Monty Python's Unofficial World Cup Anthem
Why am I telling you this? Because I am inviting you to listen to Monty Python’s Unofficial World Cup Anthem. We only get one new verse on this “Always Look At The Bright Side Of Life” but it a cracker.
10 Songs: Wednesday, June 11th, 2014
Live It Up – Spoon – A heavy blues from the semi-popular indie band; not my scene, it is neither beaty nor meaty enough but it has a uniqueness to it: it sounds like nothing else only not quite as good – B
Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of New Album Releases 6-10-14
Gypsy Heart Side A EP – Colbie Caillat – A long time fan of the pop singer, this five song 18 minute EP has nary a clunker in the lot: a sweet sound giving Taylor Swift a run for her money. “Blaze” is fabulous – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-
Chance The Rapper And Music Distribution
In 2014, the recording industry has no center gravity, it seems to be coming from everywhere in every form as well. It isn’t in one place only, it is hiding in the world and in the public everywhere at once. The trouble is (and it is something rock nyc tries to do with very limited success) the music scene has no one place where you can get a quick study in what is out there.
Dance Trumps Rock And Other Lessons From Governors Ball 2014
Dance trumps rock, no two ways about it. Skrillex and two thirds of Swedish House Mafia siphoned off 75% of the audience, leaving 25% for Jack White and Vampire Weekend. The sheer numbers were incredible. Broken Bells was free and easy, you couldn’t move at Disclosures set which was occurring on a different stage at the same time.
Shinobi Ninja's "Escape From New York" Reviewed
Shinobi Ninja are such a family affair: D.A. and Baby G on one side, twin brothers guitarist Dave and drummer (in my opinion one of the most powerful drummers around Mike on the other, and Alien X and DJ Axis Powers in the middle: the three parts come together as more than a whole; everybody feeds off each other.
G. Finale's "Only Care About Me" Reviewed
“Only Care About Me”, G. Finale is getting the recognition he has been waiting. “OCAM” is a spectacular rap parody, checking out everybody from 2Pac to Jay Z with a central backing track so hooky it is all over the song: maybe six notes on a loop but it is pure ear candy.
10 Songs, Tuesday, June 10th, 2014
Her fourth song off the album of the same name, and fifth of the year, is yet another superb deep electronic blues ala Del Rey. While it maybe true if you’ve heard one you’ve heard em all, if you haven’t heard THIS ONE you haven’t heard all of them – B+
Governors Ball Music Festival Day Three, Sunday, June 8th, 2014: Hip Hop Time, Tyler,Sweatshirt J. Cole
Girls and girls and drugs and girls. Paarty songs. “That’s why the shows so cranky because I’m high on crills right now,” Earl said during Tyler’s show and Tyler agreed. “Awesssssome” he said like he just stepped out of one of his Adult Swim TV episodes. J. Cole said he’d been drinking all day.
UK Top 10 Albums 6-14-14
The Led Zeppelin remasters-deluxe editions feel like they are a little too late however great they might be; the thing is we are in the post making money through records period and while these will sell, imagine how it would have sold in 1994.
UK Top Ten Singles: 6-14-14
Last weekend, The Neon Brotherhood comprising of 40 fantastic musicians from Neon Sound Studios in Burntwood, who either knew Stephen, rehearsed with him, or were just simply inspired by him, came together to write and record a charity single in Stephen’s memory. Please support it and let’s get it to number one.
10 Songs: Monday, June 9th, 2014
Everybody’s Something – Chance The Rapper – The difference between the version Chance sang at his Governor’s Ball star making turn is this is the way Chance boiled the song down to its “everybody’s somebody’s everything, nobody’s nothing at all” hook and than got a full house who was gagging for it, to sing it with all its heart , the verses and backing track are a touch too dark on Acid Rap – A-
Governors Ball Day Two: Saturday, June 7th, 2014: The Strokes Versus Jack White
Saturday was incredibly busy at Randall’s Island, a complete sell out from one end of the Island to the other with young kids, mostly college sophomores by the looks of it, planting themselves on every available inch of green. But the lineup wasn’t as good as Friday’s line up
Miranda Lambert's "Platinum" Reviewed
What drags me is the slower serious one, I get that the world needs adults, but “Holding On To You” is a lugubrious mess and makes you wonder how far this heart on sleeve stuff is gonna take you when you’re content and the closer “Another Sunday In The South” drags her to the finishing line.
Must See: Sam Smith At Hammerstein Ballroom, September 19th, 2014
Smith thinks he could be the next Adele and I agree (saleswise, I prefer him in all other ways) and this could be a real opportunity to see the guy before he blows up even bigger. Personally, I think what I’ve heard of In The Lonely Hour is simply unreally brilliant
That Was The Week Of June 2nd, 2014, That Was
Old 97’s and Lydia Loveless failed to change the world on Tuesday, though they were both pretty good, still it ended up being the weekend of Governors Ball and with weather to dream for I dashed from one great gig to another and was sure the better for it. You gotta try it out next year, the only Festival you can grab the subway home from.
Active Viewin': rock nyc Concert Picks For The Week Of June 9th, 2014
The last time I saw James Chance backed by the True Groove Allstars he stopped the show at the Cutting Room, now the No Wave maestro is back for what should be the gig of the year. Pushing the remastered and deluxe Buy (I wrote the liner notes) and with Marla Mase -who has an excellent new release herself, opening, this should be a huge huge huge gig. Don’t miss this Thursday June 12th at the Cutting Room.
10 Songs, Sunday, June 8th, 2014
Tightrope – Janelle Monae – Maybe the highlight of Friday’s entire day at Governor Ball on Friday, this is a pure rhythm dance track, ridiculously modern disco blaster. Big Boi’s rap only makes it that much better. Janelle was a star after this – Aroc
Governors Ball Day One, Friday, June 6th, 2014: Glorious Weather, Glorious Music
You should go to Festivals the same way you listen to music in 2014, sample all the goods and then research further. Even bands you really wanna see, headliners Outkast for instance, this might not be the best way to check em out. You’d have to give up too much and wait too long (I figure 90 minutes) to get really great sitelines. That would be, wow, at least four sets.
Bob Geldof Back On Stage After Daughter's OD
“It’s that thing people say – some other part of you comes out. And I guess that’s right. In that regard, it’s very cathartic. There’s a lot of things going on in my head at the moment and you can just purge them and the crowd allow you to do that. I’ll sleep well tonight which is the first time in weeks I’ve slept well.”
Elvis Costello's "The Last Year Of My Youth" Reviewed
For the first time in decades, Costello caught my mood, the sense of time passing by and of ends arriving and yes he over sings it and over writes the lyrics but I don’t care: it reminds me of a pop version of Kings Of America. In its own way it is a straight up masterpiece
Sneak Peaks: New Album Releases For Week Of June 9th, 2014
Sure, you thought it was gonna be Jack White (who I am seeing at Govs Ball today) but no, I’ve heard the new one many times and I think it is solid but not Blunderbuss, it lacks focus and it doesn’t have enough great songs. But Chrissie? Three songs in and I love em all and did you see her with the Roots the other day? Pretty excellent, right? Otherwise, I really wanna hear the Hot Chip cat and I am wondering about Ice T. First Aid Kit? O.A.R.?
rock nyc Top 10 Songs Week Of June 2nd, 2014
The week seems to belong to Miranda but I haven’t had the time to give the Ninja’s the listen they deserve. The other biggie for me is The Shoe, a quality duo who actually improvise their songs, and who have maybe thrree strong songs ontheir new album.
10 Songs, Saturday. June 7th, 2014, Reviewed
The Walkmen are on indefinite hiatus, so the lead singer Hamilton has corralled some superstars of indie for his solo album, and it sounds quite good (the instrumental break works like a hook), and he has an arresting voice, catchy but limited – B
Lyn Bowtell's "Heart Of Sorrow" Reviewed
I was watching a documentary called “Happy” the other day, in which the filmmaker seemed to believe that the greatest thing in life is happiness. But it isn’t at all. The greatest thing in life is to feel completely alive. Hearts Of Sorrow is completely alive.
Rolling Stones Play Israel, Ignoring Calls For A Boycott (Includes Setlist And Video)
“The Stones alluded to the event’s gravity relatively early in their concert, when a video projected on giant screens behind the performers combined archival clips from their concerts in the 1960s with live shots of the Tel Aviv concert audience in 2014.”
Saint Motel Sign To Parlophone
Parlophone were huge in the UK before being eaten by another legendary record company EMI Records, who got ate up by Warner Bros in 2012, which makes Saint Motel signed to one of the biggest record companies in the world. It couldn’t happen to a better band.
Patty Griffith At MHOW Tonight, Parker Millsap To Open
All good reasons to catch her at Music Hall On Williamsburg today right, but here is another one. Parker Millsap is opening. He is the guy behind “Truck Stop Gospel” -a “goddamn Christian on fire”. Actually, lapsed Christian but it’s the thought that counts!
Lana Del Rey Says She Wants To Kill Herself…. Just Not To Us
“My career is a reflection of journalism, current-day journalism. My public persona and career has nothing to do with my internal process or my personal life. It is actually just a reflection on writers’ creative processes and where they’re at in 2014. Literally has nothing to do with me”
10 Songs, Friday, June 6th, 2014
All By Myself – Dave Alvin And Phil Alvin- Old fashioned in the best sense, this Big Bill Broonzy song is the definition of country swing as blues pop tone; the brothers trade off lines very well even as they contradicts the words! – B+
Old 97's And Lydia Loveless At Webster Hall, Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014, Reviewed
The talk dirty stuff is a bit of a dead end. The line here, the one that resonates and which she doesn’t sing on Tuesday night, is “I knew that I was crazy alone; now I’m just crazy for you.” So, yeah a crazy ex-girlfriend but only up to a certain place and then other influences kick in.
The "F" Word
am not quite sure why the gay community is so up in arms over it. In hip hop it is usually used to suggest weakness, like “pussy” which, I guess, who cares really. It is a million miles from saying, “you weak, you can’t take a bullet up the nostril you faggot” and saying “hey faggot, Imma kill you for having a boyfriend”.
Must See: Beyonce And Jay Z… Like XO
Last year, Jay Z blew Timberlake away at Metlife, this year he will be gentler to his wife but still out for revenge after Beyonce bested Magna Cart… Holy Grail. So everybody and I mean everybody should bring their “a” game and then Hov will holla at em.
US Top 10 Albums 6-14-14
Yes, folks, at the top of the charts is the only Coldplay album I don’t actually hate. Young Chris problem as a composer is he is a magpie and too obvious, as a lyricist he doesn’t have a poet’s soul but as a manic depressive he will do nicely.
US Top 10 Singles, 6-14-14
annnnnnndddddd…. they’re off. Looks like another summer of chicks: Iggy, Ariana and Charlie XCX leading the charge for the song of the summer. I thought Calvin had a chance but on second thought “Summer” isn’t quite sleek enough.
10 Songs, Thursday, June 5th, 2014
The Impossible Dream – Christopher Lee – A huge Broadway song and Lee grabs hold of it with a powerful voice that seriously belies his age and shakes it till thundering guitar riffs and electric solos fall out – C+
Best Concerts Through May 31st, 2014
M.I.A. And Solange – Webster Hall – May 10th, 2014 – Two of the best musicians around, M.I.A. has reinvented the dance song and is compied so predigiously and often it is ridiculous and Solange is an alt soul master, even if a reportedly nasty piece of work. Days before this gig she beat up Jay Z in an elevator
The Jack White Setlist Annonated And Spotified For Your Please
The problem with Jack White is that, now Lou Reed is dead, he must be the hands down biggest asshole in pop music. I am not guessing here, I have a very good friend who worked for him a couple of years back and can’t mention his name without spitting.
"A Million Ways To Die In The West" Reviewed
While everybody compares Seth’s sheep farming coward in the Wild West, Alfred, to comedic cowards like Bob Hope and Woody Allen, it is actually Seth’s filming of Charlese Theron that reminds me of Woody’s way with women.
10 Songs, Wednesday, June 4th, 2014
Just One Of The Guys – Jenny Lewis – This mid-tempo indie pop snoozer doesn’t offer much hope for a return to Jenny’s strengths on the new one? And what are her strengths in 2014? She is like Aimee Mann without the golden age. Produced by Beck, which proves you can fool all the people all the time – C+
"Longer Than You've Been Alive (If You're Five)" (a rock nyc parody!)
rock nyc parody of Old 97’s new classic song of life on the road and let me say this, because I believe it, there is something mythic about spending your life writing about music: it is one of the loneliest pursuits known to people and we do it because… Hours before Old 97’s play Webster Hall feel free to sing along!
Be Here Now: Snap Shot Reviews Of New Albums 6-3-14
Miranda’s best album since Crazy Ex-Girlfriend isn’t EVEN that much better than any of her others or her work with Pistol Annies or God knows her husband Blake’s “Good Ol’ Boys”. This is as good as country gets in 2014, the only dog the Carrie Underwood duet on this otherwise a sublime collection of songs – ALBUM OF THE WEEK –
Lydia Loveless Setlist 2014 Annotated and Spotified!!
Somewhere Else changed Lydia country gal with a name too close to Lydia Lunch to country girl with the mostest, who can rhyme anything with the c word and doesn’t mind her bodily secretions at all, not to mention can rock like a somabitch.
"Maleficent" Reviewed
Among the many differences between men and women, here is a biggie: men don’t care if women cast them as the villains in fairytales, we’ve seen enough Hallmark Movies to be a little immune to it -though I dread to think of the hullabaloo if they made Nala the villain of “The Lion King”.
That Was The Week Of May 26th, 2014, That Was
The Rangers have made it to the Finals of the Stanley Club, but, while hockey is not, by any stretch of the language, football, and of the big three team sports comes in last, I will absolutely take, It is much more fun than watching LeBron and the rest of the Heat toying with NBA teams for fun and profit, before slaughtering them.
The Allman Brothers To End Their Career At The Beacon In October
The Allmans are still great, in some ways greater, than ever. And here is a musical question: will Dickey Betts be there??? It isn’t every day you get to experience something like that but kudos to the greatest Southern jam band of them all for completing their life together in the place they enjoyed so many triumphs.
10 Songs, Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014
Dope Fiend Rental – Danny Brown – Why the hell did Danny Brown show at the A-Trak show if he didn’t come to party? This masterful track featuring Kendrick Lamar is good enough to remind you than Brown is not just an Afro and a drug habit – A
Geoff Blythe, Mike Laye, Ian Snowball, Peter McKenna's "The Team That Dreams In Caffs" Reviewed
It captures a certain time and place lost to us now and only reachable through “Geno”, “Burn It Down”, “Tell Me When My Light Turns Green”, more. Songs of Irish pride, heartbreak, love, pain, a sort of faith in the team, in the vision, in a musical future. Blythe and Laye take you back again.
UK Top 10 Albums, 6-7-14
Here is a true rarity, a better album chart than the single chart. Headed by the great Sam Smith and followed by Coldplay’s best album to date, Paolo is quite good, Paolma is alright and Pharrell, eaton and London Grammar maintain the quality.
UK Top 10 Singles, 6-7-14
“Jubel” is a very good song and “Summer” is a better song but the question is if, in the charts business, it is not the best what is it exactly. “Summer” which should be a hit may well be a little too slow and “Jubel” is a little too sweet, not to spend the dog days looking upwards.