Metallica, “Death Magnetic” (Warner Bros.) Talk about a media blitz. The marketing and publicity departments at Warner Bros. have been working overtime these past few months getting the word out about this, Metallica’s latest full-length. What you should expect: righteously heavy guitars, lots of singer James Hetfield’s growly yalps and loads of big beats. Is it any good? It sounds OK from what we’ve heard so far, but it’s always fun listening to polarized Metallica fans argue over a new release’s merit. This, surely, will be no different.
Jessica Simpson, “Do You Know” (Sony) Simpson is an artist who has always been — and likely always will be — celebrated for her aesthetic beauty and media presence more than her music. Still, it’s interesting that Simpson is releasing a country record. She wore cowboy boots and short-shorts in the movie “The Dukes of Hazzard” — and the dizzying, accompanying music video for her cover of Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ ” — but that’s as much as we’ve seen and heard. Now it’s time to see what Simpson can do working with Nashville’s most populist writers, including a few legends, such as Dolly Parton.
Calexico, “Carried to Dust” (Quarterstick) Some might mistake this Arizona group as a rowdy gathering of expats on some rustic Mexican beach. And that’s a pretty solid description of their music, which is some of the most adventurous multi-ethnic rock ‘n’ roll being produced today. It’s no wonder the members of Denver’s DeVotchKa are buddies with these guys. Ricardo Baca
