Listen Up (New Music Tuesday)

Pork here.

Happy Tuesday, AKA’ers. It’s time to Listen Up as another New Music Release Tuesday is upon us. I’ve combed the (virtual) shelves and done some research . . . all for you!

Leading the charge is Travis, my second-favorite Scottish collective, who not only make a welcome return with their 6th full-length album, but they do it with incredible force. Ode To J. Smith finds our boys embracing their rock roots with an album full of some near-riotous concoctions, a few hypnotizing slow burners and many stops in between that will satisfy your urge to rock while opening up your mind and heart to feel . . . something . . . anything.

The album’s first officially-released single was “Something Anything” (get it now?) which failed to receive the airplay it deserved here in the U.S. simply because current radio just doesn’t know what to do with such a song. It’s as close to arena rock as Travis has ever turned out with a blistering guitar solo like you haven’t heard in ages packed into just 2 minutes and 24 seconds... which is all they needed to confirm that all they want to do is rock!

Keep reading the review of Travis after the jump. Plus, reviews of Duran Duran, John Lennon, Deadmau5 and The List of all new releases for November 4, 2008.

Ode To J. Smith comes to life with “Chinese Blues”, a mid-paced, piano-based stomper that enchants immediately with Fran Healy singing about “a million lonely people with their head in the sand trying to make some sense of what they don’t understand.” It’s heady and heavy . . . and classic Travis.

“J. Smith” starts innocently enough with classic and crisp staccato chords before dissolving into a choral hymnal and then plows back into pounding rock-n-roll before somehow blending the two into a perfectly dense climax and then returning to the original opening riff. With that much packed into just over 3 minutes, it is sort of a mini-mini-Bohemian Rhapsody. ("J. Smith" is also our featured song of the day, so check it out in The Media Bar.)

Travis Healy’s voice still travels right into my big ears and my whole system feels it every time. In addition to checking out Ode To J. Smith, I strongly urge/demand you to make their 2000 masterpiece, The Man Who a part of your current heavy rotation.

For fans of Duran Duran and their mammoth album, Rio, the honorable folks at Classic Albums deliver Classic Albums: Rio, an introspective DVD set that investigates and documents every angle of that album’s creation and history including songwriting, recording, and the albums massive success once it was released. Packed with live performances (both vintage and new), band interviews and videos, this should satiate even the most rabid Rio-ites.

Sidenote: Years ago while watching some footage of Jeff Buckley (deep breath) in the studio recording the vocals for “Grace” and “Hallelujah” I began thinking how much I would live for behind-the-scenes footage documenting the making of an album I’ve come to love. Come to think of it, I’d probably watch a documentary about the making of an album I don’t even care for. I am kind of obsessed with learning how anything is made, but when you’re talking music, it’s a double obsession. So, well done, Classic Albums folks. Hats off to you for pickin’ up the slack.

Another DVD worth checking out is Come Together: A Night for John Lennon’s Words and Music, the 2001 concert that brought Cyndi Lauper, Alanis Morissette, Lou Reed, Moby, Rufus Wainwright, Natalie Merchant and many more together to deliver their takes on some of the best songs ever written by one of the best songwriters ever alive. I can’t imagine that there are many people who haven’t been touched or felt some connection to John Lennon’s amazing catalog of songs and this concert offers some genuinely moving and memorable moments by some stellar artists who can make you hear something ‘old’ for the first time all over again. The show also ended up being some much needed musical therapy for those in attendance as only three weeks had passed since 9/11 and picking up the pieces is as much of a focus in this concert as the man and his music. The concert was originally scheduled to take place a few weeks earlier, but was postponed to October 2nd, 2001 in hopes of allowing the healing process to progress a bit more. This DVD will take you inside Radio City Music Hall on that night and you’ll discover inspired performances from a most-worthy roster of musicians.

Those of you looking for beats to get you moving, your best bet today is Random Album Title by Deadmau5, who has solidified himself as one of the most exciting presences in dance/electronic music of the past 2 years. Random Album Title is a long-overdue (and highly-anticipated) collection of tracks that have helped him make his mark. Gathered together for the first time, the entire album packs a punch you will feel long after the record stops. (Do I have to start saying “after the mp3 is over?” :] )

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, remember to vote while you’re heading out to the record store. :]

The List:
All New Music Releases - November 4th, 2008

Alvin and The Chipmunks – Undeniable (your chance for “Livin’ On A Prayer” . . . Chipmunk style!)
Arctic Monkeys - At the Apollo (DVD Import)
Andrea Bocelli – Incanto
Sarah Brightman – A Christmas Symphony
Harry Connick, Jr. – What A Night! A Christmas Album
deadmau5 – Random Album Title
Duran Duran - Classic Albums: Rio (DVD)
Fall From Grace – Sifting Through the Wreckage
Hinder – Take It to the Limit
honey honey – First Rodeo
Illinois – The Adventures of Kid Catastrophe, Chapter 1
Little Joy – Little Joy
Morel – The Death of the Paperboy (shoegazer disco?! yes, please!)
Jacqui Naylor – You Don’t Know Jacq
ohGr (from Skinny Puppy) – Devils in My Details
Randy Owen (from Alabama) – One on One
Brad Paisley – Play
Q-Tip – The Renaissance
Lou Reed - Berlin: Live at St. Ann’s Warehouse
Shiny Toy Guns – Season of Poison
Mavis Staples – Mavis Staples Live: Hope at the Hideout
Tenacious D - The Complete Master Works 2 (DVD)
Tipsy – Buzzz
Travis – Ode to J. Smith
Randy Travis - Christmas from the Pecos (DVD)
Hezekiah Walker & LFC– Souled Out
Various Artists - Come Together: A Night for John Lennon's Words and Music (DVD)
Various Artists – Soul Men (Soundtrack)
Various Artists – Twilight (Soundtrack)

Greatest Hits, Best Ofs, Box Sets andReissues by: Ace of Base, Boyzone, Girlschool, Don McLean, Alan Parsons Project, Switchfoot, Thompson Twins and for those of you who buy the NOW That’s What I Call Music compilations (and there are apparently millions of you) today is the day to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of their top-hits collections. They are relatively new to us United Statesers so seek out this 3-CD, UK import if you want a better idea of the winning formula that has brought them such success.