New releases: Jan. 24, 2006

Hot damn! We're back to the days of the long lists. Apparently everyone's past their new year's hangovers and general holiday trauma and now can start pumping out some bitchin' new CDs.

One of special interest on tap next week is from Mr. Duncan Sheik. Yeah, I said it: Duncan. Sheik. You might remember him from the totally '90s hit "Barely Breathing." Now, lest you think he's been sitting on his duff since 1996, mindlessly humming "Barely Breathing" while he pantslessly surfs the Internet for part-time work in the retail sector, I assure you he's been busy. He's steadily released CDs that have gotten some critical acclaim, if not commercial cred (but hey, who are we to fault the guy for that?). He's also been composing, of all things. His credits include scores for film and theater productions as well as other projects. He's also had quite a few songs on movie soundtracks over the years -- "Great Expectations," "Teaching Mrs. Tingle," "Transamerica" and the new Jeff Buckley documentary, to name a few. Quite impressive, really.

But most impressive is the little twist he's put on his release this Tuesday, called "White Limousine" and reportedly chock full of social and political commentary -- and love songs, of course. "White Limousine" comes with 2 discs -- one a CD titled "Mine" and the other a disc "Yours." "Mine" is Sheik's music, just a normal CD. But "Yours" is actually a bit of software that contains the CD's 12 songs set up in something called "Live" that allows you to play with all the layers and remix the songs, if you're into that. Been dreaming of a Kanye West/Duncan Sheik mashup? Go nuts. Like Duncan Sheik but wish his tracks were backed by the sweet sweet sound of bacon frying? Go 'head. And instead of suing your ass, Sheik on his blog says "I'm genuinely interested in what other people do with this material" and pledges to set up a Web site where folks can post their creations. Pretty smart guy, this Duncan Sheik. And if you don't think so visit his Web site. Observe his scholarly beard. I rest my case.

But if we're judging solely on the music, then ol' Duncan might take a backseat to some other releases next week. Feast your eyes (and then your ears) ...

New releases for Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006:
The Duhks -- Your Daughters and Your Sons [reissue] (Sugar Hill)
Just like Larry was tellin' ya.
Chris Thile and Mike Marshall -- Live: Duets (Sugar Hill)
Roseanne Cash -- Black Cadillac (Capitol)
The Gibson Brothers -- Red Letter Day (Sugar Hill)
Duncan Sheik -- White Limousine (Zoe/Rounder)
Cat Power -- The Greatest (Matador)
The Gourds -- Heavy Instrumentals (Eleven Thirty)
Railroad Earth -- Elko (Sci Fidelity)
Two discs, but each with only six songs? Hmmm. Could it be ... a jamgrass band's live release?
Lisa Loeb -- The Very Best of Lisa Loeb (Geffen)
The Subdudes -- Behind the Levee (Back Porch)