Among iTunes exclusives, the top of the heap is a special iTunes edition of Jennifer Lopez’s Rebirth. It includes a hip-hop mix of the song “Get Right” featuring Fabolous, which is available only with the purchase of the entire album.
Another bonus track available with the purchase of the entire album is a demo version of the album track “Constellations,” the closing song on the new album by the folky, jammy, laid back Jack Johnson, In Between Dreams.
Aqualung has a solid buzz building in the States, and fans of all things British, melodic and soul-baring are taking notice. iTunes has Still Life 1, an exclusive six-song sampler of his UK-released album Still Life . His first U.S. album, Strange and Beautiful , will be released here on March 22nd.
Bloggers rejoice! iTunes has a three-song EP by Ted Leo & the Pharmacists called The Sharkbite Sessions.
Metal fans will be happy to know that they don’t have to re-buy Killswitch Engage’s The End of Heartache to get the bonus CD material that’s on the new reissue. iTunes has the bonus CD, and all songs are available as single downloads.
Underground hip hop star Roots Manuva has his new album on iTunes exclusively, six weeks before it’s out in stores. Big Dada will release Awfully Deep on April 19th, but iTunes shoppers can get a jump on the CD shoppers now.
The irrepressible William Shatner has an iTunes exclusive: “It Hasn’t Happened Yet” recorded live at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theater.
In iTunes’ pre-release section are Fat Joe’s “So Much More” single, Ozzy’s “Mississippi Queen” single, and “Get XXX’d” J-Kwon featuring Petey Pablo.
Deadheads will be happy to know that albums from the Grateful Dead’s Dicks Picks and Vault series are now on iTunes.
Finally, iTunes’ free download of the week is “ What We Shared ” by unsigned R&B artist TaMara.
Among the albums recently added to Rhapsody are Los Lonely Boys’ Live at the Fillmore, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds’ Henry’s Dream , The Police’s The Police Live , Juvenile’s The Beginning of the End , The Moody Blues’ Keys of the Kingdom and Octave , Mr. Bungle’s California , and Dave Holland’s Overtime . Of special note is Neil Young’s Landing on Water , released in 1986. Most Neil Young fans would like to forget about this heavily processed and synthed-out exploration into ’80s pop. AllMusic.com gives it a mere two stars. Rhapsody, though, has added it to the collection. How long until Trans ( another two-star album ) is added?
Rhapsody has an exclusive five-song EP by Tears for Fears, another in the Rolling Stone Original EPs series. Among the songs are “Sowing the Seeds of Love” and “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.”
Wal-Mart’s online store has exclusively the Deana Carter song ” ” and has just added to its catalog Duke Ellington’s Never No Lament , Duran Duran’s Thank You , Hank Williams’ The Ultimate Collection and Kid Rock’s D evil Without A Cause .
Out of curiosity, I emailed Wal-Mart to ask about its policy for content on its online music store. Its retail stores do not carry explicit music, and I assumed the online store would have the same policy.
It does. The reply from Wal-Mart’s technical support said, “The music downloads we offer are edited for Parental Advisory content in accordance to the guidelines established by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).” In greater detail, that means that Wal-Mart’s online store will offer only an edited version of a song/album if there is also an explicit version available.
New at eMusic is the 1997 Modest Mouse album released on K Records, The Fruit That Ate Itself . The nine songs don’t share much with the band’s recent breakthrough album, but true fans should enjoy hearing the evolution. Also added to eMusic’s catalog is a large selection of albums from One Little Indian ranging from Bjork’s Debut Live to Capsule: The Best of Kitchens of Distinction .
The FYE Download Zone has added Moby’s “Beautiful” single. Rhapsody has it, also, which means it’s no longer an exclusive at iTunes.
What’s going on MSN’s music store? Nothing that’s not going on anywhere else, unfortunately.