New releases: Past and present

Time to get caught up on May's new releases. First off, I somehow left Chuck Mead's new one, "Journeyman's Wager," off the May 12 list. So go get you that. If you don't believe me, believe HickoryWind's own Adam, who reviewed the disc here.

And then of course there's Green Day's new "21st Century Breakdown," which is drawing favorable comparisons to "American Idiot." But be warned -- first single "Know Your Enemy" is dangerously catchy. Prepare for having it stuck in your head. A lot. I may be too late.

May 19
Tori Amos -- Abnorally Attracted to Sin (Republic)
Cedar Hill Refugees -- Pale Imperfect Diamond (Effigy)
A project by John Carter Cash and Jack Clift that blends American folk music and traditional Uzbek instrumentation. Recorded in Hendersonville, Tenn., and Tashkent, Uzbekistan, it features the Peasall Sisters, Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, John Cowan and Uzbek band Jadoo.
Dale Ann Bradley -- Don't Turn Your Back (Compass)
Iron & Wine -- Around the Well (Sub Pop)
Steve Martin -- Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo (Rounder)
Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out -- Russell Moore and IIIrd Tyme Out (Rural Rhythm)
The Red Stick Ramblers -- My Suitcase is Always Packed (Sugar Hill)
Cheryl Wheeler -- Pointing at the Sun (Goldenrod)

May 26
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women -- Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women (Yep Roc)
Carolina Chocolate Drops -- Carolina Chocolate Drops and Joe Thompson (Music Maker)
Mrs. Ryan Adams Mandy Moore -- Amanda Leigh (Storefront)
Sarah Siskind -- Say It Louder (Red Request)
various artists -- The Man of Somebody's Dreams: A Tribute to the Songs of Chris Gaffney (Yep Roc)
Features Joe Ely, Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Calexico, James McMurtry and Alejandro Escovedo.
Jenny Owen Youngs -- Transmitter Failure (Nettwerk)