NEWSLETTER #34!

HI, REMEMBER US? WE'RE THE GUYS WHO WRITE THE FANTASTIC NEWSLETTER THAT YOU'VE BEEN AWAITING FOR SO LONG, BUT WE DIDN'T WRITE ONE LAST WEEK BECAUSE... UM...

and now, THE NEWSLETTER!

CURRENTLY OUT AND READY TO PURCHASE, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER (OTHER THAN POSSIBLY ALPHABETICAL)!

TERRY ADAMS & STEVE FERGUSON - LOUISVILLE SLUGGERS. Two founding members of the legendary NRBQ reunite for the first time on a record that has all the makings of a classic 'Q romp. Big Al Anderson became a fan favorite for good reason, but Steve Ferguson is no slouch on the gee-tar.

BRIGHT EYES - NOISE FLOOR (RARITIES 1998-2005). A collection of singles, unreleased tracks and oddities from a guy who we think is more overrated than ham on a rainy day.

DEF LEPPARD - HYSTERIA (DELUXE 2 CD EDITION). Arguably the best hair-metal album of the '80s now features 15 additional tracks, including extended remixes and live B-sides, all with new remastering as well.

BEN FOLDS - SUPERSUNNYSPEEDGRAPHIC. Annoyingpianoplayersingersongwriter collects the various EPs that featured his too-clever-for-words words and the somewhat interesting covers of the Cure and Dr. Dre.

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE - BLACK PARADE. Already annointed the greatest album since Bright Eyes' Ham On A Rainy Day, we've yet to actually hear it, but our curiosity has been piqued, and our ears have been lubed.

PAUL STANLEY - LIVE TO WIN. Kiss bigmouth and vice president of Mensa releases his second solo album, featuring the immortal classic "Loving You Without You Now."

HOWARD TATE - A PORTRAIT OF HOWARD. Soul semi-legend follows up his 2003 Grammy-nominated release Rediscovered with a collection of cover songs that apparently tell the story of Tate's tumultuous life. Material includes songs by Randy Newman, Burt Bacharach, Nick Lowe, Chrissie Hynde, and the ever-aging Lou Reed.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS - CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD (DELUXE EDITION). Lucinda's 1998 classic now features new remastering, three unreleased tracks, and a full, previously unreleased concert performance from 1998.

JOHN LEGEND - ONCE AGAIN. Sophomore release from one of the few modern-day soul singers who actually deserves the recognition he's gotten. The first single, "Save Room," is damn catchy, because it's really "Stormy" by the Classics IV. But that's OK.

AIMEE MANN - ONE MORE DRIFTER IN THE SNOW. Miss Scrooge makes a holiday record. Break out the egg nog and the rat poison.

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

BADLY DRAWN BOY - BORN IN THE UK (LIMITED EDITION). For those of you who already shelled out the $15 two weeks ago, we now present the same record with a bonus DVD that features documentary footage, behind-the-scenes footage, customer-ripoff footage, and one-more-nail-in-the-coffin-of-the-music-industry footage.

THE BLUE VAN - DEAR INDEPENDENCE. These guys rocked our world with their debut release on TVT Records, and we are so ready to get rocked again with their brand of '60s Who-meets-the-Small Faces-in-a-Detroit-garage type thing.

AARON COMESS - CATSKILLS CRY. Debut solo record from the drummer of the Spin Doctors. Also out this week: the solo debut from the triangle player in Rusted Root, the solo release from the guy who did the artwork for the second Maggie's Dream CD, and the solo lute album from the guy who used to play bass in the Police. Oh wait, that one's out already....

DEFTONES - SATURDAY NIGHT WRIST. First album in three years from the punk metallurgists. Thank you.

KEVIN FEDERLINE - PLAYING WITH FIRE. Hey, someone's gotta keep Britney in pork rinds and cigarettes.

TIM FINN - IMAGINARY KINGDOM. The seventh and best solo album from the quirky Finn brother. Recorded in Nashville, this release is full of the sharp hooks and melodies usually found on younger brother Neil's solo records.

JOHN FOGERTY - LONG ROAD HOME: IN CONCERT. His first live CD in almost 10 years features all your CCR faves and, unfortunately, "Centerfield."

PHIL LESH & FRIENDS - LIVE AT THE WARFIELD (2 CDs/DVD). And boy, what friends he has! Joining Phil on this live set are Joan Osborne on vocals, John Scofield and Larry Campbell on guitars, and Greg Osby on saxophone.

BARRY MANILOW - GREATEST SONGS OF THE SIXTIES. Barry's take on such classics as "Purple Haze," "Astronomy Domine," and "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron."

NELLIE McKAY - PRETTY LITTLE HEAD. The kooky little minx finally gets her way and releases her second album on her own label, the way she intended. And it's damn good.

MEAT LOAF - BAT OUT OF HELL III. Seriously, enough is enough. The first album is an undisputed classic, but since when were records supposed to have sequels? Although, tell that to the three million people who bought "Bat Out Of Hell II" in '93, all of whom apparently sold it back to NYCD shortly thereafter. And while you're at it, tell 'em that Mr. Loaf did six albums in between Bat and Bat II. TOP!

DOUG SAHM & BAND - DOUG SAHM & BAND. The band includes Jerry Garcia, Dr. John, Flaco Jiminez, and Bob Dylan.

THE TRAGICALLY HIP - WORLD CONTAINER. Import-only release from Canada's answer to 54-40. Oh wait, they're also from Canada.... What can we say? We've never heard a single note by these guys, but a friend of ours says they're the best thing since Canadian bacon. And that's good enough for us.

THE WHO - ENDLESS WIRE (CD/DVD combo). Thankfully no longer called "Who 2," Pete and Rog release their first studio album in 25 years, which is how long it took people to forget how bad It's Hard was.

BUDDY GUY - CAN'T QUIT THE BLUES (3 CDs/DVD). The first career-spanning box set from the blues legend has 47 tracks, only 18 of which are from the first 30 years of his career, but anything with Buddy playing guitar on it is worth having.

JOHN LEE HOOKER - HOOKER (box set). Must be Blues Legends Box Set Week at the factory! 84 track, 4 CD box set that culls from all periods of his lengthy career. Includes many of his latter-day duets with such luminaries as Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder, Van Morrison, Los Lobos and Eric Clapton, along with a hearty helping of his '50s and '60s classics.

FLAVOR FLAV - FLAVOR FLAV. It's hard to believe that white people used to be afraid of this guy.

LADY SOVEREIGN - PUBLIC WARNING. The most hyped British rapper since The Streets. Is that a good thing? She's pint-sized, if that means anything, and the record is apparently explicit, which is good for the kids. And critics love it, which means it probably sucks, but lots of well-meaning middle-aged people will try it out anyway.

OUR PICK OF THE WEEK!

WILLIE NELSON - SONGBIRD. Produced by Ryan Adams, this is Willie's best record since 1998's Teatro and possibly the best album of the year. WIllie sings his heart out on stellar arrangements of Garcia/Hunter's "Stella Blue," Gram Parsons' $1000 Wedding," the Ryan Adams original "Blue Hotel," and the title track, Christine McVie's "Songbird." WIllie can sing anything and make it sound like his own -- case in point, check out the final track, "Amazing Grace." Wow.

And finally... OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS ALBUM OF THE YEAR SO FAR!

NEW ORLEANS CHRISTMAS, the new Putumayo collection. Deck the halls with soul, jazz and blues holiday classics from the Big Easy. Featuring James Andrews, Topsy Chapman, Ellis Marsalis, John Boutte, Ingrid Lucia, Lars Edegran with Big Al Carson, Banu Gibson, Don Vappie, New Birth Brass Band, Heritage Hall Jazz Band and Dukes of Dixieland. Sleigh bells plus tubas equals a big bowl of holiday gumbo!

TO ORDER ANY OR ALL OF THESE NEW RELEASES (EVEN THE ONES WE MADE SNARKY COMMENTS ABOUT -- SERIOUSLY, WE WON'T JUDGE YOU), EMAIL US AT HEYNYCD@aol.com OR CALL US AT (212) 244-3460! You can also get anything we didn't mention here, old or new.

SELL US YOUR CDs AND DVDs! WE PAY TOP DOLLAR!

BUY OUR WARES ON AMAZON!

EAT OUR HOMEMADE MARZIPAN AND QUICHE!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Anyone who, like us, laments the imminent demise of Tower Records should go in before they close, and look at all the racks of $18.99 CDs. If Tower had any sense, they would have figured out years ago that stocking every new release on every label at full list price was not going to work in the age of online shopping. It's a shame they're closing, but even we can't lay all the blame on fickle consumers who can't be bothered to go outside to buy a CD.

Your friends,
Ariel & Ben (oh wait, they're OUR friends)