This is Sam Smith’s week, we only live in it. Undoubtedly, In The Lonely Hour is the album to beat. If only for the first single, “Stay With Me”, this is a major (first!) release by a great singer. Othersie, I am listening to the new Sharon Von Etten as we speak and like it don’t love it, really liked the Robyn EP, and am looking forward to Christian rocker Crowder, anti-Christs EYEHATEGOOD and Mariah Carey who lives somewhere between the two.
Screw Coldplay and Michael Jackson, the thrill here is the return of Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott, otherwise known as the Beautiful South. I saw the Beautiful South in the 1990s at the tiny Supper Club and they were terrific. My fave band at the time (I never remember them when I am considering greatest bands of the 1990s) I am very very excited to hear there is a new album though I have only heard one song off it, “DIY”. I sure wish they’d release it here and then tour. So good to have these guys back. very very thrilling.
Two new songs here, yet to be released in the US, promise mountains for the modern soul sounds of the UK. “Stay With Me” is as great as the beautiful voiced soul singer Sam Smith gets and this is not simply quite possibly his best song yet, it is also his potential big time US breakthrough. “Extraordinary” is no “Rather Be” but it is still damn good.
ATLiens – Outkast – The title track of their first album and it still sounds other worldly. Nearly 20 years ago and it is the template for Atlanta rap and neo soul, with two great rappers and a doomy bass. Really like another planet – A
The Decemberists came on when it was starting to absolutely downpour, and some people left and others toughed it out. I was amongst those who bailed; it was cold and rainy and a long day. From what I heard in my attempt to get out and not be soaking wet, The Decemberists definitely still have their niche and a huge fan base
So lo and behold, I am in my early 50’s and the rest of the band is in their upper 40’s but we have this urge to get this music out of our souls still. We have already been through the verge on being the next big thing and the pillaging of record companies on one’s hearts so the pursuit of fame is not an issue here.
I love how the guitar sounds and how it’s stripped down and Brian’s voice really takes center stage. Something about his vocals send chills down my spine, and any time I hear him sing something new I get really giddy.
Like most documentaries, this is a labor of love and director Garcia does a fine job at highlighting the key events in Thunders’ life. However, the limited ability he had for licensing is a shortcoming of the film – most of the music used in the film is clamorous stage footage that doesn’t adequately display Thunders’ skill as a songwriter
it didn’t go well with Neko who added: ‘And no, I didn’t read it. Wouldn’t be able to get past “Woman in..” if I had no idea who I was, which is the point; women NOT a niche market’…’ Also, I finished my period last week. Thanks for checking.’
The personal story is a triangle, the young Dr. X (James McAlvoy) and the young Magneto (Michael Fassbender) fight for Raven/Mystique (Jennifer Lawrence). If X wins her over the Mutants are saved, if Magneto wins her over all is lost. Wolverine plays the gay best friend.
It is so hard, and it’s a really weird thing to do. I’m beginning to realize what’s more important to me, and I have a lot to think about. I had to end a ten-year relationship because it was too hard to do music and have that. I think it’s a real issue, especially for women. I hate to say it, I just feel like we have to think about having a life and having a family more.
Hey now summer is knocking on your door and you should be out there drinking beer and throwing foods on the grill. There is no need for you to be watching television and whoa.whoa..wait.. is that Sean Lennons band Ghost of a Saber Tooth bla bla bla?
A-Trak is playing Terminal 5 on Saturday and for once all the caveats about the dreaded club don’t really apply; a cavernous airplane hangar is exactly what you want for a rave Cam’ron is opening!
I missed Barry Gibb on Friday due to the weather and Lael Summer on Saturday due to the late start (1230am!). Luckily Helen Bach and Mary Magpie represented at Boston Strong. Excited for the Decemberists? Frank Turner? Brand New? Perhaps but how about TWO VEGAN TACOS FOR FIVE BUCKS!!!
The Glamorous Life – Sheila E – It sounds like Prince gone Samba with extra beats and extra movement. The album cut is nine minutes of relentless joy and funk – A
If your idea of a good gig is something loud and cheery with an impressive light show and all that jazz, Lindley would not be your first choice. His stage is minimalist, and his music is acoustic, thoughtful and very eclectic. What you ARE treated to is a virtuoso display of stringed instrument musicianship, a lot of dry wit, and more than just a hint of “left field”.
Iced Tea is a rich man in LA now with zero street cred and even less charisma. So whats a gal to do? Don’t watch and only listen. By doing so I have found that “Talk Shit Get Shot” is a great tune filled with perfect expletives and a nice metal beat.
How did Lorde discover Conor exactly? Well, that was easy:’ I knew about Bright Eyes because everyone at my school was obsessed with Bright Eyes. But I didn’t really have a supergood understanding of who you were. Then my current boyfriend introduced me to you — he’s an O.G., hard-core fan, like he had a forum in 2005 for you guys.’
It sounds so drifty and calm, making it feel distant and perfect background music for a chill day. I can hear this being the soundtrack to a lot of moments this summer- it’s so versatile, and every time I listen to it, I hear something new to love.
Honoring the co-chair of Loews Corporation Andrew Tisch, the first thing that a pop picker like yours truly will notice is the return of the great Marshall Crenshaw. No shocker there from the man who got his start in “Beatlemania
If I missed it and nearly bought more expensive tickets, what would the average consumer do? Well, Stub Hub know what the average consumer would do. They’d buy off Vivid Seats and pay huge fees. I nearly bought a ticket to Elbow from Vivid Seats. At first glance it was 15% less than Stub Hub. After more study it was 20% more.
Bridgetown has always been the music of friends whose art, personalities and lives have had a powerful effect on me. People who I saw were doing amazing things to catalyze the engine of DIY/underground music, people I traveled with and who became great friends
Can the Hank Williams album be considered new? If it can it would knock off every single thing on this list but a sixty year old recording… Kenny is the clear winner but Conor, I am wondering if I underestimate him because well because I am a little bored of his schtick by now. Certainly, except for the bridge, “Zig Zag” is a good as it gets.
Tulane – Chuck Berry – Debatably the greatest flying car song of them all, this story of a drug buy gone South is so good both Springsteen and Lennon woulda have killed to write it – A+
It doesn’t feel like Bright Eyes, or Desa, or Monsters of Folk- it’s a legitimate Conor Oberst album. This tune has a little bit of everything for everyone, lovely harmonies and a fantastic surrealistic almost movie-soundtrack backtrack.
Rambunctious and sloppy and chaotic and hysterical with songs that you can both sing with and scream along to. If you’ve forgotten how thrilling traditional rock ‘n’ roll can be, this is one hell of a reminder. Play it loud. Knock back a few shots. Piss off your uptight neighbors.
If you sort the voices by lowest notes, Axl Rose beats Barry White, is it for real? Then you have David Bowie, Tom Waits, while Nina Simone is the first female in the list, no surprise there.
After listening to this damn thing more times than I wanted to in my worst nightmare, I guess it isn’t… no, it is terrible. I guess I like Dan’s falsetto here and there and Patrick is a good drummer but it is a bad album which just plain doesn’t add up and any particular time. Well played and deeply felt, it is over arranged and enervating.
Remember when Brit was a hot mess kicking peoples ass with an umbrella and shaving off all her hair? She brought Southern trailer park to a whole new level when she quite simply flipped out and did so very publicly
Bronson is both an original and a throwback to an earlier age of popular music, where the sound in a person’s head is all encompassing and needs to be sculpted into the way they want it heard: it has the delicacy of time and purpose. and it will be a pleasure to hear Bronson express this
The video, directed by vocalist Ninja, shows him as a real life pitbull-man, mauling people around a post-apocalyptic-looking town. Among his potential victims are two white and black catwomen and partner Yo-Landi Visser, as white as chalk, and looking creepier than ever.
I would miss most things to see Pharrell Williams at the Apollo, which is where he is playing on Tuesday June 3rd. And I would even if I was a lesser fan of GIRL, a great pop album, because you know that after Pharrell tours (he is setting up Europe for the summer) and plays the much larger Barclay Center (as he will later this year or next year), it will be a production number but the Apollo Theatre which be a much straighter production
As for the interview, that Flaming Lips guy Coyne needs to stop fellating pop stars, it is getting embarrassing. Muehl says “Sean is super-intelligent but lacking in self awareness.” No, she is wrong. I don’t even know the guy and I can tell you self-aware is what he does.
Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent – Gwen Guthrie – The Queen of the Paradise Garage’s finest moment spelled out exactly what she expected from the man in the her life with a spare funky bottom and an all rhythm disco. They sure don’t make em life this any more – A
Not long after a delicious and ferocious ‘Get Some’, she came back for an encore, to sing this familiar song in Swedish and the totally glorious ‘Sadness Is A Blessing’, which has to be Li’s gospel. She was holding her wounded rhythms at arm length and everyone in the room was with her
Stenciled on the ground outside Manchester UK’s infamous fast food joints is the “Meat Is Still Murder” stamp paying homage to the infamous Smiths tune. Moz, a long time animal activist has promoted PETA at all of his gigs and has just recently offered up the tune “I Know It’s Gonna Happen Someday’ to the cause.
“Miles Davis Way Block party in NYC on 5/26 (birthday of Miles)!? NYC is officially re-naming West 77th Street to “Miles Davis Way.” The celebration will include Miles alumni, special guests and unveiling.
Four years ago at age 13 Mary Magpie set out to Worcester MA to interview a long time idol. Meeting up in a corner pizza shop she spoke to Rocket Summer front man Bryce Avary.
After years in the wilderness of pop maelstrom, overreaching, eclecticism, and middle age blahs, Old 97s have roared back with their current, best album of the year contender. And as we ready ourselves for the June 3rd gig at Webster Hall with more anticipation than certainly any time this decade, let’s take a look at the setlist…
‘With just sound, or sound and video, novices and experts both guessed right at about the same level as chance (33% of the time), or a little less. But with silent video alone, the success rate for both was about 46–53%. The experts did no better than the novices.
Soooo, now we can finally the Governors Ball festival at a glance (see below) let’s see how the long weekend works out. One thing is for sure, it is an easy way to catch a lot of bands you wanna watch and the only fESTIVAL YOU CAN TAKE THE SUBWAY HOME FROM!
Can I pick em? No, not at all. I could’ve sworn both Coldplay and Michael Jackson were gonna bomb and bomb big and they both hit the charts in the first week. Avicii produced by the Coldplay song, I just assumed it was Eno!
Wow, that really sucks. Worst list ever in fact. I think I might have gone easy on Black Keys, Michael Jackson, Rascal Flatts, they are all “D”ish. It is real strange that a chart that takes so little to make an impression on could be so terribly bland.
Good Vibrations – Todd Rundgren – From 1976 where the often woolly Todd does an astonishing act of replication with the excitations that was one of Brian Wilson’s most intricate and highly arranged pies of progressive pop. An act of, well, complete strangeness and the better for it – A
The Mozerians will rejoice as mobs often due but in my effort to remain objective amongst the mayhem I cannot let the lyrics slide. The story is fine- much like any other world issue blather but ugh, c’mon with that last word echo.
I love the aspect of the kids in different animal masks being out in the woods- some might say it’s cliche, but I think it totally works. The shots of the band playing are also beautiful, it’s minimalistic but the lighting and the look of the instruments set the tone.
Oasis rode this sound hard for years and years to great effect. It was like my bloody valentine without the artiness, the Beatles without the soul, the new art school of punk burnt to the ground and rebuilt. Like punk, it was working class, grimy boots nowhere land. You know how young Morrissey was bullied in his youth? Noel and Liam were the boys doing the bullying
Coldplay or Adele around $750K, Rihanna or No Doubt $500-750K, Britney Spears $500K, Keith Urban or Maroon 5 $400-600K, Foo Fighters $500K, , Kings of Leon $400-500K… Are you surprised by these numbers? I am! Dave Matthews and Bon Jovi worth the same than Bieber or Timberlake?
Heaps Of Sheep – Robert Wyatt – Perhaps his single most accessible song to date, finds the paraplegic dreaming that he is wandering on the seashore. Insomniac Robert’s goose was cooked till finally the freedom of dreams lets him walk again.
Led Zeppelin and Spirit played together in Detroit, Atlanta, and Seattle, and Zeppelin were even Spirit’s opening act at the Denver auditorium Arena in 1968. ‘Taurus’ was ‘such a pretty moment, and it would typically come after a big forceful number and always got a good response,
