Two "masters of darkness" have picked Tuesday to go head to head with new CD box sets. The Ozzman cometh with
Ozzy Osbourne's long-awaited four-CD box set,
Prince of Darkness, packed with rarities and newly recorded cover selections. While the first two discs pile on the demos and live recordings, things get weird with the third CD, entitled
Oddities & Duets. How weird? How about Ozzy and Miss Piggy of the Muppets duet of Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild"? Other odd numbers include "For Heaven's Sake" with Black Sabbath mate Tony Iommi and the Wu-Tang Clan, "Nowhere To Run" with DMX and the recently deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard and a cover of the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive" with Dweezil Zappa. Disc four is entitled
Under Covers, and features Ozzy's tribute salute to King Crimson's "21rst Century Schizoid Man," Mountain's "Mississippi Queen," Arthur Brown's "Fire" and The Beatles' "In My Life." ...
Mute Records is issuing the simply titled B-Sides and Rarities box set from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, a 56-track, three-CD set that only serves up the rarest of the rare -- like a track that came on a flexidisc sold at concerts in 1986 and acoustic versions from a free 7-inch from 1990. Lots of cover tracks surface, such as Cave's take on The Pogues' "Rainy Night In Soho," Roy Orbison's "Running Scared," Neil Young's "Helpless" and Leadbelly's "Black Betty." ...
Released recently was the long-awaited return of French electronic duo, Daft Punk, and their stellar new album Human After All. Recorded in their home studio last year in a six-week session, the result is a dance music masterpiece that takes Kraftwerk's notion of melding man and machine to dizzy new heights. Rising and falling like the hills of the Tour de France, this is blood-pumping, hunch-churning, strobe light -pinning perfection. Available as a CD on Virgin Records, the Astralwerks Records imprint is issuing the album in a special gatefold two-LP set. Highly recommended.
Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Ashanti Thursday and the Doves Tuesday. The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Gwen Stefani Monday and Queens of the Stone Age Tuesday. The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson features Nic Armstrong Tuesday. Last Call with Carson Daly offers up The Dears Tuesday. Jimmy Kimmel Live boasts Christina Milian Friday and Louis XIV Tuesday. And Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Gwen Stefani.
New Releases Coming Tuesday
and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change...
A Frames Black Forest (SubPop) new from members of The Dipers and The Intelligence; Aqualung Strange and Beautiful (Slightly Bigger/Red Ink) domestic collection of songs from his two hit U.K. albums; Brendan Benson The Alternative to Love (V2); Scott Biram Dirty Old One Man Band (Bloodshot); Cex Know Doubt (Record Label); A Change of Pace An Offer You Can't Refuse (Immortal); Vic Chesnutt Ghetto Bells (New West) with guests Bill Frisell and Van Dyke Parks; Copeland In Motion (Militia Group) featuring a bonus acoustic CD EP in the first pressing; Darediablo Twenty Paces (Southern) powerful instrumental collective from New York City; The Decemberists Picaresque (Kill Rock Stars); Dinosaur Jr. Dinosaur, You're Living All Over Me and Bug (Merge) CD reissues with bonus videos and live tracks; John Doe Forever Hasn't Happened Yet (Yep Roc) new solo album from the X founder, with guests Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses and Dave Alvin of The Blasters; Mark Farina Mushroom Jazz 5 (Om Records) excellent mix CD of blunted beats featuring J Boogie, Soundproviders, Pete Rock and more; Billy Idol Devil's Playground (CSP/Sanctuary) all new with guitarist Steve Stevens; Dave Insley Call Me Lonesome (Redeye) with guest Rosie Flores; Jars of Clay Redemption Songs (Essential); Los Super Seven Heard It On the X (Telarc) with guests John Hiatt, Freddy Fender, Lyle Lovett and Delbert McClinton; Mice Parade Nights Wave (Bubblecore) new five-song CD EP; Moby Hotel (V2) featuring a cover of New Order's "Temptation"; Out Hud Let Us Never Speak of It Again (Kranky); The Perceptionists Black Dialogue (Def Jux) new from Mr. Lif, Akrobatik and Fakts One; Queens of the Stone Age Lullabies To Paralyze (Interscope) also available in a deluxe edition CD, this new album features guests Dean Ween of Ween, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Shirley Manson of Garbage and Brody Dalle of The Distillers; Radar Brothers The Fallen Leaf Pages (Merge); Screeching Weasel My Brain Hurts (Asian Man) re-mastered CD reissue of this Punk classic from 1991; Shipping News Flies the Fields (Quarterstick) with guest vocalist Fay Davis Jeffers of Pit Er Pat; Six Feet Under 13 (Metal Blade); Smoke Or Fire Above the City (Fat Wreck) full-length debut from Richmond, Virginia featuring "California's Burning"; Strapping Young Lad Alien (Century Media); Sundayrunners Sundayrunners (Machine); Tuna Helpers I'll Have What She's Having (Minicry) described as "Cruella Deville meets Mary Poppins meets Kate Bush"; Weerd Science Friends and Nervous Breakdowns (Super Rap/Equal Vision) solo album from Josh Eppard of Coheed and Cambria; The Wonder Stuff Escape From Rubbish Island (Reincarnate Music) their first studio album of smart Power Pop in twelve years; touring the U.S. in April; Yo La Tengo Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1984-2003 (Matador) two-CD collection featuring a bonus disc of rarities; Various Artists Cinema: A Windham Hill Collection (Windham Hill/Sony Legacy) newly recorded versions of famous film themes from Amelie, Babe, The Graduate, The Princess Bride and more; Various Artists The Appalachians (Dualtone) 23-track companion to the PBS film; Various Artists Roxy Re-Modeled (Basic Lux) new tribute to Roxy Music from dance, downtempo and deep house artists.
