Blog Posts by Dave DiMartino

This Tuesday sees the release of Closer: The Best Of Sarah McLachlan, a compilation of some of the Canadian-born artist's best work released to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her recording career--which began with her celebrated Touch, released in 1988.

The compilation--available as a single CD and limited-edition double CD package--is a worthy reminder that McLachlan, who has sold over 40 million recordings worldwide, has had a hand in producing intelligent, well written music more consistently throughout the years than a surprising number of her contemporaries.

Alongside McLachlan's better known tracks--"Good Enough," "Building A Mystery," "I Will Remember You" and "Fallen"--are two new recordings co-produced by the singer and her longtime collaborator Pierre Marchand, "U Want Me 2" and "Don't Give Up On Us."

Check out the following interview with McLachlan, in which she discusses her career, as well as a captivating performance of new track "Don't Give Up On Us."

While we're

It's been a tumultuous week in the music world.

More than a few people raised their eyebrows upon hearing of Janet Jackson and her recent health drama: Her planned show in Montreal Monday night was canceled after the singer/dancer/elaborate dresser became "suddenly ill" and was taken to the hospital and released two hours later. A spokesperson for Ms. Jackson would not elaborate on her unexpected ailment, only mentioning that she had been "ill" and was "recuperating" after her release. Shows set later in the week, including ones in Boston and Philadelphia, were also canceled--undoubtedly sending pre-med students in both cities scurrying to their textbooks to discover whether Extremis Minimus Ticketsalus is an actual disease.  All she needs now is to leave her record label after her most recent album flopped and strike out on her own! Oh no, wait--that happened last week.

While we're speaking of prestigious female recording artists: Paris Hilton, singer, actress, and perhaps the most

Big albums of all shapes and sizes would be nice this week, but--perhaps predictably--all we're getting are shiny circular ones that are 120 millimeters in diameter!

Still, that doesn't make them any less good!

And while it's difficult to single out only 10 out of the countless hundred that deserve mention this week, let's arbitrarily focus on the ones that seem most promising! In other words, let's shine the spotlight on those classics likely to be handed down from generation to generation through the next millennium!

Also, they have to be within reach as I write this! Or at least have nice covers!

Jennifer Hudson: Jennifer Hudson (Arista) Here's an odd scenario! It's the debut album by an artist already enormously famous for her appearance on American Idol and her role as Effie White in the popular movie Dreamgirls! She's climbed every mountain, she's forded every stream, she's been produced by Clive Davis, and her single "Spotlight" has been written by Ne-Yo, a multi-talented

Though I'm officially not supposed to talk about it, I must make a confession.

I've been tapped for jury duty these past few weeks, and as a result, my critical acumen--surely my strong suit, readers agree--might not be as sharp as usual this time out!

While I'll still dutifully make mention of 10 of this week's most intriguing new releases, I'm bound by oath not to reveal my most recent doings!

Suffice to say that I do indeed intend to vote in favor of continued life on Earth, despite strong opposition from those devious space aliens--and thus the Pussycat Dolls' fantastic new opus will get all the praise it's due and more!

Incidentally, they're quite attractive! The Dolls, that is!

Pussycat Dolls: Doll Domination (Interscope) The long-awaited second chapter in the Dolls' marvelous audio-biography, this set recounts their teenage years--when they toured cross-country in a Suburu minivan playing punk rock clubs, crashed tupperware parties, and delivered lingerie catalogs to pay night

What a great week! After a sluggish summer of dreary album releases, the music industry has left the top-secret hotel suite its members jointly inhabit--that's how they set prices!--and come out swinging with a bevy of hot new releases!

Usually I'm hard-pressed to come up with even 10 exciting albums in a given seven-day cycle--but today, the sky's the limit! There must be 20 or more albums I for one would like to buy, or at least hear, or at least hold and look at!

Here's betting that you too will feel the same way!

Nelly: Brass Knuckles (Derrty/Universal) "His track record is irrefutable," notes his bio! And so is his notion that posing shirtless on his new album cover is a sure way to sell lots of records! Unlike some, I don't think he's pursued this strategy to alert "slower" music fans that he's not Nelly Furtado, just Nelly! I just think he was sweaty! With an impressive guest list--including Akon, Ashanti, Rick Ross, Snoop, Usher, Ciara, Chuck D., Pharrell, and new "Best Name

Wow! I think we all can agree the state of pop music has never been better--especially after last night's MTV Music Video Awards!

I usually don't watch those sort of things--generally, I'm out partying with society's upper crust--but due to a pesky fluke, I managed to catch a few glimpses and, happily, was reassured all was right with the world!

Most notably, the fact that Britney Spears was finally awarded all she's been artistically due over the years was especially heartwarming--like many, I too feel 2008 represents her peak year as an artist! Additionally, in the Best New Artist category, the strong showing of superstars Tokio Hotel over piddling newcomers Miley Cyrus, Jordin Sparks, Katy Perry, and Taylor Swift--I mean, who's even heard of them?--proved once and for all that true talent will always win out!

In all, anyone who thinks today's pop music scene isn't on the up-and-up is going to have to deal with me first! If I'm not around, leave a message and I'll call back!

It struck me the other day that on very rare occasions, some of the countless millions of readers of this blog find fault with it!

I guess they don't appreciate the hard work and research that goes into constructing this in-depth survey of the hottest releases on a weekly basis!

But rest assured I'm extremely sensitive to reader feedback! I want everyone to be satisfied!

So please--feel free to visit http://www.davedimartino.com/ and tell me exactly how you feel about stuff!

Brian Wilson: That Lucky Old Sun (Capitol) I was one of the fortunate few to attend a recent performance by Beach Boy founder and living legend Wilson at Yahoo's Live Sets sessions--which you can view here--and I have to say I was completely thrilled to be in the same room with the man! This new album--Wilson's significant return to Capitol Records, the label which produced the Beach Boys' biggest hits--is a lushly recorded tribute to Los Angeles and is, for the most part, thrilling throughout. Rock 'n' Roll has

Apologies for the lack of an exciting New This Week post last week--my trip to Florida was cut short one day due to bothersome weather conditions, and as a result, I was driving cross-country rather than dutifully posting my summation of the week's new releases! Suffice to say they all were the best records ever released!

That said, I should also point out that during the drive, I was feeling a bit "iffy" about my abilities as a music critic! Why? Because due to my involuntary immersion into the formulized world of satellite radio, the following question was put to me:

If you were stuck on a desert island with only one CD, and it had to be either the best of Bob Marley or Barry Manilow...which would you choose?

My dilemma? Neither answer felt right!

Luckily, a bird hit our windshield and the moment passed!

The Game: LAX (Geffen) Supposedly this celebrated rapper has announced that this album may be his last. Hey, shouldn't that be for us to decide? Though well-known producers