CD releases today

Hey fans...

I read somewhere that the temperature in Regina was going to rise above the freezing mark today, which cetainly is enough to give all Reginans a reminder that winter doesn't last forever. Anything to hang on to is a blessed thing -- we'll be basking in the sun and mowing our lawns in no time.

Today marks the long-awaited release of "No Line On the Horizon" from U2. I've always thought U2 was overrated, but I usually lose any sort of argument I have with serious fans of Bono and The Edge, so I won't bother mount a similar argument here. The band is playing every night on the Letterman show this week. I caught Monday night's show and the song and performance were a tad yawn-inducing. We'll see of they pick things up later in the week.

And it seems even the rock Gods that make up U2 understand that adding value to their product is the best weapon in the battle of cyber-pirating. Fans can buy a plain CD release of "No Line on the Horizon" or they can get one of the other four packages. There's the limited box set that includes a DVD and hardcover book, the "digipack" edition with a fold-out poster and rights to download a U2 film, the 60-page magazine version and the limited-issue vinyl double LP.

U2, "No Line On the Horizon", (Interscope)

Various artists"Watchmen: Music From the Motion Picture", (Reprise)

Neko Case, "Middle Cyclone", (Anti)

Raul Malo, "Lucky One",(Fantasy)

Rush, "Retrospective 3",(Atlantic)

Boston Spaceships, "Planets Are Blasted" (Guided by Voices)

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, "The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem In Person at Carnegie Hall: The Complete 1963 Concert" (Sony)

Justin Townes Earle, "Midnight at the Movies" (Bloodshot)

Bela Fleck, "Throw Down Your Heart, Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Vol. 3: Africa Sessions" (Rounder)

Ian McLagan and Bump Band, "Never Say Never" (R.E.D.)

Buddy and Julie Miller, "Written in Chalk" (New West)

Nashville Pussy, "From Hell to Texas" (Steamhammer)

Alan Parsons Project, "Vulture Culture: Original Recording Remastered" (Sony)

Arvo Part, "In Principio" (ECM)

Prodigy, "Invaders Must Die" (R.E.D.)

Tierney Sutton, "Desire" (Telarc)

Thin Lizzy, "Still Dangerous: Live at the Tower Theater Philadelphia" (VH1)

Various Artists, "The Complete Motown Singles, Vol. 11B: 1971" (Hip-O)

Soundtracks and scores:

"Underworld: Rise of the Lycans" (Lakeshore)

"Watchmen: Original Motion Picture Score" (Reprise)