UK Top 10 Albums 5-17-14
Anastacia has been out of the pure dance pop business for nearly six years battling breast cancer and now she is back and she still irritates the hell out of me, it’s the voice… well, the voice and the songs .
Mark Ryden's 'The Gay Nineties Old Tyme Music: Daisy Bell'
Mark Ryden, this curious artist who wraps his curious and surrealist paintings both reminiscent of the masters and cartoons around big-eyed little girls and pop culture references, has a new exhibit called ‘The Gay 90s’ at the Kohn Gallery in Los Angeles.
10 Songs, Friday, May 2nd, 2014
Circle Of Life (Matt Zo Remix) – Carmen Twillie, Lebo M – Mind Bending remix which accentuates the African nature of both the vocals and the best to the exclusion of all else and is prove as to what electronic music can do with a master remixer – A
Best Albums Through April 30th, 2014
Z – SZA – New r&b gets it right for once; temperate but crazed, sexual mood music by SZA,with the obligato rap added by the likes of Chance The Rapper who exactly captures the mood of hazed out sex; pure seduction and she doesn’t even know if she wants you.
Miley Cyrus, Beyoncé, Carrie Underwood and Pharrell Among Times 2014 Most Influential People
What have these people accomplished exactly, beside making raunchy sex-charged pop music or happy-go-lucky to boring tunes? Is singing about sex being influential for a woman?
Vintage Trouble At The Record Parlour, Friday April 25th 2014
Taylor, with a natural charisma, had the crowd at his fingers right away. He was controlling the sing-along and the clapping like a total pro, and was demonstrating a constant interaction with his public. Even though all this has been done before, he was doing it as if he had invented it a minute ag
Streaming Day 2 Of Coachella 2014
A great advantage of this Coachella-in-your-living-room is the ability to switch from one stage to another at the click of the mouse, the stream is not even buffering and only for this it’s worth it, as they have greatly improved the technology
Peaches Geldof Was An Elliott Smith's Fan And The Media Love It!
A month ago she wrote a lengthy post on the meaning behind Smith’s song “Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands”, which she described as “his most vitriolic song” about friends who sought to rescue him from drug abuse.’
My Worse Guess Of The Past Five Years: EDM
The dream for EDM was that better living through electronics could change the face of the rock band by opening up all the possibilities of a four piece band… to throw the doors of EDM wide so you can make anything happen in a live setting.
Happy 5th Anniversary rock nyc
Congratulations to my many friends who have helped rock nyc remain, if nothing else, the most brutally honest music website out there over the past five years. We might have few readers and fewer friends, but what we do have is a reputation for honesty because, well, because we aren’t beholden to anybody
5 Years In: I'm 17 And Cooler Than You
Obviously there’s some draw to kids my age, because we’re the target demographic of a lot of bands, but I am consistently flattered whenever there’s a band that wants to sit down and talk to me. I’m not exactly sure what I did to get so lucky, but I couldn’t have done everything I have without Rock NYC.
Five Years Ago Tomorrow… And Away We Went!!!
Titus and Los Camp was the honest roar of teenage (well collegiate) angst personified -I was at the side of the stage, completely trashed and banging my fist till it bruised screaming along to Titus: “No more cigarettes, no more having sex, no more drinking till you fall on the floor….” .
Conor Oberst's New Song 'Governor’s Ball'
Governor’s Ball? I thought it was a music festival on the east coast! But apparently it is also a new song by Conor Oberst from his upcoming album ‘Upside Down
Seattle Police Reopens Kurt Cobain's Death Investigation,… Not Really
Let’s see, could a guy, even with a high level of tolerance, shoot himself in the head while having such a large dose of heroin in the system (Cobain had three times the lethal dose of heroin)? Keep in mind that the level found in Cobain is among the top 2% of the highest blood morphine levels ever discovered
The Sheepdogs Have Been On Since I Found Them
In a music world of trending trans, Dubstep, pop I am always on the search for a modern band with that old school rock feel. I’m looking for a little jam, some sliding guitar solos, a good dose of blues, and a touch of psychedelic.
Rest Assured, Courtney Love Has Found The Missing Plane
Courtney Love is insane, that’s a fact but it’s not your average insanity, it comes wrapped around an ego whose size just equals her humongous assurance and strong opinion. Now CSI Courtney Love thinks she has found the vanishing Malaysia Airlines plane
Lykke Li Has A New Song? Wait, I Already Know That One!
I have posted both songs below and you just have to compare. Lykke Li’s ‘new’ song is the theme called ‘Romance’ and allegedly composed by Spanish guitarist Narciso Yepes at a very young age, but no I don’t want to sound pedantic suddenly!
Five Years Later, Here Is The Grading System Explained
I kept a diary for around ten years at the turn of the century and I graded every single day and charted my moods and grading songs and albums (I once graded deaths but decided against continuing with that particular idea) and maybe it is a guy thing, like “Gregory’s Girl” said, the way guys are obsessed with numbers, and not just numbers but lists
Starbucks 'Song, Pick Of The Week': 'Broke My Heart' By David Nail
This song is not gonna change your life, not even your day or hour of the day, but there are actually very few songs which can do that, right? If it wasn’t for the twang in the voice, it would not even be country. The song is a sort of pop ballad which doesn’t wander very far from its departure
Fearless Records Wont Give Up, Punk Goes 90s Vol. 2
Fearless Records used to be one of my favorite labels. A stable of pop punk ( a fake genre btw- who dreamed that one up?) pretty boys with angsty love lyrics and a quick tempo. Now they’re as stale as old biscuits with a roster of the same old same and really nothing much to offer to get stoked about.
Not With The Band: A 'Conspiracy Theory' And The Origin Of Gangsta Rap
‘Depressing= a mega-corp owns a record label to push violent-msg rap to help its prison-mgmt co it owns 2 grow new inmates’. So I did a bit of research. I am very probably late on the subject, it’s an old story which apparently surfaced around 2012, but this is still a story running around many rap blog
Prince 'Something In The Water' Live in Manchester, Video Review
In this video he has never been more Jimi Hendrix inspired–right down to the almost Richard Simmons ‘fro. This is no way deflects from the magic of this guy. At 5’ 2”, he is larger than life and with a thumping predictable thrust beat.. he’s still a dirty boy with a bad attitude.
The Oscar Songs 2014 Get Happy!
Pharrell’s joyous all dancing all smiling, all aboard performance was the best and Idina Menzel’s “Let It Go”, tailor made for the Oscars, a big bland musical theatre pastiche that, not unlike self evident influence “Wicked”, is simply not good enough musically to matter
Sneak Peak: New Album Release Week Of March 3rd, 2014
There are weeks and then there are WEEKS!! Drive By Truckers 12th album gets pride of place… until I listen to it anyway. I was really thinking of Pharrell instead but I dunno how good Mr. Neptune is when you get right down to it, “Happy” wore out its welcome with me some time last summer
Eminem And rihanna Stadium tour: If This Is Fun, Why is Nobody Smiling?
the only good thing about this relationship is given the circumstances, Rihanna is forced to get on stage at a reasonable hour and not keep the world waiting –like Madonna and Lady Gaga before her, half the damn night so see her royal indifferenceness
10 Songs, Sunday, March 2nd, 2014
The Christian Life – The Louvin Brothers – As a child of the 60s, it is the Byrds version I know, and as a Gram Parsons fanatic you better believe I adore his version but having said all of that, the Louvin Brothers harmonies here equal, aybe surpass the Byrds – A
The Belle Brigade At The Echo, Tuesday February 25th 2014
There is something very cute about these two, they look alike a bit and their complicity is contagious. I imagine them spending a lot of time together to compose their songs, and this is probably what happens. I literally heard people expressing their sadness that this residency was over
Billy Corgan: "Pretentious, Moi?"
As my friend Philip Poyner put it: “You know, when you manage to make Tales From Topographic Oceans look both unpretentious and brief, you may want to ask yourself “At what moment in my life did I first go SO FAR off the rails?”
Holy Folk, Avi Buffalo, Moses Sumney and Kan Wakan At The Echoplex, Monday February 24th 2014
Avi Buffalo was one of the surprise guests, and Avi Zahner-Isenberg came alone with his acoustic guitar giving the most intimate set of the night, at least it was what I thought at the time. I have seen Avi Buffalo before and they are a dynamic very young band with Shins-like harmonies and curious pop songs
The Wild Young Hearts At The Whiskey A Go Go, Saturday February 22nd 2014
When they said they were about to slow down, they played their fastest song of the night (and may be my favorite) ‘There goes my baby’… could they have had a Green Day side too? I am hardly joking
“The Rise And Fall Of The Clash”, Is Coming To DVD
But ‘years have passed and things have changed’ and everyone has something to say about it. The Rise and Fall takes a look at the life span of the only band that matters’ and within it shows footage to make you swoon.
Katy Perry's Egypt History Lesson In 'Dark Horse'
I know, it’s a Perry video, you don’t have to make sense of anything, but why Egypt? Why the pharaohs? Did she watch too many Elizabeth Taylor’s oldies lately or did she always have a secret love for the Indiana Jones trilogy?
All Starr(key) To The Beacon
So I got a tix, my best seat for an ex-Beatle, 16 th row orchestra at the Beacon, a great place to see a band as well. There are two dates but I’m going Wednesday, June 18th, 2014 and it has been so long (early 00s) since I’ve seen young(ish) Starkey croaking and charming between other performers playing songs you never ever want to hear again
UK Top 10 Singles – 3-1-14
All modern dance, all the time. Real simple, only A Great Big World doesn’t fit the EDM profile one oh one. Mostly soul, some hip hop, some House, all electronic, all DJ whatever the name on the package might say. And remarkably strong.
rock nyc Returns On Monday, February 24th, 2014
The other problem is the body of work on this website is huge. If nothing else, it stands as a a study of 5 years of contemporary. Which is essentially the plan here any way. Fascinating stuff, right?
A+ List – 90s Rap
I’ve decided to jump into the game with my own somewhat random A+ list, the first being focused on ‘90s rap. Two things to remember. One, this is not an attempt at an all-inclusive list. Two, money talks, but it don’t sign and dance and it don’t walk.
Not With The Band: Matching Music And Food Is The New Trend?
This is for one night only and the restaurant is only offering 36 tickets, but they are thinking about repeating the event, starting a series of monthly dinners paired with different famous albums. And I say that Hanley, who has studied music before, is onto something!
Off! Pathetic Old Men
“I have absolutely no idea what we would be doing if we weren’t playing music. Strangling squirrels up in Griffith Park? Strangling kids at the beach?” you cant help but want to scream, ‘How about growing up?’
Eric Church's "The Outsider" Reviewed
Well, “Jack Daniels” is great -unfortunately it was a coupla years ago. Here “Cold One” was nearly as good. What else? “Tallega” is a good old fashioned bromance, as good as Blake Shelton for sure. The title track has a nice head of foam if you haven’t just been listening to Drive-By Trucker.
Drive By Truckers To Play Terminal 5 But Do We Care?
I have never had much of a taste for Southern boogie and even if I did, DBT aren’t so terrific at it. When I do like (or even love) the band, they are playing Stonesy hard rockers with great melodies and lively three guitar attacks, when I don’t like em they are playing boogie.
Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of Today's Album Releases 2-18-14
these stories of love gone wrong are entirely astounding singer-songwriter country informed pop rock that gets under your skin on the first listen. My friend Mark Deming of Allmusic called it a contender for the album of the year. Well, definitely the week – A
Once Again, Jonny Greenwood Will Score The Next Paul Thomas Anderson's Movie
Meanwhile Greenwood is about to compose and record the soundtrack with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London, so we can expect once again a grand-scale score, with vibrant strings and noisy weirdness.
Jesus Sons' New Video 'All These Furs'
If you do a bit of research on them you’ll see that there are in the ‘Bands-to-watch’ list of many blogs, and I would not be surprised if they effectively blow up very soon. The blog No Cigar Magazine premiered their video for ‘All These Furs’, a song which becomes a sepia-toned road trip to Salvation Mountain
Sneak Peak: New Album release 2-17-14
Queens faves Bayside, though I wasn’t that thrilled the last time I saw em live at Best Buy, get the nod this week. First runner ups Suzanne Vega and Angel Olsen and honorable mention to PLANNINGTOROCk. Now let the game of what to Spotify have and not have begin… so far they’ve missed out on Broken Bells and Eric Church.
UK Top 10 Albums 2-22-14
Tuesday for Katy B, right? I can’t wait, this is one of the biggies this year, three years in the making and the buzz has been absolutely humongous. Everything I’ve heard is aces and so here is the question… where is it??? And when is she playing New York?
UK Top 10 Singles 2-22-14
Zedd is wonderful modern EDM with Hayley handling the lead, Clean Bandit leads the year as far as hit songs in the UK go, Katy B is a fascinating intro to the new album, Pitbull and Pharrell we know by now but they are both excellent. Wow, England rocks (or at least dances)
Front Bottoms "Backflip" Video Reviewed
There are cartoony faces of ‘uh oh’. Now as morbid as this sounds, friends plotting to kill another and making it look like an accident is made humorous ala-“Heathers”.
Drake Got Mad, Then Apologized For Being An Insensitive Douchebag
‘I completely support and agree with Rolling Stone replacing me on the cover with the legendary Phillip Seymour Hoffman. He is one of the most incredible actors of our time and a man that deserves to be immortalized by this publication. My frustration stemmed from the way it was executed’
Nick Cave's '20,000 Days On Earth' To Be Released Soon
‘I am among many who consider Nick Cave the unofficial poet laureate of the modern age. While his music fans are already eagerly anticipating this release, I am personally excited to share this riveting portrait of a modern creative genius with a much wider audience.’
Direct Currents Upcoming Album releases
Anything interesting? Lesse here: new Beck, Dierks Bentley, St Vincent, The Fray (THE FRAY NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO), St. Vincent, Drive By Truckers, Cloud Nothings, and apparently D’Angelo has completely given up and is releasing a live album.