So how does the big week of music measure up, you ask? Between the Beach Boys and Eric Benet and all points inbetween, it is a huge time for new album releases, but will anything last till this weekend?
Here is a quick guide:
That's Why God Made The Radio – The Beach Boys – "Think About The Days" is a harmonic masterpiece in a league with Wilson's arrangement of "Rhapsody In Blue" for voices. And the rest of it isn't – Grade: B
Banga – Patti Smith – What a drag, she gives the term full of herself whole new vistas of meaning – grade: C+
Analog man – Joe Walsh – Bigger the best Eagle is like being the nicest Nazi – Grade: C
The One – Eric Benet – I've waited two years for the follow up to his masterful Lost In Time and this ain't the one – Grade: B
Generals – The Mynabirds – I completely blame Saddlecreek for ruining this band – Grade: C+
Celebration rock – Japandroids – Great rock band head out for the mainstream – Grade: A-
Americana – Neil Young And Crazy Horse – I haven't liked anything Young has done since his 2000 tour with CSN. Now here's the exception – Grade: B+
Thirty Miles West – Alan Jackson – Too laid back, but I mistook "You Go Your Way" for Rhett… musta been the pun that did it – Grade: B
The Dreamer – Rhett Miller – At first I thought this was yet another major bummer, but it is a fast grower – Grade: B
The Masterpiece – Bobby Brown – Man, does this suck – Grade: C-
The Stoned Immaculate – Curren$y – Best named album of the year – Grade: B+
I'll have more to say about all of these as time goes by!