New releases

By Stephanie Schorow , Globe Correspondent  |  June 30, 2008

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock continues to nip at the assumptions of American culture, often using himself as the guinea pig. After the success of his "Super Size Me," Spurlock launched a reality TV series for FX, in which he (or participants) spent 30 days in another situation, beginning with Spurlock trying to live for a month on minimum wage. Season two scenarios include an atheist sent to live with born-again Christians, an anti-immigration activist matched with illegal immigrants, and a jail stint for Spurlock.

Comedy/Drama: Heathers, 20th High School Reunion Edition
TV: Mad Men, Season 1
Comedy: Drillbit Taylor
Drama: Vantage Point
TV: Walker, Texas Ranger, Season 5
Classic TV: Streets of San Francisco, Season 2, Vol. 1
TV: The Closer, Season 3

Just Look Them Straight in the Eye and Say . . . Pogue Mahone!! (Wea)
The quintessential Irish, punk and bar band has released a five-disc compilation of rarities, radio sessions, demos, movie music, and live recordings from 1983 to 2001. Playing traditional Irish instruments at punk-rock speed, the rowdy Pogues have won raves on both sides of the Pond despite often-rocky personal problems that have frequently broken up the band. The new album has unreleased covers (like "Maggie May" and "Eve of Destruction" and alternative versions of favorites like "Fairy Tale of New York."

Rock: Los Lonely Boys / Forgiven (Sony)
World: Cistercian Monks of Stift Heiligenkreuz / Chant: Music for the Soul (Decca)
Acoustic Rock: John Mayer / Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles (Sony)
Alternative: My Chemical Romance / The Black Parade Is Dead (Reprise)
Dance: The Thrillseekers / Nightmusic, Vol. 3 (Water Music)
R&B: Dennis Brown / A Little Bit More (VP Records)
Jazz: John Coltrane / Dakar (remastered) (Fantasy)
Country: Willie Nelson / Stardust: 30th Anniversary Legacy Edition (Sony Legacy)

Xbox 360, PS3 (Gamecock)
The box cover might look like a rather nasty jab at the current occupant of the White House, but this good-natured "Presidential Party Game" determines the next "King of Animals." After the current king is forced to resign in disgrace, 10 animals - from a too-hip hippo to a scheming monkey to a samurai octopus - jump into the campaign fighting tooth, claw, nail, and tentacle.

Larry McMurtry (Simon & Schuster)
Like a weathered cowboy who refuses to ride off into the sunset, Larry McMurtry continues to add to his already-groaning resume with this memoir of his love affair with reading. A Texas native who worked as a cowhand on his father's ranch, McMurtry fell hard for a box of adventure books left him by his cousin. His first novel, "Horseman, Pass By" inspired the movie "Hud." Other novels/movies followed: "The Last Picture Show," "Terms of Endearment," and the Pulitzer-Prize-winning "Lonesome Dove."

Stephanie Schorow can be reached at sschorow@comcast.net.