Pork here.

People! There’s hope! Just when I thought the masses were blindly following a vocoded ring leader, I am shown a chart lineup that proves me very wrong and brings waves of optimism. With her country-girl-next-door sounds and visions, Taylor Swift lassoes the top spot by moving almost 600,000 copies of her second album, Fearless. Only a mere 129,000 of those were digital which shows that people are still flocking to their local record stores . . . or departments.

Nearly 190,000 people demanded their Archuleta and got it as his debut album leaps onto the chart right behind Ms. Swift at No. 2. Atta boy, Davey.

And although T-Pain has claimed the No. 1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album with 167,000 copies of Thr33 Ringz sold, but that only lands him the No. 4 position on The Billboard 200. Anyone who knows me knows I’m no country bumpkin, but I would choose a little twang over an auto-tuned slice of pointless hip-slop any day.

Guess what else? T.I. has the number one song in the country! Shocking, right? No. Not at all. He and Rihanna knock down another week in the top spot with “Live Your Life.” A couple steps down there is more noteworthy action. Beyonce feels the surge that sends “If I Were A Boy” to No. 3 as the weeks Sales Gainer. B also lands the No. 1 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song with “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” . . . so, let’s see what this Sasha Fierce can do. Was it just a rush brought on by an SNL appearance and the album’s release date? We’ll see.

Remember to listen to that album you’ve been meaning to listen to, and never forget to enjoy . . .

A View From The Top: A look at what’s sitting atop this week’s Billboard charts, November 29th, 2008

Singles:
-Hot 100: T.I. feat. Rihanna: “Live Your Life”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Beyonce “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
-Pop 100: Katy Perry “Hot N Cold”
-Mainstream Top 40: Katy Perry “Hot N Cold”
-Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
-Hot Modern Rock Tracks: The Offspring “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”
-Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks: AC/DC “Rock N Roll Train”
-Triple A: Coldplay “Lost!”
-Hot Rap Tracks: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
-Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”
-Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks: David Cook “The Time Of My Life”
-Hot Digital Songs: Beyonce “If I Were A Boy”
-Hot Digital Tracks: Beyonce “If I Were A Boy”
-Rhythmic Top 40: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
-Hot Dance Club Play: Dave Aude feat. Sisely Treasure “Grass Is Greener”
-Hot Dance Airplay: Ercola feat. Daniella “Every Word”
-Hot Dance Single Sales: Chester French “She Loves Everybody”
-Pop 100 Airplay: Katy Perry “Hot N Cold”
-Hot 100 Airplay: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
-Hot Singles Sales: Coldplay “Lost!”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Hustle Boy feat. Mannie “It’s Nuthin’”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: Beyonce “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)”
-Hot Adult R&B Airplay: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
-Hot Singles Recurrents: Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents: Keyshia Cole “I Remember”
-Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay: Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay: Keyshia Cole “I Remember”
-Hot Adult Contemporary Recurrents: Brenda Lee “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”
-Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: Taylor Swift “Tell Me Why”
-Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Laura Izibor “From My Heart To Yours”
-Hot Ringtones: Katy Perryy “Hot N Cold”
-Hot Country Songs: Taylor Swift “Love Story”

Albums:
-The Billboard 200 Albums: Taylor Swift - Fearless
-Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: T-Pain – 33 Ringz
-Top Digital Albums: Taylor Swift - Fearless
-Top Rock Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
-Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
-Top Hard Rock Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice
-Top Internet Albums: Taylor Swift - Fearless
-Top Independent Albums: Various Artists – Winter Wonderland
-Top Electronic Albums: Lady GaGa – The Fame
-Top Rap Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
-Top Soundtracks: Twilight Soundtrack
-Top Cast Albums: Original Broadway Cast Recording – Wicked
-Top Country Albums: Taylor Swift - Fearless
-Top Heatseekers: Dir En Grey - Uroboros

…on the international front:
-European Hot 100 Singles: Guru Josh Project “Infinity 2008”
-European Top 100 Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice

…and…whipping all others into submission:
-Hot Holdiay Songs: Bing Crosby “White Christmas”

Pork says listen to this:
Sufjan Stevens
"Chicago"

Three ways to do what Pork says
Listen in The Media Bar
Click here to launch the player in a new window so you can listen and browse
Or just do an old-fashioned jump by clicking

Pork really outdid himself with this one. Yes, it's Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love." It was a number one hit for two weeks at the end of april 1990, which, honestly, doesn't sound right to me. I feel like it was a number one hit for six years straight.

Watch, listen, and love after the jump.

I felt bad you guys didn't have any bare asses today, so I'm serving up some naked Vincent Frank, AKA Frankmusik. This boy has been giving Pork some unnatural surges in lust, and I can see why. I mean, that ass? Perfect.

Frankmusik did a nekkid photo shot for AXM magazine a few weeks ago, and his ass is so edible that he's still making us buzz.

Oh, and this does not mean you should not take your own ass pics to send me. Take them. And send them.

One NSFW pic and one NSFW-ish pic after the jump.

Pork here.

T.I. is livin’ his life . . . at the top of the charts . . . for another week . . . as he’s done for just about every week since this site’s creation. “Live Your Life” does it again and astonishingly claims the Airplay Gainer award in the meantime. T.I.’s also got the No.2 spot locked down still with “Whatever You Like” despite some hardcore pressure from “Hot N Cold” by Katy Perry. Kanye West makes a strong entry at No.4 with “Heartless”, his second auto-tuned effort from his upcoming album, 808s & Heartbreak. Meanwhile, Beyonce boringly stays put at No.5 with “If I Were A Boy.” yawn.

The Twilight Soundtrack managed to bump AC/DC down one spot and score the No.1 position on both the Top 200 and the Top Rock Albums while also taking the top honors on the Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and Top Internet and Digital Albums charts. Twilight is only the third soundtrack this year to go to the top which makes it’s No.1 debut even more notable. In it’s first week it moved 165,000 units . . . and I must say that it moved me too.

T.I. is not looking to lose any honors on the albums charts either and tells John Legend to get to steppin’ after only one week of letting him sit in his Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums throne.

Place your bets now for next week’s highest charting debut: T.I.? David Archuleta? or will Taylor Swift pull off a country coup and twang herself right into the No.1 spot? Stay tuned. (Go, Davey!)

Remember to listen to a new album this week, and never forget to enjoy . . . A View From The Top! A look at what’s sitting atop this week’s Billboard charts, after the jump.

November 22nd, 2008 (week ending)

Singles:
Hot 100: T.I. feat. Rihanna: “Live Your Life”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Ne-Yo “Miss Independent”
Pop 100: Katy Perry “Hot N Cold”
Mainstream Top 40: P!nk “So What”
Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
Hot Modern Rock Tracks: The Offspring “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks: Metallica “The Day That Never Comes”
Triple A: Coldplay “Lost!”
Hot Rap Tracks: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”
Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks: David Cook “The Time Of My Life”
Hot Digital Songs: Kanye West “Heartless”
Hot Digital Tracks: Kanye West “Heartless”
Rhythmic Top 40: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
Hot Dance Club Play: Kreesha Turner “Don’t Call Me Baby”
Hot Dance Airplay: Kim Sozzi “Feel Your Love”
Hot Dance Single Sales: Lady GaGa feat. Colby O’Donis “Just Dance”
Pop 100 Airplay: Katy Perry “Hot N Cold”
Hot 100 Airplay: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
Hot Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: Ne-Yo “Miss Independent”
Hot Adult R&B Airplay: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
Hot Singles Recurrents: Natasha Bedingfield “Pocketful Of Sunshine”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents: Noel Gourdin “The River”
Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay: Natasha Bedingfield “Pocketful Of Sunshine”
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay: Noel Gourdin “The River”
Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: Keyshia Cole feat. 2Pac “Playa Cardz Right”
Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Ryan Leslie “How It Was Supposed To Be”
Hot Ringtones: Katy Perryy “Hot N Cold”
Hot Country Songs: Taylor Swift “Love Story”

Albums:
The Billboard 200 Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
Top Digital Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
Top Rock Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
Top Hard Rock Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice
Top Internet Albums: Twilight Soundtrack
Top Independent Albums: Various Artists – Winter Wonderland
Top Electronic Albums: Lady GaGa – The Fame
Top Rap Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
Top Soundtracks: Twilight Soundtrack
Top Cast Albums: Original Broadway Cast Recording – Wicked
Top Country Albums: Brad Paisley - Play
Top Heatseekers: Unk – 2econd Season

…on the international front:
European Hot 100 Singles: Guru Josh Project “Infinity 2008”
European Top 100 Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice

…and…continuing to keep us dreaming:
Hot Holdiay Songs: Bing Crosby “White Christmas”

Pork here.

It’s a week where I am full of confessions. First, I’m not able to properly review any of the numerous, notable releases landing in stores today because I simply haven’t had the albums to do so. That being said, the next few days will find me happily ingesting new albums by Tracy Chapman (always a cherished occasion), Grace Jones, Seal and (here comes Confession #2) David Archuleta. Yes, Pork is an Archie . . . er, Arch Angel . . . or whatever people who swoon over Lil’ Davey want to call themselves. (Stay tuned for more in-depth analysis of David’s self-titled debut and Tracy Chapman’s Our Bright Future.)

One confession I’m not afraid to declare is my lack of excitement about one of today’s hottest acts, T-Pain. No matter how many words he can cleverly misspell or how many top 10 hits he stamps with his vocoded signature, I couldn’t be less interested in hearing Thr33 Ringz, his new full length which will most likely be this week’s biggest seller as millions seem to be captivated by this hip-hop clown with the midas touch. T-Pain’s not my cup of "T," and I’m not going to front that he is. I’ll just hope that he and his circus of crunk fall off the map soon so the R&B/Hip-Hop genre recover . . . like it has from reggaeton.

After the jump, Grace Jones, Seal, and, you guessed it, Vanilla Ice! Plus, The List of all new releases for Tuesday, November 11, 2008.

Enough with what doesn’t make my blood rush. It’s time to put some Grace in your face . . . and ears. Grace Jones storms back with a full-fledged Hurricane, her first album in nearly 2 decades. Get a taste of “Corporate Cannibal”, the lead single and video, and you’re likely to be as captivated and hungry for more as I was. Riding the perfect balance of sexy and scary, Grace quickly reminds you that it’s “[her] rules, you fools” with a delivery so slinky and distinct that you must submit to this “man-eating machine.” I can’t wait to see what else Grace has got on her plate. Check out “Corporate Cannibal” in today’s Media Bar as the featured Music Video of the Day.

I haven’t heard Seal’s Soul, but I must say that the idea of him spinning his vocal abilities all over some legendary soul classics is a no-brainer that has the potential to be a smash. I must say I’m more than a bit worried about his decision to give the production responsibilities to David Foster, famous for (over)producing Celine Dion, Michael Bolton and Barbra Streisand. This is supposed to be a soul classics record. Hell, it’s called Soul! I’ve got my fingers crossed that his bombastic, slick production won’t shellac the sessions with schmaltz and suck the soul out of Seal’s groove.

Proving that real cover-album dreams can come true, Vanilla Ice Is Back! gives you no less than 9 covers of “hip hop classics” (think “Baby Got Back” and “Jump Around”) by Mr. Van Winkle himself along with 4 “Ice Ice Baby” revisits. White hot.

(Take a little time and enjoy . . . ) The List:

All New Music Releases - November 11th, 2008

David Archuleta – David Archuleta
Robert Bradley’s Blackwater Surprise – Out of the Wilderness
Tracy Chapman – Our Bright Future
Deborah Cox – The Promise
Enya – And Winter Came
Grace Jones – Hurricane
Live – Live at the Paradiso (DVD/CD)
The Police – The Police: Certifiable (DVD/CD)
Musiq Soulchild – On My Radio
Seal – Soul
Smashing Pumpkins – If All Goes Wrong (DVD)*
Taylor Swift – Fearless
T-Pain – Thr33 Ringz
Vanilla Ice – Vanilla Ice Is Back! Hip Hop Classics
Butch Walker – Sycamore Meadows
Various Artists – Now That’s What I Call Music! 29
Various Artists – Zack and Miri Make a Porno(Soundtrack)

Greatest Hits, Box Sets, Re-Issues and Re-Masters by: Abba, Christina Aguilera, Patti Austin, Bad Company, Natasha Bedingfiled, Bee Gees, Big Mountain, Boney M., Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Dio, Hilary Duff, Aretha Franklin, Genesis, Enrique Iglesias, Jurssic 5, The Kinks, Led Zeppelin*, New Order* (5 Collector’s Edition Re-Issues!), The Osmonds, Gilda Radner, Cliff Richard, Carly Simon, Sister Sledge, The Smiths*.

Look any closer and you’ll find new music from Billy Bob Thornton and Kevin Costner. Yes, you read that correctly. Consider yourself warned.

* = acceptable Christmas presents for Pork.

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.

Daily Song:
Seal
"A Change Is Gonna Come"
From today's Listen Up! (New Release Tuesday)

Television:
The View discusses Prop 8. With all the shock surrounding the passing of Prop 8, watching the women of The View talk about this is like watching the entire country grapple with the consequences of bigotry. Black women discussing this issue brings to mind the emotional struggles that the dominant members of our society must have felt when they were granted the power to change and improve the lives of others. How did slave owners really feel about being slave owners after the Emancipation Proclamation? How did men really feel about giving the right to vote to women after keeping it from them for so long? How did white people feel about segregation? How do the people who oppose Prop 8 really feel about taking away the right for gays to get married?

They must struggle with themselves. They must. And it is our responsibility to show them that their struggle is worth resolving.

Politics:
Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" on Prop 8. I haven't been a big fan of Olbermann, but we owe him a big "thanks" for stepping up and saying this. With this "Special Comment" he has done something that not even Rachel Maddow has done.

Movies:
"Chris and Don: A Love Story"
The documentary about Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy was just nominated for best documentary in the Gotham Independent Film Awards. The legendary gay couple was born thirty years apart and stayed together thirty-three years.

Music Video:
Grace Jones "Corporate Cannibal"
From today's Listen Up! (New Release Tuesday)
Also from today's Listen Up! (New Release Tuesday)

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.

Daily Song:

Seal "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Television:

Prop 8 follow-up (11/10/08 - clip via Good As You.)

Politics:

Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" on Prop 8. I haven't been a big fan of Olbermann, but we owe him a big "thanks" for stepping up and saying this. With this "Special Comment" he has done something that not even Rachel Maddow has done.

Movies:

"Chris and Don: A Love Story"
The documentary about Christopher Isherwood and Don Bachardy was nominated for best documentary in the Gotham Independent Film Awards. The legendary gay couple was born thirty years apart and stayed together thirty-three years.

Music Video:

Grace Jones "Corporate Cannibal"

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.

Daily Song:
This Week's #1 Dance Airplay
Ercola feat. Daniella
“Every Word”
Check out the rest of the #1s on Pork's Chart Attack

Television:
"The Comeback"
Valerie Cherish sings "I Will Survive"
My friends, this is a double-dose of inspiration.

Movies:
"Everything You Wanted to Know About Gay Pornstars But Were Afraid to Ask": The series, directed by John Roecker (Live Freaky! Die Freaky!), will take you on a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of gay adult cinema’s hottest talents. Among the current and former porn stars featured on the series will be Johnny Hazzard, Brad Benton, Nick Capra, Jason Hawke, Nick Piston and Jason Ridge. (Video safe for work, the audio not so much)

Politics:
It's been a Kotecki kind of week. Whenever I get down or feel bad or wonder if I've made the right career choice, I can count on Politico's James Kotecki to inspire me to put aside my own troubles and focus on the the less fortunate, like James Kotecki.



Music Video:
Tracy Chapman
"Fast Car"
"Talkin' 'bout a Revolution"
We're gonna have two music videos today because when I was doing dishes last night, I got to thinking about Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car." Probably because of its mix of hope and sadness, knowing that you deserve better. And then I got a little pissed and started thinking another Tracy Chapman song, "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution." So I'm serving up both.

Click below to jump to the full size players or click here to launch them in a new window. Or just hang out and watch them in The Media Bar next door.


Daily Song:

This Week's #1 Dance Airplay
Ercola feat. Daniella
“Every Word”
Check out the rest of the #1s on Pork's Chart Attack

Television:

"The Comeback"
Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish sings "I Will Survive"
My friends, this is a double-dose of inspiration.

Politics:

It's been a Kotecki kind of week. Whenever I get down or feel bad or wonder if I've made the right career choice, I can count on Politico's James Kotecki to inspire me to put aside my own troubles and focus on the the less fortunate, like James Kotecki.

Movies:

Everything You Wanted to Know About Gay Pornstars But Were Afraid to Ask: The series, directed by John Roecker (Live Freaky! Die Freaky!), will take you on a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of some of gay adult cinema’s hottest talents. Among the current and former porn stars featured on the series will be Johnny Hazzard, Brad Benton, Nick Capra, Jason Hawke, Nick Piston and Jason Ridge. (Video safe for work, the audio not so much)

Music Video:

Tracy Chapman
"Fast Car"
We're gonna have two music videos today because when I was doing dishes last night, I got to thinking about Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car." Probably because of its mix of hope and sadness, knowing you deserve better. And then I got a little pissed and started thinking another Tracy Chapman song, "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution." So I'm serving up both.



Tracy Chapman
"Talkin' 'bout A Revolution"

Pork here with this week's Chart Attack.

T.I. bounces up and down, Beyoncé just goes down.

T.I. is continuing to carve out one of the strangest paths to chart history ever as two of his songs refuse to stop switching spots at the top of the chart. This week it’s “Live Your Life” (feat. Rihanna) that bounces back from No. 2 and sends “Whatever You Like” underneath it. It looks like this flip-flop lock T.I.’s had on the top two spots might be just about over as “Whatever You Like” loses its bullet. No sweat off his back since with these two singles alone, he should be able to have ‘whatever he likes’ for the rest of his life. The boy did somethin’ right. (P.S. Don’t count out P!nk’s “So What” as her chance to reclaim the No. 1 since it’s regained strength and climbed back up to No. 3. Go, P!nk!)

The fate of the first single from I Am Sasha Fierce ain’t so fierce. After an impressive 68-3 leap last week, “If I Were A Boy” loses its steam and falls to No. 5 in only its third week on the chart. Uh-oh, B. I can’t say I’ve felt the aura of success anywhere around this project. It’s time to take a break. How about you don’t give us anything new for a year or two and let us appreciate you a bit more, eh? You’re drowning in a sea of hip-hop mediocrity. Fact is, Sasha Fierce sounds just like Beyoncé. Without any sort of reinvention, you won’t achieve your emancipation.

P!nk couldn’t move AC/DC, but she does possess the Hot Shot Debut on this week’s Top 200 Albums chart with a stunning No. 2 entry. Two spots below, John Legend jumps in with Evolver, which tops this week’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in its first week.

Off-The-Chart: Thank you to my friend Scott for designing Chart Attack’s new eye-catching logo! It’s one step closer to the kind of fun I want us all to have here. :] Thanks, Scott!

That’s just about all for now, but take a little time and enjoy . . . .

A View From The Top:
After the jump, a look at what’s sitting atop this week’s Billboard charts.

November 15th, 2008 (week ending)

Singles:
-Hot 100: T.I. feat. Rihanna: “Live Your Life”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Ne-Yo “Miss Independent”
-Pop 100: P!nk “So What”
-Mainstream Top 40: P!nk “So What”
-Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop: Ne-Yo “Miss Independent”
-Hot Modern Rock Tracks: The Offspring “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”
-Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks: Metallica “The Day That Never Comes”
-Triple A: Snow Patrol “Take Back The City”
-Hot Rap Tracks: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”
-Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks: David Cook “The Time Of My Life”
-Hot Digital Songs: T.I. feat. Rihanna “Live Your Life”
-Hot Digital Tracks: Taylor Swift “You’re Not Sorry”
-Rhythmic Top 40: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Dance Club Play: Mary Mary “Get Up”
-Hot Dance Airplay: Ercola & Daniella “Every Word”
-Hot Dance Single Sales: M.I.A. “Paper Planes”
-Pop 100 Airplay: P!nk “So What
-Hot 100 Airplay: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: Ne-Yo “Miss Independent”
-Hot Adult R&B Airplay: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
-Hot Singles Recurrents: Michael Jackson “Thriller”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents: Keyshia Cole “I Remember”
-Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay: Natasha Bedingfield “Pocketful Of Sunshine”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay: Keyshia Cole “I Remember”
-Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: Zac Efron & Corbin Bleu “The Boys Are Back”
-Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: E-40 feat. Shawty Lo “Break Ya Ankles”
-Hot Ringtones: Grupo Montez De Durango “Adios Amore Te Vas”
-Hot Country Songs: Carrie Underwood “Just A Dream”

Albums:
-The Billboard 200 Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice
-Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: John Legend - Evolver
-Top Digital Albums: Pink - Funhouse
-Top Rock Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice
-Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums: Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
-Top Hard Rock Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice
-Top Internet Albums: Bloc Party – Intimacy
-Top Independent Albums: Kottonmouth Kings – The Green Album
-Top Electronic Albums: Lady GaGa – The Fame
-Top Rap Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
-Top Soundtracks: High School Musical 3: Senior Year
-Top Cast Albums: Original Broadway Cast Recording – Wicked
-Top Country Albums: Toby Keith – That Don’t Make Me A Bad Guy
-Top Heatseekers: Deerhunter - Microcastle

…on the international front:
-European Hot 100 Singles: Guru Josh Project “Infinity 2008”
-European Top 100 Albums: AC/DC – Black Ice

…and…just where it should be:
-Hot Holdiay Songs: Bing Crosby “White Christmas”

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.

Pork here with Listen Up! AKA New Music Tuesday for October 28, 2008.

P!nk’s Funhouse is open and I’ve spent much of the past week inside of it. The Cure is reawakened with 4:13 Dream and John Legend continues to Evolve. Lady Gaga is finally served up in the U.S. and Bloc Party get intimate.

I would’ve liked to have reviewed the new album by Bloc Party, Intimacy, but we’re just a new, little site and I don’t have labels throwing new releases at me to listen to. Maybe that will change someday, but for now settle for the cover art, which is ever so romantic.





Listen Up! AKA New Music Tuesday is going in deep this week. Track-by-track deep. P!nk is back! She’s still not dead, but man is she ever hurting! After repeated visits to the Funhouse, I’ve emerged with this report of sure grammatical malfunctions and even some f.t.w.s (first time words), but I’m a believer that you have to create at least one word a day or the English language is dead. Dead I tell you! That being said . . . here’s a bit of decoding from the top: Fun = Sad, House = Heart. You need look no further than the lyrics to the title track to see P!nk is getting a different kind of party started: “This used to be our funhouse, but now it’s full of evil clowns . . . I’d rather live out on the street than in this haunted memory.” Oooooooh. I LOVE heartbreak albums!

“So What” offers a wagon’s worth of bravado as P!nk struts through this defiant, fists-in-the-air anthem for everyone needing to claim their inner rock star. The lead single and album opener became the first No. 1 single of P!nk’s career and after repeated listens it heftily attaches itself to the brain thanks to its sing-alongability (f.t.w. #1) and top-notch production by Max Martin. This was a no-brainer, across the board smash . . . right down to the “na na na na na na na”s.

Read the track-by-track review of Funhouse and check out all the new music releases for today October 28th, 2008 after the jump.

In this Funhouse is a rollercoaster, and it takes you from one of the few highs of “So What” to the numerous lows heard early on in the “Why do I feel this party’s over?” of “Sober.” Bitterness has entered and makes its presence felt immediately. Truth be told, however, it’s not P!nk at her best. “Sober” also happened to be the name of the massively overlooked second single from Kelly Clarkson’s last album, My December, and although this is not a cover of that gripping tune, P!nk still seems to be pulling her best Kelly Clarkson impersonation on this mid-tempo chugger that easily would fit into the Clarkson Songbook. This is a surprisingly tame production from Danja, better known for his groundbreaking hits for Nelly Furtado (“Promiscuous” and “Say It Right”), Madonna (“4 Minutes”), Britney Spears (“Gimme More”), and Mariah Carey (“Migrate”). The thick layers of swirling hip-hop beats and string loops are replaced with slick, semi-rock production that seems not only anchored, but weighed down, by a chunky chorus that is catchy enough to remember, but perhaps not worthy.

A truer view of this Funhouse is visible in the next 4 song titles alone: “I Don’t Believe You” (a wilting and woozy, string-laden plea to not have to accept a heartbreak . . . quite pretty actually), “One Foot Wrong” (a bluesy and nervous track that opens with “Am I sweating? Or are these tears on my face? Should I be hungry? I can’t remember the last time I ate. Call someone. I need a friend to talk me down.” and ultimately finds her asking . . . okay yelling “Who’s gonna find me, who’s gonna find me? You’ll have to love me when I’m gone.” Gee, Pink. The party is over.), “Please Don’t Leave Me” (Surely this song has to be a single. It’s polished and lonely. Songs about longing rock hearts and the radio. Plus, the ‘da da da da da’s will circle in your head when you wake up in the middle of the night to pee…well that’s what’s happenin’ to me anyway. :] No song on Funhouse comes closer to recapturing the magic of I’m Not Dead . . . . think “Who Knew Pt. 2.”) and “Bad Influence” (one of those big euro-stompers with some swirly melodies and party-time lyrics we’ve come to love and expect from P!nk and one of the last highs this rollercoaster will show you).

“Funhouse,” the title track, is a bit too close to the Maroon 5/Ting Tings finish line for me to embrace it fully, but could it grow on me? Damn you, P!nk! I betchu it does! Those verses are downright throwbacks to Siouxsie & The Banshees “Peek-a-Boo” (“Burn this fucker down! doo doo doo doo doo doo doo”)

Things become crystal clear on the acoustic “Crystal Ball.” “Irony, irony is hating love, hating love for what it does to me . . . what it’s done to me . . . what it’s done . . . done.” Simple. Beautiful.

Oh, the Funhouse is not closed yet! Get ready for the drunken romper “Mean” where over some barsy (f.t.w. #8) Wallflowers-esque guitarwork P!nk wonders “How did we get so mean? How do we just move on?” P!nk would rather forever be and she doesn’t want to be free. So who were you calling a tool in “So What,” eh?

“It’s All Your Fault” brings P!nk back to Clarkson Land, but with a revved up chorus that will kick “Never Again "’s ass. This is the kind of song that could get you a speeding ticket . . . so beware if driving under the influence of P!nk. (Fans of P!nk’s “da da da da da da da”s rejoice! They return here for your pleasure.)

“Ave Mary A” demonstrates shades of Linkin P!nk…P!nkin Park? It explodes into a proper, all-out anthem for the desperate with the pleading refrain “Where did you go? Where did you go?” Fists in the air!

“Glitter In The Air” is by far the most mature song on Funhouse and amongst the best she’s ever written (or co-written as she has all 12 of Funhouse’s tracks). It is like coming out of a smoky haze and piecing together what just happened. Questions remain: “Have you ever hated yourself for staring at the phone? Your whole life waiting on the ring to prove you’re not alone…Have you ever felt this way?” A great way to come down.

I must say that P!nk has never sounded better. Her vocal swagger continues to stand out in an ever-deepening pool of female artists flooding the airwaves. P!nk is also on my short-list of Must-See-Live Artists, so hopefully some live dates will start popping up. Ba ba da ba ba.

Funhouse is a whirlwind of questioning and longing . . . mostly to not be alone. It doesn’t pack quite the punch of most other P!nk albums, but maybe this is the album where she’s the one being punched. The reaction is a snapshot of the punching bag just as the glove is removed from the stricken surface. At least P!nk was smart enough to not release Her December at the beginning of the summer.
Well done, P!nk. I’m still holding you to your word that we can sing together someday. :]

The List:
All New Music Releases - October 28th, 2008

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology
. . . And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead – Festival Thyme (an EP on vinyl)
Sara Bareilles – Between the Lines: Sara Bareilles Live at the Fillmore (DVD)
David Benoit – Jazz for Peanuts: A Retrospective of the Charle Brown TV Themes
Bloc Party – Intimacy
Kurt Cobain – Cobain Unseen (Hardcover with spoken-word material by Kurt on CD)
Coolio – Steal Hear
Cynic – Traced in Air
Bob Dylan – Inside Bob Dylan’s Jesus Years: Busy Being Born…Again (DVD)
Eagles of Death Metal – Heart On
The 88 – Not Only…But Also
Forgive Durden – Razia’s Shadow (A Musical)
The Heligoats – The End of All-Purpose
Michael Jackson – Thriller 25th Anniversary – The Book Celebrating the Biggest Selling Album of All Time (Paperback)
Joey + Rory – The Life of a Song
Elton John – The Biography Presents Elton John (DVD)
Elton John – The Red Piano (Caesar’s Palace concert and documentary, CD and DVD)
Kaiser Chiefs – Off With Their Heads
Toby Keith – That Don’t Make Me a Bad Guy
The Knus – Remind Me in 3 Days
Yolanda Kondonassis – Air
Lady GaGa – The Fame
John Legend – Evolver
John Lennon – John Lennon: The Life (Hardcover, author: Philip Norman)
Lordi – Deadache
Marillion – Happiness Is the Road, Vol. 1: Essence, Happiness Is the Road, Vol. 2: The Hard Shoulder
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis – Live From Jazz at Lincoln Center New York City (DVD)
Tom Petty – Runnin’ Down a Dream (DVD)
P!nk – Funhouse
Queen + Paul Rodgers – The Cosmos Rocks (enhanced and limited editions)
Boz Scaggs – Speak Low
Snow Patrol – One Hundred Million Suns
Talk Talk – Live at Montreux 1986 (DVD)
Susan Tedeschi – Back to the River
Various – Mystery Science Theater 3000: 20th Anniversary Edition (DVD)
Various – OMFGG: Original Music Featured On Gossip Girl No. 1

Re-Issues, Greatest Hits and Box Sets from:Anastacia, Audio Adrenaline, Avalon, Blackfoot, Dave Brubeck, George Carlin (“FM & AM” - 1972 Grammy winner for Best Comedy Album and “Jammin’ in New York from 1992), Johnny Cash (they just keep ‘em coming, don’t they? This week it’s “Johnny Cash’s America on CD and DVD), Celtic Woman, Steven Curtis Chapman, The Chordettes, The Coasters, Ry Cooder, dcTalk, Bo Diddley, Celine Dion (“My Love: Essential Collection”), Dokken (For those of you at the record stores for the new Celine…get your Dokken while you’re there.), Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Judy Garland, Benny Goodman, The Isley Brothers, Jump5, Trini Lopez, Paul McCartney & Wings, Reba McEntire, Buddy Miller, Aaron Neville, The Partridge Family, P.M. Dawn, Queen (4 new remasters!), Rascal Flatts, Ratt, Roxy Music, Carly Simon, Skid Row, Ray Stevens, Stray Cats, Hunter S. Thompson, and a CD/DVD Bond Compilation called (you knew it) The Best of Bond . . . James Bond. And for all you fans of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, today’s your day to finally get an offical MP3 Download from Ode Records.

Pork here with this week's Chart Attack.

Spears slips as T.I. climbs. Hudson ain’t going.

If you read last week’s Chart Attack, you’d understand exactly why Britney wasn’t able to keep T.I. down as “Whatever You Like” rebounds to the top spot for the third time on the Hot 100 and “Womanizer” drops to No. 4. T.I. (with a little help from Rihanna) also solidified the No. 2 position with “Live Your Life.” It’s all good with me! “Whatever You Like” has a certain swagger and is as infectious as “Womanizer” is annoying. Britney’s short-lived stay at the summit (after a record-setting jump from 96-1) was most likely due to a sales surge upon the first week of digital availability and has now leveled off. Otherwise, it is just not the time to be battling with T.I. as he is in the midst of some chart dominance. Chart Attack indeed. (Warning: Here comes some chart trivia that possibly only my hardcore chart-ians will appreciate.) Keep reading here, Chart-ians. As covered last week, T.I.’s “Live Your Life” replaced his own song “Whatever You Like” on the top of the Hot 100, making him the 9th artist in the “rock era” to achieve such a feat. Well, this week T.I. has a first. Here’s how it goes. T.I. is the first artist to have a former No. 1 return to the peak position after that same artists follow-up spent time at the top. It’s like an amusement park ride. :]

Look out for “Fearless (Big Machine)” by Taylor Swift as the track moves swiftly (I had to) into the Top 10 at No. 9 this week. Ms. Swift is on the move. Can the tweeners take on the hip-hoppers? Stay tuned.


Meanwhile, Jennifer Hudson doesn’t give it up as easily as Britney does and secures the “Spotlight” for another week as her song of the same name stays solidly at the top of the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay. There is an easy explanation for this streak atop the charts: stellar songcraft, brilliant production by StarGate and Ne-Yo and…that voice. Viva la Jhud!

What's currently sitting atop all of this week's Billboard charts, plus Bing Crosby better than ever, after the jump.


A View From The Top:
Here is a look at what’s currently sitting atop this week’s Billboard charts:

November 1st, 2008 (week ending)

Singles:
-Hot 100: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
-Pop 100: P!nk “So What”
-Mainstream Top 40: P!nk “So What”
-Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop: T-Pain feat. Lil Wayne “Can’t Believe It”
-Hot Modern Rock Tracks: The Offspring “You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid”
-Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks: Metallica “The Day That Never Comes”
-Triple A: O.A.R. “Shattered (Turn The Car Around)
-Hot Rap Tracks: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks: Jason Mraz “I’m Yours”
-Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks: David Cook “The Time Of My Life”
-Hot Digital Songs: Britney Spears “Womanizer”
-Rhythmic Top 40: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Dance Club Play: Georgie Porgie “Can You Feel That Sound”
-Hot Dance Airplay: Kaskade & Deadmau5 “Move For Me”
-Hot Dance Single Sales: Jealous Sound “Got Friends”
-Pop 100 Airplay: P!nk “So What
-Hot 100 Airplay: T.I. “Whatever You Like”
-Hot Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Sales: Artists Stand Up To Cancer “Just Stand Up!”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
-Hot Adult R&B Airplay: Jennifer Hudson “Spotlight”
-Hot Singles Recurrents: Natasha Bedingfield “Pocketful Of Sunshine”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrents: Noel Gourdin “The River”
-Hot 100 Recurrent Airplay: Natasha Bedingfield “Pocketful Of Sunshine”
-Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Recurrent Airplay: Noel Gourdin “The River”
-Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles: Billy Currington “Don’t”
-Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: Soulja Boy Tell’em – “Birdwalk”
-Hot Ringtones: Grupo Montez De Durango “Adios Amore Te Vas”
-Hot Country Songs: Toby Keith “She Never Cried In Front Of Me”

Albums:
-The Billboard 200 Albums: Kenny Chesney – Lucky Old Sun
-Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
-Top Rock Albums: Ray LaMontagne – Gossip In The Grain
-Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums: Metallica – Death Magnetic
-Top Hard Rock Albums: Metallica – Death Magnetic
-Top Independent Albums: Ray LaMontagne – Gossip In The Grain
-Top Electronic Albums: M.I.A. – Kala
-Top Rap Albums: T.I. – Paper Trail
-Top Soundtracks: Mamma Mia!
-Top Cast Albums: Original Broadway Cast Recording – Wicked
-Top Country Albums: Kenny Chesney – Lucky Old Sun
-Top Heatseekers: Gojira – The Way Of All Flesh

. . . and on the international front:-European Hot 100 Singles: P!nk “So What” (go P!nk!)
-European Top 100 Albums: Metallica – Death Magnetic

. . . and . . . why not?
-Hot Holdiay Songs: Bing Crosby “White Christmas” (after all these years . . . .)

Pork here with this week's new music.

It’s October 21st, 2008! That means one thing to me: Labelle! The legendary and inimitable trio reforms and returns after a 32 year absence with Back To Now, a (near) brilliant return to form. No one will ever move me like Patti LaBelle can, and it’s an edgy breath of fresh air to see her reunited with Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash and a relief to see that in these times of chasing trends, Labelle can make you come to them instead of the other way around.

That being said . . . for those of you who may have heard the massively unfortunate first single “Roll Out” (produced by Wyclef Jean) . . . don’t be afraid! This desperate attempt at modernizing Labelle’s sound is both unnecessary and undesirable. It is also as out of place on this very album as it is in Labelle’s discography. Of the various producers (including Lenny Kravitz and the classic songwriting/producing team, Gamble & Huff) Wyclef is the only one silly enough to make such a misstep with his complete disregard for who he was producing. Only a fool would put the most powerful voice (ever) in soul music through a vocoder! SHAME ON YOU, WYCLEF! PatTi-Pain? How dare you! It should be taken off the future pressings it’s so offensive. (Mind you, I used to have nothing but love for Wyclef Jean and I have entertained many of his questionable moves into “experimental” hip hop graciously. “Roll Out” is insulting.) Signs of true life are visible all over the rest of the album. Labelle truly is “re-ignited” (as Ms. Hendryx likes to call it) and by the end of the first chorus of the first song, “Candlelight,” Labelle smoothly creeps right back under your skin and into your soul promising “if you leave out your candle light, I’ll be comin’ for you tonight.” Only Labelle could deliver such a romantic line and yet somehow also hint that you’d better be careful what you wish for. Their unmistakable vocals and harmonies are on full display in this sexy-funky slow jam that Ms. Hendryx actually began penning back in the day.

Lenny Kravitz does what Wyclef couldn’t on “System” and deep inside I knew that’d be the case. Who’s going to do retro-rock-and-soul better than King Kravitz?

The re-ignited energy sparks and flows through the bulk of Back To Now and is capped off by a vintage, live recording of “Miss Otis Regrets.” Some say the recording is from 1969 and some say 1970 . . . either way, it’s a very rare, aural glimpse into a truly different time.

You haven’t and won’t hear another album like this in 2008 or anytime soon. It’s true soul . . . with guitars . . . that will make you listen . . . and feel. Read the full Labelle review. . . .

Back To Now has me happily submerged in a 70’s vibe, and that was around the time I began my music collection . . . with 8-tracks. One of my very first was Kiss’ Double Platinum 8-track. It just about literally rocked my world, and today they are releasing a 4-CD box set called IKONS. Each disc highlights a different band member and their musical contributions over the years. How can you give Peter Criss his own CD, you might be wondering? Well, that’s where you’ll find “Beth” which was on my Double Platinum 8-track and always showed me that it was okay to rock hard and soft and love hard and soft.

Over on the other side of town, James Taylor, known as much for his sincere songcraft as his tender delivery, has taken on a project of covers. Usually one for an acoustic and retrospective moment, Covers is surprisingly upbeat, yet bluesy and almost bouncy in a country kinda way. The collection is made of up songs he has been performing live in his concerts over the years, but has never recorded . . . until now. Fans have been clamoring for this type or record from James for years and now’s their chance to hear their hero roll out his favorites by John Anderson, The Temptations, George Jones, Keith Urban, The Drifters, Glen Campbell, Buddy Holly, The Dixie Chicks, Leonard Cohen, and Eddie Cochran.

Of the project, James says “I've done covers of other people's songs since the beginning. Looking over the various collections of my tunes a fair-sized portion of my "hits" have been covers: ‘You've Got a Friend,’ ‘How Sweet It Is,’ ‘Up On the Roof,’ ‘Handyman’ . . . so this is not uncharted water for me. I've always thought that writing an original song and reinterpreting someone else's were similar processes; just as making music is a lot like listening to it.

What has been so memorable about this album were the sessions themselves: ten days in deep January in a converted barn in the woods of Western Massachusetts. It's remarkable and unusual today to put 12 musicians in the same place at the same time. It's a type of "live" recording sadly seldom seen in these days of the overdub. You get an immediate energy and it's a whole lot of fun. It sweeps you up and it carries you along and when it's done, it's done.”
I personally have always found his cover of Joni Mitchell’s “California” to be pretty interesting. I’ll toss it up in The Media Bar for you all to check out soon. Probably an Acoustic Monday. :]
Read the full James Taylor review. . . .

Indie-heads . . . today’s the day for Sea & Cake and Of Montreal. Soak it in.

Uh-oh! Here it comes! It’s . . . The List
The Full Reviews
and
All New Music Releases - October 21st, 2008
after the jump.

The List
All New Music Releases - October 21st, 2008

+/- (Plus Minus) - X’s On Your Eyes
AC/DC – Black Ice
An Albatross - An Albatross Family Album
Brett – Hope for the Hopeless
Kenny Chesney – Lucky Old Sun
The Dears – Missiles
Neil Diamond – “He Is . . . I Say: How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love” (Hardcover) (You gotta love that title.)
Eminem – The Way I Am (Hardcover) . . . Slim spills the beans.
Sebastian Grainger – Sebastian Grainger and the Mountains
Waylong Jennings – Waylon Forever
Montell Jordan – Let It Rain
Kiss – IKONS
Labelle – Back To Now
Lake – Oh, the Places We’ll Go
Lineland – Logos for Love
Madonna – Confessions (Hardcover with overly-gratuitous photos by Guy Oseary)
Mary Mary – The Sound
MF Doom – Born Into This
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Pit Er Pat – High Time
Pompeii – Nothing Happens for a Reason
Sea & Cake – Car Alarm
Soundtrack: High School Musical 3: Senior Year
Stereolab – Chemical Chords
Sugababes – Catfights and Spotlights
Tommy Sunshine – Relax, This Won’t Hurt
Hank Williams, III – Damn Right, Rebel Proud
Lee Ann Womack – Call Me Crazy

As is to be expected at this time of year, there is a slew of Re-Issues, Re-Masters, Re-Packaging or even simple Re-Formatting (lots of stuff is being released on 180-Gram Vinyl!) by the likes of Black Sabbath, The Byrds, Glen Campbell, The Doors, Eagles, Eno/Fripp, Jefferson Airplane, Joan Jett, Gladys Knight & The Pips (2 collections), Van Morrison, Prince and the Revolution (“Purple Rain” on 180 Gram Vinyl), Sting, Thin Lizzy, Van Halen and even the fine folks @ A Very Special Christmas.
Now you know what’s new. Listen up. :]

Thanks for telling me what I need. And then giving it to me.