The Riff Report: Goo Goo Dolls, Heart and Richard Thompson
August 31, 2010 by Star-Advertiser Staff
Filed under More from TGIF, wire
By Sarah Zupko
PopMatters.com
Ryan Bingham — “Junky Star”
The ex-rodeo cowboy and current Americana superstar and newly minted actor releases his third album, a slightly more introspective affair than previous work with production by T Bone Burnett.
Richard Thompson — “Dream Attic”
The legendary singer-songwriter and one of the planet’s best guitarists continues to produce one good record after another, many decades after the start of his career. “Dream Attic” features 13 new songs recorded before a live audience.
Heart — “Red Velvet Car”
1970s rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson, who gave us the massive hits “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” and “Magic Man,” bring back Heart for the band’s first album in six years.
Goo Goo Dolls — “Something for the Rest of Us”
These 1980s alt-rockers are still at it after more than 20 years. This new album takes its cue from the recession we remain mired in. As John Rzeznik says, “I wanted some of the material on this album to address the disillusionment of the difficult period we live in.”
Other notable releases this week:
» Bobby Bare Jr. — “A Storm a Tree My Mother’s Head”
» Miles Davis — “Bitches Brew (Legacy Edition)”
» Disturbed — “Asylum”
» Bill Frisell — “Beautiful Dreamers”
» Vijay Iyer — “Solo”
» Lyfe Jennings — “I Still Believe”
» Danilo Perez — “Providencia”
» Calvin Richardson — “America’s Most Wanted”
» Papa Roach — “Time for Annihilation… On the Record, and On the Road”
» Phil Selway — “Familial”
» The Weepies — “Be My Thrill”
» Various Artists — “Kompakt Total 11”
Tunes on the Tube — Best Music on TV this Week:
» “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC): Ozzy Osbourne (W), T.I. (Th), Five Finger Death Punch (F).
» “Late Show with David Letterman” (CBS): Merle Haggard (T), Karen Elson (Th).
» “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC): Norah Jones (T), Goo Goo Dolls (W), Herbie Hancock (Th), Sara Bareilles (F).
» “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” (NBC): Snoop Dogg and Black Mountain (T), Heart (Th), NeverShoutNever (F).
» “Last Call with Carson Daly” (NBC): Surfer Blood (T), Kate Nash (W), B.O.B. (Th), Nas and Damian Marley (F).
» “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Justin Bieber (Sa).
» “Austin City Limits” (PBS): Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings / Carolyn Wonderland (Sa).
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