Slideshow

Live, Slideshow

Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of April 20th, 2015

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“Solitary Drinking”, “I Hope You Dance”, “I’ll Think Of A Reason Later” –three great Lee Ann Womack songs right off the top of my head, though really, just about anything from last year’s The Way I’m Livin’ will do just fine from this wonderful country singer, will be joined by Amanda Shire, who plays a mean fiddle and whose 2013 Down Fell The Doves, is pretty good… not to mention Amanda’s work with her husband Jason Isbell, at City Winery on Monday .

Lists, Recorded, Slideshow

Twenty Rare Essential Soul Tracks from the 1970s

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Their organ/percussion heavy version of “Apache” wasn’t a hit, but was latter dubbed “the national anthem of hip hop” and has been sampled by Missy Elliot, LL Cool J, Moby, Nas, and Grandmaster Flash. Drummer Jim Gordon, who had played with Derek and the Dominoes, was responsible for what would become one of rap music’s most famous beats.

Album Reviews, Recorded, Slideshow

Tony Succar And Friends “Unity: The Latin Tribute To Michael Jackson” Reviewed

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Tony gives everything to the album, especially a playfulness and a depth of artistic integrity. On his website, Succar is quoted as saying “Even the horn lines, I would transcribe them from Quincy Jones’ productions and then apply them to the arrangement in a different way. The essence of every song was respected. I gave it my best to create this very thin line between what Michael did with his production and what I brought to the project.”

Medium Cool, News, Slideshow

Medium Cool: Best Talk Show Hosts Week Of April 20th, 2015

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With barely more than a month left till David Letterman signs off, it should be all David all the time although I really thing between the heart attack and the intern scandal, Letterman began to lose it, and I have found him nearly uwatchable for the past couple of years. The first time I watched Letterman, Marshall Crenshaw was appearing and Letterman ran late because of elevator races… oh to be youg, right? The end of an era, not the way Carson was, but nevertheless…

Interview, News, Slideshow

Best Coast Speaks,… But Not To Us

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‘the two of us — me and Bob — don’t look like we belong together in the same band, which is something I’ve always loved. I’ll look at photos of us together sometimes and just be struck by what a strange-looking team we are. But that’s what makes us special.’

News, Slideshow

The Future Punx Is Here

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a band that references Ray Davies may have a little more up their sleeve than Future Shock, and the lead singers robot in love vocal has a hint of qu’est que ce about it…. It’s a nice vibe and should take em far, and they are opening at Baby’s All Right on Saturday May 15th…

News, Slideshow

White Schoolgirls “Racist Rap” Reviewed

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Though as offensiveness goes, this is a little on the pathetic side, it is worth noting that the Texas community in which Grapevine resides is quite wealthy (median annual income for a male is a healthy $55K) and 80%white (3% black) which might explain this story a little bit clearer.

controversy, News, Slideshow, Streaming

Indie Musicians Are Not Sold On Tidal And Its ‘New School Plutocrats’

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We wouldn’t have joined it anyway, even if they had asked. We don’t want to be tribal. I think smaller bands should get paid more for it, too. Bigger bands have other ways of making money, so I don’t think you can complain. A band of our size shouldn’t be complaining. And when they say it’s artist-owned, it’s owned by those rich, wealthy artists.’

Live, Slideshow

The Only Coachella Review You Need Ever Read

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A lot more people were catching Action Bronson than I imagined and also, despite a ragging from me for his Best Buy appearance last year, Bronson was actually pretty darn good. A killer version of “Easy Rider” was quite the surprise as was his (relatively speaking, he’s a big lad), the athleticism with which he jumped off the audience to mix and match with the audience.

News, Slideshow

Why IS Music Less Important? Because People Are Older

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The age of the average American in 1967 was 27 years of age, in 2015 it is 37 years of age. Since the average person dies at the age of 78, that ten years is something like a change of 15%. Also, the difference between 27 and 37 is the difference between first job out of college and married with children

Charts, Slideshow

10 Songs: Friday, April 17th, 2015

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American Oxygen – Rihanna – I have this theory where Rihanna and Drake are the same person, they are both 20 something grumpie pains in the neck who can’t stop whinging how good they have it, in an irritating monotone. Do I exaggerate? Sure, some of the time – B

Live, Slideshow

Father John Misty At The Glasshouse, Monday April 13th 2015

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He jumped in the pit, making sure to shake everyone’s hands, signing vinyl, posing for selfies,… people were rushing at the front, I got crushed, and I wasn’t even really trying to fight, but when Tillman arrived at my level, I saw his blue eyes, his hand reaching mine for a frank handshake and I heard a ‘Thank you for coming’… wow, what was the myth he was trying to build?

News, Slideshow

Portishead’s Geoff Barrow Reveals His Streaming Income

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The problem in the story is that we never know how much the labels get from streamed music of a specific artist, so we have no benchmarks. Why aren’t labels releasing the numbers? Because they are ashamed of them… If artists aren’t making money, Spotify isn’t still making any money, someone has to make a fortune

Singles Going Steady, Slideshow

Singles Going Steady: Week of April 13th, 2015

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Feeling OK – Best Coast – Third song off the upcoming album, and really, don’t we get the point by now? At some time her ongoing depression is so boring, she hasn’t even really depressed. She is just bland and meh and going through the motions. For years on end. It’s not significantly worse than anything else… still, it is like when you have a friend who always complains about their boyfriend… after awhile you’re like “for godssake knock it off” – B

Charts, Slideshow, US Top 10 Albums

US Top 10 Albums 4-26-15

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Perhaps I am too cynical for the charts… so many albums come on and disappear and it doesn’t seem to really signify very much at all. From last week, Wale, Surfan Stevens and Ludacris are already gone, and I bet All Time Low will be gone before you know it. The moey isn’t in charting, it is in staying. It is Taylor, Ed , Sam and Adam -hanging on from LAST YEAR. As for F7… not a very good album in my opinion.

Charts, Slideshow

10 Songs: Thursday, April 16th, 2015

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Yeah! – Usher, Ludacris, Lil Jon, Ludacris – While this was a huge hit for Usher, as was the album Confession, it heralded the end of Usher as great black hope, heir to Michael Jackson’s crown, it crossed over, yes, but only to a white audience that loved black r&b – A

News, Slideshow

Did Lou Reed Die For Lady Gaga’s Sin?

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Artpop’ was conceived in direct connection with the Velvet Underground, Gaga’s ‘Dope’ was the VU’s ‘Heroin’, ‘G.U.Y.’ was ‘Walk on the Wild Side’… ‘MANICURE’ was ‘I’ll be your Mirror’… oh poor Nico!… ‘Applause’ with the opening verse ‘I stand here waiting for you to bang the gong’, is Reed’s ‘I’m Waiting for the Man’, although they are not exactly waiting for the same thing… So, demos were sent to Reed in November 2012, and Reed didn’t answer, but when he did, he replied ‘I have no interest in any further involvement.’

Live, Slideshow

Oldies But Goodies: From J. Tillman To Father John Misty

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Most of his songs are delivered in a slow pace, with a melancholic, solemn, almost severe tone, that was inspiring respect and a complete silence from the public who seemed to have been composed of the quietest people I had ever been with. He had more upbeat tunes, but, even there, the moaning and the mourning dominated the climate.

Business, News, Slideshow

The Facility Charge: Petty Thieves

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If I don’t want to buy a ticket to a gig, I am free to pass on it. And I am sure the world at large feels much the same. But even so, racking on a fee for nothing is upsetting, they are like a thieving bartender who short changes you a little because you won’t noice it.It is petty thievery, It degrades us both.

Be Here Now, Recorded, Slideshow

Be Here Now: New Album Reviews, April 14th, 2015

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Second Hand Heart – Dwight Yoakam – Hip honky tonk lives on, and this is better than the 2012 album 3 Pears, which was pretty good itself. In full voice, Dwight dials back the years with a collection of country rockers from left of Bakersfield… “Dreams Of Clay” sounds suspiciously like “Suspicious Minds” (just sayin) – ALBUM OF THE WEEK – A-

controversy, Movies, Slideshow

Kurt Cobain Died Of A Broken Heart? Or We Are Told…

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‘I found his actual suicide letter, which was unexpected. I just opened up this heart shaped box and there it was. And I was like ‘Based on everything I’ve witnessed, this makes no sense.’ Kurt didn’t have a problem with quitting music; he talked about it openly. If he wanted to stop performing, he would just stop. Nothing was leading up to that suicide letter.’

News, Slideshow

New Kanye West Demo “Midas Touch”: Ode To Hos Reviewed (Stream It Hear)

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Nice beats and nasty attitude, the track is all freshness sex and hos and someone else with Rihanna, this was probably recorded during the Rihanna sessions that brought us “Fourfiveseconds”, the snarls and the haha s are pottering on self-parody, the “hahas” a growl and the beats almost his signature at the point.Apparently, he is referring his ability to make stars.

News, Slideshow

Last Call: April 6th, 2015

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Radios In Heaven – Plain White T’s – Here’s a question, when does an album stop? Is it the last song on the official or the deluxe version. Depends on the song, I figure, this is the last song off the official, a death song, and not a very good one, but absolutely the conclusion of an album – C

Live, Slideshow

Lessons in How Not to Run a Business from Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton, Texas

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I would have loved to have said a few words to Butch Hancock after the show – about how much his music has meant to me and it was an honor to see him perform, but I felt like I needed to leave quickly to avoid another manufactured confrontation. So, Danny Boy, don’t worry about profiling me in your club again, because I’ll never be back. And, if you don’t like this pic of Butch Hancock that I took during his soundcheck, sue me.

News, Slideshow

That Was The Week That Was: April 6th, 2015

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After losing a 19 inning marathon to the Red Sox, the Yanks couldn’t regroup the next day. I’d be shocked if we get 90 wins, and we will probably be something in the nature of 80. This does not feel good, but hopefully, something somewhere… The Rangers seem heading for the Stanley Cup!!! Nets about to make the playoffs.

Charts, Slideshow, UK Top 10 Albums

UK TOP 10 Albums 4-19-15

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This ain’t much is it? And much less volatile than the singles chart which is weird, in the States if you get on the singles charts you stay a while but albums fly in and out of the albums chart very rapidly. Nothing against Kanye West, I couldn’t be a bigger fan, but if we expect his new album to change the year around, it’s gonna be a long wait.

Charts, Slideshow, UK Top 10 Singles

UK Top 10 Singles 4-19-15

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I hated “Crossed Stars” when Kiera sang it, I hated it when Levine sang it both acoustic and electric, and I hate this terrible The Voice UK winner Stevie McCrorie’s version . The good news is there isn’t a chance in hell we will have to hear it Stateside, unless we’re dumb enough to follow the UK Charts.

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