New Release Tuesday 5-13-14

May 13, 2014

MUSIC

The Black Keys – Turn Blue (Nonesuch)
When I was first exposed to the blues rock from the Akron, Ohio duo nine years ago, I wondered if mainstream pop culture would ever embrace their sound. It didn't take much time after that for Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney's music to start appearing in ads for Victoria's Secret and for them to start performing on music festival main stages. With the release of their fifth album, 2008's Attack & Release, the Black Keys began working with producer Brian Burton (aka Danger Mouse), who has co-produced each of their subsequent releases, and as their songs became more radio friendly, their popularity soared. Now, with platinum records and multiple Grammys under their belts, the Keys once again team with Burton for their eighth studio effort, Turn Blue. If you loved their last three albums, then songs like "In Time, "Fever" and "10 Lovers" are going to make you very happy.

Chromeo – White Women (Big Beat/Atlantic)
I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed when I've listened to songs from the Montreal electro-funk pair of David "Dave 1" Macklovitch and Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel. The streak continues with the tracks of their fourth album, White Women, which releases today. With infectious beats and often hilarious lyrics, there's a reason Chromeo refer to themselves as the "Larry David of Funk." Just give songs such as "Come Alive" (featuring Toro y Moi), "Over Your Shoulder" and "Lost on the Way Home" (featuring Solange) a spin to see what I mean. You'll smile, you'll giggle and, most of all, you'll dance.

Little Dragon – Nabuma Rubberband (Loma Vista)
Ever since the Swedish foursome burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut in 2007, they've held my interest. Their synthesizers and electronic beats are paired with the soulful voice of frontwoman Yukimi Nagano in bold and innovative, yet completely catchy, ways. "Let Go" and "Klapp Klapp," the first singles from their fourth album, Nabuma Rubberband, immediately grab your ear with pulsating beats, and once Nagano's vocals kick in you are hooked. Although Little Dragon don't have an L.A. date on their current schedule, they are giving you a chance to win tickets to see them perform at Bonnaroo next month. All you have to do to enter is build your own Nabuma Derby car (see instructions here: nabumarubberband.com), then post a photo of your tricked out racer on Twitter or Instagram using #NabumaDerby @LittleDragon and @Redbull.

Michael Jackson – Xscape (Epic)
While you may have mixed feelings about posthumous album releases, there is no way you aren't curious in the least about hearing more new music from the King of Pop. L.A. Reid worked with Michael Jackson's estate to find eight songs that the singer had completed vocals on before teaming with some of the industry's top producers to give the tracks a contemporary finish. The result is Xscape, the second compilation album of new music to be released after the artist's death. Reid enlisted Timbaland to co-executive produce the album, which also contains work from StarGate, Jerome "J-Rock" Harmon, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and John McClain. While songs like "Love Never Felt So Good" (which also has a duet version with Justin Timberlake) sound exactly how you would expect a new MJ jam to, the darker "Blue Gangsta" and title track hint at a different style that we might have seen from him. The deluxe album includes all of the songs in their original forms, a bonus track and two videos.

Tori Amos – Unrepentant Geraldines (Mercury Classics)
I doubt there is a contemporary singer-songwriter who isn't influenced or at least knows the lyrics to one Tori Amos song. Her incredible voice is instantly recognizable, her piano skills phenomenal and her lyrical prowess is incredible. While her last three albums were classical in nature, Unrepentant Geraldiines, her 14th full-length release, is a return to the pop/rock sound she is known for. With songs such as "Trouble's Lament," "Wild Way" and "16 Shades of Blue," Amos has not only continued to push herself creatively she has remained entirely beautiful in eloquence and melody in doing so. See her perform songs from the new album and some favorites on July 23 at the Greek Theatre.

Also available – Bane's Don't Wait Up; Blondie's Blondie 4(0) Ever; Cursed Sails' Rotten Society; Dolly Parton's Blue Smoke; Dylan Gardner's Adventures in Real Time; Eastlink's self-titled; Guided By Voices' Cool Planet; Hiss Tracts' Shortwave Nights; Joseph Arthur's Lou; Killer Be Killed's self-titled; Kishi Bashi's Lighght; La Sera's Hour of the Dawn; Levi Weaver's Your Ghost Keeps Finding Me; Midnight Faces' The Fire Is Gone; Mirah's Changing Light; Mushroomhead's The Righteous & The Butterfly; Only Crime's Pursuance; The Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Days of Abandon; Rascal Flatts' Rewind; Rig 1's North of Maple; Sean Nicholas Savage's Bermuda Waterfall; The Shilohs self-titled; Swans' To Be Kind; Sylar's To Whom It May Concern; Sylvan Esso's self-titled; Thunderegg's C'mon Thunder; Tobacco's Ultima Il Massage; The Trouble With Templeton's Rookie; Walter Martin's We're All Young Together; Watery Love's Decorative Feeding; Weatherbox's Flies In All Directions; Young Widows' Easy Pain

LITERARY

In stores this week – The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet by Nina Teicholz; Bittersweet by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore; Jack of Spies by David Downing; No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State by Glenn Greenwald; President Me: The America That's In My Head by Adam Carolla; The Skin Collector (Lincoln Rhyme) by Jeffery Deaver; Stress Test: Reflections on Financial Crises by Timothy F. Geithner; Think Like a Freak: The Authors of Freakonomics Offer to Retrain Your Brain by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner; We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

DVD

Film – Writer/director Spike Jonze won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Her, a riveting and innovative love story that stars Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams, Chris Pratt and Rooney Mara; Aaron Echkhart, Yvonne Strahovski, Miranda Otto and Bill Nighy in I, Frankenstein; That Awkward Moment follows the dating adventures of three best friends (played by Zac Efron, Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller)

Music – The Dave Clark Five and Beyond: Glad All Over

TV – Eastbound & Down: The Complete Fourth & Final Season; Longmire: Season 2; Orange Is the New Black: Season 1

Also available – After Tiller; Camp Harlow; Chlorine; Compound Fracture; Crook; Shakespeare: Richard II; Special ID; Squatters; Stalingrad; Stranger By the Lake

Events for April 10-16, 2014

Get with THE PROGRAM

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

Chromeo (Timothy Saccenti)

MUSIC

Chromeo @ The Fonda (Hollywood)
Before the Canadian duo of Dave 1 and P-Thugg head to Coachella, they're warming up with an L.A. crowd tonight at the Fonda. The self-proclaimed "Larry David of funk" and "most successful Arab/Jewish partnership" are poised to release a fourth studio album, White Women, next month, so expect to be treated to new tracks such as the ultra-smooth "Over Your Shoulder" and "Come Alive" featuring Toro Y Moi, as well as favorites like "Needy Girl."

FRIDAY, APRIL 11

DANCE

Paul Taylor Dance Company @ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Downtown)
From the car radio to a conversation between to women waiting in line at the drugstore, no matter where I go lately, I keep hearing people talk about this show. It's no wonder, though. Paul Taylor is one of the foremost American choreographers of the 20th century, and he is still at the helm of this world-renowned modern dance company. They have performed in more than 540 cities over 60 years, and this engagement at the Music Center spans their vast repertoire. But the program is only here for the next three days, so make sure to get your tickets ASAP.

FILM

In Theaters This Week
Comedy Cuban Fury stars Nick Frost and Rashida Jones; Although there's still a month to go until the actual NFL draft begins, Kevin Costner and Jennifer Garner star in Draft Day, about a GM out to rebuild his team; Jesus People, based on the Funny or Die series, stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Mindy Sterling, Tom Bagley and Laura Silverman; David Gordon Green directs Nicolas Cage in Joe; "Doctor Who"'s Karen Fillan stars in the ultra scary Oculus; Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton are vampire lovers in Jim Jarmusch's Only Lovers Left Alive; Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman star in The Railway Man; Rio 2 features the voices of Anne Hathaway, Jesse Eisenberg, will.i.am, George Lopez and Jamie Foxx. Also in theaters: Dancing in Jaffa; Hank and Asha; Veil of Tears

MUSIC

Charlie Parr @ The Satellite (Silver Lake)
The Minnesota country bluesman released a new album, Hollandale, at the beginning of the year containing five 12-string instrumental songs that were completely improvised. Portions of these songs are going to be played tonight, but they are guaranteed to not be played in the same exact way they were on the album or at any other performance. That's what's so great about this style of music, and exactly what Parr loves about it. I was fortunate enough to see him perform at a backyard party last fall, and whether he's strumming an instrumental or belting out a tune, his is a show not to miss.

SPORTS

Toyota Grand Prix @ Long Beach Convention Center (Long Beach)
The 40th annual event speeds into Long Beach for three days of action-packed fun. Practice and qualifying rounds begin, while the Lifestyle Expo opens and a concert from Kinky round out today's activities. Saturday is the Pro/Celebrity Race (with the likes of Adrien Brody, Vanessa Marcil and Eric Braeden), a performance by Bad Company's Paul Rodgers, the TUDOR Championship and the Super Drift Finals. The big Indy race – with top drivers such as Will Power, Ryan Hunter-Reay and Helio Castroneves – takes place on Sunday afternoon.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12

CULTURE

Cesar Millan @ Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center (Thousand Oaks)
Before her dog passed away, my friend was in dire need of help with him, and Cesar Millan was able to train the naughty behavior right out of her and her beloved canine. For years, the Dog Whisperer has been able to bring balance to dogs of all breeds and their humans on his television shows. This is your chance to see him and his famous four-legged companion Junior demonstrate techniques live on stage. Just in case you need assistance with your pets at home, there is going to be a Q&A session with Millan during the event as well.

FOOD

The Grilled Cheese Invitational @ L.A. Center Studios (Westlake)
Eleven years ago Tim Walker created the grilled cheese competition between friends, and since then, it has grown into the largest cook-off in the country dedicated to the sandwich. Amateurs and professional chefs go head-to-head with their inventive takes on the classic sandwich. They're judged, and a champion is crowned. And, your ticket gets you in for a taste of these cheesy concoctions. Unfortunately, Walker has announced that this is the last invitational ever, so if you have never been to one before, don't let the opportunity pass you by.

LITERARY

Festival of Books @ USC Campus (South Los Angeles)
Even if you're not a book lover, you will enjoy this annual festival because aside from the author readings there are also art, celebrity, culinary, film, music and cultural events happening throughout the two days. Appearances include John Green (The Fault in Our Stars), Alicia Silverstone, B.J. Novak, Hugh Acheson, Terry McMillan, Mayim Bialik, Richard Lange and my favorite bloggers, the Fug Girls (Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan), who have also released two novels. New this year is the Festival After Dark on Saturday night with comedy, conversation and songs from Margaret Cho, Superchunk and Will Sheff.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13

PLAYS

"The Tallest Tree in the Forest" @ Mark Taper Forum (Downtown)
African-American lawyer, football player, actor, singer, political and civil rights activist Paul Robeson had such an amazing story. As the son of an escaped slave-turned-minister father and Quaker mother, he fought all odds to carve a place for himself and make a difference in the world. Obie Award-winning performer Daniel Beaty brings Robeson's story to the stage in this one-man show filled with inspirational words and songs.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16

MUSIC

Mike Sempert @ Hotel Café (Hollywood)
The songwriter and frontman of the Bay Area's Birds & Batteries is taking a break from the band and has relocated to Los Angeles. New songs sprouted in the months leading up to the transition in the form of an album called Mid Dream (releasing May 6 via Velvet Blue). Since he was preparing to marry his longtime love while making the album, it is a meditation on love and commitment, art and assuming the roles of adulthood. Sempert is celebrating the album's upcoming release with this show at Hotel Café, so expect to hear many of the new songs tonight.