ALTROK Ordinals 7

[Editor's Note: Even as you read this, record companies both large and small are spending the summer trying to figure what they're going to release this fall. Here, then, are summer releases, which ALTROK will desperately try to rescue from the depths of the mid-year release doldrums.]

Ron Sexsmith - Blue Boy (Cooking Vinyl/spinART)
Jeff says: Some will remember Ron from his Interscope albums. He's written with Elvis Costello. He's Canadian. His new album is beautiful. His new album is produced by Steve Earle. He's performing at The Saint in Asbury Park on Friday July 13th. Opening will be the Irish band Prayer Boat (see previous picks list). You will be there.

The Chameleons - Why Call It Anything (Phantom UK)
Sean says: There's a new Chameleons record. That is all.

The Morells - The Morells (Slewfoot)
Sean says: The idea of a new record from the Morells (whose last album came out in 1982 before three of its four members begat the Skeletons) is captivating enough, but the music here is just so ... right ... that it's gotta get recommended. "Mom's Got A Headache" probably resonated the most for me, but there's a Ben Vaughn cover here as well (according to NPR, it was layin' around just waiting for The Morells to cover it.) Fun rock 'n' roll, without a doubt. Now if we can just hear a new Rockin' Bricks album...

Tom Freund - Sympatico (Surf Road)
Jeff says: Having released the best album of 1998 (that no one heard) called "North American Long Weekend" on the now defunct Red Ant Records, Tom's long awaited follow-up is self-released. You can buy the album at www.tomfreund.com. You should. He's been called "the best singer/songwriter operating today" by the legendary Graham Parker. He knows a thing or two about songwriting.