Out today are live albums, Christmas traditions, an American Idol debut and a new one from Wyclef Jean. Here's a look at the latest CD releases by Lizzy Goodman of Blender magazine.
In what's becoming an annual tradition, The Killers have released a Christmas single, the proceeds of which go to charity. This year's is called "Don't Shoot Me Santa." Goodman is a fan, and the song and video are hilarious.
Both Daft Punk and Rufus Wainwright are out with concert albums. Daft Punk's is a recording of their show in Paris this summer, at the legendary Bercy. Although the record doesn't allow anyone to see the duo performing in robot masks, the energy of the crowd pulses through.
Rufus Wainwright re-created Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall show at Carnegie Hall last June. To pay homage to the gay icon, he imitated tiny details of her performance, and his sounded old-timey and beautiful. The crowd loved it. His record, Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, will compete with her own Judy at Carnegie Hall, which has never been out of print.
Wyclef Jean collaborates with everyone from Paul Simon and T.I. to Sizzla and Norah Jones on Carnival II: Memoirs of an Immigrant. Goodman likes the record, as well as his return to the multifaceted sound of Carnival, which came out 10 years ago.
And Blake Lewis, a contestant on American Idol, just put out his first album, Audio Day Dream. Although he, too, tries to make the Justin Timberlake formula work for him, Goodman has to admit she likes the single "Break Anotha" — and the record as a whole.
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