10 Songs: Friday, january 16th, 2015
You Send Me – Swamp Dogg – Part jazz, part funk, mr. Dogg wails it into the bayou and twists his voice till it sounds like a sax and the whole thing sounds like he is being sent to the bottom of the river – B+
Must See: Snoop And Diddy, January 2015
Hot 97 Presents: The Tip-Off starring Puff Daddy & Snoop Dogg on February 12 th. 2015. A Thursday, which isn’t a Friday but isn’t a Sunday either. And the chance to see two legends, one of whom stands as the inventor of modern hip hop and the other one of the great voices of rap.
50 Shades Of Whatever: The Soundtrack Album Playlist
Excuse the second hand psychology, but the lesson here is yes what gets women off is billionaire male models telling them what to do and not love’s first kiss. Oh, also boring music.
US Top 10 Albums 1-24-15
Tay nearing the 4 million mark and with “Style” making its way up the singles chart, I bet she adds another 2 million to it AND THAT IS LOCAL. The only new sign of life is Rae Sremmurd, who are kinda fun in their only little way. What else? Next week should see the end of the 1989 at the top after nine weeks -I think Mark or Meghan will unseat her. Stay tuned…
US Top 10 Singles 1-24-15
Sure, I went with Billboard’s great picture but I think I wanna take five minutes to praise my God liike genius in claiming “Thinking Out Loud” was the one when I noticed it during a first listen of X. Yes, folks I am the King Of The Pop Universe. and Ed Sheeran owes me (and Taylor) big time.
10 Songs: Thursday, January 15th, 2015
Peg – Donny Osmond – Completely credible cover with a stellar set of session men (especially whoever is playing lead guitar) behind him and Donny’s soulful take on the Steely Dan classic; Donny is having a whale of a time – A-
Shinobi Ninja’s “Artistic Vision” Reviewed
Never before have they got a song on record as great as the eight minute guitar rock tour de force “Honey Trap”. Not just a standout on the EP, the guitar solo is just… it is amazing, it is pure melody taking over your brain while the band harmonize in the back of the track like a wall of sign.
Shinobi Ninja’s “Artistic Visions” Reviewed
Never before have they got a song on record as great as the eight minute guitar rock tour de force “Honey Trap”. Not just a standout on the EP, the guitar solo is just… it is amazing, it is pure melody taking over your brain while the band harmonize in the back of the track like a wall of sign.
Recorded, Slideshow, Upcoming Releases
Chuck Berry’s 16 CD Everything He Ever Recorded In One Place!
If rock and roll had another name blah blah bloody blah blah, either you are losing your mind over this or you don’t know enough about rock and roll. No way, man, this is heaven. Wanna know what to buy me? Buy me this and then leave me alone for a mo
Must See: Snoop And Diddy, January 2015
Hot 97 Presents: The Tip-Off starring Puff Daddy & Snoop Dogg on February 12 th. 2015. A Thursday, which isn’t a Friday but isn’t a Sunday either. And the chance to see two legends, one of whom stands as the inventor of modern hip hop and the other one of the great voices of rap.
The Village Voice Pazz And Jop Poll 2014: Useless
The rock critic establishment of the US (and abroad bu this is NOT a UK list, believe me) have the same consensus as the individual website, lockstep into the ether, bereft of much more than the hive mentality, or do I mean intelligence?
50 Shades Of Whatever: The Soundtrack Album Playlist
Excuse the second hand psychology, but the lesson here is yes what gets women off is billionaire male models telling them what to do and not love’s first kiss. Oh, also boring music.
Recorded, Slideshow
Last Call: Final Songs On Album Releases 1-5-15
It sounds like synth pop with stronger melodies and more smarts than you might epect, the synth soars and a piano motif plays on another track, the entire thing is so lovely and the singer Leanne Macomber is etheral in a good one. It is from the album of the week – A
10 Songs: Wednesday, January 14th, 2015
Squeeze me – N.E.R.D. – A kids song, right? It is like a nursery rhyme set on the high seas and very addictive, vey roiling and rolling with a quirky feel to it but completely enjoyable as well. From “SpongeBob The Movie” – A-
Be Here Now: First Reviews Of New Album Releases, January 13th, 2015
Title – Meghan Trainor – People are a little indifferent to this because it is more of the same. But the same it is more of is completely unique, catchy, doo woppy witty songs of love, near love, close to love, and drummers – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A
Album Reviews, Recorded, Slideshow
Sleater Kinney, Belle And Sebastian, And Viet Cong REALLY REALLY Early Review
There may be worse ways to review albums than on your work PC, with the sound low, while you do other things. If you know what they are, please send me a little message because I can’t imagine what it is. So consider this the before the first review review, a true sneak peak, a listen and learn a little experience…
Charlie Hebdo: Political Cartoonists As Rock And Roll Stars
At “Charlie Hebdo” the brutality of extremism went up against the freedom of political satirists and extremism lost as the world as one gasped in repugnance. How rock and roll can you get.
That Was The Week That Was: January 5th, 2015
After the murder of twelve cartoonists and members of the editorial board of the satiric French magazine “Charlie Hebdo”, the world mostly recoiled, and then Les Flics hunted the terrorists down and it ended up in a bloody shoot out leaving four hostages and two terrorists dead. The moral here is the pen is mightier than the sword unless, of course, somebody has a sword.
Lauryn Hill Small Axe, Large Prices
That’s right, the cheapest ticket is $125. What world do you pay $125 to hear this hoarse nitwit perform whenever she can be bothered. Lauryn Hill is delusional and this won’t help in the slightest. Forget it refugee…
10 Songs Tuesday, January 13th, 2015
Ain’t That A Kick In The Head – Dean Martin – Like the fella once said, right? Romance as a shocker and Dino manages to sound like a man on a spinning top, swinging from the rafters pop stroking home dreams tuff. The concept? Love makes him sick!- A
Interview, News, Slideshow
Interview: Hollie Cook Brings Tropical Pop Warmth To Frozen New York City
Her pleasure is a songwriting purism if not indeed puritanism. She loves writing melodies. “I’m melody driven, that is usually the root where most of my ideas come from. I start with piano or guitar, more guitar, I’m very limited, I’m self-taught, as an instrumentalist really, but guitar will usually suffice.
Charts, Slideshow, UK Top 10 Singles
UK Top 10 Singles 1-17-15
I once spent my Christmas holiday in the UK island Jersey, and it was a small hotel and for a week all the guests were best of friends but then it was over and everyone went their own way. But I ran into the couple purely by accident a couple of weeks later at home, and that’s exactly what the charts feel like in the third week of January. People you’re over.
Charts, Slideshow, UK Top 10 Albums
UK top 10 Albums 10-17-15
I just gave Hozier another spin. Maybe I underestimated his voice a little, and the giggle at funerals line is a good one, but I can’t hear anything else as being much ore than Gospel tinged folkieness. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike it at all but I can’t feel anything much more stronger than a lack of contempt. How did it catch on?
10 Songs: Monday, January 12th, 2015
I am not convinced. No, not unpleasant at all, but the song is a weak, lame, ethereal thing. It doesn’t hook and the lyric doesn’t help: “Love me like you do, what’re you waiting for” goes the chorus and it is even worse than you think. Pop by a confederacy of dunces – C-
David Cassidy At BB Kings, Saturday, January 10th, 2015, Reviewed
When he is being insincere he remains sincere. There is a forthright emotional tug on “Doesn’t Somebody Want To Be Wanted”, even the spoken word part where he is trying to sound insincere. I really admire the way he enunciates, the way he interprets every word, how he pours himself into his song.
A Band Even Worse Than The Eagles, Toto, Returns with New Album
It sounds worse than it reads. It is terrifyingly terrible. Toto are stupendously overblown. If punk rock didn’t exist it would have to be invented to blow this vloated pop off the face of the earth. It makes U2 sound like the Ramones.
Sneak Peaks: Upcoming Album Releases Week Of January 13th, 2015
considering there are only five albums here, three of them, the last three, are must owns and first among equals is the eagerly awaited came changer for David Bronson. It is hard to guess in this day and age whether an album will find its target audience, but if Bronson does get his songs where they need to be, he will break into the mainstream with Questions.
Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of January 12th, 2015
The Tomas Doncker Band, purveyors of rock nyc’s Album Of The Year, with jazz wild guy Manu Koch and Filton M, perform two sets at the Iridium, Times Square citadel of cool on Wednesday. this looks like the first “wow” gig of the year and shouldn’t be missed.
Medium Cool: Best TV Guest Week of 1-12-15
Why the peanut farmer former POTUS you ask? Because he is giving Bob Dylan this year’s Musicares Award and while I had my doubt as to Jimmy as far as presidents go, I sure don’t hate him. It is hard being the president, really it is. JFK was a great President, Clinton was a great President, but Carter? Well, at least he’s a Dylan fan.
10 Songs: Sunday, January 11th, 2015
Riding With Elvis – The Plastic Pals – Despite the reference, and despite the tie in to 80IF, this isn’t rockabilly or Americana, it is classic rock with jingle jangle guitars which seem to be in the backseat for the longest time, trying to crawl over the seat, till they finally jump through at the end – B
Billy Joel At Madison Square Garden, Friday, January 9th, 2014, Reviewed
At 65 years old and a year deep into the MSG , Guinness Book of Records heading stand and he might not be the frisky pitbull of old, when he delivers a full, taking the mic stand and singing at the tip of the stage “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” the man is still enthralling
Singles Going Steady: Week of January 5th, 2015
Wherever Is Your Heart – Brandi Carlisle – Nice strummy track by an arriveste country songwriter with the gift. This is a moving track, and I guess 2015 will find a new album finally – A-
The A+ List: 1-10-15
Talk To You – The Small Faces – This is Steve Marriott feeling his way to the soul singer he would be a little later, he isn’t at “Little Tin Soldier” levels but he has the chops for it, and on this piece of garage soul, he seems miles from psychedelia but not miles from the Stones circa 12 x 5, less cool and more heart.
No Pop, Classic Rock Or Reggae At Music Fest 2015
You’d expect it to be a snapshot of current popular music, not really so involved in demo, or hipness, but an overview, with battling POV bands, something for everyone. But it isn’t. Where is pop music, country, hip hop, reggae and classic rock.
10 Songs: Saturday, January 10th, 2015
That is Crystal Torres singing back up and she sounds excellent, better still is the mid rap, lots of ratter splatter fast , “Keep it metal gear solid, lead the leaders, that’s how you file it, then clobber it / Low on energy, find peach cobbler then gobble it,” Good advice as well – A-
SummerStage & Santa Monica Pier Twilight Concert Series Preview Showcase, Thursday, January 8th, 2015, Reviewed
Hollie’s gift is her melody and her temperament, watching her is like being accosted by a sunflower, is perfect for what she does. The tunes are sweet, light, but they get you there, and songs like “Desdemona”, “99” and set opener “Ari Up”
The Everly Brothers Is A Foreign Country
The tenderness of the Everly Brothers, a song like the gentle river flowing “Devoted To You” or the birth of romantic love “Till I Kissed You”, the eternal love song “Let It Be Me” is from a foreign country. Our music isn’t this gentle any more, melodies don’t dig so deep. It’s foreign to us.
Anna Kendrick Becomes A Broadway Star In “Into the Woods”
For “Into The Woods” she is Cinderella as an ordinary girl but her singing was out of the ordinary and it was the singing that pushes her out of the cinders, away from the Prince’s provocation. Prince Charming is found in song and not in person. That is the moral of the story, it is that you are not alone through song.
Bono’s Contemptible Success
With U2’s first top 30 single since, ahem, 1991, with “Every breaking Wave” –surely one of the seven signs the world has come to an end, rock nyc is taking a moratorium on being mean to Bono till his hand is fully (or as fully as it is gonna be) healed.
The rock nyc Grading System Explained
Controversy reigns here at New York over the rock nyc grading system, I get accosted in the streets, and at night clubs, gay bars, nude beaches, and Michelin approved restaurants and there is only one question: what the heck is with these grades? They make no sense…
rock nyc Top 10 Songs Week of January 5th, 2015
I was once in the back of the family car and this motorbike went flying in front of us and then maybe five minutes later we drove by this big crash, and I looked out the window and the guy was on the ground, on his side, head crushed, blood gushing out. I couldn’t stop looking. That’s the way I feel about this Kid rock song.
10 Songs: Friday, January 9th, 2015
Perfect Storm – Brad Paisley – A big song off a big ham, this takes classic rock umph, 60s guitar and country twang and does not much with it… except get him to the top of the country charts – B-
US Top Singles 1 – 17 -15
The only excuse for Bruno Mars is huge sales, without huge sales he ceases to be anything at all, but with huge sales he comes a beacon of populist r&b, a Michael Jackson disciple, a true star. “Uptown Funl” is too derivitative up to the place where it hits the top of the charts. After that it is just right.
US Top 10 Albums 1-17-15
I am happily surprised to see “Into The Woods” in the top 10. Sure, it won’t do much compared to “Frozen” but it sure ain’t easy listening and I am just very pleased to note that enough people cared enough to listen. Sondheim is a great and every kid who could hear it and bought it, is better for it.
10 Songs: Thursday, January 8th, 2015
Two Cents – Alysha Umphrees – A nice little dis cabaret track, “I’m betting your two cents makes no sense at all” is the punchline. The piano sounds like it escaped from Diana Krall’s All For You – B+
Governors Ball 2015 Line Up: Again, Where Is That One Huge Band?
Well, it is better than Coachella and certainly closer. It is a lot like Coachella though they do tend to miss one big name and , they tend to leave off one big name till later in the year. Even so something is left to be desired.
Don’t Miss: City Parks Foundation’s Summer Preview Tomorrow, January 8th, 2015
The great thing about the Summerstage teaser in the wilds of winter in nyc is not just, or even necessarily, the performers at the City Parks Foundations annual early showcase, but the promise of a summer yet to come, as the really cold, dreary weather settles into your bones
Whatever Happened To Coachella?
None of them can come close. Jack White is playing MSG later this month and he couldn’t fill that, AC/DC can sell out an Arena, sure, but a stadium? I don’t think. You might expect at least one huge name. A Springsteen, or U2… McCartney, something to blast it over the top, but you won’t find it
Laura Marling Talks About Her New Album (Not To Us, Of course)
“America induces this fear in me. It’s so vast and so complicated. I feel like I’m here as a weird voyeur, watching it in a really strange way to make sense of it. Like the landscape of the desert, then you go four hours further north and you’re in the lush mountainous forests. You feel dwarfed by the country”
Mark Ronson Talks (Just Not to Us)
“We did 45 takes of it and I just couldn’t get it, it sounded like horrible bullshit, so we went to lunch, walked down to a restaurant. Everyone was saying: ‘Dude, what’s wrong with you? You’ve gone totally white.’”