New CD Releases, Oct. 16: Neil Young, R.E.M., Jimmy Eat World
Neil Young “Chrome Dreams II”
The rock legend originally planned to release “Chrome Dreams” back in 1977. Yet, the project was shelved and “unfortunately, all original documentation and art for this album was lost in a fire that destroyed Neil’s Malibu home in early 1978,” according to Young’s website.
Never one to quit easily, Young now returns with “Chrome Dreams II.” Among its 10 tracks are two epics–one 18 minutes long and another 13 minutes. Young and his “The Volume Dealers” partner Niko Bolas produced.
As part of a co-promotion with Ticketmaster, every fan who orders up to three tickets to Young’s upcoming trek (which kicks off Oct. 18 in Boise, ID) will receive a code good for a free copy of “Chrome Dreams II” through Warner Brothers Records’ online store. Fans who purchase four tickets or more will receive two copies of the album.
The offer will be available to everyone who purchases Neil Young tickets on Ticketmaster.com, and to those who purchase Neil Young tickets via phone and provide a valid email address, according to Ticketmaster.
Young’s backing band for the tour will include Ben Keith (pedal steel guitar, dobro and other instruments), Ralph Molina (drums) and Rick Rosas (bass), all of whom were on hand in Northern California last summer to help record “Chrome Dreams II.”
As the tour gets warmed up, Young will host the 21st annual Bridge School Benefit concerts, set for Oct. 27 and 28 in Mountain View, CA. He’ll be joined on the bill by Metallica, John Mayer, Tom Waits with the Kronos Quartet, and the trio of Eddie Vedder, Flea and Jack Irons, among others.
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R.E.M. “R.E.M. Live”
This past summer, R.E.M. treated fans to a five-night stand at the intimate Olympia Theater in Dublin, Ireland. During that residency, the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees showcased new material, much of which will likely land on the bandís next studio record.
Staying with the Irish theme, R.E.M. will now release its first ever live album–which was recorded back in early 2005 at Dublinís Point Theatre. “R.E.M. Live” features vocalist Michael Stipe and gang performing 22 songs over the course of two CDs as well as an accompanying DVD. The track listing includes such smashes as “Orange Crush,” “Man on the Moon” and “Drive.”
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Jimmy Eat World “Chase This Light”
The Arizona-based pop-punkers return to the fray with “Chase This Light.” The album is Jimmy Eat World’s first full-length studio set since 2004’s gold-certified “Futures,” which landed on end-of-year best-of lists compiled by Rolling Stone, Blender and Spin.
Executive producer Butch Vig recently described the new album in a statement as “Quite eclectic,” adding “There are three or four songs that sound like classic Jimmy Eat World, with angular, razor-sharp guitars. There are a couple that are a lot more dreamy, and some that are very groove-acious.”
The band is currently in the midst of a North American tour, which is scheduled to conclude in mid-November in Chicago.
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Thrice “The Alchemy Index, Vols. 1-2”
Having waited since 2005’s “Vheissu,” Thrice fans will be getting plenty of new product from their favorite band in the months to come.
The group plans to release four EPs, beginning with the two found on “The Alchemy Index, Vols. 1-2.” These first two EPs are being subtitled “Fire and Water.” The second half of “Alchemy” (“Earth and Air”) will follow in the spring.
If all of this is a bit confusing, perhaps it will make more sense to fans once they see Thrice in concert. The band is taking part in a triple-header tour (with Brand New and MewithoutYou) that kicks off Oct. 18 and is scheduled to run through mid-December.
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Angie Stone “The Art of Love and War”
The Grammy-winning R&B/soul star returns with her first batch of new recordings since 2004ís “Stone Love.” In the interim, she released a greatest-hits package, “Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone.”
The multimedia star has also recently ventured into theater, appearing in the leading role in “Issues: We’ve Got Them All.” Furthermore, she took part in the fourth season of VH1ís popular reality television series “Celebrity Fit Club.”
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More new releases:
Cecilia Bartoli, “Maria” (Decca)
Karen Dalton, “Cotton Eyed Joe” (Delmore)
Sandy Denny, “Live at the BBC” (Universal)
Aretha Franklin, “Rare and Unreleased Recordings from the Golden Reign of the Queen of Soul” (Rhino)
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Live at Monterey” (Experience Hendrix)
Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette, “My Foolish Heart” (ECM)
Jars of Clay, “Christmas Songs” (Nettwerk)
Kenna, “Make Sure They See My Face” (Interscope)
Eric Marienthal, “Just Around the Corner” (Peak)
Michael W. Smith, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas” (Reunion)
James Taylor, “Don’t Mess with Mr. T: James Taylor Quartet Plays Motown” (Dome)
Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, “Danza II: The Electric Boogaloo” (Metal Blade)
Umphrey’s McGee, “Live at the Murat” (SCI Fidelity)
Underworld, “Oblivion with Bells” (ATO)
VAST, “April” (2blossoms)
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