New CD and Music DVD Releases

Fresh spins for the week of November 21

by Staff of CD World

Bun B: Texas Legends

Another in the long line of Bun B mixtapes. Bun had platinum major label success last year with his release 'Trill'. Texas Legends features many of the top Texas stars from Swishahouse, Rap A Lot, Boss Hogg and Screwed Up Click.

Beatles: Love

Love is a fascinating reworking of numerous classic Beatles recordings by Sir George Martin and his son Giles. Love is also the title of the highly successful Cirque du Soleil show, featuring the music of The Beatles. George and Giles have created a continuous "soundscape" - a series of well-known Beatles songs augmented by additional instrumentation and vocals taken from their vast bank of original multi-track tapes. If you can imagine "Strawberry Fields Forever" beginning with John's original demo before going into an early take of the song and then climaxing in a musical collage including the piano solo from "In My Life" and the harpsichord pattern from "Piggies" and lots, lots more - or "Get Back", prefaced by the "Hard Day's Night" opening guitar chord, the guitar and drum solos from "The End" and segued into "Glass Onion", you will begin to get the picture. Stereo CD will contain 78 minutes of newly mixed and mastered music packaged in a jewel box with a 28-page booklet including liner notes by George and Giles Martin. First time ever special edition will include both the stereo CD and a bonus audio DVD packaged in a digipak with O-card. The DVD is audio only and will contain 81 minutes of music in both 5.1 surround sound and stereo (presented in DVD-Audio MLP, DTS, Dolby and PCM).

Jay-Z: Kingdom Come

After a somewhat half hearted attempt at early retirement, Jay Z is most definitely coming back with a bang. Showing up on this project is Beyonce who returned the favor of his guest appearances on her recently released Birthday. Dr Dre adds his magic to a track featuring Mary J Blige called 'Tears' and Eminem produces and also features on 'Shades of Grey'. Other producers down with El Presidente on this come back are, The Neptunes, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Rick Rubin and The Runners. Keeping pretty much to the same blueprint as The Black Album, the additional cast members like the aforementioned Dr.Dre, Eminem and Chris Martin who features on the title track 'Til Kingdom Come', only enhance the standard of what we expect from Brooklyns finest. A deluxe version includes a DVD.

Loreena McKennit: An Ancient Muse

An Ancient Muse is "eclectic celtic" - singer/composer Loreena McKennitt's highly-anticipated first new studio recording in nine years. Taking up where her previous work left off, McKennitt fuses the melodic sensibility of Celtic Balladry with musical traditions from Greece, Turkey, Spain, and beyond. Once heard, never forgotten, Loreena MacKennitt leads the listener on a timeless journey from the Scottish borders to the caravanserais of the Silk Road to the wine-dark seas of Homer's Odyssey. McKennitt's worldwide multi-platinum sales culminated in her most recent album, 1997's The Book of Secrets, which reached #17 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.

Snoop Dogg: Blue Carpet Treatment

Multi-Platinum award winning rapper Snoop Dogg returns with his eighth solo LP, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment. The hard-hitting album is one of the most highly anticipated new albums of the year and will continue to solidify this hip hop icon as one of the most influential musical entertainers of today. After releasing a string of hit records on his last effort that carried a more commercial sound, such as the #1 mega-hit 'Drop It Like It�s Hot' featuring Pharrell, the rapper decided this time around to take it back to the basics back to the hood. Producers who collaborated on Tha Blue Carpet Treatment include multi-Platinum hit makers Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Rick Rock, Pharrell, among others; along with guest appearances by artists such as Dr. Dre, Stevie Wonder, Ice Cube, The Game, R. Kelly and E-40.

Tupac: Pac's Life

Pac�s Life is a new studio album commemorating the 10th year anniversary of the late poet, activist and legend Tupac Shakur. Includes unreleased music featuring some of the biggest names in the game including: T.I., Ludacris, Young Buck, Keyshia Cole, Bone Thugs-N -Harmony, Lil Scrappy. Featuring production by Lthutton, Sha Money, Swittz QD3, Ivan and Carvin.

U2: U218 Singles

This collection spans the band's entire 26 year career and includes 16 of the band's best known songs. Two brand new tracks have been recorded for the album: 'The Saints Are Coming', a collaboration with Green Day, which is the album's first single, and second single, 'Window On The Sky'. Both tracks are produced by Rick Rubin.

30 Seconds To Mars: Beautiful Lie

"...after soldiering through adversity and slauthtering the sophomore slump, they just might be rock's best-kept secret. He (Jared Leto) sings with a range and ease that makes cathedrals jealous." - Alternative Press. A Beautiful Lie is now certified Gold on MTV's Welcome to the Universe tour. Available now as a special CD/DVD package with a lenticular front cover and special fold out artwork. Bonus DVD contains the music videos for 'Attack' and 'The Kill' along with other exclusive video footage. Includes a special 'Thank You' to all Echelon fan club members.

Abba: Number Ones

Abba are following in the footsteps of The Beatles, Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson with the Number Ones concept, and we're assuming that the designation applies to charts from around the world. There are 18 songs on the album, but no Abba song ever hit #1 in Canada, 'Dancing Queen' was the only one to do it in the U.S., and seven singles did it in the U.K. So the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest winners must have made a major impact in a number of non-English-speaking territories. A collection of all the international #1 hits on one CD delivered to the Abba fans.

Brand New: Devil & God Are Raging Inside

Formed in 2001, Long Island�s Brand New have built a massive cult following, largely from a notorious live show and relentless touring. The band�s two previous albums have sold over 750,000 copies in the USA. Brand New�s last album is considered by many as one of this decade�s breakout rock releases. 'The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows' became a favorite with MTV and Fuse, as well as a staple with many Modern Rock stations. It's follow up single 'Sic Transit Gloria' became a massive underground hit, fueled by a Marc Webb directed video. The summer of 2006 marked the band�s first US tour in three years. The sellout dates showcased several of the new album tracks, including 'Sowing Season (Yeah),' 'Degausser' and 'You Won�t Know.'

Buckcherry: Buckcherry

Formed in 1995, Buckcherry, led by Joshua Todd and Keith Nelson, quickly earned a major following on the L.A. club scene. Signed to DreamWorks Records, the band issued their self-titled debut album in 1999. With its hard hitting riffs, the album, produced by Terry Date and Sex Pistol Steve Jones, firmly established the band as one of the finest around. The album unleashed the hits 'Lit Up,' 'Check Your Head' and 'For The Movies,' becoming a rock and roll classic. This Special Edition CD/DVD version of the classic Buckcherry debut album contains the remastered original album, as well as a DVD featuring three rare audio tracks (two studio recordings from 1999, 'Late Nights in Voodoo' and 'Fastback 69,' both commercially unreleased in the U.S. and 'Lit Up' (live at Woodstock �99), commercially unreleased in the U.S.) and seven rare videos.

Johnny Cash: Legend Of Johnny Cash

Johnny Cash�s death at age 71 on September 12, 2003, nearly four months after the passing of his beloved wife and musical partner June Carter Cash, closed a career spanning nearly half a century. It launched a worldwide groundswell of grief and media attention comparable to that for a deceased head of state. Far from fading from memory, the Cash legend continues to grow: the recent critical and box office success of the Oscar winning 2004 biopic Walk The Line, based on Cash�s early years and starring Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, this years #1 debut of American V: A Hundred Highways on the Billboard Top 200, and the now multiplatinum The Legend Of Johnny Cash CD, which has remained on the Billboard Top 200 for over 100 straight weeks have only added to the growing legend of The Man In Black.

Guy Clark: Workbench Songs

Workbench Songs, the new album from the legendary Guy Clark is his tenth studio recording and a continuation in the evolution of his mastery of song and craft. The man who gave us 'L.A. Freeway,' 'Desperados Waiting For a Train,' 'Old No. 1,' 'That Old Time Feeling' and 'The Randall Knife,' has delivered another song collection every bit as timeless as the best music of his career.

David Crosby: If I Could Only Remember My Name

Originally released at the pinnacle of CSNY�s fame, singer/songwriter David Crosby�s 1971 solo debut is a transcendent tour de force that allmusic.com calls "among the finest splinter albums out of the CSNY diaspora." Recorded in San Francisco, the LP hit #12 on Billboard��s Pop Albums chart. Guest performances from the Dead�s Jerry Garcia, Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzmann and Phil Lesh, plus Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash, Gregg Rolie, Neil Young, and more. Deluxe 2-disc CD/DVD Audio reissue features on CD Disc 1 the original album, remastered to sound better than ever, expanded with the previously unreleased song/bonus track 'Kids And Dogs,' featuring Jerry Garcia on guitar. DVD Audio Disc 2 features a stellar 5.1 surround sound mix of the entire album including 'Kids And Dogs' plus, a photo gallery, including many previously unseen images and more.

Db's & Friends: Christmas Time Again

There are a lot of modern rockers who consider this to be THE great Christmas album of the last 25 years or so, and if your taste runs to the Southern-based "jangle pop" practiced by such folks as Big Star, R.E.M. and the dB's, you're probably one of them. Originally released as a 7-song LP in 1986, and as a 17-song CD in 1993, this Chris Stamey-conceived holiday classic appears here on our Collectors' Choice Music label with six new tracks, including a song by Peter Holsapple, 'Home for the Holidays', performed by the dB's; 'Christmas Time Is Here' -Thad Cockrell & Roman Candle; 'Lonely Christmas' -Marshall Crenshaw; two tunes by R.E.M. producer Don Dixon, 'I Saw Three Ships' and' 'Christmas Is Saturday', and an unreleased track by Ryan Adams & Whiskeytown, 'Houses on the Hill'! And the album's older tracks are pretty darn cool, too!

Emery: Question

The Question Deluxe Edition features over 2 hours of footage of the bands history, interviews with members parents, early footage of the bands first tour, and life before Emery came to be. DVD also features hidden treats of early band demos, never before seen footage and much more. The package also contains audio content that leaves nothing for the want. Featuring 2 brand new Emery songs, and reworked acoustic full-production songs, mixed by David Bendeth (Breaking Benjamin, Hawthorne Heights). This is the standard by which all other deluxe editions should be judged.

Face Candy: This Is Where We Were

Load up. Press play. Hand your ears over to the Face. The transformation comes suddenly in the very first incendiary moments of the lead track, where the bass and drums gather the fuel, inhale the oxygen, and hand the rappers the match. Face Candy is the brainchild of Eyedea & Abilities frontman Eyedea (aka Oliver Hart). The entire album This Is Where We Were is improvisational music and freestyle MC�ing recorded live while touring the Midwest. Face Candy pushes the boundaries of hip hop with the spontaneous creation of these tracks being improvised into existence.

Ginuwine: Greatest Hits

Ginuwine was one of R&B's pre-eminent love men during the '90s heyday of hip-hop soul. Initially teamed with Timbaland, the most innovative producer of the late '90s, Ginuwine's sultry, seductive crooning earned him a substantial female following and made him a regular presence on the R&B charts, even after the futuristic production he favored was eclipsed by the more organic, retro-leaning neo-soul movement. All his greatest hits on one amazing disc.

Jamiroquai: High Times: Singles 1992-2006

High Times: Singles 1992-2006 is a singles collection which contains 16 huge hits from Jamiroquai's extraordinary career to date, plus two new tracks, 'Runaway' and 'Radio'.

Killswitch Engage: As Daylight Dies

From their modest beginnings in New England's Hardcore scene to their current status as one of the most influential and inspirational forces in modern music, Killswitch Engage are now ready to release their new album. With their fourth album, As Daylight Dies, KsE are proving that if you keep playing the game your way, you'll eventually change the rules for everyone else. With the members of Killswitch Engage once again raising the bar with their new release, both lyrically and musically, they prepare to initiate the uninitiated to their brand of music with one of the most anticipated rock records of 2006. Almost 1,000,000 albums sold worldwide with their critically acclaimed breakthrough The End Of Heartache about to be certified Gold in the US. Their fist DVD World Ablaze is certified Gold.

Kiss: Alive! 1975-2000

Time to rock and roll all nite! Presenting the three classic Kiss Alive! albums, Alive 1975, Alive II 1977 and Alive III 1993, newly remastered in one ultimate boxed set. Also includes The Millennium Concert (New Year's Eve 1999/2000) on CD for the first time ever!

Kottonmouth Kings: Hidden Stash III

The Kottonmouth Kings find themselves at the forefront of being the music of choice for the moto, skate, and action sport life style movement with huge support from their constantly growing fanatical and loyal fan base. Kottonmouth Kings release Hidden Stash III. This package contains 36 tracks on 2 CD�s plus a bonus DVD. This is a must have for any Kottonmouth Kings fan.

Freddie Mercury: Lover Of Life, Singer Of Songs

From his earliest pre-Queen recordings as 'Larry Lurex' through his collaboration with opera legend Montserrat Caballe, Freddie Mercury was the gold standard of one of a kind, larger than life rock stardom. This is the absolutely best, most comprehensive collection of his solo material ever released. All the hits plus collaborations, plus an entire disc of bonuses including remixes, alternate takes and rarities. Additionally, in conjunction with the Mercury/Phoenix Trust and partnered with PayPal, a major online promotion and charitable fundraiser has been created. With multiple new remixes ripe for club and media exposure, Lover Of Life, Singer of Songs - The Very Best Of Freddie Mercury has a natural place in every Queen fan's collection.

Mirah: Joyride: Remixes

When Mirah makes a plan, she involves everybody. She makes a cafe in her living room, and everybody is invited. Mirah has recorded three albums of her lovely song self, always directing the writing, production and arrangements. Now she is in a year-long hiatus from performing, but she wanted to play again, just for fun and not so serious, plus some serious as well as fun. So Mirah made a plan: she generously offered up her songs themselves and asked for the participation of the people around her. In this hot air balloon ride of remixes, Mirah lifts off with old friends and new ones, taking off without quite knowing where the landing might be. With so many music-smart friends at the controls, Joyride: Remixes is an experiment for Mirah in not being the only one in charge.The music is hot, sweet and teeming with rhythmic divinity. Turn it up and dance it off.

MXPX: Let It Happen

A timeless release for all MXPX fans, complete with 3 brand new songs recorded with Aaron Sprinkle (Emery, Ahberlin, Acceptance) and 3 never before heard original demos recorded in the beginnigs of the band's career. Also included is a videography timeline of the visual recording of the band's history. Complete with new artwork, this is the stand-all time capsule for the band that is loved and known world round.

Notorious B.I.G.: Ready To Die-Re-Issued

A remixed, remastered version of what could arguably be called the greatest rap album of all time, this CD/DVD is Biggie Smalls at his best. Complex lyrics, infectious beats, and an emotional range of such depth and breadth that it leaves the listener full of questions and eager for more. The mood swings from the nostalgic 'Things Done Changed' to the dark and darkly humorous 'Gimme The Loot,' from the bouyant celebration of life outside the ghetto to a cynical revelry in violence. This record shows the multifaceted personality and the brilliant skills of the Notorious B.I.G. including the live outdoor performance of 'Unbelievable' and previously unreleased tracks, this edition showcases the talent and tragedy of a voice that changed the face of rap music.

Oasis: Stop The Clocks

Oasis have been at the helm of the worlds music scene for over ten years the first ever oasis retorspective draws from their impressive history. Oasis personally sat down to choose each track from their prolific history of multi-latinum albums, number one singles, and unique B-sides to create the 18 track double album,. Stop the Clocks. The album is imbued with the sort of willfulness that has made Oasis the favorite of millions and will not doubt spark equal parts adulation and discussion from their fans. Unlike many retrospective albums, the tracks have been chosen bu the band themselves - these are songs they believe encapsulate their remarkable career to date. This is 2 CD Set.

Oasis: Stop The Clocks

Three disc pressing of the 2006 compilation from Oasis features two CDs and a a bonus DVD that includes live footage of the band in action! Oasis have been at the helm of the world's music scene for over ten years, and now comes the first ever Oasis retrospective which will draw together the years of multi platinum albums, Number One singles and, unique to Oasis, instantly familiar B-sides into one 18 track double album. Furthermore, this collection has been chosen by the band themselves, the songs they believe encapsulate their remarkable career to date. Bestriding the music world since the release of debut single, 'Supersonic' in 1994 to the current day whilst claiming a host of records for their own, Oasis are widely regarded as the defining Rock 'N' Roll band of the last decade. Big Brother.

P.O.D.: Greatest Hits (The Atlantic Years)

P.O.D. formed in the early �90s when Marcos (guitar) and Wuv (drums) began jamming. Short for "payable on death,' P.O.D.�s 1999 Atlantic debut The Fundamental Elements Of Southtown gave title props to the band�s hometown, and saluted its multicultural roots with a bold fusion of hip-hop, rap-metal, alt-rock, reggae, grunge, latin, jazz, and more. Also blending in contemporary Christian elements, the disc topped that chart in Billboard� and found mainstream success with 'Rock The Party (Off The Hook)' and the title track. Both are featured here along with other career-spanning hits including 'Alive', 'Youth Of The Nation', 'Satellite', and four tracks from their smash 2006 album Testify, which hit #9 on the Billboard� 200, and was their third consecutive album to crack the Top 10. P.O.D.�s first compilation also features one brand-new track and one previously unreleased track.

Plague Songs: Plague Songs

This fascinating, unsettling and unique project comes down to one simple idea: a collection of songs based on the ten Biblical plagues that take place in the book of Exodus. A simple idea, but a complicated story. These songs were commissioned by a British arts organization called Artangel to form part of a large-scale public art event. The Margate Exodus transforming a dilapidated seaside town on the North Kent Coast into the setting for a vibrant modern recreation of the Israelites' Flight from Egypt. During the event, the plague songs are performed by local singers and musicians. Contributions on this CD come from Scott Walker, Rufus Wainright, Brian Eno, Robert Wyatt, Stephin Merritt, Laurie Anderson, and Imogen Heap.

Reel Big Fish: Greatest Hits

Reel Big Fish puts all of their best painfully conscious and brutally honest hits on this compilation, Greatest Hits And More. Fans will definitely enjoy such hits as "Sell Out," "She Has A Girlfriend Now," and "Where Have You Been?" and the cover song "Take On Me" all together on this collection.

Sufjan Stevens: Songs For Christmas

In December 2001, Sufjan set out to create a Christmas gift for his friends and family. The result was a seven-song recording that he called "Noel Vol. 1". Over the next several years, he created new EPs to add to the collection. This 5-CD box set includes all five volumes, plus a 42-page booklet with an original Christmas essay by acclaimed American novelist Ricky Moody, two essays, a short story by Stevens, a holiday sticker, chord charts, lyrics, comic strip, family portrait poster, photos, and an animated video.

Supernova: 1st Lp

Super Group consists of Tommy Lee (Motley Crue) on drums, Gilby Clarke (Guns 'N Roses) on guitar and Jason Newstead (Metallica, Voivod) on bass.

Swan Lake: Beast Moans

This new album features Daniel Bejar (Destroyer, New Pornographers), Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown), and Carey Mercer (Frog Eyes). The songs here are great weaves, showcasing the famous and distinctive songwriting styles of Bejar, Krug, and Mercer. The sum is definitely greater than the parts, sounding like nothing else.

Tom Waits: Orphans

"A lot of songs that fell behind the stove while making dinner" is how Tom Waits describes his new three-disc set, Orphans. The collection goes far beyond a simple career retrospective, with over 30 newly recorded songs - from Wait's own versions of songs he gave to other artist to some "things I recorded in the garage with the kids" - while over two thirds of the material has never been heard before now. In addition to the new work, Orphans features a number of tracks finding a home on a Waits album for the first time. The first disc, called Brawlers, is chock full of raucous blues and full-throated juke-joint stomp; second disc Bawlers contains Celtic and country ballads, waltzes, lullabies, piano and classic lyrical Wait's songs, while third disc Bastards is filled with experimental music, stories and jokes.

Shins: Phantom Limb

The Shins' new album Wincing the Night Away is easily one of the most long-in coming, highly anticipated albums of 2007. 'Phantom Limb' is the first single and comes with two exclusive, non-album B-sides: 'Nothing At All' and an alternate version of the album track, 'Spilt Needles.' The band have gained a growing following since the release of 2001's Oh, Inverted World and 2003's Chutes Too Narrow.

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