rock nyc

do we really need to boost the sales of fast food restaurants in a country where obesity has never been so high? These fast food chains are the worst of the worst, they are terrible at every single level, at the health and ecological levels, and should totally disappear (I know!). Each bite of this thing is a step ahead on the path of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes

Over here at rock nyc, we have an seasonal ritual whereby we sneer at the longwinded blowhards at pitchfork.com, and then add insult to injury by reposting their noteworthy releases.

Ultravox was an innovative moody and wonderfully decade appropriate band in the early 80’s, they have a new album due out that will try to replicate that vibe. Lets see how it flies in 2012. I’m hopeful!

But James is optimistic about the possible ‘reunion’, even declaring: ‘Yeah, hopefully, naturally. I don’t know, you’d have to wait and see. The will of God, nature’s support, I guess. So yeah, maybe.’

Is Madonna’s voice weak? Yeah, I guess, but it works good enough within the songs. Are the lyrics clumsy? Sure. Who thought being a multi-millionaire divorcee would be such a bore. Does it sink in the middle? Yes, it sinks in the middle.

From its wall of sound drums, to its arch, troubled vocal, to its rewritten verse (“each morning I lie wake and find sunlight softly shining on her hair, And then I realize I’m wrong in thinking that she doesn’t really care…”), the single greatest Beach Boys cover ever.

I’ve never really enjoyed The Summer Set live as much as recorded, but it doesn’t mean that I still don’t like them. However this new tune definitely is tailored to Dales’ voice way more.

Minaj must be taken in moderation, If you listen to her too often you will go insane and if you are a white middle class adult you will simply snap and kill someone and we cant have that.

2. Odd Future at The Hammerstein on March 20th – Release part for Volum 2 became a two year retrospective and defined Act II in the continuing story of the Worlds Greatest Hip Hop posse.

Fiona Apple has just revealed on her Facebook page, the tracklist of her upcoming album, as well as the cover art, which is a little bit on the weird side

“Jackson filters the material through his own musical imagination while exploring an assortment of unexpected grooves and textures. The resulting album is a seamless fusion of sounds and styles”

The magazine has also opened up conversations on otherwise hush-hush topics. For the 11th year the magazine will team up with Everyman, to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancers.

It’s an odd mish mosh and not quite the same as the original: it is more like a roll call of eh? But why? Except… notice his three daughters will be on the cover and you see what is triggering all of these feelings.

Because dead or alive? I’m gonna do my damndest to get a tix to see the Scissor Sisters at Bowery Ballroom. I have never seen them live, and tthey are a great, undeniable, top of the pops, disco bands

Costello wraps his lips round every single word of Jagger’s devastating put down, managing to sneer and find extra venor venom on lines like “out of here without a doubt”. Devastating benius. Grade: A+

This song is lovely. I have to point out that vocally they do hit the Kings of Leon spectrum at points. This is your familiar happy bar band sound with a dab of beanie chic. How is that for a descriptive? See bands like this cannot stand out alone until they catch a massive break

Growing up in France, I have absolutely no shame to say that what I remember about French music sucked big time! You are going to say you know a few French artists who don’t suck, but every time I talk about this with an American native, Serge Gainsbourg’s name comes up, but beside him, there is most of the time nobody else

1. The OF Tapes Vol 2 – If this is a long way from perfect, it is still the most important hip hop album since Goblin.

Just listen, it’s a very catchy tune, which may remind you a little Bright Eyes – but I bet Iman is going to totally contradict me on this one!

Ivy Dye is currently recording a debut EP, which should be released this summer

2. Some Nights – fun. – A true original, it’s like they are covering a cover of a Glee cover and then throwing it away at starting from scratch. Or do I mean Smash?

I can see this being offered from a band that didn’t just come off an extended hiatus. We had ‘Dirty Little Secret’ and “Gives You Hell’. That’s it and a lead singer with a pretty boy face

Kids In The Street – The All American Rehects – Not much, but not much with a melody and a back beat. the lyrics are nowhere, but on songs like single “Beekeeper’s Daughter”, what they lose in coherence they make up for in Beatle references. Grade: B+

The Costello, though a live album, is stupendous. Everything you hoped for. I can’t find the Laura Marling but it’s out there somewhere. Norful is old fashioned Gospel in a year of new fashioned Gospel.

In a tech obsessed time, we love machines with the same fervor we live loving things. This is a sleek zooming dance machine, a pure genius of throbbing beats manufactured with a wiley synth hook going high and higher and a jolt ending. Grade: B+

Saxman Geoff Blythe (whose resume is staggering and includes working with Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe. As well as being a founding member of Dexys Midnight Runners) and his merry men of GI Blythe have recorded a new LP called “Lost In Space”. A brass fused frolic that is aggressive and melodic and incredibly unique.

It’s so raw and real, and really emphasizes the lyrics which are beautiful. “If you’re lost and alone, or you’re sinking like a stone, carry on” is a nice message that is truly accentuated further by the clean and pure, unprocessed version

Economically, it sure is a very good thing for Indio, and it is not a surprise the mayor is all excited about the news! The festival is growing to more gigantic proportions each year, and they are expecting 90,000 people per day for six complete days this year.

all I can do is add my voice to rock nyc’s writer Cathy Dupuis and say I’m sorry I said his trousers were too tight. Meanwhile on Tuesday, BB Kings is holding a Davy Jones memorial with former band members past and present plus special guests. I doubt we’ll get any Monkees but for $15 I’m gonna go any way.

So whas it the completeness or the hit single that brought Perry back up the charts two years later? But one way or other, it has lasted her longerthan any romance…

wasn’t thrilled when I first head the Chis Brown a coupla weeks back, but giving it another listen just now, this os as straighforward a dance sure short as you’re likely to hear

Am I That Lonely Tonight – Justin Townes Earle – I did by a tix to see him at Webster Hall in May. Justin’s new album is so good I’d good I’d be surprised if it doesn’t make my top top if 2012. Grade: A