New Stuff!

A quick check of new releases this week may have you checking your calendar.

New music from Nine Inch Nails, Billy Idol, Cher, Dishwalla and Stevie Wonder takes top billing.

And then there's new stuff that just sounds like it's in a time warp. The Retrowave bandwagon rolls on with New Wavish albums from Epoxies, Louis XIV, Jeffie Genetic and His Clones and The Ends.

Wait... isn't this 2005?


New Singles

Stevie Wonder- "So What the Fuss"

Funky and cool. Stevie never sounded better.


Nine Inch Nails- "The Hand That Feeds"

Dark and abrasive yet quite listenable. Just what you'd expect from Rock's patron saint of inner angst.


New Albums

Cher- Living Proof

featuring "Song for the Lonely". More happy House music from the ageless Diva.


Dishwalla- Dishwalla

The lead track, "40 Stories" picks up right where Dishwalla last left off. Catchy guitars, whirling keyboards and trippy lyrics.


Ben Folds Five- Whatever and Ever Amen (Remastered Edition)

Check out the outstanding cover of the Buggle's New Wave classic, "Video Killed the Radio Star".


Louis XIV- The Best Little Secrets Are Kept

boasting the Indie 103 favorite, "Finding Out True Love Is Blind".


Jeffie Genetic and His Clones- Need a Wave

features "Records Go Round".


The Ends- Concrete Disappointment

includes "Pucker Up".


Epoxies- Epoxies

The Epoxies channel The Go-Go's and sound great doing it. Listen to "Please Please" and "Need More Time".


Moby- Hotel

Unlikely that this album will be as popular as Moby's prior releases. "Beautiful" is the strongest track and quite catchy. From there things sink into faceless, "electro-lounge" oblivion.


Billy Idol- Devil's Playground

Billy's first release of new music in a decade or so is perhaps the biggest music surprise of this year so far. It's a welcome return to his Rock roots as he reunites with guitarist, Stevie Stevens.

The surprise is that this team still sounds so good. And that Idol's musical range and variety now reaches far beyond that of his former Punk incarnation.

"Super Overdrive" and "World Comin' Down" are a hard edged nod to Idol's original band, Generation X.

The Countryfied Rock of "Lady Do or Die" wouldn't sound out of place on a Johnny Cash album. And the uppity guitar jangle of "Cherie" might have you reminiscing about your old Neil Diamond albums.

"Rat Race", "Sherri", "Romeo's Waiting" and "Body Snatcher" are trademark, hard rockin' Idol anthems.

Idol's voice has matured slightly, sounding strong and deliberate. Steven's incendiary guitar playing is the perfect accomplice.

Billy's best album since Rebel Yell.

Rock On,

- DJ Craig