September 22, 2006
New releases: Sept. 26, 2006
Posted by Stacy Chandler at September 22, 2006 7:51 AMAnd so September exits with a whimper, at least in terms of its final week's new releases list's power to scare us. But never fear, early October will offer lots of ways to part you from your hard-earned dollar. Let's just focus on the now, shall we?
New releases of note for week of Sept. 26:
Paul Westerberg -- Open Season [original soundtrack](Lost Highway)
I saw an ad for this in No Depression (or was it Paste) and stared at it a long time, trying to make it all make sense. Edgy Paul Westerberg, doing the soundtrack for a big-studio animated release about "a domesticated grizzly bear who befriends a deer, helping him and other wild animals escape a hunter in the forest just as hunting season begins," according to PR materials. Fuzzy bears. Paul Westerberg. Huh? But hey, if anyone could pull this off, it just might be PW, so I'll be checking it out.
various artists -- Outlaw Country: Live from Austin, TX (New West)
A CD recording the fine moments when Texas' finest (Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Waylon Jennings, Billie Joe Shaver, Kimmie Rhodes) gathered for an ol' fashioned guitar pull on the "Austin City Limits" stage. Some performances are solo, some with friends involved. Gotta be a lot to like here.
My Morning Jacket -- Okonokos (Ato)
A 2-CD live album.
Bobby Bare Jr.'s Young Criminals Starvation League -- The Longest Meow (Bloodshot)
A wild collaboration featuring folks from My Morning Jacket, Clem Snide, ... And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, and others.
Yeah, I don't know. I think that Paul Westerburg album sounds, err.... "doubtful." Someone please let me know otherwise...
Posted by: larry at September 22, 2006 9:17 AMI was/am an avid fan of the Replacments. I'm not quite sure when I stopped buying Westerburg's solo discs but I'm not digging into my wallet for this one. Rumor has it there may be guest appearances by Elton John and Phil Collins on a stirring Disney-like anthem which plays over the closing credits!
Posted by: Hal at September 22, 2006 6:04 PMWell I hate to put a positive spin on things here but Open Season is by far my favorite Paul Westerberg album in awhile. I wan't really into his last two albums but this one is a great improvement. It does capture a little of the "Tim" era Relacements vibe on some of the tracks but mostly it sounds like some of his better solo work. The only mystery to me is why they had Deathray and Pete Yorn do two of Pauls songs instead of having him do it. Clearly both artists have been greatly influenced by Mr. Westerberg so why bother.
As far as the Phil Collins / Elton John jokes go I think that is kinda shortsighted considering some of the great music in cartoon movies over the past few years. The afformentioned Pete Yorn did a bang up job on the Buzzcocks "Ever Fallen In Love" for Shrek 2, a far cry from cheesy Elton John ballads that plagued that Disney movie about kitties.
Posted by: Patrickhayes at September 26, 2006 4:40 PMPatrick, that makes me think of the great version Rufus Wainwright did of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" on the first Shrek soundtrack. Hmmm...
Posted by: larry at September 26, 2006 4:47 PMMinor point #1: I'm pretty sure it was John Cale's version of "Hallelujah" that was used in the film. There may have been a Rufus-switcharoo on the soundtrack.
Minor point #2: Great music in cartoon movies! I though you were going to mention Carl Stalling.
Posted by: Hal at September 26, 2006 8:12 PM
