The Nevers

After dominating the international opera stage for more than 30 years, Dame Joan Sutherland takes a final bow in her stunning farewell performance of Meyerbeer’s grand French opera. Now regarded as one of the most memorable nights in Australia’s musical history, Joan Sutherland’s formidable vocal skill is on full display throughout the demanding score, while conductor Richard Bonynge inspires orchestral brilliance at every turn.

Leaving Songs by Tindersticks frontman Stuart Staples is his second solo album; his first, Lucky Dog Recordings 03-04, wasn't released in the States until now, as it is included here, thankfully, as a bonus disc. Leaving Songs is a true departure for Staples. The vocals and backing tracks were recorded in Nashville by Mark Nevers with the overdubs recorded back at Lucky Dog in the U.K. After the first lines of "Goodbye to Old Friends," the opening cut, it's obvious that this record is different, in its way, from what Staples has done before, either with or without his band; the tempo, horn lines, the chorus of female backing vocalists.