Is it really May already? Wow! As always, WOW!

Well, our Great Live Albums Poll has gone through the participation roof. We have been blasted with title after title. However, there are a few serious constants running in this Poll. Likely, there are going to be 3-4 very high vote getters for sure. As a strange matter of fact, the vote getting titles are in almost every list. And that's something I didn't anticipate.

Not only are Live albums designed to reflect a band or artist at their entertaining best, but it is also a long lasting representation that forever captures the height of a band. Many bands only release one Live album in their band's span of time. Some push the envelope and release more, particularly those that have longevity. However, when a Live album is as important to a band's catalogue, then that Live album has acheived a life of it's own just as Studio albums do. And that's why we have a fascination with them.

A question. Are there prolific studio bands that have NEVER released a Live album? I can't, for the moment, think of one although I'm sure there are some. I know The Jam didn't release one until their demise. I'm not sure the release counts as a traditional Live work. But what do I know?

The Poll is continuing through the week. If you haven't put in your selections, now is as good a time as ever. Send your Great Live Albums Poll lists as soon as you can to be counted in our Monday (May 10) post.

Robert Metcalf has supplied a new review, this one of the upcoming S/T release by Mars Hollow, a California ProgRock band with an excellent debut and lots of promise.

I want to alert TAP readers to the fact that I have finally put together a FaceBook fan page that you can access and join by clicking on the badge below.  What this offers is the exact same thing as my Twitter feeds provide and that is first buzz on upcoming releases and free offered downloads, many announcements  that beat our main post, sometimes by days.  We also provide a Google BUZZ page that expands on most of the Twitter/FB feeds. On Buzz, you can even hear the music stream if a stream is offered.  There are still things that I'm working on in the FB page, like calender notes as well as links to great sites like The Second Disc.  I invite you to join us at our FB page and bookmark it.  Visit it daily and you'll be rewarded with much news and info.  Of course, you'll still want to come to the main MusicTAP page for our noisy commentaries.  Remember, with our Twitter feeds, you can elect to receive the news bursts as text on your mobile phone keeping you effortlessly up to date with stuff.  Lots of choices.  Find one, or two, that fits.

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Nonesuch Records will release a CD/DVD version of Homeland by avant garde artist, Laurie Anderson on June 22. Nonesuch Records precedes this release with the release of a 12" vinyl single, "Only An Expert," which is due on May 18.

Roadrunner Records is to release a CD/DVD set for Live From Freedom Hall by Lynyrd Skynyrd as well as a separately available DVD issue, came title. Both sets are expected to arrive on June 22.

Walt Disney Records will release a Cd called The Gershwin Songbook by Brian Wilson. The Gershwin Songbook is expected on August 17.

Varese Sarabande plan to release Still Rovin' After All These Years from Irish Rovers. It is planned for July 20.

Def Jam will release a batch of various styles for the upcoming Jay-Z 'best of' called The Hits Collection, Volume One. This set is expected on June 29.

Downtown Records will release Night Work from Scissor Sisters on June 29.

Here's an interesting title for you: Water Tower Music will release The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection on July 20.

Eagle Rock Records will release two Stratovarius titles on CD on June 29. They are Infinite (2000), and Polaris Live.

Interscope Records will release Looking Through You - Another Collection for The Wallflowers on June 29 (DD).

Nettwerk Records will re-release Lost Channels (2009) by Great Lake Swimmers on vinyl LP planning for June 22.

Wind-up Records will release Human Resources by It's Alive on May 25.

Columbia Records and Legacy will release The Music of Judas Priest, a series collection planned for May 25 that will also deliver The Music of Kansas.

Arista Records will The Laws of Illusion by Sarah McLachlan in both standard CD and a Deluxe package as well as an LP package, all on June 15.