New Releases: She Wants Revenge, Heather Headley, Flaming Lips, Train & More

30 Jan 2006 19:59:00 EST

Also due Tuesday are tribute albums to Elvis, Smashing Pumpkins, and Tim and Jeff Buckley.
By Kurt Orzeck

Ladies' Revenge: On first inspection, She Wants Revenge's album cover looks purely erotic — a woman about to pull down her white tank top — but wait, what's that she's reaching for behind her back? Could she be seeking revenge, perhaps? You can almost hear the sound of the band's similarly themed sadistic single "Tear You Apart" at the sight of the image: "I want to hold you close/ ... As I whisper in your ear/ I want to f---ing tear you apart." Other songs on the self-titled record include "Red Flags and Long Nights," "Someone Must Get Hurt" and "She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not."

Kill Your Idols: On the topic of romance with a deadly twist, The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins finds a bevy of metal and hardcore bands providing an everlasting gaze on some of the most cherished, cherubic rockers of the '90s. Murder by Death cut up "We Only Come Out at Night," Hopesfall take another look at "Eye," Eighteen Visions get "Quiet" and Poison the Well drown themselves in "Soma."

On a bit lighter note, dreamy indie-pop artists and folk-rockers resurrect two of rock's more unfortunate cases with Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim & Jeff Buckley. One of 2005's most hailed newcomers, Sufjan Stevens, reinvents Tim's "She Is," while Jeff's "Grace" and "Mojo Pin" are retreated by King Creseote and Adem, respectively. The Magic Numbers, the Earlies and others also help with the solemn incantation.

An even more personal tribute can be found in Wanda Jackson's charming I Remember Elvis. The 68-year-old rockabilly queen recalls her boyfriend of yore — who taught her how to play guitar — with renditions of "Heartbreak Hotel," "Love Me Tender" and perhaps the most appropriate number of all for this record, "I Forgot to Remember to Forget." As a bonus, Jackson reminisces about her old flame spoken-word style at the tail end of the album.

The Last Temptation? Speaking of heritage artists revisiting heritage classics originally performed by their close affiliates, the Temptations have ganged up again to touch up 15 Motown perennials they had not previously laid claim to, including "Can I Get a Witness" (Marvin Gaye), "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" (Gaye) and "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)" (Isley Brothers). Reflections is the 47th set of new recordings the immortal group has put out in its 45 years together (albeit in multiple configs). Talk about immortal souls.

Song Title of the Week:

"I Used To Be Just Like You, But Now I Am Just Like Me" (Ahleuchatistas' What You Will)

Other Notables:

Heather Headley's In My Mind: With friends like these, one wonders if R&B singer Heather Headley is shooting for another Grammy. Lil Jon helps her remember "Back When It Was," Shaggy stands with her under the reggae-infused "Rain," Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis polish off "What's Not Being Said," previous collaborator Warren Campbell croons along to her "Change" and Babyface pens "Me Time." In My Mind is also coming as a DualDisc, but who knows what she has in mind for it.

The Flaming Lips' The Soft Bulletin 5.1: Best known for their kaleidoscopic approach to music-making, it's no surprise that the Flaming Lips were one of the first psych-pop bands to latch onto the surround-sound trend. They released a 5.1 version of Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots shortly after its original release, but now the band's finally taking a step back to that album's predecessor, The Soft Bulletin, and giving it a multi-channel touch-up. For good measure, the Lips have tossed in some clips, outtakes, audio rarities and interview tape.

Train's For Me It's You: Grammy winners Train gave famed rock producer Brendan O'Brien another jingle for help on their fifth full-length, but there's a couple of new faces here: road flanks Johnny Colt (Black Crowes) and Brandon Bush (John Mayer). They're all aboard, one could say — badum-bum.

New Releases:

Ahleuchatistas - What You Will (Cuneiform)
Jon Anderson - In Elven Lands: The Fellowship (United States Distribution)
Ernie Andrews - How About Me (Highnote)
Norman & Nancy Blake - Back Home in Sulphur Springs (DualTone)
Andrea Bocelli - Amore (Decca)
Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. - Angry Samoans (First Kut)
Anne Dudley - "Tristan & Isolde" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
Eric Gales - Crystal Vision (Blues Bureau)
Heather Headley - In My Mind (RCA)
The High Violets - To Where You Are (Reverb)
Wanda Jackson - I Remember Elvis (Cleopatra)
Jamey Johnson - The Dollar (BNA)
Barry Manilow - The Greatest Songs of the Fifties (DualDisc also available; Arista)
Michael McGoldrick - Wired (Compass)
Moreau - Nova Scotia (One Little Indian)
Mozez - So Still (Apace)
David "Fathead" Newman - Cityscape (Highnote)
Proto-Kaw - The Wait of Glory (limited-edition version also available; Inside Out)
Rhapsody - Live in Canada 2005: The Dark Secret (two CDs; SPV)
Lee Rocker - Racin' the Devil (Alligator)
She Wants Revenge - She Wants Revenge (Geffen)
Read: "Videos In Graveyards, Songs About S&M — She Wants Revenge Say 'We're Not Dark' "
Matthew Shipp - One (Thirsty Ear)
The Tangent - A Place in the Queue (two-disc limited edition also available; Inside Out)
Temptations - Reflections (New Door/ UME)
Devin Townsend Band - Synchestra (Inside Out)
Train - For Me It's You (Columbia)
Vacabou - Vacabou (Hannibal)
Reverend Billy C. Wirtz - Sermon From Bethlehem (live; Blind Pig)
Larry Willis - The Big Push (Highnote)
Wolfmother - Dimension (EP; Interscope)
Zaar - Zaar (Cuneiform)
Various artists - Dream Brother: The Songs of Tim & Jeff Buckley (Rykodisc)
Various artists - The Killer in You: A Tribute to the Smashing Pumpkins (Law of Inertia)
Various artists - Rock for Relief (Zöe/Rounder)
Various artists - Wow Gospel 2006 (Verity)
Various artists - "The Family Stone" soundtrack (Varèse Sarabande)
Various artists - "The L Word: The Third Season" soundtrack (two CDs; Tommy Boy)
Various artists - "Manderlay" soundtrack (Milan)

Notable Reissues and Archival Material:

Alabama - Livin' Lovin' Rockin' Rollin': The 25th Anniversary Collection (three CDs; RCA/Legacy)
John Anderson - Wild & Blue (S&P)
Craig Armstrong - Film Works 1995-2005 (Family Recordings)
Badfinger - Day After Day (limited edition; Ryko Analogue)
Big Star - Third (limited-edition Japanese version; Ryko)
Boxcar Willie - The Tomato Collection (Tomato Music)
John Cale - Words for the Dying (Hannibal)
DJ Cam - Revisited By (Recall)
Ian Dury - Do It Yourself (Fuel 2000)
Eno/Wobble - Spinner (Hannibal)
Chris Farlowe - Rock N Roll Soldier: Anthology 1970-2004 (Friday Music)
The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin 5.1 (Warner Bros.)
Djivan Gasparyan - I Will Not Be Sad in the World (Hannibal)
Stan Getz - More Stan Getz for Lovers (Verve)
Ben E. King - I've Been Around (True Life)
Carmen McRae - Carmen McRae for Lovers (Verve)
Missing Persons - Walking in L.A. - The Dance Mixes (Cleopatra)
Willie Nelson - The Complete Ghost (three CDs; Masked Weasel)
Paul Oakenfold & Norman Cook - The Ultimate DJ Sample Box (Cleopatra)
David Lee Roth - The Best (Rhino)
The Ruts - The Punk Singles Collection (Captain Oi!)
Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women - Saffire: The Uppity Blues Women - Deluxe Edition (Alligator)
Sharon Shannon - The Sharon Shannon Collection 1990-2005 (Compass)
Jimmy Thackery - The Essential Jimmy Thackery (Blind Pig)
Robert Wyatt - EPs (four CDs; Hannibal)
Warren Zevon - Reconsider Me: The Love Songs (Artemis)
Hans Zimmer - The British Years, Vol. 1 and Good Morning America, Vol. 2 (Milan)
Various artists - Monster Ballads: Platinum Edition (two CDs; Razor & Tie)

DVDs:

The Beatles - "The Beatles 1962-1970" (two DVDs and a book; Classic Rock Legends)
Mountain - "Live in Texas" (United States Distribution)
Alison Moyet - "One Blue Voice" (Sanctuary)
Tierra Santa - "Rumbo a Las Estrellas" (Locomotive Music)
Various artists - "It's All About Dancing: Jamaican Dancehall" (Penalty)
Various artists - "Live Freaky! Die Freaky!" (with CD; Wellspring)

Coming Attractions:

February 7:

Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (Matador)
Beth Orton - Comfort of Strangers (Astralwerks)
Dem Franchize Boyz - On Top of Our Game (Virgin)

February 14:

Jaheim - Ghetto Classics (Warner Bros.)
Sergio Mendes - Timeless (Concord)
Read: "Will.I.Am

Related Artists

Floetry, Erykah Badu Lead Pack Of Lady Of Soul Nominees

18 Jul 2003 11:21:00 EDT

British duo nab four nominations, including nod for R&B/Soul Album of the Year.
By Joseph Patel

Neo-soul duo Floetry have certainly made an impact on American R&B audiences despite the fact the two ladies were born in England. Floetry earned top honors when the 9th annual Lady of Soul Awards nominations were announced Thursday in Los Angeles.

The pair led the pack with four nominations, including a nod for R&B/Soul Album of the Year for their debut effort, Floetic, and R&B/Soul Single of the Year for "Say Yes."

Erykah Badu, a past winner at the Lady of Soul Awards, was nominated three times for her single "Love of My Life," the soft-spoken song from the "Brown Sugar" soundtrack. And there's one award Badu will definitely win this year: the honorary achievement Aretha Franklin Award for Entertainer of the Year.

Other nominees for this year's Awards include Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott, Heather Headley, Vivian Green, 702 and TLC.

The Lady of Soul Awards will be broadcast live from Pasadena, California, on August 23. Arsenio Hall, Aisha Tyler, Tyrese and Heather Headley will host.

Related Artists

Ashanti, Amerie Lead Pack Of Nominees For Soul Train Awards

04 Feb 2003 14:19:00 EST

50 Cent, Nappy Roots, Justin Timberlake also nab nominations.
By Shaheem Reid

It seems like Ashanti's been nominated for just about every music award this year, and she might have the chance to add even more trophies to her mantle soon. The Murder Inc. princess was at the head of the pack when the list of nominees for the Soul Train Awards were announced Tuesday morning (February 4) in Beverly Hills.

The singer is up for Best R&B/ Soul Single - Female, Best R&B/Soul Album - Female and R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year. And while Ashanti's props probably don't come as a shock to most, people may be surprised to see who she's running neck and neck with for nominations: newcomer Amerie.

Amerie is against Ashanti in the female-only soul categories and will square off against Heather Headley, Nappy Roots and Tweet for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist.

Other notable nominees include Maxwell's "This Woman's Work," Musiq's "Dontchange," Justin Timberlake's "Like I Love You" and Usher's "U Don't Have to Call," which are all up for Best R&B/Soul Single - Male.

Busta Rhymes' "Pass the Courvoisier Pt. 2," Missy Elliott's "Work It," Nelly and Kelly Rowland's "Dilemma" and 50 Cent's "Wanksta" are all nominated for the Michael Jackson Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap Music Video.

While 50 Cent did get love from the folks at Soul Train, the man who signed him to a record contract didn't. Eminem isn't up for any awards this year, despite having the biggest hip-hop album of 2002.

There will be no surprises for LL Cool J and Nelly, at least when they are handed one award. They have been named recipients of the 2003 Quincy Jones Award for Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment - Male (Dionne Warwick gets the female award) and the 2003 Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year, respectively.

The Soul Train Awards will air in syndication on March 1. Arsenio Hall and Queen Latifah will host.

Related Artists

Heather Headley - In My Mind

03 Feb 2006 00:00:00 EST

In My Mind

Artist: Heather Headley
Label: RCA
Director: Diane Martel