I'm back.

I'm back from a 7-day cruise that took me to San Francisco (where I walked to Rasputin Records from the dock - whew!), Victoria, B.C. (where I walked from the dock to the uptown area, ate and drank AlbinoRhino beers - whew!), and Seattle (where I walked to Pike's Market to watch the PETA-condemned fish tossing). I had a very relaxing time. I apologize for alarming a few of you who wrote to make sure that I was OK.

But we're back even if I still need a bit to shake the end of vacation off (you all know what I'm talking about). I'll be brief here, with no reviews. A little bit of news. And the promised review of Great Labels. We didn't get a lot of these but enough to make this a fun entry and look back at some great label logos and some cool uses of labels to reflect the album art. Enjoy this walk back. We'll return on Monday with more Great Album Covers, reviews, and lots of news...guaranteed.

I turned in a review over at Bill Hunt's The Digital Bits. It is a review of the Various Artists' 2BD (Blu-ray) of the original Woodstock film with tons of extras. Check it out.

Oh, I discovered in my absence that I really like Dead Weather. Really, a lot!

Before we left, we introduced the request for memorable label logos. We got some really cool ones for you here. There are even label art that reflect the album's cover art. Nice! If you haven't participated but find that you now want to, send you selections to Label Designs. In the meantime, Enjoy these:

Remember, Legacy Records will re-release a series of Woodstock titles that play out over 2CDs, with the second disc being complete performances from selected artists. Those artists will include Johnny Winter (Johnny Winter: Woodstock Experience), Jefferson Airplane (Volunteers: Woodstock Experience), Janis Joplin (I Got Dem 'Ol Kosmic Blues Again, Mama!: Woodstock Experience), Sly & The Family Stone (Stand!: Woodstock Experience), & Santana (Santana: Woodstock Experience). These titles are eco-friendly and feature the original re-mastered albums in LP packaging. The performances found on these discs will also feature previously unreleased tracks. Each package will also contain a 16" x 24" poster of the artist. Woodstock Nation is celebrating its 40th Anniversary. Love it! These titles come out on June 30.

We have a planned title that is being pushed back to indefinite. Cheap Thrills: Legacy Edition from Big Brother & The Holding Company will be released in due time. and we'll let you know when it gets a new date.

The K-Tel of the New Millennium, The NOW series, will have two new volumes arriving on June 30. These Various Artists titles include NOW That's What I Call Music, Volume 31, and NOW That's What I Call The '80s, Volume 2.

RCA and Legacy will release a 2CD Legacy Edition for Elvis Presley of his From Elvis in Memphis. This 40th Anniversary celebration for the album that spawned "Suspicious Minds," "In the Ghetto," "Don't Cry Daddy," and "Kentucky Rain." This is slated for July 28. I'm looking forward to this title myself.

Columbia Records and Legacy will release a 2CD Essential series title for Janis Ian called The Essential Janis Ian. It is scheduled for September 8.

Finally, watch for a stunning upcoming title for Leonard Cohen featuring his appearance at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. This set will be a 2-disc set (CD/DVD), with the complete audio of the concert on the CD, and the complete visual experience on DVD that also includes newly shot interviews with Kris Kristofferson, Joan Baez, and Judy Collins. This set will be called My Sad and Famous Songs: Leonard Cohen Live at the Isle of Wight - 1970. This is scheduled for September 29.

As reminders, watch for the 4CD Box for Hall & Oates called All The Way From Philadelphia, scheduled for September 22 from RCA Records. Also the 20th Anniversary Edition of The Stone Roses from The Stone Roses. This is a big set in various designs, which is scheduled for August 14. And on September 8, watch for Legacy Editions for This is Big Audio Dynamite (Big Audio Dynamite), and Couldn't Stand the Weather (Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble).

The instrumental tunes found on this album has a basis in the Lakota Indian legend.  As with most ambient-styled compositions, the music is expectably soothing using a Native American flute, itself an intended instrument of peace and comfort.  The whole of the album flows beautifully as it moves through the 12 tracks presented.  “Grandfather” introduces an Indian chant to accompany the music and it is fantastic.  I have to admit to being entranced by the music on this album.  There is a eerie sense of comfort that is achieved when you lose yourself within the music – and it's not hard to do.  I love this album and its uses of multiple styles of flutes.  Having heard this album, I've become a DeMaria fan. ****

This Austin, TX band by way of Dayton OH, has released their third album on Fat Possum Records in January of this year. Named The Mountain, it contains an exhilarating blend of styles to make this one of the more exciting albums of the year. We highly recommend you try Heartless Bastards out by sampling music at their MySpace page.