The beats are thumping, the little sounds thrown in either fit or don’t at all, and that’s what makes them so interesting. I can’t think of any other musicians who’ve done this. It’s like going to see a musical, and the songs with lyrics are the dialogue, and everything else is one of the musical numbers.
This kind of lyrically reflective performance is exactly the kind of thing that music videos are for. Well, that and to show the artist performing their song. In this case, the Brian Buckley Band achieved both. “I Am Human” is off the band’s latest album Hysterical Blindness
Inbetweeners- offer up the standard fare. The nerd, the stud, the fat kid and the social mess. The issue is can it play to the US kids? No. Not to any who have seen the BBC version. But there is hope in those who have nothing to compare it to
A two-song ‘Wreckage’ EP, produced by Ben Lee, will feature the song, called ‘From the Snow Tipped Hills’, as well as another one written by New Pornographer A.C. Newman, and set to be released on September 18.
Michael is thisclose to signing a lease for a new premises to house the popular supper club.
Carrie Fisher and Yoko Ono are to be among the 250 attendees and, incidentally, I wasn’t invited. This could be because they don’t know I exist and could be based upon my anti-Aryan remarks at the start of this post.
Geri Halliwell, Melanie Brown and Emma Bunton struted their stuff with Beckham at the closing ceremonies of the London Olympics. Adorable enough with their 80’s bubblegum pop, the crowd adored them. The tabloids went nuts, could a reunion be forth coming?
‘We just don’t know what’s going on in America. It’s all about the new catchy thing and that’s always changing. America is driven by record sales. It’s the home of corporations. We’re just Limp Bizkit, so we don’t know how to do anything but Limp Bizkit…’
The problem here wasn’t the extended double CD, which is better, it is the original, that sinks sputtering with “God’s Comic”. A terrible, terribly overwritten track that is the weakest link right in the middle of the album . “Veronica”, El’s most successful song to date, doesn’t help in the slightest. It is too composerly, too self righteous, too testing the waters as a serious composer. McCartney’s presence didn’t help at all. Grade: C+
Dr Michael Zuk (known as the Crazy Dentist) has a sister Kirsten who is a rather accomplished sculptress. She took a bit of that tooth, incorporated it into her piece and now touts it as in possesion of Lennons DNA.
“Moonlight Becomes You” is a perfect creation: a gorgeous form of seduction, with da Bing crooning “If I said I love you I want you to know, it’s not just because there’s moonlight although, moonlight becomes you so”.
These punk girls have become a symbol of freedom, now, if more Russians protest against Putin, this will be a good example of insurrection driven by music.
What it boils down, is free publicity for musicians willing to downgrade themselves for the puffed out egotism of a rock mag that overreaches as a rule. Both of these women should refuse to participate. Just say, “no, I don’t think so”, and walk it off.
Nine minutes plus and while I do love the song, and I do love this heavy dubby version with Jones sratchy guitar only coming to the forefront at the end, I can think of more productive ways for the closest we ever got to a Clash reunion. Still, the hypnotic deep bass bounce suggests an alternative Clash never reached. Grade: A
On August 5th, Joe and Stephanie got married and it is hard to think of a sweeter couple or two people more worthy of happiness. Joe And Stephanie Steinhardt? Works for me
The Brooklyn band had plenty of it and didn’t let anybody breathe a second during the release party for their new EP ‘Future Rock’, playing song after song with the same passion and fire in the belly. This is a group of people who live through what they believe, the revolution through music.
I read a comment online saying how Never Shout Never’s Harmony was like a “teenage, amateur Bob Dylan with a few more pop influences”. Intrigued, I knew I had to listen.
Although, there is a bit too much space twitter, the vocals are perfection and the chorus contagious and strong. There is a quirky tone to Newman’s voice. A bit congested and throaty at times and rather than sounding messy it comes across as vulnerable.
“Ghandi used a protest around salt taxes, MLK and Rosa Parks targeted buses. The American Revolution focused on tea. None of these targets were the whole point, they were the venue. The Russian Orthodox church has shown how clearly they are collaborating with the Putin regime, and was a target of a NON VIOLENT mocking protest. That is legitimate.”
In the US, we tend to have forgotten about this, popular music has mostly turned into entertainment for youth and can be summed up by herds of teenager girls in heat calling themselves ‘Beliebers’ and spoiled teenager boys admiring grown-up men rapping about rolex and Lamborghinis
Slash says: “Since I grabbed the reins and took off on my own I have realised you don’t need confrontation and volatility to make rock’n’roll work. It’s about playing music and having fun.
Her name is Dolores Erickson, she is 76 years old now, and she was interviewed in the the Seattle Times by Eric Lacitis, who found this quote from the New Yorker : “it fogged the minds of many young men”
‘Manson’s memory, or delivery, wasn’t nearly as sharp. On the contrary, where Bad Religion connected, Manson alienated. The singer’s platinum albums in the ’90s helped define goth rock, but on Saturday he seemed like a vampire awakened during daylight: groggy and out of it.’
So why filth up a perfect good concert with political warble? I say ‘perfectly good’ as a courtesy. I’m sure there were lots of paying fans at a recent Hank Williams JR show, did they need to hear this?
If all you know about Shaffer is his work with Letterman, you haven’t scratched the surface. In the 1970s he was House Pianist for Saturday Night Live, and also worked with the Blues Brothers. Paul was also the musical director for Gilda Live On Broadway, one of my favorite theater going experiences from back in the 1970s!
A pop soul album with one smart as a whip rap after another and hooks a-plenty. And if you wanna hear it do this: go to Best Buy on 44th street for his headlining turn on August 25th!
For Joe Strummer’s 60th Birthday celebration, we get the official releases, we get the B Sides and we get Acton Concert where Mick Jones joined him for a heavy dub version of “Bankrobber” among others. Problems? Any one?
When The Ship Comes In – Outernational – I wanted more muscle on the “Future Rock” EP, and I got it off this cover from the Dylan Tribute to benefit Amnesty International. It is a folk song, but the band give it a marshall beat and Miles Solay pushes the wordy lyric to the brink – Grade: A
If this is the state of the art, the art is coming into its own. As it works the fringe and the edge of pop music, metal is now left entirely to its own devices and it has become a counter-culture staple with offshoots and offshoots on offshoots, but rules firmly to be adhered to. I spent five hours with modern metal and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
The stage blasted off with their dialed lights and the crowd erupted like Pompeii. They played for an hour and a half and we all knew they were gonna come out for an encore. What we didn’t know was that they would continue to play eight more tracks and continue for an additional hour.
As the Sunset Strip Music Festival is blocking traffic in West Hollywood on Saturday afternoon, and people are getting crowded with temperatures over 90ºF, I am home, still sweating in front of my computer, but comfortable nevertheless…
Since 2005 Jersey Boys had rocked Broadway with the tale of Frankie Valli. That’s all well and good but in honor of their 50th Anniversary, Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons will actually have a full week run on Broadway.
He came up with the idea of having a robot stand-in for me in the video, a perfect replica I could send out to do tours and signings and what-not so the me of the video could stay home and do other things. It’s a funny idea because there really IS an element of having to having to craft a separate persona when you perform.
Considering her next single is to be called ‘Partynauseous’ , I believe this is crap. This is why she annoys me, she can actually survive on talent yet she cannot resist making a complete ass out of herself in the name of ‘art’ and ‘born this way’ nonsense
His new version is more stripped down, with less instrumentation, focusing on Elliott’s naked and fragile vocals, as if he was playing in the same room, right in front of you
Why would you want to pay to see the top 9 finalists of this crap program for an hour and a half? Why? Is there nothing left in the world better to occupy your time with?
Those people who were celebrating the summer of love are now in their mid 60’s and early 70s. Think of that and its astounding. Its like a giant Centrum Silver ad, the handicapped parking places will be jammed packed and Life Alert will be on standby.
OK, the keeper in all this is the Pet Shop Boys, and, of course, Bob Dylan. But how about the new Amanda Palmer album, sure the single sucked but maybe she can maintain her million dollar baby. SOme other goodies palling round as well: ZZ TOP, Bob Mould, Cat Power, the xx. Apparently, except for a weak labour day tuesday, the season has begun!
There is being hot and then there is being hot. Al Green is never less than right up there in the debate for the greatest soul singer of all time. He has already won the debate for greatest soul singer of the 1970s. And then there is hot after having the President croon one of your songs and remaining one of the greatest of all time. The Reverend is playing the Beacon on Wednesday but right now it feels more than just the great singer in town, it is the great singer making a victory lap in town.
Please God, I am not a praying man, if praying’s the same as begging Lord, I don’t take no charity. But if you can hear, please Lord, don’t let Ryan O’Shaughnessy hit it big in the States. I don’t really dislike the Britain’s Got Talent (ugh, what a name) singer but that double “h” and double “s” is gonna kill me.
Another boring chart. Rita is like Nicki Minaj if Nicki couldn’t rap and was a little knockout. Elbow and Kate are the only remnants of the Olympics bounce.
Beautiful Thing – Mini bio from the Global soul man, who has been around more than you have, and here is settling down into a soul groove and self help manual. Lives in its lightest touchest, the back-up harmonies for one – Grade: B+
There is such a thing as karma in this world. And if you want some bad karma fast, be mean to Dino’s kid and you will get it in the ear. The truth is, Deana can sing well, her phrasing is fine, she is a showwoman and she put on a fine show. And, that, my friends, is amore.
Musically, their sound has devolved into a streamlined bland version of what they used to be. They used to have some variety in their songs, shown by “Dance Hall Drug” and “Five Minutes to Midnight”, which were wonderfully composed and full of twists and turns that kept you tuned in
People (mostly from the UK!) descend upon Elvis Presley Blvd in Memphis TN and for a week they spend insane amounts of money on souvenirs and entertainment. None of it really worth the cost but it makes the people feel good to be a part of the event.
First of all, does Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti make that kind of money? They are an indie band, with a still underground-cultish success, could it be a bit exaggerated?
Jay Z is currently working on the soundtrack, was this idea born of his sample of “Hard Knock Life” sample in the tune Ghetto Anthem? Wow I am honestly disturbed at this project and at Emma Thompson for actually making it happen.
The Odd Future very first Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival will feature the usual suspects, such as Syd Tha Kid’s band the Internet, and their hardcore friends Trash Talk, who just signed to OF’s label, plus rides (really rides inside the Nokia?), games, contests, and what else? It is difficult to keep up with these kids!
Each painting has managed to capture the message of a song, like the one related to ‘Oh Susannah’, which features a dungaree-wearing banjo player with the text ‘Don’t you cry for me’, or the one related to ‘God Save the Queen’, showing an iconic image of Queen Elizabeth embroidering an American flag.
A new weekly column, essentially only songs released or re-released in 2012 that we (or I) really love this week. The Taylor will be up there for awhile now. PSB kinda fell off between TS and SB. Bob Mould is a grower. And PE is better than I initially claimed it was.
