10 Songs, Tuesday, April 15th, 2014
Main Theme From Trouble Man – Marvin Gaye – Blaxploitation, smaxploitation, the horn that haunts this theme to the movie of the same man, is a meeting of r&b and jazz of the first order and a game changer – A
Wilko Johnson And Roger Daltrey's "Going Back Home" Reviewed
This is a steamroller of an album, half an hour of heads down no nonsense rhythm and scowl. Daltrey is amazing on a four song run to end the album and Wilko is a study in swift, clean guitar parts.
Sneak Peaks: New Albums 4-15-14
I am going to go with Jason DeRulo even though I wasn’t thrilled by his performance at Jingle Ball because whatever you want to say about him being a pop manufacturer, he is a hit machine and a good one.
UK Top 10 Singles 4-19-14
This is a good chart, nice mix of stuff and best of all is the battle to be the next One Direction. I thought it was a shoo in for 5 Seconds Of Summer, but maybe The Vamps will beat em to it. Certainly “Last Night” is the best boy band song since “Kiss You”.
UK Top 10 Albums 4-19-14
Less movement on the UK album charts than the hyper kinetic US but the real question is will the will we get this literally last in a lifetime opportunity to see the duo perform together. If the video of their performance is anything to go by, it will be the show of the year if they do.
10 Songs, 4-14-14
The Panic Is On – Fats Waller – Zach’s best moment in “Bullets Over Broadway” is his completely revamped version of this masterpiece which takes a Great Depression metaphor and smarts it up the way only Waller ever has – A
New Albums by Martina McBride And Carlene Carter Reviewed
Carlene Carter’s last album was 2008’s excellent Stronger and Martina McBride held her own opening for George Strait last month and both are performing cover albums and both are, you know, the real deal
Outkast's Outkasted At Coachella?
But perhaps people only wanted to hear an act that had been worth waiting 12 years for. That wasn’t what they got in the Coachella valley.
Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" At The St. James Theater Reviewed
There are a lot of disappointments her, Zach is a major drag: trying so hard but to no avail. Much sadder is Marin Mazzie, whom I have loved since seeing her in Sondheim’s “Passion” 20 years ago, and she just can’t play a Diva.
That Was The Week of 4-7-14 That Was
Three songs? That’s it? I sat through knocking on five hours of Jann Wenner’s pomp and circumstance and for what? To see Cat Stevens perform three songs? Enough already Yusef, get off your ass and play the Beacon Theater. Meanwhile., I ended up on Stubhub for Lily Allen’s May 15th gig at Highline Ballroom
Active Viewin: rock nyc Concert Picks For The Week Of 4-14-14
The Wonder Years are true representatives of a certain strata of their generation. They for them and to them. But they sound like emo and they have the same problem with melodies that inflicts all “emo” bands with the exception of My Chemical Romance. They are playing Best Buy on Thursday and if you wanna catch up with the Greatest Generation, that is the place to be.
10 Songs, Sunday, April 13th, 2014
Oh My God – Mark Ronson, Lily Allen – Her show at Highline Ballroom was an instantaneous sell out. I ended up plonking down a hundred bucks on Stubhub – A
Direct Currents Upcoming Releases 4-15 – 6-24-14
Anything interesting here? Lessee Afghan Whigs, Woods, Eels (Eel’s release too much music, you can never catch up), Rodney Crowell, G Love… Relax, I’m joking about G. Love, Margot & The Nuclear So and Sos, The Pains Of being Pure At Heart, Neil Young… Neil Young? Apparently.
10 Songs, Saturday, April 12th, 2014
Take Me To Church – Hozier – This former member of Dublin’s Trinity Choir has a very soulful voice and in last years’ breakthrough song he gives it full reign over a lovely anthemic pop song – B+
"The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony" At Barclay Center,Thursday, April 10th, 2014, Reviewed
But like Jett spit out on “Smells Like Teen Spirit” rock is a denial and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame is all about an admittance. It really is a squalid rabid horrible dingy thing. It really adds up to something that is nothing.
Which Sex Loves Which Bands
At # 2 among women is Bruno Mars, who is a sparkling and fit # 5 among men (I know, I don’t get it either) and meanwhile, what to make of Daft Punk being # 2 among men but nosedived with women, I guess they don’t wanna get lucky.
Taylor Swift – Anna Karenina Linked
“Taylor Swift’s mom and dad are being accused of becoming “difficult and controlling stage parents” as they assume total power over her career — even though they have technically separated.”
The Death Of The Record Album
In the real world, what everyone from 1D to Marshall Crenshaw has discovered is that they can sell more by breaking up the album into shorted more frequent releases. The single song or four song EP, with a quarterly presence, is a more effective way to sell product.
Brad Paisley's "River Bank" Reviewed
What Paisley can do that Luke Bryant for one can’t is write catchy, original country songs and if Brad will never have the freshness of “Who Needs Pictures” or “Long Sermon” any more, he never phone sit in.
rock nyc Top 10 Songs w-o 4-7-14
The Paisley track is a pleasant take on Bro Country, Carlene is the equal of her original take back in 83, this is the best song (written by the late lamented Robert Palmer) in years, but the remix of “My Love Is Your Love” is completely masterful.
10 Songs, Friday, April 11th, 2014
Walking In The Rain – Anika Larsen And Jarrod Spector – I’ve been outspoken in my indifference to the Broadway Musical “Beautiful”. But even so, the piano only first verse and chorus here is a perfect adjunct to Phil’s wall of sound version – A
Yusuf (Cat Stevens), Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony Thursday April 10th, 2014
I know you wanna read about KISS getting inducted into the Jann Wenner album and I’ll tell you about it I promise … Tomorrow I”ll give you all the action from the Barclay Center.
James Chances Contorts Paradise Garage
So I grabbed a beer bottle and I broke it and I slashed my own face. I started slashing my own face with it and blood was coming down. They completely backed off. I didn’t get the rest of the money but I didn’t get the shit kicked out of me
Ed Sheeran "Sing" Reviewed
Produced by Pharrell Williams, this isn’t as good as the stuff on Pharrell’s new album and it isn’t as good as the stuff on Ed’s old album: handclapping, rapping, falsetto singing, synth lines by the dozens, typical lyric
US Top 10 Albums 4-19-14
5 seconds Of Summer moved 130K units, not bad but under industry expectations and, it is an EP! I am not sure about the EP stratergy at all. It’s been around a year the band have playing hide and seek with their tween fans and at some point soon their tween fans will give up on them.
US Top 10 Singles 4-19-14
Meet the new chart same as the old chart. Well, at least Aloe Blacc is doing well. Plus you wanna see devolution in action? from “Get Lucky” to “Blurred Lines” to “Happy” (to” Sing” -but it will be a coupla weeks till that one shows). There is devolution in action.
10 Songs, Thursday, April 10th, 2014
Tell The World – Eric Hutchinson – This is as catchy as a pop singer songwriter can get without morphing into Jack Johnson or worse. The horns are so sweet they carry you in their arms and the arrangement jumps at you with color and high spirits – B+
Mickey Rooney And The Generation Gap
With his open face and infectious smile, Rooney was the American teen -he was the blueprint for what was coming up a generation later: a rebellion into righteousness both innocent yet of the world. “Babes In Arm” was the earliest stirrings of teenage protest.
Must see: M.I.A. and Solange At Webster Hall
But the chance to see the two women, on the same stage, for the same $45, in a club the size of Webster makes another viewing an absolute must. On a Saturday as well, May 10, as Spring has sprung at Webster Hall: the very definition of a must see is two great performers in a small club.
My Worse Guess Of The Past Five Years: EDM
The dream for EDM was that better living through electronics could change the face of the rock band by opening up all the possibilities of a four piece band… to throw the doors of EDM wide so you can make anything happen in a live setting.
Kurt Cobain: The Voice Of A Generation
Even his voice sounded like his generation, a pained tender rasp of terror and aloneness, it sounded like somebody breaking down before your eyes. It sounded like that boy in “Sliver” but panicking for the world.
10 Songs, Wednesday, April 9th, 2014
Lonesome Valley 2003 – Carlene Carter – With the help of Vince Gill, Carter mourns her mother the only way she knows how on this moving testament to faith and passages in this update of the 1969 song – B+
LILY ALLEN TO PERFORM AT NEW YORK CITY'S HIGHLINE BALLROOM ON MAY 15TH
By one of those odd twists of fate, the show is May 15th, the night before Elbow at Webster Hall. So two huge UK bands in a row. Good luck getting tickets though apparently they aren’t for sale yet any way.
Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of New Album Releases 4-8-14
Carter Girl – Carlene Carter – Mining her Carter Family history for material, she finds it and sounds better than she ever has on this excellent collection of Carter Family songs plus a coupla ringers. Also, while we knew Vince Gill would be up to the task, so is Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson vocal additions – Album Of The Week – A-
Happy 5th Anniversary rock nyc
Congratulations to my many friends who have helped rock nyc remain, if nothing else, the most brutally honest music website out there over the past five years. We might have few readers and fewer friends, but what we do have is a reputation for honesty because, well, because we aren’t beholden to anybody
The Hold Steady: The Opposite Of Love Is Indifference
My bet is this is it for Hold Steady. Finn’s solo album was much better that the two Hold Steady albums surrounding it on either side. The sonic bang bang of the band, the tightness, groove, whatever, can not replace the lack of anything approaching a memorable song.
Kings Of Leon Fans Exposed To Measles
Here is the definition of adding insult to injury, Seattle fans of Kings Of Leon may have been exposed to the measles after a March 28 concert at Seattle’s Key Arena.
10 Songs, Tuesday, April 8th, 2014
New York State Of Mind – Leon Russell – The horns sound like they escaped from a Sinatra Swinging Lovers album but it soon darkens down and Leon does exactly what you thought he would and does it for a long time – C+
The A+ List – 4-7-14
The struggling, stranger rocker before he straightened his life out takes a love of his life and ties it to a specific time and place (nyc the week before 9-11), struggles through a freezing cold and adds an image for all time: “I was holding your arm, you were holding my trust like a child” and then it’s over. “I’ll always love you, love New York”.
Five Years Ago Tomorrow… And Away We Went!!!
Titus and Los Camp was the honest roar of teenage (well collegiate) angst personified -I was at the side of the stage, completely trashed and banging my fist till it bruised screaming along to Titus: “No more cigarettes, no more having sex, no more drinking till you fall on the floor….” .
UK Top 10 Albums 4-12-14
We’ve seen worse, Wilco and Daltrey alone makes the chart not total write off. And if you add to that a Johnny Cash album, even if it is one I’m not crazy about, plus Pharrell and my favorite band in the world this minute Elbow, not a band night out.
UK Top 10 Singles 4-14-14
Take a look at # 4, John Martin. An EDM songwriter from Sweden who has worked with the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Tinie Tempeh before hitting it big with SHM’s “Don’t You Worry Child”. Both “Child” and “Anywhere For You” are EDM by name, they sound like MOR 21st century style.
10 Songs: Monday, April 7th, 2014
Former Chicken Shack singer is to soul what Linda Thompson is to folk -perhaps the UKs greatest practitioner. Yes, this song is a cliche but it wasn’t when she covered it and this is among the best versions I’ve ever heard – A
Sneak Peak: Upcoming Releases Week Of April 7th, 2014
Not much of a week, neither was last week after a month of big big releases. Off! are back, has it been two years already? Joan Osborne? John Frusciante is back but I am not sure we want him. I guess I’ll go with Martina McBride, her opening slot with George Strait was very good, even if album title Everlasting doesn’t promise much.
That Was The Week Of March 31st, 2014, That Was
The week belonged to Kraftwerk. Yes, there is only one original member left and, yes, the other three are hired hands and, yes indeedy, there isn’t much action. But having noted all of the above, the 3D Kraftwerk was a blast of sound and sign and numbers.
Active Viewin': rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of April 7th, 2014
First, I couldn’t care less about the “Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame” and even if I did I would have my doubts here: Peter Gabriel, Cat Stevens, Linda Ronstadt, Hall & Oates, Nirvana, the E Street Band, Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham. Particularly since Kurt is dead and Linda is ill. And I don’t really consider Cat Stevens rock and roll by any stretch of the lexicon. But the chance to see Cat perform? I couldn’t be more excited. Thursday at Barclay Center.
10 Songs, Sunday, April 6th, 2014
(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real – Frankie Knuckles Directors Cut – This is the exact diving line between disco and House, Sylvester’s greatest disco song of all time is given a nine minute blow out, the beat is all over it but essentially Knuckles takes the title hook and loops it and loops it and loops it – A+
Say Anything Bi-Polar Weirdo Plus Hottest Young Bands To BestBuy
This, along with the (sold out) Wonder Years are the two big shows, the coming out pary for the bands who have been bubbling under the radar (except here, where Mary has written about them constantly) throughout the 2010s and are not awaiting their turn.
The Day David Letterman Put The Phone Down On Me (More Or Less)
Quite simply the worst mannered and most humorless bunch of pricks I’ve ever dealt with. And while I was a huge fan then and while I am not a huge fan now, I certainly still admire the man
Some Thoughts On Frankie Knuckles And Chicago House
Those all night “raves” were the final, exuberant meaning of life. A place where your heart beat so fast and the beat beat so hard it meant nothing but the beat and it made you at the top of your aliveness. This is what Frankie Knuckles, who died earlier this week at the age of 59, invented.