UPDATE: More Music This Fall

My previous post about upcoming music releases came off the top of my head, so in the few days hence I've realized a few omissions. Here are a few more albums I'm looking forward to:

Pearl Jam, "Immagine in Cornice"/"Picture in a Frame" DVD (Sept. 25)
This portends to be a true documentary, the first behind-the-scenes look at Pearl Jam since 1998's "Single Video Theory," which documented the recording of the band's classic fifth album, "Yield." Since then, PJ have released several excellent concert DVDs (my favorite: "Touring Band 2000"), but the trailer looks like this could provide a look at the band fans have never seen. Exciting stuff.

The Hives, "The Black and White Album" (Oct. 9)
Though their albums only last about a half-hour, it still takes this Swedish punk/rock outfit a long time to come up with a new album, so that means they're usually good. Judging by lead single "Tick Tick Boom," it sounds like not much has changed, and that's a good thing. I'll be seeing these guys in a small club the week after the album comes out, and can't wait since I've heard they're an awesome live band. We shall see.

Flight of the Conchords, new full-length album (January 2008)
So January technically isn't the fall, but I wanted to put a plug in here for this New Zealand folk/comedy duo who have one of the best shows on TV right now. Their eponymous HBO series (sadly coming to a close soon, but thankfully renewed for another season) is dry wit at its hysterical best. Bret and Jemaine play themselves as wide-eyed naive moron musicians trying to make it in New York City. The hallmark of the show occurs about twice an episode when the guys drift into inner monologue, portrayed as an aside music video. YouTube is full of "Conchords" clips if you're curious, and the band just released an EP, "The Distant Future," with Song of the Year candidate "Business Time." Like Tenacious D without the raunch, I can't recommend the Conchords and their show highly enough.

Bruce Springsteen, "Radio Nowhere"
And, last but not least, "Radio Nowhere" is the lead single off Springsteen's new album and it hit the web this past week. I love it. Maybe I've just been listening to too much Gaslight Anthem recently, but "Nowhere" sounds like the closest Bruce is ever going to get to writing a punk song. No, I'm not saying it IS a punk song, just that it gives off that vibe—call it the most "modern" he's ever sounded, if you like. A straightforward rocker akin to "Further On (Up the Road)" from "The Rising" (a song that's only gotten better with age), I especially love the little hitch he puts in his voice at the end of several lines. Ironically, given the hubbub about Springsteen recording with the E Street Band again, this doesn't sound much like an E Street sound to me, despite a scorching sax solo from Clarence Clemons; it's more like extra-brawny solo Springsteen. Regardless, this bodes well for the new album.