4 or 5 Magicians (or maybe 6)

Here's a tasty little nugget for you coming straight at you from Brighton, England. It's a group of blokes named 4 or 5 Magicians, and they're releasing their debut single, Forever On The Edge, via Alcopop! Records (sister company to Big Scary Monsters Records). The title track has been floating around for a while so there's a good chance you've heard it already. Here's your chance to buy an "official" copy of it and support the band to boot. To tempt you a little bit more, check out the following track, which is a semi-spoof on it by the band doing their best Tom Waits impersonation.


4 or 5 Magicians - Tom Waits' Blues : Forever On The Edge Single

Visit their label Alcopop! Records and become their friend on MySpace.

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Neko Case - Christmas Card From a Hooker in Minneapolis (Tom Waits cover) : New Coat of Paint: Songs of Tom Waits

Sarah McLachlan - Ol' 55 (Tom Waits cover) : Live at the Olympia Theater, Montreal 5-10-94

Tom Waits - Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You : The Early Years Vol. 2

Rockin' the Menorah!!!

Since I posted on Johnny's Christmas special yesterday, I figured I would share some new music for those of you who celebrate those eight crazy days and nights of Chanukkah! both of these songs are from Louisville artist Brigid Kaelin, who's just signed to Label X with whom she's working on her sophomore release (scheduled to come out early next year). She's dubbed these tracks' genre as "Jewgrass" (her words, not mine!), and they've certainly got that down home sort of feelin' to them! Jews and non-Jews alike - listen and rejoice!


Brigid Kaelin - Mazel Tonk! : Mazel Tonk! single

Brigid Kaelin - Blue Dreidel No. 9 : Mazel! Tonk single

Visit her website, her label Label X, and become her friend on MySpace.

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More Dreidel spinning fun!

Jill Sobule - Jesus was a Dreidel Spinner : It's the thought that counts!

Adam Sandler - The Chanukah Song : What the Hell Happened to Me?

Special Delivery in The Ginger Envelope

Sometimes an album just jumps out at you. Sometimes it doesn't (and there's a reason). And then there are ones such as Edible Orchids that just sneak up on you. On the first listen, you know it's got something to it, you just can't put your finger on it. So you listen to it again. And again. And again. Each time you hope to crack the code: to figure out what about it makes you keep listening to it instead of putting it in the pile to trade in at the local used music store. But with this album, there is no code; it's just beautifully sublime music.

It's taken Athens' band The Ginger Envelope two years to get the album out to their listeners, but it's finally been delivered a couple of weeks ago. As hinted at above, there's nothing flashy about the album, no gimmicks, just really solidly built melodies that are tight with various levels weaving in and out. That's it. I'd love to throw some sort of hook at you to make you listen. All I can ask is for you to believe and give these couple of tracks a chance. Or maybe a half dozen chances, until they (hopefully) just click for you, too.


The Ginger Envelope - Failsafe : Edible Orchids

The Ginger Envelope - Encapsulate : Edible Orchids

Visit their label One Percent Press and become their friend on MySpace.

Thar he blows - 'tis Moby!

If you're a fan of Moby, make sure to tune into Current TV's "The Daily Fix" on December 3rd and 10th (9:30 EST both days). He'll be serving as a guest host with Douglas Caballero and talking about creating the musical score for the original film soundtrack of the recently released Southland Tales on the 3rd, and then taking an up-close and personal look at label mates Goldfrapp on the 10th. Got a real job? Make sure to TiVo it.


Moby - James Bond Theme (Moby's Re-Version) : I Like to Score

Visit his website, the soundtrack's label Milan Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

That time of year...

OK folks, Thanksgiving has passed, which means it is officially OK to play holiday music and watch Christmas programs on TV. That being said, if you're not all that excited to watch It's A Wonderful Life for the umpteenth time, here's your alternative: The Johnny Cash Christmas Special from 1976. For those of you not aware, Johnny had his own television program from 1969 to 1971, and also produced several Christmas programs in the mid to late 70's. Thanks to Shout! Factory, these Christmas specials are now available on DVD.

Before November 13, this video hadn't been see for over 30 years. It originally aired December 6, 1976, on CBS and was filmed at the Cash's house in Bon Aqua, and Hendersonville , Tennessee. It includes guests such as Tony Orlando, Roy Clark, Merle Travis, Barbara Mandrell, and Billy Graham interacting with Johnny and June about the holiday, life on the farm, and family memories. While some of it feels a little bit scripted, there are some points that do reveal some genuinely intimate moments. And of course, the music. Listen to these tracks taken from the video, then order a copy of the video for yourself to share with the family. Forget the clay-mation Abominable Snowman - this is a tradition that you'll actually enjoy!


Johnny Cash and Tommy Cash - That Christmasy Feeling : Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976

Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash - Old Time Feeling : Johnny Cash Christmas Special 1976

Visit Shout!Factory and order the video!

Yea Big + Kid Static = Oh, YEA!

Take a look at the two men above. I wouldn't trust them with operating on my pancreas, but damn they spin some hot hip hop. Their names are Yea Big and Kid Static, and they're teamed up to release a disc creatively named Yea Big + Kid Static, which they released at the end of last month. Individually they both front impressive resumes. Put them together and you have mayhem.

The dynamic duo describes their own music as "retro futuristic comic book hip hop." Do they award a Grammy for that? Seriously though, the pair throws down some lines that remind you of the days when rap wasn't all about gangsta's knockin' each other off, it was !GASP!, fun! Remember those days of doing The Humpty Dance? How about finding out about your girl having some other chump as Just A Friend?

Listen to the following few tracks to give you a reminder if you need it. The first, with a name like We've Built A Time Machine That Runs On Beats. We Shall Only Use It For Good., I just had to include, even if it was the worst track on the album (which it isn't!). The second, Joining Forces, follows the classic rap formula of introducing the rappers, so I've included it as well.


Yea Big + Kid Static - We've Built A Time Machine That Runs On Beats. We Shall Only Use It For Good. : Yea Big + Kid Static

Yea Big + Kid Static - Joining Forces : Yea Big + Kid Static

Visit Yea Big's website, Kid Static's website, their label Jib Door, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Digital Underground - The Humpty Dance : Sex Packets

Biz Markie - Just A Friend : A Tribute to D12

(more) New Bloc Party

So after just releasing A Weekend In the City a few days ago, Bloc Party has already released an EP/single to go with it for the song Flux. Here's the track listing for it:

1. Flux
2. Flux (JFK Remix)
3. Flux (Tomboy's Cowbell Treat)
4. Flux (Good Books Magnetism Mix)
5. Flux (Punx Soundcheck "Tenebrae" Remix)*

* iTunes only

If this song doesn't make you want to get up and move your body, you don't have a pulse. Buy all five versions on iTunes or get the UK import from Amazon which has two versions and an additional track (Emma Kate's Accident).


Bloc Party - Tulips (Club Version) : Tulips Single

Visit their website, their label Vice Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Masonic-ettes

Retro is definitely in, especially when it comes to music lately. Austin indie-pop band Masonic must have gotten the memo when it came to putting together their fourth release, Things I Am Guilty Of, which came out on the 20th. I can't tell you much about the band except that they've been around since 2002 and are apparently big in their hometown. What I can tell you is they front a very retro groovy feel to their music which reminds me of The Raveonettes if they lost their dark reverbed fetish. (I feel like that's become my recycled line lately, but it's true, and speaking of which, they will be releasing Lust Lust Lust come January. It's already out in the UK so you might have already heard a track or two. If not, there's one below to titillate your taste buds.)

Orchestral sweeps, a sweet voice flowing over it all, and a curve ball here and now to throw you off balance: the throw-back cover-track Runaway (a Del Shannon tune), the almost ABBA inspired Moving On, and the Camera Obscura'ish Way Gone By jump out as stand outs. The whole album is definitely worth a listen, so give Masonic a chance.


Masonic - Under the Radar : Things I Am Guilty Of

Masonic - Runaway (Del Shannon cover) : Things I Am Guilty Of

Visit their website and become their friend on MySpace.

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The Raveonettes - Aly Walk With Me : Lust Lust Lust

Del Shannon - Runaway : American Graffiti Soundtrack (Disc 1)

Experience The Detroit Experiment

(the original) Motown Studio in Detroit

So last month, I had the opportunity to check out The Harlem Experiment, and it blew my mind. It left me wanting to check out the other two discs on the Experiment collection, so needless to say, I now own both of them. Today, let me tell you a little about The Detroit Experiment.

The series aims not so much to celebrate individual artists, or even specific genres. Rather its focus is on celebrating the musical contributions of entire cities. When most people think of Detroit, Motown comes to mind instantly, but that's not all that is has to offer. Enter The Detroit Experiment. It's a noble endeavor - distilling a wide array of soul, jazz, techno, hip hop, and gospel into a one hour CD.

To keep it real, producer Carl Craig sent out invitations to some of the cities talented performers, both old and new. Artists showed up, tapes were run, five days later the product was turned over to Carl, and he in turn turned over The Detroit Experiment to us. It flows, it grooves, it electrifies, (sometimes all at the same time) and most importantly, it documents a city's musical heritage.


The Detroit Experiment - Church : The Detroit Experiment


The Detroit Experiment - The Way We Make Music (with Athletic Mic League and Invincible) : The Detroit Experiment

Go deep and order the vinyl.

Visit the label responsible for all this goodness: Ropeadope.

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Some Motown grooves

Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (live) : Marvin Gaye at the Copa

Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out : All the Great Hits

Parker Street Cinema - like a silent film

Looking for an instrumental album to spin in the background that isn't going to put you to sleep like some Mozart or try to make you wear glo-bracelets and dance in techno-land? Give Parker Street Cinema's album Music, In the Blood, slated for release on December 4th, a try. It's dynamic, it's dramatic. It's not your average instrumental album: it rocks and is intricate enough to have supported a scaffold of lyrics above it, but is equally expressive on its own without them. Think of it as silent film, be ready to read into it as you listen, and the album will talk to you.


Parker Street Cinema - These Precious Seconds : Music, In The Blood

and one from their last EP

Parker Street Cinema - Midnight Shakes the Memory : Parker Street Cinema EP

Visit their website, their label Abandoned Love Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Keller Williams for the Holidays

Just in time for the holidays (hits shelves December 18th), Keller Williams is releasing his 12th studio album, aptly titled 12, which will feature one song from each of his previous eleven releases. Keller himself considers this his album of “hitless greatest hits.” In addition to the 11 previously released tracks is an one previously unreleased as a studio track (you might have heard it at one of his shows already): Freshies.

You might have read my reviews of his last album Dream or seeing him play live back in March. Keller is an amazingly accomplished musician who can do more alone than many bands can do collectively. As the majority of these tracks are from previous releases, long time listeners won't find much here, but the album would make an excellent sampler or intro to someone not familiar with his body of work (cough cough - holiday present anyone?).

Keller Williams - Freeker By the Speaker : 12

Visit his website, his label SCI Fidelity Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Keller Williams - Stayin' Alive (Live Bee Gees Cover) : Live at the Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL 11-4-06

Keller Williams - Sultans of Swing (Live Dire Straits cover) : Live at the Egg, Albany, NY 2-23-07

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Tour Dates for the end of the year:

December 01 Aggie Theatre Fort Collins CO
December 13 Breezes Runaway Bay Runaway Bay Jamaica
December 28 Beacon Theatre New York NY w/ moe.
December 31 Tweeter Center Camden NJ w/ The Disco Biscuits

You Can't Erase Erasure

The legendary new wave band Erasure just refuses to throw in the towel. After over 20 years since their first release, their latest, the Storm Chaser EP, follows on the heels of their full length release of Light at the End of the World earlier this year, and includes remixes of tracks from the album as well as a collaboration with Cyndi Lauper.

What you see is what you get here: Erasure making the music that they've been known for for the last two decades. If it's your thing, and you enjoyed their album earlier this year, then this EP will be right up your alley.


Erasure - Golden Heart (GRN'S 'Golden Glow' Radio Edit) : Storm Chaser EP

Erasure - Early Bird (Featuring Cyndi Lauper) : Storm Chaser EP

Visit their website, their label Mute, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Want to Have Fun : She's So Unusual

Playing My Ding-A-Ling

Now this here song it ain't so bad
Prettiest little song that you ever had
And those of you who will not sing
must be playing with your own Ding-a-ling

Chuck Berry - My Ding-A-Ling (live) : The London Chuck Berry Sessions
(LP Record)

(Amazingly, his only number-one single on the pop charts)

She got my nine pound hammer...

I just got this song today, but I felt the immediate need to share it with all of you. It's straight up unapologetic country but give it a listen even if that statement gives you the heebie-jeebies. It's quite an amusing take on a break-up gone bad, and the resulting division of possessions (including music - hence the title of the track).


Ridley Bent - Nine Inch Nails : Buckles & Boots

Visit his website, his label Open Road Recordings, and become his friend on MySpace.

Kate Voegele / Cary Brothers / Ben Lee live

Last night at the Middle East in Boston, I was able to see Kate Voegele and Cary Brothers open up for perhaps my favorite artist, Ben Lee. Although I could have done without having to deal with some Thanksgiving traffic getting into the city, the show proved well worth it.


Kate Voegele was first up on the bill for the evening, and I was completely unfamiliar with her work beforehand. She played a fairly short set of material (maybe 5 or 6 songs) on acoustic guitar while singing, with an accompanying musician supporting her on a couple different instruments. She's on tour drumming up support for her debut album, Don't Look Away, which is out now. Find some of her songs to listen to HERE. (Is it just me, or does she look a lot like Emmy the Great on the cover?)

Visit her website, her label MySpace Records, and become her friend on MySpace.

Next up was an artist that I was much more familiar with and who I was very eager to see play live again. Cary Brothers has been on the road for most of the year in support of his full length debut, Who You Are. Earlier this year he was opening for Brandi Carlile (read my review of that show and his album), then he was touring on his own, and now he's back at it with Ben. Cary's songs have appeared in a basket-full of TV shows and movies, and I'm sure this album and tour are sure to catapult his career.


Cary Brothers - Honestly (live) : Studio version on Who You Are

(watch the video)

Visit his website, his label Bluhammock Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

Of course the evening wouldn't be complete with Australian Ben Lee. Following up perhaps the what was the most commercially succesful album of his career in 2005 (Awake Is the New Sleep), Ben just released Ripe back in September, and so far it's living up to the pressure (I wrote about the album back here). Unlike his previous tout last year with a complete band, this time Ben was supported by only one other musician on stage, giving the set a somewhat softer edge than the last time I saw him in April of 2006. Regardless, Ben is one of the most consummate entertainers I've ever seen, able to connect with the audience almost immediately and have them eating out of his hand by the end of the night.

Ben opened up with the title track from the new album, and the highlight of his set came within the first third of it with a series of songs that started with his cover of Against Me!'s Thrash Unreal (Ben extended much praise for their latest album and has in fact made a complete cover album of the entire thing which you can download for free). After showing the crowd his Frankie Says Relax t-shirt, Ben then launched into a track from his last album, Gamble Everything for Love, but started out singing the lyrics to Relax by Frankie Goes To Hollywood over the tune. Eventually this transformed itself into Gamble Everything For Love in earnest, but half-way through Ben decided it was time for an interlude and had a seat at a keyboard and proceeded to bust out Home Sweet Home (by Motley Crue). After going through a few bars, the song once again turned back into Gamble Everything For Love. It was absolutely brilliant!

The rest of the evening passed by quickly, with most of the new album being played as well as some older ones (including one of my favorite tracks off my favorite album, Deep Talk In The Shallow End from Something to Remember Me By). If you have the opportunity to catch the tour (dates at the bottom), make sure not to miss it. All three acts are top notch and you're sure to get your moneys worth.

If anyone has pictures from the show that they'd like to share, please do. If anyone has a recording of the show, I'd trade some stock in Mainstream Isn't So Bad for it.


Ben Lee - Thrash Unreal : Ben Lee Sings Against Me! New Wave

Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Relax : Welcome To The Pleasuredome

Ben Lee - Gamble Everything for Love : Awake Is the New Sleep

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home : Theatre of Pain

Ben Lee - Gamble Everything for Love (live) : Live 3-21-05 at the Bluebird Theatre

and the title track from his new album:

Ben Lee - Ripe : Ripe

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More tour dates:

11/23 Montreal @ Cabaret du Musee Juste Pour Rire
11/24 Toronto @ Mod Club
11/26 Alexandria VA @ Birchmere
11/27 Charlottesville VA @ Satellite Ballroom
11/28 Asheville NC @ The Orange Peel
11/29 Atlanta @ The Loft at Center Stage Atlanta
12/01 Birmingham, AL @ Workplay Theater
12/02 Nashville TN @ Exit In
12/04 New Orleans @ The Parish
12/05 Dallas @ Cambridge Room at House of Blues
12/06 Houston @ Red Room at Meridien
12/07 Austin @ The Parish
12/08 Norman OK @ Opolis Production
12/09 Tulsa @ Bob’s at Cain’s
12/11 Tempe AZ @ The Clubhouse
12/12 Los Angeles @ El Rey Theatre
12/13 San Diego @ House of Blues

Oh, Knockin' on my Sister's door

Heaven's Door

Oh, sister, when I come to knock on your door,
Don't turn away, you'll create sorrow.
Time is an ocean but it ends at the shore
You may not see me tomorrow.

Cat Power - Oh, Sister / Knockin' On Heavens Door (Bob Dylan covers) : Live BBC 1 London 7-20-00

Lee's final gift

Prior to passing away this last August, Lee Hazlewood teamed up with Icelandians amiina to produce an alternate version of Hilli (At The Top of the World), a track which focuses on global warming in the form of a rhyming children’s story (the original track is an instrumental that appears on their debut Kurr). That track will be available beginning on December 10th as a digital single through Ever Records. Listen to it now while watching the following video:



If you're not already familiar with Lee's work, he offered a sharp wit and sense of humor, expressed through a style that was part sung, part spoken word, but always done his way. His final album Cake or Death, was released in December of last year. Pick it up as an intro to his deep catalog, and then start digging.


Lee Hazlewood - Nothing : Cake or Death

Lee Hazlewood - Boots (Original Melody) : Cake or Death

Visit his label !K7 and become his friend (on the other side) on MySpace.

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Amiina - Sogg : Kuur

Sage Francis - on Tour

Master M.C. Sage Francis is on the road spreading the word - his word. If you're not familiar with Francis, think Kid Rock meets Eminem, except with a lot more skills, more intelligence, and a sharp sense of humor. He's promoting his latest album Human the Death Dance, which has gotten all sorts of praise, by hitting the road with Against Me! through the end of the month. Catch him if you can.

As part of the current tour, Francis will participate in a special benefit for Harvest of Hope in Chicago on Thanksgiving. Proceeds from the November 22nd event at the Metro will help the charity continue to provide migrant farmworkers and their families with emergency aid, inclusive of grants and financial aid for migrant students attending college. Good music, good cause, can't go wrong.


Sage Francis - Underground For Dummies : Human The Death Dance

Sage Francis - Broccolilude : Human The Death Dance

Visit his website, his label Epitaph Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Against Me! - Reinventing Axl Rose (acoustic) : The Acoustic E.P.

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Tour Dates with Against Me!

11/19, Cleveland , OH , House Of Blues
11/20, Detroit , MI , Clutch Cargo’s
11/21, Chicago , IL , House Of Blues
11/22, Chicago , IL , The Metro
11/23, Minneapolis , MN , First Avenue
11/25, St. Louis , MO , Pop’s
11/27, Memphis , TN , New Daisy Theater
11/28, Cincinnati , OH , Bogart’s

Tiger! Tiger! - Ole!

I've been listening to The Kind of Goodnight, the second album from Atlanta band Tiger! Tiger!, a whole bunch lately. In fact, it hasn't left my car since I got it. I'll give it a spin, listen to something else, pop it back in, listen to something different, pop it back in again, etc... I'm not sure why it's had such a solid hold on me. Maybe it's the fact that they remind me of fellow Atlantians The Coathangers, whose debut self-titled album I wrote about back in August and who I'm still rocking out to (don't tell anyone else but I'm guessing it's going to end up on my end of the year list).

Or maybe it's because it reminds me of The Coathangers but still kicks out a style of its own that reminds me of 60's brit-pop with its groovy organ back drop. It looses some of the frantic punk power and replaces it with some retro garage rock roughness. And then you've got Buffi Aguero on vocals fronting some 'tude that will make you believe in grrrl power. No matter which way you spin it, I'm lovin' it. Put these two bands on the bill together on the same night and I'm there, no questions asked.


Tiger! Tiger! - The First Thing : The Kind Of Goodnight

Tiger! Tiger! - Cheap Imitation : The Kind Of Goodnight

Visit their website, their label Chicken Ranch Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

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The Coathangers - Tonya Harding : The Coathangers

The Dimes - more than 40 cents worth

Looking for some sunny-pop confectionery goodness to counterbalance the shortening autumn days? Look no farther than Portland foursome The Dimes. The band is preparing to release their first full length album, The Silent Generation, on December 11th, and it's got an interesting story behind it.

While not completely a concept album, most of the album was inspired by a series of Depression-era newspapers that guitarist, Pierre Kaiser, found buried beneath the old floors of his 1908 Portland home. While at first simply entertaining, the band realized that the cast of characters and their stories contained within those pages offered a strong source of material for an album. They took these kernels from time and brought them back to life in their songs.

With the story-telling element embedded within the album, as well as the overall texture of the sound of the album, listeners will be strongly reminded of another northwest band, The Decemberists. (listen to Battle of San Jacinto below and the The Crane Wife 3 and then try to disagree). Not to say that they're a total knock-off. At points their sound is a little hushed, reminiscent of Owen (albeit sunnier), and similarly in other places, pleasing harmonies hint at Simon & Garfunkel refrains.

I'm not one for making vainglorious predictions, but I think this album is going to stick (at least I'm rooting for it). Help make my foresight 20 / 20 by listening to the following and then buying the entire album.


The Dimes - Jersey Kid : The Silent Generation

The Dimes - Battle of San Jacinto : The Silent Generation

Visit their website, their label Pet Marmoset, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Owen - A Bird In Hand : At Home With Owen

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 3 : The Crane Wife

Farmer John's History

Caldwell County, Kentucky Farmer,
John Tosh

Mary Beth, an astute reader, more knowledgeable than I on Neil Young, dropped me a note letting me know that Farmer John was not originally written by Neil, even if I associated him with the song. She believed that he had covered it from a one-hit wonder group named The Premiers. Upon further inquiry though, I realized that they were not the original artist either. Digging down even deeper, I found out that the song goes back to an R&B group named Don and Dewey. Instead of writing a whole bunch and pretending that I already knew, I'll give you a link to a page which educated me about it. While you're reading, enjoy a trip through the ages with some different versions:

Don and Dewey - Farmer John : Jungle Hop

The Premiers - Farmer John (Don and Dewey cover) : K-tel Jukebox - The Sixties Vol 1

Neil Young - Farmer John (Live Don and Dewey cover) : Weld (disc 2)

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Farmer John (Don and Dewey cover) : Live at Bonnaroo 6-17-2006

Neil Young - Still Rockin' In the Free World

You want to talk about musicians that don't often get their share of respect? Neil Young comes to mind instantly. Look at his catalog of music. Vast. Look at the genre boundries he's crossed. Countless. Look at the number of artists who credit him as an influence or cover his work. Inestimable. And yet somehow, his name is too often overlooked in listing the most transcendent artists from the last forty years.

Coming back after the release of the highly political Living With War, Neil's put together a follow-up album to an album that was never released. It's titled Chrome Dreams II (the first Chromes Dreams was supposed to come out in 1977, but was scrapped) and it is more of a collection of songs taken from here and there. As such, it doesn't gel in the way many of his other albums do. That's not to say the album is not worth listening to - you just need to keep in mind that it's a collection of songs from different periods and therefor it's composed of many different musical flavors. It's a solid Neil Young album - in a way that's almost retrospective in some ways instead of evolutionary.

While I can't share any mp3's from the album, I can share some videos of songs from it for you to enjoy. If you like what you hear, order the album, which is out now. And to prove to you his musical legacy and the influence he's had on a diverse range of artists, I've included just a few covers done by various musicians at the bottom.

Visit his website, his label Reprise Records, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton - Expecting To Fly (Neil Young cover) : Live at the 9:30 Club, 1-10-2007

Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Helpless (Neil Young cover) : Weeping Song

Johnny Cash - Heart Of Gold (Neil Young cover) : Unearthed Disc II: Trouble In Mind

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Farmer John (Neil Young cover) : Live at Bonnaroo 6-17-2006

(an astute reader pointed out that Neil actually covered Farmer John from R&B group Don and Dewey - read about it HERE)

Hammer No More The Fingers

Here's a little sumthin'-sumthin' for your Friday night. It's coming from a Durham / Chapel Hill, NC band (which just seems to be a good music factory with all the talent coming out of the area) named Hammer No More the Fingers (talk about a mouthful). The trio just came together last December but have already put out their self-titled debut this last Wednesday.

The album gets to the point quick with its seven tracks, and the sound is a mix between Pavement (i.e. off-kilter notes here and then that shouldn't harmonize with what's going on but someone work anyway) and Weezer (here I'm thinking of the voice and style of Joe Hall - lead singer of the band). Listen to O.R.G.Y. below to see what I mean and then check out the rest of the album.


Hammer No More The Fingers - O.R.G.Y. : Hammer No More The Fingers

Visit their website, their label Power Team Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Pavement - Type Slowly (Live) : Tibetan Freedom Concert [Disc 2]

Weezer - My Names Is Jonas (Live) : Weezer (Deluxe Edition - Disc 2)

Illinois 7" contest

I'm gonna end the work week with another giveaway. In this instance, it's a lovely piece of vinyl, 7 inches in diameter, with a song on one side and another on the flip side. The band: Illinois. A Side: We Were Wrong. B Side: Life Takes A Week. To enter: leave a comment (or e-mail me) with your name and e-mail address. To win: I choose at random next Fridayish.

It's that simple. Enjoy your weekend!


Illinois - Screendoor : What The Hell Do I Know?

Visit their website, their label Ace Fu Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Mixing it up with Ewan Pearson

If you like remixes, this album is for you. If you like to dance, this album is for you. If you like good music, this album is for you. What is this album...Ewan Pearson's latest release Piece Work. It's a double disc affair which collects twenty-one of Ewan's hottest remixes from the last six years. He massages, manipulates, speeds things up, and generally makes your body want to move.

Ewan has been doing it for almost a decade now, and he's clearly a master of his craft. This album is a great way to jump into his work and appreciate what he brings to the table.




Freeform Five - Perspex Sex (Ewan Pearson's Hi NRG Remix) : Piece Work

Ladytron - Evil (Ewan Pearson radio edit) : Piece Work

Links Removed at Label's Request

Cortney Tidwell - Don’t Let Stars Keep Us Tangled Up (Ewan’s Objects In Space remix) : Piece Work

Visit his website, his label !K7, and become his friend on MySpace.

Endeverafter - the 80's are BACK!

If you've been a reader for a little while, you might remember me confessing a personal secret when Rock of Love showed up on the scene. Well, in that vein, here's another one: my very first concert was seeing Tesla open up for Motley Crue. There. It's out. Take that all you mainstream music haters. If at this point you've decided to boycott Mainstream Isn't So Bad, I wouldn't hold it against you. (As a side note here, I've heard that Rock of Love was VH1's most watched show ever and that they're already planning a second one - not sure who the rocker will be though.)

That being said, big hair rock will always hold a special place in my heart. Which brings me finally to the purpose of this post: Endeverafter. Perhaps 80's glam metal will become the next classic rock, and if so, Endeverafter will be there to carry the torch and provide new music to shred to. They've already opened for KISS, Poison, and Cinderella, and they just released their latest album, Kiss or Kill, on October 30th. And of course besides the raucous, domineering guitar work, what's glam rock without the obligatory power ballad, in this case titled Next Best Thing (listen to it below while imagining making out with your girlfriend in your Camaro). So stock up on the Aquanet, bring your lighter, and dig out your old jeans with the shredded knees, because it's time to RAWK!



Endeverafter - Baby Baby Baby : Kiss or Kill

(watch the video)

Endeverafter - Next Best Thing : Kiss or Kill

Visit their label Razor & Tie and become their friend on MySpace.

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KISS - Rock And Roll All Nite (Live) : 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection - The Best Of Kiss

Poison - I Want Action : Poison's Greatest Hits 1986-1996

Cinderella - Nobody's Fool : Night Songs

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Tour Dates

NOVEMBER
16 Ft. Lauderdale , FL Revolution
17 Tampa , FL Jannus Landing
18 Orlando FL House Of Blues
27 Tallahassee , FL Floyd’s Music Store
28 Baton Rouge , LA Varsity Theatre
30 Houston , TX Meridien

DECEMBER
1 Corpus Christi , TX Concrete Street
4 Denver , CO Gothic
5 Albuquerque , NM Sunshine
7 Phoenix , AZ Marquee
8 San Diego , CA House Of Blues
9 Anaheim , CA House Of Blues
11 Las Vegas , CA House Of Blues
12 Los Angeles , CA House Of Blues