Yes, You Really Can Have It Better: Franz Ferdinand take us out for a second time with You Can Have It So Much Better, and while early birds who did the preorder thing were gifted with a bonus B-sides EP, the DualDisc has some treats of its own, including a 5.1 surround-sound version of the principal 13 tracks, plus studio and interview DVD footage. Tracks include: "Eleanor Put Your Boots On," "I'm Your Villain" and "Outsiders."
Smell Of Success?: Trina's putting plenty of promotional power into her new fragrance these days, but you've probably also gotten a whiff of her new album via the heavily rotated "Don't Trip" (featuring Lil' Wayne). The Diamond Princess already has a second single for the clunky titled Glamorest Life, "Here We Go" featuring Kelly Rowland, and she also teams with Trey Songz and Darren Philes on "Reach Out" and "Shake," respectively.
A Golden Opportunity: Twista is great at nabbing Grammy nominations, but he seems even more skilled at attracting Grammy (and Oscar, for that matter) winners. The MC hooks up with Mariah ("I'm a Winner"), Jamie Foxx ("So Lonely") and Pharrell ("Had to Call") on The Day After, not to mention high-shelf producers Timbaland, the Neptunes, David Banner and -- surprise! -- Scott Storch.
Right On: Chad Kroeger has proven himself to be one of Canada's more, uh, straightforward hard-rock songwriters ("Hero," "Someday," "How You Remind Me"), and fans of his conventional approach probably won't be disappointed by All the Right Reasons, the latest by his Nickelback. Tracks include: "Follow You Home," "Photograph" and "Animals." (One more thing: The band revisits the highway-themed artwork it used for 1996's Curb, but this time there's actually a car on the road.)
Pure And Not-So-Simple: The latest release by Simple Plan is anything but: The standard MTV Hard Rock Live has three live-video enhancements, but what's being dubbed the special "Mega-Fan" package is bundled with three acoustic bonus tracks ("Perfect," "Welcome to My Life," "Crazy"), a DVD of the entire concert in 5.1 surround sound, a 30-page color booklet and some secretive "special" merch items.
Best-Of Bonanza: Rack 'em up -- The Best of Beta Band, The Best of C-Murder, Served Up Texas Style: The Best of the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band, The Best of Master P (reissue), The Best of Silkk the Shocker, The Best of Snoop Dogg, Tina Turner's All the Best: The Hits, The Best of Urban Knights and The Very Best of Jesse Colin Young. Oh, and that's not to mention Melissa Etheridge's Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled and Essential Harry Belafonte, Ravi Shankar and Frank Sinatra With the Tommy Dorsey Band comps.
Frontmen Frontin': The solo itch is especially strong this week, what with new opuses by American Music Club's Mark Eitzel (Candy Ass), Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson (Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull) and Depeche Mode's Andy Bell (Electric Blues). But there's another guy stepping away from his team, too, so to speak: Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, who makes an unlikely backup-singing appearance on Dream #29 by Grammy nominee (and Grease castmember) Cindy Bullens. Bullens, who used to sing for Elton John, also knuckles down with Captain Fantastic and Delbert McClinton.
Song Titles Of The Week: "Puke a Pitch Black Rainbow to the Sun" and "Oh Celebrate Your Vague Words and Coquettish Sovereighnty" (Boduf Songs' Boduf Songs).
Broken Social Scene's Broken Social Scene Vs. Liz Phair's Somebody's Miracle: A few curious connections here. Both the Canadian ensemble and alt-rock queen take to the breeze with "Windsurfing Nation" and "Wind and the Mountain," respectively; for another, BSS' "Superconnected" and "Handjobs for the Holidays" sound, if only titularly, like classic Phair, while her "Stars and Planets" and "Lost Night" recall BSS' 2002 track "Stars and Sons" and 2001 record Feel Good Lost. BSS win on the extras, front, though: Limited versions of their new one come with a seven-track bonus EP.
Deftones' Rarities & B-Sides: Rhino is doing this odds-and-sods collection up right with 25 tracks spread over a CD and DVD, including Cure, Helmet and Jawbox covers. What might worry fans, though, is the fact that it's coming out on Rhino, a reissue label, and not Deftones' primary label, Warner cousin Maverick -- could this be a hint?
My Morning Jacket's Z: The Louisville sluggers continue with their tradition of gorgeously decorated releases (this one features a vibrant pencil drawing of some aquamarine creatures), which is one reason to consider nabbing Badman Recording Co.'s simultaneous double-LP release; the other is that it has a bonus track, "Chills," which has appeared as a B-side in Europe and comes with Z's Japanese pressing.
1349 - Hellfire (Candlelight) Aiden - Nightmare Academy (enhanced; Victory) Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine (also available as DualDisc; Epic) Read: [article id="1507595"]"Fiona Apple's Long-Delayed LP Slotted For October 4 Release"[/article]
Arild Andersen Group - Electra (ECM) Ian Anderson - Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull (Benz-Street) Atmosphere - You Can't Imagine How Much Fun We're Having (two CDs; Rhymesayers) Anita Baker - Christmas Fantasy (Blue Note) Andy Bell - Electric Blues (enhanced; Sanctuary) Clint Black - Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic (Equity Music Group) Black Label Society - Kings of Damnation: 98-04 (Spitfire) James Blunt - Back to Bedlam (Custard/Atlantic) Boduf Songs - Boduf Songs (Kranky) Ronnie Bowman - The Mountain (Koch) Jim Brickman - The Disney Songbook (enhanced; Walt Disney) Broken Social Scene - Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts) Read: [article id="1508297"]"Broken Social Scene's Agenda: Two LPs, Touring, Hating On Audioslave"[/article]
Alex Bugnon - Free (Narada) Cindy Bullens - Dream #29 (Letsplay) Chris Cagle - Anywhere but Here (Capitol Nashville) Chevreuil - Sport (Sickroom) Cream - Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 (Reprise) Cross Canadian Ragweed - Garage (with limited-edition DVD; Universal South) Deadly Snakes - Porcella (In the Red) Deftones - Rarities & B-Sides (two CDs; Rhino) DJ Dan - Lift (Thrive) DOO - Cold Shower (Dreyfus) Will Downing - Soul Symphony (GRP) Dr. John - Live at Montreaux, 1995 (Eagle) Dwele - Some Kinda (Virgin) Ebony Eyez - 7 Day Cycle (Capitol) Linda Eder - By Myself: The Songs of Judy Garland (Angel) Mark Eitzel - Candy Ass (Cooking Vinyl) Sara Evans - Real Fine Place (RCA) Exodus - Shovel Headed Kill Machine (Nuclear Blast) The Fall - Fall Heads Roll (Narnack) Rosie Flores - Christmasville (Emergent) Flyleaf - Flyleaf (Octone) Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better (also available as DualDisc; Domino/Epic) Read: [article id="1506715"]"Set A Man On Fire, Name Next LP -- Franz Ferdinand Do Whatever They Want"[/article]
Béla Fleck - Crossing the Tracks (Rounder) Kirk Franklin - Hero (Gospocentric) Paula Frazer - Leave the Sad Things Behind (Birdman) Ghostface Killah - 718: Stapleton to Somalia (Koch) Robert Glasper - Canvas (Blue Note) The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Columbia) Kevin Gordon - O Come Look at the Burning (Crowville Collective) Delia Gonzalez and Gavin Russom - The Days of Mars (DFA/Astralwerks) Sara Groves - Add to the Beauty (INO/Columbia) Eric Hansen - Across the Universe: A Beatles Journey (Narada) Reverend Horton Heat - We Three Kings: Christmas Favorites (Yep Roc) Marcos Hernandez - C About Me (TVT) Bruce Hornsby - Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz Radio Broadcast (Jazz Alliance) Hyatari - The Light Carriers (Earache) The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Armed Love (American) Read: [article id="1508663"]"(International) Noise Conspiracy Prefer Armed Love To Hippie Love"[/article]
Jemima James - Book Me Back in Your Dreams (Tomato) Jimmy Eat World - Stay on My Side Tonight (EP; Interscope) Anders Jormin - Xieyi (ECM) Journey - Generations (Sanctuary) Kiss Me Deadly - Misty Medley (Alien 8) Kenny Lattimore and Chanté Moore - Uncovered (Jive) Ladytron - Witching Hour (Rykodisc) Les Nubians - Les Nubians Presents Echos (Triloka) Let Go - Let Go (Militia Group) Lichens - The Psychic Nature of Being (Kranky) Little Feat - Barnstormin' Live: Volume Two (Hot Tomato) Living Things - Ahead of the Lions (Jive) Look What I Did - Minuteman for the Moment (Koch) Loose Cannon - Who Do U Think U R? (KGB) Steven Lynch - The Craig Machine (What Are) The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers (Capitol) Make Believe - Shock of Being (Flameshovel) Master P - Ghetto D (Priority) Metric - Live It Out (Last Gang) Read: [article id="1506794"]"Metric Make It Through A Blue State To Live It Out"[/article]
Mugison - Is This Monkey Music? (Ipecac) My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO/RCA) Nickelback- All the Right Reasons (Roadrunner) Read: [article id="1506818"]"Nickelback Go The John Mellencamp Route For New Video"[/article]
O.A.R. - Stories of a Stranger (Lava) Sinéad O'Connor - Throw Down Your Arms (Sanctuary) Jeffrey Osborne - From the Soul (Koch) Paths of Possession - Promises in Blood (Metal Blade) Liz Phair - Somebody's Miracle (Capitol) PorkBelly Futures - Way Past Midnight (Wildflower) Randy & the Bloody Lovelies - Lift (Cheap Lullaby) Enrico Rava, Stefano Bollani and Paul Motian - TATI (ECM) Herlin Riley - Cream of the Crescent (Criss Cross) The Ripple Effect - Hybrids (Kindred Rhythm) Bobby Rush - Night Fishin' (Deep Rush Visuals) Sa-Ra - The Second Time Around (Sound in Color) Sean T - Ain't Playin (Sumday) Jake Shimabukuro - Dragon (Hitchhike) Shinedown - Us and Them (limited edition also available; Atlantic) Simple Plan - MTV Hard Rock Live (deluxe edition with DVD also available; Lava) Soulfly - Dark Ages (Roadrunner) Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Artifact Perspectives (System) Sponge - The Man (Idol) The Standard - Albatross (Yep Roc) Straylight Run - Prepare to Be Wrong (EP; Victory) Ticonderoga - The Heilig-Levine LP (54º40' or Fight!) Tokyo Rose - New American Saint (Sidecho) Tragedy Khadafi - Thug Matrix (Fastlife) Trina - Glamorest Life (Atlantic) Read: [article id="1507426"]"Snoop Dogg Seduces, Lil' Wayne Spends On Trina's New LP"[/article]
Tunnel Rats - Both Sides (Thump) Twista - The Day After (Atlantic) Read: [article id="1503487"]"Twista To Reunite With Kanye And Jamie Foxx On Kamikaze Follow-Up"[/article]
Richard Vission - Automatic (two CDs; Thrive) Kirk Whalum - Performs the Babyface Songbook (Rendezvous) Why? - Elephant Eyelash (Anticon) Various artists - 2K6 Basketball: The Tracks (Decon) Various artists - 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas (Peak) Various artists - Armageddon Over Wacken: Live 2004 (three CDs; Cleopatra) Various artists - Destination Lounge: New York City (two CDs; Revive the Soul) Various artists - Goth Electro: Tribute to Depeche Mode (Cleopatra) Various artists - I Believe to My Soul (Rhino) Various artists - Putumayo Presents: Celtic Crossroads (Putumayo World Music) Various artists - Queensbridge Project (Fastlife) Various artists - The Sound of Young New York & Toronto (Plant) Various artists - Show D.I.T.C. Presents: Street Talk (Lumberjack) Various artists - WOW Hits 2006 (enhanced; Chordant) Various artists - "Wipeout Pure" soundtrack (Distinctive) Chuck Berry - The Definitive Collection (Universal) Harry Belafonte - The Essential (RCA) Beta Band - The Best of Beta Band (Astralwerks) Blood, Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears (limited-edition hybrid SACD; Mobile Fidelity) Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man (limited-edition hybrid SACD; Mobile Fidelity) C-Murder - The Best of C-Murder (Priority) C-Murder - The Tru Story: Continued (Koch) Digable Planets - Beyond the Spectrum: The Creamy Spy Chronicles (Blue Note) Melissa Etheridge - Greatest Hits: The Road Less Traveled (Island) Fates Warning - Still Life & Chasing Time (limited edition; three CDs; Metal Blade) The Human League - Crash (Astralwerks) Iron Maiden - Death on the Road (live; two CDs; Columbia) Smokin' Joe Kubek - Served Up Texas Style: The Best of the Smokin' Joe Kubek Band (Bullseye) Gerald LeVert - Voices (Rhino) Master P - The Best of Master P (Priority) Master P - Ghetto D (Priority) Master P - Ice Cream Man (Priority) Paris Combo - Living Room (DRG) Paris Combo - Paris Combo (DRG) Elvis Presley - Hitstory (BMG) Propaganda - A Secret Wish (ZTT) Screeching Weasel - Weasel Mania (Fat Wreck Chords) Ravi Shankar - The Essential (Private Music) Silkk the Shocker - The Best of Silkk the Shocker (Priority) Frank Sinatra - The Essential Frank Sinatra With the Tommy Dorsey Band (RCA) Snoop Dogg - The Best of Snoop Dogg (Priority) Talking Heads - Talking Heads Brick (eight-CD DualDisc box set; Rhino) Peter Tosh - Talking Revolution (two CDs; Pressure Sounds) Tina Turner - All the Best: The Hits (Capitol) Urban Knights - The Best of Urban Knights (Narada) The Edgar Winter Group - They Only Come Out at Night (limited-edition hybrid SACD; Mobile Fidelity) Jesse Colin Young - The Very Best of Jesse Colin Young (Artemis) Various artists - Air - LateNightTales (Another Late Night) America - Live (Eagle Vision) Ian Anderson - Ian Anderson Plays the Orchestral Jethro Tull (Benz-Street) Blondie - Live (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) Body Count - Cypress Hill's 6th Annual Smoke Out Presents: Body Count Featuring Ice-T (Eagle Vision) Cream - Royal Albert Hall: London May 2-3-5-6 2005 (Reprise) Cream - Farewell Concert: November 26th 1968, Royal Albert Hall (restored extended edition; Image) Dio - Evil or Divine (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) Dr. John - Live at Montreaux, 1995 (Red Distribution) Einstèrzende Neubauten - Liebeslieder (Navarre) Hall & Oates - Live (Eagle Vision) Happy Mondays - Live in Barcelona (Music Video Distributors) Ian Hunter and the Rant Band - Just Another Night: Live at the Astoria, London (Music Video Distributors) Iron Maiden - Death on the Road (live; two DVDs; Columbia) Jesus Jones - Live at the Marquee (Music Video Distributors) Jethro Tull - Nothing Is Easy: Live at the Isle of Wight 1970 (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) Murphy's Law - Up With Us ... Down With Them (Music Video Distributors) Ned's Atomic Dustbin - Shoot the Neds! In Concert (Music Video Distributors) Paths of Possession - Promises in Blood (Metal Blade) Pink Floyd - London 1966*1967 (Navarre) Pixies - Sell Out: 2004 Reunion Tour (Rhino) The Police - Synchronicity Concert (A&M/Universal) Scorpions - Moment of Glory: Berliner Philharmoniker Live (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) Cat Stevens - Majikat: Earth Tour 1976 (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) George Thorogood and the Destroyers - 30th Anniversary Tour: Live (collector's edition with bonus CD; Eagle Vision) Tupac - Live at the House of Blues (Death Row) Tina Turner - Live in Amsterdam/ One Last Time (collector's edition; two DVDs; Red Distribution) Twisted Sister - Live at Wacken: The Reunion (Eagle Rock) The Wonder Stuff - Construction for the Modern Vidiot (Music Video Distributors) Bobby Womack - Soul Seduction Supreme (Music Video Distributors) Various artists - "Extra: A Selection of Outstanding Electronic Music Videos (Navarre) Ricky Martin - Life (Columbia) Alicia Keys - Unplugged (J) Read: [article id="1505972"]"Alicia Keys Taps Mos Def, Common For 'Inspired' 'Unplugged' "[/article]
Story of the Year - In the Wake of Determination (Maverick) Depeche Mode - Playing the Angel (Reprise) Ashlee Simpson - I Am Me (Geffen) Read: [article id="1506955"]"Ashlee Remembers 'SNL' Incident But Forgets Boys On New LP"[/article]
Thrice - Vheissu (Island) Read: [article id="1505739"]"Thrice Going Underground -- In A Sense -- For Enigmatic Vheissu"[/article]
Chamillionaire - The Sound of Revenge (Universal) Destiny's Child - #1's (DualDisc; Columbia) Read: [article id="1510101"]"Destiny's Child Look Back With #1's Before Going Their Separate Ways"[/article]
Fefe Dobson - Sunday Love (enhanced; Island) 
