I've been a fan of Antony & The Johnsons since 2005's I Am A Bird Now , which is a beautiful album. Antony's unique vocal delivery sits atop eloquent music, and it's rather compelling. Prompted by some news about Antony & The Johnsons next album, I thought it was about time I finally wrote about him. On October 7th, Secretly Canadian will release Another World , a five-track EP of new music from Antony. Next January, in 2009, we'll finally see another full-length album, called The Crying Light . I look forward [...]
The other week, Al from Underground Boston (a site he founded, for which I am the music editor) sent me these guys' music, and I'm so grateful he did. Californian musicians Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn began collaborating together just this summer, but they're already building some internet buzz thanks to their series of "videosongs" on YouTube. The music they make is beautiful, filled with layers of sound in wonderful arrangements, topped off by Dawn's ethereal singing voice. Take a listen to "Be Still," below, and you'll hear what I mean. If you dig [...]
[Disclaimer: Yup, this is a music blog. But, as some of you know, burritos are a passion of mine (second to music, of course). So please excuse the brief lapse from music coverage as I discuss a burrito joint in my search for the best burritos in the land. I know, I'm silly.] I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Since the Burrito Blog loves them , I was expecting good things from Flash Taco. But this was a very mediocre burrito. While their black bean mash was [...]
People spend so much time to craft perfect press releases, so it would be a shame not to just let them do the talking: Dreamy spires and Inspector Morse, Oxford's much more than a university city, it's a musical hotbed with a habit of producing important - nay, vital - bands, capable of re-shaping genres and planting large markers in the sand. Radiohead with their illustrious career, arguably the most important band this country has seen in decades. Foals, taking intelligent, "math" pop to the masses. And now This Town Needs Guns, the darling buds of the thriving [...]
Recognize anyone in that picture? Maybe go take a look at this . Yes, I'm happy to announce that Jeff and Nate, formerly of the [now-defunct] Peasantry, have become full-time members of Cambridge local Passion Pit. Passion Pit have not been around very long, but they're already starting to blow up, thanks in part to opening slots for Girl Talk, Death Cab For Cutie, and others. They just completed a three-week residency at Piano's in New York City, and I do believe they sold out all three nights. I tell ya, good hipster dance [...]
Back in the day, I was obsessed with The Simpsons . When I was but a youngster growing up, the show was reaching its peak, and I'm happy to say that Homer Simpson and company helped raise me. Maybe I shouldn't proclaim this fact so proudly, but it's true. As an obsessive-compulsive youngun, I recorded every show and attempted to create a commercial-free archive of every episode every aired. This was, of course, before the days of DVDs, and all my work would be unnecessary in a few years. But hey, it gave me [...]
I am proud to say that Joe Pug is a Chicagoan, because he is one of the best talents to pop up in the last year. His debut EP, Nation Of Heat , was released in May, and all seven of its songs will capture your heart. Pug sings with a voice well beyond his years, with a rather raw and gritty delivery. Once you listen to the opening song, "Hymn #101", you will understand how powerful of a songwriter Joe Pug really is. In the first week after I heard his voice, I probably [...]
Dark Captain Light Captain are newcomers from East London, and they pack quite a punch in their debut release, Circles EP . They play music full of intricacy, full of texture. It's a beautiful folk sound that's been turned on its side, brimming with creativity. We have hushed vocals sung over lush acoustic guitar at the core of their sound, but this is complimented by their clever arrangements. I love all of the four songs included on the EP, and I can't wait to hear more. Which is good, since Circles EP [...]
Unlike yesterday's comic, this one is a thing of beauty. Thanks to Wayne for bringing it to my attention. Click on it for a larger view. Via Dustinland :
It was about a year ago, the summer before I first attended Berklee College Of Music, that I first heard Emily Elbert. I was perusing the Facebook group of incoming students, and someone had started a discussion titled "Post your music here." As I clicked through each person's link to their Myspace, I was continually disgusted. Blegh...gross...disgusting -- that was my continual reaction. (I'm a pretty picky music listener, in case you couldn't tell.) One person, however, did not elicit such a reaction. Her name is Emily Elbert, and she makes beautiful jazz-influenced folk [...]
Yes, I know you j ust heard one opinion of the new Okkervil River album, but here's another. Words by Aiden Landman. I guess sometimes we all get lonely. People we love are taken far too soon for our fragile sensibilities, friendships taking years to nurture fall by the wayside replaced instead by a steady stream of menial jobs and torrid one night stands. If you're lucky, you may even escape without a criminal records waiting as you wake up 40. Can you dig that Okkervil River? "Your world is [...]
Hey, there hasn't been any huge news from the RIAA lately. Well, while this was not released by the RIAA -- and thus does not fall into The RIAA Has No Soul Tuesday -- it's still pretty appalling. Thanks to Bobby for bringing this to my attention. Via Wired : Propaganda is probably too light of a term to describe this piece of propaganda. We're referring to an educational comic strip (fat .pdf) on unlawful file sharing of music developed by [...]
After meeting and forming at Columbia College in Chicago, Maps & Atlases have been steadily building their reputation as an outstanding band. It started with their debut EP, Trees, Swallows, Houses , and continued with their latest, the You And Me And The Mountian EP . As I said a few weeks ago when the new EP came out, the band seems to have mellowed out a little this time around. Now, don't take that to heart too much, because they're still full of boundless energy and enthusiasm. What I mean by that statement is this [...]
It was 14 years ago today (August 23rd, 1994), that Jeff Buckley released his debut album, Grace . Three years later, he died in a tragic drowning accident, and Grace was the only completed full-length that he left behind. This was and still as tremendously sad, as his music shone bright, filled with a talent not displayed by many. Grace is the best album of the 90s, in my humble opinion, and it showed off Buckley's unbelievable gifts. He had spent the years prior to the recording of Grace [...]
Last November, I had tickets to see The Decemberists perform two shows of their eagerly anticipated "Long and Short of it" tour in Columbus, Oho. Unfortunately, they canceled at the last minute. Since then, I haven't heard much about the Portland indie band that reigns supreme on my ITunes most played list. But this morning, while doing the daily music rounds, I found an interesting snippet on PitchforkMedia.com. The band is releasing a series of singles albums soon, apparently. " Always the Bridesmaid: A Singles Series comes in three volumes. [...]
This time around, words are by Eric Bolton. Okkervil River’s 2007 album The Stage Names was one of my favorite releases of last year, so naturally, when I read that they would be releasing a sequel to that record called The Stand-Ins , I was ecstatic. Needless to say this album does not disappoint. For those who aren’t familiar, Okkervil River play a style of folk-rock distinguished by singer-songwriter Will Sheff’s prose lyrics sung in an emotional fashion, and by the band’s arrangements, which feature accordions, coronets, mandolins, and banjos. On [...]
[Disclaimer: Yup, this is a music blog. But, as some of you know, burritos are a passion of mine (second to music, of course). So please excuse the brief lapse from music coverage as I discuss a burrito joint in my search for the best burritos in the land. I know, I'm silly.] Although I only was in a for a moment before I took my food to go, I enjoyed my time at Los Comales. The staff was friendly, and the prices were low. And as I ate on the run, [...]
Yes, we know you're cool. Photo courtesy MySpace.com/natalieportmanssha vedhead Natalie Portman is quite possibly the only female who can look genuinely endearing with a shaved head. In fact, I found her more attractive as a waifish baldy in V for Vendetta than any other movie in which she had hair. But, should I ever form a band, I highly doubt I will feel inclined to name it after this adorable actresses’ naked scalp. Seattle [...]
Carah Faye, the charismatic female lead of indie rock band Shiny Toy Guns, recently left the band to pursue other musical projects. (Though rumors insist there was animosity among band members). It has been confirmed that she has been replaced by Sisely Treasure, a former contestant on the show The Pussycat Dolls Present: Search for the Next Doll. Treasure's vocals will be featured on the band's upcoming album, Season of Poison , which is scheduled for release in October. Thoughts?
Amanda Palmer. August 8th, 2008 at the Lakeshore Theater in Chicago, IL. Text and photos by Malora Mcintosh. As I’ve never seen Amanda Palmer before, and going off of the You Tube video submissions of her shows (like the birthday celebration video), one could get the impression that you’re going to witness a sultry seductive schizophrenic display of feminine freedom that hasn’t been encountered since you were massaged in a brothel in the late 1960’s. But given that Pluto is officially not a planet, you shouldn’t be surprised to hear that Amanda [...]
Under The Rotunda
HAERTS: “All The Days”
Today I Feel I’ve Sprung A Leak
‘Live With Kelly & Michael’ Talks Daft Punk, Dance With Their Own Helmets
