New This Week
  • U2 The Highest Power!

    How much do you like U2?

    I mean, come on, everybody likes U2! They're famous! So you'll probably be buying their brand new album!

    But again, how much do you like U2? Do you like them enough to get their new album on CD? It's cheap! $8.99 at Amazon! Or do you like them so much you want to get the limited edition box set of their album? It includes a CD, a poster, a book and a DVD! Wow! All for $64.99 at Amazon! Of course, you may be a vinyl purist, so you might be looking to buy it in the 2LP 180-gram vinyl version! It's really big, you can hold it in your hands, and it's just $19.99! Still, you may be a forward-looking consumer, so the new limited edition digi-pak version--which features a CD, poster and "film download," all for $22.99--may be just the ticket! Finally, left-handed people--that often overlooked, tragic minority--may want to purchase the new limited edition "magazine" version of the album--which features a CD, a magazine, and that weird "film download" thing! All for

    Read More »from U2 The Highest Power!
  • Jonas And The Wail!

    With the excitement of the Grammys now long gone, it's time for the music business to stand or fall purely on the quality of its new product!

    In short? If all of this week's new releases are top-notch, quality stuff, then I think we can count on years and years of a healthful, thriving music business! But if, on the other hand, most of this week's albums are dreary and stale reruns of an earlier, better time, it might be appropriate for everyone in the industry to just throw in the towel, admit defeat, and perhaps individually focus on improving their own personal lots in life--and business be damned!

    Well, you can take a look for yourself--but as far as I can see, any week that features a lot of great reissues, good albums by really old artists, and a new album by the Jonas Brothers is conclusive proof that music's on an upswing like never before!

    Speaking purely as a rock critic, I don't think I'm alone in comparing this year's music riches to those released in the golden year of

    Read More »from Jonas And The Wail!

  • As you may have surmised, part of my job in compiling thismuch-loved weekly blog comes in anticipating which new releases are the onesmost likely to excite the entire world, sell the most copies, and/or have thebest covers!

    Just a few weeks ago, I scratched my head, looked at athen-current release list, and determined that--in the absence of any surefireblockbuster-sellers like Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, or Alicia Keys--new albumsby Animal Collective, Andrew Bird and even Antony & the Johnsons wouldlikely be among the week's biggest winners! And as a special bonus, they allstarted with "A"!

    Heck--I was right!And even Antony & the Johnsons entered the charts at No. 65! Who could haveimagined this three years ago?

    Some would say it's an indicator that independentmusic is finally taking its rightful place as a sales leader! Others would sayit's an indicator that sales have gone so far down the tubes that only indieartists with loyal followings--which is to say not Hoobastank

    Read More »from How Much Is That Baby In The Window?
  • Watch Her Asterisk!

    Sorry I'm a little late with this week's exciting blog, but--if I may share a little personal information--I forgot to pay my Internet bill last month and couldn't write it!

    But wait, you say--how could access to the Internet affect this guy writing his blog? Couldn't he just write it at home and then bring it in to work and post it there?

    Hah! How can I write intelligently about music without finding out what everybody else thinks?

     

    Lily Allen: It's Not You, It's Me (Capitol)  Everyone's favorite Popular Female British Singer of a few months back returns with her second album in her dutiful quest to become everyone's favorite Popular British Singer for the next few months, and the big question is: Can she pull it off? I say yes! This is an upbeat, personality-filled album greatly aided by American producer Greg Kurstin--the onetime Geggy Tah member who's also doing marvelous work with his duo the Bird & The Bee--and Ms. Allen seems so charming, sassy and colorful, who can resist her

    Read More »from Watch Her Asterisk!
  • Enter The Fray!


    After that fabulous Superbowl show--just imagine, BruceSpringsteen, Jennifer Hudson and Faith Hill all in one place--and next week'sGrammy Awards, I, like you, think this may be the most exciting week in musichistory!

    And indeed, it's this week--when music's movers and shakerscongregate in Los Angeles for their beloved awards ceremony--that they'll beanticipating the sales figures of this week's new releases, arguing whetherit's likely Melinda Doolittle will outsell Cannibal Corpse, and discussing whatexactly that whole "digital download" thing is in the first place!

    True, there may be a few fistfights, and yes, some recordlabel folks won't feel comfortable having to hitchhike home due to ongoingbudget cuts, but one thing's for sure: When it comes to this week's newreleases--just like next week's Grammys--everyone'sa winner, baby!

     

    The Fray: The Fray (Epic)  From seemingly out ofnowhere comes the Fray, the Denver-based band whose rise to internationalstardom came with their smash

    Read More »from Enter The Fray!
  • New releases by Bruce Springsteen, Franz Ferdinand and Hoobastank are always something to consider--and this week we got 'em!

    What say we consider using the Springsteen and Franz Ferdinand albums as things to listen to this week?

    And maybe use the Hoobastank to, I dunno, patch the ceiling in case it's raining or something?

    For that matter, how about we use the Dean Martin as a potential present for members of the older generation--so they can remember their glory days as they begin their inevitable descent into silent, blissful slumber?

    And finally, how about we use the rest of these albums as objects that can occupy our time so we can sit around doing nothing as life goes on all around us without our actual participation?

    Hah! Just kidding! That's what always happens whenever I use the word "Hoobastank"!

     

    Bruce Springsteen: Working On A Dream (Columbia) It's an old cliché that most rock critics tend to look favorably upon "The Boss" because he reminds them of former glories,

    Read More »from New Bruce Springsteen Album: Quite Good!
  • What better way to commemorate the swearing in of a brand new president than to purchase brand new albums and give the economy the boost it sorely needs?

    If you're asking yourself that question, you're in luck! As new release weeks go, this one's pretty good:  Up-and-coming bands have returned with solid albums, a few old-timers have returned to the party, and industry icons are seeing their classic work repackaged in fine form!

    Even better: Superstars are playing at the White House, the Grammys are just around the corner, and troubled rappers being "forced to wear pink" garners major headlines! Meanwhile, Soulja Boy has made the leap and now become an actual cartoon!

    All told, things absolutely couldn't be finer!

     

    Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino)  Eight albums out, Animal Collective have risen to the occasion and released their finest, most commercial and--dare it be said--airplayable album ever! Named after a well-known Maryland live music venue, the disc

    Read More »from Albums To Inaugurate Presidents By!
  • Filing Odessa!

    Have you ever heard the expression "workmanlike"?

    That's a nice way of saying "nothing terribly extraordinary going on, but still...it could be worse."

    I wish I could say that this week's new releases represented a "workmanlike" effort on part of today's major labels to release records that America is clamoring for--but, sadly, that would be...incredibly sexist! I mean, women work too!

    So, to be diplomatic--and for that matter politically correct--let's just say that everybody, whether male or female, should agree that this week's releases are less than compelling!

    Let's meet for coffee and discuss it further!

     

    Bee Gees: Odessa (Expanded Edition) (Reprise/Rhino)  Oh, what the hell--I just spent two entire minutes writing a review of an album that just got delayed two weeks, so why not start this week's blog off with the album that, brand new or not, is the best thing coming out this week? That of course would be this deluxe reissue of the Bee Gees' spectacular 1969 album Odessa--a

    Read More »from Filing Odessa!
  • They say that the earliest scents you encounter in alifetime are the ones that stay with you the longest--aromas that burrowthemselves deep into the nooks and crannies of the brain, waiting to emergewith an unexpectedly powerful burst of recognition many years later. Yourgrandmother's cupboard? Vick's VapoRub?Calamine lotion? Take a whiff today andyou'll swear you were back indiapers!

    Likewise, take a good long look at these, the mostcompelling of this week's new music-related releases. Study them. For, indeed,this is the first indication of the best 2009 will have to offer!

    Smell them!

    Who knows? By next December we may be clamoring for the goodold days of January!

     

    Glasvegas: Glasvegas (Columbia)  Usually when I compile a list ofthe week's 10 spotlight releases, the lead item is a no-brainer! This week,however, everything's so good I don't know whereto start! Why not begin with one of the latest UKbuzz bands, Glasgow'sGlasvegas? They've assembled a catchy, deliberately anthemic

    Read More »from Come In Number 2009, Your Time Is Up!
  • Looking Backward!

    The last week of 2008? Surely today's wonderful record industry has saved the best for last!

    But no, unless you are a fervent fan of Front 242 reissues and the always charming Richard Simmons--whose new DVD Supersweatin': Party Off The Pounds admittedly sounds captivating--there's really not much new in the way of music product in stores this week. For that matter, there are fewer stores than ever now, too! It's great!

    So why not wind the year up with a heady recap of what I, the writer, consider to be the year's most interesting albums?

    Oddly enough, because this blog focuses on the week's hottest new releases, I often forego the opportunity to write about records that are actually good!

    Therefore, as an added bonus, I've listened to nearly all of these!

    Beangrowers: Not In A Million Lovers (Minty Fresh) When it comes to three-piece, female-led combos from Malta, you can't beat the Beangrowers! They've been around for a bit, but their most recent album combines throbbing rock, booming

    Read More »from Looking Backward!

Pagination

(287 Stories)

News for You

  • Germans blame euro zone crisis for Eurovision debacle

    BERLIN (Reuters) - Germans lamented their unexpectedly poor showing at the Eurovision Song Contest, blaming Chancellor Angela Merkel's tough stance in the euro zone crisis for their failure to win any points from 34 of the 39 countries voting. Denmark's Emmelie de Forest won the event, watched by around 125 million people across Europe, with 281 points while German act Cascada was 21st out of 26 countries, getting just 18 points from Austria, Israel, Spain, Albania and Switzerland. ...

  • OJ Simpson lawyers say he is closer to freedom

    LAS VEGAS (AP) — The latest high-stakes court hearing for O.J. Simpson in the glitzy capital of big gambles has come to a close with the former football star's defense team feeling confident that their client is closer to getting out of prison.

  • 'Trek' does $70.6M but falls short of studio hopes

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — "Star Trek: Into Darkness" has warped its way to a $70.6 million domestic launch from Friday to Sunday, though it's not setting any light-speed records with a debut that's lower than the studio's expectations.

  • Dior presents cruise fashions amid stars in Monaco

    MONACO (AP) — The glittering star power of Cannes migrated up the coast to Monaco for front-row seats at Dior's colorful, sexy cruise fashion show.

  • Taylor Swift wins 8 trophies at Billboard Awards

    Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards.

TOP VIDEOS

  1. Can't Hold Us
    1.Macklemore & Ryan … | Warner
  2. 2.P!nk, (f/ Nate Ruess …
  3. 3.Justin Timberlake
  4. 5.Rihanna, (f/ Mikky E …
  5. 6.Selena Gomez
  6. 7.Macklemore & Ryan …
  7. 8.Imagine Dragons
  8. 9.Icona Pop
  9. 10.Florida Georgia Line