Archival Posts 2004 May 01

May 07, 2004

Oh, these pesky virii! I might just have to acquire an Apple machine just to help spare me this garbage even though it wouldn't prevent receiving the carriers (emails). But at least I wouldn't have to battle this on a daily basis. What the hell...

Our review of the 20th Century Masters: The DVD Collection titles has literally been read by a massive bunch of people. And I received plenty of emails asking how in the heck can one acquire these titles. Apparently, the Asia and Styx titles are unavailable on Amazon and some other purchase site. However, for those wanting and not being ble to locate, it's available at Tower Records online and at quite a decent price at that. Go there and splurge. Ohhh, tell 'em Matt at MusicTAP sent ya. Maybe they'll open a line of credit for me having sent a few to their site. Think?

We DO have the next installment of Duane's Pit Stop for you. You can read the crackhead's latest post right here.

We have a few very special surprise interviews coming up next week. We believe that you'll like these. Watch these pages.

This weekend, we've got the opening of Van Helsing. Despite the buzz that says that the film is a mess, we're going to see it and judge for ourselves. You know...the fall off the cliff might hurt but I still gotta experience it for myself.

And since it's summer heating up here, Mrs TAP has got me and some lesser-aged TAPs working an outside section of our house into a useable area. It'll be nice once its complete though so I'm not bitchin'...too loud.

Now...we have some news to attend to so check them out and then enjoy your weekend.

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.

Added to the calendars of Columbia Records are Christmas titles for Andy Williams ( Mr Christmas for many of us). While I'm complaining of early heat waves, Columbia is prepping to release The Andy Williams Christmas Album and Merry Christmas on May 25. And since I love Andy and his XMas stuff, you can bet these will join my collection alongside every Andy XMas CD I have including the later LaserLight issues. Yeah..I'm a sucker for a great Christmas song, especially when it's from Andy Williams.

But Andy isn't the only reworked Christmas album coming from Columbia on May 25. There will also be a Barbra Streisand re-issue called A Christmas Album. More Christmas releases include Cyndi Lauper's Merry Christmas * Have a Nice Life; Legacy's Frank Sinatra title, Christmas Songs by Sinatra; Harry Connick, Jr's When My Heart Finds Christmas; Johnny Cash's Christmas with Johnny Cash; Johnny Mathis' Merry Christmas and The Christmas Music of Johnny Mathis: A Personal Collection; Ray Conniff's Christmas Album; The Manhattan Transfer's The Christmas Album; and Snowfall by Tony Bennett.

Columbia has also announced the inclusion into the upcoming schedule of a new Coheed and Cambria album which will be available June 29.

There will be a 'best of' for Liza Minnelli from Legacy and Columbia called The Best of Liza Minnelli and will be made available on June 22.

For June 29, Legacy will resurrect a Willie Nelson title, The Troublemaker (1976).

You knew this Christmas stuff was coming but who woulda thought it would be May already?! But I needed the mental relief that this brought in any case (heat/cool..that's my drift.)

Nonesuch Records has a Wilco title on the slate for June 22 called A Ghost is Born. This title will also release in Japan on June 29 with a bonus track. We'll keep you informed.

Black Tape for a Blue Girl has a single released called "Tarnished". This CD mix of "Tarnished" will also include "Remnants of a Deeper Purity (2004)", and "Damn Swan!" Fans of this great neo-classical band can acquire this single at Projekt. It sells for $3.99. "Damn Swan is off the upcoming August 31 release of Halo Star from black tape.

Toto fans will have a DVD by the band scheduled on June 22. The video title is From Past to Present: 1977-1990.

May 05, 2004

It's quite better today where we are here in Southern California. Yeah, it's still warm but the cooling has been by as much as 15-20 degrees. Nasty when you think about that much of a change in temperatures...in a single day. Many of our neigbouring cities were easily in the triple digits.

We've nosed around the labels today and there is a little bit but not a lot of stuff to report on. What we have is comin' to ya on a dusty road.

We have a DVD-Audio review of Porcupine Tree's in absentia coming up in a few days as well as Rounder's new BoDeans release.

So hang in there and come back for that raucous Friday. And have a great and sane Cinco De Mayo. I mean it. I want you all back here on Friday.

Ciau!

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.

The upcoming Hives (unnamed) will not only street in the usual format (CD) but is also expected to be released on LP on July 20 from Interscope.

Bumblebeez 81's The Printz will be also be issued as an edited Enhanced CD on June 8.

In Praise of Dreams from Jan Garbarek is expected from ECM Records on September 14.

Geffen has two 'as yet unnamed' albums coming from Juliette Lewis and a band named Licks, both on June 29.

Hip-O Records has checked in with the announcement of #1s for Louis Jordan. This is expected to street on September 14. Hip-O will also issue a 20th Century Masters Collection for Sarah Vaughn on August 3.

Hip-O has also inked in a release for Sammy Hagar called Definitive Collection and scheduled for June 22.

Geffen Records will have a 20th Century Masters - Millennium Collection for New Edition on October 12.

Hollywood Records will release another 'best of' for Queen called Greatest Hits: We Will Rock You. This album will come out on August 17.

MCA Nashville will issue a new Trisha Yearwood (Unnamed) on November 2 while Mercury Nashville will release the next Sugarland on October 12.

Cheap Trick has a DVD coming to market on June 15. The DVD will be known as From Tokyo to You and will come from EMI.

Elvis fans may already know the scoop on the titles we have mentioned that are forthcoming but just in case you haven't yet spied the goodies, we have a link for you to investigate that will sate your appetite short of owing the actual packages. Thanks to reader Thomas Boone for his generosity in supplying the link.

May 04, 2004

Oh bloody heat. I HATE the bloody heat! Some of you, maybe a lot of you , may not be baking in heat right now but we sure are in So Cal. I've told Mrs TAP...2 more heat waves and it's A/C. And I don't care the cost.

We have a review of a small range of the new (almost new) DVD series called 20th Century Masters: The DVD Collection. We've selected a sampling of 4 DVDs (ABC; Styx; Tears for Fears; Asia) from these low-priced cool releases and let you know what we thought.

Additionally, we have a few pieces of news for upcoming releases but only a few. It's been quiet today and totally unrelated to the heat issue. If there were more interesting news, I'd post it all.

Now...I'm going for some A/C. Did I mention that I hate heat?

I Do.

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.

Aezra Records has pencilled in a release for Magna-Fi with their Burn Out Slow on June 15.

Angel Records will have 3 releases expected for September 21. The issues will include Lena Horne's An Evening With Lena Horne; Bobby McFerrin's Spontaneous Inventions; and John Scofield's Live Three Ways.

The Rolling Stones Singles 1965-1968 and Singles 1969-1971 from Abkco Records will be released July 27 and September 24, respectively. These dates are subject to change. We'll have more info on these Box Sets as they become available. Believe me, we're nosy. We have already asked the biggies about these next two sets. Special thanks to Bob Merlis and his invaluable assistance. You rock, dude!!