10 Songs: Saturday, September 13th, 2014
Good Man – Lee Brice – A professional country good ol’ boy who can pour the songs out for the likes of Garth Brooks and here with a sturdy backbone on a nothing song – B-
The A+ List 9-12-14
An iteration after the birth of rock, they should have come from Liverpool but were actually from Texas and a rock group in the same way the Beatles were a rock group and a pop group the same way the Beatles were a pop, “Julie”, a sweet and sexy and youthful and yearning pop song I first met when Marshall Crenshaw covered it, though I’m happy to have followed full to the original. It sounds like innocence lost in every sense.
What Do you Get When You Add The Cro Mags To Bad Brains? Good regulations
There is something so good natured about this concept,though you can see where they are going with it neurofibromatosis refers to a number of inherited conditions that are clinically and genetically distinct and carry a high risk of tumor formation, particularly in the brain
Silverstein Sign To Rise Records
Strangers in town Helen Bach and Mary Rudzis were writing about them constantly a coupla years ago . The Canadian Hardcore slash emo band go from a whisper to a scream forever and while it is true their finest moment remains a cover of “Runaway” that is easily the greatest Kanye cover of all time, they can maintain your interest album after album.
Arena Rock And Tom Petty
From far away Petty seems to be phoning in but up close it isn’t like that at all: he is almost physically aversed to the largest gestures, he keeps the band and himself in check and it simply doesn’t project. However, I am sure Margaret disagreed so hang loose for her full review
Singers With Lotsa Money
I got this from New York so if the info kinda sucks blame them not me, I’d just adding the rude comment because if somebody is worth $500M it is almost are constitutional right to sneer at em. Anyway here is the USAs best paid singers. Ssomebody once said, adversity makes the man, prosperity makes the monster and so, with no further ado, the Mistress of the Little Monsters
10 Songs: Friday, September 12th, 2014
U Know – Prince – I haven’t been overwhelmed by Prince’s recordings for a couple of years (and the last time I saw him live he wasn’t on his game) but this is one of his better hot sizzle slow r&b jams – B+
How many Downloads For The New U2? And Does It Matter?
Consider the new U2 album the Village Voice of rock. When I used to have to pay a coupla of bucks for VV I would read it cover to cover but once it became free, I treated it with indifference. If it didn’t cost anything, what exactly was its value to me?
rock nyc's Top 10 Songs Week of September 8th, 2014
Wow, some week right? U2 alone would be enough to keep the rock world on its toes, but if you add just about every major musician from Justin to Julian and back it makes for one of the more remarkable week s of rock and roll known to man. I am not sure when and if the U2 will cloick with me but so far not that much…
US Top 10 Singles: 9-20-14
Another terrific list and while I love “Bass” my jam is “Title” which they should pull off the EP right now, I’m waiting. As for Tay, she has hit the milie mark and she could be back at # 1 if she’d let the streaming service have access to it. Otherwise, there is nothing I dislike here and lots I love.
US Top 10 Albums 9-20-14
OK, let me simplify this for you pop pickers: What is the admittedly magnificent Legend doing back on the charts again… Well apparently the Google Play Store discounted it to a dollar the holla and so the 30 year old standard bearer for all Greatest Hits albums managed to move 41K units. And the moral is self-evident, if you make the price of albums love enough they will in fact self. Even albums everyody should have by now. The reason the MP3 is losing the war is because they are too damn expensive. What part of there is no distribution and manufacturing costs are people not getting.
10 Songs: Thursday, September 11th, 2014
Sun Down – Tricky – With a fine young singer named Tirzah, on a song that sounds as much Portishead as Tricky or Massive Attack, the echoed beat is invaluable and the mood so completely 2014 it is as if r&b caught up with him – B+
U2's "Songs Of Innocence" Reviewed
Horizon was a terrible album and Songs of Innocence isn’t. There is something disquieting and a little disturbed about it. U2s stories of innocence isn’t giving them much pleasure. It isn’t a happy album. Perhaps because when it gets past punk and surf, it finds a dead mother, priest pedophiles and bloody Sundays.
The Art Of McCartney Tribute Album Reviewed (Though We've Only Heard One Song)
Here is a little clue for all you pop pickers. If a buncha tier ones get together to do a tribute album and if they haven’t named some charity organization for whom it is in aid of, the charity is the tributing partner. In this case Paul McCartney, who might need many things, for one thing he could be with being 25 years old again, but he sure don’t need money and that’s all there is to it.
U2 Are Innocent
Giving the album for free on ITunes? Now that is pure genius. U2’s, Bono’s, biggest fear was the album not charting, maybe going gold and then disappearing and god bless the little Irish get, he forestalled the bands decline and fall as a recording artist by giving the sucker away
Yes, Virginia, There Is Rock And Roll
Rock And Roll will never die, is unkillable, is infinite, is in fact a question of the basis of our humanity and our freedom, it is whatever it says it is, ut merges with everything and when the pop music becomes more than entertainment but a matter of spirit
Singles Going Steady: New Single Releases Week of September 8th, 2014
“Analog maximalism, made possible by the plinky, translucent synths of Selected Ambient Works, AFX’s restless 303 sequences, Caustic Window’s brawny drum machines, vocal abstractions à la Richard D. James album…”
10 Songs: Wednesday, September 9th, 2014
Why does all his solo stuff sound like Led Zep covering rockabilly? I mean, I thought the whole point was he didn’t wanna sound like Led Zep, and I guess I am thinking more Plant-Page than even Zep, still, we have been here before and his refusal to work with Page seems like dissemblance – B
Be Here Now: First Takes On New Album Releases 9-9-14
Single Mothers – Justin Towne Earles – Consider slight because it holds its depth close to its vest, this is a perfect album on every single level, in less than half an hour and no more than 10 songs, JTE nails every single song with flawless every single thing – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A
Who Is America's Favorite Musicians? We're Gonna Tell You
If you are a Republican, a Democrat or an Independent you’re gonna love the Beatles most. Plus, if you have a kid under 18 you are gonna love Bruno Mars and if you don’t have a kid under 18, you’re gonna love -ta-dah the Beatles. Decades and decades after they disbanded, they are still the biggest band in the world.
Must See: Maroon 5, March 2015 At MSG
It was in 2008 I saw the band at MSG and I have been a fan ever since. You can’t claim M5 sold out,the five year break between the first iteration of the band, Kara’s Flowers and the current pop dance ensemble, proved they didnt want to be a rock band. They wanted to be pop stars.
What Is Chic Without The Voices Of Chic?
I have no idea why Niles wouldn’t pursue this opportunity to really bring Chic back again, all three women look and sound terrific and this is a real opportunity but who knows? Perhaps he doesn’t want to pay the money, though how much can it be? It would be kind, generous and a reaching back.
Ryan Adams to Play Hammerstein Ballroom in November 2014
I have every intention of going to see him at the Hammerstein Ballroom on Saturday November 22nd, because he was so good at Newport, because he has his new band behind him and because, well, because he owes me one. A hundred bucks a pop by the way.
10 Songs: Tuesday, August 9th, 2014
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley – The first single post 68 Special was also one of the biggest hits of his career, re-arranged from the original that change of tempo during the bridge was money in the bank and this six minute version from the Vefas 70 show is more dramatic than that – A
Taylor Swift Talks -Not To Us Of Course, To Rolling Stone
“There’s someone whose entire job it is to figure out things that I don’t want the world to see. They look at your career, they look at what you prioritize, and they try to figure out what would be the most revealing or hurtful.” If we lose Taylor to L.A. we have only ourselves to blame.
That Was The Week Of September 1st, 2014, That Was
J-E-T-S Jets Jets. Yes, folks that’s the way to start the season. Despite it being at home, despite it being against marshmallow Oakland Raiders with a rookie QB, despite all those errors and lost yards, despite everything you care to say, a win is a win and the way to start the proceedings.
UK Top 10 Albums 9-13-14
Sam Smith back at the top and congrats to him of course, it’s a great album, but over at # 7 is Pierces excellent new album, not out here yet but it might break big once it is. They look the role and they sound it. Kate Bush all over the place…
UK Top 10 Singles 9-13-14
A coupla biggies but mostly a whatever collection of EDM pop moves, the mainstreaming of everything if you like. Taylor and Sam tower over it but otherwise there is nothing to excite and you and some stuff, The Script for instance, to simply annoy you.
10 Songs: Monday, September 8th, 2014
My Eating Disorder – Titus Andronicus – Better live than on record, it is a strange unruly thing on record, an eight minute whirligig of tempo switches and self diagnosis central to the last album yet essentially flawed, so close to perfection and yet so far away – B
The Buzzcocks And Titus Andronicus At Webster Hall, Saturday, September 6th, 2014 Reviewed
Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus paid his respect as well, “a great honor and privilege to be here in support of the Buzzcocks” he claimed, and Patrick doesn’t say what he doesn’t mean, then he launched into “Upon Viewing Brueghel’s ‘Landscape With The Fall Of Icarus'”.
Lev Grossman's "The Magician's Land" Reviewed
Compare Quentin to John Fowles Simon Urfe. Indeed, compare “The Magus” to “The Magician” and Lew’s oh so 21st century weaknesses are abundantly clear. It lacks stickiness, it is so busy but it doesn’t drag you to Fillory for all its gifts.
Let's Active: Concert Picks Week Of September 8th, 2014
EDM can be hit or miss live but with New Orleans Big Freedia opening my guess is the Canadian duo is gonna be way on their game at Rumsey Playfield’s sold out gig with one final no nonsense push on their excellent current album White Women. So, yeah this is the gig Chromeo fans on a Friday evening during the last days of summer 2014.
True Groove Continue Their Residency This Thursday, September 11th At Milk River
This Thursday, September 11, Milk River in association with True Groove Global SOUL presents The True Groove All-Stars Global Soul Celebration of the release of “Funky World” a Club/Dub/Dance Compilation. Join us for an evening of blues, funk, afro-beat and rock-n-roll
Sneak Peaks: Upcoming Album Releases Week Of September 8th, 2014
I’ve heard Justin so guess what I’m anticipating? Meanwhile, this is some week, from Tricky’s best since Blowback to Karen O’s acquired taste solo album, through Robert Plant, Michelle Williams (!) to local boys Interpol, and finally Ryan Adams, it should be a week to remember!!
Medium Cool: The Week In Talk Show Guests 9-8-14
Sure, Peggy Bundy, why not? I know you know her from “Sons Of Anarchy” and I’ll take Katey Sagall either way and it is always a pleasure to see her: the ultimate MILF of all time. Meanwhile, why are Spoon on Bill Maher? Alt-J on Conan, not really worth the effort is it? ellen has a busy week, not just the crowd from The Voice but also Iggy And Ora!!
10 Songs: Sunday, September 7th, 2014
Spoken word goes punk from way way way back, and this is one of JCC’s masterpieces before he jumped off the deep end, an ode to capital punishment and the inevitable end result: “swinging Britain don’t put me on, they’re gonna bring back the rope for everyone” – A
Bleachers At Webster Hall, Thursday, September 4th, 2014, Reviewed
This isn’t feckless rock writing, nothing on fun. Is either, this is what Antonoff called songs you can dance to and cry to. On stage , Jack is both working his way towards and also has reached where he needs to go as a front man. With a limited set of songs he gave a fine performance, a little slow start but once he got where he wanted to get he maintained the highest of quality through to the end.
The Rock Critic As Accountant
What has happened through the years is I have tried harder and harder to organize the music I listen to so I don’t miss stuff, forget stuff, as I reach the end of the year. It is like tending a garden, or maybe being an accountant, reviewing becomes about being access information and organize it as simply as you can.
1200 Plus Genre's Of Popular Music
I stole the idea for this post off the Guardian who stole it off a website run by Glen McDonald, which lists every genre known to popular (and, er, less popular) music off Every Noise At Once. Now, ever since country mated with the blues and made rock and roll, popular music has been a heavy heavy mongrel breed. Still, this is insane. Still God Save Glen McDonald for doing the lord’s work here.
Direct Currents Upcoming Releases This Autumn 2014
After kicking it in the head a coupla weeks ago, Direct Current decided hey, maybe retirement isn’t all its cut out to be. It isn’t easy to walk away, it digs too deep. So their gain and ours, so here is their list of upcomign releases and obviously 1989 is the one we are moost excited for but also: both alt j tracks are really good. Jerry Lee, Haerts, Annie Lennox, Jackson Browne, Prince, Gerard Way and Abba at Wembley in 1974!!
George Harrison Tribute In L.A.
The thought of Brandon Flowers singing anything at all fills me with a wearying dream as though nothing I do is worth the effort and perhaps the best thing I can do is embrace the not beware of the darkness. Because really, it is all futile any way, none of it helps and none of it matters.
10 Songs: Saturday, September 6th, 2014
Pitchfork review: “Somewhere beneath the spazzing cymbals, the maze of key changes, and the sphincter-tightening virtuosity of the synth lines, a quizzical piano motif repeats itself, softly—a grounding idea among the song’s avant-jazz madness.” Sphincter-tightening? – B+
Arms' "Backwards Record" EP Reviewed
Some eleven months later and Arms have released a covers EP, Backwards Record, on Spotify only and I like it a lot though I am a little baffled by these lo-fi slowed down almost operatic versions of songs which, for the most part, weren’t that popular in the first place
Half Japanese's "Overjoyed" Reviewed
These are off tune tracks which are not quite good songs, and you can’t quite imagine somebody actually covering them,, maybe I mean they are innocent songs of intense and extreme love. Jad is jumping for joy on track after track and you just think if he had collaborated with someone, these songs would be too much: they are so heartfelt you are stuck wondering what to do now
With The Buzzcocks Playing Saturday, An Annotated SetList (And Spotified!)
If Howard Devoto set the tone as a sorta quasi arty wanker, Shelley was a good kid fifth former. But as rock fans, they glommed onto the Sex Pistols immediately and soon formed the Buzzcocks, releasing the Martin Hannett produced Spiral Scratch and their current setlist starts with their biggest song on the EP…
Our Thanks To Dead Rock Stars
You know that old song “Love is all around”? Well, the truth is what’s always is all around is death and it intrudes on your life and knocks on the door and is in permanent residence. You can ignore or or you can embrace it but you won’t see it coming and have no doubt it is coming for you.
Taylor Swift Writes To Bullied Teen: Forever on Your Side
“Every time someone picks on me, I’ll think of you in the hopes that every time someone picks on you, you’ll think of me… and how we have this thread that connects us. Let them keep living in the darkness and we’ll keep walking in the sunlight. Forever on your side, Taylor.”
10 Songs: Friday, September 5th, 2014
For better or worse, this and not “Crazy” or “For All The Girls I Loved Before” is his signature song; it is the definition of a song sung blue, every knows it and the melody is so strong and the words so simple everybody can sing it. The definitive road song – A
Ooh La la
I wrote this story maybe eight years before “Fly”, but it is another story about a subject that was interesting me: a girl I’d loved had left the city in maybe 1990, and I was fascinated by what her absence meant in a purely physical sense: how she wasn’t there, how somebody who spent so much time in the same place I was was now no longer in the same place I was.
Two Songs Off The Bob Dylan Tribute Album "The New Basement Tapes" Reviewed
Costello sounding much like he did with the Roots nevertheless comes up with a nice bluesy low key very rhythmic take that works for me, Rihannon Giddens, of Carolina Chocolate Drops,sings back up. And it took me back to “Nothing to It”and it is better than I thought it was.