June 19 Notable Releases

A few of the 1,680 new and re-released albums coming out this week.

The White Stripes -- Icky Thump. Jack White is opinionated, infuriating, mercurial, a damn clever song writer, a damn savvy marketer and if his own words and actions are to be believed (we can never be sure) damn ignorant about the future of the business of recording music. In other words, he remains interesting in a lost sea of bland.

Mooney Suzuki -- Have Mercy. Once upon a time, these New Yorkers (one a refugee from Two Skinny J's) journeyed to Detroit (but not South Detroit) to catch the garage buzz of Ghetto Recorders. What seemed liked the beginning of something interesting for both the band and Jim Diamond increasingly looks like a swan song. Most of Jim's other "essential recordings" pre-date Electric Sweat, he lost his court battle with Jack and Meg over "the sound" likely chasing away some business in the process (and no doubt part of Jack's decision to leave town). Meanwhile, the most purely accessible American garage band of the garage boom lost their way in the Matrix and will likely find themselves a footnote before long.

Jennifer Gentle -- The Midnight Room. Remember when the mere mention of prog-rock could make you nauseous? These guys do and they'd love to send your stomach churning you with a 20 minute synth solo dedicated to the battle of gnomes and the fairy people of the wood.

Mandy Moore -- Wild Hope. My wild hope is that your movie with Robin Williams as a priest won't be the worst movie ever made and ruin both what's left of your career and forever doom the rise of the dude who plays Jim on the Office... but dreams are made to be broken.