Matt Whipkey’s “Underwater” Reviewed
We don’t want Matt to change, we want him to continue. Too good to be a regional phenom, too old fashioned to find an easy way out of Omaha. If Matt does what he does till he does it, that’s gonna do just fine.
Recorded
The A+ List: “Tom Ames Prayer” by Steve Earle
Ames took to robbin’ banks, and had some close calls, nearly at the end of a hang man’s rope. But as the song opens, Tom is “trapped in an alley in Abilene with all but four shells spent”, and with the end near and that’s when he asks God for a little bit of luck and doesn’t get it. But before that he yelps with joy at the memory of a close call.
Listen To Metz’s New Single ‘Acetate’
The song is their usual earth-shaking, head-banging, ear-bleeding party, as I said, they have an excellent recipe and they keep delivering new and improved versions of their powerful formula. ‘Acetate’ is a grungy distortion with massive dissonance
Singles Going Steady: Week of February 16th, 2015
For the first song off the eagerly anticipated new Brian Wilson album No Pier Pressure (best pun ever), Brian hooks up with two Beach Boys for a minor though not unpleasant Wilson circa Imagination type work. It swings like the mid-70s, mostly because of David Marks subte guitar (his solo is lovely and lowkey). Al Jardine adds his voice of the harmonies – B+
Be Here Now: New Albums Reviewed 2-17-15
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros lead singer, produced by Marcus Mumford, so it could be twee folkieness and veers close from time to time, but the songs are very very strong and the production is sweet and clean. An addictive, talented album, alll the more surprising if you’re used to a steady diet of Edward Sharpe – ALBUM OF THE WEEK -A-
Deaf FM’s “Skylight” Reviewed
“Skylight”is a hard rock ballad in the verses which explodes into an anthemic instrumental with a sterling guitar solo on the break and a kitchen sink expanded power source chorus.
Last Call For Week Of February 9th, 2015
Diana La Cazadora – War On Women – Steve Crawford would like this, a hard rocking ode to the Mexican wrestler, includes a Spanish language break and a lot of hard riffing sweetness in this hard nosed call out for strng, yeah even physically strong, women – B+
Death Cab For Cutie’s New Video ‘Black Sun’
a lot has happened in Gibbard’s private life and it’s probably not a coincidence if the album is named after a Japanese art which involves fixing broken things without hiding their scars, an obvious metaphor for his broken marriage?
Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” Reviewed
When we discover she has broken up with another twenty something, a Timor Steffens or a Brahim Zaibat, we don’t imagine her sitting on a couch with a large tub of Haagen Daz and “Sleepless In Seattle” on repeat. We imagine her looking through dancers auditions and picking out a replacement.
Kanye West’s “Wolves” Featuring Vic Mensa And Sia reviewed (Stream It Here)
sounds like really weak “Runaway” plus SILENCE a la Yeezus but to less effect (it is more affected than effective) and Vic Mensa who is talented, like a rapping Frank Ocean and buddies with Chance The Rapper (plus, this is better than “Iconic”) playing the Pusha T role. Sia howling on a low track is weird but not terrible.
Drake’s “If You’re Reading This, It’s Already Too Late” Reviewed
It works like an extreme ambient, it moves into the background with that steady flow and smooth voice, which he clips and stretches out over and over again. The songs are fully formed and samey, they could segue on the same beats, the same sounds, yet it works over and over again.
Sneak Peaks: New Album Releases Week Of February 16th, 2015
Absolutely the new Mavericks is the one we all have our eyes on, Juliana Hatfield? Really, doesn’t she hate everybody for making her play rock and roll or something? Why is she back with her old band? Kate Pierson? The B-52s stalwart has already released two great songs off her debut album so year, I am up for it. Colin Hay???? Still at work but yeah, it’s The Mavericks.
Singles Going Steady: Week Of February 9th, 2015
Raising The Skate – Speedy Ortiz – This is a big release for the band, the first post breakthrough soud and it is an artful indie rock with a great intro and an ace riff which repeats from oe end to the other, taking center stage here and there – B+
Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band’s “12/31/75 Upper Darby, PA” Reviewed
On this live album “”12/31/75 Upper Darby, PA” Bruce was close but not quite Bruce yet. On the eve of 1976, “Devil In A Blue Dress” seguing into “Good Golly Miss Molly” into “CC Rider” as the minutes ticked into seconds, was the definition of the honest roar of rock and roll
Charli XCX Covers Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”
Here is further proof with the great Charli XCX’s cover of “Shake It Off” where she just about maitains the melody but speeds it way up and let’s it evolve into a beats heavy remix, punk by nature but not be birth, it is like the Ramones meet Morodor meets Joan Jett circa her poppy rocky “I Love Rock N Roll” Best
Be Here Now: New Album Releases Reviewed, February 10th, 2015
Martin may not be the most popular singer songwriter of all time but he is a true rarity: year by year, song by song, album by album he either stays in place or gets better and better. This is just an excellent album, it will come and go but it is hard to fault this witty, literate, interesting, committed guy -ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A
Last Call: Week of February 2nd, 2015
Sunshine – Kids – On the most consistently excellent album of last week, they close off the show with a gorgeous folk rock ballad full of poise and moment and ruig guitars, like folk music yes, but something else, somethinng both deep and light – A
‘Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper’ Reviewed
I had avoided writing about it… not because it is a morbid album, it is just the opposite actually, but because it is a very busy and lively thing that may evolve like a living being in front of you, escaping your thoughts and ideas at each listen.
Sneak Peaks: Upcoming Album Releases Week Of February 9th, 2015
January was so strong it seemed like we were heading for a dream year but two weeks into February and not so much. Maybe, I am not a huge fan but she has a great voice, so MAYBE, Rhiannon Giddens, maybe the new Stabbing Westward offshoot album will kill it (maybe) BUT OTHERWISE??? I loved “Adios” so let’s give it to Ricky Martin… plus two Martin picks on the same day. Why not?
10 Songs: February 8th, 2015
I am reading an early draft of rock nyc Steve Crawford’s excellent upcoming album “1000 Essential Songs From The 1970s”. Read it with Spotify by your side and Steve’s insights are even more fun. It is sooooo good and I can’t wait for him to publish it. Meanwhile here is 10 songs culled solely from Rock Songs released in 1970
“That Lucky Old Sun” Spotified And Reviewed Over And Over
An unescapable world for Dylan and a heaven in the heavens for the sun. Dylan gives the song the deepness of age, the weariness it bears itself. The music, more than anywhere else here sounds like classicist (indeed, all the songs here sound like they are arranged for a full orchestra – Grade: A
Direct Current’s Up Coming Album releases
Because Direct Current’s taste is so different than mine (yes, I know, but one thing at a time) their list of new releases works as a litmus taste, I scan the list and check and check and check and more than three quarters of the time I check out. So let’s move merrily along: The Wombats, Laura Marling, Nellie McKay, Estelle, Juliana Hatfield Three, Martin Sexton, Texax… maybe I am being a little difficult but those are the ones that catchy my eyes on this list.
James Murphy’s Future is Here
it says here he did the Original (incidental?) music? Good, this is what he killed off LCD Soundsystem for? Well, done Jimmy. Oh, and I dislike Haim on principle as wella s not much caring for the album OR the live show.
Singles Going Steady Week Of February 2nd, 2015
Chinatown – Girlpool – Post fame and fortune for the new Haim, here they come up with a pretty, understated pop move, two part harmony, pretty and smart. It sounds like a modern day Roches – B+
10 Songs: Saturday, February 3rd, 2015
Bitch I’m Madonna – Madonna – Except when she is getting onstage three hours late, I have nothing against Madonna. But, if I work in the 21st century teaches of anything,it teaches us that talent is finite. This is nothing very much, and Nicki Minaj adds nothing at all. A nursery rhyme less bad and more old, she throws everything at the track abc none of it sticks – C
Sid Vicious Did Sing, But That’s Not What Is Worth Remembering
Vicious in 1976 was more than the face of punk on a street level although he was that (Rotten the star, Vicious the man on the street), he was the face of face, the face of the UK, of England Dreaming: when you think about the limits of punk UK, you get to the image of Sid Vicious.
Living With Vinyl
Vinyl: you had to share your live in space with albums: music became a roommate, in order to own music the only way to own music, was to co-exist with music, physically involve yourself with music.
rock nyc Top 10 Songs Week of February 2nd, 2015
The Dylan album is a very good but he also got lucky, this is one of the weakest weeks you’ll find not surrounding Christmas. The Girlpool single is a revelation. If you haven’t heard the new AWOLNATION single, you only have yourself to blame.
10 Songs: Friday, February 6th, 2015
For No One – Houndstooth – A big song that doesn’t feel as big as it should, alternative folk rock on acid welding its words and considered by npr for one to be a major breakthrough for the Rough Trade bad. – B
Gwen Stefani on The Tonight Show; Medley From Hell
OMG OMG OMG, she ran to “Spark The Fire” launching into “Rich Girl” and “What You Waiting For?” from 2004’s Love. Angel. Music. Baby. and “Sweet Escape”, all the while strutting white girl style with her pet Asians.
10 Songs: Thursday, February 5th, 2015
Vistas – Kids – In a very weak week, Kids stand out as masterful indie rock, a deep, sweet sound like Bon Iver without the vocals and if they were raised as caddies in Fort Lauderdale somewhere – B+
The A+ List: Lyle Lovett’s “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)”
That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas)” is a full blown, full band rip roaring triumph of jingoism. Better than Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” because Randy is all sneer and you have to look deep to see Lyle’s wink (it’s in the “the next time someone laughs at you” line).
Rihanna, Macca And Yeezus Video For “Fourfiveseconds” Is Here
Still, it is very satisfying to watch an ex-Beatle standing at the apex of pop music in 2015. You can’t go much higher than this and he handles himself with a sort of restrained dignity that makes all pleasures seem more in keeping for all of us. Age becomes McCartney
10 Songs: Wednesday, February 4th, 2015
Telegram Sam – T Rex – Live at the BBC in 1971, a perfect blueprint of a sound not perfected: nascent glam meets bubblegum on the cusp of art pop – A+
Be Here Now: New Album Releases Reviewed Week of February 2nd, 2015
The claim can be countrypolitan in reverse only it isn’t really country, it is closer to the sort of reverence for great songs Dylan showed on Good As I’ve Been To You, then folk, here the Great American Songbook –with more than its fair share of obscurities, rearranged for Dylan’s band and Dylan’s voice. Why? Because he wanted to sing them – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A
Best of 2015: rock nyc In Order And Reviewed Through January 31st, 2015
As a lyricist Pete wetnz is a child of his emo rock urges, the strange drawn out song titles that turn and move in ways you don’t expect. Except it never quite manages to pay off well enough. Except this on does, a masterpiece of lost love which uses Judy Jetson’s mobility as a future history of a disappeared love.
Last Call For Week Of January 26th, 2015
Marathon – Doomtree – Good last track, it has that fare thee well feel to it, a trebly introduction, dream world, something in a dream world and yet away from everything, “i’m tearing down all these outmoded ideas about how it’s going” they claim… – B+
10 Songs: Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015
This song echoes down modern hip hop, it is almost as important as RZA’s backing tracks on Enter and when you listen to M.I.A., those clipped off beats were born here. Plus “beep, who’s got the keys to the jeep’ is iconic – A+
Starbucks’ Song Of The Week: The Decemberists’ ‘Make You Better’
Two weeks after the release of ‘What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World’, Starbucks is offering a song from The Decemberists’ latest album.
10 Songs: Monday, February 2nd, 2015
o say they don’t make songs like this first recording by the fantastic early punk all girl band the slits is not to say they really should do. It makes you miss Ari Upp all the more and reading Viv Albertine’s autobiography, it is amazing how hard they had to fight with men in the industry to get heard the way she wanted to be heard. Not John Peel, the engineers – A
“The Legend of Chavo Guerrero” by The Mountain Goats Reviewed
I miss Chavo Guerrero and I miss being fed justice (fabricated or anticipated) on a weekly basis. Yet, as the song concludes, “It’s real sweet to grow old.” Might as well enjoy the ride, there’s no good alternative
10 Songs: Sunday, February 1st, 2015
Yes, I am sick of the Great American Songbook, there is nothing left to them; younger people should embrace it because I’ve heard it too often and can’t any more. With exceptions and anything Ella sings is an exception by definition. Creamy, gorgeous voice caresses every inch of the lyric with both innocence and also with sophistication. Incomparable genius – A+
The Best Of 2015 – Albums Through January 31st, 2015
17 albums isn’t bad for January, last year there where only 13 albums on my best of list at this point. Also, the rate of excellence is through the roof. Especially hip hop where from Lupe Fiasco to Joey BadA$$ and beyond it is on. Top of the heep i a huge album by David Bronson. A deal changer.
FKA Twig Performs New Song “Figure 8” (Stream It Here)
People don’t drop her name often enough but something about the clink clank mied with the heaviest of beats (not dub step, trip hop) reminds me of Portishead meets M.I.A. I really like FKA twigs, she isn’t like most people
Gov’t Mule And John Scofield’s “Sco-Mule” Reviewed
For a live album, Sno-Mule feels a little aimless, it doesn’t really build though the last composition feels like a last composition, it feels as though this evening the only place left for them might be “Mountain Jam”. But nothing quite builds momentum
The Best Of 2015: Best Songs Through January 31st, 2015
I hope to be a little more discriminating in 2015, and weeded this list down from 60 songs. I also want to be more careful, my consumer bound. I plan three lists. One, best songs of the year, two best songs of the month and three very best songs of the year. Say the top thirty or so. The deside is not to have the unwieldy lists of last to as much a dregree as possible. This is (more or less) in order but my Top 20 is in definitive order
10 Songs: Saturday, January 31st, 2015
Really Love – D’Angelo – As anticipation mounts for D’Angelo at the Apollo a week today, this is samba track is about as mainstream, as D gets nowadays and it is really pretty good, maybe as close to a complete song as we are ever gonna get. Definitely a pleaser, a soft clicking shuffle with, can it be? a melody – B+
Diana Krall’s “Walflower” Reviewed
I wouldn’t have bothered a full review at all but… when punk happened in 1976 it was God and the rest of pop was Sodom And Gomorrah and everything it wiped out is on this this album only much, much worse than you remember it.
rock nyc top 10 Songs Week of January 26th, 2015
This is shaping up into the best January this decade. Both FOB songs are masterful, Imagine Dragons released the only song they’ve ever written I’ve ever enjoyed, AWOLNATION is a revelation and Prass is a complete shocker. As for Bettye, well, listen to it yourself. And Kate Tempest is better than all of them.
Father John Misty Is Streaming His New Album On SAP
Despite the cheesiness of his SAP streaming service and its music for elevators, I can still hear the melodies which means that this album is gonna be great. Father Misty John’s ‘I Love You Honeybear’, is out on February 10th via Sub Pop.