I'm going into the weekend with little to say but to announce two new reviews as well as leave you with new cover art from our Great Album Covers poll.  I had planned to produce a write-up based on our current Rolling Stones discussion but just don't yet know the proper way to present it.  That's something that I'll work on over the weekend.  I did manage to uncover a few releases as well as expand on some Deluxe Edition titles, some of which we have previously announced.

The two reviews that we have are Journey to the New World from Sharon Isbin as well as the upcoming Iggy Pop album, Préliminaires. I hope that you check them out. I'm zonked out over the Iggy Pop album.

I hope that you all have a nice weekend.  We'll see you on Monday with some more good stuff.

We have a new set of album covers from our recently launched Great Album Covers Poll. You can still vote for your favourites here and get them posted so that the rest of us can enjoy them. Here's the next three email lists:

• Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (simple and elegant)
  ELO - Out of the Blue (love the Spaceship! Gatefold, too)
  Styx -  The Grand Illusion (illusiony)
  Meat Loaf - Bat Out of Hell (nice ride!)  
  AC/DC -  Back in Black (clearly black) - Rick P.
  

• Greatest album cover:  Alice Cooper  - School’s Out. With the original LP folding open into a school desk it’s just too cool not to be number 1!

  Not that worst album cover is part of this but I’d have to gave that nod to  Black Sabbath’s “Born Again” (even though I love the record itself). - Dave A.

• Black Sabbath - TECHNICAL ECSTASY. - Charles R.

Stax Records will provide a newly re-mastered Deluxe Edition of  In Session (1999) by Albert King with Stevie Ray Vaughan on June 30.  This recorded set from a  1983 concert jam session has sold very well when originally released.  It's very nice to see this album back in this form.

Reprise Records will release Artwork by The Used on August 10.

ECM Records will release several new albums on June 30.  The titles that we'll see are Movements in Colour (Andy Sheppard); The Moment's Energy (Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble); and Lost on the Way (Louis Sclavis).

ECM Records also plans more titles for August 25 that includes an as yet untitled project by Stefano Bollani; The Astounding Eyes of Rita (Anouar Brahem); and Crystal Silence (Chick Corea/Gary Burton); Olivero/Mansurian/Steinberg (Kashkashian/Olivero).  Prior to these releases, ECM will issue Brewster's Rooster by Surman/Abercrombie/Dress/DeJohnette on August 4.

On June 23, Sony Classical will release 'best of' collections for Glenn Gould, as well as Vladimir Horowitz, while RCA Red Seal reciprocates with 'best of collections for Mario Lanza, and Jascha Heifetz.  All titles are called Greatest Hits and will be Best Value CD packages.

Here's a little update on the upcoming Whitesnake 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition of Slip of the Tongue.  This multi-platinum album will be enhanced not only by re-mastering but will be augmented by a bonus DVD as well as six bonus tracks, a 24-page commemorative booklet, and liner notes by David Coverdale, who also supervised the creation of a new cover for the package.  Slip of the Tongue will offer six bonus cuts that include a rare B-side, alternate remixes, and three Live tracks, two that have been previously unreleased (“Sweet Lady Luck” - B-side; “Now You're Gone” - US Radio remix; “Fool for Your Loving” - Vai Voltage Mix; “Judgement Day” - Live...In the Shadow of the Blues; “Slip of the Tongue” - Live Castle Donington 1990, “Kitten's Got Claws” - Live Castle Donington 1990).  The DVD will feature eight clips that include “Fool for Your Loving '89” - Video, “Now You're Gone” - Video, “The Deeper the Love” - Video, “The Deeper the Love” - Live acoustic (Japan), “Sailing Ships” - Live acoustic (Japan), “Judgement Day” - Live (In the Still of the Night), “Slip of the Tongue” - Live Donington Castle 1990, “Kitten's Got Claws” - Live Donington Castle 1990.

Also reissued as a Deluxe Edition (25th Anniversary) is Slide It In.  It will contain the same goodies as seen on Slip of the Tongue (Re-mastering, new cover art, included DVD, 24-page booklet, lots of bonus tracks).  On Slide it In, there will be 10 bonus tracks (“Need Your Love So Bad” - US Mix/Single B-side; “Gambler” - UK Mix; “Slide It In” - UK Mix; “Standing in the Shadow” - UK Mix; “Give Me More Time” - UK Mix; “Slow & Easy” - UK Mix; “Spit It Out” - UK Mix; “All or Nothing” - UK Mix; “Guilty of Love” - UK Mix; and a Live (Japan) track of “Love Ain't No Stranger”).  The included DVD will feature seven clips, (“Guilty of Love” - Video; “Slow & Easy” - Video; “Love Ain't No Stranger” - Video; “Guilty of Love” - Live Castle Donington 1983; “Love Ain't No Stranger” - Live (Japan – Unplugged STARKERS); “Give Me More Time” - BBC Top of the Pops (1984); and “Love Ain't No Stranger” - Live...In The Still of the Night (2006)).

Both CD/DVD Deluxe Edition packages will be available on June 30.

Varese Sarabande will release All the Way by Berlin on July 7.

Shinto Records will release the upcoming June 14 album by Verney 1826 called Nebelland.  Verney 1826 has been described as being a blend of the ethereal gothic with neo-classical and electronic overtones to create a rich fabric of sound that is coupled with eerie operatic female vocals.

Island Records will revisit Bob Marley and The Wailers titles when they reissue them on 180g vinyl LP on July 7.  Titles are Legend; Catch a Fire; and Exodus.

Nine tracks of pure Alt/Country with its music on the introspective side.  This self-released album is heavy on the pedal steel with plenty of violin, organ, accordion, and cello added to create an indie album of Americana Pop accentuated by 'pull at your heart' achiness.  The album's brightens up wonderfully with the catchy  “I Drove All Night.”  Stuff from your hard-luck bars. ***

This Brooklyn band has created some exciting music that is exciting to hear in every way. With a string of self-released albums and EPs, they have already made a mark in the heart of New York City. What's best is that they have made ALL of their music freely available, downloadable from their site. If you feel the band's music is worth money, they have a way that you can pay for their music. We invite you to click through to their website and to their MySpace and Facebook pages to get a fill of their music. Recently, Dead Heart Bloom had an awesome song ("New Messiah" - one for the iPod, believe me AND a FREE download) featured on Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles.