NEWSLETTER #11!

R.I.P. CINDY WALKER, LYN NOFZIGER & CASPAR WEINBERGER - Stay tuned for Willie Nelson's new releases, "The Songs Of Lyn Nofziger" and "The Songs Of Caspar Weinberger," out Thursday!

URGENT! NYCD-online.com cannot exist without stuff to sell! WE NEED YOUR CDs AND DVDs! We buy all kinds of music and movies, so email us (HEYNYCD@aol.com) or call us (212-244-3460) to let us know what you have. We even make housecalls, providing you live a reasonable cab fare away from West 38 St.

NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES! (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, UNLESS WE MISS ONE AND GO BACK)

THE ALARM - "BEST OF." We were just saying how much we loved these guys back in the '80s, and lo and behold, a new remastered collection featuring their top hits, rare live versions, and a new song appears. Sure, Mike Peters will never win a Nobel Peace Prize, but he would never be caught having lunch with George Bush, either.

BABYSHAMBLES - "DOWN IN ALBION." Rough Trade keeps threatening to put it out, and maybe next week we'll really see the U.S. release of the not-long-awaited debut album from the drug-addled mind of ex-Libertine Pete Doherty.

PAT BENATAR - REMASTERS. The first three releases from the pint-sized dynamo ("IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT," "CRIMES OF PASSION" and "PRECIOUS TIME") newly remastered. No bonus tracks, but we believe the remastering has been Myron Grombacher approved.

BLIND MELON - "LIVE AT THE PALACE." ? Who... I mean who really ca... I mean...???

ANI DIFRANCO - "CARNEGIE HALL." Ani's solo performance, recorded live on April 6, 2002. We've never seen the appeal of Ani, but we do like Carnegie Hall.

FLAMING LIPS - "AT WAR WITH THE MYSTICS." One of us here at NYCD has been impressed with the Lips' studio wizardry over the last four or five records. The rest of us feel like they're full of ideas, but without any real songs. This new record is highly anticipated, so pick it up and decide for yourself.

J. GEILS BAND - "BEST OF." A new 18 track remastered compilation from their Capitol Records/MTV years. No "Give It To Me," no "Looking For A Love," no "First I Look At The Purse," but still, some very catchy numbers.

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD - "GREATEST HITS." Yet another single disc definitive compilation from the Motor City kings of the single disc compilation. "Are you feelin' the Funk?"

HALL & OATES - "PLATINUM COLLECTION." The 2006 digitally remastered anthology, featuring the best of their Atlantic Records years, which includes the criminally underrated "War Babies" material, produced by Todd Rundgren.

JEREMIAH LOCKWOOD - "AMERICAN PRIMITIVE." We've raved about here on the blog, and his solo debut CD is pretty damn amazing. Think the raw blues of the Fat Possum label with many world music influences. This is a winner.

MASSIVE ATTACK - "COLLECTED." Remastered best-of featuring the trip-hoppers' most famous tracks, which also comes as a special edition DualDisc with bonus audio material and all their videos on the DVD side.

MOODY BLUES - UK REMASTERS. Digitally remastered from the original master tapes by Justin Hayward, three titles ("DAYS OF FUTURE PASSED," "IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD" and "TO OUR CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN") feature a bonus CD with rare tracks and BBC sessions, while two other titles ("ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM" and "A QUESTION OF BALANCE") are single SACDs with bonus tracks.

MORRISSEY - "RINGLEADER OF THE TORMENTORS." Mozzer went away long enough for people to start missing him, and his last album (2004's "You Are The Quarry") became his most successful release in many a year. The followup is highly anticipated as well. Mopers of the world unite.

NEW ORLEANS SOCIAL CLUB - "SING ME BACK HOME." Produced by Leo Sacks, who narrowly lost out to Sal Nunziato in the "Guy Who Loves New Orleans The Mostest" competition, this collective was assembled in the same fashion as the Buena Vista Social Club, in which an all-star band backs up a revolving cast of luminaries, featuring such legends as Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr., Ivan, Cyril and Charles Neville, Dr. John, and Irma Thomas, to name but a few. Along with "Our New Orleans," this is one of the best and most musically solid of the recent batch of New Orleans tribute discs.

NINE INCH NAILS - "EVERY DAY IS EXACTLY THE SAME." Not that many people cared, but Trent Reznor's last album, "With Teeth," was maybe the best thing he'd done since "Pretty Hate Machine." This is a six track disc of remixes from that album. FACT: Trent Reznor spent a lot of time in New Orleans, but has never said "Fee-na-nay" on any of his records.

PINK - "I'M NOT DEAD." Good thing she let us know, because after the poor sales of her last album, "Try This," she might as well have been. The first single, "Stupid Girl," is getting a lot of hype thanks to the kind of amusing video. Let's see where the album goes. Hey, we liked "Missundaztood."

PLACEBO - "MEDS." "The triumphant return of one of the UK's most enduring and engaging bands," it says here. Of course, they said the same thing about the last Menswear album, too.

THE VINES - "VISION VALLEY." After a promising debut, the Vines disappeared off the radar thanks to their disappointing followup. Maybe this record will get them back into the public eye. Or maybe not.

WORLD PARTY - REISSUES. This is the enigma that is Karl Wallinger. He releases a new record to critical acclaim, plays three gigs, cancels his tour, disappears for three years, and then resurfaces. To make things more complicated, his first two long out-of-print records, "PRIVATE REVOLUTION" and "GOODBYE JUMBO" are getting their first remastering in the US as a prequel to the reissue of his brand new record, "DUMBING UP," which is almost four years old. Doesn't matter if you're not following this -- all these records are amazing, and you should get them all when they're re-released.

PICK OF THE WEEK!

CASSANDRA WILSON - "THUNDERBIRD." We've always loved Cassandra, even though most of her records have been somewhat uneven. Until now. The T-Bone Burnett-produced "Thunderbird" takes the sultry, don't-just-call-her-jazz diva into more engaging territories. There's a little more instrumentation, the songs are just a bit more upbeat, and the album as a whole sounds fresher than anything she's done before. Includes a chilling cover of the country standard "Red River Valley." BUY THIS!

CANDI STATON - "HIS HANDS." Much like the makeovers given to Bettye Lavette, Solomon Burke and Lanie Kazan, Candi Staton's new release is a return to her Southern soul roots... we hope.

To order any of these titles, or if there's anything else, new or old, that you want, let us know and we will get it for you! EMAIL US at HEYNYCD@aol.com or call (212) 244-3460 and ask for "Mr. Diddly."

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Not enough time in the world to watch your favorite TV shows, see your favorite movies, listen to your favorite CDs, and read your favorite books? That's why you've got NYCD's blog to help you along with the music, and Popsurfing with everything else. Insightful writing that's informative and entertaining. And, apparently, they never sleep.

Your friends,
Tony and Sal, "The Potato Peelin' Lumberjacks"

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You Heard It Here First...Or At Least Third

Discovering an artist as special as Jeremiah Lockwood does not happen that often. From the opening notes of "American Primitive," Lockwood's debut solo release, you are moved. Engrossed. POSSESSED. It is exactly the type of record you'd expect from old, southern blues warhorses such as R.L. Burnside or Junior Kimbrough. Only, Jeremiah Lockwood is not from the south and he is not old. He is a 27-year-old NYC Jewish boy, whose first guitar was a Bar Mitzvah gift. And thanks to countless hours listening to Robert Johnson, Othar Turner, and the aforementioned Burnside & Kimbrough, he has emerged as a legitimate bluesman. Only don't mention that in front of him. Lockwood would like to make it clear, “This is NOT a straight blues record.” Boy, is he right!

At the age of 14, Jeremiah Lockwood met Carolina Slim, a 75-year-old sharecropper's son who had been busking on the streets of Manhattan, as well as below in the acoustically propitious NYC subway system. Lockwood had asked if he could sit in with Slim. Carolina obliged. Thirteen years later, the duo continues to make music together. Those years together have meant a lot to Lockwood personally, and to the sound of "American Primitive."

Prior to releasing his solo debut, Lockwood had spent the late 90's leading the experimental rock band “The Sway Machinery,” a mongrel if you will, mixing raw blues, rock and roll, and Klezmer quite successfully. It is exactly this type of adventure seeking that makes “American Primitive” not just another blues record.

Lockwood will be playing live to promote “American Primitive,” a record that should appeal to more than just a blues audience. Fans of world music, indie-rock, jam bands, and solid, old-fashioned musicianship should take to Lockwood's completely original approach to music. “As a matter of fact,” Lockwood explains, “I don't want to be pegged as a bluesman. I want to be something to everybody.” From the sound of “American Primitive,” he is certainly going to get what he wants. Do yourself a service and check this record out.

THE ALBUMS THAT TIME FORGOT, VOL. 1

In the spring of 1998, Smashing Pumpkin JAMES IHA pissed off a lot of people when he released his first and, to date, only solo album. Let It Come Down was about the last thing that anyone expected from a member of one of the biggest alt-rock bands of the decade -- eleven low-key love songs that sounded like a mid '70s singer-songwriter pop album. In other words, think Al Stewart instead of Billy Corgan.

People couldn't figure the album out. Was it an ironic sendup of mellow rock? Or was Iha revealing that behind his super-cool facade lay a genuine wuss? One listen makes it clear that the wussiness is for real. Iha's got love on his mind, and it's all he sings about -- "love," "lover," "dearest," "darling," "beauty," all make their way into just about every song. But what would come off as sappy on other albums comes off here as... well, still sappy. But Iha's so sincere about it, from the delicate but hook-laden melodies to his earnest, occasionally quavering vocals, that it becomes charming. Not every song is a winner, but about half the album is pretty brilliant -- intricate little gems that are set just right, without a wasted note or an embellishment that shouldn't be there.

Let It Come Down sank without a trace. Pumpkins fans hated it, and in the last days of the alt-rock boom and the beginning of the boy bands' ascendancy, there wasn't much of a market for it anywhere else. I'm not a fan of Smashing Pumpkins, nor do I like very many mellow singer-songwriters, but I think Let It Come Down is more than just a great listen -- it took a lot of balls for James Iha to put it out, and ironically, it may be the most punk-rock career move he's ever made. Eight years on, I'm still eagerly awaiting the sequel.

YOU MIGHT THINK IT'S FOOLISH
Some of you may have heard about "The New Cars" rolling into your town this summer. This would be The Cars, but with a slight tune-up. Both original leaders, Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, declined the invitation to reunite. I'm guessing Ocasek wanted more money, and Orr was still dead. So in their place, we have music legend and recent "utility man to the stars," Todd Rundgren on lead vocals, and his longtime Utopia bandmate and sidekick, Kasim Sulton, on bass. On paper, this looked like a disaster. I liked The Cars in their heyday, and I still look forward to new Todd Rundgren music, even if he has become the Randy Velarde of the rock world recently. (I guess we all have bills to pay.) But, does anyone really care? Who is going to go to this show? Todd fans? Greg Hawkes fans? Well, apparently no one.

Tickets went on sale almost two weeks ago, and so far nothing has been sold. A mere 1000 seats in venues that hold 7-10 thousand. There is already talk of either canceling or downsizing the tour. (why were such large venues booked in the first place?) But is this because of a lack of interest in the band itself? Actually, the new single, "Not Tonight" is quite good. Sounds like The Cars, with better lead vocals. And, their performance of "Good Times Roll" on Leno was also very strong. Made me wanna see them live.

OK, here are some facts:

They are sharing the bill with Blondie.

Tickets prices are as high as $300.

Let me go out on a limb here and ask, "Could that be why no one is buying tickets?"
What bonehead assumed that fans of The Cars or Todd Rundgren were also fans of Blondie? Just because they all put out records in the 70's and 80's? Why not have a Pat Benatar/Michael McDonald tour? Or a Sonny Rollins/Spyro Gyra tour? Sometimes, one band in a small venue is enough.

Ok, more importantly- $300 for a prime seat. Even if they propped up Benjamin Orr in a rocking chair, that is way too much money. The closest venue to NYC for the "Road Rage" tour is Jones Beach, a venue that makes a trip to Montgomery, Alabama more pleasureable and convenient. The cheapest seat is $65, and it is located in the top tier of the second level. This would be the same as sitting on a yacht in the ocean and looking back onto the shore at the stage.

It is easy to make "The New Cars" the scapegoat for the poor ticket sales. Hell, prior to hearing a single note, I had already written two pages of snide commentary. But, it's going to take a lot of convincing for me to believe that the reason for the imminent cancelation of this tour has more to do with the band, and not the absurd price of the ticket. The music is good. It's rock n roll. It could have been a fun night out. At 40 bucks a ducat! In a nice theatre. Indoors. With a seat. (Todd fans are old. We need to sit.) But outdoor venues at that price? Big mistake. Plus, you know it'll rain the night you decide to go.

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK... BUT NEVER CARED ENOUGH TO ASK!

1. The new Cassandra Wilson record on Blue Note, "Thunderbird," is damn good. Look for it April 4!

2. Tony watched the Knicks wear green uniforms on St. Patrick's Day. They actually won, too.

3. Sal spent St. Patrick's Day traveling to his spiritual homeland, New Orleans, for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Hasn't said much since his return. And for the first time, this is not a good thing.

4. Tony obtained a bottle of authentic, illegal-in-the-USA absinthe, and has not gone insane or had hallucinations. Yet.

5. ARTIST TO CHECK OUT: Algerian punk/techno/world music genius Rachid Taha. Our favorite is 2000's Made In Medina, although his most recent one, 2004's Tekitoi, is excellent too.

6. RIDICULOUSLY LARGE AND EXPENSIVE BOX SET OF THE WEEK: Nat King Cole's Complete Capitol Recordings 1955-59. 11 CDs, on Bear Family. Tony refuses to eat solids until his copy arrives.

7. Sal saw the Allman Bros. on opening night of March Madness at the Beacon, and on March 20 as well. The band is as hot as ever. Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks never fail to astound. Neither does their 225 year old drummer, Jaimoe. CAVEAT EMPTOR: Whatever you wear to the show, prepare to burn it once you get home.

8. The new Prince record, 3121, is getting better with every listen, unlike the overrated Musicology, which got worse with every listen.

9. While in New Orleans, Sal saw an acoustic show by Lucinda Williams which was great, but not as amazing as her opening act, an acoustic set by Tim Easton. Buy all his records right here!

10. In case we haven't shoved it down your throat enough already, buy James Hunter's new album, People Gonna Talk. A strong early contender for album of the year, and he wears nice suits, too.

NEWSLETTER #10!

FIRST THINGS FIRST!

CHECK OUT OUR CDs AND DVDs FOR SALE ON AMAZON!

SELL US YOUR CDs AND DVDs! Email us at HEYNYCD@aol.com or call us during business hours at (212) 244-3460.

HONK IF YOU THOUGHT "CRASH" SHOULDN'T HAVE WON BEST PICTURE!

AND NOW... NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

A DVD: Still riding high from their reunion tour, the Robinson brothers, better known as the BLACK CROWES, are documented on "FREAK N' ROLL INTO THE FOG," shot live at the Fillmore in San Francisco from their four night run last August that featured your favorite hits, a treasure trove of covers, and an inspired acoustic set. 19 tracks plus bonus material.

ANOTHER DVD: DAVID BOWIE's "SERIOUS MOONLIGHT" tour of 1983 finally gets proper DVD treatment in the US. Featuring an inspired set of new and old material as well as the bonus documentary "Ricochet," which was shot during the Far East portion of the tour.

YET ONE MORE DVD: QUEEN - "THE MAKING OF A NIGHT AT THE OPERA" is just that, an in-depth look into the creation of one of the greatest albums of the '70s, featuring interviews with Brian May, Roger Taylor, Joe Perry, Ian Hunter, and the always eloquent Nuno Bettencourt.

LUKA BLOOM - "INNOCENCE." The introspective and super-sensitive Irishman releases his tenth album, hot on the heels of Purim.

ELVIS COSTELLO - "THE JULIET LETTERS" (2 CD EXPANDED REMASTER). 1993's experiment in chamber-pop, featuring the Brodsky Quartet, was one of those "love it or hate it" records, but even if you didn't go for the Brodskys' classically-tinged backings, Costello's writing and vocals were first-rate as usual. The remaster includes a bonus disc of rare and unreleased material of more of Costello's forays into classical from throughout the '90s, as well as some live tracks recorded at Town Hall with the Brodskys, one of which is an incredibly moving version of the standard "They Didn't Believe Me." For the record, Sal loves it, and Tony doesn't dis-love it.

BEN HARPER - "BOTH SIDES OF THE GUN." Split up over two CDs, which together equal the running time of one CD, Harper ruminates about the long running time of CDs and how they should be shorter. A concept album that really works. For those paying attention, Harper has always been a favorite among surfer dudes and jam band-loving hackysackers, and this record shows both sides of Harper's gun. One side of his gun is really rockin', and the other side of his gun is kind of acoustic. Put them together and you get one heck of a gun. Probably the best record he's made without the Five Blind Boys Of Alabama.

HOWARD KAYLAN (OF THE TURTLES) - "DUST BUNNIES." We mostly want to know what the following means: "The songs were handpicked by Kaylan from years of seldom-heard B-sides and album cuts recorded by his favorite artists and supplemented by new arrangements of more familiar pieces, and a rock original or two." HUH?

LOOSE FUR - "BORN AGAIN IN THE U.S.A." Sophomore release from the Wilco side project. When their first album came out a few years ago in the wake of Wilco albums like "Summerteeth," it sounded pretty out-there, almost experimental. Now, compared to the last few Wilco albums, this one sounds like a pop album in comparison. Highly recommended, whether or not you're a Wilco fan.

PRINCE - "3121." OK, we said all the crap about it last week. Who cares, he's over, yada yada. Truth is, it's a pretty good album, and much better than the over-hyped and overrated "Musicology." It seems as if, for the first time since 1987's "Sign O' The Times," and even 1996's underrated and underappreciated "Emancipation," Prince has put together a cohesive collection of songs that actually sounds like one recording session, as opposed to a collection of throwaways from his vaults. Take it from two diehard Prince fans-turned-Prince haters: the first two or three songs that have been heard by the masses ("Black Sweat," "Te Amo Corazon," and "Fury") are three of the weakest songs on the record. Prince is back?

SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS - "DOUBLEWIDE AND LIVE." Everyone's favorite chicken eatin' white trash rockers release their first commercially available live record. If you've never been to one of their live shows, this is evidence of what a great time you've been missing all these years.

SPARKS - "HELLO YOUNG LOVERS." The brilliant followup to "Lil Beethoven" gets a US release. Words cannot describe just what the Mael brothers do with instruments and words, but we will provide you with a special link where you can find a film clip of Tony and Sal explaining just what this record sounds like, with the assistance of a spatula and a whole lot of xanthan gum.

HAS-BEEN WEEK!

Seems like a lot of people whom you never thought would make, or be allowed to make, records again are coming out with new ones next week. If you care about the new releases from any of these artists, please let us know and we can get them for you! CHICAGO, GREAT WHITE, JANI LANE (of WARRANT), THE OUTFIELD, JACK RUSSELL (of NIGHT RANGER), SWEET, KIP WINGER, and GARY NUMAN. Good Lord-a-mighty!

RUDY VAN GELDER REMASTERS ON PRESTIGE!

Newly remastered classics from the Prestige Records vaults include: GENE AMMONS - "BOSS TENOR"; KENNY BURRELL & JOHN COLTRANE - "BURRELL & COLTRANE"; JOHN COLTRANE - "LUSH LIFE"; ERIC DOLPHY - "OUT THERE"; KENNY DORHAM - "QUIET KENNY"; RED GARLAND - "RED GARLAND'S PIANO"; COLEMAN HAWKINS -"THE HAWK RELAXES"; MODERN JAZZ QUARTET - "DJANGO"; and SONNY ROLLINS - "SAXOPHONE COLOSSUS."

As always, if you want any of these titles, or if there's something coming out next week that you want which we didn't mention, let us know by EMAIL (HEYNYCD@aol.com) or PHONE (212-244-3460) and we will get it for you!

Short and sweet, just like Bushwick Bill. For more expanded ramblings, don't forget to check out the blog! www.NYCDonline.blogspot.com, people.

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

We were thinking of one of the following slogans for "NYCD: The Blog." Let us know which one you like best!

"NYCD: THE BLOG - Almost always mildly entertaining."
"NYCD: THE BLOG - Oo, ee, oo ah ah, ting tang, walla walla blogspot."
"NYCD: THE BLOG - Read by over 6 people."
"NYCD: THE BLOG - Fancy!"
"NYCD: THE BLOG - A blog with oomph!"

Your friends,
Condoleeza and Pork Fried Rice

TONY'S RANDOM MEMORIES, VOL. 1

The time: Autumn 1984.
The place: the Beacon Theater, Upper West Side.
The band: Public Image Ltd.

Every punker, hipster and alt-rocker was jammed into the place to see John Lydon, formerly Johnny Rotten, do his thing. But up first was the opening act, Afrika Bambaataa, already a hip-hop legend thanks to the classic "Planet Rock."

I was in 10th grade at the time, and I had the distinction of being the first white kid in my snooty Upper East Side prep school to like rap. It helped me bond with the one Hispanic kid in my grade -- we'd trade verses on UTFO's hit "Roxanne, Roxanne" in between classes -- but everyone else thought I was a freak. Of course, at my school you were a freak if you wore a black Polo sweater instead of a green one, but that's another story. Listening to anyone blacker than Bob Marley was a major no-no.

I, along with maybe two or three other people, stood up and cheered when Afrika Bambaataa made his way behind the twin turntables. After a couple of minutes of scratching and rhyming, the crowd started heckling him. Between songs, the boos rained down on him, along with the odd plastic cup here and there. "Lemme hear you say ye-eah!" he shouted. "Fuuuuuck yooooooouuuu!" the crowd, including my friend Jason (a diehard Rush fan who'd just discovered punk rock), screamed back.

He then proceeded to confuse the hell out of everyone by throwing a new record on the turntables that none of us had heard. The beats were hip-hop, but the music was a little more electronic and new-wavey, and ... wait, was that John Lydon rapping along with Afrika?! He played the record, which turned out to be "World Destruction" by Time Zone, with very little scratching or other distractions -- probably just to get the crowd to shut up. At the end of the song, there was a lot of murmuring and scattered applause. Then they went back to booing him for the rest of the set.

"Time Zone" wound up becoming a hit, especially in England, and along with Run-DMC's "Rock Box" was one of the first records to mix rock with hip-hop. The walls came down, slowly but surely. And now, twenty years later, you can go back to my snooty prep school and find MC Scott Rabinowitz and DJ Ezra Sheckter saying "Whassup, my nigga?"

NEWSLETTER #9!

NYCD BACK FROM ONE WEEK HIATUS: APOLOGIES TO FAN

LOTS OF UPCOMING RELEASES PLUS LOTS MORE THAT ARE ALREADY OUT!

Let's get right to it, shall we?

But first... CHECK OUT OUR STUFF FOR SALE ON AMAZON!

OUT NOW AND READY FOR YOU TO ORDER!

BIG AL ANDERSON - "AFTER HOURS." New studio record from the extraordinary NRBQ guitarist who quit many years ago to start a new life in Nashville. This record does have a country feel to it, but fans of NRBQ's romps through all genres of music will like it as well.

HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS - "RE-WHIPPED." Herb's 1965 classic "Whipped Cream And Other Delights" gets remixed and revisited, with help from guests like Ozomatli, Medeski Martin & Wood, Mocean Worker, Thievery Corporation and many more, including lots of new trumpet work from Mr. Alpert himself. The result is one of the only albums to ever remix decades-old material and not be an embarrassment to everyone involved. In fact, it's pretty damn good.

BUZZCOCKS - "FLATPACK PHILOSOPHY." With their 2003 self-titled release, the Buzzcocks proved that they still had it, and on their new release, the hot streak continues. A solid record full of hooks, melody, and the punk energy that put them on the map in the first place. If they play their cards right, they could be the new Arctic Monkeys!

NEKO CASE - "FOX CONFESSOR BRINGS THE FLOOD." We love her, she's gorgeous, we love her work with the New Pornographers, we're going to see her at Webster Hall, and we dig her new record. So buy it.

EXENE CERVENKA & THE ORIGINAL SINNERS - "SEV7EN." "Due to personnel changes," it says here in this press release, "her band now includes three members from the Sevenshot Screamers." Well, in that case....

CHEAP TRICK - "DREAM POLICE" & "ALL SHOOK UP" (REMASTERS). A classic and a shoulda-been classic finally get remastered and expanded. "Dream Police," from 1978, was the solid followup to "Live At Budokan," which put Cheap Trick on top of the world for a little while, and "All Shook Up," from 1980, had Sir George Martin behind the boards and the makings of a Beatleesque classic. Unfortunately, it was a little too bogged down in strings and "Sgt. Pepper"-like production to really break through, but it has aged well, and now, with the awesome bonus tracks (including the long-lost "Found All The Parts" EP), both of these are essential.

DAVE DAVIES - "KINKED." We're happy that he's feeling better and creating music again. We're just not that excited about hearing live and studio versions of Kinks classics yet again. But maybe if we get behind him and support this record, he'll be inspired to make some new music. So order it now!

DAVID GILMOUR - "ON AN ISLAND." His first studio recording since Pink Floyd's soul-numbing "Division Bell," this continues where "Division Bell" leaves off -- slow, depressing, and dreamy, with blistering guitar playing throughout most of it. On a positive note, Gilmour's voice sounds just as it did 30 years ago.

GRATEFUL DEAD - REMASTERS. For those of you who didn't get the second super-expensive box set that came out a year or two ago, you can now get the following titles separately, remastered and with bonus tracks: "BLUES FOR ALLAH," "MARS HOTEL," "SHAKEDOWN STREET," "TERRAPIN STATION," and "WAKE OF THE FLOOD."

PICK OF THE WEEK!

JAMES HUNTER - "PEOPLE GONNA TALK." First listen made everyone here at NYCD say "What the hell is this great '60s soul record, and how have we not heard it before?" The answer is because it's a new record by a 43 year old British guy. With a voice like Sam Cooke's and songs and arrangements right out of the Stax-Volt studio in Memphis, "People Gonna Talk" is an album that reaches back 40 years for its sound and style, but the singing, playing and songwriting are so good and spot-on that it never sounds gimmicky.

JON LANGFORD - "GOLD BRICK." The latest album from the Mekons' co-founder and a man who rarely lets a week go by without putting out a new record. It just so happens that this one really is good. More mature and introspective than fans of his punkier work would expect, but as passionate as ever -- think latter-day Joe Strummer.

LITTLE WILLIES - "LITTLE WILLIES." Has Norah Jones' popularity turned off so many people that the news of a new record generates about as much excitement as a Quarterflash reunion? We mentioned this two weeks ago, gave it a stellar review, and got little response. Well, it's out, and it's still damn good. Norah, along with Richard Julian and members of her "Feels Like Home" band, runs through some obvious and not-so-obvious country songs, as well as a few originals, showcasing a playful Jones both on vocals and piano. This is a winner, regardless of what Entertainment Weekly said.

VAN MORRISON - "PAY THE DEVIL." Van Morrison has probably released a new record since this came out yesterday morning, but it certainly isn't going to be as good as this one. This was one hell of a surprise to our ears -- not unlike the Little Willies, Van takes a stab at country classics with a few originals, and the results are inspired. One of the best records he's put out in years, regardless of what Women's Wear Daily says.

MATISYAHU - "YOUTH." The best Hasidic reggae record we've heard all week.

KRIS KRISTOFFERSON - "THIS OLD ROAD." Stripped down and raw, not unlike ol' Kris himself, this is a moving record from one of America's songwriting treasures.

AND COMING NEXT WEEK!

DONALD FAGEN - "MORPH THE CAT." His first solo album in 13 years. We guarantee it ain't gonna sound any different from the last one. Pristine production that'll sound like Chuck Rainey is in your living room, lyrics that will make you go "Hmmm, clever," and songs that'll make you realize that Donald Fagen looks just like Richard Nixon. Thank you -- we hope that our description aids you in your decision to buy this CD.

HARD-FI - "STARS OF CCTV." Already out in England, this is the acclaimed US debut from the new British sensation, Hard-Fi, who are the 31st new British sensation this year.

OUR PICK OF NEXT WEEK!

PRETENDERS - "PIRATE RADIO" (BOX SET). The only true rock goddess, except for maybe Lorna Luft, gets anthologized thanks to Rhino/Warner Bros. The remastering would be enough, since their early CDs sound like they were pressed on slices of baloney. But not only do you get 4 CDs worth of remastered goodies, you get a ton of rarities, early UK singles, soundtrack-only covers, B-sides, and three songs that our good friend "Steve With The Knee," America's most fanatical Pretenders fan, had never heard of. It also includes a bonus DVD whose contents we are a bit hazy about. The first 25 copies come with a limited edition Slim Jim autographed by Chrissie Hynde!

PRINCE - "ULTIMATE." The Purple Shmecklehead precedes his new, dumb, no-one-cares-anymore studio release, "3121," with this new, dumb, no-one-cares-anymore anthology, claiming to feature unreleased tracks and remixes.

JULES SHEAR - "DREAMS DON'T COUNT." The somewhat legendary Jules Shear releases his ninth studio album, featuring his usual brand of melancholy, heartbreaking lyrics, a string section and an accordion.

BENT FABRIC - "JUKEBOX." The 82 year old Danish pianist whose only hit single, the immortal "Alley Cat," charted in 1962, somehow gets rediscovered by a bunch of dance music producers, and makes a surprisingly good album. It's not just a bunch of DJs scratching over his old records, either -- it's all-new songs, which Bent himself co-wrote and plays piano on. Ultra-catchy pop a la Smash Mouth, with more danceable beats, including the hit title track, best known as a recent iTunes commercial.

WILLIE NELSON - "YOU DON'T KNOW ME: THE SONGS OF CINDY WALKER." Another Tuesday, another new Willie Nelson record. Cindy Walker's songs have been recorded by Bob Wills, Gene Autry, Eddy Arnold and others, and let's face it, a bad Willie Nelson record is still a good Willie Nelson record. Or was the phrase, "A bad Willie Nelson record beats a good Charles Nelson Reilly record"?

If you want any or all of these records, CALL US (212-244-3460) or EMAIL US (HEYNYCD@aol.com)!

HEY ALL YOU 9-TO-5-ERS!

Have trouble making it to our office to pick up or sell your stuff during regular business hours? Well, fret no longer -- Tony will be staying late just for you every Wednesday! He's around until at least 6:30, and later if you call with advance warning. Now you have no excuse! Come on by! (as long as you call first and bring Mallomars)

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

We don't always like the New York Times' Kelefa Sanneh -- in fact, we never do -- but we've gotta admit that this quote from his review of the Matisyahu concert is pretty brilliant: "Perhaps Matisyahu's fans aren't familiar with a little-known group of performers who still make great reggae records: Jamaicans."

Your friends,
Saul Marley and Peter Toshowitz