Eclectic

s Walla has recorded his own songs for half a decade as Martin Youth Auxiliary, and although the project stirred critical fanfare, the music was never distributed in any earnest.   “Field Manual,” set for a Tuesday release, is his first widely distributed solo release. And while pretty, haunting and immaculate, the album isn’t likely […]

  Columbia Say it ain’t so, Rick Rubin. You can’t need money that bad, can you? This 15-song’ wait, make that 17-song (two “bonus” tracks, yes!)’ album of “hits” from werestling rockers and rappers packs the worst of more than a dozen ideas into one horrendous heap of a concept.   The Rock is simply […]

2007 Those of a tad too young to have experienced the 007-esque “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” during its original television airdates in the Sixties now can consume its four seasons in one whole bite, thanks to an

  Surfdog After jumpin’, jivin’ and wailin’, The Brian Setzer Orchestra turns to the late 18th and early 19th century with “Wolfgang’s Big Night Out” to rework classical music into Setzer’s swing-revival style .   Opening the album, the Beethoven-inspired “Take the 5th” gives the listener an immediate idea of the party atmosphere to come: […]

it in the same league as Junior Senior or Fatboy Slim.   Andrea Echeverri brings the tempo down a notch for “Amortiguador,” but Bomba Est

0in 0pt”>Columbia   Cell phone salesman Paul Potts became an instant celebrity in his native England earlier this summer by singing opera on television’s “Britain’s Got Talent” competition, moving an initially suspect audience to tears. Then he became the same worldwide thanks to a kajillion YouTube viewings of said performance.   Haven’t seen it yet? […]

: 0in 0in 0pt”>  Ned’s Atomic Dustbin, Echo & The Bunnymen and My Bloody Valentine all have songs on “The Brit Box,” so if you didn’t have one before buying the set, you have earned your snob card and now can look down on other, less-cool music fans.    “?Joe Wertz

  429 Records Steve Forbert has been recording for 30 years while trying to escape the “new Dylan” albatross hung around his neck by the press.   The truth is, while Dylan has hit a couple of fallow periods, he’s also hit altitudes Forbert never will reach. But, by keeping close to home stylistically, Forbert […]

  Capitol Despite joining forces with the Grim Reaper a dozen years ago, Dean Martin has a new album out. Taking a page from the Frank Sinatra “Duets” cash cow, the record finds the Rat Pack vice president sharing songs with very-much-alive artists of later generations.   Any suspicions that the merger might be jarring […]

  Barsuk John Vanderslice has made another gorgeous, richly textured album that is quirky without being morose or depressing.   “EmeraldCity” has scores of instruments moving in and out of the nine-song album. The recording is done so well that you can hear the precious flaws in the piano parts and practically pick out snare […]