Blog Posts by Dave DiMartino

The problem with writing a wrap-up of each week's new releases means that sometimes things fall through the cracks!

Even though like many in my profession I receive 2,000-3,000 free CDs a week and diligently listen to each and every one of them--sometimes I don't get the ones I want most!

Yes, horrible as it sounds, I am on occasion forced to...buy them!

This week, in the midst of many of your likely favorites, I will insert two such albums-- which means that at least for this week, this title of this highly lauded blog might best be amended to NEW THIS WEEK...FOR ME!

Spot them and win big!

Michael Jackson: The Music That Inspired The Movie Michael Jackson's This Is It (Sony Music)  Those seeking to buy the only new tracks on this collection--a grand total of two, including "This Is It" and the stunning contrast that is "This Is It (Orchestra Version)"--won't be able to purchase them without buying this entire collection of repackaged hits! But that's cool! Now's your chance to

From superstars like Tim McGraw, to critical favorites like Lyle Lovett, to comparative newcomers like Joss Stone, to respected old-timers like Leonard Cohen and Roxy Music--this week has it all!

"It," of course, in this sense means new product in the marketplace that several interested parties would absolutely love to see you buy!

Rammstein, on the other hand, have a brand new album called Liebe Ist Für Alle Da!

That means "there is love for everyone"!

I'll be back next week with even more hot scoops!

Tim McGraw: Southern Voice (Curb)  I don't want to imply that all things are predestined, but take one of country music's  biggest stars and give him a single with the catchy title of "It's A Business Doing Pleasure With You"--co-written by Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, no less--and business will likely be as brisk as it gets! Throw in a track with the unforgettable title of "I'm Only Jesus" as an attention-grabber, and there's every indication that this may be one of the year's very

While they may have all the markings of a brand new band, Brookville--or more specifically, the band's central singer/songwriter Andy Chase--has a track record that extends back through the mid-'90s.

Chase was and is a member of Ivy--a terrific New York-based trio that emerged in 1994 and featured Chase, Adam Schlesinger, and French vocalist Dominique Durand--and since their debut single "Get Enough" in 1994, the band has released superb five albums to uniformly positive reviews.

However, when it comes to clever and talented musicians--which all members of Ivy certainly are--one band isn't necessarily enough. So as Ivy's Adam Schlesinger went off to meet significant success with his "side project" group Fountains Of Wayne, Andy Chase has stepped up his production and engineering work with several significant groups, including Tahiti 80, the Divine Comedy, and Juliana Hatfield, among others. Additionally, he started a new record label--Unfiltered Records--which has reissued many of the

Season's greetings!

While it may seem a tad early to start wishing everyone a happy holiday, you won't feel that way when you take a look at the new Christmas albums being issued this week!

Everyone from the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Sugarland, David Archuleta and even Charlie Daniels have new product in the stores--and are standing under the mistletoe awaiting the kiss that only your hard-earned dollars might bring!

So perhaps now wouldn't be the time to bring up the fact that these albums--if purchased either in the vinyl or compact disc configuration--are comprised of polyvinyl chloride and polycarbonate plastics, both toxic substances certain to outlive all of humanity on our wondrous Planet Earth, and, all things considered, probably not the wisest of holiday choices for those among us who are ecologically minded!

Perhaps a bag of walnuts might make a better gift!

Oh, well--just a thought!

Bob Dylan: Christmas In The Heart (Columbia)  It's hard to quibble with Bob

Times are tough all over! And sometimes when we here at Yahoo! Music want to get behind artists--let all the fans out there know they have new albums out--we only have a limited means of exposure!

So to commemorate the release of two new albums--one of which is seeing release this week--we now present a potential "lifestyle piece" summary featuring those artists that could easily be filmed and shown on video worldwide!

The scene: A suburban Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlor, into which enter two separate groups of young men who look like rock stars!

The first group orders chocolate sundaes and quietly marches them over to a nearby table! Then the second group orders strawberry milkshakes and takes them to a table elsewhere!

Suddenly the first group marches back to the counter, dishes in hand! In unison, they plop them down on the counter and demand a refund!

"But wait," says the puzzled teen behind the cash register. "What was wrong with them? Why would you do that?"

Grim-faced, they

Right around now is the most exciting time of the year for new record releases!

Why? Because record companies need to wheel out all their big releases for the fourth quarter--to show that even if the past nine months have been a study in abject sales misery, they still have what it takes to produce the sort of sales winners they need to wrap up the year looking good!

As result, new box sets by superstars fill the racks alongside hot new discs by the holy triumvirate of Mariah Carey, Barbra Streisand and Ghostface Killah!

And luckily for consumers, recent quality control measures instituted by all the major labels have now made it a matter of policy that all new releases are simply great--with no filler, no wasted tracks, and no cause for regret among consumers brave enough to plop down top dollar for their beloved superstars!

And meanwhile? Hey--the new television season looks fabulous!

Mariah Carey: Memoirs Of An Imperfect Angel (Island Def Jam)  I think we all knew this album was

I'd like to start this week's blog off with a heartfelt apology to fans of Megadeth, whose new album I inadvertently forgot to mention last week! Oops!

I understand it's very good--and that there's no truth to the rumor that it's a stunning departure into faux bluegrass, R&B and the early works of the Undertones! At least, that's what I gather from speaking with one of my friends who lives with a member of the band!

If I only had it in my hands, and could look at the cover and read the credits, then I could tell you the whole story and you could read it here first!

But it would be unthinkable to offer an opinion otherwise!

That said, word is that one side of the CD is silver-colored and shiny!

Pearl Jam: Backspacer (Monkeywrench)  One of the more impressive aspects of Pearl Jam in retrospect is that nobody has really burned out on them! The group's general aversion to music videos, press interviews, and most of the star-making machinery that has chewed up and spit out nearly all of

Welcome to New This Week--the exciting blog which details the week's hottest new releases, points out which ones are worth purchasing and which are worth ignoring, and does so in a friendly, highly readable format.

While this week seems better than the norm--and seasonally, it's to be expected during this Back To School month--it does have one major failing.

Unfortunately, neither Taylor Swift nor Beyonce have new releases this week, so there's no possible way to justifiably imply one being superior to the other.

But on the bright side: The playing field is level, and true quality can be our guide.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson: Break Up (Atco/Rhino)  This unexpectedly delightful pairing teams Yorn, a respected singer/songwriter, with actress/singer Johansson, whose prior solo album of Tom Waits covers took a few critical blows unjustifiably, in my opinion, and comes up a complete winner. The duo harmonize well, Johansson sings in a slightly higher