| The
Crossing - March 2007 Edition
Holy smokes! There is a lot
of new music coming out these days. If you are somehow under the impression
that there is nothing to listen to, then you’re impression is inaccurate.
Get that checked on. There’s quite a few artists to make mention of. Here
are a few...
ARTISTS of the MONTH:
The Arcade Fire - Here’s
what you are going to need for the blender. You’re gonna need a pinch of
U2, a dash of David Bowie and a thimble full
of Talking Heads. Add an
assortment of instruments including violins, cellos, xylophones, recorders,
synthesizers, piano and accordion to
your guitar, drums, bass
broth and you will have something resembling this six member ensemble who
hail from Montreal, Canada. Their 2nd album, entitled “Neon Bible”, is
the highly anticipated follow-up to the critically acclaimed mid-fi triumphant
first album “Funeral” back in 2004 and it releases March the 6th. Prepare
to have your brain explode!
Mary Chapin Carpenter - Also
releasing March the 6th, is the latest album from Mary Chapin Carpenter
who was born in New Jersey and was raised in the Washington D.C. area.
She is a literate and gifted singer/songwriter whose music balances between
folk and country with
occasional influence from
60’s and 70’s rock. Her 1994 album “Stones In The Road” won the Grammy
for Best Country Album. This new album,
entitled “The Calling” will
be her 9th album. Your head may not explode, but your chances of being
moved in another way entirely are considerable. Although she almost always
writes her own material, she has been known to perform some covers in the
past, such as ‘Passionate
Kisses’ by Lucinda Williams
and ‘The Bug’ by Dire Straits.
Lucy Kaplansky - Releasing
March 13th is Lucy K’s 6th album entitled “Over The Hills”. Lucy is a New
York City area former clinical psychologist turned singer/songwriter who
plays acoustic guitar and often co-writes songs with her husband Richard
Litvin. Although she often co-writes and covers a few songs per album,
this new album is supposed to be her most personal to date, partially covering
the death of her late father, noted mathematician Irving Kaplansky. In
concert, she has even been known to cover math related songs originally
composed by her father. They are hilarious I can attest. The new album
has covers of Roxy Music’s ‘More Than This’ and a gutsy cover of Johnny
Cash’s ‘Ring Of Fire’. She also performs a duet with Buddy Miller on the
Julie Miller penned ‘Somewhere Trouble Don’t Go’. When not singing on her
own albums, she can often be found singing harmony vocals on albums by
John Gorka.
The Innocence Mission - For
this garden to spring from the ground, you’ll need three things: the beautifully
voiced Karen Peris, her husband Don
Peris on guitar and long-time
member, bass player Mike Bitts. If a bird could sing, it might actually
sound like Karen Peris. She is blessed with
a unique, fragile yet resonant
voice that, along with the band’s lyrics, consistently invokes the band’s
namesake. If Peace and Innocence had a volume, it may sound a lot like
the earthy, thoroughly natural sounds of The Innocence Mission. The new
album, entitled “We Walked In Song”, is the Lancaster, Pennsylvania band’s
9th album and it releases March 13th. If you ever feel you need to detox
from the world, this is your band.
Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers
- Roger Clyne is a very gifted and underrated singer/songwriter from Tempe,
Arizona. He once fronted the mildly successful mid-90’s band The Refreshments
and now fronts his own band with help from former Refreshments drummer
P.H. Naffah. They recorded two excellent albums with The Refreshments and
now have four albums under Roger Clyne’s name for a total of six albums.
Two of these Roger Clyne albums had current Gin Blossoms guitarist Scotty
Johnson play on them. Down to a four-piece band, Roger writes about Life
in the Southwest with considerable references to Mexico and the surrounding
desert lands. If you want to get yourself into the Southwestern headspace,
this is a perfect band for you. Live you can expect a hard rockin’, sweaty
good time, while your mind tries to envision the colorful characters and
beautiful landscapes so crystalized in Roger Clyne’s songs. While there
is a song on the new album called ‘World Ain’t Gone
Crazy’, the title of the
album is called “No More Beautiful World”. We’ll have to see what is up
Roger’s sleeve and his take on the world on March 20th, when the new album
is released.
Jack Ingram - Jack Ingram
is a Texas born country/folk/rock singer/songwriter whose star is on the
rise through constant touring and word-of-mouth. He writes or co-writes
almost all of his own songs, but has covered a few such as ‘Goodnight Moon’
by Will Kimbrough and ‘Dallas’ by Jimmie Dale Gilmore. This new album is
entitled “This Is It” and it is the long-awaited follow-up to his 2002
album “Electric”. In between then and now, he has released an EP and about
four live albums on various labels, including the excellent “Acoustic Motel”.
Jack Ingram puts on a highly energetic live show and is usually backed
by a great band that includes smokin’ guitar and hammond B-3 organ. Look
for the new album on March 27th. Jack Ingram will be opening for Brad Paisley
this Summer. His one-time guitarist Chris Masterson is now the lead guitarist
for Son Volt.
For further info on all six
of these artists, check out the links to their official websites at the
very bottom of this page.
In addition to these artists,
there are notable new albums this month from Son Volt, Relient K, Rosie
Thomas, Roddy Hart, Jesse Malin, Modest Mouse and a new EP from Bright
Eyes, among others.
So, without further ado,
take a deep breath and let’s get March started...
Recently released and not mentioned in last edition:
* Billy
Joel - “All My Life” (CD single.)
* Van
Morrison - “At The Movies” (Compilation.)
* Yoko
Ono - “Yes, I’m a Witch” (Guests include Flaming Lips and Polyphonic Spree.)
* Derek
Webb - “One Zero” (Acoustic album.)
* Rodrigo
y Gabriela - “S/T”
* The
Cat Empire - “Two Shoes”
* Anberlin
- “Cities”
* The
Ataris - “Welcome The Night”
* Lost
Ocean - “S/T”
* The
Colour - “Between Earth & Sky”
* Future
Of Forestry - “Twilight”
* Echoing
Angels - “You Alone”
* Besnard
Lakes - “Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse”
* Calla
- “Strength in Numbers”
* Audionom
- “Retrospektiv”
* Explosions
In The Sky - “All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone”
* Quietdrive
- “When All That’s Left Is You”
* Bayside
- “The Walking Wounded”
* Cold
War Kids - “Robbers & Cowards”
* Dustin
Kensrue - “Please Come Home” (Singer of Thrice.)
* Cool
Hand Luke - “The Balancing Act”
* Richard
Swift - “Dressed Up for the Let Down”
* Keller
Williams - “Dreams”
* Justin
Earle - “Yuma” (Son of Steve.)
* Bobby
Conn - “King for a Day”
* Lifetime
- “S/T”
* Hellogoodbye
- “Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!”
* Luscious
Jackson - “Greatest Hits”
* Goo
Goo Dolls - “Let Love In” (Reissue w/DVD.)
* Bob
Dylan - “Don’t Look Back” (DVD; Deluxe Edition.)
* Black
47 - “The Story So Far” (DVD.)
* Gandhi
- DVD; 25th Anniversary Edition
3/6
* The
Arcade Fire - “Neon Bible”
* Son
Volt - “The Search”
* Mary
Chapin Carpenter - “The Calling”
* Over
The Rhine - “Live from Nowhere, Vol. 2”
* Bright
Eyes - “Four Winds” (EP.)
* Neal
Morse - “Sola Scriptura”
* Relient
K - “Five Score and Seven Years Ago”
* Wolf
& Cub - “Vessels”
* Sevendust
- “Alpha”
* The
Fall - “Reformation Post T.L.C.”
* Ry
Cooder - “My Name Is Buddy”
* Assembly
of Dust - “Recollection”
* Air
- “Pocket Symphony”
* Greencards
- “Viridian”
* Gary
Allan - “Greatest Hits”
* Vusi
Mahlasela - “Guiding Star”
* Antibalas
- “Security”
* Gruff
Rhys - “Candylion”
* No
More Kings - “S/T”
* Maria
Taylor - “Lynn Teeter Flower”
* The
Cinematics - “Strange Education”
* The
Last Town Chorus - “Wine Waltz”
* Albert
Hammond Jr. - “Yours To Keep”
* Sunny
Sweeney - “Heartbreaker’s Hall Of Fame”
* Michael
Penn - “Palms and Runes, Tarot and Tea: a Collection”
* Johnny
Cash - “Ultimate Gospel”
* Elvis
Presley - “Ultimate Gospel”
* Megadeth
- “That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires” (DVD/CD.)
* Borat
- DVD
* Fast
Food Nation - DVD
* Requiem
- DVD
* Confetti
- DVD
* Peter
Pan - DVD (Disney.)
3/13
* Lucy
Kaplansky - “Over The Hills”
* The
Innocence Mission - “We Walked In Song”
* Rosie
Thomas - “These Friends of Mine”
* Amy
Winehouse - “Back to Black”
* Roddy
Hart - “Bookends”
* Last
Train Home - “Last Good Kiss”
* Graham
Parker - “Don’t Tell Colombus”
* Marc
Ford - “Weary & Wired”
* Jorma
Kaukonen - “Stars In My Crown”
* James
Morrison - “Undiscovered”
* Ken
Andrews - “Secrets of the Lost Satellite”
* Aqualung
- “Memory Man”
* Fratellis
- “Costello Music”
* The
View - “Hats Off to the Buskers”
* Good
Charlotte - “Good Morning Revival”
* Finger
Eleven - “Them vs. You vs. Me”
* Melissa
Etheridge - “Greatest Hits: the Road Less Traveled”
* Neil
Young - “Live at Massey Hall” (1971concert.)
* The
Corrs - “Dreams: a Collection”
* The
Queen - DVD
* Casino
Royale - DVD
* The
Holiday - DVD
* Shortbus
- DVD
3/20
* Roger
Clyne & The Peacemakers - “No More Beautiful World” (w/DVD.)
* Jesse
Malin - “Glitter In The Gutter” (New date. Guests include Bruce Springsteen,
Ryan Adams and Jakob Dylan.)
* Modest
Mouse - “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank”
* Joss
Stone - “Introducing Joss Stone”
* The
Stooges - “The Weirdness” (Iggy Pop & company’s first album in 33 years.)
* Willie
Nelson, Ray Price & Merle Haggard - “Last of the Breed” (2 CD set.)
* Ted
Leo & The Pharmacists - “Living With the Living”
* Andrew
Bird - “Armchair Apochrypha”
* Bryan
Ferry - “Dylanesque”
* Erasure
- “Light at the End of the World”
* Low
- “Drums and Guns”
* Tracey
Thorn - “Out of the Woods”
* Elliott
Yamin - “S/T”
* Willy
Mason - “If the Ocean gets Rough”
* All
Star United - “Love and Radiation”
* The
Willowz - “Chautauqua”
* The
Zincs - “Black Pompadour”
* The
Ponys - “Turn the Lights Out”
* The
Roches - “Moonswept”
* The
Aliens - “Astronomy For Dogs” (Import.)
* Stephen
Marley - “Mind Control”
* Nick
Cave - “Abattoir Blues Tour”
* The
Nativity Story - DVD
* Letters
From Iwo Jima - DVD
* Blood
Diamond - DVD
* Night
At The Museum - DVD
* Eragon
- DVD
* Rocky
Balboa - DVD
* Come
Early Morning - DVD
* Everyone’s
Hero - DVD
* My
Country, My Country - DVD
3/27
* Jack
Ingram - “This Is It”
* Coldplay
- “The Singles: 1999-2006”
* Laura
Veirs - “Saltbreakers”
* Kate
Havnevik - “Melankton”
* Kaiser
Chiefs - “Yours Truly, Angry Mob” (New date.)
* Macy
Gray - “Big”
* Grant-Lee
Phillips - “Strangelet”
* Klaxons
- “Myths of the Near Future”
* Clutch
- “From Beale Street to Oblivion”
* Magnum
- “Princess Alice and the Broken Arrow”
* Third
Day - “Chronology I” (w/DVD.)
* Stevie
Nicks - “Crystal Vision: the Very Best of” (w/DVD.)
* Warren
Zevon - a few remastered reissues
* The
Pursuit of Happyness - DVD
* Children
of Men - DVD
* Harsh
Times - DVD
* Curse
of the Golden Flower - DVD
* Happy
Feet - DVD
* Deep
Sea 3-D - DVD
4/3
* The
Waterboys - “Book Of Lightning” (Import w/DVD; Mike Scott returns with
his 12th album.)
* Fountains
Of Wayne - “Traffic and Weather”
* Kings
of Leon - “Because of The Times”
* Idlewild
- “Make Another World”
* Brandi
Carlile - “The Story”
* Jarvis
Cocker - “Jarvis”
* Jonatha
Brooke - “Careful What You Wish For”
* Martin
Sexton - “Seeds”
* David
Gray - “Shine: the Best of the Early Years”
* Alison
Krauss - “A Hundred Miles or More: a Collection:
* Martina
McBride - “Waking Up Laughing”
* Tim
McGraw - “Let It Go”
* REO
Speedwagon - “Find Your Own Way Home” (Title change; new date.)
* Robert
Plant - a few remastered reissues
* Saxon
- “The Inner Sanctum”
* U2
- Popmart: Live from Mexico City” (DVD.)
* Charlotte’s
Web - DVD
* Volver
- DVD
* The
Good Shepherd - DVD
* Death
of a President - DVD
4/10
* Bright Eyes - “Cassadaga”
* Rosebuds - “Night of the Furies”
* Blonde Redhead - “23”
* Grinderman - “S/T” (Nick Cave band.)
* Love of Diagrams - “Mosaic”
* Metallica - “Master of Puppets: Essential Albums Series” (DVD.)
* Bobby - DVD
* Arthur & The Invisibles - DVD
* Jonestown: the Life and Death of Peoples Temple - DVD
4/17
* Patti Smith - “12”
* June Tabor - “Apples”
* Nine Inch Nails - “Year Zero”
* Robert Pollard - “Silverfish Trivia EP”
* Avril Lavigne - “The Best Damn Thing”
* Joseph Arthur - “Let’s Just Be”
* Joe Strummer - “Future Is Unwritten”
* The Last King of Scotland - DVD (new date.)
* Notes On A Scandal - DVD
4/24
* Marillion - “Somewhere Else”
* The Oysterband - “Meet You There”
* Porcupine Tree - “Fear of a Blank Planet” (Guests Robert Fripp and Alex
Lifeson.)
* Cowboy Junkies - “At The End Of Paths Taken”
* Golden Smog - “Blood on the Slacks”
* Maria McKee - “Late December”
* Arctic Monkeys - “Favorite Worst Nightmare”
* The Twilight Sad - “Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters”
* Mando Diao - “Ode To Ochrasy”
* The Veils - “Nox Vomica”
* Two Cow Garage - “III”
* Night Ranger - “Hole In The Sun” (Import.)
* Stryper - “Live in Puerto Rico” (DVD.)
* Little Children - DVD
* Deja Vu - DVD
* 10 Items or Less - DVD
* Code Name: the Cleaner - DVD
5/1
* Tori Amos - “American Doll Posse”
* Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - “Baby 81”
* Dinosaur Jr. - “Beyond”
* Doyle Bramhall II - “Foodland”
* Feist - “The Reminder”
* Linkin Park - “TBA”
* Dreamgirls - DVD
5/8
* Rush - “Snakes & Arrows”
* Elliott Smith - “New Moon” (2 CD rarities compilation.)
* Travis - “Boy With No Name” (Import.)
* Dolores O’Riordan - “Are You Listening?” (Voice of The Cranberries.)
* Bjork - “Volta”
* Keren Ann - “S/T”
* The Sea and Cake - “Everybody”
* The Mystery Jets - “Zoo Time”
* The Brakes - “The Beatific Visions”
* Megadeth - “United Abominations”
* Miss Potter - DVD
* Breaking and Entering - DVD
5/15
* Buffalo Tom - “TBA”
* Wilco - “Sky Blue Sky”
* Satellite Party - “Ultra Payloaded” (New Perry Farrell band.)
* Blacktop Mourning - “TBA”
* The Horrors - “Strange House” (import.)
* Pan’s Labyrinth - DVD
* The Fountain - DVD
* The Painted Veil - DVD
5/22
* Wheat - “Everyday I Said a Prayer...”
* The National - “Boxer”
* Voxtrot - “S/T”
* The Good German - DVD
6/5
* Ryan Adams - “Easy Tiger”
* Chris Cornell - “Carry On” (Former singer of Audioslave/Soundgarden;
includes the Casino Royale main title song ‘You Know My Name’
and a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Billie Jean’; produced by Steve Lillywhite
of U2/Big Country fame.)
* Dream Theater - “Systematic Chaos”
* Cinematic Orchestra - “Ma Fleur”
7/7
* Smashing Pumpkins - “Zeitgeist”
LYRICS of the MONTH:
On record, this is a hard
rockin’ tune, but if you read closely enough on the chorus and the breakdown,
it could also be the ultimate love song.
I poked a pistol in the eye
Lit up a powder keg
And rode it to the sky
Yeah, the Reaper even calls me for his alibi
I sang Cerberus to sleep
with a rock ‘n’ roll lullaby
I made a congregation weep
Never packed a parachute to Lover’s Leap
Yeah I been dancin’ with the Devil, baby
Cheek to cheek
Thought I was strong until you came
And made me weak
Now I don’t need another thrill
Just hold my hand and I can stand to stand still
Hear me screamin’
Baby, I want you
Baby, I need you
And honey, I don’t need another thrill
So to a queen I’ve never bowed
Never been a pawn or a fool
I was way too proud
Give me a lightning rod and
I can stab a thundercloud
But now for you I can’t stop cryin’ out loud
Now I don’t need another thrill
Just hold my hand and I can stand to stand still
Hear me screamin’
Baby, I want you
Baby, I need you
And honey, I don’t need another thrill
All of my words have failed me
My tongue and my heart
Have conspired to jail me
Never thought I’d need someone to save me
Now I’ll be free as soon as you enslave me
Now I don’t need another thrill
Just hold my hand and I can stand to stand still
Hear me screamin’
Baby, I want you
Baby, I need you
And honey, I don’t need another thrill.
Roger Clyne, the song “I Don’t Need Another Thrill” from the album Americano.
See you in April!
Chris Barlow
http://www.arcadefire.com
http://www.theinnocencemission.com
http://www.marychapincarpenter.com
http://www.lucykaplansky.com
http://www.azpeacemakers.com
http://www.jackingram.net
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