Author name: Iman Lababedi

Live, Slideshow

Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of July 20th, 2015

/

The most anticipated concert of the year, even if, like me, you haven’t enjoyed much of anything they’ve recorded since 2000, even if that, seeing them in the relatively small confines of MSG is an honor. The last time I saw them at this venue,October 2001, the encore. “One” was accompanied by “a backdrop that scrolled the names of all the victims of the Sept 11 attacks, including lists of NYPD and NYFD casualties” (as Ben Walden put it). I’m going on Sunday and I can’t wait.

Slideshow

10 Song: Friday, July 17th, 2015

/

Make Me Wanna Die – White Reaper – A stormer and it is because of that organ on the bridge which is like pouring fudge on a sundae -a wurlitzer of a rock roller coaster, loud, bash, rocking out greatness. This band is gonna enjoy the next year – A

Charts, Slideshow

UK Top 10 Singles: 7-17-15 – 7-23-17

/

I know, Walking The Moon is rock but cmon, listen to those drums,and Tinie is a rapper but the song ain’t. Folks, every song on the UK’s charts is middle of the road EDM. According to Spotify, hip hop is the most popular form of music, but I wonder how much of what they call Hip Hop is really dance?

Live, Slideshow

Foo Fighters’ “Break A Leg” Tour At Citifield, Thursday, July 16th, 2015, Reviewed

/

what wasn’t a problem was when the band picked up steam, they were really good: a classic metal medley of “Detroit City Limits”, “Jailbreak” and “Schools Out” was a pleasure and while the Foos songs weren’t in the same league, the energy and determination they brought to their songs was excellent, the “Under Pressure” followed by “All Of My Life” was superbly placed glam meets metal rock

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: Thursday, July 16th, 2015

/

‘Round Midnight – Live, 1955 – Miles Davis – This is the third composition from the Live At Newport album, and it is swoonily beautiful. Who is playing, you ask? Miles Davis, trumpet; Zoot Sims, tenor saxophone; Gerry Mulligan, baritone saxophone; Thelonious Monk, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Connie Kay, drums… pretty sick right? Three years later he would add John Coltrane – A

News, Slideshow

Nick Cave: The Worst Thing You Can Imagine

/

There are levels of hell and this must be nearly the worst,you can feel the pain from here: it rises like smoke from the ashes of life, it is the dreadful that has already happened: the worst thing, the largest worry, the nightmare you try to wake from. You hope the family can help each other through it.

Slideshow

10 Songs: Wednesday, July 15th, 2015

/

Honky Talk Rules – Public Enemy – Off their brand new album, this is Chuck D mad about the appropriation of black music by white artists who have made a fortune of it. How on earth did he get Jagger to sign off on the sample? – B

News, Slideshow, These Days

These Days: Wednesday, July 19th, 2015

/

The All Star Games sure starts late, I was looking for it at 825pm and it still hadn’t started. As Phil Mushnick noted when the Women’s Football Team won the World Cup, if you start the damn game early enough you will get huge ratings. Meanwhile back at the All STar Game, which the American League won 6 – 3, the Mets young pitcher Jason deGrom did something never done before, he struck out the side.

News, Slideshow, These Days

These Days: Tuesday, July 14th, 2015

/

Historic agreement reached today in the US and Iran today which lifts sanctions on Iran and in return halts Iran’s quest for nuclear weapons. The big question mark is the old “trust but verify” one, and the answer seems a little iffy as access at will to any site would not be necessarily given or could be delayed. I guess we will understand more about that later but it sure doesn’t sound ideal. Still, the world is a safer place today.

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: Monday, July 13th, 2015

/

Good For You feat A$AP Rocky – Selena Gomez – The purist of pop products, the former Disney star is all doe sultriness in 2015, which doesn’t save this slow burn se song by the numbers. And neither does A$AP Rocky, rapping on his cell phone between orgies and acid trips – C-

Live, Slideshow

The Village Voice’s 4Knots Festival At Pier 84 In Hudson River Park, June 11th, 2015, Review

/

With the temperature in the lower 80s and puffy white clouds playing tag with the sun, a dip to deliciously fresh as the hours passed along and the headliners reached the stage, you couldn’t have asked for anything lovelier than Saturday afternoon. Standing on the bridge of the Hornblower Yacht and watching one top art guitar band after another perform, in an unusually well curated day of rock and roll, New York has never been sweeter.

Charts, Slideshow

UK TOP 10 SINGLES 7-17-15

/

I have no idea why Birdy is back on the charts, it must be a UK thing. Good song. So is David Zowie’s back to the basics House track. “House Every Weekend” hasn’t hit here yet but it could well do a great deal of damage before the season has followed.

Charts, Slideshow

UK TOP 10 ALBUMS 7-17-15

/

This is pretty lousy, plus I am thoroughly confused as to when they drop the next charts (I am two days late). If I was a better mood, the UK rappers plus plenty of US featured artist Krept & Konan might have done better. But from Florence Welch to Lucy Rose, this would be overrated as mediocre.

News, Slideshow, These Days

These Days: Sunday, July 12th, 2015

/

The 4 Knots Festival moved to the much larger larger Pier 84 this year and on a gorgeous afternoon with an astounding line-up art rock guitar bands, the larger area made it much easier to enjoy after overcrowding was a problem last year. A spectacular even, a ten minute walk from Time Square, it was a quintessential New York even. Standout? Stephen Malkmus was great and Twin Peaks were a revelation. Full review to follow.

Medium Cool, News, Slideshow

Medium Cool: Talk Show Guests Week Of July 13th, 2015

/

Now is the summer of our discontent, where like reverse Yogi Bears talk show hosts waddle off and hibernate through the summer till who knows what, right? I guess I will go with OMI on Fallon because I wanna take a closer look at the “Cheerleader” star, maybe he will have something to tell me I don’t know about the weird world of reggae based one hit wonders.

Live, Slideshow

Taylor Swift’s “1989 World Tour” At Metlife, Friday, July 10th, 2015, Review

/

Taylor Swift is one of our greatest stars, a lovely, compassionate woman who through the social media has made a direct connection with, and improved the lives of, millions of teenage girls and one middle aged man. She writes superb songs that sell millions and performs them very well. If the 1989 World Tour was an Impressionist painting it would be a Matisse -now how bad blood can that be?

Live, Slideshow

Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of July 13th, 2015

/

A stretch I know, and to be honest I can’t remember why on earth I decided this was a good idea. Maybe because it is relatively close to my home. Or maybe I just thought it would make a fun story. Honestly, I have no idea… but, Foo Fighters at Citifield on Wednesday. You can tell your grandchildren, or maybe just the girl in the cubicle net to you, that you were there when… This Wednesday

News, Slideshow

2015: The Year Taylor Swift Lost Her Taylor Swiftyness

/

What sort of fools do they take us for? Really, what a pathetic little maneuver. If this wasn’t a set up from beginning to end, what does the word set up actually mean? It is a wretched little business move by a rich, smart woman who lost any sense of moral balance. Or, again, that is my perception of the situation.

News, Slideshow

More Billy Zoom Funding Info

/

Billy is 67 years old so, as Mike Holcomb noted, he probably has Medicare. Also, he is a staunch conservative and would probably not sign up for Obamacare any way. Though it doesn’t really handle the main question here, why does he need any help whatsoever. Helen thinks he might be aware of it. Perhaps.

Recorded, Slideshow

Be Here Now: New Album Reviews, Friday, July 10th, 2015

/

No Life For Me – Wavves And Cloud Nothings – Two punk rock heavy melody bands reach the second half of their 20s with a tasty little rock album. Cloud Nothings have been on a roll since the Steve Albini album an Wavves have been a little whatever for the past couple of years, but this will do them both well. All loud guitars and playful tunefulness, two good bands, one good album – ALBUM OF THE WEEK B+

News

Remember: Friday Is NEW ALBUM RELEASE DAY

/

Yes, folks, Friday is the new Tuesday and if you have had to spend an extra three days listening to Neil Young, now praise the Lord Alight the long wait is over and when you go on Spotify or Apple Play or Rdio, there they will be waiting at 5am tomorrow, all shiny and new and ready to be ripped apart by your friendly neighborhood rock critic.

Slideshow

Oldies But Goldies: Screamin’ ‘Bout Elvis, 2009

/

I have written about Elvis Presley so much in the past six years, this 2009 piece seems equal parts obvious and quaint, why would I write something everybody knows? This was very early in and I was still announcing my tastes to my blog readers -you know who you are, and one thing remains true… if you don’t love Elvis, why are you reading rock nyc?

Movies, News, Slideshow

“Minions” Review

/

With neither the plot nor the intelligence of the Gru classics, it is a kid’s movie for kids, which, when it aims for the adults, misfires. Despite the occasional smart touch, a great dance with Tower guards to a Queen song had me smiling ear to ear, and despite some truly lovely animation and 60s period detaul, this is not a very good movie . The Minions were ionce cute and now they are cutesy… what a shame.

Slideshow

10 Songs: Thursday, July 9th, 2015

/

Black Is The Color Of My True Love’s Hair – Lauryn Hill – This beautiful, powerful woman has a fine and robust voice and she can do many things with it, the one thing she fails to do is show compassion or warmth and it is effecting this Nina Simone cover, in a not entirely negative way – B+

News, Slideshow

These Days: Thursday, January 9th, 2015

/

Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants defensive end who injured his hand while playing with fireworks this July 4th, had his right index finger amputated in an attempt to get back in the field as soon as possible and thereby wins the award for the creepiest, stupidest and all round ghoulish story of the sports year

News, Slideshow, These Days

These days: Tuesday, July 8th, 2015

/

A busy day for computer malfunctions, first the NYSE closes for hours, then American Airline closes for hours and then the Wall Street Journal goes down. Of course, this is all a coincidence and why not? till, it is one of those you can imagine the Terminator coming to us back from the future to fix… maybe this is how the world ends, right? Not with a bang but with a computer glitch.

Charts, Slideshow

US Top 10 Singles 7-18-15

/

This is looks like the summer in a nutshell, there were a couple of other songs I thought might show up, no Jess Glynne and I coulda sworn I’d see her here, but otherwise this is as read more or less. It seems like OMI and The Weeknd will be the real battle and the only two songs I can imagine intruding on this is Demi Lovato and maybe, though it is off the chargts again, Maroon 5.

Scroll to Top