rock nyc

People are falling all over the place, from skates and waves, people are kissing each other all over the rowdy mosh pit, and Keith Morris is screaming his lungs out as usual

satiric? Actually, the entire story is a satire on rock star privilege. Or is it a parody on Courtney’s and Dave’s, and even Francis’, complete bizarreness.

But two songs in, I found New Life revealing itself. The Wales song wasn’t bad, on the deluxe version the Rick Ross duet -Ross’s bass worked well in counter distinction with Monica’s velvety tone, the back up singers help carry Monica along on the lovely (“I wanna fall in love…”) “Catch Me. And before I knew it I was 5 songs deep.

New York Mag gave this song a shout out, and I can see why but I find them very middlebrow stuff. I caught em ipening for Counting Crows around the start of their career and they were excellent, still they are like Fountains Of Wayne -distinct, tasteful, boring. By the way, Christmas is in Autumn not Winter. Grade: B

This is in fact Johansson’s 2006 cover of the Gershwin’s standard, remixed by 3D and DFA’s Tim Goldsworthy, buried in electronics and distortion, as you have never heard it before.

There is no need for anything flashy because what you want to see about The Royalty is the fact that drummer Joel Quintana, keyboardist Daniel Marin, guitarist Jesus Apodaca, and bassist Will Daugherty are all totally absorbed in their instruments and in their music. Lead singer Nicole Boudreau plays this fantastically simple

They are opening a store/club in Williamsburgh because Williamsburgh doesn’t have enough and they can rub shoulder s with Pitchfork and the Dirty Projectors and everybody can be very fucking happy together

Putting the pop into popcharts, and not one that isn’t new pop 2012 style, production and songwriting my committee. It is 1975 all over again. How bad is that? Depends upon the song

The more I listen to the Nicki, the better a pop move it feels. The proof that Madonna swiped the # 1 spot last week? Compare her to Lionel. AND, nothing seems to have much traction does it?

With the exception of Odd Future, Joker may be the best new rapper around. Here he spits out his rhymes with a fast fury and has the sort of flow that feels missing too often. Grade: B+

The band has released a debut EP, ‘Forever’ available for free download on their website haimtheband.com, and you can have a taste of it below. I don’t know, I am not really sold at the first listening, these tracks undoubtedly have this 80s feeling that I have never been a fan of, but live is always a different experience.

According to Astronautalist, it will kind of sound like a hip-hop record, with a lot of cuts as ‘There may be tracks where I freestyle for hours and hours, and we may end up using four words’.

This video shot while the guys were in Australia gives a great glimpse into the workings of this band. Fun and work with friends. They have a cohesive vibe that cant be faked- they love what they do, and they do it well because of that.

It is hard to know whether to laugh or cry but if music is a microcosm of the real it is possible they three are lieing and it is equally possible the three are telling the truth.

Litost – the Ambassadors – Is a Czech word which means a state of feeling miserable and humilaited (I can think of another: Life). It connects insult with revenge and the desire to hit back. And this indie band have written a truly drastic piece of strng laden sadness that more than lives up to it. Grade: B+

Pitbull is a whole lot younger than I thought he was. A young 31 years of age and from Dade County to Worldwide. Pretty impressive! I am late to the table on the genius of this entertainers, but Im not ashamed of it, Im glad I gave him a listen

I will probably not be the only one thinking about Tim Burton and his dark animated universe with weird wood-puppet characters when watching it

A soft and emo filled Derek Sanders (who needs shampoo STILL) goes on a heartfelt journey into loss. Well played with minimal acting need and the band shots are beautifully done. Are these the same Dortito eating kids we met up with two years ago?

The Verve recordings were made between 1952 thru 1957 and while not up to his 1930s material, to a neophyte such as myself, it is a little ‘tomato” or “tomartoo”. Wilson swings through dextrous, light fingered instrumental takes of dozens of standards and listening to him on the way back from the boardwalk it was the supreme match of background and upfront music.

. First off its going to get banned cuz there are scenes of tattooing children’s faces and putting plastic bags on your head. Since society is so idiotic they don’t realize this is art- they will try it at home and some trailer park trash is going to die cuz of a Jack White tune.

Somewhere between going out and returning home, there is a netherword of quiet disquietude and Carole does self-conscious love all over the album and especially on this song. Grade: A-

Standing sidestage to photograph my idols is ineffable. I got to stand in the area that the band kept their equipment in, and I was the only photographer allowed in there. That opportunity was outstanding.

Lyrically, this song is so killer that my pathetic white middle class self is gonna be throwing down these lyrics like a wanna be gangsta. I could well get shot for it but they’re so contagious and so well paced that I cant help myself.

’This generation is so dead. You ask a kid, ‘What are you doing this Saturday?’ and they’ll be playing video games or watching cable, instead of building model cars or airplanes or doing something creative. Kids today never say, ‘Man, I’m really into remote-controlled steamboats.’ They never say that.’