It's a so-so day for new releases this week but we can always count on one group to pull us all through - The Blues Brothers. "The Essential Blues Brothers" includes a number of Jake (John Belushi) and Elwood (Dan Aykroyd) classics, including "Soul Man," "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Riot in Cell Block Number Nine." The disc follows the release of the group's 2002 "Live at Montreux Casino."
A household name to any fan of classic jazz, Dave Brubeck's camp releases "The Essential Dave Brubeck" and "Park Avenue South." Both albums include classics such as "Love for Sale" and "Take Five."
Aphex Twin (actually it's just one guy named Richard D. James) releases a powerhouse of 26 remixed Twin tracks on "26 Mixes For Cash." Tracks mixed by such famed electronic and industrial artists such as Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor), The Beatniks and the Gentle People give the disc true credit.
Does her heart still go on? Well her music does at least. Celine Dion's "One Heart" continues with Dion's return to the spotlight after her temporary retirement which began in 1999 after learning her husband had cancer. Dion's career was pushed to the back burner again in 2000 after becoming pregnant.
Some may consider them veterans to the punk-rock scene in California but NOFX proves that you're never too old to release an EP. "Regaining Unconsciousness" will be the group's sixth EP release.
And mostly famous for his stint with The Beatles, Ringo Starr releases his 12th studio release "Ringorama."
Producing another edition of The Who's already bonus 1971 release, "Who's Next," the 2003 version mows down the 1971 release with 29 tracks. Classics such as "My Generation," "Behind Blue Eyes" and two different versions of "Getting in Tune" are just a few that dot the album.
The Grateful Dead continue to release reissues of its classic collection. "Europe 72" and "The Grateful Dead (Skull & Roses)" both include remastered tracks and bonus material.
Smashing The Billboard 200 charts at No. 2 with both "Hybrid Theory" and "Reanimation," Linkin Park's latest studio release "Meteora" has high self-standards to face. The album's first single "Somewhere I Belong" is already receiving heavy radio and MTV video rotation.
The Hot Boys "Let 'em Burn" with the group's third release. The dirty south rappers hit No. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with its 1999 "Guerrilla Warfare."
Other releases today include Cradle of Filth's "Damnation and a Day," The D4's debut with "6Twenty" and sophomore rockers Les Nubians release "One Step Forward."
Elysia Smith
