of special use to any library supporting a musicology program with coursework in arrangement. (RA)
 
$17.50
 
Title:    Trios
Label:    Raum Klang (dist. Qualiton)
Composer:    Johann Gottlieb Graun
Performer:    Les Recreations
UPC:    4018767030082
Cat.#:    RK 3008
Period:    Baroque
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New
Comments:    Johann Gottlieb Graun may not be exactly a household name, but he was a hugely prolific composer (we know of over 130 trio sonatas alone) and also a major and influential voice of the high baroque period and a significant figure in the transition from the baroque to the classical styles. You can hear that transition in the offing as you listen to the three trios and one quartet presented on this excellent program by the Recreations ensemble. The recorded sound is a bit on the echoey side for my taste, but the playing is brilliant and the pieces are as well. Recommended, especially for specialist collections. (RA)
 
$37.96
 
Title:    The Pirates of Penzance
Label:    Albany
Composer:    Arthur Sullivan; William Gilbert
Performer:    Ohio Light Opera
ISBN:    9786314578121
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00034061133124
Prod.#:    BECDAR 1331
Cat.#:    Troy 1331/32
Period:    Romantic
Genre:    Classical
Release type:    New (2-discs)
Comments:    This is perhaps the most beloved of the great Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, and is given a very winning (and well-recorded) performance here by the Ohio Light Opera. The complete lyrics are included in the compact two-disc package, and the whole thing is a delight. (RA)
COUNTRY/FOLK
 
$12.98
 
Title:    Wake Up, Sinners
Label:    Colonel Knowledge (dist. Red)
Artist:    Dirt Daubers
ISBN:    9786314422141
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00804879253228
Prod.#:    BECDCLKN25322
Cat.#:    25322
Genre:    Folk/Country
Release type:    New
Comments:    This Paducah/Nashville group’s second release is hard to pin down, which is one of its charms. The trio mixes every imaginable style of roots music, from bluegrass to hot jazz, old-time, blues, and country, and combines everything with a driving beat and sardonic wit. Consisting of Legendary Shack Shakers member Col. J.D. Wilkes, Jessica Wilkes, and Mark Robertson, the group aims for a more acoustic and eclectic sound than the Shakers. They succeed admirably, with infectious tunes and gritty vocals supplied by J.D. and Jessica. This is an excellent choice for the Americana crowd. (JW)
 
$14.98
 
Title:    New Multitudes
Label:    Rounder
Artist:    Jay Farrar
ISBN:    9786314612375
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00011661912922
Prod.#:    BECD116 6191292
Cat.#:    11661 91291
Genre:    Country & Western
Release type:    New
Comments:    It’s been over ten years since Billy Bragg and Wilco produced the two Mermaid Avenue albums, which made beautiful music out of poems Woody Guthrie wrote but never sang or recorded. Now comes another album of Guthrie poems turned into songs, and although it’s released under Jay Farrar’s name, and his voice may be the one you hear the most, New Multuitudes is actually a collaboration with Yim Yames (Jim James of My Morning Jacket), Anders Parker (Varnaline), and Will Johnson (Centro-matic). The singing and playing are fine, but once again what impresses is the quality and range of Guthrie’s lyrics. Guthrie was already considered an influential performer and activist, a cultural icon, but these albums have really broadened our appreciation of him as an artist. (SA)
 
$39.98
 
Title:    Mermaid Avenue: The Complete Sessions
Label:    Nonesuch
Artist:    Billy Bragg and Wilco
ISBN:    9786314637972
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00075597962604
Prod.#:    BECDNONE529926
Cat.#:    529926
Genre:    Folk
Release type:    Boxed Set (4-discs)
Comments:    Back in 1995, Woody Guthrie’s daughter Nora approached Billy Bragg and asked him if he’d be interested in writing music for some of the hundreds of lyrics that Woody wrote during the years when Huntington’s Disease left him unable to hold a guitar. Bragg enlisted Wilco to help with the project, and the result was the Grammy winning record Mermaid Avenue, originally released in 1998. Many of these previously unheard Guthrie songs were absolutely brilliant, equaling some of his best work, and revealed that while disease may have robbed Woody of his physical abilities, his songwriting hadn’t diminished one bit. On tunes like “Walt Whitman’s Niece,” “Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key,” “Christ For President,” “The Unwelcome Guest,” and “”Hoodoo Voodoo,” Bragg and Wilco brought a new set of Guthrie tunes to life, letting the world revel anew in Guthrie’s political vision, wry writ, and unparalleled insight into the American soul. A second recording from the sessions, Mermaid Avenue II, was released in 2000. This new set includes both recordings, plus a third disc of 17 songs from the sessions that didn’t make it on the two released CDs. The box also includes a DVD of Man in the Sand, a documentary about making the sessions. Taken of as a whole, this boxed set adds to the Woody Guthrie canon while showcasing the skills of Bragg and Wilco as interpreters who had the reverence and skill to bring these songs to life. Very highly recommended. (GH)
JAZZ
 
$15.98
 
Title:    The Lost 1974 Sessions
Label:    Linus (dist. Koch)
Artist:    Peter Appleyard and the Jazz Giants
ISBN:    9786314536169
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00803057013524
Prod.#:    BECDKHI LIN270135
Cat.#:    270135
Genre:    Jazz
Release type:    New
Comments:    First of all, referring to the sidemen on this 1974 album by vibraphonist Peter Appleyard as "Jazz Giants" is no idle boast: the crew includes drummer Mel Lewis, pianist Hank Jones, saxophonist Zoot Sims, and even cornetist Buddy Hacket (who died only a couple of years after these sessions were recorded). But what really matters is not the stature of the players, but the sheer joy of swing communicated through these recordings: just look at Appleyard's face on the cover photo, and you'll know exactly what to expect. Only the snippets of barely-audible studio patter that are inexplicably inserted between each track keep this album from being an unalloyed pleasure. It's still amazing. (RA)
 
$15.98
 
Title:    Smul's Paradise
Label:    Capri
Artist:    Gary Smulyan
ISBN:    9786314559403
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00054987411328
Prod.#:    BECDCPRI74113
Cat.#:    74113-2
Genre:    Jazz
Release type:    New
Comments:    The combination of baritone sax and organ is not a common one, but here it is, mixed up with guitar, and it sounds great. Smulyan is joined by Mike LeDonne on Hammond B3, with Peter Bernstein on guitar and Kenny Washington on drums for an incredible set of soulful material. Several Smulyan originals are matched with a few by Don Patterson, and Bobby Herb’s “Sunny” for a real 60s vibe. Bernstein is as likely to solo as Smulyan or LeDonne, and the unique instrumentation is a delight to the ear. This one will appeal to fans of both instruments. (JW)
 
$13.98
 
Title:    Radio Music Society
Label:    Heads Up
Artist:    Esperanza Spalding
ISBN:    9786314641832
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00888072331747
Prod.#:    BECDTELA33174
Cat.#:    HUI-33174-00
Genre:    Jazz
Release type:    New
Comments:    The problem with being a mind-bendingly talented jazz musician is that you get bored quickly with the kind of music that less-talented people (i.e., the vast majority of the music-supporting public) enjoy. The mind-bendingly talented bassist, composer, and singer Esperanza Spalding has been dancing on the line that separates the thrilling from the self-indulgent for several years now, and on this excellent album seems to have hit just the right balance: the songs are difficult but approachable, always sweetly pleasant but richly complex beneath their smooth, colorful surfaces. Her gorgeous voice is a big part of the attraction, but it's her writing that will really set the hook in your brain's pleasure receptors. Highly recommended to all jazz collections. (RA)
 
$16.98
 
Title:    The Monk Project
Label:    IPO (dist. Allegro)
Artist:    Jimmy Owens
ISBN:    9786314571870
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00822019010227
Prod.#:    BECDIPOR1022
Cat.#:    IPOC1022
Genre:    Jazz
Release type:    New
Comments:    There are lots of Thelonious Monk tributes out there, but this one is especially fine. Trumpet and flugelhorn player Owens hasn’t put out many albums as leader, although he’s been around for decades, and has assembled a glorious band, including Kenny Barron (piano), Wycliffe Gordon (trombone), and Marcus Strickland (tenor sax). The arrangements are crisp, hard-bop workouts, but with elements of New Orleans, Latin, blues, and other styles that show both the versatility of the source material and the leader’s eclectic interests. A delightful mix of uptempo tunes and ballads make for a truly memorable album. (JW)
 
$17.98
 
Title:    Seeds from the Underground
Label:    Mack Avenue (dist. Red)
Artist:    Kenny Garrett
ISBN:    9786314670504
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00673203106321
Prod.#:    BECD73201063
Cat.#:    MAC1063
Genre:    Jazz
Release type:    New
Comments:    Although his more modern tendencies are still audible to the careful listener, on this album saxophonist Kenny Garrett takes a more straight-ahead approach than usual, leading an all-acoustic quintet through a program of original compositions that dabble in odd, funky meters but still hark back strongly to the days of hard bop and modal 1960s jazz. His tone is hard and bright, his writing is consistently interesting, and his combo is watertight. This album would be a solid choice for any jazz collection. (RA)
ROCK/POP
 
$16.98
 
Title:    The Road from Memphis
Label:    Anti (dist. ADA)
Artist:    Booker T. Jones
ISBN:    9786314207083
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00045778710126
Prod.#:    BECDANTR87101
Cat.#:    ANTI-87101-2
Genre:    Soul/R&B
Release type:    New
Comments:    There’s funk all over The Road From Memphis. Booker T. Jones, probably the most famous organist in rock, combines his B3 virtuosity with the talents of members of the Roots, Motown Funk Brother Dennis Coffey, and several guest vocalists (Yim Yames, Matt Berninger, Sharon Jones, and Lou Reed) to deliver a fitting tribute to the home town where he first learned the musical language he continues to build upon. Old fans and new listeners will hear a master playing at the top of his game fifty years after his first big rock hit. (CLHD)
 
$19.98
 
Title:    Lost In the Humming Air: Music Inspired By Harold Budd [4/9]
Label:    Oktaf (dist. Forced Exposure)
Artist:    Various Artists
ISBN:    9786314646776
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00880319565724
Prod.#:    BECDOKTA004
Cat.#:    004
Genre:    Electronica
Release type:    New
Comments:    Pianist Harold Budd has always made music that somehow seems to be more than the sum of its parts; exceedingly simple, slow, and minimal, it is nevertheless often completely captivating. Unsurprisingly, his music has been an inspiration for many artists whose music seems wholly unrelated to his, and a bunch of them contributed to this mysterious and wonderful collection, released in celebration of Budd's 50th year in the music business. Featured artists include Andrew Thomas, bvdub, and Porn Sword Tobacco, among many others, and the mood ranges from pleasantly soporific to disconcertingly foreboding. All of it is excellent. (RA)
 
$18.99
 
Title:    Street Halo/Kindred
Label:    Beatnik (dist. Redeye)
Artist:    Burial
ISBN:    9786314690144
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    04523132117201
Prod.#:    BECDBNIK320
Cat.#:    BRC320CD
Genre:    Electronica
Release type:    New
Comments:    When dubstep started to break worldwide, way back in 2006, long before a bastardized version of the style caught on in American clubs, Burial’s self-titled debut album caught the ears of many listeners who would never be seen in a hip nightspot. After a follow-up album and EP in 2007, he’s been laying low, but last year’s Street Halo EP is now being issued on CD with 2012’s Kindred EP, and this was worth the wait. Dark, mysterious, dripping with dread, a sound to immerse yourself in. (SA)
 
$16.98
 
Title:    III/IV
Label:    Pax Am (dist. TVT)
Artist:    Ryan Adams
ISBN:    9786313991808
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00851007003002
Prod.#:    BECDPAXA70030
Cat.#:    PAX-AM008-02
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    Ryan Adams recorded this double album with his band the Cardinals in 2006, around the time of the Easy Tiger album, but it has remained unreleased until now. It’s something of a follow-up to the Cold Roses double album, though it does not share that album’s Grateful Dead/Neil Young sound. In fact, it’s hard to describe the style of III/IV, because the band is so versatile. Even if the sound is all over the map, these songs deserved to see the light. (SA)
 
$14.99
 
Title:    Dross Glop
Label:    Warp (dist. Redeye)
Artist:    Battles
ISBN:    9786314656348
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00801061022624
Prod.#:    BECDWPRC10226
Cat.#:    226
Genre:    Electronica
Release type:    New
Comments:    The backstory of this album is a bit complicated: about a year ago, the forward-thinking indie band Battles released an album called Gloss Drop. Some months later, their label began releasing a series of 12" vinyl EPs in a numbered series titled Dross Glop, each containing three remixes of tracks from the album by such producers as Hudson Mohawke, Kode9, and the Alchemist. Dross Glop, the CD, compiles all 12 of those remixes. So how are they? Not bad at all -- some are brilliant. It will mainly be of interest to fans, but most adventurous electro lovers will find this collection interesting. (RA)
 
$15.98
 
Title:    Wrecking Ball
Label:    Columbia
Artist:    Bruce Springsteen
ISBN:    9786314616151
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00886919483628
Prod.#:    BECDCOLM94836
Cat.#:    88691942542
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    Eclectically Americana at heart, the songs on Wrecking Ball run the gamut from E Street Band-like anthems (“We Take Care of Our Own,” “Wrecking Ball”) to songs that feature penny whistles (one tune could have been written by the Pogues), gospel choirs, and even hip-hop beats. To underscore his diverse influences, Springsteen provides citations in the liner notes, stating that he borrowed licks and influences from the Carter Family, Curtis Mayfield, Sacred Harp collections, and Alan Lomax’s field recordings. While musically diverse, lyrically the album consistently delves into the plight of hard-working, blue-collar folks, disenfranchised souls who want to send the “robber barons straight to hell....whose crimes have gone unpunished.” Springsteen’s characters have always been Steinbeckian at heart, filtered through Springsteen’s modern day Woody Guthrie soul, arguably never more so than on Wrecking Ball. It’s an angry, hopeful, and musically delightful recording, and one of his strongest records in years. Highly recommended. (GH)
 
$13.98
 
Title:    So Beautiful or So What
Label:    Hear Music/Universal
Artist:    Paul Simon
ISBN:    9786314154097
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00888072328143
Prod.#:    BECDHRMS32814
Cat.#:    32814
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    New Paul Simon releases are pretty safe bets and a wager on So Beautiful or So What will yield a high return. Simon’s songwriting and performing abilities are as good as ever and that’s saying something! While many of the songs on this release contemplate death and other weighty topics the music is largely a joyous celebration of life and love. World music influences abound, American gospel traditions are explored, and the most modern of studio production techniques including numerous historic samples are employed. Fans of Simon’s Graceland and later releases should find much to enjoy and celebrate here. (CLHD)
 
$14.98
 
Title:    Between The Times and The Tides
Label:    Matador (dist. ADA)
Artist:    Lee Ranaldo
ISBN:    9786314638115
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00744861098027
Prod.#:    BECDMATR10980
Cat.#:    OLE 9801
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:   
Comments:    Lee Ranaldo is best known as a co-founder of Sonic Youth, but his reputation as a prolific guitarist, composer and author is also well established. This, his ninth album, is billed as his first “rock” record to distinguish it from his many previous recordings and collaborations. Here he trades the drones, dissonance, and improvisation of old for more linear, soulfully melodic rock. It frequently sounds like a lost, melancholy REM treasure from some secret experimental session. Since early projects with cerebral, free rock luminaries such as Rhys Chatham and Glenn Branca, Ranaldo has regularly collaborated with distinguished innovators in all things avant. This one features Alan Licht, Nels Cline (Wilco), Steve Shelley, and Jim O’Rourke. Many of the sounds here recall the best psych and jazz-infused songs from recent SY records. (TWB)
 
$13.98
 
Title:    The Wilderness
Label:    Razor & Tie/Latent
Artist:    Cowboy Junkies
ISBN:    9786314649791
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00793018334129
Prod.#:    BECDRZR 83341
Cat.#:    83341
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    The Wilderness is the fourth and final volume of the Cowboy Junkies’ Nomad series, each volume exploring a facet of their collective musical personality. Vol. 1., Renmin Park, was their most adventurous recording to date, a musical landscape of modern day China. Vol. 2., Demons, was a set of covers by their friend Vic Chesnutt, and Vol. 3, Sing In My Meadow, was a loud, feedback-filled romp through their electric side. With the release of Vol. 4, the Junkies explore their quiet, acoustic side. The songs are often dark and reflective, in typical Junkies style, but also echo with grace and beauty. This is the Junkies stripped down to their basics - Michael’s songwriting interpreted by Margo’s singing, with minimal, mostly acoustic, accompaniment. It’s a fine way to wrap up the series. Recommended. (GH)
 
$17.98
 
Title:    The Politics of Envy
Label:    Future Noise Music (dist. Forced Exposure)
Artist:    Mark Stewart
ISBN:    9786314657031
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    05055311060217
Prod.#:    BECDFNEC002
Cat.#:    FNMCD002
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    Mark Stewart (formerly of the Pop Group and New Age Steppers, among other far-flung collaborations), has been venting his spleen for almost 45 years now, and if it seems surprising that his spleen isn't yet empty, consider the issues that have him so exercised: rampant consumerism, government perfidy, poverty. None of those problems has been solved yet, so there's no reason to expect Stewart to stop yelling about them any time soon. On this outing, he's joined by such eminent colleagues as Keithe Levene, Lee "Scratch" Perry, and Penny Rimbaud for yet another bracingly abrasive program of gnarled funk, fractured guitar blasts, and hortatory shouting. (RA)
 
$18.98
 
Title:    Locked Down
Label:    Nonesuch
Artist:    Dr. John
ISBN:    9786314643577
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00075597962369
Prod.#:    BECDNONE530395
Cat.#:    530395
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    There are good Dr. John albums, on which the legendary New Orleans pianist/guitarist/composer concocts his own tasty stew of rock and R&B, and they are always enjoyable.  And then there are the great Dr. John albums, on which he asserts himself as a visionary magician, merging New Orleans R&B with jazz and rock (and hints of swampy psychedelia) into his own inimitable style. Locked Down is one of Dr. John's great albums, and arguably his best in decades. He’s ably aided by the decidedly lo-fi production work of Black Keys guitarist Dan Auerbach, who gives the entire recording an earthy tone that evokes Dr. John’s seminal recordings from the late 60’s and early 70’s. The drums and bass lay down a funky groove, with heavy doses of R&B horns adding to the mix. Add the Doctor’s soulful organ’s voodoo charm and some fine guitar work from Auerbach and Brian Olive, and the musical mix is perfect. His singing is immediate and impassioned: his topics are at times politically progressive, at times personally confessional. This is one of those recordings that takes a few listens to really appreciate, but once you’ve entered this world, it’s one you’ll revisit often. Highly recommended. (GH)  
 
$11.98
 
Title:    Old Ideas
Label:    Columbia
Artist:    Leonard Cohen
ISBN:    9786314588465
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00886979867123
Prod.#:    BECDCOLM98671
Cat.#:    88697 98671 2
Genre:    Folk
Release type:    New
Comments:    Everyone thought that Leonard Cohen was finished as a recording artist. When it was announced that he would release a new album, albeit an album of new recordings of previously written songs, expectations were low, especially since his last album, 2004’s Dear Heather, was somewhat uninspired. However, Old Ideas turns out to be surprisingly vital. Perhaps Cohen was invigorated by his recent success as a live performer, but the performances are very strong, and the songs sound like classics. (SA)
WORLD/ETHNIC
 
$13.98
 
Title:    Father Creeper
Label:    Sub Pop (dist. ADA)
Artist:    Spoek Mathambo
ISBN:    9786314638238
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00098787097528
Prod.#:    BECDSUBP70975
Cat.#:    SP 975
Genre:    Pop/Rock Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    South African Spoek Mathambo made an initial splash a couple of years ago with his album Mishini Wam, calling his sound “township tech” and releasing a few visually stunning videos, especially the one for his haunting take on Joy Division’s "She's Lost Control." His new album Father Creeper is a great leap forward. The sound here is still primarily electronic, but the addition of guitar makes a big difference, and along with the fact that the album is on the American indie label Sub Pop, this may give him a shot at a wide audience. (SA)
 
$18.98
 
Title:    Jah Golden Throne
Label:    Zion High
Artist:    Various Artists
ISBN:    9786314671327
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00609788036906
Prod.#:    BECDPHAD1968984
Cat.#:    ZHP006
Genre:    Reggae
Release type:    New
Comments:    This is a very fine compilation by a virtual who's-who of the modern roots reggae scene, alongside a number of names from the past: Toussaint, Prezident Brown, and Jahdan Blaakamoore are all here, as are such established greats as Cornell Campbell, Tippa Irie, and even the legendary U-Roy. (Only the usually ubiquitous Luciano seems to be missing; maybe he was taking a sick day.) As the album title suggests, everyone's lyrical focus is strictly "conscious" (i.e. religious and/or socially aware), and the Zion High crew's rhythms are consistently solid and compelling. Highly recommended. (RA)
 
$19.98
 
Title:    King Size Dub: On-U Sound 30th Anniversary
Label:    Echo Beach (dist. Forced Exposure)
Artist:    Various Artists
ISBN:    9786314508869
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    04047179606929
Prod.#:    BECDECOB085
Cat.#:    EB085
Genre:    Reggae
Release type:    Compilation
Comments:    The Echo Beach label's King Size Dub series is a treasure trove of modern instrumental reggae in a variety of styles, culled from all kinds of sources. This installment in the series is better than most, because it draws exclusively from the wild and deep vaults of On-U Sound, Britain's finest reggae label for the past three decades. There have been lots of good On-U compilations over the years, but this one may be the best: it includes tracks from such world-class artists as Dub Syndicate, Creation Rebel, Little Axe, and the late Prince Fari I. An excellent introduction to a musical treasure. (RA)
 
$19.98
 
Title:    Trench Town Upsetters: The Lee Perry Sessions
Label:    Royale Palme (dist. Allegro)
Artist:    Bob Marley
ISBN:    9786314658786
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    05413992503070
Prod.#:    BECDROYP250307
Cat.#:    250307
Genre:    Reggae
Release type:    Compilation (2-discs)
Comments:    Before he became the international ambassador of reggae, Bob Marley was a major local star in Jamaica, and his reputation there was based mainly on the recordings he and the Wailers made under the supervision of the great producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. Many of those tracks are compiled here on this nicely-priced two-disc set, which includes material from the albums Soul Rebel, Soul Revolution, African Herbsman, and the anonamously titled Best of Bob Marley & the Wailers; highlight tracks include "Soul Shakedown Party," "Natural Mystic," and "Four Hundred Years." This set offers a fine introduction to a world-class talent. (RA)
 
$16.98
 
Title:    Button Accordion & Bandoneon Music from Northern Uruguay
Label:    Smithsonian Folkways
Artist:    Los Gauchos de Roldan
ISBN:    9786314603311
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    00093074056127
Prod.#:    BECDADA 740561
Cat.#:    SFW CD 40561
Genre:    Latin - Pop
Release type:    New
Comments:    This is dance music, much of it familiar in a generic sense, but in rural Uruguay the music has had its own life and dynamic. Walter Roldán, button accordionist, leads his merry band of guitarists and bandoneón players in a mix of polkas, mazurkas, habaneras, schottisches, and other European dance forms, influenced by Afro-Creole music, Argentinian tango, and Brazilian styles. This rich stew is listener-friendly and easy to enjoy, even without the excellent notes. The musicianship is impeccable and the variety of music presented never lets interest flag. A fine option for Latin American music collections. (JW)
 
$18.98
 
Title:    Black Bazar
Label:    Lusafrica (dist. Harmonia Mundi)
Artist:    Black Bazar
ISBN:    9786314690717
ISBN-10:   
UPC:    03567255629822
Prod.#:    BECDLSAF562982
Cat.#:    562982
Genre:    World Music
Release type:    New
Comments:    "Back to the roots of rumba!" was the battle cry for this project by Congolese bandleaders Modogo Abarambwa and Sam Tshintu--an attempt to strip off the patina of electronic accretions that they believe are weighing down the music they love. And indeed, the past decade has been a "Congotronic" one, with celebrated releases showing off the results of Afro-European fusions both lo-fi and high-tech. But luckily for the music consumer (or collection development librarian) there's no need to choose between the newfangled and the traditional; this utterly lovely collection of swaying, multilayered old-school grooves is just as easily available as the avant-garde experimentations that have garnered so much attention in recent years. Recommended. (RA)

© CD HotList 2004