quality, not quantity this week...

Here are some of the releases for the week of October 16, 2007

Santana- Ultimate Santana **Sam’s Pick**
This is a greatest hits, but one of those you actually WANT to add to your collection because it encompasses Santana’s older solo work and some of his most notable collaborations. Plus, you get some new fun as well, like a previously unreleased version of “The Game Of Love” where he teams up with Tina Turner!! Also included… a song with Jennifer Lopez and Baby Bash that has not been released before. As well, you get the sweet new song “Into The Night” featuring Chad Kroeger of Nickelback. Hot!


Vast- April **Sam’s Pick**
I have loved VAST from the second I heard the very first album Video, Audio, Sensory Theatre…which was released nearly 10 years ago. Since then, VAST’s melancholy, dreary, sad yet highly emotional and beautifully crafted music has been something I require in my own collection. April is definitely an evolution for VAST, but a delightful return. It’s been 3 years since the release of the last one, Turquoise and Crimson. I was lucky enough to see VAST several months ago at the Fox in Boulder and it was truly one of the most emotional shows I’ve watched. That night, VAST busted out an incredible version of the Moody Blue’s “Nights In White Satin” that I would do nearly anything to obtain.


The Fray- Reason EP
This EP was originally released in 2003, but that was just a tad before the Fray took the entire world by storm! So, here it is again for those of you that didn’t grab it the first time around. These are tracks that cannot be found on the band’s mega-superstar album How To Save A Life.


Butthole Surfers-Piouhgd/Widowmaker
What we have here is not really a ‘new’ album from the Butthole Surfers, but a rerelease that combines the 1990s Piouhgd with 1989s Widowmaker EP. Stuff you’ve heard before if you are one of the few fans who has delved into past the band’s most known release, Electriclarryland, but now you have them together for one delightfully weird listen… classic.


Nate Schierman- Risk
This kid is from my hometown. A singer/songwriter with a gift for pretty lyrics and music. He’s released all of his music on indie labels and done a monumental amount of the work himself. If you want to check out a virtually unknown artist, try this out. It’s a nice listen.