Welcome To This Charming Charlie: The Greatest Website Of Them All
Cool, right? And funny and kinda accurate because Lauren knows what children understand, Morrissey is two parts Charlie, one part Lucy, and the rest of the band are all Linus
Sneak Peaks: New Album Releases 10-8-13
Last time I looked I was interviewing a musician signed to Saddle Creek next week, so let’s send some love to Tim Kasher of Cursive whose last solo album was pretty good. But any week Sleigh Bells release a new album must belong to Sleigh Bells.
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-8-13
Bitter Rivals – Sleigh Bells – The new album is released today and this song leading up proves there is nothing much to worry about: a great synth lick pushes the duo all the way and the sound is filtered through to its focussed doctored vocals and weirdo bridge – B+
Youth Lagoon At First Unitarian Church, Friday October 4th 2013 Review
I had instantaneously liked his song ‘July’ of his previous album ‘the Year of Hibernation’ when I heard it for the first time, and the songs off his new album ‘Wondrous Bughouse’ are all dealing with a bigger, fuller, and bolder sound, which was totally well-served by the full band playing with him on stage.
"Betrayal" At The Ethel Barrymore, Saturday, October 5th, 2013, Reviewed
The trio are really sad, if I hadn’t seen the movie I’d have played Harold Pinter’s play, which seems to lack any big emotional moments. But that’s not true, “Betrayal” has the moments, what’s missing is the people to act them.
Moby Wants To Plant His Seed, But Releases New Album Instead
“everybody in New York believes if they can just have the right amount of money and the right trophy wife and the right house in Palm Beach and the right vacation in St. Bart’s, they’re just convinced that everything will be okay.”
Ramones: The Sire Years (1976-1981), Thank you Rhino Records
With the CBGB Festival going down this week in NYC it’s a great time to pause and reflect on the birth of the movement. I am a big fan of Rhino Records, they seem to power through with intersting compilations and offerings and a six disc set from the ‘hey ho lets go’ guys is a fabulous gift (for me).
Best Coast's "This Lonely Morning" Reviewed (Listen Here)
The once in a life time vision of the band playing in a thunderstorm at Gov’s Ball earlier this year cementing my impression that Beth is really great. With a terse, “this really sucks” and ruminations about how she wished she was in California
UK Top 10 Albums 10-12-13
I am losing interest fast in Justin, not entirely, but really only one great song. Haim are a real bore and Alter Bridge (the guys who wrote the music for Creed – wow, that’s some kinda credentials) are hard pressed to be worse
UK Top 10 Singles 10-12-13
The Vamps are boy band youtube sensation and this song is going down very well with the tweens but less traction with older demos is my bet. Chase & Status are ready to break in the States, this is a terrific r&b single that should do well if it ever gets here.
Hear Ye on Spotify: What rock nyc Is Listening To 10-7-13
Walking On Air – Katy Perry – By the numbers disco cropper up to nothing much but what it does do, play off its drum patterns, should get the kiddies dancing – B-
Iman and Hel Do SNL: Miley Cyrus
The only thing I dont like about Miley is that fucking tongue thing and that white ghetto hair. Otherwise I think she’s a hot little ticket spreading her wings and living the ultimate ‘yolo’ and the only shame is the uptight parents and judges who think she should remain 15 forever. Get over it- shes an adult now
Shuggie Otis Kessler Theater, Dallas, TX October 4th, 2013 Reviewed
Shuggie often seems emotionally detached from the music. He’s not an authoritative vocalist, his lyrics are well crafted and instantly forgettable, he doesn’t rely on memorable hooks or catchy choruses. As a guitarist, whether replicating Hendrix style blasts or tossing out rapid-fire blues licks, he generally seems more of a technician than an emotionally engaged artist.
Why People Should Totally Shut Up At Fiona Apple's Concerts
I have never seen someone like Fiona Apple, on stage, she is a fragile and vulnerable person giving fierce performances and her songwriting is brilliant, pure and so authentic she makes me cry each time. After all that has been said about her physical appearance, she demonstrates a tremendous courage to show up on stage
Television Lite October 7th – October 11th, 2013
Mary Magpie’s heroes 21 Pilots show up though. Here is a band that she trudged out to see in a venue that held 125 people (and wasnt a sell out!) less than a year ago. Suddenly they’re everywhere
Beware: Ginger Baker Ten Show Residency At The Iridium!
His latest album is a re-release of the unbelievably brilliant No Material (with the late lamented Sonny Sharrock) from 1987 and given Ginger is promising a jazz show we can but hope he taps into this wonderful stuff
Yo La Tengo's New Song + Vinyl Dolls + DVD Set
Honestly, I have a hard time recognizing Ira, Georgia and James, but if you’re familiar with Woodring’s work you shouldn’t be surprised. The short animation coming with the dolls, curiously doesn’t feature any music and I am just wondering why on earth someone would want to buy these crazy creatures,
Singles Going Steady: New Album Reviews Week Of September 30th, 2013
Unvarnished – Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – Sure this is Joanie 101 but it is also older Joanie 101, whether worrying about aging on “Fragile” or slashing and burning “Reality Mentality”, she is still writing strong glam riffs with shout outs, and sing-alongs. No, it isn’t Album, but it is still damn good – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+
Active Viewin': Concert Picks For The Week of October 7th, 2013
With an album considered the best of the year by many of my peers under their belts and a full force return to touring for a salivating fan base, here the Del Lords are joined by one of the best garage rock bands around, Spanking Charlene, in what is certain to be the rock show to beat in 2013
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-6-13
Song Beneath The Song – Maria Taylor – The Saddle Creek stalwart has her best album to date coming out soon, till then here is an early solo song that will keep you going; that’s Conor singing back up – A
Blondie's "No Principals" Tour Featuring X, Roseland, Friday, October 4th, 2013, Reviewed
There is nothing of the elder statesperson, of the Queen Mum, of any of that stuff. By keeping cool Harry is above it, an untouchable, she remains physically provocative and less a nostalgia act. It is that and not the newer material, which make Blondie viable in 2013.
Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor And The Death Of Hedonism
My feeling remains constant: leave her alone to enjoy herself. Why shouldn’t she be free. It is amazing that women like Sinead claim slavery is freedom and freedom is a male ploy to abuse you.
Get Shot! Send Their Bassist To Masturbate On The Westboro Church's Lawn… What?
I don’t know, many people choose to ignore them, but that’s true they are becoming really freaky annoying with their endless funerals picketing. I am all for freedom of expression but these people need to be slammed on the face very hard.
So Long Lost Prophets
So here’s what you do. You pick a new name find a new charismatic front man and you get your asses back out there riding the coat tails of the LP fan base. BAM there you are again playing next years Warped Tour.
Loser And Winner For The Week Of 9-30-13: Rock The Bells And Lauren Mayberry
Loser – Rock The Bells – The hip hop festival meant to play this weekend was cancelled due to lack of sales and really, where was the big name to sell it?
Thom Yorke: Spotify Is The Last Desperate Fart Of A Dying Corpse
But it’s all about how we change the way we listen to music, it’s all about what happens next in terms of technology, in terms of how people talk to each other about music, and a lot of it could be really fucking bad. I don’t subscribe to the whole thing that a lot of people do within the music industry
Yosef Allen vs Hammerstein Ballroom; Today's WTF Moment
Yusef Allen wants coin from the Hammerstein Ballroom cuz some dude fell on him from the balcony. First off shouldn’t the guy who went over the balcony be the one crying no protection?! You really cant predict a human will fall from the sky
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening 10-5-13
Let’s Dance – The Ramones – Just for all of you who were left with a bad taste in their mouth after the “CBGB” debacle, here is a reminded how everything is Ramones – A
CMJ 2013 Consumer Guide: The Shows You Have To See!
1400 shows in 5 days is upon us and fair enough, nobody is gonna see them all with all the will in the world. Indeed, if you were doing 10 a day for five days that would equal 50 which would leave, er, 1350 bands you’ll be missing
The Kids are Alright–Except When They Aren't
It’s a developmentally enriching experience for them to learn how music is made, and for them to understand that music is a living, breathing entity, one that they can enjoy with others in an energetic environment
The Most Expensive Band T-Shirts In The World… Are People Insane?
Secretly acquired? What is this, the t-shirt mafia? I don’t want to give people bad ideas, but all these designs can be easily ‘stolen’ from the site and reproduced with a simple transfer, I have made cool t-shirts to myself using $5 plain white t-shirts! The DIY way, because honestly, there is nothing punk about a $1,000 Sex Pistols shirt.
CBGB Festival Next Week! Who's Playin'?
But, the club is gone and the urban legend lives. For every mass produced t-shirt there is a poser saying they were there. But now you can say you were at the Fest! A fantastic week of events from movies to speakers to free concerts in Times Square
It's a Tradition: Pitchfork Post Their Upcoming Album Releases Once A Season, We Steal Em And Insult The Website
Still, after nearly five years, rock nyc (the little engine that can’t) is more than happy to cut and paste all their hard research and here it is
Chvrches Lauren Mayberry And On Line Misogyny
Try this: President Obama gets thousands upon thousands of hate mail, nasty, racist stuff, do you think he wastes his time reading it? Why bother? Is it wrong, is there no excuse for the wholesale harassment of Lauren? Yes, its wrong, no there is no excuse, and there is no excuse for children starving to death in Africa. Life is unfair, next.
Fall Out Boy Album Release And Record Release Show
This album was recorded in just two days. The band is out of control and pumping out new things like a machine. And it’s not crap, either. November 29th, “Pax-Am Days” will come out as a digital release. October 15th, it’ll be a physical release bundled with “Save Rock and Roll”- FOB’s first double album
Mystery Superstar On JJ McCabe Album
She is huge, about as big as you can get and I would like to give you another clue as to who it is but I can’t tell you in public. Plus, she is working on a new album and that would be a big story if it was l known
Dolphins Love Radiohead Says Las Vegas Yoga Instructor
Okay, so does it mean that Radiohead’s music sends more vibrations than other types of music? May be, but Willow exposed them to other bands such as Sigur Ros, Earth Rise Sound System, Andrew Bird, Inspired Flight, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and MC Yogi, and she noticed they also liked The Beatles and Pink Floyd,… ha these animals are so classy!
Hear Ye: what rock nyc is listening to 10-4-13
Knockdown Dragout – Sammy Hagar – Along with Kid Rock and Joe Satriani, and I know it should suck but this thing is bursting at the seams with riffs and shout outs – B+
The Killers " "Shot At The Night.", Video Review
There has always been a whimsy and artistic spin to their videos. “Mr Brightside” for example or “When You Were Young” are both great examples of their potential visual appeal. So what happened here? So sanitized and bland any song could play over this story and there would be nothing missed.
"CBGBs" Reviewed (Watch It Here Till They Take It Down… they took it down!!)
Among the many things CBGB’s wasn’t (and certainly, who went their after the mid-1980s?) it was sure fun. This movie is nothing of the sort. Filled with feces and bodily fluids, it is a nauseating and boring.
Meet The Lesion
It is self-aware stuff and the music itself, they released three albums, is substantially vicious hard rock riffarama more than happy to fall into obstreperous annoyance
BBC Radio 1 Isn't Playing Muse, Green Day Or Noel Gallagher Because They Aren't Good Enough
Because the music director doesn’t like a band, it’s banned from the radio? Let’s see, I am not a fan of rap, I even think most of it is bad, so if I were at the head of the music programs I would ban most of rap declaring it’s not good enough for BBC? It’s a personal taste, who are they to decide what is good or not?
The CBGB Movie, Reviewed
But if you’d never been to the club- you’ll love this for the ‘cool factor’ but if youd ever dodged dog poo or stepped up to that thrown on wobbly drunk legs- your memories are more vibrant than this film could ever be, keep them untainted.
Sky Ferreira: 'I Know For A Fact I'm Not A Drug Addict'
So… does she need help or not? I am not the kind of person to make fun of people taking drugs, that’s ridiculous, addiction is a serious habit that can kill you, but it’s hard to believe she and her boyfriend aren’t on drugs when they were caught with so much smack in their possession!
JJ McCabe And Fallin' Angel's "Presenting" Reviewed
He mostly keeps to the three minute mark, hits his spots and leaves, over the other 11 tracks, he never loses his way. The band is tight but they have a straight ahead appeal that isn’t rock as we know it now, and may not be rock as it was then either
US Top 10 Singles 10-12-13
If it wasn’t for the fact that Lorde apparently is only 16 years old, you’d be excused for believing Lorde is a 28 year old Disney XD actress playing a 16 year old
US Top 10 Albums 10-12-13
There is only one number to keep an eye on here and it belongs to Drake and here it is: 658,000 units sold. That would have been a good showing ten years, today it is a legitimate hit album and if t loses 70% of its audience next week, it is still gonna go platinum sooner rather than later
Hear Ye On Spotify: what rock nyc is listening to 10-3-13
Used To You – Lyn Bowtell – An inspired rip of “Brilliant Disguise” and it won’t be dropping till early 2014, but get ready because this is one brilliant country-folk ballad by a woman who should try her hand at rock and roll – A
John Zorn and Mike Patton Metropolitan Museum of Art, September 28, 2013 Reviewed
The sixtieth birthday celebration for MacArthur Fellow John Zorn could be considered a conjugal visit for the museum’s collection of breathtaking art. Numerous musicians who have contributed to the massive body of Zorn’s work performed throughout the day, including singer and abstract vocalist Mike Patton, most known for his work as the lead singer of Faith No More.
Lyn Bowtell's "Secret Songs" Reviewed
The quality is unerring even if unnerving “Hush” is just depressing but in a non plussed positive way, it’s like if you’ve ever made love to somebody while they are crying: so much of the feeling in her songs hits both ways.