BY JOHN M. JAMES

Taking Pearl Jam's idea and turning up the speed at beating the bootleggers to the punch, The Who have announced that they'll soon issue a series of CDs that document each concert from their 2002 North American tour. Each two-CD set will bear the Encore series brand and is being made available by Eel Pie Records and TheMusic.com. What's so amazing is that the site promises that each concert CD will ship a mere three weeks after the show -- from the stage to the soundboard and on to you. Amazing. Who knows -- what seems to be an astonishing marriage of the artist and blistering technology today will perhaps become a natural part of going to a concert. Buy the T-shirt, the belt buckle, a "Pepsi Blue," and, heck, pop for the pre-paid mailer to receive the concert's CD within the next few weeks. Whoof! The zeitgeist is blowing what's left of my hair back. Not only is the speed and sophistication of this endeavor commendable, but also all sales proceeds will benefit various youth-oriented charities. Also due in mid-September from a label/Web site partnership is a special audiophile LP reissue of Led Zeppelin's double album from 1976, The Song Remains The Same. Outdoing its competitors, this pricey labor of love is a true heavyweight at 200 grams of virgin vinyl in each disc, 20 more than the standard 180 gram audiophile presentation.

Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Dixie Chicks on Thursday, Eve on Monday and Robert Plant on Tuesday. The Late Show with David Letterman hosts the Doves Thursday night. Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Ryan Adams.

Releases Coming Tuesday
And like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change ... Barry Adamson ­ The King Of Nothing Hill (Mute) new instrumental CD from the former member of Magazine and Nick Cave's Bad Seeds; Authority Zero ­ A Passage In Time (Lava); Broken Spindles ­ Broken Spindles (Tiger Style) new solo CD from Joel Petersen of The Faint; Peter Case ­ Beeline (Vanguard); John Coltrane ­ Legacy (Impulse) four-CD set of key selections from his Prestige, Riverside, Blue Note, Columbia and Atlantic record labels; Dead To Fall ­ Everything I Touch Falls To Pieces (Victory) blistering Chicago hardcore; Ani DiFranco ­ So Much Shouting, So Much Laughing (Righteous Babe) two-CD live set; John Doe ­ Dim Stars, Bright Sky (iMUSIC/Artist Direct) terrific all-new solo acoustic album from the X founder and modern day actor/singer/songwriter, featuring guests Aimee Mann, Jakob Dylan, Jane Wiedlin and Juliana Hatfield; Dropkick Murphys ­ Live on St. Patrick's Day From Boston (Hellcat/Epitaph); Faultline ­ Your Love Means Everything (Elektra) with guests Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, Michael Stipe of R.E.M., and Chris Martin of Coldplay; Tre Hardson ­ Liberation (iMUSIC/Artist Direct) new solo album from the Pharcyde founder with guests N'Dea Davenport of Brand New Heavies; Anne Henton ­ Black Notebook (Spill Records) layered, pensive and softly playful new studio album from this Boston singer/songwriter; Les Sans Culottes ­ Fuax Realism (Aeronaut) sexy New York City trio channeling 1960s French "ye-ye" pop with a name that translates to "those without underpants"; Loyo & Bushwacka ­ Night Works (XL/Beggars Banquet) new tech/house featuring the single "Love Story"; Magellan ­ Hundred Year Flood (Magna Carta) with guests Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Tony Levin of King Crimson; Manu Dibango ­ Electric Africa (Fuel 2000) rare avant-funk sessions from 1984 that brought together the African superstar with Bernie Worrell of Parliament, Bill Laswell, and Herbie Hancock; The Mercury Program ­ A Data Learn the Language (Tiger Style); Moe. ­ Warts and All Vol. 2 (Red Ink) three-CD set; Jane Monheit ­ In the Sun (Warlock) new from the Jazz vocalist with players Ron Carter and Kenny Washington; John Parish ­ How Animals Move (Thrill Jockey) new solo album from the PJ Harvey producer and collaborator, with guest Howe Gelb of Giant Sand; The Pattern ­ Real Feelness (Lookout) their debut full length album after various EP's and singles; Sahara Hotnights ­ Jennie Bomb (Jetset); Siouxsie & the Banshees ­ The Best Of (Geffen) two-CD set; Speech ­ Spiritual People (iMUSIC/Artist Direct) new solo album from the Arrested Development founder, recorded at his home studio with vintage equipment; Stick Men With Rayguns ­ Some People Deserve To Suffer (Emperor Jones); Trans Am ­ Extremixxx (Thrill Jockey) remixes by Dan the Automator and more; Tracy Ullman ­ Takes On the Hits (Varese Sarabande) now the simply wonderful host of the Oxygen network's Visible Panty Lines, this new 18-track CD collects her top 10 U.K. hits from the 1980s and fascinating cover selections of 1960s Girl-Pop; Various Artists ­ Going Driftless: An Artist's Tribute to Greg Brown (Red House) with contributions by Ani DiFranco, Gillian Welch, Iris Dement and more; Various Artists ­ O Sister 2 (Rounder) a second volume of best of women's Bluegrass with Hazel Dickens, Allison Krauss, Rhonda Vincent and more; Peter Wolf ­ Sleepless (Artemis) all new from the J. Geils Band frontman, with guests Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.

E-mail John M. James

Printer-friendly version

more...

personals | cover | news | columns | music | movies | arts | dining | listings | classifieds | mediakit | promotions | home

Short Takes
Reviews of Richard X. Heyman and Sleater-Kinney

Locals Only: Swarthy
With the backing of other talented locals, singer/songwriter expands his sound

Spill It
Rumors, Lies and General Misunderstandings

Gig of the Week
Janah

Music Listings