New Releases, Aug. 24: Katy Perry, Little Big Town, Conan O'Brien, JJ Grey, more

Katy Perry is no longer kissing girls. Her "Teenage Dream," which will be released Tuesday (8/24), is all about riding in a convertible with a buff guy, pulling over to a roadside motel and having steamy sex, quite possibly for the first time.

A motel? When you're a teen? Can't kids come up with something unique in their dreams -- where's the imagination here? Sort of like the music itself: Catchy beat, fantasy that attracts the guys and gals in equal measure and regardless of the lyrical content, everybody is dancing to it at all sorts of events. And since every knows Katy Perry has a new album out -- the song "Teenage Dream" has been storming up the recently unveiled Ultimate Chart that tracks all online activity, illegal and legal -- let's look at who might be flying under the rock 'n' roll radar with Tuesday's releases.

Little Big Town, "The Reason Why" (Capitol)

Together for more than a dozen years, Little Big Town is the biggest success story when it comes to country bands convincing a good portion of the classic-rock audience that they are playing music compatible with the boomers' record collections. Their first single, "Little White Church," has a bit of what they term "groovy mountain soul"; the title track is a country rocker; and they pump up the traditionalists with the ballad "Can't Have Everything." Their trademark is harmony vocals with all four members taking turns on lead; their subject matter alternates between the joys of life and the pain of loss. Their fourth album, band member Phillip Sweet says in the LBT bio, was the first time they could concentrate on making a record during a break from touring.

Conan O'Brien, "Live at Third Man" (Third Man Records)

Available only on LP, this album was recorded during O'Brien's June 10 stop at the Third Man Records store in Nashville, TN, during his "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour." Conan and his band play rockabilly and rock 'n' roll classics; Third Man owner Jack White duets with O'Brien on Eddie Cochran's classic "20 Flight Rock." Besides the LP, Third Man will release a 7" of O'Brien's comedy routine "And They Call Me Mad?," an improvised take on Frankenstein legend, backed with an interview with Conan conducted by White. A limited edition version -- only 150 "tri-color" 45s were pressed --will be sold at Third Man Records for $100 each with proceeds going to ReTune Nashville, an organization helping uninsured musicians through the sale of artwork created from flood damaged musical instruments.

JJ Grey & Mofro, "Georgia Warhorse" (Alligator Records)

JJ Grey and his band Mofro play a funky style of the blues that owes as much to the heat, humidity and terrain of their northeastern Florida home as it does his musical training. Like John Mellencamp's new disc, Grey, too, used vintage equipment to capture a specific rootsy vibe, combining the swamp-rock sound of old Excello 45s with the uptown sophistication of Memphis soul. He has two friends join in on the record, reggae legend Toots Hibbert and guitarist Derek Trucks. A Georgia Warhorse, by the way, is tenacious type of Southern grasshopper.

Ronnie Earl & The Broadcasters, "Spread the Love" (Stony Plain)

Ronnie Earl replaced Duke Robillard as the guitarist in Roomful of Blues a good 30 years ago and went solo with blues harpist Jerry Portnoy soon after that. Jazzier than many a blues player, he has created one of the more impressive bodies of work based on blues-rooted guitar playing with masterful recordings such as "Grateful Heart: Blues and Ballads," "Soul Searching," "Language of the Soul" and "Healing Time." "Spread the Love" is a collection of 14 instrumentals performed by the current lineup of the Broadcasters -- Dave Limina on keys, Lorne Entress on drums and Jim Mouradian on bass -- that has been together for 11 years. They pay tribute to Muddy Waters' pianist Otis Spann on "Spann's Groove" and Duane Allman on "Skyman," ramp up the jazz elements on "Eleventh Step To Heaven" and "Cristo Redento," and cover the Albert Collins staple "Backstroke."

BARB, "BARB" (Yep Roc)

Liam Finn gathered some of his friends from New Zealand -- Lawrence Arabia, Eliza Jane Barnes, Connan Mockasin and Seamus Ebbs -- and went into a studio for a month with a significant supply of wine. "BARB" is the result. It is dominated by Finn's more avant-garde taste and Lawrence Arabia's moody melodies, but at the heart of the music is a shared love of American soul music.

Other new releases of interest:
James Blackshaw, "All is Falling" (Young God Records)
Boxer Rebellion, "Union" (Boxer Rebellion)
Isobel Campbell, "Hawk" (Vanguard Records)
Eels, "Tomorrow Morning" (E Works)
Fitz & the Tantrums, "Pickin' Up the Pieces" (Dangerbird)
Ra Ra Riot, "The Orchard" (Barsuk)
Randy Rogers Band, "Burning the Day" (MCA Nashville)
John Scofield, "54" (Verve)
Turtle Island Quartet, "Have You Ever Been ... ? (Telarc)
Jenny Wilson, "Hardships!" (Gold Medal Recordings)
!!!, "Strange Weather Isn't It" (Warp)