Friday, July 31, 2015
Mark Ronson & Friends Cover Queens of the Stone Age
Watch Mark Ronson and his friends in Tame Impala and Miike Snow cover Queens of the Stone Age's "I Sat By The Ocean" for Australian radio state Triple J's "Like A Version" cover series.
Lauryn Hill on Fallon
Lauryn Hill performed her Nina Simone cover of "Feeling Good" on The Tonight Show. Take a look!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
1,000 Foo Fighters Fans Beg Band to Play in Italy
Fans in Cesena, Italy, want the Foo Fighters to play there so much that 1,000 fans from across the country came together to jam "Learn to Fly" and beg the band to play. Take a look!
Jean Grae & Flying Lotus on 'Why?'
Flying Lotus returned to Hannibal Buress' Comedy Central Show Why? and performed with Jean Grae "Before the Summer Broke."
Twin Shadow on Corden
Just a couple days after releasing his new free mixtape, Twin Shadow performed "To the Top" on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
Tyler, The Creator on Kimmel
Tyler, the Creator performed "Cherry Bomb" and "Smuckers" on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Take a look!
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Quick News
The folks at Lollapalooza have confirmed that starting in 2016, Lollapalooza will head to Colombia. This follows Lolla Beril, Brazil, Chile, and Argentina, as well as the main festival in Chicago which takes place this weekend.
Speaking to Philly's Power 99, Ice Cube shook the music world saying that Dr. Dre will release a new album to tie into the upcoming NWA biopic - Straight Outta Compton. Cube said: "It's mega. It's Dr. Dre, it's what everybody’s been waiting for. It's definitely a dope record, and he's dropping it all on the same day." It has now been confirmed that that album will be the soundtrack to Straight Outta Compton but will not be released this weekend to tie into the film, in typical Dre fashion he is making fans wait.
Yoko Ono is releasing the sequel to her 2007 collaborative album, Yes, I'm a Witch, in January. The second volume called Yes, I'm a Witch Too, will feature Death Cab For Cutie, Penguin Prison, Portugal The Man and others. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
Ono with Death Cab for Cutie: "Forgive Me My Love"
Ono with Peter, Bjorn and John: "Mrs. Lennon"
Ono with Jack Douglas: "Move on Fast"
Ono with Sparks: "Give Me Something"
Ono with Penguin Prison: "She Gets Down on Her Knees"
Ono with Portugal the Man: "Soul Got Out of the Box"
Ono with Sean Ono Lennon: "Dogtown"
Ono with tUnE-yArDs: "Warrior Woman"
Ono with Miike Snow: "Catman"
Ono with Cibo Matto: "Yes, I'm Your Angel"
Ono with Dave Audé: "Wouldnit"
Ono with John Palumbo: "I Have a Woman Inside My Soul"
Ono with Ebony Bones: "No Bed for Beatle John"
Ono with Automatique: "Coffin Car"
Ono with Danny Tenaglia: "Walking on Thin Ice"
Ono with Blow Up: "Approximately Infinite Universe"
Speaking to Philly's Power 99, Ice Cube shook the music world saying that Dr. Dre will release a new album to tie into the upcoming NWA biopic - Straight Outta Compton. Cube said: "It's mega. It's Dr. Dre, it's what everybody’s been waiting for. It's definitely a dope record, and he's dropping it all on the same day." It has now been confirmed that that album will be the soundtrack to Straight Outta Compton but will not be released this weekend to tie into the film, in typical Dre fashion he is making fans wait.
Yoko Ono is releasing the sequel to her 2007 collaborative album, Yes, I'm a Witch, in January. The second volume called Yes, I'm a Witch Too, will feature Death Cab For Cutie, Penguin Prison, Portugal The Man and others. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
Ono with Death Cab for Cutie: "Forgive Me My Love"
Ono with Peter, Bjorn and John: "Mrs. Lennon"
Ono with Jack Douglas: "Move on Fast"
Ono with Sparks: "Give Me Something"
Ono with Penguin Prison: "She Gets Down on Her Knees"
Ono with Portugal the Man: "Soul Got Out of the Box"
Ono with Sean Ono Lennon: "Dogtown"
Ono with tUnE-yArDs: "Warrior Woman"
Ono with Miike Snow: "Catman"
Ono with Cibo Matto: "Yes, I'm Your Angel"
Ono with Dave Audé: "Wouldnit"
Ono with John Palumbo: "I Have a Woman Inside My Soul"
Ono with Ebony Bones: "No Bed for Beatle John"
Ono with Automatique: "Coffin Car"
Ono with Danny Tenaglia: "Walking on Thin Ice"
Ono with Blow Up: "Approximately Infinite Universe"
Twin Shadow Shares New Mixtape
Following a horrific bus accident early this year, Twin Shadow is gearing up to return to the road and before he does he gave fans a free mixtape called Night Rally.
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, as well as a special message.
De Sade
Super Sonics
Ezra Green's Bed Demo
Crazy
Fighting
DR7
To Buffalo
Nastyness
Tear Me Up
Discover Me Demo
Crazy Love (DR 10)
Practice
Back Burner
Heart Belongs (Heaven and Hell)
What You Doin
DR4
Major Moon (Demo Instrumental)
Time in the Dark
Littlest Things
Super Sonics
Ezra Green's Bed Demo
Crazy
Fighting
DR7
To Buffalo
Nastyness
Tear Me Up
Discover Me Demo
Crazy Love (DR 10)
Practice
Back Burner
Heart Belongs (Heaven and Hell)
What You Doin
DR4
Major Moon (Demo Instrumental)
Time in the Dark
Littlest Things
VINTAGE CLIP: Nine Inch Nails at Lollapalooza '91
With this weekend kicking off the latest installment of Lollapalooza in Chicago, we look back at a very young Nine Inch Nails performing at the very first 'Palooza in 1991. Take a look!
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Live Pix: Rock Steady Crew 38th Anniversary
This past weekend, the legendary Rock Steady Crew celebrated their 38th anniversary with their annual party in Central Park. Our RICH D SMOOV was on hand to capture the action and see the special hip-hop legends who were there to celebrate.
Big Daddy Kane
Words Worth
Marly Marl
Statik Seletktah
Crazy Legs
Jean Grae
Whodini
Immortal Technique
With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie
Promote Your Page Too
Quick News
Brian Fallon of Gaslight Anthem did an interview in Germany recently and thanks to the people at AbsolutePunk for translating it, it seems as if Gaslight will go on a bit of hiatus. Fallon said: "A year or two, I think. We take our time until we have an idea for a new album and everyone is convinced that it is really good."
Paul Simonon of The Clash, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music and drumming legend Tony Allen may have all worked with Damon Albarn at one point or another but now they are joining forces to back Italian music legends Ligabue and Columbian singer Andrea Echeverri and violinist Anna Phoebe in a new supergroup. The untitled group will perform at the La Notte Della Taranta festival in Italy next month. Manzanera said: "I'm delighted that La Notte della Taranta has attracted such wonderful artists and it's a tribute to the fine local muscians and dancers that they want to be part of this incredible concert. I'm hoping that this year, all of us performing can ensure that one of Italy's best kept secrets, reaches a wider international audience."
Puscifer will release their new album, Money Shot, in October.
Gary Clark Jr. is currently in his native Austin, Texas, working on his new album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. He told Rolling Stone: "The only real theme is, 'Through all the bullshit, there's always hope. That's kinda it." He continued, "I really just wanted to put everything together and be 1,000 percent who I am. This album is exactly what that is, loud."
Irish folk-rock legends The Pogues are getting their own whiskey. While the band have been around for over 30 years, it is about time they get branded on a bottle. It will be released worldwide later this year.
Paul Simonon of The Clash, Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music and drumming legend Tony Allen may have all worked with Damon Albarn at one point or another but now they are joining forces to back Italian music legends Ligabue and Columbian singer Andrea Echeverri and violinist Anna Phoebe in a new supergroup. The untitled group will perform at the La Notte Della Taranta festival in Italy next month. Manzanera said: "I'm delighted that La Notte della Taranta has attracted such wonderful artists and it's a tribute to the fine local muscians and dancers that they want to be part of this incredible concert. I'm hoping that this year, all of us performing can ensure that one of Italy's best kept secrets, reaches a wider international audience."
Puscifer will release their new album, Money Shot, in October.
Gary Clark Jr. is currently in his native Austin, Texas, working on his new album, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. He told Rolling Stone: "The only real theme is, 'Through all the bullshit, there's always hope. That's kinda it." He continued, "I really just wanted to put everything together and be 1,000 percent who I am. This album is exactly what that is, loud."
Irish folk-rock legends The Pogues are getting their own whiskey. While the band have been around for over 30 years, it is about time they get branded on a bottle. It will be released worldwide later this year.
Stream New BEAK / KAEB Split EP
Portishead's Geoff Barrow has released a new EP from his side project BEAK>. The EP is a split with KEAB aka BEAK > backwards.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Live Review: Slayer / King Diamond @ Jones Beach
The Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival rolled through the New York area over the weekend and hit Jones Beach on Sunday night. The festival, featuring headliners like Slayer and King Diamond, also showcased bands like Hellyeah, The Devil Wears Prada along with a side stage of Victory Records artists.
Maybe because Slayer just rolled through the area earlier in the summer at the much smaller Paramount Theater, or maybe it was the heat, or the rest of the line-up but only half of the iconic theater in the sea was filled with audience members. While those that were there kickstarted their week the best and loudest way possible, others that missed this festival didn't miss too much.
The stand out of the day was certainly King Diamond. The Danish metal icon and his band brought their Broadway theatrics to the beach and put on a performance that was part horror movie and part metal concert. Going through his vast catalog in the hour they were on stage -- which looked like a Gothic church that featured devils and pentagrams around it -- the performance had everyone's attention, including Slayer's Kerry King, who came out to perform Mercyful Fate's "Evil." It may have been Slayer that everyone paid to see, but it was King Diamond who delivered the show.
Following a 35-minute intermission, mainly breaking down Diamond's set, Slayer came on at 9:45. Opening with the title track off their upcoming album, Repentless, the California metal legends barnstrormed through their classics like "God Send Death," "Hate Worldwide," and "Chemical Warefare," --- and that was just the start. The band played in front of choreographed pyrotechnics, a stack of Marshall amps, and a giant LED screen, which at times had technical difficulties, and featured their logo in every variation possible as well as disturbing images that you would expect from the band for sheer shock value.
"Just a quiet night on the beach," singer Tom Araya told the audience. "The is the quietest crowd we have ever played," he continued. In a rare occurrence, Jones Beach had a general admission section that the band was hoping to take more advantage of, but some still moshed and some still crowd surfed, but it didn't seen enough for Araya. For the 75-minutes they churned out on stage, it was the end of their set that had everyone making Araya smile as "Hell Awaits," "South of Heaven," "Raining Blood," and "Angel of Death," closed the night all in succession. While this may not have been the most packed gig at the Beach this summer, it was certainly the loudest.
Maybe because Slayer just rolled through the area earlier in the summer at the much smaller Paramount Theater, or maybe it was the heat, or the rest of the line-up but only half of the iconic theater in the sea was filled with audience members. While those that were there kickstarted their week the best and loudest way possible, others that missed this festival didn't miss too much.
The stand out of the day was certainly King Diamond. The Danish metal icon and his band brought their Broadway theatrics to the beach and put on a performance that was part horror movie and part metal concert. Going through his vast catalog in the hour they were on stage -- which looked like a Gothic church that featured devils and pentagrams around it -- the performance had everyone's attention, including Slayer's Kerry King, who came out to perform Mercyful Fate's "Evil." It may have been Slayer that everyone paid to see, but it was King Diamond who delivered the show.
Following a 35-minute intermission, mainly breaking down Diamond's set, Slayer came on at 9:45. Opening with the title track off their upcoming album, Repentless, the California metal legends barnstrormed through their classics like "God Send Death," "Hate Worldwide," and "Chemical Warefare," --- and that was just the start. The band played in front of choreographed pyrotechnics, a stack of Marshall amps, and a giant LED screen, which at times had technical difficulties, and featured their logo in every variation possible as well as disturbing images that you would expect from the band for sheer shock value.
"Just a quiet night on the beach," singer Tom Araya told the audience. "The is the quietest crowd we have ever played," he continued. In a rare occurrence, Jones Beach had a general admission section that the band was hoping to take more advantage of, but some still moshed and some still crowd surfed, but it didn't seen enough for Araya. For the 75-minutes they churned out on stage, it was the end of their set that had everyone making Araya smile as "Hell Awaits," "South of Heaven," "Raining Blood," and "Angel of Death," closed the night all in succession. While this may not have been the most packed gig at the Beach this summer, it was certainly the loudest.
VINTAGE CLIP: U2 on Letterman
Now that U2 are more than half-way through their eight sold-out run at Madison Square Garden in New York, we look back at this early 2000's performance of them doing "New York" on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Hear Our Essential U2 Playlist!
Read: Live Review - U2 @ Madison Square Garden
Erykah Badu Shares New Mixtape
Erykah Badu has shared her latest mixtape, FEEL BETTER, WORLD! via Mixcloud. Take a listen!
Friday, July 24, 2015
Live Review: U2 @ Madison Square Garden
2009 was the last time U2 performed inside Madison Square
Garden, the performance saw them headline the final night of the 25th
Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since then, they toured with
what could be the world’s largest stage ever assembled during 2009-2011’s 360
Tour, they finally headlined Glastonbury, Bono and Edge funded the Broadway
bomb that was Spiderman: Turn off the Dark. They also gave away their latest
record, Songs of Innocence, for free on iTunes and seemed to piss off half of
the world’s population in doing so. Not to mention Bono was told he may never
be able to play guitar again after being involved in a terrible bicycle
accident. Soldiering through the good times and bad since they were last on the
road, the four men from Ireland that have made the stage their home returned to
a city that has embraced them like their own children.
I have spent the last two nights inside Madison Square
Garden witnessing the power of U2’s current Innocence + Experience tour. The
tour is currently at the halfway mark of its eight-night sold-out run and is
certainly up there as some of the greatest U2 concerts in the history of this
band.
“From the Ritz to Madison Square Garden. New York you make
us feel at home. Yes, we have moved in,” Bono told the crowd both nights. The
band, who first arrived in New York in the early 80’s, debuted in the city at
The Ritz (now Webster Hall). Over 30 years later, they make it a point to still
reflect on where they came from. Yet, it is reflection that is the motif of
this current tour. They are giving fans a chance to see the evolution and
influences that have motivated them through the years.
The stage for this current tour is a far cry from what they
did with 360. Here they are opting for the intimacy they had with the Elevation
and Vertigo Tours of the early 2000’s. Featuring up to four places for the band
to play – a main stage at one end of the arena that looks like a typical set-up
for that venue, a catwalk that leads to a “B” stage that sees the band playing
in the round. Yet, the most interesting thing about the set-up is the massive
wall that is their LED screen hanging above the floor that also dubs as a place
for them to enter and perform.
Opening each night with “The Miracle (of Joey Ramone)” and
then kicking into a deep classic cut like “Out of Control” or “Electric Co.,”
U2 take their early post-punk garage style from the Dublin homes they crafted
it in to the big playhouse. With impeccable sound and authority, U2 pack a
punch right away. Both nights featured “Vertigo,” “I Will Follow” before going
into new songs like “Iris,” “Cedarwood Road,” “Song for Someone,” that bring
the origin story of this band to life. It is at this point both nights it felt
less like a concert and more like a massive Broadway production. As the giant
LED box screens featured animations of the North and South sides of Dublin
where the band are from and Bono going into the box that houses the screens and
virtually walking through his old neighborhood. From there, they get into
Ireland’s modern political with a stripped down version of “Sunday Bloody
Sunday” and “Raised by Wolves” before closing their first set with “Until the
End of the World.”
As they take a small break, the screen lowers to the catwalk
and drapes fall from the middle of The Garden and it divides the place to look
like the Berlin Wall. For Act II, it becomes their lives from Achtung Baby
onward. As they evolved as people in that era, so did their sound. Act II also
showcases the intimacy of the band performing on that smaller “B” stage where
on Wednesday they brought out Jimmy Fallon to perform “Desire” and The Roots to
play “Angel of Harlem.” For Thursday, it was a fan from Brazil who played with
his idols on “All I Want Is You.” It is on that “B” stage where the intimacy of
this whole experience is brought to life. One of the biggest bands in the world
makes a room that holds nearly 20,000 feel like your living room. Aside from
the effects, songs, and stage personalities they have – that is the real star of
the show – their power to bring everyone in right on them. On that small stage
there are no effects, it is just the raw power of the band surrounded by their
fans.
“Thank you for this life. Thank you for staying with us,”
Bono told the masses. It was the preacher at home in his cathedral surrounded
by his disciples and followers.
For him, Edge, Adam, and Larry, they know when fans come to see them for
the two-and-a-half hours they are on stage it is an experience they are not
going to get elsewhere. Yet, for the members of U2, the shows like these in New
York is why they still push to be the best live band they can be. At this point
in their career they can keep delivering safe greatest hits-filled sets and no
one would chastise them for it, yet, to want to do deep cuts like “Lucifer’s
Hands,” “Sweetest Thing,” “The Wanderer,” it changes the dynamic. It proves why
they have sold out nights in New York and across the world. Each show is
different from the last and the fans walk away knowing they got their monies
worth.
Quick News
Speaking to BBC6 Music, Prince's band 3rdEyeGirl have revealed that The Purple one will release a new album this year called The Hit & Run Album. The group said: "Super hardcore Prince fans that know every song he's ever recorded - we refer to them as 'The Purple Collective' or 'The Purple Army' - this album is absolutely for them, because it's super funky," 3rdEyeGirl told 6 Music. "It's weird, there's a lot of experimental sound. It's just hit after hit and definitely caters to those fans who just love to hear what Prince has to say, rather than wanting to always hear that classic Purple Rain Prince sound."
El-P has announced that Meow the Jewels, the Run the Jewels 2 cat-remix album will be available for free in September.
Robyn announced earlier this year she was working on a new project under the name La Bagatelle Magique, which features Markus Jägerstedt and late producer Christian Falk. The group will release their debut EP, Love is Free in August. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01 Lose Control
02 Love Is Free Ft. Maluca
03 Got To Work It Out
04 Set Me Free
05 Tell You (Today)
Hear the first single, "Set Me Free" below:
El-P has announced that Meow the Jewels, the Run the Jewels 2 cat-remix album will be available for free in September.
Robyn announced earlier this year she was working on a new project under the name La Bagatelle Magique, which features Markus Jägerstedt and late producer Christian Falk. The group will release their debut EP, Love is Free in August. Take a look at the tracklisting below:
01 Lose Control
02 Love Is Free Ft. Maluca
03 Got To Work It Out
04 Set Me Free
05 Tell You (Today)
Hear the first single, "Set Me Free" below:
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Flying Lotus Brings Open Mike Eagle, Thundercat to Why?
It was announced earlier this week that Flying Lotus is the in-house DJ for Hannibal Buress' new Comedy Central show, Why? Last night, Lotus brought out his first musical guests Open Mike Eagle and Thundercat to perform "Ziggy Starfish." Take a look!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
QUICK SPINS
Ghostface Killah & Adrian Younge – 12 Reasons to Die
Part II
Like Czarface’s impeccable first concept hip-hop record that
arrived in 2013 and followed it up with a sequel in 2015, Ghostface and Younge
do the same with their fantastic 12 Reasons to Die series. This is Ghost’s
third album in 9 months and he shows no signs of slowing down, in fact,
spitting his best rhymes and play on words in years. 12 Reasons to Die follows
the second part of the Tony Starks character that was killed by the mafia
family he was working for and came back as 12 separate vinyl records, yet, when
played together, the albums creates the Ghostface Killah who is looking for
vengeance on the mob that took him out. Like a Hollywood sequel, this is
bigger, grander and much more star studded.
FINAL GRADE: A
Giorgio Moroder – Déjà Vu
The Italian king of disco is back with his first album in
decades and thanks Daft Punk helping the world reinvest their interest in the
man that has been making us shake our asses for five decades, he is back. On
Déjà Vu, Moroder picks up where he left off years ago and doesn’t stray too far
from his style but bringing guests like Britney Spears, Sia, Kelies, Kylie Minogue, Charlie
XCX, and others, the dancefloor is ready to be fun again.
FINAL GRADE: A
Miguel – Wildheart
Miguel is back with his third record and if you plan on
making a baby any time soon, put this on.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Tame Impala – Currents
Australia’s Tame Impala have had a healthy diet of
psychedelic rock and 70’s inspired pop to make them one of the most interesting
bands around. Their latest, Currents is by far their best record. The sound and
style and musical landscape they have been reaching to obtain over the years
has finally been realized and captured. This record will take you to a galaxy
far, far away without ever leaving your home.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Vince Staples – Summertime ‘06
It is ambitious for anyone to do a double album. It is
ambitious for a hip-hop artist to do a double album since only two have been
named classics – Biggie’s Life After Death and Wu-Tang Forever. It is even more
ambitious for a hip-hop artist to do it for his debut. That is what
California’s Vince Staples did with Summertime ’06, a record inspired by the most memorable summer of his life and how he plans to make his mark in the music world
today. Here is a rising voice that is reaching for more than just the stars.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
New Jersey prog-punks Titus Andronicus have made their best
work when they are focused on a story and an idea. Their debut, The Airing of
Grievances and their sophomore album, The Monitor, all were focused on a story
crafted by singer Patrick Stickles. Yet, their third record, Local Business,
was not only flat, it was all over the place. Now, with The Most Lamentable
Tragedy, they found their focus again and with a 98-minute punk opera, this
band sees no bounds and continues to push the envelope as to what a band should
do.
FINAL GRADE: A-
The Chemical Brothers – Born in the Echoes
You can’t knock and original and with EDM reaching fever
pitch, to all the DJ’s out there – this is how it is done.
FINAL GRADE: A-
Jeremy Loops – Trading Change
The debut album from South African singer, songwriter, poet,
and rapper, Jeremy Loops has finally arrived and in our final stretch of
summer, this is a record to have on.
FINAL GRADE: B+
FFS
The idea of Franz Ferdinand and Sparks teaming up is a dream
for any garage rock fan of the early 2000’s but now it is reality. The two
bands have merged to form FFS and it is a fantastic rock and roll union.
FINAL GRADE: B+
Donnie Trumpet & the Social Experiment – Surf
Chance the Rapper’s side project, Donnie Trumpet and The
Social Experiment surprised fans with their collab album, Surf. The record combines jazz, hip-hop,
R&B, and brings special guests Big Sean, J. Cole, Busta Rhymes, Janelle
Monae and Erykah Badu along for the ride.
FINAL GRADE: B
Omar Souleyman - Bahdeni Nami
Syrian singer Omar Souleyman teams up again with Four Tet
for a Middle Eastern / electronic fusion that takes us to different musical
worlds at once. It also proves again that music is our universal language.
FINAL GRADE: B
Frankie & The Heartstrings – Decency
The English garage rock band return with their third album
and don’t change much of the formula which works wonders for a band that is
always this consistently fun.
FINAL GRADE: B
Little Boots – Working Girl
British synthpop darling Little Boots is back and this time
throws it back to the 1980’s than ever before with Working Girl. The record,
inspired by the film of that era, is a nu-disco and glorious house record that
will have you moving all night.
FINAL GRADE: B
Heartless Bastards – Restless One
The Cincinnati rockers are back with their fifth record and
like a fine wine, only get better with age. They show relentlessness and
unstoppable forces of screaming guitars, pounding drums, and most of all, a
lesson in not caring.
FINAL GRADE: B
Civil Twilight – Story of an Immigrant
South Africa’s version of Coldplay return again and unlike
the band that is a clear major inspiration on them, they have frozen their
sound and not altered one bit. For some bands this works but for a derivative
like this, it falls very flat.
FINAL GRADE: C
Ratatat – Magnifique
Five albums in and Ratatat are still making their own blend
of instrumental rock but with their latest it is now just starting to all sound
the same and blend together with no real change, which is upsetting to think
about when they showed so much promise.
FINAL GRADE: C
Refused – Freedom
After nearly 20 years, Sweden’s Refused have given the world
a new record and in their time away we know they have done so much more
musically than just the post-hardcore, post-punk they were crafting in the
90’s. On Freedom, it has now just become a pop-punk band of sorts with screaming
vocals. The songs are polished, in fact, some sound too much like clean tracks
from their landmark The Shape of Punk to Come – the first single “Elektra” has
the same guitar licks as “New Noise.” But that is not the issue at hand. The
issue is that even though it has been nearly 20 years away, this band was
looking to do something more than just your average comeback but they made just
an average record. Nothing on here is memorable or something you will go back
and listen to 15 years from now like you would on their previous efforts. That
is the shame is that for a band that kept fans waiting, they made a “throwaway”
album.
FINAL GRADE: D
Wavves Announce New Album
Fresh off their joint album with Cloud Nothings, Wavves have announced that they will release their new album, V, in October.
That's the cover, above, and take a look at the tracklisting, below:
01 “Heavy Metal Detox”
02 “Way Too Much”
03 “Pony”
04 “All The Same”
05 “My Head Hurts”
06 “Redlead”
07 “Heart Attack”
08 “Flamezesz”
09 “Wait”
10 “Tarantula”
11 “Cry Baby”
02 “Way Too Much”
03 “Pony”
04 “All The Same”
05 “My Head Hurts”
06 “Redlead”
07 “Heart Attack”
08 “Flamezesz”
09 “Wait”
10 “Tarantula”
11 “Cry Baby”
Kurt Vile Details New Album
Kurt Vile will release his new album, b’lieve i'm goin down...., in September.
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and watch his new video for "Pretty Pimpin.'"
01 Pretty Pimpin
02 I'm an Outlaw
03 Dust Bunnies
04 That's Life, tho (almost hate to say)
05 Wheelhouse
06 Life Like This
07 All in a Daze Work
08 Lost My Head there
09 Stand Inside
10 Bad Omens
11 Kidding Around
12 Wild Imagination
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and watch his new video for "Pretty Pimpin.'"
01 Pretty Pimpin
02 I'm an Outlaw
03 Dust Bunnies
04 That's Life, tho (almost hate to say)
05 Wheelhouse
06 Life Like This
07 All in a Daze Work
08 Lost My Head there
09 Stand Inside
10 Bad Omens
11 Kidding Around
12 Wild Imagination
Quick News
Flying Lotus has been confirmed to be the band leader / musical director of Hannibal Buress' Comedy Central show, Why? The show has already been airing this summer and FlyLo has just been added to the mix.
Mike Kerr of Royal Blood spoke to Vanyaland about making the duo's second album, especially coming off a well praised debut. He said, "We just built a recording setup into our tour bus and we’re trying to get some demos done. It’s mainly trying to get some ideas down on the road, then we have a couple of weeks off in September where we’ll go into the studio. The pressure will come when we kind of really get into the second record – the famous difficult second record. But we’re really enjoying what we’re doing at the moment. You’re moving around so much and you really don’t get a real moment to process. Then you go home and you might sort of go, ‘Wow, that was mad.’”
Elbow announced they will release a new EP this Friday called Lost Worker Bee. It is said to be inspired by the people of Manchester, England.
Speaking to Esquire, James Blake discussed his new album, Radio Silence and mentioned that Kanye West and Bon Iver are on the record. Blake said, "I can confirm that they’re on it. Kanye — I’m with him today. We’d already started on something … today we should nail something down. If it doesn’t end up on the album you know it hasn’t worked.” Bon Iver and Blake collaborated in 2011 on "Fall Creek Boys Choir."
Mike Kerr of Royal Blood spoke to Vanyaland about making the duo's second album, especially coming off a well praised debut. He said, "We just built a recording setup into our tour bus and we’re trying to get some demos done. It’s mainly trying to get some ideas down on the road, then we have a couple of weeks off in September where we’ll go into the studio. The pressure will come when we kind of really get into the second record – the famous difficult second record. But we’re really enjoying what we’re doing at the moment. You’re moving around so much and you really don’t get a real moment to process. Then you go home and you might sort of go, ‘Wow, that was mad.’”
Elbow announced they will release a new EP this Friday called Lost Worker Bee. It is said to be inspired by the people of Manchester, England.
Speaking to Esquire, James Blake discussed his new album, Radio Silence and mentioned that Kanye West and Bon Iver are on the record. Blake said, "I can confirm that they’re on it. Kanye — I’m with him today. We’d already started on something … today we should nail something down. If it doesn’t end up on the album you know it hasn’t worked.” Bon Iver and Blake collaborated in 2011 on "Fall Creek Boys Choir."
Monday, July 20, 2015
Titus Andronicus Stream New Album
Titus Andronicus are streaming their epic new punk opera The Most Lamentable Tragedy over at NPR. Take a listen to the mammoth 98-minute album which arrives next week. Give yourself some time to listen to this album, it is an epic record to get through.
Great Soundtracks: 'Somewhere'
In 2010, Sofia Coppola released her minimal parenting odyssey Somewhere. The film, which starred Stephen Dorff as an A-list movie star trying to mend the relationship with his tween daughter and contemplate his career, was a film that gained mixed reviews. The film, which is mostly silent, showcased how distant yet, so close, the two main characters were. Coppola let the atmosphere and music do much of the talking.
The film featured a score from Coppola's husband, Thomas Mars and his band Phoenix. The soundtrack which was released features two Phoenix tracks as well as music from Foo Fighters, The Police, Julian Casablancas, T. Rex, Bryan Ferry, Romulo and others tells the story of the film through the song selection. While the soundtrack cover is the same as the movie poster, it echoes the same sentiment we feel in the summertime, a laid back and chill soundtrack for you to play while hanging out poolside.
Recommended Reading: The Beatles Anthology
In the fall of 1995, the story of The Beatles by The Beatles came to television for first time in the ABC mini-series, The Beatles Anthology. It triggered a series of untold stories, and an intimate behind the scenes look at the greatest band of all-time and how they operated. It boasted the three-double albums of the same name and five years later, that store came to text. The mammoth coffee table book, The Beatles Anthology was released and became the oral history of the surviving members of The Fab Four. Just like the television series, it shared the same intimate portrait of what it was like being a fly on the wall in the inner workings of The Beatles. Many of the interviews inside the book came from the series and were quoted by the people involved, the late John Lennon's were not included, unlike the documentary, they did not quote the archival material in which his story was shared. Instead, for Lennon, people wrote and talked about him in the autobiography. While we are in the middle of summer reading, this is a story that will read better than any book you may pick up this season and will take you longer to finish, however, it is worth the task.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
David Gilmour Announces 1st Album in 9 Years!
Former Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour will release his first album of new material in nine years this September with Rattle That Lock.
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below, and hear the first single which is the record's title track.
1. 5 A.M.
2. Rattle That Lock
3. Faces Of Stone
3. Faces Of Stone
4. A Boat Lies Waiting
5. Dancing Right In Front Of Me
6. In Any Tongue
7. Beauty
8. The Girl In The Yellow Dress
9. Today
8. The Girl In The Yellow Dress
9. Today
10. And Then...
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Live Review: Foo Fighters @ CitiField
It was a cold Saturday in November when myself, along with a couple thousand other Foo Fighters fans lined-up in front of CitiField in Queens, New York. We were not waiting to get Mets season tickets or to meet a player, we were waiting in line like the generations before us, to get tickets to a concert. When I grew up, you either called Ticketmaster or went to the venue and queued to get concert tickets. Now, with the internet and smart phones, it is in the palm of our hand but it also makes it easier for scalpers to get good seats and flip the ticket so they can make a buck. Most major touring bands have caught on to this and have found work arounds. Artists like Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails ask fans to present the credit card that was used to purchase the tickets at the venue. Some artists even issue special foil or watermarked tickets with the holders name on it. Foo Fighters opted to do it the old fashioned way. Just go to the venue the morning the tickets go on sale and "Beat the Bots," pick your seat and don't pay a service fee. It may seem absurd in this day and age to do something like that but for this band, it seems just right. Myself and other fans mingled and got to know each other and realized that a few thousand people can't be this crazy to do something like this. After waiting in line for four hours, I picked up two tickets for general admission, then it was the waiting game to play until July 16 would roll around.
The night finally came and it was worth the wait in every sense. A lot happened in the eight months since those tickets went on sale. For starters, the band released their latest record, Sonic Highways, they were nominated for four Emmy Awards for their docu-series, Sonic Highways. They were the final band to perform on Letterman. Oh, and Dave Grohl fell off a stage in Sweden and broke his leg.
Hear Our Essential Foo Fighters Playlist on Spotify!
The tour has been renamed "The Broken Leg Tour" and with fears of the band having to cancel, Grohl devised a throne in which he could sit and play and let the show go on.
Just after 8:30, the band came on stage and began playing the opening chords to "Everlong," as a big black banner with the Foo Fighters "FF" logo covered the stage. Once Grohl would start his singing, the banner flew away and it was on with the show. Jumping right into "Monkey Wrench," Grohl said, "We are going to do this all night. We have a lot of fucking songs to play." It only got the crowd more hyped. This was the second of two sold-out concerts at CitiField and the band were determined to hit it out of the park.
Performing classics like "Learn to Fly," "The Pretender," and new songs like "Something From Nothing" and "Congregation," Grohl took time out to then discuss his accident on top of his throne -- which moves up and down the stage. As they showed images of what happened to him on screen, he thanked his medic in Sweden and then the band's road crew for all their help. It was then they jumped into a ballad version of "Big Me." It wouldn't be the only reworked classic from the band, as Chris Shiflett and Pat Smear backed Grohl up to perform ballad versions of "My Hero" and "Times Like These." It was then into the blood of Foo Fighters that had fans' heads spinning as they did classic rock covers like Queen and David Bowie's "Under Pressure," KISS' "Detroit Rock City," Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak," and Alice Cooper's "School's Out." "We are a band that grew up on classic rock, so if you don't know these, we are not playing your bar mitzvah," Grohl joked. This was just the tip of the iceberg.
For nearly three hours the band flexed serious rock and roll muscle. While their leader may have been slightly handicapped, it didn't stop him from being the charismatic and fantastic front man he is. The beauty of them is that they are fans, just like us. Proving it when they brought out D.C. punk legends Bad Brains to perform "How Low Can a Punk Get" and "The Regulator." "I just played with my heroes. In a stadium!," Grohl shouted after a dream of his came true. Ending with "Best of You," the band took their triumphant final bows and got off stage. As the fans left the stadium, each and every single one that waited in line on that cold November day knows that Grohl would have waited with them if he could. What makes his rock and roll throne not as ostentatious or as Spinal Tap-esque as it may seem, is because he is the undisputed new King of Rock....and a fan.
Arcade Fire Release 'Reflektor Tapes' Trailer
We mentioned earlier this week that Arcade Fire will be releasing a film called The Reflektor Tapes in September. Not much was known...until now.
The trailer has been release (above) and according to a press release: "The Reflektor Tapes is a fascinating insight into the making of Arcade Fire’s critically acclaimed, international #1 album Reflektor. The film recontextualizes the album experience, transporting the viewer into a kaleidoscopic sonic and visual landscape. It charts the band’s creative journey as they lay foundations for the album in Jamaica, commence recording sessions in Montreal and play an impromptu gig at a Haitian hotel on the first night of Carnival, before bringing their breathtaking live show to packed arenas in Los Angeles and London."
In the press release, the band said of the film: "There were parts of the Reflektor tour where I think we, Arcade Fire, came the closest in our careers to putting on stage what we imagined in our heads. We were insanely lucky to have Kahlil Joseph documenting from the very beginning."
Chvrches Announce Sophomore Album
Chvrches will release their new album, Every Open Eye in September. The album was recorded in their native Glasgow, Scotland.
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below:
01 Never Ending Circles
02 Leave a Trace
03 Keep You on My Side
04 Make Them Gold
05 Clearest Blue
06 High Enough to Carry You Over
07 Empty Threat
08 Down Side of Me
09 Playing Dead
10 Bury It
11 Afterglow
12 Get Away
13 Follow You
14 Bow Down
02 Leave a Trace
03 Keep You on My Side
04 Make Them Gold
05 Clearest Blue
06 High Enough to Carry You Over
07 Empty Threat
08 Down Side of Me
09 Playing Dead
10 Bury It
11 Afterglow
12 Get Away
13 Follow You
14 Bow Down
Quick News
Damon Albarn just doesn't stop. He told Australia's ABC 7.30 that he will begin working on a new Gorillaz album in September. He said, "I'm starting recording in September for a new Gorillaz record. I've just been really, really busy so I haven't had a chance. I'd love to just get back in to that routine of being at home and coming to the studio five days a week." Albarn is currently touring with Blur.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are changing their name to Jr. Jr. The band said in a statement: "The flip side is that as things have grown, so has the amount of confusion caused by the name Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. Some of it is no big deal and easily cleared up. But sometimes we get sad and bizarre requests sent to our social media sites or emailed to people we work with. We’ve had people drive long distances to shows only to be disappointed when they realize it’s a neurotic Jew and wild haired gentile from Detroit they’ve paid to see. A number of times now we’ve received hope filled inquiries from people who have dying relatives that only want to meet Dale Earnhardt Jr (the driver) before they pass. Those sorts of interactions feel a little voyeuristic and eerie, and even attempting to simply clarify the situation means you’ve added a moment of embarrassment to someone’s day when they’re already going through a lot."
Silvesun Pickups will self-release their new album, Better Nature. It arrives in September, take a look at the cover, below:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. are changing their name to Jr. Jr. The band said in a statement: "The flip side is that as things have grown, so has the amount of confusion caused by the name Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr. Some of it is no big deal and easily cleared up. But sometimes we get sad and bizarre requests sent to our social media sites or emailed to people we work with. We’ve had people drive long distances to shows only to be disappointed when they realize it’s a neurotic Jew and wild haired gentile from Detroit they’ve paid to see. A number of times now we’ve received hope filled inquiries from people who have dying relatives that only want to meet Dale Earnhardt Jr (the driver) before they pass. Those sorts of interactions feel a little voyeuristic and eerie, and even attempting to simply clarify the situation means you’ve added a moment of embarrassment to someone’s day when they’re already going through a lot."
Silvesun Pickups will self-release their new album, Better Nature. It arrives in September, take a look at the cover, below:
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
Editors Detail New Album
Editors will release their fifth album, In Dream, in October.
Singer Tom Smith posted on Facebook some back story on making the album, saying, "Our new record is called In Dream, it's out in October. Our last record
was the sound of us learning to walk again, with new legs! In Dream, our
first self produced album, is us diving into the computer, a real
studio record, made in isolation by the 5 of us. Can't wait for you all
to hear it. T X"
Take a look at the cover, above, and the tracklisting, below.
1. No Harm
2. Ocean Of Night
3. Forgiveness
4. Salvation
5. Life Is A Fear
6. The Law
7. Our Love
8. All The Kings
9. At All Cost
10. Marching Orders
2. Ocean Of Night
3. Forgiveness
4. Salvation
5. Life Is A Fear
6. The Law
7. Our Love
8. All The Kings
9. At All Cost
10. Marching Orders
Quick News
Speaking to NME, Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis gave some insight into the band's upcoming fourth album, What Went Down, which arrives next month. He said, "This is the record that most closely mimics the sound in our heads. We wanted it to be lean. Both in the individual songs – less reverb, more punchy – but also as an album, so there wasn’t any negative space. We wanted to put the absolute best on there, and the 10 that made it are the ones that all of us were unanimous in liking".
Arcade Fire will release The Reflektor Tapes in September. It is a feature film from director Kahlil Joseph. Not much is known about the project, but the band just released a short clip, take a look:
Nigel Goodrich is working with Radiohead on their upcoming album and the producer took to Twitter to post a shot of frontman Thom Yorke hard at work:
Arcade Fire will release The Reflektor Tapes in September. It is a feature film from director Kahlil Joseph. Not much is known about the project, but the band just released a short clip, take a look:
Nigel Goodrich is working with Radiohead on their upcoming album and the producer took to Twitter to post a shot of frontman Thom Yorke hard at work:
— nigel godrich (@nigelgod) July 14, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Marvel Reissuing Classic Comics with Famous Hip-Hop Covers
Earlier this year, Marvel released a Run The Jewels inspired Deadpool cover and did it again with Howard the Duck. Now, the comic company is going to reissue some of its classics but with a twist -- this go around they will feature iconic hip-hop album-inspired covers with the characters.
The album covers they pay homage to are Wu-Tang Clan's Enter the 36 Chambers, De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, Tyler, The Creator's Wolf, Biggie's Ready to Die, Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders (Nerd Alert - Came out the same day as 36 Chambers), and Erik B. & Rakim's Paid in Full.
No exact date has been set, but take a look at the badass covers below:
