Here’s what’s new in stores & worth your time this week, kids. Frankly, there’s not a whole lot of new compelling stuff — I almost decided against posting this week — but iTunes saves the day:

iTunes Live: London Festival ‘08
This bunch of live EPs, recorded earlier this summer at London’s KOKO, has been available in the UK store for a while now, but they’ve finally been loosed on American ears. It’s not a complete set — the intro text mentions 4 big acts not featured at all (N.E.R.D, Paul Weller, the Zutons, Death Cab for Cutie) — but what is there is mostly new for us Yanks: our first tastes of the heretofore UK-only Glasvegas and Gabriella Cilmi; sets from buzzed-about imports like Lykke Li, Does It Offend You, Yeah?; and some more established acts like Suzanne Vega and James Blunt. Recordings are good — I only wish all the acts who played the festival could be found. Definitely worth checking out, tho.

Sorry I’m late, kids: here’s what’s new in stores and worth your time:

Amy MacDonald, This is the Life
MacDonald’s fantastic debut, which was a huge hit in her native UK and one of my top 10 albums of last year, finally gets a proper US release, and it’s well worth seeking out. She’s a knockout songwriter, and the album is loaded with strong folk-pop hooks. Her thick Scottish accent is also a treat. Amazon MP3’s version is inexplicably lacking closing song “The Road To Home” so I’d go with the iTunes version, which includes a previously unreleased bonus track “Rock Bottom.”

David Byrne and Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
The first Byrne/Eno collaboration in about 30 years is a pretty good one — give it a shot at http://www.everythingthathappens.com where the album is streaming in full. I still think that Bryne’s last, Grown Backwards, is a better-sounding album, but I’m happy that Eno rebounded nicely from the travesty that was Paul Simon’s Surprise. It’s not out on disc until the end of November, but you can order it digitally right now from the site.

Lykke Li, Youth Novels
This Swedish chanteuse has been much-blogged-about, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that the buzz was justified. Her voice is pretty and slight, but when combined with the quirky, organic pop arrangements of Youth Novels, it becomes something really special (except for a couple oddball spoken word/tone poems, that is — those are eminently skippable). Give this a try:

Download: Lykke Li, “I’m Good, I’m Gone” (mp3)

Like what you hear? Grab Youth Novels at iTunes.

The Dandy Warhols, …Earth to the Dandy Warhols…
Finally in stores after debuting online to the Dandys’ fanclub a couple months back. Every outlet seems to be offering the album with different bonus tracks, so I’m recommending Amazon MP3, whose edition features a cover of Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay.”

Pushed this ’til today to allow the new playlists to shine. Here’s what was new in stores on Tuesday & still worth your time:

Conor Oberst, Conor Oberst
Oberst takes a break from his Bright Eyes incarnation with this, his first solo album. It’s not a huge departure from the Bright Eyes sound, but something is definitely different — I’ve listened to it once, and I can say that it’s more immediately gripping than anything from Cassadega. More investigation is necessary, of course, but Oberst is a crackerjack songwriter and lyricist, so you can’t go wrong here.

Lewis Black, Anticipation
Daily Show fans pay attention: Louis Black released his seventh comedy album this week. I haven’t heard it yet, but you’re guaranteed some good laughs from Lou, whose twitches and mannerisms come through beautifully on disc.

Here’s what’s new in stores and worth your time this week, folks:

The Rolling Stones, Shine A Light (DVD/Blu-Ray)
The Scorsese-directed concert doc which I saw in IMAX back in April is hitting home video this week. It’s well-shot and is an excellent snapshot of the Stones’ last tour. Bonus features include archival interviews with the band and 4 performances which didn’t make the film’s final cut: “Undercover of the Night,” “Paint it Black,” “Little T&A,” and “I’m Free.” I’m most excited about the Blu-Ray disc, where all extras are presented in high-def. Can’t wait to rock my home theater with this.

The Enemy UK, We’ll Live And Die In These Towns
One of the biggest British Albums of 2007 finally makes it to the States (very unexpectedly, too — I didn’t know it was in the offing until this week). I featured The Enemy (now rechristened with a Charlatans-esque “The Enemy UK” for some unspecified legal reason) as a monthly crush back in May, and I’m happy to report that the new release is worth the wait thanks to a couple of bonus tracks, one of which is a cover of David Bowie’s classic “Five Years.” If you have a soft spot for bombastic British arena rock, you’ll be pleased. Grab it at Amazon MP3.

Rock The Net: Musicians For Net Neutrality
Here’s a benefit album I can get behind. Wilco, Aimee Mann, Bright Eyes, and They Might Be Giants, amongst others, donated tracks to the campaign for an open internet. Learn more at Rock The Net and enjoy the tunes from Amazon MP3, which is selling the 15-track compilation for $6.99.

Here’s what’s new in stores & worth your time this week, kids — lots of “everything old is new again”:

Primal Scream, Beautiful Future
The Scream, if you haven’t noticed around these parts, are one of my favorite bands, so I’m psyched to see them release new material, even though it’s import-only for the time being. Their last album, Riot City Blues, was a true stinker, but my hopes have risen based on the bits I’ve heard from Future: the Hawkwind cover “Urban Geurilla” has a rough, punk swagger to it, and first single “Can’t Go Back” hits the Scream’s urban dance/rock sweet spot, sounding like a less abrasive XTRMNTR. High hopes indeed. Grab Beautiful Future at 7digital.com.

David Bowie, Live in Santa Monica ‘72
Bowie’s ‘72 tour, his last under the Ziggy Stardust persona, is already officially documented by the Ziggy Stardust movie soundtrack. This performance, however, was recorded a few weeks earlier than Ziggy and has always been considered the holy grail of Ziggy boots by Bowie aficionados. I’m looking forward to finally hearing it for myself. Can’t beat Amazon MP3’s price: $8.99 for the whole 2-disc affair.

U2, Boy, October, and War
Remastered and expanded editions of U2’s first three albums hit shelves this week, each backed by a disc of b-sides, unreleased tracks, and live material. What a nice opportunity for a chap like me who didn’t board the U2 boat until Brian Eno had had his way with Bono & the boys on Achtung Baby. iTunes has the best deal, with each deluxe edition running between $15.99 & $16.99.

U2, Live From Paris 1987
iTunes has even more U2 goodies today, too: this exclusive live performance, recorded July 4, 1987, at the Hippodrome de Vincennes while the band was touring behind The Joshua Tree. Good song selection, and good performance, too.

Nine Inch Nails, The Slip
I know, I know: Reznor’s giving away The Slip for free in perpetuity. So why bother with the retail edition? The DVD with which it is bundled: it’s chock full of live performances from rehearsals for NIN’s upcoming tour behind the album, so for someone like me who’s missing them this time ’round, it’s a great way to get a peek at the newest edition of the live act. Grab the disc at your local store or Amazon.com.

Here’s what’s new in stores & worth your time this week, folks:

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Magic Tour Highlights
The Boss pays tribute to the late, great E Street Band organist/accordianist Danny Federici with this special digital-only release. The four tracks are live cuts from the 2008 dates of the Band’s tour behind Magic, and three of them are loaded with guest stars: Alejandro Escovedo on a cover of his “Always a Friend”, Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello sings and plays on “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” and The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn joins them for an excellent cover of “Turn, Turn, Turn.” Also included is Federici’s final performance with the Band, “4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)” from their March 20 show in Indianopolis. The kicker? All net proceeds will go to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. There’s no reason to skip this one, folks. The iTunes release includes videos of all four tracks and a digital booklet.

John Mellencamp, Life Death Love and Freedom
That Mellencamp’s new album was produced by T Bone Burnett already put it on my shopping list, but what heightened my interest was pure curiosity: Life is the first-ever release in the CODE format, which, according to the Concord Music Group’s website, is “a proprietary audio technology that creates high-definition audio files that are virtually indistinguishable from the original master tapes.” Hmmm. In addition to a normal CD, Life will come packaged with a CODE disc that’s readable by DVD drives/players. Can’t wait to do a side-by-side listening comparison. Vanity Fair was giving away a couple of tracks from the album, and I like what I’ve heard so far — give “My Sweet Love” a try for yourself:

Download: John Mellencamp, “My Sweet Love” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

The Hold Steady, Stay Positive
Patience pays off after a rushed digital-only release a few weeks back. The new disc (and only the disc or LP) is backed with three bonus tracks, and early reviews tell me it was worth the wait.

Sorry I missed last week, kids — thankfully you didn’t miss much. Here’s what’s new in stores this (and last!) week and worth your time:

Billy Joel, The Stranger: Legacy Edition
This re-release of Joel’s classic 1977 album features a new remastering supervised by album producer Phil Ramone, and adds a second disc, Live at Carnegie Hall 1977, which is an entire previously unreleased concert recorded just before The Stranger’s release. Essential stuff. Amazon MP3 tacks on bonus track, a second rendition of “She’s Got A Way” from an unspecified show, but I’ve opted for the physical package and David Fricke’s liner notes.

Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, Two Men With The Blues
I haven’t heard any of it yet, but this collaboration sounds too good to miss. The disc documents a 2 night stand that Willie & Wynton played back in early 2007, and the tracklisting sounds like lots of fun: it’s a neat mix of standards from Willie’s catalogue (”Stardust,” “Georgia On My Mind”) and blues (”Bright Lights, Big City,” “That’s All”). The iTunes version features a bonus track, “Down By The Riverside,” and a digital booklet.

Rick Astley, Playlist: The Very Best of Rick Astley
Zing! Is it too late for Rickrolling to be funny? Yeah, I thought so, too.

R.E.M., iTunes Live: From London
Last week’s best bet was this excellent, mini live album available only from (duh) iTunes. R.E.M. trot out a nice mix of new & old tunes, and they sound invigorated on stage — Accelerate really is their best album in years, and the proof is in this live pudding. “Hollow Man” gets better every time I hear it.

Better late than never, right? Sorry for the delay — here’s the one release that’s new in stores & worth your time this week:

The Wombats, A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation
I’ve featured my new favorite Liverpudlians here a few times, and now I’m happy to report that their excellent debut album is finally available in the US, almost 8 months after its release across the pond. Not much to say that I haven’t typed before, so allow me to cut & paste: “They’re the Arctic Monkeys with actual tunes and a much better sense of humor, so I couldn’t be happier. Bouncy guitar rock doesn’t get much more fun than this.” Guide is just as snappy and satisfying as it was on first listen — definitely worth the $7.99 @ Amazon MP3.

That’s it — have a good week!

Here’s what’s new in stores & worth your time this week:

Feeder, Silent Cry
This is the 6th studio album from my favorite criminally underrated British rock band, and it’s nice to hear Feeder back at the top of their game. Their last studio album, Pushing The Senses, was a plodding disappointment, overloaded with balladry and generally straying from the punkier formula that yielded hit (British) singles like “Buck Rogers” and “Come Back Around.” I just got my pre-ordered import copy in the mail today, and I’m very pleased with the results so far: the energy level is up, the guitars have a vibrant crunch to them, and their knack for catchy hooks and melodies is completely intact. It’s big, anthemic British rock at its best, and the Deluxe Edition disc has 2 bonus tracks, making it worth the upgrade. The only way to get it is to import it from Amazon.co.uk, so to give you a taste, here’s “Miss You,” which was a free download from the band’s website a few weeks back — hope you dig:

Download: Feeder, “Miss You” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Update 6/18: Digital distribution does it again! The deluxe, bonus-track-sporting edition of Silent Cry and an EP for first single “We Are The People” popped unexpectedly into the US iTunes Store. Very cool! I’m happy to stand corrected.

The Hold Steady, “Stay Positive”
I lurved The Hold Steady’s last meaty, Springsteen-y album, Boys and Girls in America, and have been patiently waiting for this follow-up since it was officially announced a few months ago. As a treat for those who can’t wait for the physical release in July (and probably to combat leaks), the band has made Stay Positive available now, exclusively through iTunes. Normally I’d take the leap, but I’ve read that they’re going to tack on some bonus tracks to the disc when it hits stores next month, so, being a sucker for bonus material, I wait. Don’t let me stop you, though — from what I’ve heard so far, it’s good stuff. Grab it at (duh) iTunes.

Here’s what’s new in stores and worth your time this week, kids:

Supergrass, Diamond Hoo-Ha
It might not be tearing up the UK charts, but Supergrass’ 6th album is a return to glammy, bouncy, and fun form after the more sombre Road To Rouen. Hoping not to be burned by the old “let’s tack on extra tracks for the US release a few months down the road” trick, I’ve dutifully waited to grab Diamond Hoo Ha, and iTunes is rewarding my patience: they’re offering it in non-DRM-ed iTunes Plus with 2 bonus tracks, live versions of singles “Bad Blood” and “Rough Knuckles.”

N*E*R*D, Seeing Sounds
Boy, was I pleased to hear that The Neptunes’ live band/side project was releasing a 3rd album. Their debut In Search Of… was a crackling rock/funk/hip-hop masterpiece, but I remember hearing talk that N*E*R*D was defunct following the release of lackluster album #2 Fly Or Die. They figured themselves out, and, happily, Seeing Sounds is loaded with sharp songs, unorthodox beats, and a renewed sense of fun (I dig second single “Spaz” a lot). Snag it at Amazon MP3.

Emmylou Harris, All I Intended To Be
I’m a sucker for Emmylou’s voice, and after a quick first-pass listen, I think new album was worth the 5-year wait. The songs are a nice mix of covers (Tracy Chapman’s “All That You Have Is Your Soul,” Billy Joe Shaver’s “Old Five and Dimers Like Me,” and Patty Griffin’s “Moon Song” are a few) and Harris originals, and she’s recruited a few fun guests, too: Dolly Parton, Vince Gill, and John Starling add vocals to different songs. Snag it at Amazon MP3.

Adele, 19
Finally released on disc, and backed with a bonus CD of 6 live performances. Very nice. Can’t find the bonus tracks digitally, so either head to your local store for a copy or grab the disc at Amazon.com for $6.99.

The Charlatans, You Cross My Path
Another album finally released on disc, and also backed with a bonus CD, this time a couple of studio cuts and a handful of live performances. Worth it if you missed the free online release, and available on the cheap digitally, too: Amazon MP3 has the whole shebang for $8.99.