Mothership 2CD/1DVD

For years, as playlists and multidisc players put Led Zeppelin tracks into a mix, there was a perpetual need to adjust the volume when Zep came on. Their tunes languished in the haze of substandard remastering--until now, at least for the 24 tracks on Mothership and the final fullness of the new Song Remains the Same reissue. For its part, Mothership's crisper, warmer audio owes its heft to the troika of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, who helped oversee the mastering, bringing out untold shades even in the throes of "Heartbreaker" and the sinews of "No Quarter." It's an impressive sonic leap. Where tinny high-ends and muffled lows used to co-exist, fatter and louder depths prevail. It's ever more astonishing that Zep got on with just four blokes. You can quibble with the 24 tracks here (where's "The Ocean"?), but the band picked each track here, from the stone-cold locks ("Communication Breakdown" and "Stairway to Heaven," no, duh) to the robust throb of "When the Levee Breaks." As for "The Ocean," you can find that in fantastically full form, along with five other gems on the newly remastered Song Remains the Same, which shows up for 2007's holiday season on DVD, too. Only rarely have four lads from England made so memorable an auditory and visual blast. --Andrew Bartlett

Atists: Led Zeppelin
Audio CD: Limited Edition, Original recording remastered
Company: Atlantic (2007-11-13)

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Jonas Brothers

To parents, they're the new Hanson. To kids who've been tuning into Radio Disney and flipping the pages of Tiger Beat, they're geniuses. Jonas Brothers, the sophomore effort from the close-knit, close-up ready trio of New Jersey boys, is a mercilessly catchy collection of short but sweet punk- and emo-flavored confections. "Goodnight and Goodbye" grabs hold with guitar-fueled urgency, "Still in Love" borrows from old-school acts like KISS to build a slighter, kid-friendlier brand of classic rock, and "Games" has a respectable go at ska without sacrificing much in the way of pure-pop accessibility. The whole disc follows suit--a couple of ballads slide in ("Hello Beautiful" is a pretty one), but the brothers don't do much to dispel the idea that for them, uptempo ditties are where it's at. Twelve-year-olds, take note: CDVU+, the new format pioneered by Disney, takes cuteness into account; because this disc is configured with bonus material, photos and posters of Nick, Kevin, and Joe are just clicks away. --Tammy La Gorce

Atists: Jonas Brothers
Audio CD: Enhanced
Company: Hollywood Records (2007-08-07)

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Long Road Out Of Eden

Disc 1
1. No More Walks In The Wood
2. How Long
3. Busy Being Fabulous
4. What Do I Do With My Heart
5. Guilty Of The Crime
6. I Don't Want To Hear Any More
7. Waiting In The Weeds
8. No More Cloudy Days
9. Fast Company
10. Do Something
11. You Are Not Alone

Disc 2
1. Long Road Out Of Eden
2. I Dreamed There Was No War
3. Somebody
4. Frail Grasp On The Big Picture
5. Last Good Time In Town
6. I Love To Watch A Woman Dance
7. Business As Usual
8. Center Of The Universe
9. It's Your World Now

Author: Eagles
Audio CD: CD
Company: Eagles Recording Company (2007)

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Call Me Irresponsible

It's no coincidence that Michael Bublé's new album starts with just his voice and some fingersnaps on "The Best Is Yet to Come," a song made famous by Frank Sinatra. The Canadian smoothie looks longingly towards early-'60s Vegas, an impression quickly reinforced when a boisterous horn section makes its grand entrance, about 20 seconds into the track. That Bublé means business is confirmed by the second cut, a fast-paced take on Henry Mancini's "It Had Better Be Tonight," and of course by the CD's very title, another song identified with Sinatra as his cockiest. There are just a few sidesteps from the retro formula that's served Bublé so well so far: a languid duet with Brazilian star Ivan Lins on the bossa "Wonderful Tonight," a gospel choir on "That's Life." Interestingly, Bublé co-wrote the best of those sidesteps, "Everything," a Norah Jones-esque number that alluringly harks back to sunny '70s pop. It's also the only song on the album produced by Bob Rock (best known for his work with Metallica), sending out a strong signal that Bublé should reach out to unlikely collaborators more often. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

More Music from Michael Bublé

It's Time

Michael Bublé

Caught in the Act

Atists: Michael Bublé
Audio CD:
Company: Reprise / Wea (2007-05-01)

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One Man Band [CD + DVD]

James Taylor's "One Man Band," a new CD/DVD set of live recordings and the stories behind the songs. The set list is drawn from Taylor's recent concerts at the Colonial Theatre in the Berkshires and features new performances from some of the iconic singer/songwriter's most beloved recordings including "Something in the Way," "Carolina in my Mind," and "Fire and Rain," interspersed with Taylor's insightful and humorous anecdotes on the inspiration for the songs.

For the DVD portion of "One Man Band," Taylor called on veteran television events producer and director Don Mischer ("Kennedy Center Honors," and "Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show with Prince") and executive producer and acclaimed filmmaker Sydney Pollack ("Out of Africa," "Sketches of Frank Gehry") and their extensive talents to properly capture the feel of the live concerts. "One Man Band" tells the story of Taylor's songs through exclusive interviews and rare multi-media footage, including home movies and photographs from Taylor's personal archives. The result is an extraordinary, one-of-a-kind portrait of an artist, his renowned repertoire and the personal stories behind the songs.

Over the course of his career, James Taylor has sold over 40 million albums, and won over 40 gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards as well as five GRAMMY® Awards. Taylor's first "Greatest Hits" album earned him the RIAA's elite Diamond Award, given for sales in excess of 10 million units in the United States. In 2000, Taylor was inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame. In February 2006, The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences named Taylor its MUSICARES Person of the Year.

More from James Taylor

James Taylor at Christmas	The Best of James Taylor	Sweet Baby James	Greatest Hits, Vol. 2	Mud Slide Slim and the Blue Horizon
October Road	James Taylor (Live)	James Taylor	Never Die Young	One Man Dog

Atists: James Taylor
Audio CD:
Company: HEAR MUSIC (2007-11-13)

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Magic

Thirty-five years as a justifiable rock musician allows Bruce Springsteen an opinion on the state of over-the-air radio, and he takes it--and takes the medium to the woodshed on the ruthless "Radio Nowhere." The opening smash sets the tone, with the ageless Boss wondering, "Is there anybody out there?" before imploring, "I just want to hear some rhythm." Then, with E Street Band in tow, Springsteen goes on to retrace every step between here and Greetings from Asbury Park, hand-delivering more could-be, would-be hits than anything he's done since Born in the USA. Credit producer Brendan O'Brien for the wall of sound that backs "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," which sets the atmosphere for one of the great vocal performances by Springsteen, who plays the misfit "in the cool of the evening light" watching the girls "pass me by." With piano, glockenspiel, and infinite guitars, the rocker "I'll Work for Your Love" recalls The River, with Springsteen even settling for blue-collar hero in matters of the heart. "Livin' in the Future" could be an out-take from Darkness on the Edge of Town, with shades of Election Day blasting away with the boastful sax of Clarence Clemons and Little Steven's relentless backing vocals. There's even a hint of Nebraska on "Terry's Song," an earnest (and mostly solo) accolade with Springsteen acknowledging the death of a friend: "When they built you, brother/They broke the mold." The hidden track closes this unforeseen comeback, and for 48 minutes the nearly 60-year-old Bruce Springsteen sounds 35 again. --Scott Holter

Atists: Bruce Springsteen
Audio CD:
Company: Sony (2007-10-02)

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Eric Clapton: Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007

A lot of good (and some great) music for a worthy cause takes center stage once again as Eric Clapton hosts the second edition of his Crossroads Guitar Festival, a benefit for his Crossroads Centre rehab facility in Antigua and a near embarrassment of six-string riches occupying two discs. Staged in suburban Chicago in July, 2007, it features several of the same players who were at the first concert (2004, in Dallas), including Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, John Mayer, Vince Gill, John McLaughlin, and Robert Randolph. They're all in fine form, but it's those appearing for the first time who make the biggest impressions. Derek Trucks, who performs on his own, with his wife (Susan Tedeschi, herself an excellent blues guitarist), and backing several other artists (including a frighteningly decrepit-looking Johnny Winter), is a strikingly versatile young player. On the other end of the generational spectrum, the veteran Albert Lee spins out a series of stupefyingly swift licks on "Country Boy," while Jeff Beck is, well, Jeff Beck, at age 63 still inarguably one of the most original musicians to ever strap on a Stratocaster. While most of the others are content to play straight blues or blues-derived rock, Beck sounds as if he's riding a spaceship with strings, wringing sounds out of his instrument that defy understanding, let alone imitation; backed by ace drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and 22-year-old Tal Wilkenfeld, who may be the most exciting electric bassist to emerge since Jaco Pastorius, Beck delivers versions of "'Cause We've Ended as Lovers" and "Big Block" that are the highlights of the show. Elsewhere, Clapton, as is his wont, rises to the occasion in the presence of his peers and plays with considerable passion, even if his "reunion" with Steve Winwood lacks fire (mostly due to the lackluster nature of their Blind Faith-era material, other than the lovely "Can't Find My Way Home"). In the end, one might wish for more good songs, as opposed to opportunities for extended soloing, but even diehard axe-heads will surely be satiated after some four hours of hot licks. As for everyone else, well, that's why God invented the fast forward button. --Sam Graham

DVD: Dolby, DVD-Video, Enhanced, Live, NTSC

Company: Rhino Records (2007-11-20)

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