Welcome to On The Shelf, Idolator’s weekly look at the new releases hitting stores on Tuesday. This week’s slate is curiously light on both holiday music–although we do kind of want to hear the Bootsy Collins Christmas album–but it has what may be a surefire No. 1 contender in the new collection of ’60s songs from Barry Manilow. (Hey, it worked for Rod Stewart.) We’ve already given you a chance to suffer through Playing With Fire; after the jump, we look at Manilow’s new full-length, as well as offerings from Deftones, Willie Nelson, Birdman & Lil Wayne, and Lady Sovereign.
Barry Manilow, The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties
The artist: Maternally beloved crooner who isn’t writing the songs on this go-round.
The sound: Smoothed-out reinterpretations of Elvis, the Beatles, and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You.”
The first in line: A good chunk of the 35-54 demographic, if the No. 1 debut of his last decade-themed collection is anything to go by.
Deftones, Saturday Night Wrist
The artist: Sacramento’s architects of wide-open rock spaces.
The sound: Crushing guitars, crashing drums, and lots of echo.
The first in line: We’re going to guess that a lot of people buying this record will just mosey over to the store after their 2 p.m. wake-up calls.
Willie Nelson, Songbird
The artist: Country’s red-headed stranger, with an assist from Ryan Adams.
The sound: Covers of “Hallelujah,” “Amazing Grace,” and the Grateful Dead that sneak into Whiskeytown here and there.
The first in line: Marijuana legalization advocates, Stereogum readers curious to see who the “old guy” is.
Birdman & Lil Wayne, Like Father Like Son
The artist: Cash Money’s heaviest hitters celebrate their teacher/student relationship.
The sound: Filthy beats, brain-bending rhymes.
The first in line: Someone who hasn’t already downloaded it, most likely.
Lady Sovereign, Public Warning
The artist: Britain’s tiniest, brattiest MC.
The sound: Ringtone-ready blips mixed with boastful attitude.
The first in line: The download-happy cognoscenti tired of her an Internet era ago–but will the TRL-voting masses want to spend their money on a full-length CD?
On The CD Front [pauseandplay.com]
“The download-happy cognoscenti tired of her an Internet era ago”
Speak for yrself there, Idolator.
Ha! I shake my fist at you, Manilow!
There’s no way the Bootsy Christmas album outdoes Twisted Sister’s Christmas album.
Did you see the list of guests on Bootsy’s album? “Charlie Daniels, Snoop Dogg, Buckethead, Ohio Players singer Sugarfoot, Bobby Byrd, Bernie Worrell, Fred Wesley, etc.” We can only hope that Snoop and Charlie Daniels appear on the same track.
Also, my top picks for new releases are Isis and Gob Iron.
I second Paul’s admonition. In fact, I wasn’t really sold on Lady Sov until I saw her at Lolla this summer. Whilst I had heard most of he previous output, none if it really resonated until that moment … so I’m still on my honeymoon with the itsy-bitsy MC.
Oh, I beg to differ. Have you heard the Twisted Sister Christmas album? It’s downright wretched. But that’s a subject for another post.
The only Xmas album that matters:
I swear to your pagan god I had a nightmare a few weeks ago that Barry Maniblow made a comeback. I woke up in a cold sweat and asked my girlfriend if Barry Manilow had recently made a comeback. She gave me a puzzled look and said “No baby, go back to sleep.”
Now you tell me Barry Manilow’s “The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties” will be released tomorrow on Halloween? And that it might top the charts? Must I rely on the power of prayer to prevent this tragedy from clouding up my crystal ball?
Now you tell me Barry Manilow’s “The Greatest Songs Of The Sixties” will be released tomorrow on Halloween?
Yeah, quite appropriate, isn’t it? Does Barry Manilow knock on people’s doors at Halloween and say “Song or treat!”?