In Sean's Mailbox: Martha, Michael, Morissette

Wow, do I have a wicked case of spring fever today. I just wanna drink beer, watch baseball on mute and listen to the new Black Keys album, which is the very definition of badass (and produced by Danger Mouse, no less).

I wasn't gonna blog today (not with so much work to be done on my crappy fantasy baseball team). But the mailbox has been especially generous with hot CDs -- the new Alanis, the new Jakob Dylan, etc. -- so I thought I'd brag about my good fortune.

By the way, that George Michael best-of Twenty-five is a bit of a rip-off -- no I Want Your Sex! Dude, now is a lousy time to pretend you're a prude.

Oh, and the picture above is of Martha Wainwright, Rufus' sis, whose new album just showed up, too. Love that gal.

George Michael -- Twenty-five
Be Your Own Pet! -- Get Awkward
Alanis Morissette -- Flavors of Entanglement (out June 10)
Jakob Dylan -- Seeing Things (also out June 10)
Martha Wainwright -- I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too (also out June 10)
The Black Keys -- Attack & Release
Lindsey Buckingham -- Live at the Bass Performance Hall
Black Tide -- Light From Above (WATCH)
Phantom Planet -- Raise the Dead
R.E.M. -- Accelerate
Punch Brothers -- Punch

In Sean's Mailbox: It's Not EZ Being Snoop

Despite the fact that Snoop spends most of his time wandering beaches, in search of beautiful women wearing stylish black censor bars, the D-O-DOUBLE-G is actually a very conflicted dude. He wants to be the player, the pimp, the smoker's smoker; he also wants to be a peewee football dad and a good husband. Maybe it's all BS. Maybe Snoop is just a jerk, plain and simple. But I don't think so. Or at least I don't want to think so. Now that Calvin Broadus is 36 years old, it's far more interesting to think of him as the troublemaker who's not so sure of himself anymore, the Doggfather in turmoil.

Anyway, that's the head-snapping gist of SD's new album, one of several CDs that magically appeared in my mailbox this morning...

Snoop Dogg -- Ego Trippin'
Norah Jones -- My Blueberry Nights Soundtrack
Melody Gardot -- Worrisome Heart (LISTEN)
Black Tide -- Light From Above
Be Your Own Pet! -- Get Awkward
Josh Gracin -- We Weren't Crazy
Five Times August -- Brighter Side
Lemonheads -- It's a Shame About Ray: Collector's Edition (WATCH)

In Sean's Mailbox: Coffee, Tea or Sex Scene?

So during my flight to South Carolina this weekend, the dude across the aisle was watching movies on his massive Dell laptop. At first he was snorting at harmless Billy Bob Thornton turd Mr. Woodcock. A little bothersome, but no biggie.

But then Annoying Computer Guy put in We Own the Night, starring Eva Mendes and Joaquin Phoenix. Now I'm not sure what that flick is about, but I do know it has hot nook-nook in it. How do I know this? 'Cause Annoying Computer Guy had the volume cranked and the humpathon showing on his IMAXian screen. Now listen, we know I'm no prude. We know I have issues. But Annoying Computer Guy was also breathing heavily through his nose like Seabiscuit and chomping loudly on snack mix, the horrific fiesta-smell of which was wafting over to me. So the whole combo (sex, snorting, fiesta snacks) totally freaked me out. I've always wondered who bought the nudie mags in airport gift shops. I mean, who reads Swank on the red-eye to Boston? The answer? I bet it's Annoying Computer Guy.

Anyway, here are the CDs and DVDs that were waiting for me in my mailbox when I returned. Alas, We Own the Night was not in the pile. However, I can lend you The Osmonds: Live in Vegas.

Alan Jackson -- Good Time
Ray Davies -- Working Man's Cafe
Lindsey Buckingham -- Live at Bass Performance Hall (DVD)
Kathleen Edwards -- Asking for Flowers
Shirley Bassey -- Get the Party Started
Missy Higgins -- On a Clear Night
The Lonely H -- Hair
Lady Antebellum -- Lady Antebellum (WATCH)

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...

In Sean's Mailbox: Anxiety, Similac, Etc.

Hey kids, I'm sitting at my desk, in a lonely newsroom, waiting for a call from Alanis Morissette. Just wanted to say that the FF and I were truly touched by the outpouring of baby names and related congrats. I'm even getting private emails from folks with more suggestions. As for any firm decisions, well...

Anyway, I'm pretty sure hobo encampments are more tidy than my workspace. So before Alanis and I connect on a cosmic level, I should probably open a few of the 478 CD packages landsliding to my feet, including Funplex by the B-52s, which is reliably like Beach Blanket Bingo on Mars. Great sound to it (maybe a little fuzzier, rockier than before), but I'll talk more about that later.

For now, here's a list of notable new stuff...

The B-52s -- Funplex
Edie Brickell & Harper Simon -- The Heavy Circles

Shelby Lynne -- Just a Little Lovin' (This CLIP isn't from Shelby's new album. But it's one of my fave songs ever. Shelby Lynne's Your Lies. Enjoy.)

Kathleen Edwards -- Asking for Flowers
Paul Potts -- One Chance
Hot Chip -- Made in the Dark
Kate Walsh -- Tim's House
k.d. lang -- Watershed
Maceo Parker -- Roots & Grooves

Ledisi -- Lost & Found (WATCH THIS CLIP -- Ledisi is going up against Amy Winehouse and Taylor Swift for Best New Artist at the Feb. 10 Grammys Awards. Kind of like Anita Baker with a better band.)