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  • The Return Of "At The Wrecka Sto’"…Albeit A Day Late…

    There will be a weekly updated new release portion of the actual musichelpweb.com site soon, but in the meantime, there are a million new albums out this week. So, no matter what genre of music you’re a fan of, you should be able to find something to enjoy.

    Country fans: While you’re basking in the glow of Reba McEntire’s #1 Album debut (the best first week of sales in Reba’s long and venerable career), you also might wanna check out “Still Feels Good”, the latest release from country
    darlings Rascal Flatts. They had 2006’s biggest
    selling non-soundtrack album (thanks, “High School Musical”), and this one should be another biggie. For those who like their
    country of a somewhat more mature, rootsy variety check out
    alt-country troubadour Steve Earle and his Washington Square
    Serenade

    Rap fans: You a Black Eyed Peas fan? I’m not, but it’s OK if you are. Band leader will.i.am has a new album out called Songs About Girls. Rumor has it that it’s quite eclectic and artistic in a way that his fellow bandmate Fergie’s album was decidely not.

    Classic Pop fans; Not only are there a few Tony Bennett reissues hitting stores, but Queen Latifah unleashes another set of sunny covers with Travelin’ Light. Listen to the Queen (who I caught last night on a very funny “Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air” rerun…it was strange watching her and Will Smith on the screen knowing that they both have gone on to be Oscar nominated) tackle classics such as “I’m Not In Love” on this release. Meanwhile, not only is Joni Mitchell covered on the new Chaka Khan album (see below for details)…not only is she the subject of a Herbie Hancock-directed tribute album (featuring Corinne Bailey Rae and others), but the Queen of Singer-Songwriters issues her Starbucks-backed Hear Music debut, Shine-which I’ve already heard and HIGHLY recommend.

    Rock fans: The Foo Fighters are back! “The Pretender” is the latest in a long line of winning rock songs from Dave Grohl and company. The name of the album is Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace

    Indie Folks: Iron & Wine (who I remember from the Garden State soundtrack) and Devendra Banhart (who I remember because his name sounds like the name of some girl I went to school with) have new albums out today. I’m sure Pitchfork is already drooling all over both albums.

    R&B fans: This is the R&B Super Tuesday of 2007. To wit: Mary J.-in-training Keyshia Cole attempts to conquer the sophomore album demon with Just Like Me. First single “Let It Go” has already had #1 success. Meanwhile, Jill Scott returns for round three with The Real Thing. The singer/songwriter/spoken word artist also has what is a reportedly career-defining role in “Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married”, in theaters 10/12 (co-starring Janet Jackson). Fans who prefer their soul a little more on the esoteric side will rejoice in albums from bassist/provocateur Meshell Ndegeocello (The World Has Made Me The Man of My Dreams) and singer Rahsaan Patterson’s Wines & Spirits> Finally, a singer who many soul fans say Rahsaan resembles vocally is back. Chaka Khan is back with Funk This!, her first album of all new material in a decade. Chaka rolls with producers Jam & Lewis on this one, and it also features contributions from former Rufus bandmate Tony Maiden, Michael McDonald and Mary J. Blige.

    Lovers of music? This should be a very good week for you!!

  • Beating The Sophomore Jinx: New Releases 9/18/07

    The second album is the “show & prove” effort. The time to let people know that you’re more than a one-hit wonder, and two of 2006’s biggest debut artists make their (rather quick, if you ask me) returns today.
    Welcome back James (“You’re Beautiful”) Blunt and KT (“Suddenly I See”) Tunstall with their second albums. Blunt, the new king of Lite radio, has a new single called “1973” and his album is called All The Lost Souls. KT, whose chick rock has gained her a ton of fans through placement on just about every TV show imaginable, has a new album called Drastic Fantastic.
    Speaking of Lite radio, there’s a new Barry Manilow record in stores today, and something tells me Elizabeth Hasselbeck will not be buying it. But that shouldn’t stop you from buying The Greatest Songs of the Seventies. Then again…it *is* Barry Manilow…
    Want more of the greatest songs of the Seventies? Pick up Babyface’s new CD, Playlist, which features the R&B singer/songwriter/producer/instrumentalist remaking songs like James Taylor’s “Fire & Rain” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Longer”.
    Also on the release schedule, the solo debut of Train’s Pat Monahan, Aussie singer/songwriter Ben Lee, Finnish metal outfit HIM, rap Grammy winner Chamillionaire, and the final album from industrial gods Ministry.
    See? Something for everyone!!!

  • But Isn’t John Bonham Dead??

    OK, folks, seriously.
    I love Led Zeppelin-really, I do.
    But what’s the big hubbub over this reunion concert? (For those who don’t know, the three surviving members of Zep are performing in the U.K. at a tribute concert for the late Atlantic Records honcho Ahmet Ertegun).
    First off-it’s not like they haven’t had reunions before. Remember Live Aid? (where Phil Collins subbed on the drum kit for the dearly departed John Bonham…best rock drummer of all time IMHO). What about the Page & Plant acoustic album and tour in the mid-Nineties?
    And is it really a “reunion” when one of the members is deceased? If Paul and Ringo went on a tour today as The Beatles, it wouldn’t be the same, would it??