NEWSLETTER '07 #18!

SAL STILL IN NEW ORLEANS; TONY STILL NOT IN NEW ORLEANS

NYCD CELEBRATES CINCO DE MAYO BY DRINKING TOO MUCH TEQUILA, SAYING RUDE THINGS ABOUT FERGIE

NEIL SEDAKA AND DONNY OSMOND PLACE ALBUMS IN BILLBOARD'S TOP 30: PAUL WILLIAMS AND ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK RUSH INTO STUDIO

LOTS OF EXCITING NEW RELEASES!

ALSO SOME NOT-SO-EXCITING NEW RELEASES, BUT WE'RE GONNA MENTION THEM ANYWAY!

R.I.P. TOMMY NEWSOM

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

but first... ONE THAT CAME OUT THIS WEEK THAT TONY FORGOT TO MENTION LAST TIME!

WARREN ZEVON - PRELUDES. 17 previously unreleased demos, including rough versions of some of his biggest hits ("Werewolves Of London," "Hasten Down The Wind," "Poor Poor Pitiful Me") plus some songs we've never heard before. Zevon was a great performer as well as a great writer, so hearing this music in raw form, without the studio gloss added, is a treat indeed. Also includes an interview from 2000 that's worth the time it takes to listen to it.

OK, seriously... NEXT WEEK'S NEW RELEASES!

PAULA ABDUL - GREATEST HITS: STRAIGHT UP. This 18 track compilation of the drunken American Idol judge's biggest pop hits includes four which weren't on her previous greatest hits album. If that's not exciting news, I don't know what is.

KEREN ANN - KEREN ANN. The French/Russian/Israeli/New Yorker's previous four folk/jazz/French/pop albums have garnered critical raves and a growing following. Album #5 is sure to increase that following, but the information we've been given about it has been so vague that I can't really tell you what this one is going to sound like. Note to record companies -- you could make this a lot easier for us by SENDING US MORE ADVANCE COPIES!

THE BAD PLUS - PROG. Their signature blend of piano-led trio jazz with ballsy rock n' roll is more hit-and-miss now than it was on their brilliant debut album, These Are The Vistas, or its followup, Suspicious Activity. But if you're not already a fan, this record is definitely worth hearing just for its excellent cover of Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." At times the mix of rock and jazz can get gimmicky, but this band is too talented to count out yet.

BJORK - VOLTA. Yes, she may be a weirdo, but... well, she's a weirdo. Our favorite Icelandic chanteuse follows up her mostly-acapella Medulla with this non-acapella collaboration featuring ubiquitous producer Timbaland, Antony Hegarty of Antony & The Johnsons, and an all-female Icelandic brass section. Insert your own joke here.

TONY'S IN-LAWS' PICK OF THE WEEK!

JIMMY BUFFETT - DOWN TO EARTH/HIGH CUMBERLAND GAP. Buffett's first two albums, from 1970 and '72, get slapped onto one CD, along with a pair of non-album tracks from the same period. I've been forced to listen to Mr. Buffett on several occasions by my Parrothead in-laws, and while I don't understand the appeal of the music, the tailgating parties before his concerts definitely sound intriguing.

OF MONTREAL - ICONS ABSTRACT THEE (EP). Previously available only at the indie hipsters' shows, this EP, which is a companion piece to the indie hipsters' latest release, Hissing Fauna, is now available to indie hipsters everywhere through non-hipster, rapidly-dying, traditional music retail.

RADIOHEAD - COM LAG: 2+2=5. To tide you over until their next proper album, here's a compilation of non-album tracks from the Hail To The Thief singles. Didn't that album come out, like, four years ago? Way to strike while the iron is hot, Capitol Records!

ELLIOTT SMITH - NEW MOON. Two dozen previously unreleased demos and outtakes from the late lamented singer-songwriter, many of them solo acoustic recordings cut during his most fertile creative period, 1994-97.

BARBRA STREISAND - LIVE IN CONCERT 2006. Barbra, along with Judy Garland, is an artist who's regarded as a genius by many, but whose voice hits me like fingernails scraping down a blackboard. I'm sure that somewhere in her vast oeuvre there's an album's worth of songs that I'd enjoy, but I'm also sure that this album won't be it. Especially considering the duet she does here with Il Divo. Simon Cowell should be taken out back and flogged for coming up with that idea. Not to mention all his other crimes against pop culture.

TRAVIS - THE BOY WITH NO NAME. Everyone's second or third favorite sensitive British band returns with their latest collection of delicate, moody pop anthems. But seriously, they're pretty good if you like that sort of thing.

TONY'S PICK OF THE WEEK!

THE VIEW - HATS OFF TO THE BUSKERS. These young Scottish louts have caused quite a stir in the UK with their blend of punk energy, killer hooks and unintelligible singing that can probably only be understood by other Scotsmen. But when you're busy jumping around the room to the infectious music, you won't really care about the lyrics. They're one iPod commercial away from becoming big stars.

ORDER THEM ALL! OK, YOU CAN LEAVE OUT THE STREISAND IF YOU MUST... BUT ORDER THE REST! AND ORDER ANYTHING NOT MENTIONED IN THIS NEWSLETTER AS WELL! EMAIL OR CALL (212) 244-3460!

WANNA GET NEW MUSIC FOR FREE? TRADE IN YOUR OLD CDs & DVDs FOR CREDIT TOWARDS NEW CDs & DVDs! OR GET CASH IF YOU'RE INTO THAT SORT OF THING! EMAIL OR CALL TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU'VE GOT!

UNTIL NEXT WEEK, WE LEAVE YOU WITH THIS:

Here's a roll call of forgotten '90s alternative bands. A moment of silence, please, as we remember...

MADDER ROSE, JAWBOX, THOMAS JEFFERSON SLAVE APARTMENTS, LETTERS TO CLEO, GREENBERRY WOODS, SKELETON KEY, FOR SQUIRRELS, SMOKING POPES, QUICKSAND, NEW FAST AUTOMATIC DAFFODILS, RAGING SLAB, COME, SWEET 75, MACHINES OF LOVING GRACE, LOTION, SATCHEL, ETHYL MEATPLOW, GUMBALL.

Bless you all, wherever you are now.

Your friend,
Barney Greengrass, "The Sturgeon King."

P.S. -- STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR THE RETURN OF SAL!