Back in the Saddle Again
First day back from the Baby Beat, and I'm already immersed in a deadline column about David Lee Roth's giant inflatable "microphone." (VH is coming to Tampa Feb. 18) But before getting back to Diamond Dave, I thought I'd take a break from the grind and open a little mail. I have a veritable trough of CD packages at my feet, and if I don't open these suckers now, the tribbles will triple by tomorrow.
So here's the new loot...
Michael Jackson -- Thriller 25
Lenny Kravitz -- It's Time for a Love Revolution
Brad Paisley -- 5th Gear (the twist is that they sent me a Digital Download Card instead of the CD)
Sheryl Crow -- Detours
Mike Doughty -- Golden Delicious
Idina Menzel -- I Stand
Black Eyes & Neckties -- Apparition! (Check 'em out)
Louis XIV -- Slick Dogs and Ponies (they finally sent me the finished version. My album of the year...uh, so far)
Sara Evans, Alan Jackson -- How Great Thou Art: Gospel Favorites
Anne Murray -- Duets: Friends & Legends (Nelly Furtado, Shania Twain, Shelby Lynne)
The Heavy Circles -- The Heavy Circles
Secondhand Serenade -- A Twist in My Story
Kerli -- Kerli (I don't know who she is, but she looks WEIRD AND HOT)
I found another envelope of even more of those Digital Download Cards: Backstreet Boys, Three Days Grace, Britney Spears, Pink and Chris Brown. Not sure I like this trend...
Sean Daly is the pop music critic for the St. Petersburg Times. His CD collection -- from Journey to Dylan, Prince to U2, Public Enemy to Stan Getz -- is much bigger and better than yours.
Saw Louis XIV open for the Killers a few years back. They were outstanding.
Posted by: NickWithAnAxe | February 08, 2008 at 04:07 PM
Anne Murray...Duets...>>
Yikes, what genius greenlighted that project? My Mom used to play Anne Murray constantly, something about her really turns my stomach. (Meaning Anne Murray, not my Mom- sheesh!)
Posted by: Sherrie | February 08, 2008 at 04:07 PM
I've been thisclose to picking up the Lenny Kravitz album, but haven't pulled the trigger yet, for some reason.
Very curious about the Thriller re-release. Very.
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 04:27 PM
In case you haven't heard...
The "Thriller" reissue has totally unnecessary remixes by Kanye West, Will.i.am and Akon. Pretty smarmy.
However, you DO get the full remastered album, full-length vids of Thriller, Beat It and Billie Jean, plus MJ's Motown Billie Jean performance.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 08, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Hmm. I actually heard a bit of the Akon cut (Wanna Be Starting Something) while radio channel surfing the other day. So meh.
Might be worth it for the full-remastered original, though.
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 04:44 PM
PS: LOVED the Phil Ramone piece, Mr. Daly. Loved it. I've already ordered his book from Amazon.
Stupid me had NO idea he worked on Getz/Gilberto (in my top five fave albums of all time.) Amazing.
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Thanks, Jane. Just curious. Did you read the Ramone piece in the actual newspaper or online?
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 08, 2008 at 05:32 PM
Actual paper with my morning tea. Been reading the Times since I was about Kid Lulu's age (or at least looking at the funnies since then.)
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 05:36 PM
Love to hear that. Despite all the blog and podcast stuff, I'm an old-school guy at heart. The sports section just isn't the same without Cap'n Crunch.
I even love getting my newspaper in the morning -- a mad in-my-undies dash down the driveway. I figure it wakes me and my neighbors up.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 08, 2008 at 05:55 PM
I do too -- I've fine-tuned the mad-dash-in-my-pjs to see where the delivery person has thrown the paper that particular morning. It varies. Always exciting. I'm a really early morning person and have been known to listen for the "thump" of the paper hitting the yard so I can run out to pick it up. There's something about having newsprint in my hands that makes my morning complete.
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Sean,
Enjoy the mighty VH. They were pretty darn good live when I saw them a few months ago.
Posted by: Al | February 08, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Hey Sean.. Care to review the new Lenny Kravitz cd? I'm interested to hear what you think of it.
Posted by: Carla | February 08, 2008 at 07:28 PM
I've been pretty tough on Lenny his last coupla albums. One of them was almost a parody of Kravitz and his overt guitar god influences. But I'll definitely give it a spin.
Posted by: Sean Daly | February 08, 2008 at 09:14 PM
I checked out that Kerli chiquita. Her pictures remind me of those clown children that are painted on black velvet... looking forelorn and malnourished with over-sized eyes. You know the ones from the 70s? Can you say nightmare inducing visions?
Very dark music. Evanescence meets Avril Lavigne meets Marilyn Manson's love child.
Posted by: Marissa | February 08, 2008 at 09:35 PM
PS: I'm also curious as to how the Heavy Circles disc is -- such an interesting collaboration.
Posted by: jane | February 08, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Understood Sean! I do like Lenny, but it's more of a situation that the few songs I like... I LOVE, and the others, I could do without. So I will understand if you listen to and and don't give it "Two Thumbs Up" !!
I do like the single "I'll Be Waiting"... but haven't had a chance to give the other songs a listen on Itunes.
So, give it a listen when you get a chance and let me/us know what'cha think!!
Posted by: Carla | February 08, 2008 at 11:31 PM
I saw the Digital Download cards..Not sure if I'd like it either. Not sure if it's the new fad or if it's something that will actually catch on. But I'm leaning towards the former!
Posted by: Carla | February 08, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Anne Murray rocks & the duets album is fantastic. Sherrie who commented above-you turn my stomach-what disrespect-Anne Murray is a legend
Posted by: claude | February 09, 2008 at 08:41 AM