New Music Highlights

We have a stack of new CDs out on the New Music Shelf, and there are a few titles that might be of particular interest:
Use Me (David Bromberg):  bluesman Bromberg hasn't released an album in 17 years, and he gets assistance on this one from John Hiatt, Levon Helm, Keb' Mo', Los Lobos, Dr. John, Linda Ronstadt, Vince Gill, Tim O'Brien and Widespread Panic
Anything Goes (New Broadway Cast Recording):  auditions for the First City Players' production of this classic Cole Porter musical are coming up...hear the songs with all their original lyrics
Join Us (They Might Be Giants):  why should kids have all the fun?  TMBG takes a hiatus from clever children albums to create a clever grown-up album.  Welcome back, guys.
Equal Rights (Peter Tosh):  the reissue of this 1977 reggae classic is packed with 30 tracks, some of which were previously unreleased.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (2011 Broadway cast recording):  Harry Potter sings, dances, and looks like a total dork.  What's not to enjoy?
Rave On (Buddy Holly):  a tribute album to the rock-n-roll pioneer, featuring Paul McCartney, Justin Townes Earle, Nick Lowe, Kid Rock, Lou Reed, Graham Nash, Cee Lo Green, Fiona Apple, and Patti Smith - among others.  An impressive list of admirers.
Mediterraneo (Milos Karadaglic): Montenegran classical guitarist Karadaglic has gotten rave reviews for this debut album.
Plug your headphones in and enjoy.....

Hell-O Jell-O!

Sad to say, I have never felt that there's always room for Jell-O.  It's OK once or twice a year, but I'm not a huge fan (and I won't even touch anything in aspic..eew!).   But that was before I saw Jellymongers: glow-in-the dark jelly, titanic jelly, flaming jelly, by the world's foremost purveyors Bompas & Parr.  Starting out with a general overview of jellymaking techniques - proper molds, calculating volumes and using sugar syrups for the fullest flavor - Bompas & Parr then gently take the reader into the wonderful world of technicolor desserts.  Cherry jelly, lemon jelly, rhubarb & rosé jelly, even pineapple jelly (yes, it can be done!) are clearly explained.  Then comes the fun.
1.  Hollowed-out clementine oranges, filled with multiple thin layers of blancmange (white) and clementine jelly (orange), then cut into gorgeous sections.
2.  Clear champagne jelly, with brightly-colored summer berries suspended in the shape
3.  Vodka jelly that has been flavored and colored with Skittles®
4.  Black cherry jelly pyramids topped with pure gold tips (apparently, gold leaf will just 'pass through')
5.  Gin & tonic jellies that glow in the dark (under a black light)
6.  An aphrodisiac jelly that you really have to see to appreciate....
You'll never look at a packet of plain gelatin in the same way.