Well, if it ain't the weekend all over again. And we all know what that means. While you're out watchin' movies, listening to great music or catching the next Deadwood and Sopranos, we're pounding out the next edition. But we do get out to check new stuff. <we sneak out for the midnight shows>. Yeah..right.
Hey, we've done up a column at Bill Hunt's Digital Bits. The new column is a brief rundown of DVDs, music related. The new column is called TAPNotes and will show up from time to time. Be sure to check it out.
We're putting the finishing touches on a review for The Rolling Stones' Abkco release of the Singles: 1963-1965 Box. We think this set rocks. Check back Monday for the rundown.
We also have quite a lot of reviews for Marillion's newest, Marbles. Not only do we have a duo review from the brothers Dunphy but we also have 2 reader reviews of the same title. Cool. And we have some more so watch for a lot of new reviews coming up.
And that's about it for the day. We'll be back on Monday (heyyy, that's May. Guess I better start my XMas list) with more.
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.

Reprise Records will issue a new recording for Secret Machines on May 18. This debut is called a mix of Neil Young and The Band with the progressiveness of Tangerine Dream, Eno, and Pink Floyd while bringing to mind Kraftwerk. Alright...I'm interested. I've heard some of this album and I can attest to you the claims above are pretty much accurate. I'm anxiously awaiting this release. Watch for a Letterman show in June. The album is called Now Here is Nowhere.
Rhino and Atlantic issue a Donnie Hathaway album called These Songs For You, Live! on June 8. This album will be an all new compilation of live gems that will add 7 unreleased rare tracks for 13 music and 1 interview cuts.
Here's your BIG news of the day. Reprise Records have a new Fleetwood Mac title on the fast track to your store. The title, Fleetwood Mac - Live in Boston, will be issued as a CD/2DVD set making quite a package for fans. This title will come at you in basically the same way via two approaches. The first will be as a CD digipak with 2DVD while the second is as 2DVD with a bonus CD. Here's the scoop:
We'll start with the tracklisting ('cause I knew you'd ask) -
- DVD1: The Chain / Dreams / Eyes of The World / Peacekeeper / Second Hand News / Say You Will / Never Going Back Again / Rhiannon / Come / Gypsy / Big Love / Landslide.
- DVD2: Say Goodbye / What's the World Coming To / Beautiful Child / Gold Dust Woman / I'm So Afraid / Silver Springs / Tusk / Stand Back / Go Your Own Way / World Turning / Don't Stop / Goodbye Baby.
- CD: Eyes of the World / Dreams / Rhiannon / Come / Big Love / Landslide / Silver Springs / I'm So Afraid / Stand Back / Go Your Own Way.
If you need a quick fix before the set comes out, watch for a PBS special that will show a 60 minute view of this concert around release date. Audio-wise, the DVDs are kept in the Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo realm.
Phish will get a release entitled Undermind, a CD with bonus DVD due on June 15. This new album of material will contain 14 tracks. Woohoo! Are you ready for this? We are.
Rhino will issue a 2CD retrospective of ZZ Top with 38 tracks covering the band's popular years from the 70s through the 80s and up. This set, The Very Best of ZZ Top: Rancho Texicano will be a plus for those who wanted ZZ Top but not the box set. This issues on June 15 and will suggested retail at $24.98. That means you'll be able to snatch this up for a lot less.
Killers' Hot Fuss will issue in SACD format on June 15 from Island Records. And on June 22, Island Records will also release an SACD of Lionel Richie's upcoming Just for You.
June 8 brings a couple of Crosby, Stills, & Nash titles to a shelf near you. If you're a fan, and who really isn't, then you'll be able to snag Rhino Home videos of Acoustic; Daylight Again; and Long Time Comin'. We'll keep an eye out on these titles.
Rhino Home Video will also issue a ZZ Top collection of videos called Greatest Hits: The Video Collection, on June 15.
Rhino also has a video collection on the schedules for Cher. Called The Very Best of Cher: The Video Hits, you can expect this release to fit into your DVD player on June 22.
April 28, 2004
This doesn't have anything to do with music other than the fact that it resides in the pop culture of our era but I've learned today that Hubert Selby Jr passed away at age 75. That's not a bad age to move on but the fact that we'll not see the likes of him again is highly disturbing. And so I wish HSJr an excellent journey. Not only does Selby live on in our psyches with his 'pull the scab off' look at humanity, he just plain lives on. If you haven't made yourself aware, he is best know for his Last Exit to Brooklyn. You can check out Hubert Selby, Jr books at the link provided. Buy the ticket, take the ride! Right Dan?
We have a few reviews for you today as well as the listings of upcoming albums and stuff. In addition to my review of The Essential Cheap Trick we have George Bennett's review of The Pretty Things collection from Shout! Factory. We'll have a reader's review of Marillion's latest, Marbles on Friday. Note that our Dw Dunphy will have a full review of the same title in the near future.
Not too bad for a day's work. We'll be back with more on Friday.
Don't forget the reader reviews. If you have a single paragraph about a favourite current album that you have, share it with the world. Write me here and use READER REVIEW in the subject line.

Vagrant Records has announced a Dashboard Confessional release scheduled for May 18. This will be a Deluxe Edition of A Mark, A Mission, A Brand, A Scar. It will contain a limited edition DVD that features the entire MTV2: Album Covers that showcases Dashboard Confessional's covers of REM's Automatic for the People. There will also be interview segments with Michael Stipe and versions of "Superman", and "Rapid Hope Loss".
The Dave Matthews Band's anticipated Live at the Gorge gets a bit of a rework. It is now scheduled for June 22 and now appears that the delays were due to changes in the package. Live at the Gorge will now be a 3 disc package (2CD and 1DVD) and will be available in both amaray and jewel casing.
We had mentioned that a Special Limited Edition with bonus DVD was in the works for Velvet Revolver's upcoming Contraband. It has now been officially cancelled so scratch it off your list. The CD and LP are still on for June 8.
Epic and Legacy will issue a 'best of' for Bobby Vinton called The Best of Bobby Vinton on June 22.
Celine Dion will have a live album on June 15 called A New Day: Live in Las Vegas. This will issue from Epic Records.
Legacy also teams with Columbia for a Chuck Mangione 'best of' scheduled for June 22. The title is the Best of Chuck Mangione. Also from this team is The Best of Jane Oliver that will be on shelves June 22.
The Clash's Clash on Broadway (announced several months ago on these very pages) will re-issue on June 22.
Moving into the 3rd Qtr (all ready?), we have a new Hives album on the horizon for July 20. This comes from the folks at Interscope.
The Megadeth re-issues (Craving; Countdown to Extinction; Cryptic Writings; Peace Sells But Who's Buying; Risk; Rust in Peace; So Far, So Good...So What; Youthanasia) expected from Capitol will move a few weeks deeper into the year. Last scheduled for July 13, they now shift to July 27.
I-20's upcoming Self Explanatory edges further down the calendar for an August 10 release from July 13. From Capitol Records.
Everclear's upcoming album, as yet untitled, is scheduled for September 28.
Killers' Hot Fuss will issue in SACD format on June 15 from Island Records. And on June 22, Island Records will also release an SACD of Lionel Richie's upcoming Just for You.
Soft Cell will have a DVD issued on July 27 from Sanctuary Records. The DVD will be known as Non-Stop Exotic Video.
Here's the cover shot of the upcoming live DVD for Cyndi Lauper's Live...At Last. This one comes to stores on May 25.
April 27, 2004
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