New releases: May 13, 2008

Oh, my friends. This week is no time for restraint. Look here:

Death Cab for Cutie -- Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
Jason Mraz -- We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (Atlantic)
Old 97's -- Blame it on Gravity (New West)

Told you.

Eddy Arnold: 1918-2008

So long, Eddy Arnold. We'll see you over yonder.

Mudcrutch: Petty’s California Country

Mudcrutch
Mudcrutch
(Reprise)

After a 30-plus-year career as a big-time rock star, and with his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame credentials secured, Tom Petty has the luxury of doing as he pleases. What apparently pleases him at the moment is getting his old band back together.

And why not explore what might have been? Mudcrutch left the relatively small pond of Gainesville, Fla., in 1974 to pursue a record deal in Los Angeles. Judging from their tracks on the 1995 Petty box set “Playback,” they were a pretty good band, too. Shortly after arriving on the West Coast, though, the band splintered when the label expressed interest in Petty as a solo artist. A few of Mudcrutch’s bigger pieces eventually became key cogs in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The rest, as is often said, is rock and roll history.

“Mudcrutch,” the band’s years-in-the-making, self-titled debut, is a sunny, sometimes spirited slice of country-rock that indicates Petty still might have made out just fine had he stayed the course with this lineup. Petty steps a bit outside of his normal sound, but doesn’t stray too far. Mudcrutch ventures into California country explored by The Byrds and Flying Burrito Brothers in the late ’60s and early ’70s while still devoting plenty of attention to classic rock. The result is an enjoyable mix of both styles that does nothing to damage Petty’s sterling reputation as a tunesmith.

Tift's Gettin' Hitched

According to the Austin Chronicle, Tift Merritt is finally about to be "off the market." She and long-time boyfriend/drummer Zeke Hutchins are officially engaged. (Thanks to David Menconi for the scoop.)

James McMurtry is “Irate In Aught-Eight”