Carl Perkins - Dixie Fried : The Complete Sun Singles

Leeds' band Stateless dropped their self-titled album here in the States back in June and are set to release the single for Bloodstream, a track from the album, on November 6th. You can hear a live acoustic version of the song, which won't be on the single, below. The album version is as close as Stateless gets to the raise your lighter in the air, piano driven ballad. More typical of the album's sonic spectrum is This Language, which aims to overwhelm you with verdant orchestric layers of strings, piano, drums, and lyrics lingering below the instrumentation.

For those of you who missed talk about this album earlier this year, it offers up a mix of Thom Yorke's voice lifting toward the higher end of the vocal register and lingering there while offering a little more orchestrally atmospheric experience with a wider range of instruments and less reliance on electronic effects. Listen to the following tracks to see what you've been missing.


Stateless - This Language : Stateless


and an acoustic track:

Stateless - Bloodless (live acoustic) : Live at Popkomm, Germany 9-20-07 (studio version on Stateless)





Thom Yorke - Harrowdown Hill : The Eraser

Mickey Hart (formerly of The Grateful Dead) and Zakir Hussain (world renowned Indian tabla player) have teamed up again for the creation of a new album titled Global Drum Project. The pair has been collaborating off and on since the 70's with their world fusion experiment Diga Rhythm Band, and again in the 90's with their Planet Drum CD (the very first to win the first world music Grammy). For this project, they are supported by Taufiq Qureshi on percussion & vocals, Niladari Kumar on sitar, Dilshad Khan on sarangi, and the late, great Olatunji in sampled vocals from the original sessions. Also woven into the mix are the Kaluli tribespeople of Papua New Guinea's rain forest. Add all of those elements up and you get a Global Drum Project.

Their songs range from the tribal (listen to Bala below), to the more ambient trance-like psychedelia, to tracks which more clearly display Zakir Hussain's Indian influence (for example, Heartspace, the album's sixth track), and finally full circle back to the tribal with the final track I Can Tell You More. Throughout, one can sense an exploration and celebration of rhythm.



Mickey Hart and Zakir Hussain - Baba : Global Drum Project





The Grateful Dead - Casey Jones : Workingman's Dead

Zakir Hussain - Raag Mishra Mand : Raag Mishra Mand

"After coming home from a long tour with my band, Sparta, I wanted to sit in my house and play acoustic guitar quietly. The tour had been loud and chaotic and I was simply trying to level out. I liked how things were sounding, so I began recording them in my studio. These 5 songs are the beginning of what I hope will be an on going series of recordings, hopefully adding more and more friends to the fold. "
Jim Ward (former member of At the Drive-In and current member of Sparta) is set to release a five song EP titled simply Quiet via Civil Defense League on November 6th. As Jim explains above, the title of the EP suits his mood during recording and the music itself. Try the following track to get a taste of its flavor and then buy the entire EP from iTunes on November 6th.


Jim Ward - Mystery Talks : Quiet EP







At the Drive-In - This Night Has Opened My Eyes (Smiths cover) : This Station Is Non-Operational

Sparta - Kiss the Bottle (Jawbreaker cover) : Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault: Jawbreaker Tribute

You can't take two (figurative) steps in the blog-o-sphere without stumbling over one of The Octopus Project's arms. They're quite honestly everywhere, and there's fairly good reason for that. Their latest release, Hello, Avalanche, came out a couple weeks ago and is a playful romp and an instrumental jaunt that is sure to put a smile on your face. It's easy to see that the band, in pursuit of musical excellence, doesn't take their work too seriously and isn't afraid to have a good time while at it. What can I say about them that hasn't been said? Prepare for some seemingly simple (while at the same time intricately layered), infectiously peppy tracks that all sound like they'd be perfect for various commercials and other odd spots where jingles would be appropriate. The group isn't afraid to get in you face a little either (try Ghost Moves), which you'll notice as the album progresses, before mellowing back out for the last couple track finale.


The Octopus Project - Truck : Hello, Avalanche

The Octopus Project - Ghost Moves : Hello, Avalanche

and one from their last project with Black Moth Super Rainbow:

The Octopus Project / Black Moth Super Rainbow - Elq Milq : The House of Apples & Eyeballs




10/29 Minneapolis, MN Entry *
10/30 Omaha, NE Waiting Room
10/31 Oklahoma City, OK Opolis
11/01 Lawrence, KS Replay lounge
11/02 Denver, CO Larimer Lounge
11/03 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
11/05 Seattle, WA Chop Suey
11/06 Vancouver, BC Media Club
11/07 Portland, OR Holocene *
11/08 San Francisco, CA Bottom Of The Hill
11/08 Visalia, CA Howie's
11/10 Los Angeles, CA The Roxy
11/11 San Diego, CA Casbah *
11/12 Tucson, AZ Plush
11/13 Phoenix, AZ Modified
11/14 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
11/15 Lubbock, TX Jake's
11/17 Austin, TX Emo's

* = w/ Enon

The most romantically sexual and sensual song. Ever.
Period.

"When HackTone's David Gorman phoned to say we were going to restore rare documentary recordings from 1975 of some of the greatest singer-songwriters of the American Southwest, I did not know what to expect. Some days later, a large box of analog tapes arrived. Loading up the first tape by Guy Clark and hitting play filled my studio with a real presence rarely heard in today's era of over-processed music. The simplicity and honesty of the performance and the bigger-than-life sound of Guy's voice and guitar were mesmerizing; likewise for all the seminal artists whose one-on-one performances the film crew captured. It was the kind of music hardly ever experienced anymore - music made by people sitting right next to you in their homes, unamplified, playing and singing."



The term "Americana" is thrown around a lot in reference to describing different artists' musical style. Want a piece of true Americana? Check out the soundtrack for Heartworn Highways and you'll get the real deal.

I have to admit to you, for the longest time I was one of those people who when asked what kind of music I listened to would reply, "Anything but country." That's not the case anymore, but I still don't own a ten-gallon hat or a pair of spurs. Regardless, I've grown to appreciate country by degrees, and this album only makes me enjoy it more. I have to tell you that it's been a long time since I've heard an entire album as genuine and earnest as the twenty-six tracks on this disc, with guitar pickin' and strummin' that comes from the heart. Try listening to Guy Clark below with the opening track on the album, L.A. Freeway. It's stripped down to a man with a guitar baring his soul. Tell me he isn't ripping out a piece of himself and handing it over to you as you're listening.

The rest of the disc is just as emotionally expressive, with informal dialogue interspersed between some the songs. The source of the soundtrack is a movie produced over 30 years ago that includes such country icons as Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, John Hiat, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, and others. The folks over at HackTone Records spent over six months culling through all of the recordings and footage from the movie to re-master and capture the essence of this collection of masterful music. Even if, like me, you don't consider yourself a country music fan, try these songs. Listen to these singers. Let them open up their hearts to you.


Guy Clark - L.A. Freeway : Heartworn Highways Soundtrack

Dialogue - "People condemn whiskey..." : Heartworn Highways Soundtrack

Townes Van Zandt - Waiting Around To Die : Heartworn Highways Soundtrack

Move over Postal Service, welcome The Big Lie, a band with members in five states and provinces (Canada, eh?) who've pooled their collective talents (through a variety of UPS and Postes Canada shipping methods) to create an album without ever recording in the same room or even playing live together. Originally, the collection of eleven tracks was created as something to circulate amongst friends and family. Fortunately / unfortunately for the band, it ended up in the hands of Michael Prommer at Defend Music, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The music is a mix of Freddie Mercury meets The Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Ben Folds. Yea, that about describes it as clear as crystal. It's poppy, it's catchy, it's got hooks; The Big Lie is just a lot of fun (and that's NOT a lie).


The Big Lie - Sally : The Big Lie

The Big Lie - Wanting You is Such a Drag : The Big Lie




The Postal Service - Be Still My Heart : We Will Become Silhouettes single

Ben Folds - Rent A Cop : Super D

On November 6th, British Uber-Pop band Oasis will be releasing Lord Don't Slow Me Down, a double DVD set that not only gives you the definitive feature length documentary seen in selected cinemas last year, but also the option of voice over commentaries from the band, a Noel Gallagher Q & A session with fans from New York City, out takes from the film, and a second 90 minute bonus disc capturing the band's homecoming show at the City of Manchester Stadium on July 2nd, 2005 together with footage sent in by fans from around the world who attended that show.


For those of you who are vinyl fans, I've got two copies of the single for Lord Don't Slow Me Down to give away. Just leave a comment (or E-mail me) with your name and e-mail address and you'll be in the running. I'll choose two winners next Fridayish and notify them via e-mail.

Also as a heads up, Oasis is planning on releasing a new album sometime in 2008, which seems ridiculously far away right now, so just enjoy the following:


Oasis - I Am the Walrus (Beatles cover) : Live at the Whiskey A GoGo in Hollywood, CA 9-29-94

Ryan Adams - Wonderwall (acoustic Oasis cover) : original version on (What's The Story) Morning Glory?

Who doesn't like the circus? OK, so besides all of you who are deathly afraid of clowns, who doesn't like the circus?

Welcome to The Bigtop, a movie-musical written by Devon Reed. From what I know about it, the film, which is set to be released in early 2008, centers on the life of Vincent O'Malley, a young man who runs away with the circus only to become consumed by his desire for power and the love of a woman. Ahhh...who can't connect their own life with that storyline?

To accompany the movie-musical, Devon has written an entire soundtrack of songs, titled Songs from the Bigtop, that is available digitally now via iTunes, and which will be available to order physically February 5th, 2008. Considering the fact that it's an independent (seemingly low-budget) production, he's recruited quite a talented roster of artists to perform the songs he's written. Here's the track listing:

1. Lisa Germano - Magic
2. The Clientele - Your Song
3. Michael Leviton - I Only Want the Sky
4. Damien Jurado - Ashes
5. Matthew Sweet - Wild
6. Tullycraft - The Girl Who’s Above Us
7. Howe Gelb - Falling In Love
8. The Owls - I Just Can’t Keep Up
9. Communique - Way to Walk
10. Marbles - Something, Nothing, Everything
11. Eleventh Dream Day - Planning My Escape
12. Doug Martsch - Cracked and Crazed
13. The Sprites - Patience

He has this to say about his choices: “Each artist was a different story but, in general, I was a fan before I became a collaborator. Also, we tried to assign proper tracks to people. So wistful, playful artists got songs we wanted to be wistful and playful and the rocking tracks went to bands that could do them justice.” Enjoy the following tracks and remember to look for the movie early next year.


Michael Leviton - I Only Want The Sky : Songs From the Bigtop



Damien Jurado - Ashes : Songs From the Bigtop



Say Hi To Your Mom - Hooplas Involving Circus Tricks : Numbers & Mumbles

The Decemberists - My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist : Five Songs

Page France - Circus Head (Nobody Knows) : ...and the Family Telephone

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown : Legends

Congrats to Sam, Dan, and Dave for being the lucky three winners of the Dylan contest I've been running for the last week. All three of them are going to be the proud owners of a Dylan poster and Dylan CD (single disc edition) from his latest release. Extra Congrats to Dave for being the Super-Duper Grand prize winner and also being the extra lucky owner of a Dylan leather iPod case.



Aaron Schroeder - Hooray for You : Black & Gold

For fans of Ikea, Ace of Base, Swedish Fish, Jens Lekman (who just put out a new album of his own), and all other things Swedish, check out the country's latest export: Johnossi. Except if you listen to them, Swedish would be the last adjective that comes to mind. With a command of English better than many Americans I know, and a hard hitting get-down-and-jam bluesy sound, you'd swear that John and Ossi, the duo that comprises the band, were straight from the States.

If your curiosity is piqued, it's not too late to check them out opening for Shout Out Louds on their fall tour (check remaining dates below).


Johnossi - Man Must Dance : Johnossi

Johnossi - Family Values : Johnossi




Shout Out Louds - Normandie : Our Ill Wills


October 25th - New York NY - Bowery Ballroom
October 26th – Brooklyn NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
October 27th - Hoboken NJ - Maxwell's
October 28th - Washington DC - 9.30 Club
October 29th - Philadelphia PA - First Unitarian Church
October 30th - Carrboro NC – Cats Cradle
October 31st - Atlanta GA - The Loft
November 2nd - Austin TX - The Parish
November 3rd - Dallas TX - Granada Theatre

I've been meaning to write about People Noise's debut album Ordinary Ghosts forever now. It's been out since May, so I have no excuse for taking this long to do so. The band is composed of former VHS or Beta guitarist Zeke Buck (of 10 years) and former Boom-Bip member Matt Johnson. Put the two together and you get a high voltage sound that's dense, fuzzy, and loud most of the time (somewhat reminiscent of earlier Smashing Pumpkins' work - try A Million Lives, the album opener, below), while curiously employing some piano tinkling to keep it interesting (as in the album closer, Older). If you want to turn your stereo up loud and rock out, look no further...


People Noise - A Million Lives : Ordinary Ghosts

People Noise - Older : Ordinary Ghosts

Ben Jelen became an overnight success with the MTV teen crowd back in 2004 with his hit Come On. Not entirely satisfied with the direction his music was going, Ben retired from the limelight for several years to regroup and redefine himself. Well, his self appointed disappearing act is over, and he's back with his sophomore effort, Ex-Sensitive.

Like The OaKs, who I wrote about a few days ago, Ben took part of his time away to give back to the world around him. He found time to work with the Natural Resources Defense Council, tour extensively for Rock the Vote and Live for Darfur, donate charity tracks to WasteNotMusic.com, Amnesty International, and Tori Amos’ RAINN, march against global warming, share the stage with Wyclef Jean, Marc Anthony, Moby, Maroon 5, and Rufus Wainwright at benefit concerts across the US, establish the Ben Jelen Foundation for the Environment, protest the war, and do work with the United Nations. Also like The OaKs, Ben's dedication to the planet shows up in his music

The album has a well produced dynamic sound which reminds me of Queen (both in the instrumental realm as well as echoes of Freddie Mercury's voice in Ben's - listen to Vulnerable below to see what I mean). The album came out over the summer, so there's no reason for you not to pick up a copy. Check out these tracks if you need to be convinced.


Ben Jelen - Pulse : Ex-Sensitive

Ben Jelen - Vulnerable : Ex-Sensitive

and a bonus acoustic version:

Ben Jelen - Mr. Philosopher (acoustic) : studio version on Ex-Sensitive




Queen - You're My Best Friend : A Night At The Opera

Looking for something sufficiently dark to play as you prepare yourself for Halloween? If so, look no further than It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land, the second album by UK group Soulsavers. The album took Rich Machin and Ian Glover, the nucleus of Soulsavers, and Mark Lanegan (who's worked with Screaming Trees, Queens Of The Stone Age and Isabel Campbell) three years to produce.

In that time, the trio produced ten tracks that are part rock and roll, part electronica, and part pure darkness (can it be a part and still pure? hmmm). Think Tricky and you won't be too far off, although with a touch less techno to it. Or maybe I should say it has more of an organic electronica feel to it as opposed to an artificial one (if that makes sense). Either way, the album has a haunting feel to it that will stick with you. It came out last week and is available now. Pick it up to spin for October 31st, and if you happen to live on one of the coasts, catch them live at the end of November / beginning of December (tour dates below).


Soulsavers - Revival : It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land

Soulsavers - Paper Money : It's Not How Far You Fall, It's The Way You Land




Screaming Trees - Nearly Lost You : Singles soundtrack

Tricky - Ponderosa : Maxinquaye


11/27 New York, NY - Gramercy Theater
11/28 Philadelphia, PA - North Star Bar
11/29 Washington, DC - Black Cat
12/1 San Francisco, CA - The Independent
12/2 Los Angeles, CA - Troubadour

Foreign Born - The Nights Tall : On the Wing Now

did justice plant herself as an anchor in your mind?
did the words speak themselves like they were spoken before time?
did the blood pound in your chest as you faced the sergeant down?
did you feel the power of god surging all around you?


Powerful lyrics, to say the least. Expect much the same from the rest of Our Fathers And The Things They Left Behind, the debut album from The OaKs. The band is the child of Ryan Costello who, in 2003, sold everything he had and moved to Afghanistan, where he worked for a humanitarian organization for two years (visit www.ryancostello.com to see images captured by Ryan on film during his work there). During that time, he worked during the day teaching refugees agricultural techniques to help them survive and at night, worked with his acoustic guitar, creating much of what would later become material for The OaKs' self produced debut album. It's one full of questions: questioning one's-self, and questioning the world around us. It's built on layers of instruments that gently support the intimate thoughts and feelings expressed in the lyrics.

As a result of Ryan's work, The OaKs partnered with the humanitarian organization on the release of Our Fathers... and agreed to donate 50% of the profits from each CD or track download to aid widows and recently-returned refugees from Afghanistan. Many artists pose social critiques in their work, but view back up their desire for change as The OaKs does. The group is in the studio now working on their second album, which is due out April, 2008.


The OaKs - For Hugh Thompson, Who Stood Alone. My Lai Massacre, Vietnam, 1968 : Our Fathers And The Things They Left Behind

The OaKs - My Father's God : Our Fathers And The Things They Left Behind

"History is too often told from a very narrow perspective. Ironically, this tendency inevitably dilutes and diminishes the reality it sought to represent in the first place. In America, these divisions typically fall along racial and ethnic lines. Perhaps no place has been subjected to this monomania more consistently than Harlem. The original village of Harlem was established by Dutch settlers in 1658. 244 years later, it had become a haven for a burgeoning immigrant Jewish community and fifty years later, it was home to an overwhelming African-American and Puerto Rican population.

These tectonic shifts are essential to telling the full story of this remarkable neighborhood. Whether it was the Harlem Renaissance of the 20's to Yiddish theatre at the dawn of the 20th century or the Puerto Rican social clubs of the 40's the kaleidoscope of Harlem is one that defies easy categorization."


Try bringing together a hundred years of audio cultural history into one CD. That's the ambitious goal of The Harlem Experiment, the third in a series of projects by the label Ropeadope to bring the past and present together into a musical archaeological spectrum.

The nucleus of the album is the Harlem Experiment House Band, which features Carlos Alomar (guitar,David Bowie), Eddy Martinez (keys, Tito Puente, Mongo Santamaria, Run D.M.C.), Steven Bernstein (trumpet, Sex Mob), Steve Berrios (drums, Chick Corea), Don Byron (clarinet, The Klezmatics, Vernon Reid) and Ruben Rodriguez (bass, Tito Puente). The members put their combined skills and experience together to produce an album that embraces and celebrates all of the musical heritage that Harlem is built on: jazz, hip-hop, funk, Latin rhythms, and Yiddish folk songs. Put them all together in the melting pot that is Harlem, and you have a recipe that produces the unique flavor of Harlem. Look for the album on October 30th. In the meantime, enjoy the following:


the Harlem Experiment House Band - One for Jackie : The Harlem Experiment

the Harlem Experiment House Band - One for Malcom (feat. Malcolm X) : The Harlem Experiment



Sam Cooke - Cupid : One Night Stand: Live at the Harlem Square Club

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Stompin' at the Savoy : The Complete Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong on Verve

James Brown - I'll Go Crazy : Live At The Apollo

Cab Calloway - Tarzan of Harlem : Are You Hep To The Jive?

Langston Hughes - Too Blue : Voices of Black America

Last night I was able to see Yoav open for Tori Amos at the Orpheum Theater in Boston. What an incredible show. I hadn't been familiar with Yoav before, but he did a very good job (albeit short, only 25 or 30 minutes) opening for Tori. He has a new album (Charmed & Strange) that will be out in January ( his debut actually - which is pretty amazing considering Tori asked him to open for her and he doesn't have a release out yet) through a new record label, Field Recordings. I'm waiting to get a copy myself, so look for a review soon. As a teaser, I'd describe his music as having an electric acoustic edge that soars with his voice. Listen to some of his music on his MySpace page.


Of course, the crowd came to see Tori masterfully massage music out of her Duseldorf piano (which by the way, is HUGE - I'd hate to be the road crew who is responsible for getting that in and out of venues safely without damaging it!). Backing her up were a drummer, guitarist, and bassist, who provided much of the body of Tori's music. Although she played mostly new material in support of her newest album released earlier this year (American Doll Posse), Tori humored the crowd with some classic tunes as well (Little Amsterdam, Precious Things, Icicle, Cornflake Girl, and Hey Jupiter, which she closed out the show with). If you go to her website, you can actually buy a digital version of the show (or any show for that matter).


Although I don't have any of last night's show recorded, below is a Tori show from 1994. Enjoy it while checking out her tour dates to see if you can catch her (and Yoav) on her current tour.

Tori Amos - Crucify : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Icicle : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Precious Things : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Leather : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - God : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Silent All These Years : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - The Waitress : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Here In My Head : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Baker Baker : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Cornflake Girl : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - American Pie (Don McLean cover) : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover) : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Past the Mission : Live in Milan 4-18-94

Tori Amos - Winter : Live in Milan 4-18-94


21 Oct 2007 Place des Arts, Montreal, Canada
23 Oct 2007 Hummingbird Centre, Toronto, Canada
24 Oct 2007 Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
26 Oct 2007 DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
27 Oct 2007 Fox Theatre, Detroit, MI
28 Oct 2007 Palace Theatre, Louisville, KY
30 Oct 2007 Benedum Centre, Pittsburgh, PA
01 Nov 2007 State Theatre, Cleveland, OH
02 Nov 2007 Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, IN
03 Nov 2007 Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
05 Nov 2007 Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
06 Nov 2007 The Vic, Chicago, IL
07 Nov 2007 Northrop Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
09 Nov 2007 Lied Center, Lawrence, KS
10 Nov 2007 Omaha Music Hall, Omaha, NE
12 Nov 2007 Andrew Jackson Hall TPAC, Nashville, TN
13 Nov 2007 Oven Auditorium, Charlotte, NC
14 Nov 2007 Fox Theatre, Atlanta, GA
16 Nov 2007 Hard Rock Cafe, Orlando, FL
17 Nov 2007 Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Center, Ft Myers, FL
18 Nov 2007 King Center for the Performing Arts, Melbourne, FL
20 Nov 2007 Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL
21 Nov 2007 Kravis Center for the Arts, West Palm Beach, FL
24 Nov 2007 Nokia Theatre, Dallas, TX
25 Nov 2007 Jesse H. Jones Hall, Houston, TX
26 Nov 2007 Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX
28 Nov 2007 Wells Fargo Theatre, Denver, C0
29 Nov 2007 E Center, Salt Lake City, UT
30 Nov 2007 Morrison Center for the Performing Arts, Boise, ID
03 Dec 2007 Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, Canada
04 Dec 2007 Schnitzer Hall, Portland, OR
05 Dec 2007 Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
07 Dec 2007 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA
08 Dec 2007 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA
09 Dec 2007 Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA
11 Dec 2007 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
12 Dec 2007 Copley Symphony Hall, San Diego, CA
13 Dec 2007 Arlington Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA
15 Dec 2007 The Grove, Anaheim, CA
16 Dec 2007 Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

So not only is GreenTaRA a trio, it's also the name of the leader of the trio. What's more important is that she / they has / have released her / their second album earlier this month, titled Global Baby. As GreenTaRA explains in the liner notes, "This album truly is my global baby - a collections of songs written during my travels, past and present-day, across the globe." As such, the whole affair is a luxurious, worldly blend of soul, reggae, and R&B with some afro-beats going on here and there mixed with some tints of disco to occasionally make you want to dance (think Zap Mama, in English, meets Gloria Gaynor).


GreenTaRA - Get Up : Global Baby

GreenTaRA - Life Can Be Sweeter : Global Baby




Zap Mama - Vivre : Ancestry In Progress

Cake - I Will Survive ( Gloria Gaynor cover) : Fashion Nugget

Richard Hawley is back for his 5th effort, titled Lady's Bridge (named after a London landmark, just like his previous albums), and he's not resting on his laurels. Since moving on from working as a guitarist for acts like Pulp, Robbie Williams, and Beth Orton, Richard has clearly displayed a talent that can carry itself, and he's certainly developed it. On the new album, Richard stills displays that lush baritone croon that is his trademark (listen to The Sea Calls), but he's also a little more explorative in tracks like Serious (offered below) which cuts off into rockabilly territory a la Brian Setzer. For those of you not familiar with Richard, his voice is like Nick Cave's deep leveled voice meeting up with the smoother crooning of someone like Tony Bennett.

Last year, Richard was robbed of a Mercury Prize (even the winners, the Arctic Monkeys, thought so) so perhaps the judges will wisen up a little bit with the release of Lady's Bridge. Listen to the following, buy the new album, then check out all of his back catalog for all the good music you've been missing.


Richard Hawley - Serious : Lady's Bridge

Richard Hawley - The Sea Calls : Lady's Bridge

And a couple older ones:

Richard Hawley - Run For Me : Lowedges

Richard Hawley - The Light At The End Of The Tunnel (Was A Train Coming The Other Way) : Late Night Final




Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Into My Arms : The Boatman's Call

Tony Bennett - Steppin' Out With My Baby : Steppin' Out

Stray Cats - Rock This Town : Totally 80's

Peter Lawford (reading newspaper): Listen to this one: "The quintet of Sinatra, Martin, Davis, Lawford, and Bishop moved into Las Vegas in the form of an attack force with Sinatra as the nominal leader of their clan." [the group was known as the Clan before being dubbed the Rat Pack by Lauren Bacall]

Frank Sinatra: I don't want to be the Leader. One of you guys be the Leader.

Peter: Sorry, Frank, but it says here you're the Leader.

Sammy Davis Jr.: Hold it! I wanta go on record that I ain't belongin' to nothing that's called a clan.

Dean Martin: I don't know pally (nods at Frank). You'd better discuss that with the Leader.



Earlier today, Joey Bishop, the last remaining member of the famed Rat Pack, passed away. Here's hoping the gang is all back together somewhere up in the sky gagging it up.

Last week, I was telling you about Eric Clapton's latest release, Complete Clapton. This week I'm going to fill you in on another great artist who is also releasing an amazing career retrospective: Bob Dylan. Here's the description, straight from Columbia Records / Legacy Recordings:

The DYLAN retrospective is available in a three-disc collection covering three distinct periods of Dylan's ongoing musical evolution (disc 1: 1962-1967 - "Bob Dylan" through "John Wesley Harding"; disc 2: 1967-1985 - "The Basement Tapes" through "Empire Burlesque"; disc 3: 1986-2006 - "Knocked Out Loaded" through "Modern Times"). The 51 track collection comes packaged in an 8-panel digipak with a 24 page full color booklet and liner notes by noted music journalist Bill Flanagan.

The three-disc version of DYLAN will also be available in a monumental deluxe collector's box set, housed in a keepsake cloth-covered box with each of the three discs presented in classic LP-styled sleeves featuring iconic Dylan and Columbia Records imagery. The DYLAN box set comes with a 40 page book with extended liner notes and rare photos as well as 10 limited edition postcard lithograph prints highlighting pivotal moments from Dylan's career.

In addition, DYLAN will be available in a special single disc edition, packaged in a standard jewel case with a full color 20 page booklet, featuring 18 select songs from the retrospective. The single disc edition includes special introductory liner notes and song-by-song annotations by Bill Flanagan.

With a new album coming out on the horizon, Sia is on the road, prepping fans for its January release in 2008. It's titled some people have REAL problems, and while I haven't had the opportunity to listen to it, be assured that you will hear material off of it if you catch her on her fall tour (dates below). If you can't wait until January, Sia will be releasing a six track digital single via iTunes in November. If you can't wait until then, listen to her cover of Radiohead below.


Sia - Paranoid Android (Radiohead cover) : Exit Music (Radiohead Tribute)



Oct 22 San Diego CA @ Belly Up Tavern
Oct 24 Los Angeles CA @ El Rey Theater
Oct 25 San Francisco CA @ Fillmore
Oct 27 Portland OR @ Doug Fir Lounge
Oct 28 Seattle WA @ Crocodile Cafe
Oct 29 Vancouver Media Club
Nov 1 Minneapolis MN @ Varsity Theater
Nov 2 Chicago IL @ Metro
Nov 4 Philadelphia PA @ World Cafe
Nov 5 NYC @ Highline Ballroom
Nov 7 Boston MA @ Paradise
Nov 8 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club

Although you might have missed their first EP (which came out early last year), Nico Vega is back with their second, titled No Child Left Behind (which came out earlier this month). Their music alternates between a dense wall of sound and clear distinct notes which gives a nod to the YYYs (although not as erratically exploratory yet), as well as Aja's vocals (who certainly could stand in as a Karen O vocal stunt double). The EP is short and sweet (5 tracks), but it bodes a promising 2008 for the band as they prepare for their first full length album. They are also touring right now with Johnossi and Shout Out Louds. Look for dates below while listening to the following tracks (I genuinely had a hard time picking which of the five tracks on the EP to share - I settled on the opener).


Nico Vega - Gravity : No Child Left Behind EP

and one from their first EP:

Nico Vega - Let You Go : chooseyourwordspoorly




Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Rockers to Swallow : Is Is [EP]


10/17: Lawrence, KS @ Jackpot
10/18: Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line Music Cafe
10/19: Chicago, IL @ Logan Square Auditorium
10/20: Columbus, OH @ The Basement
10/22: Toronto, ON @ The Mod Club
10/23: Montreal, QC @ Caberet
10/24: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
10/25: New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
10/27: Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's
10/28: Washington, DC @ 9.30 Club
10/29: Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
10/30: Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
10/31: Atlanta, GA @ The Loft
11/2: Austin, TX @ The Parish
11/3: Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre

Morning Recordings is back with the release of their second full length album, titled The Welcome Kinetic. The band is headed up by Pramod Tummala, who previously spent time as a founding member and principal songwriter of the Chicago-based band, Melochrome. For those of you familiar with Melochrome, Morning Recordings feels like a logical extension of where Melochrome was growing and evolving into before its members went their separate ways.

Their latest release, which came out last week, opens with and instrumental piece, The One Hundred Hills, which you can listen to below. Normally I don't post up instrumentals, but this one begs to be listened to. It blends the incongruous notes of a tinkling xylophone and a wailing trumpet masterfully. Going deeper into the album will reveal pieces that focus as much on the instrumental aspects of the music as much as the lyrical / vocal content. You'll feel as if you're sleepwalking through a melancholy etherealness that washes over you with the lightest of ambient strokes. Harmonious vocals, such as in We Loved The City Years, only supplement the already audibly satisfying melodies. Enjoy the following keeping in mind they are only part of ten tracks that meld into one musical statement.


Morning Recordings - The One Hundred Hills : The Welcome Kinetic

Morning Recordings - We Loved The City Years : The Welcome Kinetic

and one from their first album:

Morning Recordings - Can't Help Fading Away : Music For Places




Melochrome - An Afterthought : This Is Motion

Can you ever have enough EPs? After sharing four others with you earlier today, I realized that I had for got to include the L.A. threesome known as Sunday Drivers. The group projects a large sound for its size on their debut EP Archetypes, which is available now via iTunes. Watch the video for Endless Summer, download and listen to The Sweetest Disguise, and then buy the entire EP.

Endless Summer





Sunday Drivers - The Sweetest Disguise : Archetypes EP

Looking for a shot of new wave techno rave that's heavy on the dance vibes and easy on the bass lines? Try giving Couples Therapy, the latest EP from NYC duo The Glass. It came out last month and its futuristic throw-back sound (how paradoxical is that?) is sure to get your feet moving and glow-stick swinging.




The Glass - Mad At You : Couples Therapy



Another EP I've been spinning lately is Virgin of the Birds' latest, Mixed Choir. In texture and the vocal stylings of Jon Rooney, it greatly reminds me of Page France, albeit a little less jubilant. Replacing the hallelujahs is a lo-fi sound that's an emotional opposite to the upbeat tempo of Michael Nau.



Virgin of the Birds - Sisters At The Sound Of Dawn : Mixed Choir




Up next is the six track self titled debut EP by The Archivist (which you can get for FREE from his website!). You might remember me talking about Wisconsin not being a hot bed of indie activity while discussing Sleeping In the Aviary last week. Well lo and behold, what shows up but this EP, hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Maybe the government is doing some kind of mutation testing there. Should I expect my inbox to be chock full of bands from Wisconsin soon?



The Archivist - New Years : The Archivist EP







Last, but not least, is the strangest of the crew. Hailing from across the ocean, all the way from Holland to your eardrums, is another free EP from Yoshimi!, this one titled Ep #2 II aka. The Cheshire Rat. Maybe strange is an understatement. Listen yourself...



Yoshimi! - Hot Stuff : Ep #2 II aka. The Cheshire Rat

Although it hearkens back to the sounds of the 30's and 40's, Hold On is the just released debut recording from The Sojourners, a Vancouver based gospel trio. The vocal group's roots find their way back to the very roots of Gospel music with the likes of the sweet soulful harmonies of The Swan Silvertones, The Pilgrim Travellers, and The Soul Stirrers.

For those of you not familiar with the history of Gospel music in America, the quartet was the reigning power during this period. Bands such as the above mentioned mixed traditional songs, songs written by men such as Thomas A. Dorsey (the "Father of Gospel Music" - The Sojourners' cover his songs Old Ship of Zion and Walking Up the King's Highway on the album), and some of their own material. Their songs started working their way into households throughout the country until eventually Sam Cooke became a national icon (really the first crossover star that appealed to young and old, black and white alike) and brought the Soul Stirrers into the national limelight with his blend of Gospel, R & B, and pop, which would later become known as soul. Not only did Sam become a national singing star, he was also one of the first modern black musicians to take charge of their own material by forming his own recording company.

Coming back to present day, The Sojourners have resurrected this classic sound and recorded eleven tracks of soul saving music. Some of the songs are songs written by them , the others are classic songs from that golden period (such as Children Go Where I Send Thee and Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb, a song that many of the great quartets played). As the album progresses, you'll notice some tints of the Motown sound in the later tracks as well. Do your soul a favor, listen to the following, and then order the album


The Sojourners - Children Go Where I Send Thee : Hold On

The Sojourners - Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb : Hold On



Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers - Jesus, I'll Never Forget : Specialty Profiles: Sam Cooke

The Pilgrim Travelers - Please Watch Over Me : Better Than That

The Swan Silvertones - I Done Made Up My Mind : The Swan Silvertones 1946-1951

So how many artists are you listening to right now who've released nine full length albums? I might be wrong, but I'm guessing not many. Fix that right now by checking out Dan Israel's latest release, Turning. The album features supporting guest spots by musicians such as Marc Perlman (The Jayhawks), Dave Boquist (Son Volt), Jessy Greene (Foo Fighters, Wilco, Jayhawks, etc...) and many others.

It's a rollicking slice of Americana that is certain to bring back memories of Evan Dando (whose voice Dan's seems an exact match to) and earlier Lemonheads' albums (for example, Triangle, below). At points it has a country twang to it, which you could probably guess based on the musicians supporting Dan, but he's not afraid to add a little saloon piano playing into the mix (listen to Occasionally).


Dan Israel - Triangle : Turning

Dan Israel - Occasionally : Turning




Evan Dando - Frying Pan : Sweet Relief

The Lemonheads - Frank Mills : It's A Shame About Ray

Although it's received a mixed bag of reviews since it opened a couple of weeks ago, I'm still looking forward to seeing the latest movie to be based on a novel, Feast of Love. It boasts a strong cast of actors including Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear. Accompanying the movie is a soundtrack that also boasts a strong lineup of musicians including The Frames, Corinne Bailey Rae and The New Mastersounds, M. Ward, Jeff Buckley, Cary Brothers, and others. Cary showed up on my radar screen earlier this year in April with the release of his first full length album (read about it here if you missed that post). Honestly is a track from the album and it also appears here on the soundtrack. Below is also the video for it (with some scenes from the movie to spice it up a bit)





The New Mastersounds - Your Love Is Mine (Feat. Corinne Bailey Rae) : Feast of Love Soundtrack

Cary Brothers - Honestly : Feast of Love Soundtrack

Just released this last week is David Singer's fourth album, East of the Fault Line, which was recorded in David's hometown of Chicago. Its ten tracks fit like your favorite well worn garment - and I mean that in a good way. There's nothing here trying to stand out as six degrees from the beaten path, rather David writes songs that smoothly flow from beginning to end. The instrumentation provided by his backing band is solid and well orchestrated and offers music which builds and falls in well regulated fashion that provides a stage for David's vocals...which is where the real draw of the album lies.

Range-wise, David's voice overwhelmingly reminds me of one of the Johns from They Might Be Giants (I apologize for not being able to tell you which voice fits which one of them). It's a kind of voice that doesn't seem like it should work in front of a rock-ish type band singing earnest lyrics with great depth...but it does, and does well.

Take Amaranthine (offered below), the opening track of the album, which has grabbed my imagination and has yet to let it go. I'll be honest with you and admit I had to look up the word to see what it meant: eternally beautiful and unfading; everlasting. It sounds like a generally positive word yet in its context in the song, it seems to focus on the complexities and problems in life that are unfading, and not necessarily the positive aspects (especially of love). It seems that what is eternal is the search to make meaning of of this thing called life that we stumble, scrape, and pull our way through. This of course, is only my bumbling grasp at putting meaning to the song. Listen to it yourself to revel in its depth.

The rest of the album offers lyrics equally worth plumbing for meaning and connection. If you like what you hear, and you're in the Windy City area on Saturday, October 20th, David and his band will be playing a record release show in Chicago at the Hideout. If not, then just get the album now and cross your fingers for a tour.


David Singer - Amaranthine : East of the Fault Line

David Singer - (I Don't Want You To) Stay : East of the Fault Line




They Might Be Giants - Kiss Me, Son Of God [Alternate Version] : Miscellaneous T: B Side / Remix Compilation

OK folks, a couple weeks ago I announced the release of Complete Clapton (a 2 disc compilation of 36 of Eric Clapton's greatest songs from 1968 to 2006) and Clapton: The Autobiography (a book in which Clapton personally recounts his legendary life: from the early days of his career, through his turbulent struggle with addiction, to the loss of his four-year-old son).


I'll pick a winner at random next Thursdayish and e-mail the lucky soul pronto.


The Yardbirds - Smokestack Lightnin' : London 1963 - The First Recordings

Eric Clapton and John Mayall (with whom he played with in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers between 1965 and 1966) - Have You Heard : 70th Birthday Concert

Eric Clapton - White Room (live) : 24 Nights

Following the double-platinum success of their second album, expectations were high for the late September release of Eskimo Joe’s third album, Black Fingernails, Red Wine. Not being too familiar with the Australian band, I, on the other hand, had no idea what to expect, yet found myself pleasantly surprised quite early into only my first listening. In fact, the ballad London Bombs stuck with me in such a way that I could not get it out of my head after this first listening. The haunting, yet optimistic feel of a repeating keyboard hook in the right hand gave me goosebumps. When listening to this song, one can’t help but feel the significant weight and restlessness of the lyrics—a lover hoping that his love will come home safely to Australia after the terrorist bombings in London.

This is an extremely well-arranged album from start to finish. Perhaps being so close that they compare themselves to brothers, the band members, Kavyen Temperly (vocals), Joel Quartermain (drums), and Stuart MacLeod (guitar) are able craft such an honest and self-effacing sound so as to keep the listener singing after the album is over. Although considered “darker” than their other two records, this is definitely a soulful Australian rock album.

Check out the following two tracks, both from the album. If you decide to purchase a physical copy of the album you'll not only get the twelve tracks, but a second disc with videos on it as well.


Eskimo Joe - Black Fingernails, Red Wine : Black Fingernails, Red Wine

Eskimo Joe - London Bombs : Black Fingernails, Red Wine

OK, pick your minds out of the gutter after reading the title of the post. What it's really going to be about is this: highly influential and experimental jazz pianist and composer who has embraced and integrated everything including the kitchen sink into his music Herbie Hancock has released an album of his interpretations of songs by highly influential folk artist who embraced jazz and pop into her music Joni Mitchell. It's aptly titled River: The Joni Letters and was released at the end of September by a label synonymous with jazz, Verve Records.

If you're not familiar with Herbie's story, it goes a little something like this: He was considered a piano prodigy at age seven. At age eleven he played a piano solo in the first movement of a Mozart concerto with the Chicago Symphony. At twenty-one, Blue Note Records offered him a solo record deal. Two years later, he was asked by equally legendary Miles Davis to join his band, with which he remained for five years. And then his career really started getting interesting! Since then, his music has taken numerous twists and turns, trying new styles, innovating his own, integrating electronic instrumentation into jazz (a big no-no according to many purists), never resting on his laurels or settling into a predictable rut.

Joni Mitchell is an artist that is equally worthy of admiration and respect. Long before we had Canada to thank for Celine Dion, they were kind enough to send Joni to us. Discovered by David Crosby (of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young) while playing folk music in a club in Florida, Joni's career took flight in the mid 60's. A decade later, she would being experimenting with tints of jazz in her work. As she entered her fifth decade making music, Joni found her self at odds with those selling it and bowed out of the scene for a while, until releasing Shine on September 25th, the same day that Herbie's album was released. There has been some criticism of it as offering nothing fresh or anything that compares to her time honored classics, but regardless of your critique one cannot question Joni's contribution to music during her long career.

As with any album of covers, there will be some who find the interpretations on River: The Joni Letters a fresh take on classic material and some who will consider them copies that have little to offer. That being said, I'll let you listen to the tracks below and form your own opinion. Some of the tracks on the album are piano driven sketches (such as Solitude, below), others offer lyrical substance by guests such as Norah Jones, Tina Turner, Corinne Bailey Rae, Luciana Souza, Leonard Cohen, (on the track The Jungle Line) as well as an appearance by Joni herself on one track.


Herbie Hancock - Solitude : River: The Joni Letters

Herbie Hancock - The Jungle Line (Feat. Leonard Cohen) : River: The Joni Letters




Miles Davis (with Herbie Hancock on piano) - Circle : Blue Miles

Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi : Shine

So after making history by releasing a double CD as her debut release (the first for a female artist), and then doing it AGAIN for her second, Nellie Mckay is back, this time dodging any expectations by creating a short but thoroughly entertaining nine track follow-up titled Obligatory Villagers.

Once again, she displays a vocal range capable of crossing genres; from cool lounge, to entertaining cabaret, to smooth jazz, to spunky disco, to upbeat Broadway musical, Mckay's voice exudes a sultry allure while deliver lyrics that seem a little off kilter but still gently work their way into your ear.

Since releasing Pretty Little Head last year, and while in the process of working on her third album, Nellie was also cast as Polly Peachum in the Broadway revival of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera. If you've heard any of her work, you won't be surprised at her versatility. If you haven't, listen to the following and then dive deep into her work.


Nellie Mckay - Mother of Pearl : Obligatory Villagers

Nellie Mckay - Identity Theft : Obligatory Villagers

And one from her last album:

Nellie Mckay - Columbia Is Bleeding : Pretty Little Head




Louis Armstrong - Mack the Knife : Pottery Barn: Supper Club

Madison, Wisconsin. Not exactly in the top ten list of cities that spawn indie bands (chesseheads yes, indie bands no). I'm not even sure that it ranks in the top 100 (nothing against Madisonites). I know that the Violent Femmes came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin but I'm not really up on my geography enough to know if they're close.

That being said, Madison has put its name on the map (at least in my book) with the arrival of Sleeping In The Aviary. The trio really shakes things up with their debut album Oh, This Old Thing?, which came out earlier this year and is just now making it's way into my ears. It's thirteen tracks, which run a dizzyingly fast 23 minutes, scream molten lo-fi garage rock in the vein of The Buzzcocks, albeit with the vocals ratcheted up a few notches. If you're looking for something down and dirty to turn up loud and rock out to, this is just what the doctor ordered. And you certainly won't be falling asleep to it!


Sleeping In The Aviary - Gloworm : Oh, This Old Thing?

Sleeping In The Aviary - Maureen : Oh, This Old Thing?




Violent Femmes - 36-24-36 : Add It Up (1981-1993)

The Buzzcocks - Wish I Never Loved You : Flat-Pack Philosophy

"As they lived through the cataclysmic events of World War II, Americans overseas and on the home front found a safe harbor, emotionally, in the buoyant sounds of popular music. Classic titles from The Great American Songbook served, with the highest distinction, as an indispensable part of the war effort, lightening the burden of sacrifice as well as giving voice to the deepest feelings of loneliness, sorrow and anxious hope."

This last companion disc to the soundtrack for Ken Burns' The War includes songs that were some of the biggest hits during some of the darkest days of the war. I would say that in content, it's closest to the soundtrack, but all twenty of its tracks hail directly from that bygone era. Some are instrumentals, some include vocals, but there are no new tracks here by present day artists; everything here is classic.


Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra - Memories Of You : Sentimental Journey, Hits From The Second World War


Frank Sinatra - Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week : Sentimental Journey, Hits From The Second World War

I'm not one who's big on being able to name actors and actresses by their face, or list what movies certain stars have been in. I usually won't go see a movie just because a particular actor is in it, with one exception. Ben Stiller. The man is just a comic masterpiece. He's like the next generation of all the comedic stars of the 80's - Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Murray, etc... Sure he's a one trick pony; he's got his shtick, a lot like Jim Carrey, but damn it's a great shtick.

That being said, I'm eager to check out his latest effort, The Heartbreak Kid, which hits theaters today. Based on what I've seen in trailers and read on the net, it seems like another sure fire money maker. As far as I know, here's the plot line in a nut shell: Ben meets a women, falls in love, proposes after one week, gets married, realizes he's married a train wreck while honeymooning in Mexico, finds true love with another women, not sure how it ends BUUUUT I'm guessing he ends up with true love (as much as I love Ben, intricate plot lines are not typically a characteristic of his movies).

The soundtrack for the movie came out on the 2nd and is already available. It includes tracks by The Flaming Lips (two tracks), Matthew Sweet And Susanna Hoffs (who could ever have predicted this pairing?), The Weepies, David Bowie, and others.


The Flaming Lips - The Tale of the Horny Frog : The Heartbreak Kid Soundtrack

Buva - The First Cut Is the Deepest (Cat Stevens cover) : The Heartbreak Kid Soundtrack

Next Tuesday (the 9th) is the release date set for Moving Units' second full length album Hexes For Exes. If you haven't checked the group out yet, their sound offers a synth-laced post-punk album full of driving tracks that will make you wish you were part of a throbbing mass of bodies in some dark dance floor. Although most of the tracks push out a beat that's propelled by electronic drums and synthesizers, there is some tight guitar riffs here and here to keep the sounds from becoming completely inorganic. Besides releasing some new tunes, the band is also scheduled to tour with VHS or Beta in November. Dates are down below.

Check out the two tracks here to get a taste if you haven't listened to MU before. Pink Thoughts gives you a pretty good idea of their quasi-techno dance feel. Listen to the chorus of the second track, Wrong Again, and tell me it doesn't sound like an updated version of the chorus to the much older The Letter, by The Box Tops, also below.


Moving Units - Pink Thoughts : Hexes For Exes

Moving Units - Wrong Again : Hexes For Exes

One from their debut EP:

Moving Units - Between Us & Them : Moving Units EP


The Box Tops - The Letter : Back To The 60's Vol 1


MON 11/12 WASHINGTON, DC Black Cat
TUE 11/13 BALTIMORE, MD Ottobar
THU 11/15 PHILADELPHIA, PA First Unitarian Church
FRI 11/16 NEW YORK, NY Blender Theater @ Gramercy
SAT 11/17 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ House Of Blues Harlem Club
MON 11/19 BOSTON, MA Paradise Rock Club
TUE 11/20 MONTREAL, PQ Club Soda
WED 11/21 TORONTO, ON Lee's Palace
FRI 11/23 CHICAGO, IL Abbey
SAT 11/24 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 7th Street Entry
TUE 11/27 SEATTLE, WA Chop Suey
WED 11/28 VANCOUVER BC Richard's on Richards
THU 11/29 PORTLAND, OR Doug Fir Lounge
FRI 11/30 SACRAMENTO, CA Harlow's

“The gravitas of a full orchestra, the lamenting sound of a cello, the intimacy of chamber music, and the uplifting surge of melody - songs without words, both familiar and rarely heard - combine to create a provocative expression of a nation in the midst of the greatest cataclysm in history”



stream Copland: Concerto For Clarinet, Strings, Harp And Piano : The War: A Ken Burns Film, Songs Without Words, Classical Music From The War


Leonard Slatkin: London Philharmonic Orchestra - Walton: The Death Of Falstaff : The War: A Ken Burns Film, Songs Without Words, Classical Music From The War

She's a mild mannered elementary music school teacher by day, but by night, Sharon Hagopian finds an empty phone booth (are there really any of these left around anymore?) and becomes the enemy of bad music everywhere - Cannonball Jane!

Being a fellow teacher, I've got to throw in with supporting Sharon/Jane and her newest EP Knees Up!, which is coming out on October 9th. Although it's not her first published musical endeavor (her full length debut Street Vernacular was originally released in 2006 over in the UK and was re-released digitally here in the states on September 25th), hopefully it will draw some attention in her native country.

The EP opens with Take It To Fantastic, which sounds like it could be the theme song for a super-sassy crime-fighting secret agent show (maybe one starring Cannonball Jane...). You'll find the original here as well as two remixes, including one by Adrock (of the Beastie Boys) which you can listen to below. The rest of the disc includes some clever sampling, retro girl-power sounds, and some playful hip-hop mixing. Recorded entirely at her home in Bridgeport, CT, the album feels boisterously fresh and invigorating and leaves one hoping that her students appreciate what a super-fly teacher they've got teaching them how to rock (move over Jack Black).



Cannonball Jane - Take It To Fantastic : Knees Up! EP

Cannonball Jane - Take It To Fantastic, Remix By Adrock : Knees Up! EP (link removed at label's request)



Jack Black and the School of Rock - It's a Long Way To the Top (AC/DC cover) : School of Rock Soundtrack

...and speaking of Adrock, here's a track from the Beastie's newest instrumental album The Mix-Up:

The Beastie Boys - 14th St. Break : The Mix-Up

Earlier last month, M83 (whose mild mannered alter ego is Anthony Gonzalez) released the first of what is planned to be a series of ambient albums titled simply Digital Shades, Volume 1. Originally recorded last year, this album is set to precede another new release early next year of brand new material (which Gonzalez is in the studio now working on).

Digital Shades, just as its title suggests, is an album of subtleties. With minimalistic instrumentation, songs demand you to focus on the individual notes and threads that weave throughout them. Typically ambient albums fall into one of two categories: those of space, or those of Earth. This album starts out on Earth and then moves into the sky. Accompanying the digital massaging of your eardrums are various natural enhancements: chirping birds, the sounds of nature, etc... early in the album, but the last few tracks leave the pull of gravity.

This isn't an album that will wallop you with bass lines or dance beats. It's not one that will inject a catchy hook into your head. It's one that you'll need to be attentive to and explore.



and one from his last album:



Moby - J Breas : Ambient

The Orb - Valley : Orbus Terrarum

Woob - Wuub : Em:T 1194