The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
MAKE SOME NOISE
Wide range of music offerings popping up in stores
Despite the fact there are more and more online retailers seemingly making it easier to shop every holiday season, picking out new presents for family and friends continues to be difficult. This year the answer could be selecting new music titles catering to all tastes. Here’s a look at what’s available this holiday season: ’80s
Culture Club | “Live at Wembley” | CD/DVD/LP
A year after successfully touring the world, Culture Club celebrated with a hometown show at Wembley Stadium. Boy George and company captured the evening for its new concert recording, “Live at Wembley,” which includes hits “Karma Chameleon,” “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” and “Miss Me Blind,” as well as a cover of T. Rex’s “Bang A Gong (Get It On).”
Alternative/punk
Jet | “Get Born Deluxe Edition” | CD
Jet wowed alternativerock fans in the early ’00s with its heavy guitar jams “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and “Cold Hard Bitch.” The Australian band has released a deluxe edition of its platinum debut, which includes mostly forgettable live and demo tracks. The one standout is a cover of Elvis Presley’s “That’s Alright Mama.”
Pearl Jam | “Let’s Play Two” | CD/LP/DVD
For those Pearl Jam fans who happen to love the Cleveland Indians, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee act’s latest concert release, “Let’s Play Two,” is bittersweet. Sure, it’s great to see and hear the Seattle band play gems such as “Release” and “Inside Job,” but the celebration of the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series comes at the expense of the Indians losing.
Stone Temple Pilots | “Core” | CD/LP/DVD
Arriving nearly a quarter of a century ago on the grunge wave, Stone Temple Pilots’ eight-times-platinum debut, “Core,” established Scott Weiland and company as a band filled with promise. What stands out on the newly released deluxe version of “Core” is the group’s 1993 appearance on “MTV Unplugged,” including standout performances of hits “Plush” and “Wicked Garden.”
Various artists | “Hype!” | Blu-ray
An obscure ’90s documentary about the rise of grunge out of the Northwest, “Hype!” gets a Bluray release, with new audio commentary from director Doug Pray, vintage interviews and performances, as well as insights from some of the original characters. There are also rare performances by Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Mudhoney.
Christmas music
Cheap Trick| “Christmas Christmas” | CD
After more than 40 years together, Cheap Trick recently released its first holiday album, “Christmas Christmas.” The powerpop act’s seasonal affair includes originals “Merry Christmas Darlings,” “Our Father Of Life” and “Christmas Christmas,” as well as festive favorites by The Kinks (“Father Christmas”) and The Ramones (“Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight”)).
Gwen Stefani | “You Make It Feel Like Christmas” | CD
Former No Doubt singer and “The Voice” judge Gwen Stefani has released her first holiday album, “You Make It Feel Like Christmas.” Included in the 12-track effort are six classics (highlights include “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night” and “White Christmas”) and six originals. The latter class includes “You Make It Feel Like Christmas,” which was co-written by Stefani and her boyfriend, Blake Shelton.
Country
Reba McEntire “My Kind of Christmas” | CD
Country legend Reba McEntire released a repackaged version of holiday album “My Kind of Christmas.” The 14-track effort includes collaborations with Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Darius Rucker and Lauren Daigle. The highlight is arguably “Silent Night,” with guest vocals by Kelly Clarkson and Trisha Yearwood.
Various artists | “Holidays Rule Vol. 2” | CD
A follow-up to the popular 2012 holiday album, “Holidays Rule Vol. 2” boasts an eclectic mix of artists old and new performing Christmas tunes. Highlights include Paul McCartney singing his “Wonderful Christmastime” tune with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots, along with Judah & The Lion’s “The Christmas Song” and Lake Street Dive’s “I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas.”
Classic rock
The Grateful Dead | “Long Strange Trip” | CD/ LP
The soundtrack to Amir Bar-Lev’s new critically acclaimed Grateful Dead documentary, “Long Strange Trip,” features the definitive jam band’s studio recordings (“Ripple” and “Touch Of Grey”) alongside amazing live performances (“Dear Mr. Fantasy,” “Hey Jude,” “Stella Blue” and “Days Between”). For a group that has a massive catalog, this is still a musthave for fans.
Jethro Tull | “Songs From the Wood” | CD/DVD
Forty years later, progrock act Jethro Tull has returned to its most commercial album, “Songs From the Wood,” with a deluxe box set. Diehard fans will seek unreleased tracks “Old Aces Die Hard” and “Working John, Working Joe.” There are also live recordings, as well as obscure concert footage.
Marillion | “Misplaced Childhood” | CD/Blu-Ray/ LP
Somewhat-obscure classic-rock act Marillion celebrates 1985 album “Misplaced Childhood” which was its most successful effort and featured hits “Kayleigh” and “Lavender,” with a new deluxe release. Included is the newly remastered album, as well as previously unreleased concert, demos and rarities.
The Raspberries | “Pop Art Live” | CD
Cleveland’s own The Raspberries have finally released their 2004 House of Blues reunion show. Founding members Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, David Smalley and Jim Bonfanti perform hits such as “Go All the Way,” “I Wanna Be With You,” “Let’s Pretend,” and “Overnight Sensation [Hit Record],” as well covers by The Beatles and The Who.
The Rolling Stones | “Sticky Fingers Live at the Henry Fonda Theatre 2015” | CD/DVD
Available as a CD download for a couple of years, The Rolling Stones recently released a DVD of the performance that includes added tracks “When the Whip Comes Down” and “All Down the Line.” “Sticky Fingers” may be the Stones’ best top-to-bottom effort of its long career, which makes this worth checking out.
The Rolling Stones | “Their Satanic Majesties Request” | CD/LP
Diehard fans wanting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the band’s psychedelic album “Their Satanic Majesties Request” are in luck. A limited-edition set contains both the stereo and mono versions of every song, including favorites “2000 Light Years from Home” and “She’s a Rainbow,” as well as Michael Cooper’s original 3-D lenticular cover photograph.
Lou Reed and Kris Kristofferson | “The Bottom Line Archive Series” | CD
In 1994, rock’s Lou Reed and country’s Kris Kristofferson teamed up for a coheadlining show that included each artist’s hits, as well as a few stories to boot. The real marrow of this singular pairing is Reed’s spoken-word cover of “Tracks of My Tears.”
Comedy
Ernie Kovacs | “Take a Good Look” | DVD
In terms of early television comedy, Ernie Kovacs is a legend. Odds are somebody’s uncle this holiday season would be interested in this new DVD collection of the popular Kovacs-hosted game show that ran from 1959 to 1961. Included are appearances by Zsa Zsa Gabor, Mort Sahl, Bobby Fischer and Don Drysdale.
Jazz
John Coltrane | “Trane: The Atlantic Collection” | CD
The soundtrack to an accompanying documentary features a new anthology by the jazz sax legend. The nine tracks represent recordings Coltrane cut while on Atlantic Records between 1959 and 1961. This list includes the bluesy “Equinox,” the swinging “My Shining Hour” and hit single “My Favorite Things.”
Oldies
Roy Orbison | “A Love So Beautiful” | CD/LP
Here’s an example of Roy Orbison’s family trying to keep the legend’s name relevant. Using Orbison’s vocal tracks, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded new orchestra accompaniment to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s hits “Only the Lonely,” “Oh, Pretty Woman,” “Love Hurts,” “You Got It” and “I Drove All Night.”
Metal
“So Let It Be Written: The Biography of Metallica’s James Hetfield” | book
Metallica’s mercurial singer-guitarist is the subject of unauthorized biography “So Let It Be Written: The Biography of Metallica’s James Hetfield,” which pieces together the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee’s life through previous interviews and firsthand accounts of his peers.
Rock
Def Leppard | “Hysteria Deluxe Edition” | CD/DVD/ LP
In what is nothing more than a money grab, Def Leppard has numerous formats available for 30th-anniversary release “Hysteria Deluxe Edition.” If you missed out on a tour program and poster back in the day, it’s available. Musically speaking, B-sides “Tear It Down” and “Let It Go” are solid, along with various live tracks.