New Releases: Hilary Duff, Click Five, Rick James, 311, Taproot, Idlewild, Cowboy Junkies

15 Aug 2005 21:43:00 EDT

Also due Tuesday are reissues and new LPs by Killers, Stooges, Madness, Brad Paisley.
By Kurt Orzeck

Mmm ... Duff: Hilary Duff's Most Wanted comes clean with three new songs ("Wake Up," "Beat of My Heart," "Break My Heart") produced by the Dead Executives — OK, the secret's out, it's the Madden brothers — but if those tracks and a few remixes aren't enough to tide you over, a "signature collector's edition" has four additional cuts (an acoustic "Who's That Girl"; an alternate "Jericho"; a dance remix of "Party Up"; and another new song, "Supergirl"), four "autographed" photo cards, a different album cover and a wristband.

Click Here: Dapperly dressed Berklee College of Music grads the Click Five, who've played with everyone from Ashlee Simpson to Rod Stewart (?!), removed the cover of the Tiffany staple "I Think We're Alone Now," which appeared on promo versions of their debut, Greetings From Imrie House, and tacked on a sendup of the Thompson Twins' "Lies" instead. Other highlights: "Just the Girl" (first single), "Catch Your Wave" and "Angel to You (Devil to Me)," co-written by Kiss' Paul Stanley and Cars guitarist Elliott Easten, who also lends some licks.

A Funk Eternal: Rick James gets a few touching goodbyes on Rick James Forever, from Johnny Gil and Howard Hewitt on "Just Got Played," and from daughter Ty on the closing track, "My Life." Other tracks on the posthumous release include the vintage-James-titled "When Your Body's Mine," "Freak Baby" and "Sex Slave."

Because Platinum Isn't Enough: The Killers' "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll" has thoroughly infected radio, prompting a limited-edition re-press of the band's successful debut, Hot Fuss, along with two more B-sides, "The Ballad of Michael Valentine" and "Under the Gun." This one's got a straight-black cover, so you have no excuse for getting confused.

The 411 on Tread: A few additional 311 tracks have been hitting the pavement along with the band's Don't Tread on Me. iTunes offered the album's 11 songs plus bonus track "Little Brother" and two live slices prior to the release date; subsequently, it's offering just "Little Brother." But there's more: Early birds can get a free vinyl 7-inch at participating stores. Album tracks include "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "Whiskey & Wine" and "Long for the Flowers," a revised outtake from Transistor that was originally called "Grifters."

Covering the Bases: Madness go the way of the cover song on The Dangermen Sessions, Volume One, polishing off Diana Ross & the Supremes ("You Keep Me Hanging On"), the Kinks ("Lola") and Bob Marley ("So Much Trouble"). In the meantime, Cowboy Junkies use their Early 21st Century Blues to reinterpret Bruce Springsteen ("Brothers Under the Bridge," "You're Missing"), U2 ("One") and Bob Dylan ("License to Kill") — which could have qualified them for Drive-Thru's two-disc Listen to Bob Dylan, bristling with tips-o'-the-hat from Jason Mraz, Something Corporate and Rx Bandits.

Blood on the Tracks: "Blood on My Hands" (Todd Agnew's Reflection of Something), "Fist Wrapped in Blood" (Silverstein's Discovering the Waterfront), "The Blood, the Sweat, the Tears" (Machine Head's "Elegies" DVD).

Four for the Road: BoDeans and Magic Slim recorded their live albums at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee and at the Sierra Nevada Brewery in Chico, California, respectively. Also, "Alcohol" is the first single on Brad Paisley's salute to the sauce, Time Well Wasted; and Waco Brothers cough up "Drinkin' & Cheatin' & Death" on Freedom and Weep.

Song Titles Of The Week:

"Whacko Jacko Steals the Elephant Man's Bones," "Macaulay McCulkin" (The Fall of Troy's Doppelgänger)

Other Notables:

Taproot - Blue-Sky Research (Atlantic): Seeing as how it's been nearly three years since Taproot's Welcome, it may come as no surprise that the band came up with around 80 songs for Blue-Sky Research, with 13 cuts making the cut. Despite being on tour with Chevelle, they've managed to find time to shoot a video for the first single, "Calling." Other selections include "Lost in the Woods," "Violent Seas" and "Promise," all co-written by Billy Corgan.

Idlewild - Warnings/Promises (Capitol): The Scots seem to be snoozing on their fourth record, with songs like "As if I Hadn't Slept," "Too Long Awake" and "Goodnight," which ultimately puts the LP to rest. Released in March across the pond, this is the first album to feature the band's new bassist, Gavin Fox, and longtime touring guitarist, Allan Stewart.

Johnny Cash - The Legend: Limited Edition (Columbia/Legacy): The $329.98 price tag on this box-set-on-steroids might make you cry, cry, cry, but if you're a diehard fan, start filling up the piggybank. Unlike the standard set released earlier this month, this one has a 12-by-16-inch lithograph portrait and a hardback book of the same size. Plus there's a fifth disc, "Johnny Cash on the Air," featuring a 1955 recording of the Man in Black's first time on the radio, and a DVD containing a 1980 TV special.

Out Tuesday, August 16:

New releases:

Todd Agnew - Reflection of Something (Ardent)
Eric Alexander & Vincent Herring - The Battle: Live at Smoke (HighNote)
Aly & AJ - Into the Rush (Hollywood)
American Minor - American Minor (Red Ink/ Jive)
Marc Antoine - Modern Times (Rendezvous Entertainment)
Eddy Arnold - After All These Years (RCA Nashville)
Buy Now: After All These Years (RCA Nashville)
The Banner - Each Breath Haunted (Ferret)
BEDlight for BlueEYES - The Dawn (Trustkill)
David Benoit - Orchestral Stories (Peak/Concord)
Elvin Bishop - Gettin' My Groove Back (Blind Pig)
BoDeans - Homebrewed: Live From the Pabst (two CDs, Back Porch)
Buy Now: Homebrewed: Live From the Pabst (Back Porch)
Michael Brooks & Royal Priesthood - Michael Brooks & Royal Priesthood (Comin' Atcha)
The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie House (Lava)
Buy Now: Greetings From Imrie House (Lava)
Read: "Click Five Winning Over Soccer Moms On Ashlee Simpson Tour"
Shemekia Copeland - The Soul Truth (Alligator)
Buy Now: The Soul Truth (Alligator)
Cowboy Junkies - Early 21st Century Blues (Zoe/Rounder)
Buy Now: Early 21st Century Blues (Zoe/Rounder)
Joe Craven - Django Latino (Compass)
Rodney Crowell - The Outsider (Columbia)
Buy Now: The Outsider (Columbia)
Cuban Link - Chain Reaction (Mob)
Buy Now: Chain Reaction (Mob)
Dirty - Hood Stories (Asylum/Rap-A-Lot)
Hilary Duff - Most Wanted (Hollywood)
Buy Now: Most Wanted (Hollywood)
Read: "Cheaper By The Duo? Hilary Duff Teams Up With Madden Brothers For New LP"
Aydin Esen, Anthony Jackson, Dave Liebman and Steve Smith - Flashpoint (Tone Center)
The Fall of Troy - Doppelgänger (Equal Vision)
Flotation Toy Warning - Bluffers Guide to the Flight Deck (Misra)
Foghorn Stringband - Weiser Sunrise (Nettwerk)
Gang Gang Dance - Hillulah (EP, Social Registry)
Philip Gayle - The Mommy Row (Family Vineyard)
Jimmie Dale Gilmore - Come on Back (Rounder)
Goapele - Change It All (Columbia)
Buy Now: Change It All (Columbia)
Johnny Casino's Easy Action - We've Forgotten More Than You'll Ever Know (Steel Cage)
Hanna-McEuen - Hanna-McEuen (DreamWorks Nashville)
Harsh Krieger - Harsh Krieger (Megaforce)
Idlewild - Warnings/Promises (Capitol)
Buy Now: Warnings/Promises (Capitol)
Rick James - Rick James Forever (Sanctuary Urban)
Buy Now: Rick James Forever (Sanctuary Urban)
Sheila Jordan and Cameron Brown - Celebration: Live at the Triad (HighNote)
Madness - The Dangermen Sessions, Volume On

Related Artists

Hilary Duff

The Click Five

Rick James

311

Taproot

Madness

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