NEWSLETTER #24!

HOW HOT IS IT?

IT'S SO HOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ENERGY TO TURN OFF THE FERGIE SINGLE

ELVIS COSTELLO -- ENOUGH ALREADY!

FEW NEW RELEASES TO TALK ABOUT, BUT WE'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THEM ANYWAY

And now...

OUT THIS WEEK!

DMX - YEAR OF THE DOG AGAIN. He's supposed to be good, right?

G. LOVE - LEMONADE. The absolute king of scrunchy-face dancing releases his seventh identical album in a row.

VARIOUS ARTISTS - MONSIEUR GAINSBOURG. Franz Ferdinand, Cat Power, Portishead, Tricky, Carla Bruni, and James Iha, among others, lead this celebrity-studded tribute to the great Serge Gainsbourg, which also includes the great Michael Stipe revisiting "L'Hotel," which is French for "The Hotel."

JOURNEY - REISSUES. The great Portuguese singer Steve Perry and friends get their classic late '70s and early '80s catalog remastered, with bonus tracks added, just in case you ever wanted to hear Journey outtakes. But in all fairness, ESCAPE is a really good album. Also released are upgrades of DEPARTURE, EVOLUTION, INFINITY, and GREATEST HITS.

JOE LOVANO - STREAMS OF EXPRESSION. The new record by the great tenor saxophonist, featuring one of the last performances by the amazing John Hicks on piano.

OLLABELLE - RIVERSIDE BATTLE SONGS. After releasing one of the strongest debuts in recent memory, Ollabelle follows it up with more of the same amalgamated stuff that made it so... NEXT! (Gosh, it's hot...)

ALLEN TOUSSAINT - REISSUES. Delayed for a few weeks, we believe these two classic records from the New Orleans legend, SOUTHERN NIGHTS and LIFE LOVE AND FAITH, are finally out and ready to order. Those who ordered before, please re-order!

OUT NEXT WEEK FOR YOUR PRE-ORDERING PLEASURE!

THE CURE - REISSUES. THE TOP, from 1983, THE HEAD ON THE DOOR, from 1985, and 1987's KISS ME KISS ME KISS ME all get newly remastered, and each one features a BONUS DISC chock full of B-sides, remixes and unreleased tracks. Also out as a 2 CD remaster is BLUE SUNSHINE, by Robert Smith's early '80s side project THE GLOVE.

ANI DiFRANCO - REPRIEVE. How much do we dislike Ani DiFranco's music? This album was recorded in New Orleans, and Sal couldn't care less. But if you like her, you'll probably like this.

DIRTY PRETTY THINGS - WATERLOO TO ANYWHERE. The first Libertines-without-Pete Doherty album is finally out in the States, and while it doesn't compare to the Libertines' classic debut album, it's a hell of a lot better than the Babyshambles record.

GIN BLOSSOMS - MAJOR LODGE VICTORY. The most highly anticipated release of the summer... isn't this record.

NINA GORDON - BLEEDING HEART GRAFFITI. How 'bout that Gin Blossoms record?

HOOTIE & THE BLOWFISH - LIVE IN CHARLESTON. Are these guys all touring together or something?

Also being released in the "Why the hell are these bands still together? They were selling for $1.99 at NYCD when they were popular 10 years ago" series....

DOG'S EYE VIEW - HEARD YOU MISSED US, WELL WE'RE BACK.

BEMSHI - PRONOUNCED "BEMSHI."

MAGGIE'S DREAM - SYMPHONY OR SCRUNCHY-FACE.

TRIPPING DAISY - I GOT A GIRL PT. 2: I HAD A GIRL

SIGUR ROS - SAEGLOUR (EP). From a band that makes Devendra Banhart sound like a polka party comes yet another unpronounceable, pretentious piece of artsy hooey. Sure to be big! Don't be embarrassed to order it! We need the money more than we need to make fun of you.

SLAYER - CHRIST ILLUSION. Their first album in six years, featuring the first single, "Skeleton Christ," written by Carole Bayer Sager.

TEARS FOR FEARS - GOLD. This 2 CD set features 24 tracks culled from their last 17 best-ofs.

MAVERICKS - GOLD. This 2 CD definitive compilation from Raul and the boys is the first double CD compilation of theirs available in the U.S.

LOUVIN BROTHERS - MY BABY'S GONE: ESSENTIAL 1955-64. 30 tracks from the seminal country duo, who were a huge influence on Gram Parsons, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, and many more.

ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THESE FINE RELEASES BY EMAILING OR CALLING! HEYNYCD@aol.com, (212) 244-3460.

CHECK OUT OUR BLOG, where we've been very busy updating it so that you, our readers, no longer have to log in or sign on to leave comments, good or bad! See Sal's review of the Dixie Chicks, Tony's review of Wayne Newton, and much much more!

BUY THINGS FROM US ON AMAZON!

SELL THINGS TO US SO WE CAN SELL THEM ON AMAZON AND YOU CAN BUY THINGS FROM US ON AMAZON!

AND FINALLY...

What the hell are ELVIS COSTELLO and Universal Music thinking?!?!?! Billboard magazine reports that Universal has acquired the rights to Costello's first 11 records (from "My Aim Is True" through "Blood & Chocolate") and will now release "definitive" versions of each of them, with all titles containing exclusive tracks that weren't on the reissues we bought on Rhino two years ago, which had exclusive tracks that weren't on the definitive Ryko editions ten years ago, which had exclusive tracks not on the original Sony releases. Who is the winner here? Are we, as Elvis Costello devotees, expected to shell out another $18 per CD because we need the extra two or three tracks? Are we supposed to feel sorry for the labels when they cry poverty thanks to declining CD sales? Is it any wonder? (And while we're at it, why is anyone allowing Nina Gordon to keep releasing records?)

We know there are people out there reading this newsletter who have plenty to say on this subject, whether it's defending the reissues or simply explaining the label politics to us. But as Costello fans and retailers, this seems like nothing more than a mugging -- and the victims are the fans who are the last remaining CD buyers.

Write to the Attorney General! Write to the Better Business Bureau! Write to Elvis Costello and tell him to put a stop to this madness! Write to Diana Krall and tell her that her husband sweats too much! But take action! (And if any of you have the bonus tracks, let us know -- we're really excited!)

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Hey Con Ed! Air conditioner, essential. Hamilton Beach blender, non-essential. Got it, shtoonks?

Your friends,
"Wipe Me Down" Sachs and Glistenin' Sal Nunziato Call or email!