Columnist Spencer Patterson: So far, year has been a bountiful one for music

Spencer Patterson

Friday, April 4, 2003 | 8:35 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers music for the Sun. His music notes column appears Fridays. Reach him at spencer@lasvegassun.com or (702) 259-2309.

We're just three months into the year, and already 2003 has produced some memorable music releases.

Albums by rapper 50 Cent and R&B vocalist R. Kelly have dominated the charts over the past few weeks, along with 2002 holdovers by the Dixie Chicks, Norah Jones and Eminem.

And during the past week new discs by Linkin Park and the White Stripes have been the hot tickets.

But plenty of good CDs have also been released under the radar. Here are a few I've come across that are worth checking out:

Bonnie Prince Billy -- "Master and Everyone": Blending elements of folk, country and rock, former Palace singer/guitarist Will Oldham (who goes by the Bonnie Prince Billy moniker these days) has garnered a devoted cult following over the past decade.

This acoustic effort on Drag City Records is laid back and stripped down. The Louisville, Ky., native has altered his vocal delivery a bit, leaving his trademark cackles behind for a more even approach.

Cat Power -- "You Are Free": What is it with indie rockers and their aliases? Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) puts it all together on her first new studio album in five years: brilliant songwriting, clever production techniques and spooky, slightly raspy vocals.

If you have a musical sense of adventure, this Matador Records release should treat you right. The more you listen to it, the more you'll want to listen to it. My album of the year so far.

Clifford Jordan & John Gilmore -- "Blowing in From Chicago": Gilmore, one of jazz music's most criminally underappreciated tenor saxophonists, spent virtually his entire career as a member of the Sun Ra Arkestra, an ensemble known for stretching the boundaries of jazz experimentation.

This 1957 hard-bop session, out of print for years until Blue Note remastered and reissued it in January, presents a rare glimpse of Gilmore outside the Arkestra. He is joined by fellow tenor great Jordan, along with a rhythm section including pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey. Unearthed at last, the results are worth the wait.

The Vexers -- "The Vexers": Fans of neo-garage acts such as the Strokes or the White Stripes will likely enjoy this 10-track, 25-minute punky assault.

Highlighted by singer Jennifer Taylor's biting vocals, the band is reminiscent of New York City buzz trio the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who opened for the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay last October. If you thought Karen O and company stole the show that night, stay ahead of the curve and track down this Ace Fu Records release.

Zwan -- "Mary Star of the Sea": If you liked frontman Billy Corgan's former band, the Smashing Pumpkins, odds are you'll dig this as well. The hooks are as strong as many during the Pumpkins' peak era in the early 1990s, and Corgan's whiny vocals are powerful as ever.

Those hoping to hear the supergroup's indie members -- one-time Chavez guitarist Matt Sweeney and former Slint/Tortoise multi-instrumentalist David Pajo -- assert their talents may want to stay away, however. This is Corgan's baby through and through, and demonstrates that sharing the spotlight still isn't his forte.

Various Artists -- "We're a Happy Family, a Tribute to the Ramones": I know what you're thinking: Tribute albums never do justice to the artists they're attempting to honor. True enough. But there's some enjoyable stuff here nonetheless.

A few of the contributing artists -- the Red Hot Chili Peppers ("Havana Affair"), Metallica ("53rd & 3rd") and Tom Waits ("Return of Jackie & Judy") -- complement the original versions with their own unique stylings. Others such as co-producer Rob Zombie ("Blitzkrieg Bop") absolutely butcher some of the Ramones' best cuts. But it still adds up to a whole lot of fun.

Various Artists -- "The Legend Lives On: A Tribute to Bill Monroe": Bluegrass neophytes who went gaga over the soundtrack to "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" ought to pick up this two-disc set paying homage to the genre's undisputed founding father.

Recorded during a 1997 concert -- seven months after Monroe's death -- the collection showcases bluegrass and country artists playing original Monroe compositions and some traditional numbers regularly performed by Monroe. Two discs of guitar picking may be a bit much for some folks, but no one says you have to listen to them both in one sitting.

Music notes

Dead letter office: Eight years after their last Las Vegas appearance, modern rock pioneers R.E.M. return to town for a concert at the Thomas & Mack Center on Sept. 11.

The show will be the sixth stop on a 24-city U.S. tour, the band's first in North America in more than four years. R.E.M. is scheduled to release its next studio album in 2004.

Alt-country band Wilco is scheduled to open the first leg of the tour, including the Las Vegas show. Wilco made headlines last year with the critically acclaimed CD "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot," as well as a film about the difficulties in releasing the album, entitled, "I Am Trying to Break Your Heart."

Tickets for the show are scheduled to go on sale July 26, according to R.E.M. official website remhq.com.

Dire circumstances: Former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has canceled all scheduled tour dates -- including a July 19 show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel -- after sustaining injuries in a motorcycle accident.

The 53-year-old singer/guitarist broke six ribs and his collarbone during the March 17 incident in London. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Tickets had not yet gone on sale for Knopfler's Las Vegas concert.

On sale

Rapper Nelly, whose albums "Country Grammar" and "Nellyville" both reached No. 1 on Billboard's album charts, plays Rain in the Desert at the Palms on June 29. Tickets for the 21-and-over event are $50 and $100 and are on sale at the Palms box office, at TicketMaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 or online at cc.com or ticketmaster.com.

New-age keyboardist Yanni returns to Las Vegas for his second show of the year, a May 25 performance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Tickets are $65 and $100 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday at the MGM box office and through TicketMaster.