Just a quick post to say if you missed the 50th anniversary of the Newport Folk Festival this past weekend like I unfortunately did, I have some good news for you courtesy of NPR. Full sets from many of the artists who performed on Saturday and Sunday are available for streaming and free download on NPR's website , as well as some great photos like the one above, including Neko Case, Fleet Foxes, Iron & Wine, Ben Kweller and many more. Enjoy. If you're not already familiar with Fleet Foxes (pictured above), here's one of my favorite [...]
As posted by Courtney Love on Twitter (with my spelling corrections): its been ten years. i had a really lovely long talk with Billy Joe Armstrong [of Green Day] and whilst he's been working nonstop i had an..erm...little "rest"...fucking STUPID OF ME. But it's soon over. 010110 for real. This might all sound oddly familiar to those who have been following along at home, as the long-awaited album was supposedly intended for release January 1st of this year, as scrawled in Courtney's handwriting on photos for a cover story [...]
Stumbled across this cover while watching some videos from the Camp Bestival festival (which I'll be writing about soon) - though this video is actually a performance from earlier this summer at the Sasquatch festival in Gorge, Washington during Memorial Day weekend. Bon Iver played this gorgeous cover of "Mercury" from Kathleen Edward's 2003 debut album, Failer , which almost sounds like it could be a b-side from For Emma, Forever Ago : Bon Iver - "Mercury" [Kathleen Edwards cover] (mp3)
As I mentioned yesterday, Guitar Hero 5 is set to be released in September and features a pretty impressive roster of songs, including Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Amazon has the full list featured in the game up for review/purchase. A few highlights (in my book), including some unexpected yet pretty cool choices: The Raconteurs - "Steady As She Goes" (mp3) TV On The Radio - "Wolf Like Me" (mp3) Stevie Wonder - "Superstition" Band Of Horses - "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands" Beck - "Gamma Ray" [...]
Monsters of Folk (otherwise known as the long-in-the-works collaboration between Conor Oberst, Jim James, M. Ward, and Mike Mogis) have 3 songs up for sale on iTunes from their upcoming self-titled album, due out on September 22nd. In addition to the previously available "Say Please," 2 other songs titled "The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me" and "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)" are now available. Hear the latter below: Monsters of Folk - "Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.)" I'm thrilled this stuff is finally being released. Mike Mogis is the lesser known [...]
It's sadly been a while since there's been some news to report about Shirley Manson. Earlier this month in a post on her official Facebook page , Shirley discussed the devastating past few years of her personal life and "why all of a sudden I feel like making music again": I am faced with the prospect of reality again. And there is no time machine to fix the blips in the present. There is only me in my life and what is left of my time on earth. And suddenly I feel [...]
I'll say upfront I'm a huge, unabashed fan of Kelly Clarkson (lest you think I don't listen to my fair share of pop music). From my first listen to her latest album, All I Ever Wanted, "Already Gone" stuck out as a surefire hit single. The backing track by Ryan Tedder (writer/producer of "Bleeding Love" and "Apologize") is built for top 40 radio, so much so that he apparently gave the same track to Beyonce, resulting in her recent single "Halo." Rolling Stone reports : Clarkson was so upset about [...]
If you're not heading down to the Newport Folk Festival this weekend, here's another option for your consideration - and this one's free: Boston Phoenix/WFNX Best Music Poll Concert with Bravery + Airborne Toxic Event + Metric + Passion Pit + Gaslight Anthem + Ra Ra Riot Saturday, August 01, 2009, 4:00 PM City Hall Plaza Cambridge St, Boston, MA All Ages - FREE http://thephoenix.com/bmp/conc ert/2009/ I saw Passion Pit's hometown show a few weeks ago [...]
Two of my favorite albums this year from two of the most bewitching artists out there these days, Florence & the Machine and Bat for Lashes, are nominated for this year's Mercury Prize , an award given to the best albums from the UK and Ireland selected by artists and other members of the music industry. Past winners have included Portishead, PJ Harvey, Antony & the Johnsons, and Elbow. Here's the full list of 2009 nominees: Florence and the Machine – Lungs Kasabian – West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum [...]
Some official news about Madonna's upcoming greatest hits set, Celebration, her third "best of" compilation (after The Immaculate Collection and GHV2 ): Madonna, who has racked up a record 37 top 10 hits as well as seven No. 1 albums (including her last four) on the Billboard Pop Charts, has given her fans yet another opportunity to “celebrate” her musical achievements. Today, Warner Bros. Records officially confirmed the September 28th release of “CELEBRATION” – the ultimate compilation of Madonna songs. The songs on “Celebration” have all been remastered and selected by [...]
I came across this b-side from Wilco's latest, Wilco (The Album) , on I Guess I'm Floating the other day, and must agree that this definitely would've made a nice addition to the album. And now it does, at least on my iPod. Here's the mp3: Wilco - "Dark Neon" [b-side] (mp3) Also, exciting news: Pitchfork reports that Wilco will be collborating with Beck as part of his Record Club on his official site : Last month, Beck [...]
First with the free stuff: the Gossip's lead single, "Heavy Cross" from their new album, Music for Men, is available for free on iTunes as the "Single of the Week" selection. Download it on iTunes. In other news, the band just announced dates for it's US fall tour, making a stop here in Boston at Paradise Rock Club on October 11th. I will definitely be in attendance. Here's the full list. 10/7, Washington, DC (9:30 Club) 10/8, Philadelphia, PA (TLA) 10/9, New York, NY (Terminal 5) 10/11, Boston, MA (Paradise) [...]
Very excited to report that yesterday iTunes released an iTunes Originals set by Neko Case. I've downloaded quite a few of these sets in the past and I'm constantly listening to them. My favorites are by Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann and PJ Harvey, none of whom are known for being the most chatty artists out there, but all 3 offer really engaging interviews about their songwriting and careers, as well as original in-studio performances of some of their songs. But back to Neko Case - her new iTunes Originals compilation is now available on iTunes for [...]
The first single from Imogen Heap's upcoming album, Ellipse , due out August 25th: Imogen Heap - "First Train Home" [new song] (mp3)
Just a quick post to alert you to the fact that Amazon has Radiohead's Amnesiac on sale for $1.99 today (one-day only I believe) in MP3 format. That's less than you probably spent on your morning coffee. Just in case you need any more convincing (assuming you don't already own it), here's the opening track/one of my favorite songs by Radiohead: Radiohead - "Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box" (mp3) In an interview with the band in Rolling Stone in [...]
OUT just did a great interview with Aimee Mann where they asked her about "It's Not" (the lyrically perfect closing track that epitomizes the beauty of her highly underrated 2002 album Lost in Space ), which for anyone familiar with the song should not come as a surprise. Aimee Mann - "It's Not" (mp3) Aimee told OUT: I think it’s pretty tragic. I played it a little bit on the last tour and I think it could be the saddest song. It’s a song [...]
If you read my review of the secret show Amanda Palmer performed in Cambridge a few weeks ago, you might remember me mentioning that she debuted a new song called "The Bed Song," asking that it not be taped since it was still a work in progress. On Friday, she performed the song in Seattle during a short set as part of the "11-Year Elevanniversary Celebration" for Jason Webley . Based on the reviews I've read, she did not ask the audience to refrain from recording it this time around and as a result, a video of [...]
Here's what is reportedly the first official single from Whitney Houston's upcoming album, I Look To You . The song, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength," was written by Diane Warren and produced by David Foster. I really like that they didn't overproduce or process her vocals on this track, a great throwback to the power ballads Whitney does best and a tailor-made comeback single if I've ever heard one. Whitney Houston - "I Didn't Know My Own Strength" (mp3) I Look To You is due [...]
Clearly it's almost impossible to avoid news coverage of Michael Jackson's death, but I've been spending much more time this past week investigating his catalog and revisiting some of my old favorites. It's difficult to listen to some of his biggest hits without picturing their accompanying music videos, and one that sticks out in my mind as probably his best video (aside from the almost untouchable "Thriller" of course) is his duet with his sister, Janet, "Scream" - it certainly helps that it was directed by easily my favorite video director, Mark Romanek . The video is apparently the [...]
I'm not sure what got me thinking about hand claps or why I have such a soft spot for songs that feature them, but I think it's got something to do with the inherent invitation for crowd participation, or maybe it's just relying on such an organic and fundamental mode of percussion to drive the song. These are some of my favorite songs to incorporate hand claps in ways that are instinctive and sincere, rather than gimmicky: "I'm Good, I'm Gone" - Lykke Li (mp3) [...]
box of boom
MP3: Daft Punk – “Horizons” (RAM Japanese Bonus Track)
Seven Lions: Fevers (Feat. Minnesota and Mimi Page)
Akabu feat. Alex Mills – Everybody Wants Something (Joey Negro Strip Mix) [New Release]
Listen to producer Jacques Greene’s “On Your Side,” featuring How To Dress Well
