New Nonfiction March 2009

A Jury of Her Peers: American Women Writers from Anne Bradstreet to Annie Proulx
Elaine Showalter
810.9 SHO 2009
A comprehensive history of American women writers from 1650 to 2000.  Well known writers as well as more obscure authors are highlighted.

Blank Spots on the Map: The Dark Geography of the Pentagon’s Secret World
Trevor Paglen
355.3432 PAG 2009
The author undertakes a road trip to investigate the U.S. military and CIA “black ops” sites.

A Case for the Existence of God
Dean L. Overman
212 OVE 2009
Why is there something rather than nothing?

The Difference: How Anyone Can Prosper in Even the Toughest Times
Jean Chatzky
332.024 CHA 2009 FIN
The financial coach shares her research into the similarities among the self-made wealthy.

Einstein’s Telescope: The Hunt for Dark Matter and Dark Energy in the Universe
Evalyn Gates
523.1126 GAT 2009
Astronomers are using the theory of Einstein in ways that allow them to view the invisible aspects of the universe.  Exciting research that is pursuing one of science’s great mysteries.

Embracing the Wide Sky: A Tour Across the Horizons of the Mind
Daniel Tammet
612.82 TAM 2009
The author of Born on a Blue Day who has autistic savant syndrome, discusses the similarities between his thinking abilities and the kind that we all do.

Enough Already: Clearing Mental Clutter to Become the Best You
Peter Walsh
646.7 WAL 2009
How to deal with the overwhelming “stuff” in our lives.

Expect to Win: Proven Strategies for Success from a Wall Street Vet
Carla A. Harris
650.1 HAR 2009
The Wall Street superstar relates her “key survival tools” to those who are advancing their careers.

Eyes on the Horizon: Serving on the Front Lines of National Security
Richard B. Myers
355.0092 MYE 2009
With an insider’s view of the war on terror, the author presents a  plan to prepare the United States for challenges in the 21st century.

The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food
Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
641.306 MAS 2009
The prolific author provides insight into the psychological factors that influence decisions about what we eat and why.

Fight for Your Money: How to Stop Getting Ripped Off and Save a Fortune
David Bach
332.024 BAC 2009 FIN
The author of the Automatic Millionaire explains how to take on the “corporate machines.”

Freedom in My Heart: Voices from the United States National Slavery Museum
306.362 FRE 2008
Never-before-seen artifacts, images and documents that trace the history of slavery in North America are presented.

In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
973.0496 GAT 2009
In tracing their family’s past, most African Americans face a series of daunting, but not insurmountable, obstacles.

The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power
David E. Sanger
327.73 SAN 2009
An intelligence briefing on the world America faces from a noted Washington journalist.

Is God a Mathematician?
Mario Livio
510 LIV 2009
How can mathematics accurately describe and even predict the world around us?

Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination
Lamar Waldron
973.922 WAL 2008
An extensive look at the cover-ups and conspiracies surrounding the Kennedy assassination.

Lords of Finance: The Bankers Who Broke the World
Liaquat Ahamed
332.1092 AHA 2009
Four men, four banks and the economic collapse of the 1920’s.

The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon
David Grann
918.1 GRA 2009
A mystery that reaches back centuries and a sensational disappearance are featured in this tale of death and madness.

Meltdown: A Free-Market Look at Why the Stock Market Collapsed, the Economy Tanked, and Government Bailouts Will Make things Worse
Thomas E. Woods
332.4 WOO 2009
Are the culprits in the collapse of housing values and stocks located on Wall Street or in Washington?

Moments of Clarity: Voices from the Front Lines of Addiction and Recovery
Christopher Kenney Lawford
606.86 LAW 2009
What finally forces any person to choose life over death?  The author of Symptoms of Withdrawal presents the stories of others who have confronted and triumphed over addiction.

The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century
George Friedman
303.49 FRI 2009
What are the changes we can expect during the twenty-first century?

The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
523.49 TYS 2009
The story of the extraterrestrial underdog.

Problem Solving 101: A Simple Book for Smart People
Ken Watanabe
153.43 WAT 2009
How good are you at solving real-world problems?

The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008
Paul Krugman
330.9 KRU 2009
Is a replay of the 1930’s possible?  A Nobel prize winner presents his informed opinion.

Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
153.9 COL 2008
What is the solution to the mystery of high performance?

A Tolerable Anarchy: Rebels, Reactionaries, and the Making of American Freedom
Jedidiah Purdy
320.973 PUR 2009
An examination of the nature and concept of freedom that is at the heart of American identity.

The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today’s Pressures
Stephen Hinshaw with Rachel Kranz
155.533 HIN 2009
The opportunities available to today’s young women are accompanied by stresses from conflicting messages.

Why Evolution Is True
Jerry A. Coyne
576.8 COY 2009
An accessible summary of the facts supporting the Darwinian concept of evolution.

Why We Make Mistakes: How We Look Without Seeing, Forget things in Seconds, and Are All Pretty Sure We Are Way Above Average
Joseph T. Hallinan
153 HAL 2009
Why do we make mistakes?  Could we do a little better?

Made for TV & Feature Films on DVD March 2009

All Creatures Great & Small: The Complete Series 3 Collection

The BBC-TV series, based on the books by James Herriot, continues the story of a Yorkshire veterinarian in a country practice. Cast: Robert Hardy, Christopher Timothy, Peter Davison, Carol Drinkwater. (1979-1980)

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete First Season

Physicists Leonard and Sheldon understand everything from the inescapable gravitational pull of a black hole to the intricate structure of the atom. But take those atoms and assemble them into a woman, and their comprehension comes to a grinding halt. And when Penny, a woman with all those atoms in all the right places, moves in across the hall, Leonard and Sheldon’s universe begins to expand in ways they never could have imagined. Cast: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar. Originally broadcast on television during the 2007-2008 season.   Not Rated

The Biggest Loser Workout: Weight Loss Yoga

Viewers can get with the program and achieve pound-shedding results in just 6-8 weeks with the transforming power of yoga with instructor, Bob Harper.

Bill Maher: The Decider Live!

In an all-new solo HBO comedy special, Bill Maher offers his candid opinions on a wide range of social and political issues including sex, drugs, Iraq, immigrantion, President Bush, and much more.  Rating: TVMA

Catch-22

The story of a group of fliers in the Mediterranean during World War II. Cast: Alan Arkin, Martin Balsam, Richard Benjamin, Art Garfunkel, Jack Gilford, Buck Henry, Bob Newhart, Anthony Perkins, Paula Prentiss, Martin Sheen, Jon Voight, Orson Welles. Based on the novel by Joseph Heller. (1970) Rated R

Facing the Giants

A high school football coach with a history of losing games faces not only the pressures from a group of fathers wanting him fired, but also the possibility that his wife can never have children. Only after an unexpected visitor challenges him to trust in the power of faith does he find the strength to persevere. Cast: James Blackwell, Bailey Cave, Shannen Fields, Tracy Goode, Alex Kendrick, Jim McBride, Jason McLeod, Mark Richt. (2006) Rated PG

Hedda Gabler

In this classic from Henrik Ibsen, Hedda has just come back from her honeymoon, married to boring but reliable academic George Tesman. Refusing to tie herself down in life and name, Hedda is banking on George being appointed a professorship to secure a better life for the young couple. However, the arrival of cleaned up ex-lover Eilert threatens to destroy everything. Cast: Ingrid Bergman, Michael Regrave, Ralph Richardson, Trevor Howard, Dilys Hamlett, Ursula Jeans. Originally produced for television in 1962.  Not rated.

Lovejoy: The Complete Season Two

Season two continues the adventures of Lovejoy, who careens through another assortment of close shaves with his right-hand man Tinkerdill and scrappy sidekick Eric. Things get off to a rough start when Lovejoy is wrongly convicted of dealing in stolen goods, but that is just a small change in plans. When he emerges from prison, Lovejoy will have his hands full dealing with disappearing bridegrooms, cursed Inca statues, secretive artists and a divine tea bowl. But first, he’ll have to find the blackguard that nearly beat him at his own game. Cast: Ian McShane, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury. (1991) Not Rated

Lovejoy: The Complete Season Three

The world’s quirkiest crime-solving antiques hero is back! Much to Lovejoy’s annoyance, he’s not the only one on a never-ending quest for wealth and valuables. However, while he proves unstoppable in the face of sinister Italians, vengeful customers and even Eric’s vintage motorbikes, can he manage to escape the snares of love? Cast: Ian McShane, Phyllis Logan, Dudley Sutton, Chris Jury. (1992) Not Rated.

MI-5: Volume 6

Having survived the bombing of the Thames Barrier, Adam and Ros recover to find London facing an even greater threat. While attempting to thwart an attack that could jeopardize a historic peace accord, the team unwittingly unleashes a deadly virus. Cast: Rupert Penry-Jones, Peter Firth, Hermione Norris, Miranda Raison, Raza Jaffrey. Originally broadcast by BBC1 in 2007. Not rated

The Murdoch Mysteries Movie Collection

Set in the 1890s, the sophisticated and sly Detective William Murdoch (Peter Outerbridge) investigates murders against the seedy backdrop of a debauched world where no one trusts the police and everyone seems sinister.  Considered a CSI in the 1890s, Murdoch Mysteries are gripping thrillers based on Maureen Jennings s bestselling mystery novels about a cop years ahead of his time. Cast: Peter Outerbridge, Keeley Hawes, Colm Meaney. (2008) Not Rated

Oliver Twist

This gripping tale of Charles Dickens’ classic remains faithful to the spirit of the novel while delivering a modern, thrilling, tragic, and occasionally comic edge. Cast: Timothy Spall, William Miller, Adam Arnold, Tom Hardy, Sophie Okonedo, Julian Rhind-Tutt, Edward Fox, Anna Massey, Morven Christie, Sarah Lancashire, Gregor Fisher, Rob Brydon, John Sessions. A BBC-TV and WGBH 2007 production.  Not rated.

This American Life Season: Season 1

Join host Ira Glass and his company, as they bring a different theme to life each week, in the format of the popular Chicago radio show by the same name.  Based on the radio program on NPR.  Originally broadcast as a television program on Showtime in 2007.  Not rated.

This American Life: Season 2

Join host Ira Glass and his company, as they bring a different theme to life each week, in the format of the popular Chicago radio show by the same name.  Based on the radio program on NPR.  Segments originally produced in 2008.  Not Rated.

To the Manor Born: The Complete Collection

This BBC TV series from 1979-1980, follows the hilarious misadventures of the uppercrust but impoverished Audrey Forbes-Hamilton, once Lady of Grantley Manor, and Richard Devere, the mysterious “common” millionaire who buys her ancestral Estate. Penelope Keith, Peter Bowles, Angela Thorne. The Included in the collection is the 2007 Silver Anniversary Special, which fast-forwards 25 years to Audrey and Richard’s plans for their silver-anniversary celebration.

The Winds of War

Set against the backdrop of world events that led to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Naval officer, Victor “Pug” Henry, and his family learn to navigate the waters of dangerous times in the late 1930s. While Germany expands and proceeds to seize several border countries, Italy attempts to establish a Fascist Colonial Empire under Mussolini and Japan prepares for a major battle with China. Meanwhile, the Henry clan finds itself drawn into the center of the conflict as they deal with the drama, romance, tragedy and heroism that lead to America’s involvement in World War II. Cast Robert Mitchum, Ali MacGraw, Jan-Michael Vincent, John Houseman, Polly Bergen, Lisa Eilbacher, David Dukes, Victoria Tennant, Topol. Originally aired as a television mini series in 1983. Based on the novel by Herman Wouk.  Not rated.

DVDs New Releases March 2009

Australia

Australia, 1940s. An English aristocrat inherits a large ranch. English cattle barons plot to take her land and she reluctantly joins forces with a rough-hewn cattle drover to protect her ranch. Together they experience four life-altering years, a love affair and the bombing of Darwin during World War II. Cast: Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, David Wenham, Bryan Brown. Rated PG-13

Body of Lies

The CIA’s hunt is on for the mastermind of a wave of terrorist attacks. Roger Ferris is the agency’s man on the ground, while on the other end of that real-time link is the CIA’s Ed Hoffman, strategizing events from thousands of miles away. Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Simon McBurney. Based on the novel by David Ignatius. Rated R

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Poland, World War II. Innocent and naive 8-year-old Bruno is bored and restless in his new home. Ignoring his mother, he sets off on an adventure in the woods. He comes across a high fence which separates him from the people he can see through it. Soon he meets a young boy in striped pajamas, and a surprising friendship develops. Cast: Vera Farmiga, David Thewlis, Rupert Friend. Based on the book by John Boyne. Rated PG-13

Cadillac Records

Chronicles the rise of Leonard Chess’ Chess Records and its recording artists like Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon and Etta James. Cast: Adrien Brody, Jeffrey Wright, Gabrielle Union, Columbus Short, Cedric the Entertainer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Eamonn Walker, Mos Def, Beyoncé Knowles. Rated R

Elegy

Respected cultural critic and author David Kepesh is a middle-aged college professor who, for years, has lived in a state of “emancipated manhood.” He has had many romantic conquests, but few lasting commitments. This all changes when a beautiful, stunning young student enters his life and captivates him to the point of obsession. Cast: Penélope Cruz, Ben Kingsley, Peter Sarsgaard, Patricia Clarkson, Dennis Hopper.Based on the novel “The Dying Animal” by Philip Roth. Rated R

Flash of Genius

Based on the true story of Robert Kearns. The Kearns’ were a typical 1960s Detroit family. Bob is a college professor and part-time inventor. When Bob invents a device that would eventually be used by every car in the world, the Kearns’ think they have struck gold. But their aspirations are dashed after the auto giants, who originally embraced Bob’s creation, unceremoniously shuns him. Ignored, threatened and then buried in years of litigation, Bob is haunted by what was done to his family and their future. He becomes a man obsessed with justice and the conviction that his life’s work, or anyone else’s for that matter, should be acknowledged by those who stood to benefit. He and his family pay the toll for refusing to compromise his dignity. Cast: Greg Kinnear, Lauren Graham,Dermot Mulroney. Rated PG-13

Frozen River

Set  in the days before Christmas near a little-known border crossing on the Mohawk reservation between New York State and Quebec. Ray, a white woman and Lila, a Mohawk are both single mothers, both earning minimum wage and facing desperate circumstances, are drawn by the lure of fast money into the world of border smuggling across the frozen water of the St. Lawrence River. New York State Trooper Finnerty ultimately brings the two to justice. Cast: Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O’Keefe, Mark Boone Junior. Rated R

Happy-Go-Lucky

Poppy is a life-loving and irrepressibly cheerful primary school teacher. She is thirty years old, single, and infinitely optimistic and accepting. She lives with her best friend and flatmate Zoe in London. She is tested by a repressed driving instructor with anger problems, and, in turn, she decides to test him. She has exciting flamenco lessons, an encounter with a homeless man, an argument with her pregnant sister, and a love-affair with the social worker guiding one of her students. Cast: Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Alexis Zegerman, Sylvestra Le Touzel, Stanley Townsend, Kate O’Flynn, Caroline Martin, Oliver Maltman, Sarah Niles, Samuel Roukin, Karina Fernandez, Nonso Anozie. Rated R

I’ve Loved You So Long

A shell-shocked Juliette is released from prison after serving 15 years for murdering her young son. After being banished from her family, she is now reunited with her younger sister, Lea. Together, the sisters embark on a painful but redemptive journey back from life’s darkest edge. Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Elsa Zylberstein, Serge Hazanavicius, Laurent Grévill, Frédéric Pierrot.  French dialogue, English subtitles.  Rated PG-13

Lakeview Terrace

When a newlywed couple becomes the target of their neighbor, a stern police officer who disapproves of their relationship, they decide to fight back. Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington, Jay Fernandez. Rated PG-13

Milk

His life changed history. His courage changed lives. Harvey Milk is a middle-aged New Yorker who, after moving to San Francisco, became a Gay Rights activist and city politician. On his third attempt, he was elected to San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors in 1977. His election makes him the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. The following year, both he and the city’s mayor, George Moscone, were shot to death by former city supervisor, Dan White, who blamed his former colleagues for denying White’s attempt to rescind his resignation from the board. Based on the inspiring true story of Harvey Milk. Cast: Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco. Rated R

Quantum of Solace

Betrayed by Vesper, the woman he loved, 007 fights the urge to make his latest mission personal.Cast: Daniel Craig, Olga Kurylenko, Mathieu Amalric, Giancarlo Giannini, Jeffrey Wright, Judi Dench. Rated PG-13

Rachel Getting Married

In and out of rehab for the past 10 years, Kym Buchman returns to the family home for the wedding of her sister Rachel. She brings with her a long history of personal crisis and family conflict. The wedding party, friends and relatives have gathered for an idyllic weekend of feasting, music and love, but Kym’s passion for the dramatic incites tension in the family. Cast: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Bill Irwin, Tunde Adebimpe, Mather Zickel, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George, Robyn Hitchcock, Sister Carol East, Debra Winger. Rated R

Twilight

Isabella Swan moves to gloomy Forks, Washington to live with her father. She begins her junior year in high school and becomes fascinated by Edward Cullen. He holds a dark secret which is only known by his family. To Edward, Bella is what he has waited 90 years for, a true soul mate. But he knows the further they progress in their relationship the more he is putting Bella and those close to her at risk. Edward tries to warn Bella that she should leave him, but she refuses. A new vampire finds it a challenge to hunt Bella down for her irresistible blood. Now, the game is on and James will not stop until she is killed. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli.  Based on the novel by Stephenie Meyer. Rated PG-13

When Did You Last See Your Father?

When a 40-year-old writer visits his dying father, he begins to relive the memories of his past and is forced to realize that his once “immortal, invincible and infallible” father is human after all. Cast: Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, Juliet Stevenson, Gina McKee, Sarah Lancashire, Elaine Cassidy, Claire Skinner, Matthew Beard. Based on the book by Blake Morrison. Rated PG-13

New Mysteries – April 2009

All the Colors of Darkness
Peter Robinson
M ROB
When the body of a man is discovered near Eastvale, all signs point to suicide.  At least Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot believes that to be the case.

August Heat
Andrea Camilleri
M CAM
Sicilian inspector Salvo Montalbano spends a hot summer attempting to solve a sinister and perplexing case.

Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon
Nancy Atherton
M ATH
Aunt Dimity helps out Lori Shepard when the Renaissance Festival that comes to the village of Finch presents a dark layer of intrigue.

Batter Off Dead
Tamar Myers
M MYE
Mennonite innkeeper Magdalena Yoder gets caught up in a case of hotcake homicide.

Blood and Bone
William Lashner
M LAS
Kyle Byrne, the illegitimate son of a Philadelphia lawyer, finds himself a suspect in the death of his father’s law partner.

Bright Futures
Stuart M. Kaminsky
M KAM
In the wake of his wife’s death in a hit-and-run accident, Lew Fonesca has moved to Sarasota, Florida  His gloomy life consists of small-time criminal investigations until an accused murderer turns to him for help.

Dead or Alive
Michael McGarrity
M MCG
Retired Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney is back in action after the murder of a good friend.

Degrees of Separation
Sue Henry
M HEN
Alaska’s Jessie Arnold returns to the sled-dog trail only to stumble upon something unexpected across her path.

Dog On It
Spencer Quinn
M QUI
Chet, the wise, lovable canine narrator, along with his Bernie, a down-on-his-luck private eye, investigate the disappearance of a missing teenager.

Don’t Look Twice
Andrew Gross
M GRO
A drive-by shooting rocks upscale Greenwich, Connecticut and a bystander is left dead. Detective Ty Hauck is pulled into what seems to be a vicious case of retribution.

Fatal Lies
Frank Tallis
M TAL
In turn-of-the-century Vienna, Detective Inspector Oskar Rheinhardt is confronted with the mysterious death of a young cadet.  He turns to Dr. Liebermann, an expert in Freudian psychology.

Fed Up
Jessica Conant-Park and Susan Conant
M CON
As Chloe Carter helps her chef boyfriend compete for the starring role of a new television program, one person drops dead after eating his cuisine.

Hangman Blind
Cassandra Clark
M CLA
November, 1382.  The month of the dead.  Abbess Hildegard rides out for York and the Abbey of Meaux.

In a Gilded Cage
Rhys Bowen
M BOW
Turn-of-the-century Irish immigrant Molly Murphy finds herself in jail for a few hours and meets some Vassar suffragists and lands a new case.

Lethal Legacy
Linda Fairstein
M FAI
The New York Public Library houses dazzling treasures — and deadly secrets.

The Lost Witness
Robert Ellis
M ELL
Los Angeles detective Lena Gamble is in disgrace with her higher-ups, but is tossed a difficult murder case that may finish her career for good.

The Mao Case
Qiu Xiaolong
M XIA
The author of Death of a Red Heroine, returns with Chief Inspector Chen of the Shanghai Police Department who is in charge of the cases that are considered politically “sensitive.”

Murder in the Latin Quarter
Cara Black
M BLA
The murder of a Haitian academic in the Left Bank of Paris is more than a simple problem for Leduc Detectives.

Oolong Dead
Laura Childs
M CHI
The latest in the Tea Shop mysteries features the opera boosters, the Bravissimo Club, of Charleston, South Carolina

The Renegades
T. Jefferson Parker
M PAR
Modern day outlaws are still found in the new American West.  Charlie Hood prefers to ride alone, especially after his partner is shot dead in the passenger seat.

Revenge on the Spellmans
Lisa Lutz
M LUT
Isabel Spellman is back on the case and back on the couch in court-ordered therapy.

Safer
Sean Doolittle
M DOO
The Callaway’s hope that they’ve moved to a safe, Midwestern town, but find themselves in a harrowing situation.

The Séance
John Harwood
M HAR
A gothic thriller set in late Victorian England, finds Constance Langton inheriting Wraxford Hall, where a family disappeared years before.

The Shanghai Moon
S. J. Rozan
M ROZ
Chinese-American private investigator Lydia Chin is brought into a case that involves a cache of jewelry that was left in Shanghai during World War II.

Three Silent Things
Margaret Mayhew
M MAY
The colonel, newly settled in the peaceful Dorset village of Frog’s End, make inquiries of his own following the death of a once-famous actress.

Whisper to the Blood
Dana Stabenow
M STA
Alaskan trooper Jim Chopin and Kate Shugak investigate the murder of two opponents of a planned gold mind expansion inside a national park.

Wild Sorrow
Sandi Ault
M AUL
Bureau of Land Management agent Jamaica Wild stumbles across a frozen corpse and soon finds herself stalked by an unidentified killer on the wintery mesa.

Newest Music CDs 3/17/09

Blue Lights on the Runway
Bell X1
CD 781.66 BEL 2009
After critical raves, three national tours and multiple late-night TV bookings surrounding their breakout album ‘Flock,’ Irish band Bell X1 is back with the ambitious and cutting ‘Blue Lights on the Runway.’ Their second album on Yep Roc Records, ‘BLOTR’ belies a synth-based metamorphosis for the group Paste Magazine called, ”one of Ireland’s greatest bands.” The central creative trio of Paul Noonan, Dave Geraghty and Dominic Phillips retained the melody-focused approach of their first album but expanded their sound through the addition of glitchy electronic nuances (”The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella”) crunching, prominent guitars (”Breastfed”) and glittery art pop (”The Great Defector”). Noonan’s gorgeous ballad ”Light Catches Your Face” anchors the work, exemplifying the emotional gamut fans have come to expect from the versatile rockers. Touring, licensing and the excitement of their now legendarily rabid fans are sure to combine for an even greater swell of success for Bell X1 in 2009.

Noble Beast
Andrew Bird
CD 781.66 BIR 2009
Double vinyl LP pressing. 2009 release from the quirky but melodic singer/songwriter. Swiftly picking up popularity with his fifth album The Mysterious Production of Eggs, Andrew Bird then signed with Fat Possum Records for his 2007 highly anticipated follow-up record Armchair Apocrypha. Now he stands poised with this new record, which he spent most of 2008 working on. 14 tracks.

Middle Cyclone
Neko Case
CD 781.642 CAS 2008
The fifteen-track Middle Cyclone is Neko Case’s first release since 2006’s Fox Confessor Brings The Flood, the best-reviewed and best-selling album of her career. Middle Cyclone was produced by Case with Darryl Neudorf and recorded in Tucson, Brooklyn, Toronto, and Vermont. It features Case backed by her core band – guitarist Paul Rigby, bassist Tom V. Ray, backing vocalist Kelly Hogan, multi-instrumentalist Jon Rauhouse, and drummer Barry Mirochnick – along with numerous guests including M. Ward, Garth Hudson, Sarah Harmer, and members of The New Pornographers, Los Lobos, Calexico, The Sadies, Visqueen, The Lilys, and Giant Sand, among others. In addition to twelve new songs written by Case, Middle Cyclone includes covers of ‘Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth’ by Sparks, and “Don’t Forget Me” by Harry Nilsson.

All I Ever Wanted
Kelly Clarkson
CD 781.63 CLA 2009
2009 release, the fourth album from one of the biggest Pop stars on the planet! All I Ever Wanted was produced by Howard Benson, Max Martin, Dr. Luke, Ryan Tedder, Sam Watters and Louis Biancaniello. Kelly’s debut album Thankful sold over three million albums worldwide and her follow-up, Breakaway, scanning an unprecedented 10 million albums worldwide. Kelly has enjoyed nine Billboard Hot 100 singles including ‘A Moment Like This’, ‘Because of You’, ‘Breakaway’ and the #1 smash hit ‘Since U Been Gone’. 16 tracks including the single ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’.

Dark Was the Night
Various Artists
CD 781.66 DAR 2009
On the occasion of WORLD AIDS DAY today, December 1st a press announcement was made with the complete list of participating artists and cover art for the upcoming 4ADrelease Dark Was The Night. Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National produced the album, and John Carlin, the founder of the Red Hot Organization was the executive producer. A total of 31 exclusive tracks have been recorded for the compilation. It will be available as a double cd/triple viny and will benefit the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Red Hot was founded on the premise that even without a cure, AIDS remains a preventable disease and music is a great vehicle to raise money and awareness for it.

Wish
Sutton Foster
CD 781.63 FOS 2008
The debut solo album from one of Broadway’s most prolific new generation leading ladies. Sutton Foster has wowed audiences since her star turn in Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Since then, she has continued to light up the stage year after year, starring in Little Women – The Musical, The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, and now in the new Shrek – The Musical. Sutton brings some of her favorite influences and inspirations to this studio recording, based upon the concerts which she performs across the country.

Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
India.Arie
CD 781.643 IND 2008
The world renowned award winning singer/songwriter India.Arie debuted in 2001 with her Motown release Acoustic Soul. She followed up in 2002 with her sophomore CD Voyage To India and then in 2006 released her third album, the more personally expressive Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship. She has sold over 7 million copies worldwide and has received numerous awards and nominations including 16 Grammy nominations, 2 Grammy awards, along with awards from BET, NAACP Billboard Music, Radio Music, MTV, VH1 Vogue Fashion, Essence Magazine and others.

Perfect Time for a Breakdown
Sharon Little
CD 781.63 LIT 2008
Sharon Little had been making ends meet as a waitress in a Philadelphia-area restaurant when she scored a record deal with CBS Records in early 2008. Within weeks of completing her new album, Perfect Time For A Breakdown, Sharon was chosen by Robert Plant, Alison Krauss and T Bone Burnett to open their entire Raising Sand U.S. tour, which will put her in front of thousands of fans each night of the 33-show trek.

Astral Weeks Live At the Hollywood Bowl
Van Morrison
CD 781.66 MOR 2009
Recorded in 1968 when the Belfast-bred, blues-rock music legend Van Morrison was just 22 years old, Astral Weeks immediately received critical acclaim and continues to be cited as one of the greatest albums of the rock era. Subsequently the album has been ranked on numerous Best Albums of All Time lists, including #19 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and the 40th Greatest Album Ever on VH-1’s list in 2003. Both Astral Weeks and Moondance (Morrison’s next album) were inducted into the Grammy® Hall of Fame.

The Last Pale Light In The West
Ben Nichols
CD 781.642 NIC 2008
The debut mini album by Lucero frontman Ben Nichols was inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s novel, “Blood Meridien”. Recorded with Rick Steff (Cat Power, Lucero) and Todd Beane (Glossary). Features Nichols’ signature gravelly voice accompanied by his acoustic guitar, complimented by Steff’s piano and accordion, and Beane’s subtle pedal steel guitar. RIYL: Tom Waits, “Nebraska”-era Bruce Springsteen.

Parish Bar
Jeb Loy Nichols
CD 781.642 NIC 2009
A modern-day Renaissance Man, Jeb Loy Nichols is a musician, songwriter, and visual artist whose creative path has taken him from his birthplace in the Midwest, to London, and rural Wales. PARISH BAR was made at home, over the past couple years, in between other projects. Some of the tracks came quickly, other tracks crawled into being, a layer at a time, explains Jeb Loy Nichols. It all started because I was involved in doing a series of wood cuts entitled Ghost Yard. Ghost Yard was a public park in the Bronx where Afrika Bambaataa birthed Zulu Nation and helped bring about the age of hip-hop. When I lived in NYC from 1979 until 83, I went to the parties that Bambaataa threw there. Like the music, the parties were grass roots affairs, a collection of sounds and influences that said: what you see is what you get! This is who we are and that s what I wanted to say with Parish Bar. This who I was and who I am! No big deal just relax and have a good time.

Notorious Soundtrack
Original Soundtrack
CD 781.542 NOT 2009
Known to his family as Christopher Wallace, to his friends as Biggie, and to his fans around the world as a legend, there can be no doubt that this Brooklyn rapper changed music forever. And now the epic tale of this one of a kind MC comes to the big screen. The Notorious Soundtrack, the companion piece to the highly anticipated motion picture, tells the story of the late, great B.I.G. the way he would- through rhymes and beats. Filled with timeless classics like ‘Juicy’ and ‘Hypnotize’ plus new songs by some of hip hop’s biggest names AND never-before-released demos from the rapper’s earliest days, this is a collection no hip hop fan should be without.

Compass
Joshua Redman
CD 781.653 RED 2009
While touring in support of his 2007 release, Back East, Redman decided he wanted to continue exploring sax/bass/drums trio format and started to compose new material with that often challenging configuration in mind. The result is Compass, a disc that Redman describes as ‘a journey for me…an expansion on, and an extension of Back East.’ Compass goes in an entirely new direction for Redman; its an exhilarating leap into uncharted territory. Compass is nothing short of mesmerizing, its conceptual risks paying off for musician and listener alike.

No Line On The Horizon
U2
CD 781.66 U2 2009
No Line On The Horizon, the new studio album from U2, will be released on Tues, March 3, 2009. The band’s 12th studio album calls on the production talents of long-time collaborators Brian Eno and Danny Lanois, with additional production by Steve Lillywhite.

War Child presents Heroes
Various Artists
CD 781.66 WAR 2009
Astralwerks and War Child, an award winning charity that provides humanitarian assistance to war-affected children in some of the most devastated regions of the world, are proud to announce a unique and unprecedented collaboration between some of the biggest names in music history and today’s hottest artists. We asked some of the biggest legends in music history (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, David Bowie) to select a classic track from their own songwriting catalog, and nominate an artist from the next generation (Beck, The Hold Steady, Duffy, TV On The Radio) to create a modern reworking of that classic song. This album is the result: 16 exclusive and truly inspired cover versions.

All Album Artwork taken from Amazon.com

New Music CDs – 3/6/09

It’s Not Me, It’s You
Lily Allen
YA 781.63 ALL 2009
It’s Not Me, It’s You, is the follow-up to Lily Allen’s critically acclaimed 2007 debut, Alright, Still. The album finds Lily in top form, creating a record Blender’s recent “In The Studio” feature described as “part God, part country and all middle finger.” Allen wrote and recorded the album’s 12 songs with producer Greg Kurstin (the bird and the bee), who worked with her on three songs for Alright, Still – “Everything’s Just Wonderful,” “Alfie” and “Not Big.”

Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies
CD 782.42 OF 2008
Rock balladeers Christian Kiefer, Matthew Gerken, and Jefferson Pitcher have performed a remarkable feat. They have composed and recorded 43 songs, one for each of the past and current presidents of these United States. Most songs were written as part of the 2007 RPM “Album in a Month” Challenge, but after the challenge ended they decided to finish the songs and sought out other artists to assist with the endeavor. They also plan on writing a song about our 44th president, available for free download from Standard’s website, once we know who it is going to be.

Performing This Week…Live At Ronnie Scotts [LIVE]
Jeff Beck
CD 781.66 BEC 2008
Jeff Beck is a true rock legend. From his time with the Yardbirds in the sixties, through the Jeff Beck Group and throughout his solo career his unique guitar style and constant desire to explore new musical areas and sounds has won him the admiration of his peers and the adoration of legions of fans. In 2007 Jeff Beck performed a series of concerts at the renowned Ronnie Scott’s club in London. They became the must have ticket of the year with a packed audience every night of the famous and the fans. This CD features performances recorded across the different nights and presents the best version of each track.

Hold Time
M. Ward
CD 781.62 WAR 2009
Although he’s been compared to everyone from John Fahey to Tom Waits to Howe Gelb, with “Hold Time”, it’s clear that M. Ward, with his brilliant guitar playing and innate sense of melody, is one of those rare and special talents who defy comparison and compartmentalization. His deft guitar picking, bar room piano, and voice like drizzled honey make him a huge favorite of music critics and the focus of public praise from such disparate talents as Norah Jones and Oasis’ Noel Gallagher.

Take It to the Floor
Cash Cash
CD 781.66 CAS 2008
The breakthrough, boisterous techno-pop of Universal Republic newcomers Cash Cash will be bounding into stores with their Universal Republic debut album to be made available to fans nationwide on January 20. The charismatic band is currently riding the wave of their insatiable hit “Party In Your Bedroom,” which has exploded on radio and via youtube, thanks to the turbo-charged chemistry supplied by brothers Jean Paul Makhlouf (vocals, guitar) and Alex Makhlouf (keyboards, programming), and the band’s riveting rhythm section: Sam Frisch (bass, vocals), Anthony Villacari (drums, percussion), and Mike Doerr (guitar, vocals).

Troubadour
K’Naan
CD 781.649 KNA 2009
2009 release. Recorded primarily in Kingston, Jamaica where K’Naan was granted unprecedented access by his friends Stephen and Damian Marley to their father Bob Marley’s original home studio at 56 Hope Road and the legendary Tuff Gong studios Troubadour is a Hip Hop album like no other. K’Naan successfully blends samples and live instrumentation for a sound that’s both rooted in traditional African melodies and the classic Hip Hop tradition. Features Kirk Hammett of Metallica on the song ‘If Rap Gets Jealous’.

2009 Grammy Nominees
Various Artists
CD 781.63 GRA 2009
A Winning Compilation Of The Best Songs & Artists Of The Year From The 2009 GRAMMY Awards, Music’s Biggest Night – Proceeds Benefit MusiCares And The Grammy Foundation!

Years of Refusal
Morrissey
CD 781.66 MOR 2009
Morrissey is often recognized as the most important British musician of his generation. The New York Times recently stated, “Morrissey isn’t just any singer: he has become one of the defining rock stars of the past few decades by virtue of his grand voice, his grander songs, and his charming habit of playing with melodrama”. His influence is felt worldwide through the countless artists that cite him as their primary inspiration. “Years of Refusal” is a masterful work that finds Morrissey and the band at their best with a muscular sound and the inimitable voice and lyrics of a legend.

Incredibad
The Lonely Island
CD 781.66 LON 2008
Dubbed by many critics as the world’s `funniest comedy team for the internet generation,’ the comedic collaborative of Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer will release, “INCREDIBAD”, their first comedy CD/DVD February 10, 2009. The innovative triumvirate commonly known as The Lonely Island made online and television history with some of the webs most popular satirical sketches.

Ryan Leslie
Ryan Leslie
CD 781.643 LES 2008
“They try to put me in a box–it’s impossible!” Ryan Leslie proclaims as he opens his Top 40 R&B hit “Diamond Girl,” the hit debut single from his highly anticipated self-titled U.S. debut. It’s impossible to imagine a box expansive enough to contain the singer, songwriter, producer, engineer, Internet visionary and chief executive of NextSelection Lifestyle Group. The Harvard graduate is a performer at heart, a prolific musician with his own infectious brand of R&B pop.

Mr Lucky
Chris Isaak
CD 781.66 ISA 2009
Chris Isaak, the epitome of modern musical cool, is back with Mr. Lucky, his first non-holiday studio album since 2002. Filled with his distinctive, sweetly moody, slyly sexy retro-pop, Mr. Lucky debuts alongside the television premiere of ‘The Chris Isaak Hour’, a weekly music-and-talk series on A&E’s Bio Channel. Isaak’s fans will consider themselves fortunate that new music from their Mr. Lucky has finally arrived.

New Releases on DVD February 2009

Appaloosa

Two friends hired to police a small town that is suffering under the rule of a rancher find their job complicated by a young widow who arrives on the scene with only a dollar and keen sense of survival. Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Renée Zellweger, Jeremy Irons, Timothy Spall, Lance Henriksen. Based on the novel by Robert B. Parker.  Rated R

Beverly Hills Chihuahua

Chloe is a pampered Beverly Hills chihuahua who, while on vacation in Mexico with her owner’s niece, Rachel, gets lost. She must rely on her new friends to help her get back home before she is caught by a dognapper who wants to ransom her. In the meantime, Papi, a male chihuahua who is in love with Chloe goes in pursuit of her. Papi’s owner is a handsome young gardener for Rachel’s aunt Viv. He slowly develops a romantic interest in Rachel. Chloe befriends Delgado, a lonely German Shepherd, who travels with her and protects her from Diablo, the evil Doberman, who wants to return her and her diamond collar to the dognapper. Voices: Andy Garcia, George Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Cheech Marin, Paul Rodriguez, Edward James Olmos, Luis Guzmán. Rated PG

The Changeling

Set in a working-class suburb Los Angeles, 1928. Christine says goodbye to her son, Walter, and departs for work. Arriving home, Christine discovers that Walter is nowhere to be found. Christine launches a desperate a search for her son. Then, a boy claiming to be Christine’s son appears out of thin air. Knowing the boy is not hers, Christine invites the child to stay in her home. Christine cannot accept the injustice being pushed upon her and continues to challenge the Los Angeles police force at every turn. The police slander Christine and paint her as an unfit mother. Christine challenges the system and the only person willing to aid her in her search is benevolent local activist Reverend Briegleb. Cast: Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich. Rated R

City of Ember

For centuries, the residents of the underground City of Ember have flourished in an amazing world of glittering lights and quiet contentment. But when the City’s massive power generator begins to fail, the streetlamps fade – along with the hopes of the townspeople. Now it will be up to two courageous teenagers to follow a trail of clues left by the ancient builders to find the way out of Ember before their world is plunged into complete darkness. Cast: David Ryall, Harry Treadaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Murray, B.J. Hogg, Toby Jones. Based on the book by Jeanne Duprau. Rated PG

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

Aspiring super-villain Dr. Horrible wants to join the Evil League of Evil and win the girl of his dreams, but his nemesis, Captain Hammer, stops him at every turn in this complete three-part musical from Joss Whedon. Cast: Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion, Felicia Day. Not Rated

Eagle Eye

Jerry and Rachel are two strangers who have been ripped from their ordinary lives when they are “activated” as part of a high-tech assassination plot. Through blistering chases and shocking twists they try to escape –but where can they go when the enemy is everywhere? Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Michael Chiklis, Anthony Mackie, Billy Bob Thornton. Rated PG-13

Fireproof

Lt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind – it’s a natural instinct. But when it comes to marriage, it’s another story. After a decade of marriage, Caleb and Catherine have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. As the two prepare for divorce, Caleb’s dad asks his son to try The Love Dare experiment. While hoping the experiment has nothing to do with his parents’ newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. Now he will have to attempt to love his wife while avoiding God’s love for him. He will need to be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person who is no longer receptive to his love. Cast: Kirk Cameron, Erin Bethea, Ken Bevel. Rated PG

Ghost Town

Bertram Pincus is an irritable, cranky Manhattan dentist who develops the unwelcome ability to see annoying dead people. When a smooth-talking ghost traps Bertram into a romantic scheme involving his widow Gwen, they become entangled in a hilarious predicament between the now and the hereafter! Cast: Ricky Gervais, Téa Leoni, Greg Kinnear, Billy Campbell, Kristen Wiig, Dana Ivey. Rated: PG-13

High School Musical 3: Senior Year

Troy, Gabriella, Chad and Sharpay are getting ready to graduate from high school. As college approaches, the senior are struggling with the idea of being separated from one another. Along with the rest of the Wildcats, they stage a spring musical to address their experiences, hopes and fears about their future. Cast: Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Lucas Grabeel, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman. Rated G

Madagascar 2: Escape from Africa

In this Dreamworks animated feature, follow Central Park Zoo animals, including, Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe and Gloria the Hippo, along with the psychotic penguins, the monkeys, and the lemur leaders as they unexpectedly are now stranded in the middle of Africa. While Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria are rather happy with their new environment, they quickly realize that it’s not all that it seems. Meanwhile, the penguins attempt to repair the plane that they accidentally destroyed.  Rated PG

Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist

Nick knows exactly how long it has been since Tris broke up with him – three weeks, two days, and 23 hours. Now she is at his gig, with a new guy. Nick can’t understand how she could have moved on so fast. But that night, Nick meets Norah. They have nothing in common except their taste in music. This begins the night of Nick, Norah and Manhattan. Now, this chance meeting turned into a crusdade to find a legendary rock band’s secret show, ends up being a first date and a night that will change their lives forever. Cast: Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Alexis Dziena, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Jay Baruchel.  Rated PG-13

Nights in Rodanthe

Paul is a surgeon who long ago traded his family for career. Adrienne is a devoted mother trying to move on after her husband’s infidelity. At a remote inn in the Outer Banks, the pair expect to do some serious soul-searching, but an approaching storm forces them to turn to each other. Cast: Diane Lane, Richard Gere, Scott Glenn, Christopher Meloni, Viola Davis. Based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. Rated PG-13

Pride and Glory

Centers on a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers. The family’s moral codes are tested when Ray Tierney investigates a case that reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal that happens to involve his own brother-in-law. For Ray, the truth is revelatory, a Pandora’s Box that threatens to upend not only the Tierney legacy, but the entire NYPD. Cast: Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle. Rated R

Religulous

Comedian and TV host Bill Maher takes a pilgrimage across the globe on a mind-opening journey into the ultimate taboo: questioning religion. Rated R

Savage Grace

A dramatization of the true story of a young woman who married into a wealthy family whose extremely close relationship with her son turns into a deadly tragedy. Cast: Julianne Moore, Stephen Dillane, Eddie Redmayne. Based on the book by Natalie Robins & Steven M.L. Aronson.  Not Rated

The Secret Life of Bees

Lily Owens is a young girl who lives on the peach farm that her abusive father owns. Rosaleen is a black woman hired by Lily’s father to be a stand in mother for Lilly. Rosaleen insults some of the biggest racists in their town. Lily and Rosaleen run away to a town Lily believes that her mother once lived in. They go to live with the three Boatwright sisters on their honey farm. She finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping. Cast: Queen Latifah, Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo. Based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd. Rated PG-13

Swing Vote

When twelve-year-old Molly encourages her apathetic father to get involved, she sets off a chain of events on election day that ends with the presidential race coming down to one vote–her dad’s. Cast: Kevin Costner, Paula Patton, Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane, Stanley Tucci, George Lopez, Madeline Carroll. Rated PG-13

Towelhead

Follows the life of Jasira, a 13-year-old Arab-American girl, as she navigates the confusing and frightening path of adolescence and her own sexual awakening after moving to suburban Houston with her strict father. Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Toni Collette, Maria Bello, Peter Macdissi, Summer Bishil. Based on the novel by Alicia Erian. Rated R

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Vicky and Cristina are two young American women spending a summer in Spain when they meet a charming guy and his beautiful but volatile ex-wife. Soon, smoldering sparks begin to fly in hilarious fashion when they all become romantically entangled. Cast: Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Messina. Rated PG-13

W

A look at the life of the George W. Bush. Cast: Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Burstyn, James Cromwell, Richard Dreyfuss, Scott Glenn, Toby Jones, Stacy Keach, Bruce McGill, Thandie Newton, Jeffrey Wright. Rated: PG-13