New CD and Music DVD Releases

Fresh spins for the week of October 31

by Staff of CD World

Cross Canadian Ragweed: Back To Tulsa-Live & Loud From Cain's Ballroom

If you’re like thousands of fans of undiluted, unprocessed music nationwide, and you’ve fallen in love Cross Canadian Ragweed’s brand of kickass, hardcore country rock through their three Universal South studio albums, then you ain’t heard nothin’ yet! Because the only thing that rocks harder than a Cross Canadian Ragweed record is a Cross Canadian Ragweed live show. They say you can’t bottle that stuff, but somehow Oklahoma’s bad boys have done just that with their new double live CD and DVD, Back to Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom. Ragweed rolled into Tulsa’s legendary Cain’s Ballroom, set up and threw down two nights worth of unforgettable, undeniable, uncompromising music - just the way you know you like it.

Burden Brothers: Mercy

The long awaited follow up record from Toadies frontman Vaden Todd Lewis and former Rev Horton Heat drummer Taz Bentley. 15 new tracks featuring the single "Everybody Is Easy". Recommended for fans of Velvet Revolver. On tour now.

Michael Martin Murphy: Vol. 5-Heartland Cowboy

Michael Martin Murphy is a best-selling and well-respected singer/songwriter of Pop and Country Western music. Known mostly for his early '70s massive hit 'Wildfire', Murphy has a long history of great releases and is known throughout Texas as a strong advocate for the study, preservation and respect of American culture, which is apparent in his songwriting. Heartland Cowboy tells the story of our nation's farmers, ranchers and rural citizens. The single 'Close To The Land' was chosen to be the theme for the new PBS show America's Heartland, which is in it's second season. Heartland Cowboy is a poetic defense of the people of the land, and a tribute to the beauty of the cultures who live close to nature.

Willie Nelson: Songbird

Despite coming from different musical backgrounds, Willie Nelson and Ryan Adams find an amazing middle-ground with their first full-length collaboration. The beautifully textured Songbird pays homage to a widely diverse group of songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Gram Parsons, Fleetwood Mac, and The Grateful Dead, and features originals from both Willie and Ryan. The album sits perfectly between the traditional country music Willie almost single-handedly carried into the new millennium and the dissonant guitar-driven rock Ryan has melded together in the last few years with The Cardinals.

Doug Sahm: Doug Sahm & Band

Doug Sahm & Band included Bob Dylan, who not only shares vocals on three tunes but contributes a song ('Wallflower') that was yet to appear on any of his albums! Indeed, this album had a lot going for it; joining Dylan were Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, long-time Sahm stalwart Augie Meyers, David Bromberg and future Texas Tornado Flaco Jimenez, and the artwork by Gilbert Shelton of Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers fame was, well, fabulous! Yet, this album only reached #125 on the 1972 charts; perhaps America wasn't quite ready for Doug's twisted Texas vision of roots rock.

Birdman & Lil' Wayne: Like Father Like Son

"There's nothing like spittin' off the same page," claimed the duo, who between them, have sold more than 7 million albums. The new disc is set to feature guest appearances by a host of stellar hip-hop artists including Fat Joe, T-Pain and Rick Ross, as well as show-casing the talent of production masters Swizz Beats and Scott Storch, among others. Birdman and Lil Wayne have often appeared on each other’s solo releases, but never before have they released a full-length album together. Their Like Father Like Son collaboration marks yet another historical milestone proffered by the prolific Cash Money imprint, the New Orleans hip-hop empire which launched in 1991 and is responsible for a diverse array of best selling artists. Limited Edition Version with 4 bonus tracks at no extra cost.

Deftones: Saturday Night Wrist

"The heavy stuff is really, really heavy, like, really aggressive, and the stuff that’s sweet and weird or whatever is sweeter and weirder. A lot of people will probably compare it to White Pony, because that was one of the most diverse records that we did. This one’s probably the most diverse record we’ve done." -Chino Moreno. The Deftones’ first album in three years, Saturday Night Wrist follows the band’s fourth consecutive gold or platinum album, the 2003 self-titled disc that was the Grammy®-winning group’s highest charter at #2. Produced by Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Jane’s Addiction) and former Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, Saturday Night Wrist is bombastic yet vulnerable, aggressive yet thoughtful combinations that have made the Deftones among the most respected and acclaimed bands in hard rock.

The Who: Endless Wire

First studio album in 24 years includes special limited edition bonus disc of rarities and classics.

California Music Project: Vol. 1-California Music Project

This star-studded benefit album features Beck, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Rick Holmstrom, Michelle Shocked, Jack Johnson, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anna Nalick, Dwight Yoakam, Ben Harper, Los Lobos and Warren Zevon. All proceeds benefit music education in California schools.

40 Below Summer: Last Dance

The Last Dance features nine new songs plus a special bonus DVD of the band's last sold out show at Starland Ballroom in New Jeresy. This new album features stunning tracks such as ''New Age Slaves'' and 'Relapse'', sure to be just what the thousands of 40 Below Summer fans have been waiting for!

Aiden: Rain In Hell

In 2005, Victory Records signed the young band from the rainy town of Seattle! They knew then that young fans would flock to the band like soldiers into battle. Aiden have taken America by storm, along with Canada, the United Kingdom and even Europe, too. They’ve shared the stages with 30 Seconds To Mars, Hawthorne Heights, and even HIM, just to name a few. Now, Aiden returns to continue the carnage, conquer the globe and dominate our society. By treating us to two new songs, two covers, and live concert footage. All on one low-priced DVD/EP. So leave the lights on, say your prayers and make sure you have a crucifix, cause Aiden is coming to get you on Halloween 2006!

Animal Collective: Hollinndagain

Following the completion of their Danse Manatee record, Animal Collective played a series of shows in their then hometown of New York, and in late spring, went on their first US tour with friends Black Dice. Since most of the attendees at these early shows were from a small circle of local friends who regularly saw the group perform, Animal Collective felt it was important to present a new set of material for each show rather than make their friends pay to hear the same jams every time.This resulted in a whole new album’s worth of songs. No studio versions were ever made and live recordings are all that remain from this brief and unique era. Sad that the songs were never made available to the public, the band agreed in 2002 to release the live versions with Secretly Canadian on their St. Ives imprint.For Hollinndagain, Animal Collective chose seven songs.

Badly Drawn Boy: Born In The U.K.

Limited Edition CD/DVD (NTSC/Region 0) pressing. Easily the finest Badly Drawn Boy album since 2002's About A Boy soundtrack, Born in the UK finds the British alternative-pop artist (aka Damon Gough) playing to his strengths after a period of creative stagnation. Includes a bonus DVD that features documentary footage on the making of the album plus the video to 'Born In The UK' and other various rehearsal and acoustic footage. While the title track is energetic and assured as it careens over a Beatlesque drum line, "Nothing's Going to Change Your Mind" is a lush, plaintive ballad that reinforces earlier comparisons to Harry Nilsson. Although Born in the U.K. doesn't feature the overt eclecticism of Gough's lauded debut, The Hour Of Bewilderbeast, it benefits not only from Gough's renewed focus on crafting compelling pop songs, but from a new creative foil, Lemon Jelly's Nick Franglen, who helped to flesh out the album's arrangements. Although the record will readily appeal to Badly Drawn Boy diehards, it should also win over some lapsed fans, and garner some new admirers as well.

Big Wu: Live Recordings From 02/02/03

The musical influences that helped create the Big Wu were loud, large, and heartfelt. Over the past seven years, this Minnesota troupe has stepped into the role of creating the type of music that wants to course through your veins. Writing in truly American styles, the Big Wu slides, bends, rumbles and chicken-picks with on-the-top intensity and good-time fervor. The Big Wu has released four studio albums and two live albums, including Live at Cedar Cultural Center, an amazing three CD collection of live tracks. Now, the band is releasing their third live album, Live Recordings From 02/02/03 & 03/14/03. This two CD set is a collection of live tracks recorded in the spring of 2003 at Quest Club in Minneapolis.

Borat: Soundtrack

"My hobbies trampoline, table tennis, sitting on comfytobale chairs, disco dance and shoot dog. I also like look on picture of America things example swimmingpools. I like sex. I also like to speak on telephone - I have make over eighty conversation calls. One day I would like to eat a very big chocolate cake... with a toffee, and have my name ‘Borat’ made with ‘toffee’. I also like to start fires." - Borat on Borat In Borat, the movie. Sacha Baron Cohen - star of HBO’s hit comedy "Da Ali G Show," and featured as Will Farrell’s nemesis in the hit movie Talladega Nights - takes his outrageous Kazakhstani reporter character Borat to the big screen. In this hilariously offensive movie, Borat travels from his primitive home in Kazakhstan to the U.S. to make a documentary. On his cross-country road-trip, Borat meets real people in real situations with hysterical consequences.

Cee-Lo: Closet Freak: The Best Of Cee-Lo

With the mega-selling Gnarls Barkley having brought Cee-Lo to new levels of mainstream visibility, Arista/Legacy has rounded up favorites from his solo work and with Goodie Mob for a new compilation. Closet Freak: The Best of Cee-Lo Green the Soul Machine is a 19-track set which includes collaborations with Timbaland ("I'll Be Around"), Pharrell ("The Art of Noise"), Ludacris ("Childz Play") and Jazze Pha and T.I. ("The One").

Copeland: Eat Sleep Repeat

Copeland's sophomore release, 2004's In Motion landed in the CD players of over 100,000 listeners and at the #1 slot on the BIllboard Alternative New Artist Chart. They even went on to win Yahoo! Music's 2005 "Who's Next" Competition. Next up, LP #3. The result is a different kind of indie pop album, one that's over-the-top in its melodic directness, yet retains its DIY craftmanship.

Demon Hunter: Triptych

Demon Hunter's The Triptych is the bands most successful release to date scanning over 65,000 units! The metallic energy of the original chart-topping album has tripled in this deluxe edition. Dynamic footage of a live show in L.A., behind the scenes documentaries, and more; a brand new video of ''One Thousand Apologies''; and four bonus songs, including ''The Tide Began To Rise", make this CD/DVD combo a winner.

Devildriver: Fury Of Our Maker's Hand

Special 2-disc CD/DVD that includes 3 rare studio tracks and 3 killer live unreleased songs and the DVD includes 4 music videos. Over 60,000 albums scanned on The Fury Of Our Maker's Hand in the U.S.and climbing. DevilDriver recently completed a headlining run on the Burning Daylight Tour with Bury Your Dead, Remembering Never, If Hope Dies and Artimus Pyledriver supporting.

Exploding Hearts: Shattered

In a story that most of the punk rock world knows all too well, on 07-20-2003 the world lost 3/4ths of the Exploding Hearts (Adam Cox, Jeremy Gage, and Matt Fiztergerald) in a tragic van wreck outside Eugene, Oregon. During its short existence the band left behind a rather brief legacy. Shattered is a tribute, a 16 track CD compiling the band's singles, demos, alt takes from the Guitar Romantic sessions, and unreleased material. The CD will come with a 20 page full color booklet filled with unseen photos from the personal archive of band photographer Chrystaei Branchaw; incredible, extensive, liner notes from Fred "The Barber" Landeen of Vinyl Warning Records fame; and will be enhanced with a 5 song video from their show at Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco, CA 07/17/03 (their last official show).

Fever Tree: Fever Tree/Another Time Anothe

Though held in high esteem by '60s psych aficionados, this Houston band never met with much commercial success, only notching the #91 hit 'San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)' in 1968. But part of the reason for that is also the reason these albums, their first two and only essential releases, are so much fun to listen to; this was a band with big ambitions, working classical and jazz influences and unusual instrumentation into the rock format well before such a thing became commonplace, pointing the way towards the prog-rock movement to come. We've added notes featuring quotes from multi-instrumentalist Rob Landes that set the scene.

John Fogerty: Long Road Home

Recorded in 2005 at Los Angeles' legendary Wiltern Theater, Fogerty performs solo career highlights "Centerfield," "The Old Man Down the Road" and "Hot Rod Heart," along with his Creedence Clearwater Revival hits "Proud Mary," "Fortunate Son," "Bad Moon Rising," "Down on the Corner," "Travelin' Band," "Have You Ever Seen the Rain?" and more. This is the companion piece to the DVD of the same name released last year.

Gob Iron: Death Songs For The Living

Gob Iron (British slang for a harmonica) is a brand new side project for Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo founder Jay Farrar. Teaming up with his friend (and Varnaline front man) Anders Parker, Farrar has recorded an album of new takes on American folk standards. Also known as the folk process, these are old songs by the likes of Stephen Foster and The Reverend JM Gates which have been given new lyrics or new arrangements in an effort to re-interpret the songs in a fresh way. Recorded over the course of just two days, Death Songs For The Living represents two craftsmen stepping out and taking a chance on some of the music that they hold most dear. Also included is the brand new Farrar original 'Buzz & Grind'.

Buddy Guy: Can't Quit The Blues

If these 47 songs on three CDs plus a DVD boasting a new 75-minute documentary and six performances from the Montreux Jazz Festival prove anything, it's that Guy is one of the most dynamic, diverse, expressionistic, and emotional guitarists--in any genre. The set neatly examines the 70-year-old Chicago blues legend's half-century career, starting with a ragged but soulful "The Way You Been Treating Me" cut in 1957 at a radio station in Guy's native Louisiana. A year later, he's in Chicago working with tunesmith Willie Dixon, and the rest is history that leads from the glory days of Chess Records to Guy's early breakout recordings for Vanguard to his modern-day mastery. B.B. King, who along with Guitar Slim was Guy's most important early influence, also joins Clapton and Guy on a stirring acoustic version of John Lee Hooker's "Crawlin' Kingsnake."

Isis: In The Absence Of Truth

With a musical trajectory that spans nearly a decade, ISIS has emerged from the frozen recesses of New England to become an internationally renowned force in underground music. Critically revered as the vanguard of "art metal," the band has consistently exploded the idiomatic strictures that have traditionally defined heavy music, with each new release expanding and improving upon the innovations of its predecessor. Produced and recorded with the utmost clarity and fidelity by longtime ISIS co-conspirator Matt Bayles at the Bomb Shelter in downtown Los Angeles, In The Absence Of Truth is a living, breathing panorama of soaring melodies, dizzying rhythmic ziggurats and seismic heaviness. In The Absence Of Truth is ISIS’ first record in two years following the highly successful Panopticon and 2002’s Oceanic.

Lady Sovereign: Public Warning

US only release! The self-proclaimed "biggest midget in the game" has gone from the bloggers champ to magazine-cover-vamp on both sides of the pond, having graced the covers of URB, The Fader, and i-D to name a few. The plus-sized hype surrounding this pint-sized 20-year-old hailing from Wembley, England is the subject of her new single, "Love Me Or Hate Me." All punk and grime snot-nosed British attitude over an undeniable 808-fueled electro-pop-n-lock beat courtesy of NYC producer Dr. Luke. For Lady Sovereign, it was a quick leap from bloggers' pet to critic's darling. The press has been voracious, heaping praise on Lady Sov to the tune of "The Queen of U.K. Grime," to "Hip-Hop's great white hope," even likening her to a female Eminem.

Phil Lesh & Friends: Live At Warfield Theater

On May 18th and 19th 2006, Phil Lesh and Friends electrified The Warfield Theater in San Francisco, CA with two nights of music that never failed to satisfy. The venerable theater had been visited many times by Phil Lesh and Friends, but never by this exact group. This group of assembled Friends combines a strong jazz background with a touch of blues, a pinch of soul, a good helping of groove, and just the right amount of jamming to keep the faithful dancing well into the early morning. This 2 CD set includes highlights from both evening's performances as well as a bonus DVD that features conversations with Phil Lesh, John Scofield, and Greg Osby, backstage rehearsal footage, and video of "All Along the Watchtower" and "Passenger" which is not included on the DVD.

Nellie McKay: Pretty Little Head

Featuring a kaleidoscopic selection of tracks culled from 23 new songs written by McKay for the album, Pretty Little Head premieres duets with Cyndi Lauper "Beecharmer" and k.d. lang "We Had It Right" as well as an assortment of provocative new compositions including "Columbia Is Bleeding" (it's turned into a real rock tune),'' Cupcake'' (about gay marriage), and "The Big One" (about a tenant's rights activist). Working with a group of wonderful musicians, Nellie McKay sings and plays piano--as well as cello, vibes, and synthesizer--on Pretty Little Head.

Meat Loaf: Bat Out Of Hell III

The long-awaited third record in the Bat Out of Hell trilogy, The Monster Is Loose, wears bombast, pretension, and pyrotechnics proudly on its album sleeve and across the bulging disc's 14 tracks. Meat Loaf and company create a great escape into the realm of grand theatricality, with a bunch of radio-friendly rock tunes that sound 20 years old, and several lyrically memorable AOR ballads to sustain it all the way to Broadway. Balanced by the powerful female voices of Marion Raven, Patti Russo, and Jennifer Hudson, along with guest musicians and songwriting help from Steve Vai, Marilyn Manson's John 5, Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx, Queen's Brian May, and others, Meat Loaf's Monster has roared the unlikely rock star back to life like a bat out of Baghdad. --Martin Keller

Meshuggah: Nothing Re-Release

Nothing marked a breakthrough for Meshuggah in North America as the band essentially became a household name with their dominating 2nd stage performances on Ozzfest 2002, their music featured + band name mentioned by Jack Osbourne on a popular episode of the hit MTV series The Osbournes, receiving an abundance of air-play for their ''Rational Gaze'' music video on MTV2 & Fuse and by being hand-picked not once but twice by Grammy award winning artist, TOOL, as direct support on two full-scale National arena tours! Completely re-mixed, re-mastered & edited with re-recorded guitars, Nothing has mutated into a much heavier precisely- punishing, mind-mangling mathematical monster than the original 2002 release!

Opeth: Ghost Reveries Special

Opeth and Ghost Reveries have been hailed by Revolver Metal's most brilliant band, Kerrang! The best album that anyone will produce this year, Rolling Stone and many more. The band has been featured and continue to receive accolades for their album and live show in every key mainstream, hard rock and metal publication, including Alternative Press, Rolling Stone, Revolver, Decibel, Guitar One, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! and many more. Girlie Action hired to work press for special edition and touring throughout the end of the year. Planning to expand our press reach and excite new publications about this exceptional album and the bonus elements. Special 2-disc CD/DVD set in a digipak with previously unreleased music, a making of the album, a 5.1 mix of the entire album and 1 promo video: the previously unreleased director's cut of ''The Grand Conjuration.''

Relient K: Two Left's

Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do is the third full-length album released by Christian rock band Relient K. It was initially released with four different covers, each one depicting a separate car wreck. In November 2003, a fifth cover was released, which showed all four cars in a junkyard. That is now the only version of the CD still in print, although a very small amount the four original covers can still be found. It was also released as a combo pack with Deck the Halls, Bruise Your Hand. Two Lefts Don't Make a Right...but Three Do was certified Gold for sales in excess of 500,000 in the United States. The idea for a Gold Edition of this album came from Gotee Records, The Gold Edition of this album remixes and remasteres sound so that it be on par with that of Mmhmm, and it enhances with a music video for the song "Chap Stick, Chapped Lips, and Things Like Chemistry".

Joe Satriani: Satriani Live

Joe Satriani is the guitar. Plain and simple. No one else has ever been able to play with such pizzazz, such fluidity, such timelessness. That's not to say there aren’t others out there who are accomplished, they just can't even come close to achieving the magic that Joe Satriani performs as soon as his fingers mesh with the strings. Satriani LIVE!, the double CD or DVD, is packed full live footage shot at the end of the Super Colossal tour and plenty of bonus material for the ultimate Satriani fan.

Sunn 0))) / Boris: Altar

Boris and sunn 0))) should be no strangers to this universe. Boris has previously released 4 full length albums through Southern Lord (Absolutego, Amplifier Worship, Akuma No Uta and Pink) and sunn 0))) has released 5 full-length albums with the Lord: (Flight of the Behemoth, the Grimm Robe Demos, White1, White2, and Black One). We’ve all watched both bands go from obscure, heavy expermentalists, followed by a very small cult audience, to succesfully renowned artists appealing to a very eclectic, large audience. Altar is a collaboration album between the two groups that is a result of both bands conceptualizing, writing and recording the album together as one entity. There are elements of each groups trademark sound within the album but true to each groups progressive and experimental aspects, Altar moves into a completely new dimension.

Tea Leaf Green: Rock & Roll Band

Following the 2005 release of Tea Leaf Green’s critically acclaimed album, Taught to be Proud, the band extensively toured North America reminding fans that rock ‘n’ roll never died. After winning the Song of the Year Jammy award for Taught To Be Proud’s title track, the road warriors plowed forward delivering hair-raising performances night after night to their rabidly increasing fan base. In 2006, the band sold out shows in many major markets including Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, New York and most notably the historic Fillmore Auditorium in their hometown of San Francisco, CA. The band’s chops have not gone unnoticed by their musical contemporaries as 2006 also found the band opening for the Dave Mathews Band, Trey Anastasio, Government Mule, and Bruce Hornsby.

Paul Wall & Chamillionaire: Gymc: The Remix Album

Before Paul Wall & Chamillionaire became the major label stars that they are today, they were the original kings of the South with an album called Get Your Mind Correct. The album soundscanned over 130,000 units independently and is now getting completely remixed by the Beatco production team whose credits include Outkast, 8Ball & MJG and many more.

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