Paul Simon - Surprise

Warner Bros

Paul Simon has come a long way from his pretentious and dated, yet beautiful and brilliant, Simon and Garfunkle days. He has released umpteen albums and changed his style with his age. From musical operatic story telling (Songs From The Capeman) to stunning live albums (Concert In The Park), he has continued to deliver quality sounding work with impressive styles and lyric writing.
His latest album is as different as can be expected from Simon. With weirdo producer Brian Eno, "Surprise" is electronically infused. Now I am no fan of Brian Eno's solo work. However, when he is producing he can help to create some very interesting and oftentimes brilliant work. Eno has done a terrific job of expanding Paul Simon's sound.
Herbie Hancock makes an appearance on this album ("Wartime Prayers"). While slower than what we have come to expect from Hancock, he compliments the song and Simon's writing style. This album is great from start to finish. It's different from anything Simon has done before and it works well for him.

Rihanna - A Girl Like Me

SRP/Island Def Jam/Universal

Rihanna is a new artist on the Def Jam label, and she proves to be more innovative than her album cover lets on. Using interesting styles of music to sing to, she goes from synthesized string section, to bouncy ska styled guitars with steel drums, to acoustic guitar stylings. One thing consistent about her music is her use of strong beats in just about every song. She has a charming voice, but she uses it lightly most of the time, not daring to stretch her range. It is a promising start to a career; hopefully she will continue to be promising.

Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped

Geffen/UMG

Sonic Youth has been through a lot of shit (as well as band members), and come out smelling great. From their first well received album ("Dirty") in 1992 that sounded more like distorted noise than a band, to this, their most recent album, they have clearly come a long way. They keep using oddly tuned guitars and dreamy styles to convey their music.
"Rather Ripped" is a prime example of the greatness of what Sonic Youth can achieve. Never sticking to any conventions about what their music is supposed to sound like, you can always expect them to do a terrific job making new sounds and creative songs.

Beth Thornley - My Glass Eye

Stiff Hips

Beth Thornley puts a broad range of influences and styles on the table for all to see. Thornley brings a diversity of styles and genres to her music which keeps the album moving nicely, always switching it up just when you think you have a hold on her music. On "You're Right Where" she uses light piano work to accompany her singing; while, up next, on "Once" she uses an accordion and heavy Tom Waits styled drumming.
Beth's lyrics are just as stimulating as her tunes; in "You're Right Where," she makes poignant and insightful views into a type of friend that we have ALL had, "So you would agree you've been unmindfully/moving so aimlessly towards an end you can't see/that now you're right where you don't want to be." She shows an impressive maturity and assuredness in her writing and her songs that is irresistible.

George Thorogood and The Destroyers - The Hard Stuff

Eagle

Thorogood has his hits that epitomize blues/rock more than any other artist: "Bad To The Bone," "One Bourbon One Scotch & One Beer" and "I Drink Alone." If you get his greatest hits ("The Baddest of..."), it's a classic to put on at a party.
"The Hard Stuff" shows nothing new on the horizon for Thorogood. He still has his hard-line guitar riffs and that low down bluesy sound. His guitar solos, while not quite legendary, are true to his style and pack a punch. Despite his lack of effort to expand his sound, he makes an awesome cover man: from Bo Diddley to Fats Domino to John Lee Hooker. This is not Thorogood's best work. But, Thorogood's mediocre work is better than most peoples best.
(Editor's Note: Sweet Baby Jesus! The man still is, and always has been, real rock 'n roll. No intellectual shit from me... this is what turns me on!)

John Corbett - John Corbett

Funbone

If you're a fan of "Chris in the morning on K-Bear," (Northern Exposure) then you will be pleased to hear that John Corbett (the actor who played Chris) has made an album. Whether or not you are skeptical of acting/musician crossovers, you should give this album a listen. Corbett plays guitar and sings although he doesn't play guitar on the recordings. His voice is perfect for the country music he plays.
On his debut, self-titled album he can play ballads and he can rock out. From the sorrowful "Bottle of Whiskey" to the humorous "Simple Man," Corbett chose a great collection of songs to put on his first album. But, what I really want to hear are the songs that Corbett has written himself. Perhaps on the second album-- keep it coming!
(Editor's Note: As the former editor of Country Song Roundup, which died in my arms when it was 50 years old, this is the real country music that we didn't have enough of, and still don't. Country radio is the biggest sell-out around.)
***Shelton's Single Of The Week: "Bottle of Whiskey"***

The Concretes - In Colour

Honest Jons/Astralwerks

The Concretes are patently boring. Each song blends into the next. They are passively rock, and their lyrics are sung with the same energy that they embody. For example "Your Call" consists of mainly the repeated lyric, "I call you/Hang up." I nominate this for Lame Album of The Week.
***Lame Album of The Week***

Various Artists - ÁBaila! A Latin Dance Party

Putumayo

While Putumayo has released a variety of Latin themed compilations over the past few years, this one takes a different view at the world of Latin music. While staying true to the Latin themes within the music, the compilation focuses on Latin music in Latin America as well as around the world. From Mali to France, Latin music has made a global impact on the music industry. While other music markets are quickly losing money, Latin music has enjoyed double digit growth year after year.
On "ÁBaila!," one will find names such as Raul Paz ("Mua Mua Mua"), Africando All Stars ("San Fo") and Spanish Harlem Orchestra ("Escucha El Ritmo"); truly a global take on the Latin phenomenon. The best cut on the album, however, comes from La-33 who revisit the '60s and '70s Latin style called Boogaloo with, "Que Rico Boogaloo." Awesome tracks all around on this compilation. As always Putumayo did a fantastic job putting the album together.
(Editor's Note: This incredible album reminds me of the good old days when me and my ex-wife, Sonia Rodriguez, would dance down the street in Spanish Harlem (116th St, between 2nd and 3rd Ave), while everybody would smile at us. Why is it that Santana is the only Latin music we hear on our racist radio stations. Chicos y chicas, we have to change this. Whatcha' gonna do?)

King Karma - King Karma

(CD/DVD) Centurion/Southbound

Butt-rockers to the highest degree; King Karma shamelessly plays in the hairband rock style. For them, it works somehow. Not just anyone can pull it off. It's because they incorporate other elements of rock as well. But for reference, the guitarist has a double headed guitar (you know... one of those guitars that's actually two guitars).
King Karma is fun. I would enjoy seeing them live. But even though they do what they do well, what they do isn't all that great.

Anjani - Blue Alert

Columbia

Anjani, born in Hawaii, has been collaborating with Leonard Cohen for many years now, doing vocals on several albums ("I'm Your Man," "The Future" and "Dear Heather"). This time around, Cohen has given her the reigns to his vast lyrical library. She has taken his writings and produced her own Jazz album.
Her lyrical and musical attack shows no particular strain. Her compositions are all very slow and meandering jazz works. Cohen explains that Anjani, "brings the lyrics to life." The songs work well as a background music. Almost every song is simple piano and vocal work. After the album has progressed, there are a few standout songs such as "Blue Alert," "The Golden Gate" and "Half The Perfect World." But many of the songs leave me flat.

Michael Powers - Onyx Root

Baryon

Michael Powers has been playing guitar for a very long time. He has opened up for acts such as James Brown, The Everly Brothers, Kool and The Gang, Chuck Berry and John Lee Hooker. And for years has been making a living as a solo act. In 2004 he was "rediscovered" and signed as Baryon Records' inaugural release. This album has been rereleased with a broader distribution range.
His blues roots are evident throughout the album. He has a hardline guitar style reminiscent of John Lee Hooker. His vocals are fiery and chilling. Powers, however, changes it up. He doesn't stick to the standard 12-bar blues that confines so many musicians. For example, on "Night In Madrid" (instrumental), he implements a beautiful Spanish guitar style and his drummer strays from his formal blues bashing and does a stellar bossanova beat. I would love to get my hands on Power's early work with his former band, The RB ZigZags. Onyx Root is a "contemporary-classic" hit.

Kaskade - Here And Now

(2 CD SET) Om

Kaskade has been rockin' the house world for years off of the Om house label. His influence has been felt all over the world of electronica. "Here and Now" is a collection of the songs that have made his music universal. From "It's You" to "What I Say," Kaskade has created a songbook that shows his growth as a musician and his electronic experiments that were a fantastic success. This collection really spans the finest points in his most aurally pleasing career.

Noam Chomsky - The Imperial Presidency: Sovereignty, Terror and The Second Superpower

AK Press

Recorded November 2004, just after the reelection of George W. Bush, Chomsky pinpoints the principle commitments of the current administration. In the name of expanding markets and controlling access to key natural resources, we've seen the blatant undermining of democratic practice, contempt for international law, restriction of civil liberties, and the use of state terrorism to further foreign policy objectives.
This is a lively chronicle of the systematic power-plays that have effectively wrenched power from ordinary people's hands and made the world an increasingly unstable place to inhabit. When listening to him, you will realize how staggeringly brilliant this man is. He does his research, he speaks clearly (although a bit flatly) and with a dark humor explains his points beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Mercyme - Coming Up To Breath

INO/Columbia/Sony BMG

Mercyme is one of the top Christian recording artists around. This album tops all previous albums, however. "Coming Up To Breath" is an extremely organic sounding album with songs and lyrics that have obviously gone through painstaking revisions. Their Christian aspect is hardly ever so intrusive that it detracts from the music. For Mercyme, Jesus is what is worth "Coming Up To Breath" for; for someone else it could be something completely different.
They show off a widely varied set list in this album from the folksy, low-down "One Trick Pony" to their heavy, amplified "Last One Standing." The songwriting on this album is one of the most impressive and poetic things that I have heard recently.

Delaney & Bonnie - Home

Stax/Concord

Delaney & Bonnie came to the soul scene during the late '60s on into the early '70s. During that time, audiences were very segregated as race issues became very militant and violent. Delaney & Bonnie played with an interracial band, and they received the brunt of anger from both sides of the equation, when all they wanted to do was make great music.
"Home," produced by Donald "Duck" Dunn (Blues Brothers), features the talents of Isaac Hayes, Booker T. Jones, Leon Russell among others. And although he does not appear on this album, Eric Clapton spent a good deal of time with D&B on the road and in the studio. From "A Long Road Ahead" to "Just Plain Beautiful," D&B play their hearts and souls out.
***So Nice, Gotta Do It Up Twice (Created by the Original NYC DJ, Jocko, 1955)***

Two High String Band - Moonshine Boogie

Blue Corn/ADA

The Two High String Band start their second release with the hilarious and superb sounding "Nobody Calls from Vegas, Just To Say Hello," and it just gets better from there. This String Band creates a pleasant and harmonious sound that can only be achieved through the combinations of various stringed instruments.
"Selmerbam" is a kicked back sounding song, but most impressive in the twists and turns it creates through it's music, and the solos are incendiary. With flare and humor the band makes it through 12 songs and each one sounds great. "The Devil's Backbone," however, is by far and away the most impressive on the album. In the words of our editor, John Shelton Ivany, "Damn... How do they play that fast, man?"

Damone - Out Here All Night

Island/Universal

It's hard to figure out what the fuck this band is doing. It's not so simple to put a label on them, 'cuz I hear old school head-banging metal with frickin' awesome, body-shaking drumming. But, the lead singer, Noelle adds a pop sensibility that I just haven't heard in combination with this type of music.
"Out Here All Night" is a great song of nightlife that hails back to the days of 70's style metal, but with a babe for a frontman. They sound old school, and they dress the part as well. With other song titles such as "Get Out Of My Way," "Get Up And Go" and "Stabbed In The Heart" they rock harder than any other modern metal band (pieces of shit like Disturbed don't stand a chance).

Hedley - Hedley

Capitol/EMI

Hedley is the product of Canadian Idol contestant and finalist Jacob Hoggard. He entered on a bet for $150 from his bandmates. As Jacob puts it, "It was either spend a summer working construction or appearing drunk on television." But when he made the show and actually made finals he bailed out to come back to his band. His band, however, had moved on. So he got a new one, with the same songs and some new ones as well.
The group is unfortunately less interesting than the story behind their conception. They don't have the bravado to try anything that hasn't already been tried. Their music is derivative of every alt-rock band that has come before them. Hoggard's vocals are also just as familiar sounding: whiny and limited in range. Perhaps they are better live... perhaps.

Caroline Doctorow - Follow You Down

Narrow Lane

Caroline Doctorow, what can I say? She's an angel. Floating up there in the sky, singing like a bird. Nothin' but pure, lovely and harmonious songs of inspiration.

Allison Moorer - Getting Somewhere

Sugar Hill

Allison Moorer, sister to Shelby Lynne, is the newly betrothed wife to Steve Earle. Earle is also, not surprisingly, the producer for Moorer's album "Getting Somewhere." Once, she was a country sort of gal, now she rocks the mic, but is glued to her pop sensibilities. Earle's taste in guitar sounds is evident throughout the album with his signature muddled, fuzzed out guitar.
On "How She Does It" is a trip back to her country roots. It's a song about a woman leaving a bad relationship, "Finally into town the old familiar red light shining in her eyes/rolls the window down and whispers 'how you gonna take back your life?'/she usually takes a right to work but turns it to the left/and thinks she might head west." Moorer is certainly getting somewhere.

Chris Isaak - Best of Chris Isaak

Reprise/Warner Bros

I must say, I have a new found respect for this Chris Isaak character. I remember when "Wicked Game" became a hit, and I couldn't stand it. It was everywhere! Since then, I have sworn off his music. But listening to this album through and through, I can definitely see the appeal. He is a good singer (really good); he can plays guitar unlike anyone else. He doesn't quite play rhythm or lead, he tinkers around to create a sound all his own.
"Wicked Game" is, of course, featured on this "Best of...," as well as "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" and "Somebody's Crying." Chris Isaak has a voice that can wail in a falsetto and get gruff enough to do "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing." This "Best of" is a little piece of nostalgia that is well worth that cash-money in your pocket.

Orator: Che Guevara
Addressing The United Nations in 1967

Cuba comes here to state its position on the most important points of controversy and will do so with the full sense of responsibility that the use of this rostrum implies, while at the same time fulfilling the unavoidable duty of speaking clearly and frankly. We would like to see this assembly shake itself out of complacency and move forward. We would like to see the committees begin their work and not stop at the first confrontation. Imperialism wants to turn this meeting into a pointless oratorical tournament, instead of solving the serious problems of the world. We must prevent it from doing so. This session of the assembly should not be remembered in the future solely by the number nineteen that identifies it. Our efforts are directed to that end.
We feel that we have the right and the obligation to do so, because our country is one of the most constant points of friction. It is one of the places where the principles upholding the right of small countries to sovereignty are put to the test day by day, minute by minute. At the same time our country is one of the trenches of freedom in the world, situated a few steps away from United States imperialism, showing by its actions, its daily example, that in the present conditions of humanity the peoples can liberate themselves and can keep themselves free
Of course, there now exists a socialist camp that becomes stronger day by day and has more powerful weapons of struggle. But additional conditions are required for survival: the maintenance of internal unity, faith in one's own destiny, and the irrevocable decision to fight to the death for the defense of one's country and revolution. These conditions, distinguished delegates, exist in Cuba.
Of all the burning problems to be dealt with by this assembly, one of special significance for us, and one whose solution we feel must be found first--so as to leave no doubt in the minds of anyone--is that of peaceful coexistence among states with different economic and social systems. Much progress has been made in the world in this field. But imperialism, particularly U.S. imperialism, has attempted to make the world believe that peaceful coexistence is the exclusive right of the earth's great powers. We say here what our president said in Cairo, and what later was expressed in the declaration of the Second Conference of Heads of State or Government of Nonaligned Countries: that peaceful coexistence cannot be limited to the powerful countries if we want to ensure world peace.' Peaceful coexistence must be exercised among all states, regardless of size, regardless of the previous historical relations that linked them, and regardless of the problems that may arise among some of them at a given moment.