Recorded, Slideshow, Sneak Peak

Sneak Peaks: Upcoming Album Releases 9-11-15 – 9-17-15

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Prince, who was great on GMA earlier this week, is a Tidal exclusive and while I certainly might pay ten bucks to own his new one, I won’t pay ten bucks to rent it for a month by subscribing (the real question is: will Hov and Bey make their next albums exclusives. I’d claim it is between Craig Finn and The Libertines, I was streaming some of the Finn album and it sounds like his last solo without the flat out masterpiece “Honolulu Blues”. So I guess I’ll go with the Popdose’s Ken Shane recommended The Libertines.

Live, Slideshow

Health At Los Globos, Thursday September 3rd 2015

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Most of their songs were at the verge of explosion before the eventual disaster was cut short, finishing into the lament of Duzsik’s vocals. Since I could not see any setlist around the stage, I am not sure what they played, very probably many songs of their new album ‘Death Magic’, like ‘Stonefist’, one of their poppiest tunes, which sounds much quieter on record, almost like an industrial track of Depeche Mode or Nine Inch Nails, but revealed itself much more ferocious in its live form. And that was the case for all the songs.

Slideshow

10 Songs: Friday, September 4th, 2015

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Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra – This is a perfect end of summer, it feels like the sun going down in the sky and the moonlight shining much earlier than you could possibly want it to and the end of another season, less death and more aging -life passing irrevocably by – A+

Charts, Slideshow

UK Top 10 Albums: 9-4-15 – 9-10-15

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The relentless hype surrounding Halsey is beginning to work against her, how long can Apple Play ram her down our throats (two weeks among new releases, why?) , and how long before her lack of traction becomes a problem. Or will she break? A story of modern pop.

Charts, Slideshow

UK Top 10 Singles 9-4-15 – 9-10-15

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The definition of homogenized. Remember 1978 when the UK and the US charts couldn’t have been more different? That isn’t happening any more. This is as characterless as any chart on the planet, it is the aural equivalent of the the global economy, bereft of individuals of any sort, it just sits there.

Live, Slideshow

Kendrick Lamar To Barclay Center This October, 2015

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That’s some line up this year, I only caught the last couple of songs of Future at Governors Ball earlier this year, but it was the one set I am sorry I couldn’t catch from the start, Meek Mill has a surprisingly strong album newly released, Jidenna is the guy with “Classic man” –the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar is killer as well.

News, Slideshow, Video Review

Taylor Swift’s African-Dream White Cliché

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Taylor Swift released this mini movie/big production for ‘Wildest Dreams’ on Sunday, and it looks like a Karen Blixen remix with her song for soundtrack. Nothing in the song suggests Africa, but this is nevertheless where the video was shot, because Taylor probably thought she would look good in colonial outfit or Scheherazade veils in front of lions and exotic animals.

News, Slideshow, These Days

These Days: Thursday, June 3rd, 2015

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Sure, I hate Tom Brady. Maybe I wouldn’t if he wasn’t the best QB in the business, and a smug dick to boot, but he is and he is and all he does his win. Last year, for instance. But when you’re a winner there is no need to be a cheater and doesn’t anybody believe for an instant the Patriots didn’t spy on other teams and steal their signals? And does anydody in the world believe Tom “Nobody touches my balls” Brady? Well, actually Judge Richard M. Berman just ruled that the NFL and bumbling dullard Roger Goodell had zero proof Brady had anything to do with the Deflategate and rescinded his four game suspension.

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: Thursday, September 3rd, 2015

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Hollywood Divorce – Outkast – Weezy is superb on the rap and the song is a jazzy beauty like the Outkast’s were the white Steely Dan: God Save Apple Play which came up with an excellent playlist: “Lil Wayne In The ’00s”… I wish I could share it – A

News, rock nyc

Brittany Howard Shakes Her Alabama Off To Release Thunderbitch’s Debut Album

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The very well-named Thunderbitch, which consists of Alabama Shakes’ frontwoman but also members of Nashville acts Fly Golden Eagle and Clear Plastic Masks, has a rawer and more aggressive sound than Howard’s work with Alabama Shakes,… although it is not really far away. I am currently streaming the album on the band’s website, and it’s a blast! A true rock & roll wonder, showcasing Howard’s fantastic powerhouse-thunderstorm vocals, which have never sounded so great… and could I mention Bowie again?

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: September 2nd, 2015

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D.L. F – Sean Price – With Foul Monday, Rim & Royal Flush – The late great Price a Dope Loop Finder if ever there ones, brings together some friends, Royal Flush are particularly hot at the moment, and freestyles for three minutes, somewhat awesome stuff – A-

Movies, News, Slideshow

“We Are Your Friends” Reviewed

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“We Are Your Friends” knows about as much about EDM as “Trainwreck” knows about being a freelance write. Nothing. And while some of the protools manipulation scenes are fun, and from time to time it gets at the pleasures of the bass, particular the behind Zac’s shot from behind DJ set at them it isn’t enough to sustain

Live, Slideshow

Family Of The Year At Amoeba, Tuesday September 1st 2015 Review

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In particular their song ‘Hero’ was used in the critically acclaimed movie ‘Boyhood’ by Richard Linklater. How could you escape this one? Even if you haven’t seen ‘Boyhood’, you probably caught the trailer also featuring the song, and the single peaked at #12 on the Billboard Alternative songs Chart, and #1 on the Triple A Top 30 Radio Chart and Top 15 at Alternative Radio!

News, Slideshow

The Best Band Of All Time: The Beatles

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While we don’t know how the world will to react to the Beatles 100 or 300 years from now, it is a fair bet the perception of their entire oeuvre will change from pop to classical. Like the greatest of the greatest classical composers, like Beethoven, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky, and maybe Schubert, they will be performed in recital, analyzed, discussed and studied.

News, Slideshow

These Days: Wednesday, September 2nd, 2015

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Nobody believes that Ben Carson, the neurosurgeon Republican running for President has much in the nature of a chance of getting the GOP nomination, so consider this his reward for dissing Obama to his face at the National Prayer Breakfast over 30 months ago. Currently in a dead heat with Trump in Iowa, he doesn’t have a prayer.

News, Slideshow

Drake Appears In Lil Wayne’s Festival And Starts A Tidal-Apple Music War

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‘The decision to not have Drake participate in the Tidal stream has nothing to do with Apple or Drake’s deal, said Drake’s manager Future the Prince to BuzzFeed. ‘Point blank, 100 percent. I made a business decision. Apple doesn’t have the power to stop us from being part of a live stream. The only people that have the power to do that are Cash Money and Universal, and they’re our partners.’

News, Slideshow

Is Bleona The Next Big Pop-EDM Star?

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Watching the VMAs or any other awards focusing on their own navel, Americans may be under the delusion that they are the center of the world and at the top of this brand of provocative/pop/dance/EDM business. Move over Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Nicky Minaj and Beyonce, here is Bleona, coming straight from Eastern Europe where she has already sold 1.5 million copies… They still buy albums over there, don’t they?

News, Slideshow

These Days: Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

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Mireya Alejandra Lopez, 22, drowned her twin two year old sons because, according to AP “she didn’t want them to live with the difficulties she faces (…) Lopez offered several reasons for the attacks, including that her kids were bullied and that her stepbrother rarely ate and was anti-social. She also said she and her twins weren’t loved, investigators said in court records.”

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

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Sure, it gains depth from Chinx’s murder (at the age of 31) earlier this year, and the hook is beyond prescience, but the last words to his children are so real and heartbreaking it takes the track to levels most people don’t ever reach if they live to be 91: “I pray I be OK when I grow up a little bigger, if I don’t tell my babies daddy was a real nigga” – A

News, Slideshow

Taylor Swift Kicked Ian McKellen Out Of His Apartment?

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When he talked to Gay Star News two days ago, Sir Ian McKellen had this to say about the famous pop star when he was asked if he was part of Taylor Swift’s famous squad:
‘I’m not. When I was living in Peter Jackson’s apartment in New York, Taylor Swift bought it while I was there and I was thrown out before I wanted to leave! That hardly puts me in Taylor Swift’s team, does it? You look shocked.’

Charts, Slideshow

US Top 10 Singles 9-12-15

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R. City? Fair to middling brother songwriters, who’ve cooked up mid-album stuff for the likes of Miley, and top 10 hits for Sean Kingston and the Pussycat Dolls? I am not crazy about the “Do That To Me One More Time” rip, so just tip your hat to Dr. Luke signing up Adam Levine and walk on by.

News, Slideshow

VMA Awards 2015 When Kanye West And Taylor Swift Made Up

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Kanye West says he is running for President in 2020 during his never ending speech and Taylor won a ton of awards though nothing much compared to Michael Jackson’s heyday of course.Nothing as exciting from Miley as when I saw her tweaking. At least until the end when she announced you could get her free new album NOW.

Charts, Slideshow

US Top 10 Albums 9-12-15

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Admittedly. I don’t much care for the Disturbed album but it is lengths better than that terrible Bryan album. Bryan is the sort of guy Bob Lefsetz points to as the future of popular music because he sells a lot of copies and channels Toto. Having said that, is it worth noting that after a 30 plus year old album and Taylor Swift, a country album is my fave of the week.

News, Slideshow, These Days

These Days: Thursday, August 31st, 2015

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The great neurologist and author Oliver Sacks died yesterday at the age of 82. You may remember him from “Awakenings”, which was made into the popular Robin Williams movie in 1990. Or “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”, stories of neurological disorders so strange and devastating, it made an atheist out of Sacks and for good reason: if your entirely personality can change due to a blow on the head, what exactly is your personality?

Recorded, Slideshow

10 Songs: Sunday, August 30th, 2015

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I Don’t Like Who I Was Then – The Wonder Years – I’ve had problems with all three new songs but for some reason I’d had the volume kinda low and if you blast it, there is a moment of revelation when it becomes a great anthem of mesed up emotional smash grab – A-

News, Slideshow

The Worst Rock Band Of All Time: The Police

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I walked out on the Sting-Simon gig in 2014, I walked out on The Police reunion gig at MSG in 2008, I walked out on a Sting solo gig in the 1990s and a big league Police gig in the 1980s, and I am sure I’d have walked out on them in the 1970s if I’d seen them

Charts, Slideshow

rock nyc Top 10 Songs 8-28-15 – 9-3-15

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Oddly enough, the week in songs doesn’t hold together as well as the week in records, my top three records goes Yo La Tengo, The Weeknd, and either Beal or Monk Parker, The Weeknd has so many strong SINGLES in it it could take over this list but a great single is not a great album. The dark alt country band Mnk Parker are a complete revelation.

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