Pearl Jam, Jewel, more: New releases at a glance
MAY 2 RELEASES
Pearl Jam, Pearl Jam (J)
Recent single ”World Wide Suicide” and the punky ”Comatose” are just two of the tracks from the grunge-rockers’ eighth album that are destined to remain entirely absent from George Bush’s iPod.
Wolfmother, Wolfmother (Modular/Interscope)
Black Sabbath meet prog-rock in this debut from the much acclaimed (and generously Afro’ed) Australian trio.
Mobb Deep, Blood Money (G-Unit/Interscope)
The Queens, New York, hardcore rap duo of Prodigy and Havoc make their return with a CD that shows being dropped by Jive Records has done little to improve their mood. Also features G-Unit members 50 Cent, Tony Yayo, and Lloyd Banks.
Jewel, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland (Atlantic)
The Alaskan poet-songstress tones down the poppier vibe of 2003’s 0304 in favor of a more country-ish set, which she claims to be her most autobiographical to date.
Carnie Wilson, A Mother’s Gift: Lullabies From the Heart (Big3)
New parent Carnie covers ”Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” ”Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” and ”What a Wonderful World” in baby-pleasing fashion. Warning: The pink-hued cover art of mother and child may induce diabetes if stared at for too long.
David Allen Coe and the Cowboys From Hell, Rebel Meets Rebel (Big Vin)
Ultimate country & western outlaw Coe teams up with three former Pantera members — including Dimebag Darrell, who died after the album was recorded — for an album of good old fashioned, uh, country & heavy metal.
Billy Cox & Buddy Miles, The Band of Gypsys Return (Image)
New recordings by the onetime Jimi Hendrix rhythm section members.
David Ford, I Sincerely Apologise for All the Trouble I’ve Caused (Red Ink)
Excellently titled debut from Tom Waits-influenced Brit singer-songwriter whose local soccer team provides backing vocals on one track.
Tool, 10,000 Days (Zoo/Volcano)
The gnomic prog-metallers follow up their 2001 chart-topper Laterus.
Brian Littrell, Welcome Home (Reunion)
The debut solo outing from Backstreet Boy Littrell is a collection of Christian pop he hopes will ”encourage people to stand up for what they believe”(except, presumably, Satanists).
MAY 9 RELEASES
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stadium Arcadium (Warner)
The quartet managed to prune their ninth album, originally designed to be three single CD releases, down to a ”mere”122 minute-long double.
Paul Simon, Surprise (Warner)
Brian Eno and Herbie Hancock lend a hand on the legendary songsmith’s first album in six years.
Gnarls Barkley, St. Elsewhere (Downtown/Atlantic)
Debut release from the already-huge-in-the-U.K. team-up of producer Danger Mouse and Goodie Mob rapper Cee-Lo.
Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock & Roll (Downtown)
Appropriately bizarre collection from British indie-rockers and all-around silly people.
Nick Lachey, What’s Left of Me (Jive)
Breaking up is hard to do. How hard can be discovered on Lachey’s first post-Jessica CD (cover art, sadly, does not feature him looking mournfully at a can of tuna).