New releases: Aug. 22, 2006

Little bit of everything this week, folks. Nothing blockbuster, but some interesting options to mull if you haven't yet blown August's new-music budget.

New releases for Tuesday, Aug. 22:
Gov't Mule -- High and Mighty (Red Ink)
Christine Lavin -- One Meat Ball (Appleseed)
I love this idea! Lavin invites her talented friends to record songs based on a single theme: Food. Artists on the two-disc set include Doc Watson, Pete Seeger and actor Jeff Daniels, and it all comes handsomely bound with a book of recipes from the artists and some other creative and food-loving people.
M.Ward -- Post-War (Merge)
Radio Birdman -- Zeno Beach (Yep Roc)
Kasey Chambers -- Carnival (EMI)
Out this week in Australia, but we Yanks will have to wait until September.
Crooked Still -- Shaken by a Low Sound (Signature)
Randy Weeks -- Sugarfinger (Rathouse)
He wrote "Can't Let Go," done up by Lucinda Williams on "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road." So there.