Alfonse Cuaron "Gravity" Reviewed
In the end, how much difference is there between “I Dream Of Jeannie” weightlessness and “Gravity”? It’s the same stuff floating in the same space to the same end. And I saw it in 3D and IMAX.
Golden Slumbers: Deaths In the Music community 10-10-13
Phillip Chevron – One of the original Irish punks, the guitarist started with the great Radiators From Space before graduating to the Pogues , the guitarist was with the band back in 2011 for their last concerts.
US Top 10 Singles: 10-19-13
If ever a year seemed to be about a scene that was waiting to happen, this would appear to be that year. This time three years ago, the pop scene was exploding at its seams, as was hip hop and indie
US Top 10 Albums: 10-19-13
People are right, Timberlake should have cut the two album drift to a sharp singleminded single. Even so, this isn’t close to as bad as they naysayers claim
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-10-13
Kiki deserved more than one hit but if she was gonna have only one hit this was the one to have, a chart bursting rush of Adult pop that rushed the brightest colors of glam into a pure sensibility – A
Tickets For David Miller's "Lavinia's Revenge" On Sale Now
What’s the point in living in New York City if you aren’t gonna go to Film Festivals. And better this that our two or three biggies which are getting a little bit up there, right? They have the strength but we have the numbers.
Kevin Jenkin's "Step Inside" Reviewed
Step Inside doesn’t work because of the voice, Kevin has a good voice for sure, and it doesn’t work because of the bass, though the band as a whole goes song after song of strength and determination, it works because the songs are killer
Bowery Electric's "Pay To Play" The Norm?
Charging Cheri $200 to play? That’s really mean spirited and petty. You own a handful of clubs in Manhattan, why are you shaking down Cheri Dahl for $200? So much for punk rock lives on the Lower East Side.
Tina Turner: A New Album For 2014?
Tina is rich and recording is not the same as releasing. If the sessions don’t go the way Tina would want them to, there is nothing to stop her from shelving them. But just the idea of another round from a star whose only peers are Aretha and Cher is enough to make a grown man cry!
Alice Cooper To Broadway's Spiderman?
Did I mention that with the exemption of the circe-y flying stunts bits, the entire thing is a disaster? The music on the top of the list will turn you deaf; in a career of terrible songwriting, Bono and the Edge reach the bottom of the barrel on this atrocious piece of music.
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-9-13
Watching The Wheels – John Lennon – This songs as a signpost and it reads the future of a great songwriter, able to turn the most personal aspects of his life and politics into a share . This is the acoustic demo featured on the end credits of “Funny People” – A
Be Here Now: New Releases Snapshot Review 10-8-13
We Need Medicine – The Fratellis – A long time coming but they’ve still got a great lead vocalist – B+
Paul Williams "Still Alive" Reviewed
Kessler’s movie is like Williams, the trajectory, the reaching back to the ending, can be sad and painful but it is so sweet and good natured you can see why Paul let him come along and document it.
Welcome To This Charming Charlie: The Greatest Website Of Them All
Cool, right? And funny and kinda accurate because Lauren knows what children understand, Morrissey is two parts Charlie, one part Lucy, and the rest of the band are all Linus
Sneak Peaks: New Album Releases 10-8-13
Last time I looked I was interviewing a musician signed to Saddle Creek next week, so let’s send some love to Tim Kasher of Cursive whose last solo album was pretty good. But any week Sleigh Bells release a new album must belong to Sleigh Bells.
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-8-13
Bitter Rivals – Sleigh Bells – The new album is released today and this song leading up proves there is nothing much to worry about: a great synth lick pushes the duo all the way and the sound is filtered through to its focussed doctored vocals and weirdo bridge – B+
"Betrayal" At The Ethel Barrymore, Saturday, October 5th, 2013, Reviewed
The trio are really sad, if I hadn’t seen the movie I’d have played Harold Pinter’s play, which seems to lack any big emotional moments. But that’s not true, “Betrayal” has the moments, what’s missing is the people to act them.
Best Coast's "This Lonely Morning" Reviewed (Listen Here)
The once in a life time vision of the band playing in a thunderstorm at Gov’s Ball earlier this year cementing my impression that Beth is really great. With a terse, “this really sucks” and ruminations about how she wished she was in California
That Was The Week Of September 30th, 2013, That Was
Exene Cervanka won the battle of the post-punk divas in a showdown with Debbie Harry. Again, X did what they were meant to do. Maybe that’s all they did, perform ace West Coast early 1980s punk for an hour at Roseland
UK Top 10 Albums 10-12-13
I am losing interest fast in Justin, not entirely, but really only one great song. Haim are a real bore and Alter Bridge (the guys who wrote the music for Creed – wow, that’s some kinda credentials) are hard pressed to be worse
UK Top 10 Singles 10-12-13
The Vamps are boy band youtube sensation and this song is going down very well with the tweens but less traction with older demos is my bet. Chase & Status are ready to break in the States, this is a terrific r&b single that should do well if it ever gets here.
Hear Ye on Spotify: What rock nyc Is Listening To 10-7-13
Walking On Air – Katy Perry – By the numbers disco cropper up to nothing much but what it does do, play off its drum patterns, should get the kiddies dancing – B-
Beware: Ginger Baker Ten Show Residency At The Iridium!
His latest album is a re-release of the unbelievably brilliant No Material (with the late lamented Sonny Sharrock) from 1987 and given Ginger is promising a jazz show we can but hope he taps into this wonderful stuff
Singles Going Steady: New Album Reviews Week Of September 30th, 2013
Unvarnished – Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – Sure this is Joanie 101 but it is also older Joanie 101, whether worrying about aging on “Fragile” or slashing and burning “Reality Mentality”, she is still writing strong glam riffs with shout outs, and sing-alongs. No, it isn’t Album, but it is still damn good – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+
Active Viewin': Concert Picks For The Week of October 7th, 2013
With an album considered the best of the year by many of my peers under their belts and a full force return to touring for a salivating fan base, here the Del Lords are joined by one of the best garage rock bands around, Spanking Charlene, in what is certain to be the rock show to beat in 2013
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-6-13
Song Beneath The Song – Maria Taylor – The Saddle Creek stalwart has her best album to date coming out soon, till then here is an early solo song that will keep you going; that’s Conor singing back up – A
Blondie's "No Principals" Tour Featuring X, Roseland, Friday, October 4th, 2013, Reviewed
There is nothing of the elder statesperson, of the Queen Mum, of any of that stuff. By keeping cool Harry is above it, an untouchable, she remains physically provocative and less a nostalgia act. It is that and not the newer material, which make Blondie viable in 2013.
Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor And The Death Of Hedonism
My feeling remains constant: leave her alone to enjoy herself. Why shouldn’t she be free. It is amazing that women like Sinead claim slavery is freedom and freedom is a male ploy to abuse you.
Loser And Winner For The Week Of 9-30-13: Rock The Bells And Lauren Mayberry
Loser – Rock The Bells – The hip hop festival meant to play this weekend was cancelled due to lack of sales and really, where was the big name to sell it?
Must See: Marc Anthony, February 2014
What happens is, a JLo consort loses all credibility the moment she hooks out with them, and while they are together there is no way to regain credibility, but the moment you break up? You receive credibility times ten.
George Jones Archives On Spotify
In practice it is all about the music and the ability to pull a hundred Jones albums with a click is heaven. It is a miracle of science. I am so happy and Spotify aren’t finished yet. Within five years they will be a major archival resource for George Jones recordings
rock nyc Top 10 Songs week of September 30th 2013
This is Justin’s best song since, I dunno, “What Goes Round”? It doesn’t so much focus as diffuse the albums. The only long track that really worked was “Mirrors’ and the only other first tier track is this one.
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening 10-5-13
Let’s Dance – The Ramones – Just for all of you who were left with a bad taste in their mouth after the “CBGB” debacle, here is a reminded how everything is Ramones – A
CMJ 2013 Consumer Guide: The Shows You Have To See!
1400 shows in 5 days is upon us and fair enough, nobody is gonna see them all with all the will in the world. Indeed, if you were doing 10 a day for five days that would equal 50 which would leave, er, 1350 bands you’ll be missing
It's a Tradition: Pitchfork Post Their Upcoming Album Releases Once A Season, We Steal Em And Insult The Website
Still, after nearly five years, rock nyc (the little engine that can’t) is more than happy to cut and paste all their hard research and here it is
Chvrches Lauren Mayberry And On Line Misogyny
Try this: President Obama gets thousands upon thousands of hate mail, nasty, racist stuff, do you think he wastes his time reading it? Why bother? Is it wrong, is there no excuse for the wholesale harassment of Lauren? Yes, its wrong, no there is no excuse, and there is no excuse for children starving to death in Africa. Life is unfair, next.
Mystery Superstar On JJ McCabe Album
She is huge, about as big as you can get and I would like to give you another clue as to who it is but I can’t tell you in public. Plus, she is working on a new album and that would be a big story if it was l known
Hear Ye: what rock nyc is listening to 10-4-13
Knockdown Dragout – Sammy Hagar – Along with Kid Rock and Joe Satriani, and I know it should suck but this thing is bursting at the seams with riffs and shout outs – B+
"CBGBs" Reviewed (Watch It Here Till They Take It Down… they took it down!!)
Among the many things CBGB’s wasn’t (and certainly, who went their after the mid-1980s?) it was sure fun. This movie is nothing of the sort. Filled with feces and bodily fluids, it is a nauseating and boring.
Meet The Lesion
It is self-aware stuff and the music itself, they released three albums, is substantially vicious hard rock riffarama more than happy to fall into obstreperous annoyance
JJ McCabe And Fallin' Angel's "Presenting" Reviewed
He mostly keeps to the three minute mark, hits his spots and leaves, over the other 11 tracks, he never loses his way. The band is tight but they have a straight ahead appeal that isn’t rock as we know it now, and may not be rock as it was then either
US Top 10 Singles 10-12-13
If it wasn’t for the fact that Lorde apparently is only 16 years old, you’d be excused for believing Lorde is a 28 year old Disney XD actress playing a 16 year old
US Top 10 Albums 10-12-13
There is only one number to keep an eye on here and it belongs to Drake and here it is: 658,000 units sold. That would have been a good showing ten years, today it is a legitimate hit album and if t loses 70% of its audience next week, it is still gonna go platinum sooner rather than later
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-3-13
Used To You – Lyn Bowtell – An inspired rip of “Brilliant Disguise” and it won’t be dropping till early 2014, but get ready because this is one brilliant country-folk ballad by a woman who should try her hand at rock and roll – A
Lyn Bowtell's "Secret Songs" Reviewed
The quality is unerring even if unnerving “Hush” is just depressing but in a non plussed positive way, it’s like if you’ve ever made love to somebody while they are crying: so much of the feeling in her songs hits both ways.
Best Songs Through September 30th, 2013
Reflektor – Arcade Fire – It sounds like Holy Ghost plus LCD Soundsystem hit with gamma rays and turned into the incredible Hulk till it is a monster of pop awesomeness
Best Concerts Through September 30th, 2013
This is the sort of meeting of a subculture defined by so many failed attempts to reunite in a moment and also extened the moment into the present. The moment was the Lower east Side in the late 1970s, and the extension was musical and triumphant.
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-2-13
Not A Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake – The penultimate song of the entire 1 becomes 2 wedding double album is this equal to “Mirrors” in enterprise and superior in melody masterpiece – A
Be Here Now: New Releases Snapshot Review 10-1-13
Unvarnished – Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – You know what you hope it sounds like? That’s exactly what it sounds like; glam rock, power rock, street anthem, soccer game top of the terrace at the top of your lungs singalonga – B+
Best Albums Through September 30th, 2013
The Long Lost – David Bronson – The prequel to Story is, at its best, just about the most deliriously deep and beautiful music you will here this year but so lost in its sorrow it can be difficult to penetrate