NEWSLETTER #22!

THIS WEEK'S HEADLINES:

KEN LAY SENTENCES SELF TO DEATH; SO DOES SHAWN CHACON

AMERICA CELEBRATES ITS 230TH BIRTHDAY; SO DOES RINGO STARR

GEORGE BUSH CELEBRATES 60TH BIRTHDAY; AGE SURPASSES I.Q.

AND, OF COURSE, LOTS OF MUSIC NEWS AND NEW RELEASES!

Sorry for the long layoff, but even online music wiseass retailers need a break every now and then. Before we get to next week's new releases, the two most significant releases from last week are:

JOHNNY CASH - "AMERICAN V: A HUNDRED HIGHWAYS." In case you were wondering, this isn't one of those typical vault-clearing exploitations of a dead artist that record companies love to fleece the public with. This record was pretty much complete when Cash shuffled off this mortal coil, and except for a posthumous overdub here and there, it's pretty much how he intended it to sound. Much better than volume 4, "American V" has Cash singing songs more suitable for his voice, and what we get is something pure and emotional.

Also released and available now is "JOHNNY CASH: ROOTS AND BRANCHES," a 16 track collection featuring the original versions of songs that Johnny later made famous, and now are quite often regarded as his own. Features tracks by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Jimmie Davis, Kris Kristofferson and Bill Monroe, among others.

One last thing before next week's new releases -- we still have a handful of the import-only Deluxe Edition of THE JAM's "ALL MOD CONS," featuring a greatly expanded and newly remastered version of the album plus a DVD of the making of the album, featuring rare footage and new interviews with all three band members, plus plenty of live performances. Some of you have already special-ordered this, but we don't remember who you were! So stand up, be counted, come on down and pick this one up!

and now... NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

BENEVENTO/RUSSO DUO - "PLAY PAUSE STOP." The organ/drum duo who made their name on the jam band circuit as well as playing with such respected artists as Charlie Hunter, Bobby Previte, Stanton Moore, and members of Phish release their third studio album. The best way to describe this unique duo would be if Jimmy Smith released an acid-induced psychedelic funk record. We've read how this record is more pop oriented than the last two, but from hearing some of the material live, we think it's a load of malarkey. These guys are great!

STEVE EARLE - "LIVE AT MONTREUX 2005." You love Steve and you know it. Here is a solo acoustic performance from last year's Montreux Jazz festival, although he does not perform twangy country versions of "'Round Midnight" and "Bloomdido." He does, however, perform some of his classics, such as "The Devil's Right Hand" and "Copperhead Road."

JESUS & MARY CHAIN - REMASTERS. The long-out-of-print catalog by the moody '80s legends now gets remastered and expanded in the stupid DualDisc format. If you find a machine that plays these fine discs, you'll get their first five albums (the fuzz-pop masterpiece "Psychocandy"; "Darklands"; "Automatic"; "Honey's Dead"; and "Stoned And Dethroned") plus DVD bonus material including videos and live performances.

FREEDY JOHNSTON - "LIVE AT McCABE'S GUITAR SHOP." We can't think of any other artist who's become somewhat of a legend by releasing one not-bad record and a bunch of mediocre ones. But if you care, here's a previously unreleased 1998 performance including a cover of Jimmy Webb's "Wichita Lineman." Woo hoo!

MUSE - "BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS." One of the better bands of the last few years releases their highly anticipated new CD. What makes this band stand out from so many others is the fact that they can write a melody. The production at times harkens back to the great rock albums of the '70s by Queen, Black Sabbath, and Led Zeppelin, but yet there is something completely fresh and unique about this great band. Comes as a standard CD or with a bonus DVD featuring a live performance from Glastonbury.

PEACHES - "IMPEACH MY BUSH." The modern day equivalent of Ethel Merman, Peaches is one of the scariest females to release a record since Charlene (kudos to those who get this joke, and screw you if you think we're being obscurist music snobs). Special guests include Joan Jett, Josh Homme, and Canadian legend Feist.

PHISH - "LIVE IN BROOKLYN." Available as a 21 CD set or a 16 DVD set. Duuuude! Sweeeet!

SOME GIRLS - "CRUSHING LOVE." The latest project from '90s indie rock queen Juliana Hatfield. Comes with a DVD of Jesus & Mary Chain videos.

SOUL ASYLUM - "SILVER LINING." After a few misguided attempts at a solo career, Dave Pirner comes back to the fold and helps to make the best Soul Asylum album in over a decade. The unfortunate loss of bassist Karl Mueller to cancer during the recording sessions delayed the release a bit, but the addition of Guns N' Replacement Tommy Stinson on bass and vocals got the band back on track, and what we get is a great pop-rock record. Highly recommended.

SUFJAN STEVENS - "AVALANCHE: OUTTAKES AND EXTRAS." You know you want it, unless of course Mr. Stevens has gone the way of the hula-hoop already.

ALLEN TOUSSAINT - REISSUES. With the popularity of Toussaint's collaboration with Elvis Costello, there's no better time than now to reissue 1972's "LIFE LOVE AND FAITH" and 1975's "SOUTHERN NIGHTS," two influential and classic New Orleans R & B records, from this legend. These records feature the hits "Southern Nights," "What Do You Want The Girl To Do," "Back In Baby's Arms," and more.

ULTRAVOX - REMASTERS. Before Midge Ure turned Ultravox into wimpy synth-poppers, they were one of the best new bands out of England in the mid '70s. Led by John Foxx on vocals, they perfectly mixed '70s art rock with punk, and created a new version of what Roxy Music had been doing years before. Their debut album, produced by Brian Eno, is one of Sal's favorite records of all time. The followup releases, "HA! HA! HA!" and "SYSTEMS OF ROMANCE," are strong albums as well. All are newly remastered and expanded with live tracks, B-sides and remixes. "Systems Of Romance" also features the hit single "Slow Motion," for those whose memories need jogging. If you're a fan of Futureheads, Arctic Monkeys, and the Kaiser Chiefs, you need to hear these records.

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN - "LIVE IN TOKYO." See Johnny Cash's "American V."

BIG NEW RELEASE OF THE WEEK!

THOM YORKE - "ERASER." Radiohead is arguably the biggest band of the last ten years based on releasing an OK debut, a better second album, a masterpiece, two dull followups, and one pretty good record. Now, lead warbler Thom Yorke releases his first solo album, which after three listens sounds like "Hail To The Thief," part two. At some point, Yorke and the rest of the band will need to start writing songs once again, because you can only run on fumes for so long. Order yours now!

VARIOUS - "DEFINITIVE SOUL COLLECTIONS." 2 CD compilations, each devoted to a legendary R & B artist, with a lineup including BOOKER T. & THE MG'S, THE DRIFTERS, SOLOMON BURKE, RAY CHARLES, CURTIS MAYFIELD, WILSON PICKETT, SAM & DAVE, and THE SPINNERS, as well as the classic "LIVE AT THE FILLMORE WEST" performances by ARETHA FRANKLIN and KING CURTIS, available on separate 2 CD sets.

TO ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THESE RELEASES, OR ANY OTHER CDs OR DVDs WE MAY HAVE MISSED, CALL US AT (212) 244-3460 OR EMAIL US AT HEYNYCD@AOL.COM!

LOOK AT OUR MYSPACE.COM PAGE (we don't know why we're there, but look at it anyway)!

SELL US YOUR CDs AND DVDs! CALL OR EMAIL! You like money, right?

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Miss the store? Well guess what, shtoonks, you should have thought of that when we were sitting there, twiddling our thumbs and waiting for you to come in and buy something. But we love you anyway.

Your friends,
Monty Hall and Warren Oates