Music, Marketing, Entertainment, Events, and more: New Music : May 18, 2010

Minus any of the Mega Stars' releases, this week may have just been a great week for new music.

Soundtrack " Glee: Showstoppers"
Fresh off their chart-topping "Power of Madonna" EP, the harmonious young cast of "Glee" returns with another anthology of highlights from the hit TV comedy. Yes, some selections aren't quite as exciting out of their original context, but there are also several winners, particularly Olivia Newton-John's and Sue Sylvester's tricked out version of "Physical" and Kristin Chenoweth's gut-wrenching medley of the Bacharach and David classics "One Less Bell to Answer/A House Is Not a Home." (Alas, if you want to hear Kurt's audacious attack on "Rose's Turn" from "Gypsy," you'll have to buy the expanded deluxe edition.) No Signs of offbeat raps from Mr. Schuester this time around!!

LCD Soundsytem "This Is Happening"
Frontman James Murphy has been making noises about this new album possibly being their final album. As painful a thought that is, if it's true, they're going out with a bang. The dance-rock combo's third full-length not only includes the fist-pumping party starter "Drunk Girls," but also several of the extended, slow building jams at which this crew excels: The self-reflective "You Wanted a Hit" doesn't even settle into a groove until past the two minute mark, and it's another sixty seconds or more before Murphy's vocals enter, yet the cumulative effect is as mesmerizing as staring into a fire. And dancers will have no trouble keeping up with the undulating "One Touch" for its almost eight-minute duration.

Janelle Monae "The ArchAndroid"
Arguably the only contemporary pop artist who can make Lady Gaga seem dull in comparison. After what seems like eons, the R&B visionary finally unleashes her full-length debut. The disc continues to outline the story of heroine Cindi Mayweather, but you don't need to know every detail of the saga so far to appreciate this genre-defying disc, which includes cinematic orchestral splendor, propulsive dance rhythms, even a hint of Brazilian batucada - and that's just in the first three songs! In addition to Big Boi of Outkast popping up on her current hit "Tightrope," Monáe is also joined by poet Saul Williams and, in one of the album's bizarre highlights ("Make the Bus"), Atlanta's sprawling psychedelic pop combo Of Montreal.

The Black Keys "Brothers"
After solo releases and side projects, the blues-rock duo come back together stronger than ever. The twosome's sixth full-length often recalls their 2003 breakthrough "Thickfreakness" in both sound and songwriting quality. The keyboards on "The Only One" sound like they were lifted off a vintage African psychedelic disc or perhaps an obscure Bollywood soundtrack, while "Howlin' for You" stomps around like the bastard offspring of Gary Glitter and the Cramps. Oh, and don't be thrown by one of the song titles. Although it's listed as "Never Gonna Give You Up," the tune the Keys cover toward the album's end is really Jerry Butler's 1968 hit "Never Give You Up," not the other classic Rick Astley 80's hit.

Band of Horses "Infinite Arms"
Eighteen months in the making, this third full-length was well worth the wait. Produced by the North Carolina quintet, with some assistance from Phil Ek, the group continue to refine and expand their atmospheric, Americana-influenced sound. "Older" should connect with fans who love it when the guys lapse into the Byrds-style harmonies, while the title tune is a hazy dreamscape that could pass for a Flaming Lips demo. Not bad with some of the other songs that seem to rock with the southwestern sound.

Tracey Thorn "Love and Its Opposite"
Another 3rd full length from an artist. In this case, growing old gracefully is tough, but singing about it is even tougher. Her 3rd try features a well described picture of a household in which everyone's going through life changes called "Hormones." The self-proclaimed "singer, gardener, bedsit disco queen" reunites with producer Ewan Pearson (who also worked on 2007's "Out of the Woods") for this stellar disc, which features eight originals and two covers.

Other New Releases Worth Checking Out:
(Have not listened to, but please feel free to post a review)