ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Iron & Wine The Shepherd’s Dog (Sub Pop)
The charming lo-fi sound of Iron & Wine's past is gone and Sam Beam’s trusty acoustic is joined here by banjos, accordions, upright bass, horns, assorted percussion, female backing vocals, acoustic and electric piano, and some electric guitar, along with shades of Afro-pop, dub, brief hints of psychedelia, the spacey grooves of Los Lobos offshoot The Latin Playboys, and latter-day Tom Waits.
Honorary Mention: Radiohead In Rainbows, Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
FAVORITE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Drake Bell It’s Only Time (Universal)
Power pop bliss from a 21 year old star of the Nickelodeon network? You bet.
Runner up: Radiohead In Rainbows; Spoon Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (Merge)
FAVORITE TV SHOW: Californication (Showtime)
Showtime’s new breakout series stars David Duchovny as Hank Moody, a middle-aged Hollywood Lothario who medicates his possibly career-ending writer’s block with sex and drugs, amidst the wreckage of his relationship with the mother of his devoted teenage daughter. Moody's lone novel, God Hates Us All, was turned into an allegedly lame, but quite successful big screen rom-com called A Crazy Little Thing Called Love, much to the deep chagrin of our 'hero', who fancies himself a "one hit-wonder" too busy skirt-chasing and espousing rivers of sarcasm to sit down and confront the muse. Sweet.
BEST REISSUE: Miles Davis The Complete On the Corner Sessions (Sony)
This six CD box set digs deep into Davis' trademark brand of funk and experimentation, regarded as both an attempt at reconnecting with a young black audience that had abandoned jazz for rock and funk, and a seminal influence on hip-hop, drum and bass, and electronica.
Runner Up: Elliott Smith New Moon (Kill Rock Stars)
BEST COMEBACK: Van Halen
The mighty VH got back with Diamond Dave and kicked some major ass in the process.
Runner up: Bob Pollard
After last year’s disappointing From a Compound Eye (Merge) the former Guided by Voices figurehead released 2 albums on the same day—Coast to Coast Carpet of Love and Standard Gargoyle Decisions, both on Merge—and they were equally great.
BEST ALBUM TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR: A twofer from Eels; Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996 – 2006 (Geffen) and Useless Trinkets (Vagrant), a 50-song collection of b-sides and rarities.
Runner up: Joe Jackson Rain (Rykodisc)
BEST NEW TV SHOW: Californication (Showtime)
Runner up: Weeds (Showtime)
WORST ALBUM: Foo Fighters Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace (Roswell/RCA)
There is probably a small army of records worse than this one out there but such a mediocre release from a once promising band is just inexcusable.
Runner up: The Stooges The Weirdness (Virgin)
WORST COVER SONG: Velvet Revolver “Psycho Killer”
It must be heard to be believed. Qu'est que c'est? indeed.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (NBC) gets cancelled
Unlike every other popular show out there with gimmicky, suspension of disbelief plots and/or story lines, Studio 60 delivered quality storytelling and writing from the great Aaron Sorkin. Is that why it got cancelled or was it too soon for another West Wing-type drama?
Runner up: Chris Cornell's second solo album was DEFINITELY NOT worth the wait; The slew of new reality shows going into production due to the writers’ strike; Guns ’N’ Roses’ Chinese Democracy fails to appear yet again; Nickelback still around.
MOST UNWELCOME COMEBACK: Matchbox 20
Runner up: Kid Rock
MOST UNDESERVED HYPE: The website only release of Radiohead’s In Rainbows
Runner up: Marnie Stern In Advance of the Broken Arm (Kill Rock Stars)
MOST UNNECCESARY REHASHING: The Kanye West/50 Cent duel for the top chart spot
[yawn]
* * * * *
GOODBYE:
Film director Michelangelo Antonioni; British music impresario Don Arden (former Black Sabbath manager and father of Sharon Osbourne); James Brown’s longtime sidekick, the great Bobby Byrd; the incomparable Alice Coltrane; actress Yvonne De Carlo, best known for her role as “Lily Munster”; Boston lead vocalist Brad Delp; The Mamas and the Papas’ Denny Doherty; South African reggae artist Lucky Dube; Quiet Riot frontman Kevin Du Brow; Ruts guitarist/vocalist Paul Fox; singer/songwriter/producer Lee Hazlewood; vocalist Billy Henderson of The Spinners; Joe Hunter, pianist and original member of Motown Records' in-house studio band, the Funk Brothers; comedian Richard Jeni; CBGB founder Hilly Kristal; the great tenor, Luciano Pavarotti; saxophonist Cecil Payne; Killing Joke, Prong, and Ministry bassist Paul Raven; jazz/Afro-Cuban saxophonist/arranger Mario Rivera; legendary jazz drummer Max Roach; opera singer Beverly Sills; composer Karlheinz Stockhausen; influential talk show host and TV personality Tom Snyder; bandleader, songwriter, musician, rock and roll pioneer Ike Turner; Factory Records founder and British TV/radio personality Tony Wilson (the film 24 Hour Party People is a semi-fictionalized account of his life); bandleader, keyboard virtuoso and Miles Davis collaborator Joe Zawinul.
12/23/2007
12/17/2007
RIP
Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, best known for the soft-rock hits "Leader of the Band" and "Longer", died on Sunday, in his home in Maine. After the release of the promising Full Circle album--his first studio album of new material in a decade--he retired from music a year later in 2004, after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He was 56.
Singer/songwriter Dan Fogelberg, best known for the soft-rock hits "Leader of the Band" and "Longer", died on Sunday, in his home in Maine. After the release of the promising Full Circle album--his first studio album of new material in a decade--he retired from music a year later in 2004, after being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. He was 56.
Leno, O'Brien Return on January 2nd
After two months of reruns due to the Writers Guild strike, NBC's The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will resume with new shows on the first official working day of the new year. David Letterman's Late Show is expected to follow suit. Not wanting to cross the picket line, the shows will air without writers supplying material. Considering how comedy is so much more a part of contemporary talk shows than decades ago, it's safe to assume the shows will have more guests than skits or comedic bits.
After two months of reruns due to the Writers Guild strike, NBC's The Tonight Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will resume with new shows on the first official working day of the new year. David Letterman's Late Show is expected to follow suit. Not wanting to cross the picket line, the shows will air without writers supplying material. Considering how comedy is so much more a part of contemporary talk shows than decades ago, it's safe to assume the shows will have more guests than skits or comedic bits.
Condiment Named After Seminal Hardcore Group
Brooklyn-based Wheelhouse Pickles have come up with a mild pepper hot sauce called "Minor Threat" after the underground, Ian MacKaye-fronted, DC legends. Yeah, after Ben & Jerry's "Cherry Garcia" ice cream we shouldn't be surprised by this sort of thing, but still...kinda weird, huh?
12/14/2007
New Anthrax Singer
Veteran thrashers Anthrax have just announced their new lead singer: Dan Nelson, from Levittown, Long Island. The 31 year old part-time singer and personal trainer was hired after contacting the band's guitarist Rob Caggiano via MySpace and succesfully auditioning for the group.
Anthrax, who reunited and toured with original singer Joey Belladona in 2006 but could not reach any further agreement with the vocalist, are currently in the studio working on a new album.
Veteran thrashers Anthrax have just announced their new lead singer: Dan Nelson, from Levittown, Long Island. The 31 year old part-time singer and personal trainer was hired after contacting the band's guitarist Rob Caggiano via MySpace and succesfully auditioning for the group.
Anthrax, who reunited and toured with original singer Joey Belladona in 2006 but could not reach any further agreement with the vocalist, are currently in the studio working on a new album.
Best of 2007 Roundup
We had our own this week. Here's some others out there:
Various genres: PopMatters
Songs: Rolling Stone
Music Videos: Pitchfork
Various genres: PopMatters
Songs: Rolling Stone
Music Videos: Pitchfork
Late Night TV Hosts May Return in January
With ratings dropping for the late night talk shows and the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers still at an impasse after weeks of negotiations, it looks like Dave, Jay, Conan and Jimmy might go back to work as early as Jan. 7th. Variety has more.
With ratings dropping for the late night talk shows and the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers still at an impasse after weeks of negotiations, it looks like Dave, Jay, Conan and Jimmy might go back to work as early as Jan. 7th. Variety has more.
New Stephen Malkmus Track
Accompanied by his new band The Jicks, the former head Pavement's new track "Baltimore" is from the upcoming Real Emotional Trash (Matador) out March 4th. Take a listen.
Accompanied by his new band The Jicks, the former head Pavement's new track "Baltimore" is from the upcoming Real Emotional Trash (Matador) out March 4th. Take a listen.
Led Zeppelin Set List
Here it is from Monday night's reunion concert in London:
Good Times Bad Times
Ramble On
Black Dog
In My Time Of Dying
For Your Life
Trampled Under Foot
Nobodys Fault But Mine
No Quarter
Since I've Been Loving You
Dazed And Confused
Stairway To Heaven
The Song Remains The Same
Misty Mountain Hop
Kashmir
Encore:
Whole Lotta Love
Rock And Roll
Although there is no official confirmation, both a DVD culled from the concert and future dates are rumored. Stay tuned.
Here it is from Monday night's reunion concert in London:
Good Times Bad Times
Ramble On
Black Dog
In My Time Of Dying
For Your Life
Trampled Under Foot
Nobodys Fault But Mine
No Quarter
Since I've Been Loving You
Dazed And Confused
Stairway To Heaven
The Song Remains The Same
Misty Mountain Hop
Kashmir
Encore:
Whole Lotta Love
Rock And Roll
Although there is no official confirmation, both a DVD culled from the concert and future dates are rumored. Stay tuned.
We Didn't Want To Get Into this One But...
...she's not fat. It's just an ugly, ill-fitting bathing suit. We'd do her in a heartbeat. "With the quickness," as the kids used to say. You could say we have a certain kind of carnal, um, 'love' for her. There, we said our bit.
12/13/2007
Worst Album Covers of 2007
Pitchfork has got them and, trust us, there's a doozy or two, or three in that bunch. See for yourself.
Quote of the Day
"Ike Turner was not a very nice guy. But he made great records. And for that, he will be missed. I never would have recommended anybody going out on a date with Ike Turner, but I'll recommend his music unreservedly."
- Jake Brown on GloriousNoise.com
- Jake Brown on GloriousNoise.com
Rosanne Cash Recovering From Surgery
The 52 year old singer is back in her New York City home after brain surgery last month. The procedure was due to a rare but benign condition. Cash is expected to make a full rcovery and return to the studio early in the new year to work on her first album for EMI's Manhattan Records label, and tour in the spring. All the best...
The 52 year old singer is back in her New York City home after brain surgery last month. The procedure was due to a rare but benign condition. Cash is expected to make a full rcovery and return to the studio early in the new year to work on her first album for EMI's Manhattan Records label, and tour in the spring. All the best...
12/11/2007
Can't Have It Both Ways
As we've stated before here and here, all the Writers Guild of America wants for its members is a fair share of the digital pie. The Hollywood studios are crying poverty or uncertainty of profit. Yet they like nothing more than to brag about their wonderful, new digital revenue streams to the media, shareholders, Wall Street, trade publications and anyone who'll listen. Except when they have to pay those who do the grunt work. You know, like writers, for instance.
As we've stated before here and here, all the Writers Guild of America wants for its members is a fair share of the digital pie. The Hollywood studios are crying poverty or uncertainty of profit. Yet they like nothing more than to brag about their wonderful, new digital revenue streams to the media, shareholders, Wall Street, trade publications and anyone who'll listen. Except when they have to pay those who do the grunt work. You know, like writers, for instance.
12/10/2007
Quote of the Day
Two different takes on the current state of the music biz from Wired.com:
"It was only a couple of years ago that we said, 'What's going on here?' Really, an album that someone worked on for two years — is that worth only $9, $10, when people pay two bucks for coffee in Starbucks? People never really understand what's happening to the artists. All the sharing of the music, right? Is it correct that people share their music, fill up these devices with music they haven't paid for? If you had Coca-Cola coming through the faucet in your kitchen, how much would you be willing to pay for Coca-Cola? There you go. That's what happened to the record business."
- Universal Music Group chairmain and CEO Doug Morris
"As one who makes a living making records for others, I have to tell ya the whole 'touring uber alles' meme is tired and deeply flawed. Setting aside the loss of a valid modern art form (the album, as distinct from it's compositions and performances), both club circuits and pay scales have been in decline for a couple decades now. While artists could make a good living touring in small clubs in earlier eras, not so today: Indie bands are doing good to make $200 in a mid-size city on a weeknight, which must cover gas, food and lodging for 3-6 people. Burger King is a better option. Touring is very difficult for bands who lack outside revenue (from album and merch sales or a day job). Even the most savvy artists with great merch and name recognition tour at their own risk: Typically only weekend shows are profitable outside major cities.
The notion of artists surviving on their live performances or touring revenue is naive and worthless. Venue attendance is weak across the country, gates are stagnant, and radio support non-existent. It's difficult to grow a following organically, requiring an investment of years and thousands of out-of-someones-pocket dollars in tour and life support. Suggesting bands give up royalties for recordings and instead rely on road revenues is ludicrous on it's [sic] face. It's a mantra chanted by people looking to validate the false morality of illegitimate file trading. It's easy to rationalize ripping off big labels, especially when their [sic] headed by douchebags who hate fans as much as they love money. But the fact remains, we need to find a revenue stream for recorded music, as venues move away from live entertainment and opportunity narrows for tour revenue."
- Mastering engineer D. Lincoln
"It was only a couple of years ago that we said, 'What's going on here?' Really, an album that someone worked on for two years — is that worth only $9, $10, when people pay two bucks for coffee in Starbucks? People never really understand what's happening to the artists. All the sharing of the music, right? Is it correct that people share their music, fill up these devices with music they haven't paid for? If you had Coca-Cola coming through the faucet in your kitchen, how much would you be willing to pay for Coca-Cola? There you go. That's what happened to the record business."
- Universal Music Group chairmain and CEO Doug Morris
"As one who makes a living making records for others, I have to tell ya the whole 'touring uber alles' meme is tired and deeply flawed. Setting aside the loss of a valid modern art form (the album, as distinct from it's compositions and performances), both club circuits and pay scales have been in decline for a couple decades now. While artists could make a good living touring in small clubs in earlier eras, not so today: Indie bands are doing good to make $200 in a mid-size city on a weeknight, which must cover gas, food and lodging for 3-6 people. Burger King is a better option. Touring is very difficult for bands who lack outside revenue (from album and merch sales or a day job). Even the most savvy artists with great merch and name recognition tour at their own risk: Typically only weekend shows are profitable outside major cities.
The notion of artists surviving on their live performances or touring revenue is naive and worthless. Venue attendance is weak across the country, gates are stagnant, and radio support non-existent. It's difficult to grow a following organically, requiring an investment of years and thousands of out-of-someones-pocket dollars in tour and life support. Suggesting bands give up royalties for recordings and instead rely on road revenues is ludicrous on it's [sic] face. It's a mantra chanted by people looking to validate the false morality of illegitimate file trading. It's easy to rationalize ripping off big labels, especially when their [sic] headed by douchebags who hate fans as much as they love money. But the fact remains, we need to find a revenue stream for recorded music, as venues move away from live entertainment and opportunity narrows for tour revenue."
- Mastering engineer D. Lincoln
Jeff Tweedy vs Wikipedia
The Wilco frontman has to explain his pot smoking to his pre-teen son after Wikipedia outs him on it. Damn! Tweedy speaks to the Associated Press about that and more.
The Wilco frontman has to explain his pot smoking to his pre-teen son after Wikipedia outs him on it. Damn! Tweedy speaks to the Associated Press about that and more.
12/07/2007
Quote of the Day
“Fuck the labels man, they suck. The last thing they’re stripping down is their own expense accounts and shit. I mean, Jimmy Iovine [chairman] of Interscope Records takes a private jet or rides first class to tell a band they don’t get tour support. You know what I mean? Fuck that shit, I’m tired of it. And I’m not gonna be quiet because the American label, not Canada, not Europe, but our American label’s fucking us like crazy, so fuck them. Why should I not say anything, what am I afraid of? I’m not afraid of them…all I want to do is what we agreed upon. And I’m not even bitter, people say labels are evil, no. They’re just lame…the fact that this is just their job and this is my life, does a flip flop on them because they can’t stop me from being me and from playing, but they can lose their jobs and have to fucking work at Shakey’s pizza like they should’ve all along.”
- Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on antiquiet.com
- Queens of the Stone Age frontman Josh Homme on antiquiet.com
Manics Slam Radiohead
The ever tight-lipped Manic Street Preachers have called Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want download option/experiment for In Rainbows demeaning to music.
"Fair play to Radiohead for doing something different,” said bassist Nicky Wire to British tabloid the Daily Star. “It's certainly great for publicity but I think it kind of demeans music. Music used to be a market, now it's all gone digital. It's worrying and it seems to be the way of the world at the moment. Sales are doing well everywhere else. Cinema is doing well, video games are doing well but music isn't. The free download phenomenon is ruining the industry."
The Manics are also contemplating releasing their music on their own, once their deal expires with Sony, according to drummer Sean Moore, who further stated, "We made more money with live shows this year than in the last seven of releasing records. We want to do records ourselves. Labels are scared to move forward, we're not."
The ever tight-lipped Manic Street Preachers have called Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want download option/experiment for In Rainbows demeaning to music.
"Fair play to Radiohead for doing something different,” said bassist Nicky Wire to British tabloid the Daily Star. “It's certainly great for publicity but I think it kind of demeans music. Music used to be a market, now it's all gone digital. It's worrying and it seems to be the way of the world at the moment. Sales are doing well everywhere else. Cinema is doing well, video games are doing well but music isn't. The free download phenomenon is ruining the industry."
The Manics are also contemplating releasing their music on their own, once their deal expires with Sony, according to drummer Sean Moore, who further stated, "We made more money with live shows this year than in the last seven of releasing records. We want to do records ourselves. Labels are scared to move forward, we're not."
Pics Galore
Pitchfork have just unveiled their annual Year in Pictures feature, with live shots of Cat Power, Sufjan Stevens, TV On The Radio, etc. etc. Pretty cool.
Pitchfork have just unveiled their annual Year in Pictures feature, with live shots of Cat Power, Sufjan Stevens, TV On The Radio, etc. etc. Pretty cool.
12/06/2007
Radiohead Negotiate with iTunes; Announce Dates
With the unorthodox release method of their most recent album acting quite possibly as a catalyst, Radiohead have entered talks with iTunes about the inclusion of In Rainbows among the digital superstore’s wares. It’s not clear whether this will affect the band’s EMI catalog, which is not for sale on iTunes, due to the band’s insistence that their albums be offered in complete form.
Meanwhile, the band has announced 16 summer dates for 2008, including an appearance at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival. These dates will take them through France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well. According to their management, American dates will be announced soon and dates in Asia, Australia and South Africa are being considered, depending on how much touring Radiohead plan on doing.
Oh, and by the way: after 2 months, the official pay-what-you-want download option/experiment for In Rainbows will cease on Dec. 10th. The unofficial option—ie blatant theft—will probably continue in earnest ‘til who knows when. (Our apologies to MBV.)
With the unorthodox release method of their most recent album acting quite possibly as a catalyst, Radiohead have entered talks with iTunes about the inclusion of In Rainbows among the digital superstore’s wares. It’s not clear whether this will affect the band’s EMI catalog, which is not for sale on iTunes, due to the band’s insistence that their albums be offered in complete form.
Meanwhile, the band has announced 16 summer dates for 2008, including an appearance at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival. These dates will take them through France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, as well. According to their management, American dates will be announced soon and dates in Asia, Australia and South Africa are being considered, depending on how much touring Radiohead plan on doing.
Oh, and by the way: after 2 months, the official pay-what-you-want download option/experiment for In Rainbows will cease on Dec. 10th. The unofficial option—ie blatant theft—will probably continue in earnest ‘til who knows when. (Our apologies to MBV.)
Journey and Judas Priest
What do these two seemingly disparate mega bands have in common? They’ve both hired a lead singer from a respective tribute band, that’s what! Filipino singer Arnel Pineda was spotted performing Journey songs with his band The Zoo on YouTube by Journey guitarist Neal Schon and has been picked to assume frontman duties and join the band in the studio for recording of their 2008 release.
(After the departure of lead singer Rob Halford, Judas Priest hired Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens—who led the Priest tribute band British Steel—in 1996. His story was the basis for the Mark Wahlberg film Rock Star aka Metal God.)
What do these two seemingly disparate mega bands have in common? They’ve both hired a lead singer from a respective tribute band, that’s what! Filipino singer Arnel Pineda was spotted performing Journey songs with his band The Zoo on YouTube by Journey guitarist Neal Schon and has been picked to assume frontman duties and join the band in the studio for recording of their 2008 release.
(After the departure of lead singer Rob Halford, Judas Priest hired Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens—who led the Priest tribute band British Steel—in 1996. His story was the basis for the Mark Wahlberg film Rock Star aka Metal God.)
Zappa Talks Zappa
Guitarist Dweezil Zappa talks to PopMatters about performing and reviving interest in the music of his late father, Frank. Check it out.
Guitarist Dweezil Zappa talks to PopMatters about performing and reviving interest in the music of his late father, Frank. Check it out.
Camel Goes, um, Went Indie
Guess they’ve been scoping out indie kids/hipsters, huh? The R.J. Reynolds Tobbaco Co.—makers of the fauxhemian cigarette of choice, Camel Lights—have halted their advertising campaign aimed at fans at indie rock after being sued in nine states for the alleged violation of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and tobacco manufacturers. It turns out the “Indie Rock Universe” campaign featured cartoon-like drawings, which is illegal for tobacco products these days. The ad originally ran in a nine-page spread in the November 15th issue of Rolling Stone. Also, it's not clear if the bands mentioned in the spread gave their consent to appear.
This and this is what the spread/campaign looked like.
Guess they’ve been scoping out indie kids/hipsters, huh? The R.J. Reynolds Tobbaco Co.—makers of the fauxhemian cigarette of choice, Camel Lights—have halted their advertising campaign aimed at fans at indie rock after being sued in nine states for the alleged violation of the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between 46 states and tobacco manufacturers. It turns out the “Indie Rock Universe” campaign featured cartoon-like drawings, which is illegal for tobacco products these days. The ad originally ran in a nine-page spread in the November 15th issue of Rolling Stone. Also, it's not clear if the bands mentioned in the spread gave their consent to appear.
This and this is what the spread/campaign looked like.
12/05/2007
Led Zeppelin Interview
Recently, veteran music writer Dave DiMartino spoke to Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones about their upcoming Dec. 10th London reunion show/tribute to the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun in London, and what it is to be part of one of the most enduring and beloved rock bands of all time. Check it out.
Also: Dave Grohl, Scott Ian, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Satriani and other celebrity fans weigh in on what Zeppelin meant to them.
Recently, veteran music writer Dave DiMartino spoke to Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones about their upcoming Dec. 10th London reunion show/tribute to the late Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun in London, and what it is to be part of one of the most enduring and beloved rock bands of all time. Check it out.
Also: Dave Grohl, Scott Ian, Wyclef Jean, Lenny Kravitz, Joe Satriani and other celebrity fans weigh in on what Zeppelin meant to them.
Lloyd Sits Down With James Lipton
This past Monday night Bravo aired its most recent episode of the 13-time Emmy-nominated series Inside The Actors Studio, with special guest Golden Globe nominated and renowned actor John Cusack. Host James Lipton asks the quite private actor about growing up in Chicago, his long-time friendship with Entourage star Jeremy Piven, and why he almost didn't take the role of Lloyd Dobler in the 1989 hit Say Anything. Sorry we missed it. If you did too, check the Bravo website for future airings.
This past Monday night Bravo aired its most recent episode of the 13-time Emmy-nominated series Inside The Actors Studio, with special guest Golden Globe nominated and renowned actor John Cusack. Host James Lipton asks the quite private actor about growing up in Chicago, his long-time friendship with Entourage star Jeremy Piven, and why he almost didn't take the role of Lloyd Dobler in the 1989 hit Say Anything. Sorry we missed it. If you did too, check the Bravo website for future airings.
New Breeders LP Set for Spring '08
Pixies bassist and head Breeder Kim Deal in VenusZine:
Pixies bassist and head Breeder Kim Deal in VenusZine:
"The new Breeders record is scheduled to be released in April 2008. There are 13 songs. Mando Lopez is still on bass, Jose Medeles on drums, Kelley Deal, my evil twin, on guitar and vocals, and I'm playing guitar and vocals.
The songs are just songs. But for instance, one song Kelley and I did live. She played stand-up bass and I played acoustic guitar while we sang. Steve Albini taped it live like that. Yet another song has Kelley playing bass and Mando playing rhythm guitar. I'm playing the lead and Kelley and I are singing throughout. On song has Mando playing a lead guitar which Albini then backward masked. One song has three, count 'em, three basses on it..."
Stay tuned.
A Fond Look Back: The Webb Brothers
THE WEBB BROTHERS
Maroon
[Warner Bros-2000]
Sons of legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb ("MacArthur Park", "Wichita Lineman", "By The Time I Get To Phoenix"), Jimmy and Christiaan—who have since added younger brother Justin to the mix—played the Chicago club circuit extensively before going the same route as Jimi Hendrix, Chrissie Hynde and The Strokes: conquer Britain first, then return home as heroes. While things did go rather smoothly in the U.K. (a deal with WEA International; a slot at the Reading festival; hooking up with producer Stephen Street of Smiths and Blur fame), the homeland has not been as kind to the Webb siblings: here in the U.S. they remain virtual unknowns with this full-length release long having languished as a record store bargain bin staple.
The critically lauded Maroon is undeserving of such neglect, for among other things, its catchy, sophisticated pop occasionally suggests a cross between Ben Folds and latter day Flaming Lips (especially on the last third of the album). Lyrically, the Webb Brothers have a finely developed taste for the bittersweet: the hauntingly beautiful "All The Cocaine In The World" takes a "God Only Knows"-type motif and marries it to such musings as "All the cocaine in the world / can’t bring back the girl" (which incidentally, are the song’s entire lyrics). Other highlights include the shoulda-been-a-hit "I Can't Believe You're Gone"; "Are You Happy Now?" and "Marooned".
Engaging and rewarding, Maroon may be just one more in a long line of hidden gems out there, but its dreadful commercial fate does not diminish its power and beauty one bit. Hands down, this is one of our favorites from the current decade. Or any other, for that matter.
[Maroon album cover courtesy of allmusic.com]
12/04/2007
Quote Of The Day
"[Playing live is] what I really love to do. I’m not of a mind to record anymore. There’s no point. Making a record requires me to take all the money that the label advances me and give it to other people—musicians, producers and studio owners—and then I spend six months doing the record company’s job for them because they won’t pay anybody anymore to do the things they used to do like promote and market. Why would I do that when I could be working for myself, opening for Bob Dylan?
Anyway, in terms of recorded music the pact’s been broken –the personal connection between the artist and the listener. MP3 has dismantled the intended shape of an album. And then everything is leaked, everything is stolen. So I play live, it happens in the moment, if I do a new song I might never play it again, and if you’re not there you fuckin’ miss it… "
- Elvis Costello, Mojo magazine, Dec. 2007
We're just going backwards, people...
Anyway, in terms of recorded music the pact’s been broken –the personal connection between the artist and the listener. MP3 has dismantled the intended shape of an album. And then everything is leaked, everything is stolen. So I play live, it happens in the moment, if I do a new song I might never play it again, and if you’re not there you fuckin’ miss it… "
- Elvis Costello, Mojo magazine, Dec. 2007
We're just going backwards, people...
New Releases
This week there's a bunch of reissues out there just in time for gift giving. Among them:
DAVID BOWIE The David Bowie Box [Box Set] (Sony)
JAMES BROWN The Singles, Vol. 4: 1966-1967 (Hip-O Select)
NICK DRAKE Fruit Tree [3CD/1DVD] (Fontana/Island)
N.W.A Straight Outta Compton [20th Anniversary Edition] (Priority)
THE TEARDROP EXPLODES Peel Sessions Plus (Mercury)
This week there's a bunch of reissues out there just in time for gift giving. Among them:
DAVID BOWIE The David Bowie Box [Box Set] (Sony)
JAMES BROWN The Singles, Vol. 4: 1966-1967 (Hip-O Select)
NICK DRAKE Fruit Tree [3CD/1DVD] (Fontana/Island)
N.W.A Straight Outta Compton [20th Anniversary Edition] (Priority)
THE TEARDROP EXPLODES Peel Sessions Plus (Mercury)
12/03/2007
Morrissey Sues NME For Defamation
Moz and the New Music Express are at it again. This time the former Smiths frontman is seeking legal action after he was criticized by the music magazine for allegedly stating in an interview with the publication that he would not return to England because it had lost its identity due to higher immigration levels unlike Germany or Sweden. (After a stint in Los Angeles, Morrissey currently resides in Italy.) He later clarified his statement maintaining that it wasn't immigration but expense and pressure that keep him from moving back to the UK.
During the '80s and '90s Moz was accused of racism due to ambiguous lyrics in the songs "Bengali in Platforms", "National Front Disco" and "Asian Rut", as well as his 1992 performance at London's Finsbury Park [see above] in which he draped himself in the Union Jack—commonly associated with nationalism and the British far right—and used a photograph of two female skinheads as a backdrop. After this performance the NME stated Moz had "left himself in a position where accusations that he's toying with far-right/fascist imagery, and even of racism itself, can no longer just be laughed off with a knowing quip".
On the other hand, the singer's defenders bring up his—predominantly Mexican—Latino following which he has embraced wholeheartedly; his criticism of the rise Austrian far-right politician Jörg Haider and his signing in 2004 of the explicitly anti-fascist Unite Against Fascism statement, are also cited. As for this new fracas, Morrissey's lawyers are already pursuing legal action against the NME for defamation. The magazine has declined to print a retraction or apology.
[NME cover courtesy of Wikipedia.]
The Shortest Ten Minutes: "Three Days"
[Starting with John Coltrane's "My Favorite Things", this series of random postings will be about songs around the 10-minute mark in length that we highly enjoy. Thus, the title for the postings.]
One night in 1988, while listening to the radio in the wee hours, we heard what we unmistakably thought sounded like Jane's Addiction, that band we'd read so much about and were more than curious about finally listening to. We were right: it was their signature tune "Jane Says" and even though this mostly acoustic song did not resemble the art/funk metal that characterizes most of their recorded output, it got us hooked and then some.
As we became enamored with both Nothing's Shocking (Warner Bros-1988) and Ritual de lo Habitual (Warner Bros-1990), the one aspect of the band's various and ear-grabbing sonic details that most impressed us was how Dave Navarro's alternately textured and fiery, virtuoso guitar playing seemed to be the missing link between the Robert Smith/David Ash contingent and the Eddie Van Halens of the world of rock guitar. In a way, we found it to be a kind of continuation of Jimi Hendrix's futuristic approach to both the instrument and the music.
And the best example of this is Ritual's "Three Days" (10:48), a prog-rock influenced masterpiece about a love triangle, that shows off Navarro at his very best. (Check out the 2-minute, six-string fireworks starting at the 4:43 mark and later at 9:37.) Our boundless appreciation for this song is such that quite a few times we've spent more than three days listening to it non-stop. Indeed.
(Kudos to bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins, for their playing throughout, especially the former for the hypnotic bassline that anchors the song's first of three parts.)
[Ritual de lo Habitual cover courtesy of Wikipedia.]
The Glamour [sigh, whine] of Heartbreak or History Lesson Pt.3 (apologies to The Minutemen)
Time to clarify things, boys and girls: Emo is short for emocore, a contraction of emotional hardcore. The idea behind it was to combine aggressive music (hardcore) with soaring, anthemic melodies and introspective, well-written lyrics. (Hence the emotional part). Seattle's Sunny Day Real Estate—1992-95, reformed in 97, broke up in 2001—in our humble opinion, best defines and is the sub-genre's most important latter-day band. (No mention of emo would be complete without early pioneers Fugazi and its frontman Ian MacKaye's Washington DC-based Dischord label, which chronicled the music's nascent scene. The All Music Guide has more on the subject.)
Like punk, emo has become a big deal in the last few years. But something funny happened on the way to the bank: Imagine if the history of rock music—particularly punk—were revised and rewritten, with The Ramones and The Sex Pistols excised from the canon and replaced with Blink 182 instead. This is the parallel that can be drawn to current emo. SDRE is rarely brought up these days—let alone Rites of Spring or the aforementioned Fugazi—despite an absence of little over 5 years past; meanwhile third rate, watered-down posers get to be pseudo avatars. You could say that emo went form being The Cure-on-steroids to Air Supply with distorted-guitars, spiky hairdos, and some of the whiniest, lamest lyrical content heard in recent times. And no, we're not talking about Joan of Arc or Jets to Brazil; more like fratboy favorites Jimmy Eat World and that small army of makeup covered wusses that have unfurled the emo banner as their own. Jeez.
Like punk, emo has become a big deal in the last few years. But something funny happened on the way to the bank: Imagine if the history of rock music—particularly punk—were revised and rewritten, with The Ramones and The Sex Pistols excised from the canon and replaced with Blink 182 instead. This is the parallel that can be drawn to current emo. SDRE is rarely brought up these days—let alone Rites of Spring or the aforementioned Fugazi—despite an absence of little over 5 years past; meanwhile third rate, watered-down posers get to be pseudo avatars. You could say that emo went form being The Cure-on-steroids to Air Supply with distorted-guitars, spiky hairdos, and some of the whiniest, lamest lyrical content heard in recent times. And no, we're not talking about Joan of Arc or Jets to Brazil; more like fratboy favorites Jimmy Eat World and that small army of makeup covered wusses that have unfurled the emo banner as their own. Jeez.
Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 Is A Genius
Yes, Caitlin "U.S. Americans" Upton is a candidate for NASA rocket scientist recruitment compared to 21 year-old American Idol finalist and country music singer Kellie Pickler, for whom branding with the saying "dumber than dirt" should inspire us all to apologize to dust bunnies and their kin everywhere. (This is the same girl US Weekly magazine called Kellie: The Next Jessica Simpson, due to her "sweet Southern style and ditzy demeanor". Ouch. (By the way, Upton recently signed with Donald Trump's modeling agency and stands to make some $30K/day from modeling assignments. Atheists: we don't share your views but we understand. Yes, we understand.)
Here's the sad, sad proof of Pickler's ignorance:
Here's the sad, sad proof of Pickler's ignorance:
11/30/2007
Here’s A Thought…
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike for almost a month, looking for a percentage of movies and shows via internet, DVD and new technology revenue streams in general. Last night they rejected an offer from Hollywood studios and networks—the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers—which would add 130 million to the 1.3 billion they annually pay writers. In other words, 10% more of what they’re already making. Now, if we understand this correctly, the writers just want their fair share of the new media pie, not an extra 10% flat fee. So this offer smells like an attempt by the studios to buy the writers off before they discover how much money Hollywood is really making off them. After all, these are the same studios that bitterly complained about how much money they had to pony up to A-list movie stars and then did more of the same when the stars made even more loot when they decided to forgo their salaries and take a backend percentage of the profits instead. In other words, they always want to have it both ways. And this particular instance of hemming and hawing smells quite fishy.
Here’s the thing: if you add to new media revenue streams ad integration—blatant advertising of a product or service within the plot of a show—and free content streamed with accompanying high-priced advertising—an everyday thing on network websites—we suspect perhaps the networks don’t want these negotiations to uncover how much they actually charge advertisers and furthermore that they might even be overcharging them for these spots. Could it be?
Hmm…
The Writers Guild of America has been on strike for almost a month, looking for a percentage of movies and shows via internet, DVD and new technology revenue streams in general. Last night they rejected an offer from Hollywood studios and networks—the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers—which would add 130 million to the 1.3 billion they annually pay writers. In other words, 10% more of what they’re already making. Now, if we understand this correctly, the writers just want their fair share of the new media pie, not an extra 10% flat fee. So this offer smells like an attempt by the studios to buy the writers off before they discover how much money Hollywood is really making off them. After all, these are the same studios that bitterly complained about how much money they had to pony up to A-list movie stars and then did more of the same when the stars made even more loot when they decided to forgo their salaries and take a backend percentage of the profits instead. In other words, they always want to have it both ways. And this particular instance of hemming and hawing smells quite fishy.
Here’s the thing: if you add to new media revenue streams ad integration—blatant advertising of a product or service within the plot of a show—and free content streamed with accompanying high-priced advertising—an everyday thing on network websites—we suspect perhaps the networks don’t want these negotiations to uncover how much they actually charge advertisers and furthermore that they might even be overcharging them for these spots. Could it be?
Hmm…
Deluxe Edition Thriller in ‘08
Although it was released in late 1982, Epic Records will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s landmark album Thriller, with a February 2008 re-release including remixes by Kanye West ("Billie Jean”), will.i.am ("Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", "The Girl Is Mine", "P.Y.T.") and Akon, who will also rework "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" on his own. Among the extras are the unreleased track "For All Time," personally mixed and mastered by Jackson; his original "Billie Jean" demo; and the rarities "Someone in the Dark" and "Carousel." There will also be a bonus DVD with the "Thriller", "Beat It" and "Billie Jean" videos, plus Jackson's performance of the latter from the 1983 NBC special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever where the world first witnessed his famous “moonwalk” dance move.
[Thriller artwork courtesy of allmusic.com]
Jazz For Dummies
Actually, Glorious Noise has a very informative essay and essentials list aimed at rock fans--who many jazz snobs would consider the same thing as dummies. Yes, I'm looking at you Wynton--interested in learning more about the history of what is called America's classical music. (Not so sure the "smooth jazz" sound of Acoustic Alchemy counts, though.) Highly recommended.
11/28/2007
Crazy Idea of the Day
[The Concert for Kampuchea has never been released on CD. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.]
According to Billboard, "As of Oct. 28, vinyl albums have scanned 766,000 units--up 22.4% from the 612,000 units scanned in the corresponding period last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. What's more, vinyl is outselling the cassette album, which has scanned 247,000 units year to date, by a little more than 3-to-1. But the vinyl album still consists of only 0.02% of total album sales. In contrast, digital sales are now 10.7% of album sales and increasing."
We're glad to see vinyl sales are rising--anything with better fidelity than mp3s is solid in our book--but is this a hipster-fueled trend or an honet-to-goodness alternate take on purchasing and enjoying music? Hopefully the latter.
As for those of you wondering what the above quote is referring to in terms of cassette albums, we'll have you know that for about a year or so before going under, the downtown NYC Tower Records location was doing relatively brisk busines selling pre-recorded cassettes @ 3 for $10. I was told "people going on road trips" were the format's main consumers. (It would seem most of the cars currently on the road are from the '90s and have cassette-based stereos.)
But back to our original premise, the aforementioned crazy idea, here it is:
According to Billboard, "As of Oct. 28, vinyl albums have scanned 766,000 units--up 22.4% from the 612,000 units scanned in the corresponding period last year, according to Nielsen SoundScan. What's more, vinyl is outselling the cassette album, which has scanned 247,000 units year to date, by a little more than 3-to-1. But the vinyl album still consists of only 0.02% of total album sales. In contrast, digital sales are now 10.7% of album sales and increasing."
We're glad to see vinyl sales are rising--anything with better fidelity than mp3s is solid in our book--but is this a hipster-fueled trend or an honet-to-goodness alternate take on purchasing and enjoying music? Hopefully the latter.
As for those of you wondering what the above quote is referring to in terms of cassette albums, we'll have you know that for about a year or so before going under, the downtown NYC Tower Records location was doing relatively brisk busines selling pre-recorded cassettes @ 3 for $10. I was told "people going on road trips" were the format's main consumers. (It would seem most of the cars currently on the road are from the '90s and have cassette-based stereos.)
But back to our original premise, the aforementioned crazy idea, here it is:
What if EVERYONE decided from now on to release their music in vinyl format only? No CDs, no digital downloads. What do you think would happen?
New Black Crowes in '08
Warpaint is the title of the next Black Crowes album, which will be released on March 4th, via the band's Silver Arrow label. The album will mark the debut of new guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars and keyboardist Adam MacDougall.
Track listing for Warpaint:
"Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"
"Walk Believer Walk"
"O, Josephine"
"Evergreen"
"We Who See The Deep"
"Locust Street"
"Movin' on Down the Line"
"Wounded Bird"
"God's Got It"
"There's Gold in Them Hills"
"Whoa Mule"
Warpaint is the title of the next Black Crowes album, which will be released on March 4th, via the band's Silver Arrow label. The album will mark the debut of new guitarist Luther Dickinson of the North Mississippi All Stars and keyboardist Adam MacDougall.
Track listing for Warpaint:
"Goodbye Daughters of the Revolution"
"Walk Believer Walk"
"O, Josephine"
"Evergreen"
"We Who See The Deep"
"Locust Street"
"Movin' on Down the Line"
"Wounded Bird"
"God's Got It"
"There's Gold in Them Hills"
"Whoa Mule"
11/27/2007
The Shortest Ten Minutes: "My Favorite Things"
Actually, it’s more like 15 minutes—13:45, to be exact—but John Coltrane’s re-interpretation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “My Favorite Things” is one of our favorite things in the whole wide world. Just thought we’d share that with you…
[My Favorite Things cover courtesy of allmusic.com]
First Ellen, Now Tool, um, Carson
Late night talk show host Carson Daly will join comedienne and fellow talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in crossing the Writers Guild of America picket line as he begins to start taping new episodes of his lame-ass gabfest for the Aberzombie + Bitch crowd this week.
Spokespeople for Carson--a non-member of the WGA, unlike DeGeneres--did not disclose if the new shows will start airing next Monday or Tuesday or who his guests will be. The WGA has yet to comment on the matter.
Late night talk show host Carson Daly will join comedienne and fellow talk show host Ellen DeGeneres in crossing the Writers Guild of America picket line as he begins to start taping new episodes of his lame-ass gabfest for the Aberzombie + Bitch crowd this week.
Spokespeople for Carson--a non-member of the WGA, unlike DeGeneres--did not disclose if the new shows will start airing next Monday or Tuesday or who his guests will be. The WGA has yet to comment on the matter.
New Releases
Among today's newbies and reissues are:
SEBASTIAN BACH Angel Down (Get Off My Bach/MRV/Caroline)
BORIS/MERZBOW Rock Dream (Southern Lord)
LED ZEPPELIN The Song Remains the Same [bonus tracks] (Atlantic/Swan Song)
U2 The Joshua Tree: 20th Anniversary [2 CD/DVD] (Island)
VARIOUS ARTISTS The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium (Rhino)
Among today's newbies and reissues are:
SEBASTIAN BACH Angel Down (Get Off My Bach/MRV/Caroline)
BORIS/MERZBOW Rock Dream (Southern Lord)
LED ZEPPELIN The Song Remains the Same [bonus tracks] (Atlantic/Swan Song)
U2 The Joshua Tree: 20th Anniversary [2 CD/DVD] (Island)
VARIOUS ARTISTS The Brit Box: U.K. Indie, Shoegaze, and Brit-Pop Gems of the Last Millennium (Rhino)
11/20/2007
Chili Peppers Sue Showtime Over Californication
[Californication's Hank Moody, played by David Ducovny. Photo courtesy of Showtime.]
This morning on the subway we came across an ad for a local NYC FM station that has mounted a campaign to remind their listeners that they are back with the rock—after a brief spell as a talk radio station—and have featured Green Day and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in their billboards. As we looked at one of these featuring the latter we once again found ourselves wondering how an exciting, riveting band had managed to turn into mediocre pap so quickly. Kinda like John Mayer with a James Brown fetish.
These thoughts were still with us when we came across the band’s lawsuit against Showtime for calling their new hit show, starring David Ducovny, Californication, which is also the title of a 1999 multi-platinum RHCP album. Lead singer Anthony Kiedis: “For some TV show to come along and steal our identity is not right.” Jeez. It’s called Californication, not Red Hot Chili Peppers, dumb ass.
Is this what it's come to? In the words of the great John McEnroe, are you serious?! Stay tuned.
11/15/2007
Road Trip?
by Jeff Kent
People, it's on. Dust off your tremolo pedals, don your best pair of kicks, and get ready to gaze like its 1991. The time has come to announce a return to the live stage for a little band called My Bloody Valentine. The news comes fresh off Kevin Shields' confirmation that the massively influential shoegazers are indeed back together, and follows months of speculation about a MBV live return. But you want details, don't you? Well, UK residents, you're in luck.
Of the three reunion shows My Bloody Valentine have revealed thus far, precisely 100% of them occur in your fair land. London, Manchester, and Glasgow can look forward to blissing out to the sweet undulations of "To Here Knows When" and getting floored by the noise freakout on "You Made Me Realise" in late spring/early summer 2008. Not on the itinerary right now: Coachella. The performances are being presented by our pals at All Tomorrow's Parties.
And if Shields wasn't pulling a fast one last week, we have plenty more to look forward to from the Valentines in 2008. Actually, we're supposed to get a new album this year, but seeing as it's mid-November already, we won't be too terribly shocked if that doesn't happen. Apparently another disc is in the works too. Welcome back, guys. We still love ya.
My Bloody Valentine tour dates (for now):
06/20 - London, England
06/28 - Manchester, England
07/02 - Glasgow, Scotland
Finally, He Put That Tongue to Proper Use!
"The record industry doesn't have a f---ing clue how to make money. It's only their fault for letting foxes get into the henhouse and then wondering why there's no eggs or chickens. Every little college kid, every freshly-scrubbed little kid's face should have been sued off the face of the earth. They should have taken their houses and cars and nipped it right there in the beginning. Those kids are putting 100,000 to a million people out of work. How can you pick on them? They've got freckles. That's a crook. He may as well be wearing a bandit's mask.
Doesn't affect me. But imagine being a new band with dreams of getting on stage and putting out your own record. Forget it."
Those of you that are long-time "5" readers know that, to put it mildly, there is very little common ground we share with Kiss bassist/vocalist and all-around cringemeister Gene Simmons. But we've got to say, while we don't agree wholesale with the methodology espoused in his above remarks to the Reuters news service about the current state of the music business, we're not gonna argue with the spirit of it. Maybe he'll start some serious and productive discussions on the subject at hand and how to salvage some of it. Nah, probably not.
Here's the rest of the interview.
Doesn't affect me. But imagine being a new band with dreams of getting on stage and putting out your own record. Forget it."
Those of you that are long-time "5" readers know that, to put it mildly, there is very little common ground we share with Kiss bassist/vocalist and all-around cringemeister Gene Simmons. But we've got to say, while we don't agree wholesale with the methodology espoused in his above remarks to the Reuters news service about the current state of the music business, we're not gonna argue with the spirit of it. Maybe he'll start some serious and productive discussions on the subject at hand and how to salvage some of it. Nah, probably not.
Here's the rest of the interview.
Why?
Matchbox Twenty have returned after a 4-year hiatus, touring behind their recently released greatest hits collection, the oh-so cleverly titled Exile on Mainstream. (As if their fans would ever figure out the lame pun to begin with. Sheesh. By the way, how the mighty have fallen: Alanis Morrissette is the opening act on the above tour. Uh-huh. Isn't it ironic? No, more like sad, actually.)
Meanwhile, former Kid Rock DJ Uncle Kracker--wasn't that the name of the dude Terence and Phillip made fun of in the South Park movie? No? It should've been--has been allegedly hard at work on a new album for an early 2008 release date. Dude, please.
Matchbox Twenty have returned after a 4-year hiatus, touring behind their recently released greatest hits collection, the oh-so cleverly titled Exile on Mainstream. (As if their fans would ever figure out the lame pun to begin with. Sheesh. By the way, how the mighty have fallen: Alanis Morrissette is the opening act on the above tour. Uh-huh. Isn't it ironic? No, more like sad, actually.)
Meanwhile, former Kid Rock DJ Uncle Kracker--wasn't that the name of the dude Terence and Phillip made fun of in the South Park movie? No? It should've been--has been allegedly hard at work on a new album for an early 2008 release date. Dude, please.
McCartney Say Beatles Going Digital in 2008
According to Billboard, Macca says the Beatles catalog will be available for digital download next year. Fine. But how about remastering--and, in some cases, remixing--the material before taking that step? It's not like the CD versions are that great sounding to begin with. And digital downloads generally being of even lesser audio quality, the possibility of turd-sounding versions of these classic songs becoming available--or worse yet, definitive versions--is a scary prospect indeed. Hope not.
According to Billboard, Macca says the Beatles catalog will be available for digital download next year. Fine. But how about remastering--and, in some cases, remixing--the material before taking that step? It's not like the CD versions are that great sounding to begin with. And digital downloads generally being of even lesser audio quality, the possibility of turd-sounding versions of these classic songs becoming available--or worse yet, definitive versions--is a scary prospect indeed. Hope not.
Eels Will Offer Motherlode of Tracks To Fans
On Jan. 15th Geffen will release Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996 - 2006, a retrospective encompassing their years on the label. (The band is currently signed to indie Vagrant Records.) In addition, on the same day, a 50-song collection of b-sides and rarities called Useless Trinkets will be released, with individual liner notes written by head Eel Mark Everett, better known as "E".
On Jan. 15th Geffen will release Meet the Eels: Essential Eels Vol. 1, 1996 - 2006, a retrospective encompassing their years on the label. (The band is currently signed to indie Vagrant Records.) In addition, on the same day, a 50-song collection of b-sides and rarities called Useless Trinkets will be released, with individual liner notes written by head Eel Mark Everett, better known as "E".
11/14/2007
[Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth onstage at MSG, Nov. 13th, 2007. Photo courtesy of AP.]
Heard About It Later
Due to a not altogether uncommon bout of major procrastination, we found ourselves standing in line for 4 hours (!) in the cancellation line attempting to obtain tickets for the Nov. 13th lone Van Halen Madison Square Garden appearance on their current pseudo reunion tour (although, by all accounts, 16 year-old Wolfgang Van Halen has handled his replacing of original bassist/vocalist Michael Anthony admirably). At the ticket window, with only 6 fellow concertgoers in front of us, our plans to catch the mighty VH that evening were sadly and irreversibly thwarted. Maybe next time.
Rolling Stone was there, though. And despite their misgivings with the sound they generally rave about the show, calling it "better than anything they’ve given us since the first Reagan administration." Damn.
11/12/2007
Yes!
My Bloody Valentine leader Kevin Shields announced last week that the seminal '90s band has not only reunited but are working on album for an early 2008 release. "It sounds like what we sounded like, different but not radically different. People will go, 'Yeah, it sounds like My Bloody Valentine.'" MBV have not released an album since the groundbreaking Loveless in 1991.
[Above, MBV's classic lineup. Clockwise from top right: Kevin Shields, Debbie Googe, Colm O'Ciosoig, Bilinda Butcher. Photo courtesy wikipedia.org]
My Bloody Valentine leader Kevin Shields announced last week that the seminal '90s band has not only reunited but are working on album for an early 2008 release. "It sounds like what we sounded like, different but not radically different. People will go, 'Yeah, it sounds like My Bloody Valentine.'" MBV have not released an album since the groundbreaking Loveless in 1991.
[Above, MBV's classic lineup. Clockwise from top right: Kevin Shields, Debbie Googe, Colm O'Ciosoig, Bilinda Butcher. Photo courtesy wikipedia.org]
Metal Machine Marketing?
The once considered unlistenable/avant garde/contractual obligation kiss-off/experimental detour--take your pick--Metal Machine Music has not only experienced a critical revival of sorts--it was once labeled the worst album ever made--but now Lou Reed's 1975 epic, double album has been classically transcribed by avant garde ensemble Zeitkratzer with Lou's blessing. PopMatters sat down with Mr. New York and asked for his thoughts on his original work and his opinion of this new reinterpretation.
[Album cover courtesy of allmusic.com]
New Weezer Album Release Date Announced
The content of the latest musical adventures of Rivers, Brian, Scott and Pat, will be known to the world at large on April 22, 2008. This, their sixth album, is yet to be titled.
In the meantime, get your fix with Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, its title, of course, highly self-explanatory. Release date is December 11th on DGC.
The content of the latest musical adventures of Rivers, Brian, Scott and Pat, will be known to the world at large on April 22, 2008. This, their sixth album, is yet to be titled.
In the meantime, get your fix with Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo, its title, of course, highly self-explanatory. Release date is December 11th on DGC.
Quote of the Day
"Not sure how enthusiastic the support would be if they realized that bringing back Miki Berenyi would deliver a 40-year-old office employee with graying hair who's still struggling to shift the weight from her last pregnancy."
- Lush frontwoman Miki Berenyi on the slim chances of her beloved '90s dream pop outfit reuniting.
- Lush frontwoman Miki Berenyi on the slim chances of her beloved '90s dream pop outfit reuniting.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)