Money Honey – Aaron Neville – Off the blue Bayouish Mr. Neville’s new album of great oldies, this cover is so great it stands up in a world ruled by Presley’s Sun session version. Less swagger but just as much blues and maybe more rockabilly – Grade: A-
The first song is a pure country “Making My Way Back Home” could be covered by Loretta Lynn or maybe more to the point Patsy Cline, it has a deep country stir and a joyfulness which, as so happens, seems singed by a deep well of sadness. It is very lovely and it takes Iris a couple of minutes to get her bearings, “I wanna play it again” she laughed
Killers in cold blood will pop you and take your ass out no questions asked, no rational explanation. We kill because we can and when you think you’re safe you’re wrong Theres my speech. Mankind is not kind
Most people need to be told whom to admire, what to choose for breakfast and what decision to make in their daily life, it’s a sad reality but it’s true! Many people only have vague opinions but as soon as Beyonce or Lady Gaga says something they follow like a herd of sheep
These wonderful guys used their ‘big budget’ opportunity not to strut and dick wag but to bring attention to the cause of homelessness. Using Boston as a backdrop to the injustice of our fellow man without a roof.
I can’t imagine any one else, Jay-Z folks?, coming close to this political statement and artistic mayhem. It doesn’t matter how good or bad it was, and a half hour Lupe rap sounds like hell on earth to me, just the sheer thrill of open political dissent in the closet area of an Inaugural is thrilling.
It looks very cute and fuzzy, and the listing describes it as a ‘charming church which housed a small concert hall, followed by a recording studio also offering accommodation
“I now own Greta Garbo’s Beatles records, her twist records (she was a big fan of the dance craze and even ventured out to the Peppermint Lounge to see it for herself on the dancefloor), her Linda Ronstadt records, and mind blowingly — her own copy of Gene Clark’s “No Other”.
Winner – Beyonce – Not only is she playing the Superbowl of Superbowl Half Time Shows in a couple of week, she is looking quite remarkable in the GQ pictorial, her upcoming album # 5 features The-Dream, her great foil, all over it, and while the world wasn’t thrilled by her Destiny Child reunion single, they will be on stage. And if it isn’t enough having hubby Jay-Z Carter crazy about her, so ios the President who has placed her front and center at his Inaugural Ball…. again!
Alyson Camus has been going on about Fidlar for a couple of years now (she did the same with Fucked Up a couple of years ago and look where that gone them) and I streamed the album on Pitchfork and liked it fine. So I guess it’s time for them to become an overnight sensation). Otherwise I am looking forward to Adam Ant and Bad Religion.
Faller – Pieta Brown Iris Dement’s step-daughter and that sure wasn’t why Iris covered this terrific country folk song. I love it when writers make up words and calling yourself a “faller too” suggests a fall from grace and a fall into illicit loves arms, two sentiments Brown brings to life on this magnificent song – Grade: A-
At age 53 Morrissey is the picture of aging with sex appeal Taught, tanned and without the previously noted “old man pants’ he owned the stage at Port Chester New York’s, Capitol Theater and he owned every person in that room
Is there any musical genre that Ozomatli, the multi-cultural band from Los Angeles, can’t do? Is there any instrument they can’t play on stage? Those who have seen them certainly know the answers to these questions,… Ozomatli isn’t the LA ambassador for nothing!
Lacking familiarity with the Spanish-language tracks, I didn’t connect with most of the songs on a lyrical level. However, the musicianship was so impressive that the group easily made a gut level, visceral connection with the audience.
While singing about love, this song has uplifting vocals and a campy musicality that sounds like Mumford & Sons meets Walk The Moon with a touch of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.
The video is hard and very comforting to watch at the same time, observing up close the friendship between Brion and Smith, their real complicity through music while joking about TV interviews… There isn’t a lot of talk, but a lot of music
The best thing to come out of X Factor UK, yeah, better than 1D, hasn’t cracked the US yet so on Thursday you get to check him out at Webster Hall instead of Hammerstein Ballroom or beyond. Sharp electro pop by a guy with more than enough personality to stand out always
The buzz on Manchester indie band Everything Everything is pretty positive, put em alongside Elbow and other arty indie rock bands who owe a debt, but not too great a debt, to Radiohead and seem to have their nose up in the Public School riff raffer where Coldplay and Mumford And Sons extrapolated into a world of privilege.
Fitty is back at the top and he can thank his hot making buddies for it because it sure ain’t this ordinary sounding slice. I’m surprised Timberlake isn’t at # 1 and Bowie isn’t even in the top #10.
Robins Will Sing – Stevie Wonder – Late period Stevie, 1995, is a inebriate bubble of a reggae groove and hope for the world with a naff rhyme (“It’s really no big thing”?) and still better than what passes for soul all too often – Grade: B+
But Its been a nice break from Saturday Night Live over the holidays and this isn’t really what i expected as a sweeping ‘welcome back’. They could have rocked us a little harder instead of rocking us to sleep
Yeah, you’re thinking the Replacements and so am I, except the Replacements had at least the cultishness of cult. Spider Bags feels like a cult band whose cult hasn’t found em yet. How could Shake My Head not break pop, or at least nationwide rock?
The first thing I noticed with them was their restrained decibel level, I know too well how so many bands feel the necessity to play as loud as possible, as if it was a requirement to sound cool. But there wasn’t anything like this during Yo La Tengo’s set
Eight slow tempo sad songs about women in abusive relationships, women in suffocating relationships, or women trapped in their own loneliness can take its toll on a person. Lucinda Williams is unarguably one of the preeminent songwriters of this era
My Warped Tour Tip for this post is something the tour’s Facebook page posted earlier today: “Buying earlier this year, you’ll pay less. Buying later, you’ll pay more”. If you haven’t already got a ticket, they’re available for all dates in all cities except Las Vegas
Frank, is the guitarist for My Chemical Romance and the laser pain guitar solos amongst the industrial swizzle show that- this song is fantastic this song gives you goosebumps like a demonic fairytale
The Atlanta guys are just coming back from the whole Middle East grand tour, stopping in the Emirates, Lebanon, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Dubai, and Noisey sent a camera crew, producing this 9-minute video to document the action.
Love Sign – Free Energy – I love the way Free Enrgy sound all the time, a modernnew wave with dance beats to kill, big guitars, sweet solos, the whole lot, bringing it home. But for allt hat, the songs aren’t there, and really, surely new wave hybrid is more than anything about songs. So I will given them “Backscratcher” and “Electric Fever” and pass onto much of the rest – Grade: B-
The Gun In The Closet -Mike Cooley – Drive-By-Truckers other songwriter spins a sad story about a woman who lives her own quiet life with a parachute out of her life for whenever she needs it. A live track and the guitar is quite beautiful – Grade: B+
After ten years, Bowie’s nerves are unsettled and you can understand why though anyone who has released Heathen in his life, can’t be that worried about quality control.
We got numerous updates about this one, it’s gonna be a collaboration album with Dave Grohl on drums and guest spots for Trent Reznor, Scissor Sisters’ Jake Shears and Nick Oliveri, but beside this, it is a plain mystery
In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, Mick “Simply Red” Hucknell and Stereophoniics are being filmed for the BBC recreating the 12 hour recording session at Abbey Road. I am not sure how.
Bad Religion are now streaming their new album and are touring. Are ya stoked? I really find the ‘Legendary LA Punk’ title a bit annoying. The LA punk scene had much better than this.
Emmylou Harris may bore, but Rodney Crowell and Richard Thompson never have and everybody should be at the very top of their game.
I saw him once at Origami Vinyl, and I was so impressed by his melancholic soundscapes and maturity despite the fact he looked like a shy high school kid, … after all this is someone who declared when he was barely 22
The video shows off just how dorky they are; of course it’s all based around a video game. The boys pop a cartridge into their Nintendo, and the action begins. The special effects are quite impressive as well
Except for Timberlake, every song here will show up on my best of 2013. But for me ASAP Rocky, a guy I’ve found way overrated, proves it on this track and has sent me straight back to the new album. Pissed Jeans are gonna kill it later this year.
I assume Taylor Swift can fill Metlife a couple of times, that’s not the question. The question is can she play it? If she can she will be the female Springsteen in waiting.
I Need Lunch – The Dead Boys – They coined a word for nasty dead boys like Stiv: MISOGYNISTS, and this holla to the zipless fuck has improved with time before now it is not only nasty, it is also wrong – Grade: B+
Her voice? How do I even begin. Greatest female singer I’ve heard…ever. It flows so gorgeously, her range is flawless. Orla’s accent and pronunciation gives the cover a sense of originality
Then, the tune blooms into a full and catchy sound with the help of pounding drums, upbeat guitars and joyous background vocals… the result is certainly one of their most thrilling and incendiary songs, and it smells like a hit song a mile around.
The tune is freakin awesome! I love Marrs vocals and the upbeat dance backing. It sounds so retro but without the same old 60s pop echo-dig?
The buzz on My Morning Jacket’s lead singer Jim James is getting pretty deafening, mostly because the first single, an electronic r&b beauty, better than anything he’s done since “Evil Urges” has all of us were huge fans now less so, excited again
Right now focused on the West side but hey no complaints from me. This ‘brilliant song writer’ and talented musician is sure to heft himself over to the East eventually to pacify his worshippers. As I have said before I don’t even dislike Seger…
“Mr. Owens said he was “very attracted to women” and didn’t seek out relationships with men, but they happened.”
Bringing the magical effects of the Disney movie classic would take a leap of imagination I don’t have and the Producers simply sidestepped on a consistent basis
‘We took a more playful, LO-FI approach to songwriting. Much of the music was demoed in our little basement studio in Manhattan with drum machines, a shitty sample keyboard and tons of delay — which we called the soup.”
I didn’t like 90% of Tomlin’s Christian Contemporary rock album, but a coupla songs got thru my defenses. In the world Of Christian music, this breaks pop because it sounds pop. Hollywood Undead are repaid for a decade of touring… or was that on American Tragedy?
# 2 and # 3 are both true indies and what has become clear in 2013 is that bands can break without major label distribution though it isn’t remotely easy. Indeed, it is the equivalent of winning the lottery. Despite all the hard work behind, there is a huge element of dumb luck.
Sweet Tooth – Teena Marie – From the best album of 2013 (so far), an old fashioned metaphor with a sexy Lil Kim sounding rap, a great back beat and organic orchestration… and a little French for taste. Touche Ole – Grade: A
