New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
Season 7 “American Idol” winner David Cook, who has Tulsa ties, has released today an EP titled “This Quiet Night” exclusively through Walmart. The CD includes acoustic performances of five songs from his 2011 album “This Loud Morning.”
Emerging pop singer-songwriter Cady Groves, who grew up in Marlow, Cache and Yukon, also is released today her “This Little Girl” EP.
Featuring tracks including her popular first single “This Little Girl” the digital EP will be available at all digital service providers and will include fan-favorite track “We’re The Sh*t” as well as Groves cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The physical version will be available www.cadygroves.com and will include the same tracks as the digital version with the addition of Groves duet “Oh Darlin’” with Plug in Stereo.
Groves, who was just spotlighted in Seventeen Magazine’s “Ultimate Guide To Music” will be joining her labelmates and friends Hot Chelle Rae in select North American markets in February and March. (See the full list of tour dates after the break; it looks Dallas will be the closest she comes to Oklahoma.).
Among LPs, this week boasts new releases from Van Halen, Paul McCartney and Dierks Bentley. To read my review of Dierks’ latest, click here.
This week’s new DVDs include the 25th anniversary performance of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which I’ll be reviewing in the coming days; the excellent documentary “Project Nim,” which made my top 10 movies of 2011 list; and oh yeah, a little blockbuster called “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1,” which will be released in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
CDs
David Cook, “This Quiet Night” EP (Walmart exclusive)
Van Halen, “A Different Kind of Truth.”
Paul McCartney, “Kisses on the Bottom.”
Dierks Bentley, “Home.”
The Fray, “Scars & Stories.”
Various artists, “Waylon: The Music Inside, Volume II.”
Tony Bennett, “Isn’t It Romantic.”
Steve Tyrell, “I’ll Take Romance.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, “Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall: In Celebration of 25 Years.”
Air, “Le Voyage Dans La Lune” (CD/DVD).
Edith Piaf, “Edith Piaf” (3-CD special edition).
DVD
Anonymous
Downton Abbey: Season 2
Father Dowling Mysteries: The First Season
Fireflies in the Garden
Project Nim
The Rebound
The Sunset Limited
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 (midnight Saturday)
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas
A Warrior’s Heart
Books
Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman
Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success by Rory Vaden
Kill Shot (Mitch Rapp)by Vince Flynn
Ali in Wonderland: And Other Tall Tales by Ali Wentworth
Hilarity Ensues by Tucker Max
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, death, and hope in a Mumbai undercity by Katherine Boo
-BAM
New releases for Feb. 7, 2012: David Cook, Cady Groves, Van Halen, Paul McCartney, Dierks Bentley, “Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 1″, “Phantom of the Opera”
New releases for Jan. 31, 2012: “House of Night” novella, “Drive,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” Leonard Cohen, Aranda
P.C. and Kristin Cast
Tulsa mother-daughter writing team P.C. and Kristin Cast have released “Lenobia’s Vow,” a new novella in their “House of Night” vampire book series.
Oklahoma City rockers Aranda have released the digital edition of their album “Stop the World.” The physical CD will be released Feb. 14. Leonard Cohen, Ringo Starr and Lana Del Rey have released new albums, while Metallica has dropped a new EP.
In the new cinematic home releases, my all-time favorite movie, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” debuted on Blu-ray today. Plus, one of my favorite movies of 2011, “Drive,” which was sadly overlooked by the Academy Awards, arrived on DVD and Blu-ray today.
Here is a list of more CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Aranda, “Stop the World” (digital only)
Leonard Cohen, “Old Ideas.”
Ringo Starr, “Ringo 2012.”
Lana Del Rey, “Born to Die.”
Metallica, “Beyond Magnetic” EP.
“The Fresh Beat Band,” “Music from the Hit TV Show.”
Gotye, “Making Mirrors.”
New Broadway Cast, “Godspell.”
Simone Dinnerstein, “Something Almost Being Said: Music of Bach and Schubert.”
DVDs
Arthur
The Big Year
Chalet Girl
The Double
Dream House
Drive
In Time
Janie Jones
Spork
Texas Killing Fields
The Thing
Thunder Soul
To Kill a Mockingbird (Blu-ray)
Treasure Buddies
You and I
Books
Lenobia’s Vow: A House of Night Novella by P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast
Final Fantasy XIII-2: The Complete Official Guide – Collector’s Edition by Piggyback
Cupcakes, Cookies & Pie, Oh, My! by Alan Richardson, Karen Tack
Defending Jacob: A Novel by William Landay
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
White Girl Problems by Babe Walker
The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae (Cynster Sisters Trilogy) by Stephanie Laurens
How We Do Harm: A Doctor Breaks Ranks About Being Sick in America by Otis Webb Brawley MD, Paul Goldberg
-BAM
JD McPherson to release Rounder Records debut “Signs and Signifiers” April 17
Named as an “artist you should know” in 2011 by NPR, singer-songwriter JD McPherson will make his Rounder Records debut April 17 with the release of “Signs and Signifiers,” “a rockin’, bluesy, forward-thinking album that subtly breaks the conventions of most vintage rock projects,” according to All Music. (His first album on Rounder Records actually will be the re-release of McPherson’s 2010 indie album.)
Known for energetic live shows, McPherson and his band will hit the road in support of the release this spring with stops in Austin (SXSW), New York, Boston, Chicago, and other cities.
Hailing from Broken Arrow, the former art teacher and his band traveled to Chicago to record “Signs and Signifiers” at Hi-Style studio, which is housed in the attic of producer/bassist/studio owner Jimmy Sutton’s home and is 100 percent analog. “I have recorded this style of music in the digital realm, and it just doesn’t quite ‘sing’ as much. Slamming that ¼-inch tape really hard produced the most beautiful distortion I’ve ever heard,” says McPherson in a news release.
Featuring JD McPherson (lead and backing vocals, guitar), Jimmy Sutton (bass), and Alex Hall (drums, piano, organ), the album was recorded through a collection of vintage microphones into an old 1960’s Berlant 1/4-inch tape machine. The 12-track album kicks off with the fervent pulse of the first single, “North Side Gal,” and segues into one of the albums two covers, McPherson’s take on “Country Boy,” an old R&B number originally written and recorded by Tiny Kennedy.
Preferring not to be painted into a corner with labels, McPherson asks, “What is retro? Is Adele too retro? Is La Roux too retro? To me, Adele sounds like a product of her influences… as is the case with anybody else. With the recurring interest in soul or even R&B, there seems to be a line most artists won’t cross—that line into the world of the swinging, visceral abandon of real rock ‘n’ roll.”
The album hosts an array of guest musicians, including Scott Ligon on piano (NRBQ’s Terry Adams Rock & Roll Quartet); Jonathan Doyle (Nick Curran & the Lowlifes, White Ghost Shivers); Chicago’s Josh Bell (The Del Moroccos) on tenor and baritone saxophones; Susan Voelz (Alejandro Escovedo, Poi Dog Pondering) on violin; Allison Chesley (Helen Money) on cello, and Joel Paterson (The Modern Sounds) lends choice guitar work to the Joey Simone classic “Your Love (All That I’m Missing).”
With more than 350,000 YouTube views, McPherson’s self-directed video for “North Side Gal,” was shot by the band in the Hi-Style studio and features the classic gear used for the recording of the album. Check out the video here:
-BAM
Cady Groves to release “This Little Girl” EP, tour with Hot Chelle Rae in February
Emerging pop singer-songwriter Cady Groves, who grew up in Marlow, Cache and Yukon, will release Feb. 7 her “This Little Girl” EP.
Featuring tracks including her popular first single “This Little Girl” the digital EP will be available at all digital service providers and will include fan-favorite track “We’re The Sh*t” as well as Groves cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You”. The physical version will be available www.cadygroves.com and will include the same tracks as the digital version with the addition of Groves duet “Oh Darlin’” with Plug in Stereo.
Groves, who was just spotlighted in Seventeen Magazine’s “Ultimate Guide To Music” will be joining her labelmates and friends Hot Chelle Rae in select North American markets in February and March. (See the full list of tour dates after the break; it looks Dallas will be the closest she comes to Oklahoma.).
Late last year Groves, who PopCrush named one of their “Artist to Watch in 2012” teamed with BUZZMEDIA to premiere the music video for “This Little Girl,” which features a cameo from Oklahoma country music star Blake Shelton. In an unprecedented partnership, a set of BUZZMEDIA’s taste-making music sites and pop-culture destinations such as Idolator, PureVolume, Buzznet and JustJared unveiled a stream of exclusive interviews, photos and video leading up the premiere.
Signed to RCA Records last year, Groves, 22, has been in the studio writing and recording songs for her debut album which is due out later in 2012.
New releases: Grammy nominees, “Chimes of Freedom,” Tim McGraw, “50/50,” “Real Steel,” “Taken”
Blake Shelton’s Grammy-nominated chart-topping ballad “Honey Bee” is among the 22 tracks on the “2012 Grammy Nominees” compilation album, out today.
Blake Shelton (AP file)
The Ada native is nominated for best country album for “Red River Blue” and best country solo performance for the album’s chart-topping first single “Honey Bee.” The Tishomingo resident’s No. 1 hit “God Gave Me You,” written by contemporary Christian singer Dave Barnes, also earned a nod for best country song, an award presented to songwriters.
The 54th Annual Grammy Awards air live from Los Angeles on Feb. 12 on CBS.
Other stars with songs on the “2012 Grammy Nominees” album include Adele, Bruno Mars, The Black Keys, Bon Iver, Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, Skrillex, Coldplay, Foo Fighters, The Band Perry and Tony Bennett with the late Amy Winehouse.
Shelton’s fellow “The Voice” judges Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine of Maroon 5 also have their hit “Moves Like Jagger” on the Grammy compilation.
Maroon 5 also is among the high-profile, wide-ranging musicians covering Bob Dylan on “Chimes of Freedom,” a tribute to the folk legend with proceeds going to Amnesty International. The four-CD collection also music from Patti Smith, Pete Townshend, Diana Krall, My Morning Jacket, Sting, Lenny Kravitz and many others.
In addition, country music superstar Tim McGraw has at long last released “Emotional Traffic,” his final album for Curb Records. Look for my review in the coming days.
Among the movies, the father-son robot-boxing drama “Real Steel,” which today garnered an Oscar nomination for best visual effects, is new on DVD and Blu-ray. To read my review, click here. And the cancer comedy “50/50,” which was surprisingly snubbed in every Academy Awards category, also is available for home viewing.
In the books section, Robert Crais, 2006 recipient of the Ross Macdonald Literary Award, has released his latest Elvis Cole album, “Taken.”
Here is a list of this week’s new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Tim McGraw, “Emotional Traffic.”
Various artists, “2012 Grammy Nominees.”
Various artists, “Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan.”
Celtic Woman, “Believe.”
The Doors, “L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary Edition).”
Rodrigo y Gabriela, “Area 52.”
Kellie Pickler, “100 Proof.”
Dion, “Tank Full of Blues.”
Scorpions, “Comeblack.”
DVDs
50/50
Another Happy Day
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century: Season One
Few Options
The Lie
Real Steel
Revenge of the Electric Car
The Whistleblower
The Woman
Books
Taken by Robert Crais
Inside Apple: How America’s Most Admired–and Secretive–Company Really Works by Adam Lashinsky
Fairy Tale Interrupted: A Memoir of Life, Love, and Loss by RoseMarie Terenzio
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Strategy For You: Building a Bridge to the Life You Want by Rich Horwath
Sweet Designs: Bake It, Craft It, Style It by Amy Atlas
-BAM
New releases for Jan. 17, 2012: Ani Difranco, Martina McBride, “Dirty Girl,” “The Ides of March” and more
Juno Temple in "Dirty Girl"
“Dirty Girl,” writer-director Abe Sylvia’s ’80s era indie drama partially set in Norman, is out on DVD today, along with George Clooney’s political drama “The Ides of March,” the faith-based film “Courageous” and “Twilight” heartthrob Taylor Lautner’s actioner “Abduction.”
In “Dirty Girl,” Danielle is labeled the ” dirty girl of Norman High” in 1987, and when she gets banished to special ed, she meets a shy, friendless, closeted gay boy. California, here they come, with the mismatched misfits played by Juno Temple and Jeremy Dozier setting off on a road trip. (Although the story is partially set in Norman, according to IMDB, it was all filmed in California.)
Here is a list of more CDs, DVDs and books out this week, as listed on Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Ani Difranco, “Which Side Are You on.”
Martina McBride, “Hits and More.”
Coldplay, “Mylo Xyloto (Special edition box set).”
Michael W. Smith, “Decades of Worship.”
Kathleen Edwards, “Voyageur.”
Guided By Voices, “Let’s Go Eat the Factory.”
Girls Generation, “Boys.”
Chick Corea, Eddie Gomez and Paul Motian, “Further Explorations.”
Bombay Bicycle Club, “Different Kind of Fix.”
DVDs
Abduction
Arena
Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star
Cold Sweat
Courageous
Dirty Girl
The Ides of March
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain
Killing Bono
Merlin: The Complete Third Season
Mysteries of Lisbon
Sliders: The Fifth and Final Season
Undocumented
Books
Raylan: A Novel (Raylan Givens) by Elmore Leonard
Death of Kings: A Novel (Saxon Tales) by Bernard Cornwell
Shadows in Flight by Orson Scott Card
The Rope: An Anna Pigeon Novel (Anna Pigeon Mysteries) by Nevada Barr
The End of Illness by David B. Agus
-BAM
New releases for Jan. 10, 2011: Safetysuit’s “These Days,” “Moneyball,” John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars”
Former Tulsa band Safetysuit, now based in Nashville, Tenn., has released its second album “These Times.”
“Moneyball,” the acclaimed adaption of Michael Lewis’ nonfiction baseball and statistics best-seller, is out on DVD today.
And on the bookshelf, “The Fault in Our Stars,” the fourth novel from acclaimed young-adult fiction writer John Green is new in stores.
Here is a list of more CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Safetysuit, “These Days.”
Snow Patrol, “Fallen Empires.”
Nightwish, “Imaginaerum.”
Joshua Bell, “French Impressions.”
David Crowder*Band, “Give Us Rest.”
The Little Willies, “For the Good Times.”
Stevie Nicks, “The Lowdown.”
Charlie Haden and Hank Jones, “Come Sunday.”
Dean Martin, “Pennies from Heaven.”
Van Morrison, “Live on Air.”
Johnny Cash, “Country Boy.”
Willie Nelson, “The Last Letter.”
DVDs
1911
Boardwalk Empire: The Complete First Season
Hawaii Five-O: The Twelfth and Final Season
An Idiot Abroad: Season One
Killer Elite
Moneyball
Primeval: Volume Three
The Scorpion King 3: Battle For Redemption
Sinners and Saints
There Be Dragons
What’s Your Number?
Books
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern Monarch by Sally Bedell Smith
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
I Got This: How I Changed My Ways and Lost What Weighed Me Down by Jennifer Hudson
Smart Trust: Creating Prosperity, Energy, and Joy in a Low-Trust World by Stephen M.R. Covey, Greg Link, Rebecca R. Merrill
Emotional Equations: Simple Truths for Creating Happiness + Success by Chip Conley
-BAM
New releases for Jan. 3, 2011: “Jimmy Owens,” Elvis, “Contagion,” “The Guard,” Lisa Swayze’s memoir
If like me you still haven’t used all your Christmas gift cards, here are this week’s new CDs, DVDs and books for your perusal:
CDs
Jimmy Owens, “The Monk Project.”
Elvis Presley, “Elvis Country” (Legacy Edition).
Lego Feet, “Lego Feet.”
The Beau Brummels, “Bradley’s Barn” (Limited edition re-release).
Johnfish Sparkle, “Flow.”
Mr. Oizo, “Stade 2.”
Monkees, “Head” (Limited collector’s edition).
DVDs
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Season Five
Contagion
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
The Guard
I Don’t Know How She Does It
Justified: The Complete Second Season
The Last Lions
Mildred Pierce
Puncture
Removal
Shark Night
Books
Worth Fighting For: Love, Loss, and Moving Forward by Lisa Niemi Swayze
Private: #1 Suspect (Jack Morgan) by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro
Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, and Life Together by Mark Driscoll and Grace Driscoll
American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice
The Harbinger: The Ancient Mystery That Holds the Secret of America’s Future by Jonathan Cahn
Taking People With You: The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen by David Novak
-BAM
New releases for Dec. 27, 2011: “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” soundtrack, “The First Grader” on DVD, Dean Koontz’s “77 Shadow Street”
Nine Inch Nails mastermind and Oscar-winning composer Trent Reznor (AP file)
In case you have gift cards or Christmas money to spend, there are some new entertainment options this week, including the three-CD soundtrack to the Hollywood adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” by Oscar winners Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, the uplifting Kenyan film “The First Grader” on DVD and new books from best-selling authors Dean Koontz and Christine Feehan.
Here is a list of this week’s new CD, DVD and book releases, from Amazon.com and VideoETA.com:
CDs
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” (soundtrack box set).
Elvis Presley, “Complete Louisiana Hayride Archives” (box set)
Seal, “Soul 2.”
Music Theatre Wales, “Philip Glass: In the Penal Colony.”
Thomas Newman, “The Iron Lady: Music from the Motion Picture.”
Yardbirds, “Glimpses 1963-1968” (box set).
DVDs
Apollo 18
Archer: The Complete Season Two
The Borgias: The First Season
Brighton Rock
Final Destination 5
The First Grader
A Good Old Fashioned Orgy
Hostel: Part III
Jersey Shore: Season Four
Love Crime
The Pool Boys
Shameless: The Complete First Season
The Tunnel
Books
77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz
Spirit Bound (A Sea Haven Novel) by Christine Feehan
A Brief History of Thought: A Philosophical Guide to Living by Luc Ferry
Life Is Not a Reality Show: Keeping It Real with the Housewife Who Does It All by Kyle Richards
Hidden Summit (Virgin River) by Robyn Carr
-BAM
New releases for Dec. 20, 2011: Common, “Dolphin Tale,” “Midnight in Paris,” “Warrior” and more
Common (AP file)
Just a friendly reminder: Christmas is Sunday, so there are only a few shopping days left.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Common, “The Dreamer, The Believer.”
Young Jeezy, “TM 103 Hustlerz Ambition.”
Alexander O’Neal, “My Gift to You.”
Roscoe Dash, “J.u.i.c.e.”
Percy Sledge, “Atlantic Recordings” (Limited edition box set).
The Stooges, “Complete Funhouse Sessions” (Box set).
Christopher Young, “The Rum Diary: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.”
The Saint Vincent Camerata Scholars, “A Blessed Day Has Dawned.”
DVDs
Blackthorn
Burke and Hare
Catch .44
Colombiana
Dolphin Tale
Futurama: Volume 6
Glee: The Concert Movie
Margin Call
Midnight in Paris
One Tree Hill: The Complete Eighth Season
Straw Dogs
The Tempest
Warrior
Books
Covert Warriors (Presidential Agent Series #7) by W. E. B. Griffin
D. C. Dead (Stone Barrington Series #22) by Stuart Woods
Weight Watchers One Pot Cookbook by Weight Watchers
Star Wars The Old Republic Explorer’s Guide: Prima Official Game Guide by Mike Searle
Once Upon a Time: A Collection of Classic Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm
-BAM
