rock nyc

rock nyc

Anatomy of a Song – Bohemian Rhapsody

“It’s one of those songs which has such a fantasy feel about it. I think people should just listen to it, think about it, and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them… ”Bohemian Rhapsody” didn’t just come out of thin air. I did a bit of research although it was tongue-in-cheek and mock opera. Why not? –

rock nyc

The A+ List: 1-30-14

Walk Right Back – The Everly Brothers – Love them close harmonies, you can hear what Lennon and McCartney were listening to, and the background lick is very good -it moves right along, the lyric is sticky but the chorus, really the last four lines of the verse, is elastoplast.

rock nyc

When James Chance Beat Up A Woman On Stage!

at the end of the set during “Money To Burn”, James would pull out a wad of cash and put it on fire. Well, this night a woman jumps on stage from the audience and tries to snatch the money out of James hands and James jumps on her and hey fight and fall into Tomas who can’t believe his eyes and wonders if they’re gonna spend the night in jail.

rock nyc

US Album Top 10 2-8-14

Both A Great Big World and Young The Giant are happy to be here, one of these bands got that sort of break everybody dreams of, and the other one did nothing of the sort, but both of them are on the charts and are suddenly like really real bands.

rock nyc

US Top 10 Singles 2-8-14

OK, where the hell is “Trumpets”? He played it at Jingle ball and it has been on the UK charts for a couple of months now, but while Jason is back with the admittedly good “Talk Dirty”, “Trumpets” is a killer hook on horns come to life.

rock nyc

Must See: Lorde At Roseland In March, 2014

“I’ve been in some situations where people have treated me like a fascinating toy. You know, it’s just like an interesting kind of fun thing to have a play with. It’s very weird for me. I feel like a tiny baby. But it’s all relative: when you’re my age in particular, every year feels like a massive change. The difference between 15 and 17 is colossal for everyone.”

rock nyc

Be Here Now: Snapshot Reviews Of New Album Releases 1-28-14

Choir Of Echoes – Peggy Sue – The difference between this English new folk bands third album and their last one, is the steady build of sound, like a choir of indie children, seems to go further. But the problem is that it can feel all of a piece which makes it hard to concentrate on particular songs; they become particular tracks – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+

rock nyc

Spin-Ing Out Of Control

Spinmedia owns and manages over 40 websites including, obviously, Spin, Brooklynvegan, Pop Matters, Stereogum, I’ll stick em all up at the end. But it begs the answer to a question, how can they not be making money? I mean, surely if you’re looking for men in their twenties they can put em together like that, right?

rock nyc

"Ride Along" Reviewed

Kevin Hart, small of stature but wide of mouth, only hits my funny bone intermittently but with Ice Cube adding his deadpan snarl, intermittent is enough to save this cop buddy funny movie “Ride Along”.

rock nyc

Because We All Need A Cassette Coffee Table!

TAYBLE is run by three young entrepreneurs ‘who set out to make a product that would not only be a functional piece of furniture, but also a nostalgic piece of art. Influenced by homemade mixtapes, pop-art and modern design TAYBLE caters to musicians, artists and the young at heart’.

rock nyc

Sneak Peaks: New Album releases Week Of 1-27-14

The weather is killing live music and the release schedule is killing the album releases… except last year I had 8 albums on my best of list, and this year it will be at least 11. I don’t like David Crosby enough to be impressed that he is my pick of the week.

rock nyc

UK Top 10 Singles 2-1-14

Here is a name that might not ring a bell, Jimmy Napes. But he co-wrote Disclosure’s “Latch” and he co-wrote Clean Bandit’s “Rather Be” -a house meets classical ((yes, that is strings at the start) dance song. A wonderful track!

rock nyc

UK Top 10 Albums 2-1-14

Wow, this really sucks. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is the best of a bad bunch. And why is Blunt back in the charts? I guess Bastille got another hit from the deluxe version of the new album. Gary still hasn’t released the newbie in the US… for good reason is my bet.

rock nyc

Kraftwerk In 3 or 4 D This April

I didn’t bother even trying for a tix to the Kraftwerk retrospective at MOMA last year, and stories of tix changing hands for $5K a pop but in reading on Brooklynvegan about their performance April 1ST and 2 nd at United Palace and then getting the BV password (COMPUTERS HAR HAR) the decision was made and a hundred bucks later I am planning my first sighting of the Kings of (OK) Komputers

rock nyc

OFF! Are Back And They Want to 'Void You Out'

They are enraged, they want to crush everyone against the wall and disintegrate the world, your neurons included, but sometimes you need a little bit of OFF! in your world. It may sound like some good all-fashioned hardcore, but damn it’s efficient, and Greg Ginn should feel sorry

rock nyc

Bob Dylan In The 80s tribute Album

I think where mxdwn and I seem to differ is in what constitutes an impressive list of musical guests. When your biggest names are Built to Spill and Craig Finn, you might excuse me for not jumping up and down and clapping my hands. Still, I loved Bob Dylan In The 80s so who knows.

rock nyc

A Personal Remembrance Of Donna Mcelroy

I found myself working more closely with Donna and I adored her. She was both no nonsense and caring at the same time, plus she was well organized and could execute any plan Joseph came up with on a dime. And she would have to. It is like Joseph had all these dreams and Donna made them come true.

rock nyc

Donna Renee McCray McElroy Dead At Age 48

Donna is remembered by her mother, Lillian McCray, as a take charge person and Mr. McElroy called her “fierce” and “passionate”, and a very spiritual and loving person. The accolades from friends are numerous and dramatically documented in social media, where her marriage and passing has been played out like a masterful form of performance art.

rock nyc

US Top 10 Albums 2-1-14

Impressed by Bruce? In 2002 The Rising hit the # 1 spot with over half a million units shifted, in 2014? Less than 100,000. And that’s with giving away a free DVD with each CD sold. A depressing state of affairs in the music business, no doubt.

rock nyc

"Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit" Reviewed

It does the job smartly enough and ties up its loose ends in a pretty little bow just in time for the second movie in the newly minted series; though a lousy $17M box office in its first week makes you think Pine will be stuck with Star Trek awhile longer.

rock nyc

Be Here Now: New Album Snapshot Reviews For Week Of January 20th, 2014

From the martial beats to open the album to the agit-prop declaiming “Osama Bin Laden As Crucified Christ” (“You’re gonna hang”), the lead singing changing her gender to a woman hasn’t changed Against Me! that much. A mixed blessing but on the best songs, a definite blessing. The re-recording “Fuckmylife666” sounds great – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – B+

rock nyc

Not With The Band: Exploring Google Music Timeline

But may be we have to be careful with these kinds of statistics for several reasons: First of all how many Google play users are out there? The Guardian writes that they represent a ‘pretty small subset’, and there are so many services these days that it is difficult to know if they represent a good statistical sample of music lovers

rock nyc

The A+ List: 1-20-14

Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonders – Stevies scream that opens this song is so good he coulda sung anything after and it would have worked but what he sang was one of the great Motown tracks -a real slippy funk belter in the chorus, and a soulful chorus.

rock nyc

Madonna Apologizes For Using The N-Word?

‘I am sorry if I offended anyone with my use of the N word on Instagram. It was not meant as a racial slur.. I am not a racist. There’s no way to defend the use of the word. It was all about intention.. It was used as a term of endearment toward my son who is white. I appreciate that it’s a provocative word and I apologize if it gave people the wrong impression. Forgive me.’

rock nyc

UK Top 10 Singles 1-26-14

I’d bet money that Elyar Fox, a youtube cutiepie who the little girls will understand, breaks Stateside. Maybe now Scooter is about ready to give up on Bieber lightning can strike twice. After that, this is a darn good list and bublling under at 22? McMurow!!!

rock nyc

UK Top 10 Albums 1-26-13

I just checked it out again, I’ll give Bruce four out of the twelve tracks, plus two we know so well they don’t really count but let’s call it six tracks. In other words a not untypical batting average for Bruce in the 10s. Or in other words, the EP remains King.

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