New releases: Nov. 15, 2005

If the world seems to heave a sigh of relief on Tuesday, it might be because finally, finally, Wilco has released a live album. Me, I'm still wandering in the darkness of "not getting" Wilco, but Larry's remedial Wilco classes are shedding a little light, and "Killing Television: Live in Chicago" is definitely giving me inspiration to continue my scholarship. Everyone raves about Wilco's live shows, and early reviews say the production on this CD (CDs, actually -- there are two) does a good job of capturing the spirit of the thing. Judge for yourself on Tuesday. Extra credit for those in Wilco 101 if you write a report.

In other news of interest, Sarah Harmer hates America. And freedom. Sigh. I'm just bitter because she's releasing her new CD, "I'm a Mountain" in Canada on Tuesday ... but not in the States (not sure about elsewhere, sorry!) until friggin' February! Sarah, baby, listen: I understand you're Canadian. If you want to show love to your homepeeps, go ahead and give them your album first, that's cool. But making the rest of us wait THREE MONTHS??? Damn, girl, that's cold. In the meantime, Sarah fans, if you just can't wait, Amazon has "I'm a Mountain" available starting Tuesday as an import. Which means for $30. Eeeesh. If you're trying to make a decision about that, or if you plan to stand firm 'til February but want a sneak peek, there are three tracks from the new album on Sarah Harmer's Web site. And those tracks are, um, awesome. Seriously. Which just makes this whole messy situation all the more painful.

UPDATE: It appears to be possible to order "I'm a Mountain" online, here. The site lists prices in American dollars and Euros as well as in Canadian dollars, which makes me think they're down with international orders. Don't know what the shipping cost would be or how long it would take, but sheesh it's gotta beat waiting 'til Feb. 7!

Finally, if you're craving something instrumental, check out Rounder Records' new collection of fiddle tunes, "Along the Ohio's Shores, Vol.1: Fiddle Music Along A Great River." There really is something haunting about rivers, especially mighty American ones. I lived in Paducah, Ky., one summer and spent a lot of time in a park situated on the shore right at the spot where the Ohio River and Tennessee River meet. You could just feel the history as you stood on the shore. You could just hear the history, too -- a phenomenon this CD attempts to document. It's a collection of 38 little ditties, the longest one a mere 3 minutes, 43 seconds, with colorful names like "Hell Up the Holler" and "Hog Ears." If I'd had my trusty iPod back then, this would have been my soundtrack for those days in the river park. It looks like you can only get this CD online from Rounder, so cruise here to check it out.

And now, the list of good stuff coming out Tuesday, Nov. 15:
Bruce Springsteen -- Born to Run 30th Anniversary Edition (Sony)
I'll just step aside and let Sean, the master, have this one for artistic and philisophical consideration, but I'll give you the basics: It's a 3-disc set. One disc is the "Born To Run" original, except remastered and all that. The other discs are DVDs, one a documentary on the Boss and the other a concert DVD from a 1975 show in London.
various artists -- Walk The Line soundtrack (Wind-up)
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon (and other actors, including one Mr. Shooter Jennings as one Mr. Waylon Jennings) sing Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash and other characters in the movie out Friday. Early buzz is they kick ass with the singing and took that part of their gig just as seriously as the acting. Are they going to outdo Johnny and June themselves? Uh, no. But it might be interesting to hear them try.
various artists -- Along the Ohio's Shores, Vol. 1: Fiddle Music Along a Great River (Rounder)
various artists -- 92.9 WBOS: Live from the Archives, Vol. 3 (Rounder)
A collection of radio station performances from the likes of Aimee Mann, Tracy Bonham, Ray LaMontagne, Nickel Creek and Kathleen Edwards. Only head-scratcher in the bunch is the inclusion of Anna Nalick's "Breathe (2 a.m.)." What, that song didn't get enough airplay already? Sigh. Proceeds from this disc, by the way, go to the Red Cross for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, which of course are still very much ongoing.
Wilco -- Killing Television: Live in Chicago (Nonesuch)
Sarah Harmer -- I'm a Mountain (Cold Snap Canada)
Canada only for now. Sigh.