New releases: Sept. 13, 2005

Good Flying Spaghetti Monster, there are a TON of new releases this week! Plenty to talk about, but I'll limit the spotlight to a couple of nifty ideas among this bunch.

First, there's yet another tasty various-artists compilation this week, this time from Sugar Hill Records. It's called "Best of the South: Musical Stories by Sugar Hill." But what makes this interesting, beyond the fact that any collection of Americana story songs is bound to be a good idea, is that it's being released in conjuction with a book called "Best of the South Vol. II," part of Algonquin Books' long-running and well-loved "New Stories of the South" series. Check out both, and you can hear Southern storytelling in two great forms that go great together -- written word and music. Mmm, yummy!

Also getting a shout-out for a damn-fine idea is Mr. George Jones, who this Tuesday brings us the dippily (but informatively) titled "Hits I Missed ... And One I Didn't." The idea here is that the Possum records many decades' worth of songs that were offered to him ... but that he turned down, only to watch others score hits with them. Songs on the album include Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away," Randy Travis' "On the Other Hand," and "Too Cold at Home," which was a hit for Mark Chesnutt. It's not often you get to see the "what might've been" in music, so this could be a fun ride. Also on this CD is a updated version of Jones' own hit "He Stopped Loving Her Today," just to remind us he didn't fuck up every time. :)

I think if this week's releases had a theme, it might be "Oh, so that's what they've been up to!" Scads -- scads, I tell you! -- of releases from people who once were huge but who you maybe were starting to think had gone the way of Rick Astley. But nay! Tanya Tucker is back! Trisha Yearwood is back! Even Blues Traveler and Tracy Chapman are back, for Flying Spaghetti Monster's sake! And let us not forget Billy Bob Thornton. You'd almost forgotten about his music career, hadn't you? Give me your hand. C'mon now, I need to slap it! There, OK. I forgive you. Now can I have some of your blood to wear in a vial around my neck? No? OK. Fine, geez. Your list:

New releases of note for Sept. 13, 2005:
various artists -- Best of the South: Musical Stories by Sugar Hill (Sugar Hill)
George Jones -- Hits I Missed ... And One I Didn't (Sugar Hill)
Charlie Sexton -- Cruel and Gentle Things (Back Porch)
David Gray -- Life in Slow Motion (ATO)
Blue Rodeo -- Are You Ready (Rounder)
Pieta Brown -- In the Cool (Valley)
Iron & Wine/Calexico -- In the Reins (Overcoat Recordings)
Tim O'Brien -- Cornbread Nation and Fiddlers' Green (Sugar Hill)
Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham -- Moments From This Theater (Proper LLC)
South Austin Jug Band -- Dark and Weary World (Blue Corn Music)
Dar Williams -- My Better Self (Razor & Tie)
B.B. King and friends -- 80 (Geffen)
This CD is a celebration of King's big 8-0 and is chock full o' duets with his pals, including Eric Clapton (duh), Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Mark Knopfler and more.
Hank Williams III -- Straight to Hell (Curb)
Patty Loveless -- Dreaming My Dreams (Sony)
Tanya Tucker -- Live at Billy Bob's Texas (Smith Music Group)
Trisha Yearwood -- Jasper County (MCA Nashville)
Blues Traveler -- Bastardos (Vanguard)
Bonnie Raitt -- Souls Alike (Capitol)
stellastarr* -- Harmonies for the Haunted (RCA)
Tracy Chapman -- Where You Live (Atlantic)
Jonathan Edwards -- Rocking Chair and Sailboat (Wounded Bird)
Freakwater -- Thinking of You (Thrill Jockey)
Billy Bob Thornton -- Hobo (Big Deal)
The Vines -- Highly Evolved/Winning Days (EMI)

Anyone I left out? The kitchen sink, perhaps? Let us know!