I have not heard the new Mehldau album, but I am planning on picking it up this week, largely in response to your comments, actually, though I have heard from many sources about how great he is.

I have the new Solomon Burke record and I dig it. I am a sucker for releases like his, even though I am immediately suspicious about these recordings at the same time. My God, though, what a voice. The Tom Waits song is just terrific, as is the Costello tune. It's interesting to hear a singer like Solomon Burke record these songs and still hear the voice/style of the writer to such a huge degree, particularly the Joe Henry song. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that he produced the record as well.

Adam