New Release Tuesday: December 5, 2006

Stay warm and prepare yourself for the shopping season by treating yourself to some new records. Here's what's new on the shelves at Waterloo and End of an Ear today:

Gwen Stefani The Sweet Escape (Interscope)

Somewhere in between her modern day interpretation of Elvira Hancock and her shoulder-groping self-adoration is Gwen Stefani's music, though it might rightly be as glossy and desirable as it is because of co-writers (Neptunes, Rice-Oxley of Keane). Commercial appeal, cheeky sexuality and a broad mix of genres across an individual album make Stefani's solo aspirations legit, despite her braces-wearing ska-kid turned ghetto-fabulous diva absurdity. "Wind it Up" reminds us of a sort of after school dance-off that could take place between Fergie and Gwen, "My Humps" vs "Wind it Up" battling it out for most difficult to listen to likable song ever.

Gwen Stefani Official
Gwen Stefani MySpace
Gwen Stefani performs "Wind it Up"

O.C. Mix 6 Covering Our Tracks (Warner Brothers)

Normally we'd just suggest you get your own taste in music before following the herd and grabbing an OC mix, but this one is a little different. Volume 6 of the revolutionary (yes, revolutionary: if bands can't become successful with the help of CD sales and radio play, commercial and tv spots will be the future of music, sadly) soundtrack series features some of our favorite bands doing covers of some of our favorite bands. Band of Horses does a version of The New Year's "The End's Not Near", Mates of State take on the Phantom Planet theme song "California", and Rogue Wave deflate all the life out of the Pixies' "Debaser". Sunny California and music to weep to, this is what drove Summer to black eyeliner and eco-terrorism.

Music from the OC Official
The OC's MySpace
Rogue Wave perform "Debaser" Live (YouTube)

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness I Love You but I've Chosen Darkness EP (Secretly Canadian)

Austin's own ILYBICD are re-releasing their self-titled EP this week, bringing us back to 2003 with a thud: Secretly Canadian enjoyed a favorable reaction from the band's long-playing album, Fear is on Our Side earlier this year, so why not wrap up all the good and darkly shadowed rock from the heart of Tejas in one place? Get your full Austin fix with the EP, it's produced by our favorite black button-down dress shirt superhero, Britt Daniel.

Chosen Darkness Official
Chosen Darkness MySpace
Chosen Darkness "When You Go Out" (mp3)