Songs For Slim – The Replacements – 'Mats guitarist Slim Watson had a stroke and will need full time care for the rest of his life so Stinson and Westerberg recorded a couple of songs together and drummer Chris Watson recorded a song by himself. The results are not exactly a reunion but it is as close as we are gonna get. And the Nico cover "I'm Not Sayin'" reminds you why so many people worship the band. ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
People, Hell And Angels – Jimi Hendrix – This isn't Hendrix the guitar monster, this is Hendrix on what his estate says will be the final studio album, through blues to who knows where… though he isn't getting there. And while it includes several line ups, he isn't very Band Of Gypsiesish. It's like a blueprint to a place now lost – A-
Just Movement – Robert DeLong – LA singer songwriter who uses electronic dance machines instead of an acoustic guitar and sometimes, especially the title track and "Few Years Make", makes graceful and melodic yet experimental pop songs – B
Welcome Oblivion – How To Destroy Angels – A non-believer when it comes to the big guy, this is somberly sweet but a bore, it beeps, it boops and his wife is a tiresome singer – D+
Chelsea Light Movement – Chelsea Movement – Thurston Moore is the sort of pretentious plank that names his new band after Phillip Glass first place of employment, and if that wasn't bad enough names a song "Burroughs" and if that wasn't bad enough has a first line that goes "Hey Billy, what's your cure for pain?" My cure is not listening to this album again – F
Girl Talk – Kate Nash – Hugely disappointing album. A couple of songs do it fine but too much are just too damn twit and playful and cutesy and experimental. I thought this was gonna be one of the biggest albums but it is in fact a little hard to listen to – B
Sudden Elevation – Olof Arnalds – The Icelandic Queen is much more accessible than Bjork and these songs are timeless and lovely and a little boring because you have to listen for the songs to reveal themselves. But who has the energy for an album with songs called "A Little Grim". So beautiful, so what,? As somebody else once put it – B
The Tonight Show – Raekwon – Wu Tang member releases another album, and the story is the same of course, and sounds like nothing happening in hip hop except Ghostface and the usual suspects. Whatever else, the man is a great rapper – B
The Tonight Show – Madeleine Peyroux – Covers, the jazz singer has covers from Leonard Cohen to Buddy Holly to Dean Martin. All very pretty and smart and tasteful though a little pointless – B
Memphis – Boz Scaggs – The great singer had a coupla years of hits but not much more. Now nearing 70 years of age, he has a very keen set of covers albums, some of which, "Gone Baby Gone" and "So Good To Be Here" are like mid 70s soul finds and one of which "Mary, Don't You Take Me On No Bad Trip" seems to have escaped from a Parliament album – Grade: B+