Bob Dylan's Boot

Most bands are happy if they make it eight albums into the game. Eight albums is almost an eternity in this day and age, with bands constantly stumbling into obscurity or members splitting into new projects (and then stumble into obscurity). To have eight "bootleg" albums of demos, unreleased songs, and rarities is pretty rare. Rare that is, unless you're Bob Dylan. In that case, it's par for the course. The formula for rock bootlegs was practically written for Dylan.

That being said, Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8 came out last week, and is chock full of enough goodies to make Dylan fans to drool. It's available in two versions: a two CD release containing twenty-seven songs and a sixty page booklet, and a deluxe three CD release with twelve additional songs and a 150-page, 8" x 8" hardcover book of Dylan's singles' artwork. Either way, you're getting cast-offs that are more solid than many performers' 1st rate material.

Do I need to say anything else? It's Dylan.

Bob Dylan - Most Of The Time (alternate version) : Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (disc 1)

Bob Dylan - The Girl On The Greenbriar Shore (live 1992) : Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (disc 2)

Get the 3-CD Deluxe version here.

Visit his website, his label Sony BMG, and become his friend on MySpace.

Antony and the Johnsons' World

After winning the Mercury Award in 2005 for his last album, Antony (of Antony and the Johnsons) is back with a five track EP (titled Another World) in preparation for his new full length The Crying Light, which should be coming in January 2009. Armed with what might be the most beautiful male voice I know, he works through the five tracks here, presenting very different textures in less than twenty minutes.

My favorite is the one smack dab in the middle, Shake That Devil. It started almost as a spoken word, impromptu poetry reading, but then notes slowly build and intrude in the backdrop, and eventually develop into a New Orleans blues jam that you can stomp a foot to. A horn pops in, accentuating the line, and then playfully retreats and repeats.

Antony and the Johnsons - Shake That Devil : Another World

Visit their website, their label Secretly Canadian, and become their friend on MySpace.

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Upcoming Tour Dates

10/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Walt Disney Concert Hall
10/16 New York, NY @ Apollo Theatre
10/30 London, ENG @ The Barbican
10/31 London, ENG @ The Barbican

The Herbaliser - new single, new video, new tour

Earlier in the summer I wrote about The Herbaliser's latest release, Same As It Never Was, and how much I was diggin' it. Well I received some new news on the band that I couldn't wait to share. Here goes...

1.) The band is releasing a digital only single (available October 14th) for Can't Help This Feeling, the fifth track from the album, one that features Jessica Darling on vocals. The single contains the original version plus two remixes, from Beardyman and Malcolm Catto's Heliocentrics. Stream the Beardyman's Glitchbox Hackjob remix below.

2.) The band has put together a video for the original track in which you'll learn some hep new dance moves and get to see the sizzlin' hot Jessica Darling. Watch it here.

3.) The band has announced a limited run of tour dates as follows:

Nov 11- New York, NY- Knitting Factory
Nov 12- Montreal, QC- Le National
Nov 13- Toronto, ON- Revival
Nov 14- Ottawa, ON- Babylon
Nov 15- Hamilton, ON- Pepper Jack's
Nov 18- Chicago, IL- Darkroom
Nov 19- Minneapolis, MN- The Varsity Theater
Nov 20- Winnipeg, MN- The Academy
Nov 21- Regina, SK- The Distrikt
Nov 22- Saskatoon, SK- Louis'
Nov 23- Edmonton, AV- The Starlite
Nov 25- Calgary, AB- The Warehouse- Calgary
Nov 26- Whistler, BC- Garfinkel's
Nov 27- Vancouver, BC- Commodore Ballroom
Nov 28- Seattle, WA- Nectar Lounge
Nov 29- Portland, OR- Doug Fir Lounge
Nov 30- San Francisco, CA- The Independent
Dec 1- West Hollywood, CA- The Roxy Theatre

I'm bent about the fact that there's no Boston stop, but I ended up deciding to share these dates and the rest of the good news with you anyway.

Get the digital version of the Can't Help This Feeling Single.

The Herbaliser - How To Keep A Girlfriend (feat. Jean Grae) : Take London (Bonus Tracks)

Visit their website, their label !k7 Records, and become their friend on MySpace.

Lenka Revisited

A few months ago I shared a couple advance tracks from Australian singer Lenka (back in July). I finally got my hands on a copy of her self-titled debut full length and figured I would share a bit more. While some of the album carries on in the same vein as those cuts, it also goes beyond it.

I absolutely loved her cover of the Modest Mouse track Gravity Rides Everything, so I was overjoyed to find more songs that included her silky smooth sliding from note to note that it included. She's got a beautiful voice that carries on and on, even after it seems she should be coming up for air, that just flows up and down the scale. In addition there are songs which convey a much more energetic charge and perkiness that screams playfulness. Either way, the music conveys an almost naive, carefree, optimistic simplicity that can't be kept down, even when singing about being left or hurt.

Since my original post, a friend suggested the similarity in sound between Lenka and Angie Hart, another Australian singer and former vocalist for Frente!, and I totally agree. Below you'll find the lead off track The Show (one of those perky numbers I mentioned), Don't Let Me Fall (one of the delicately precious ones), and another enjoyable cover of a M. Ward song, Vincent O'Brien. Take them all in, and then think about ordering the album.

Lenka - The Show : Lenka
(watch the video)

Lenka - Don't Let Me Fall : Lenka

Lenka - Vincent O'Brien (M. Ward cover) : Gravity Rides Everything 7"

Visit her label Epic Records and become her friend on MySpace.

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Frente! - Accidently Kelly Street : Marvin The Album

M. Ward - Vincent O'Brien : Transfiguration of Vincent

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Tour Dates

10/27 Melbourne, Australia - The Toff In Town
10/29 Sydney, Australia - Oxford Arts Factory
11/11 Hotel Cafe Tour - Bluebird Denver, CO
11/12 Hotel Cafe Tour - Avalon Theater Salt Lake City, UT
11/13 Hotel Cafe Tour - Knitting Factory Boise, ID
11/14 Hotel Cafe Tour - Doug Fir Portland, OR
11/15 Hotel Cafe Tour - Chop Suey Seattle, WA
11/17 Hotel Cafe Tour - Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
11/18 Hotel Cafe Tour - Henry Fonda Theater Los Angeles, CA

Ben Folds' return from normal

Ben Folds is back with his newest solo effort, and fans of his older work with Ben Folds Five are gonna eat this album up. It's titled Way To Normal, but by no yardstick on Earth would I ever measure it up as normal. In it, Folds returns to the earnest sounding zaniness that we all know and love, sung over that classic Ben Folds piano. At points, it takes me back to Naked Baby Photos, one of my favorite albums from him. I mean, the opening track's titled Hiroshima (B B B Benny Hit His Head). Then you've got Bitch Went Nuts, the classic break-up song spun as only Ben could. And who wouldn't want to visit Effington? (read it out loud to catch it)

Also of interest is a partnership Ben has entered into with Apple. Here's part of the press release on it:

"During Folds' current U.S. tour, iTunes is introducing a new program called 'The Sounds of Last Night...This Morning,' for which one live track is being recorded in each of 10 cities and made available the next day exclusively on the iTunes Store. Tracks are recorded to a Mac, previewed on an iPod, original cover art is made by Folds with Apple's Photo Booth application and sent to iTunes for sale the next day. Following the conclusion of the tour the tracks will be compiled for an exclusive iTunes live album. Fans may purchase the album at a reduced price based on the songs they've already bought via iTunes' Complete My Album feature."

Not as exciting as if you could get the entire exact show you saw the night before as some bands have taken to, but fairly cool never-the-less.

Check out the fourth track from the album, You Don't Know Me, which features Regina Spektor accompanying Ben on vocals. You can also watch the video.

Buy a copy of Way to Normal

Visit his website, his label Sony, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Ben Folds Five - For Those Of Ya'll Who Wear Fannie Packs : Naked Baby Photos

I Confess...

...that this is just plain enjoyable fun. Check it out.

Bubbles & Cheesecake - I Confess : The Soul Of Bubbles & Cheesecake EP

Visit their website and become their friend on MySpace.

Galactic on tour

Exciting news for Galactic fans. The band's kicking off a headlining tour starting this week in Georgia continuing on into November and ending at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Accompanying them on the tour will be the Crown City Rockers., two unnamed special guests (perhaps collaborators from the last album?), and a horn section (Shamarr Allen and Corey Henry)!

It will be interesting to see/hear what they do with their last album's material (From the Corner to the Block), an album that marks a departure from their previous sound and has divided some fans over their new direction. Dates are listed below.


Galactic - Space Headz March (live) : Live From Bonnaroo 2003

Galactic - Second And Dryades (Featuring Big Chief Monk Boudreaux) : From The Corner To The Block

Galactic & Z-Trip - Custard Pie (Live Led Zeppelin cover) : ZED TRIPPLEN : Live in New Orleans

Crown City Rockers - B-Boy Remix (feat. Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Planet Asia, Zion I, The Grouch, & Mystic) : B-Boy Remix 12"

Upcoming Tour Dates

Oct 8 - Georgia Theatre, Athens, Georgia
Oct 9 - The Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, North Carolina
Oct 10 - Toad’s Place, Richmond, Virginia
Oct 11 - The Fillmore at the TLA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 12 - 9:30 Club, Washington, Washington DC
Oct 14 - Higher Ground, Burlington, Vermont
Oct 15 - Paradise Rock Club, Boston, Massachusetts
Oct 17 - The Fillmore at Irving Plaza, New York, New York
Oct 19 - 8 x 10, Baltimore, Maryland
Oct 24 - House Of Blues, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Oct 25 - Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 26 - WorkPlay Theatre, Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 29 – Warehouse, Houston, Texas
Oct 30 - House Of Blues, Dallas, Texas
Nov 6 - Richard’s on Richards, Vancouver, British Columbia
Nov 7 – Showbox, Seattle, Washington
Nov 8 - Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon
Nov 9 - Ashland Armory, Ashland, Oregon
Nov 10 -Crystal Bay Club/Crown Room, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Nov 12 - House Of Blues, West Hollywood, California

Visit their website, their label Anti-, and become their friend on MySpace.

Sunday Soul - Carry On

Funky Beats

so light on your feet
mmm...out of sight
the way you move it
makes you dynamite

baby you sure enough got that funky beat
you got me moving from my seat to my feet

so carry on
do it do it do it do it carry on
you carry on

Jean Knight - Carry On : Carry On 7"

Jean Knight - Call Me Your Fool (If You Want To) : Carry On 7" B-side

Find them both on Mr. Big Stuff (yea, you'll find her big hit there, too).

Brandi Carlile, live in Boston

If you haven't had the pleasure to catch Brandi Carlile in concert as she's been touring in support of her latest offering, The Story, here's your chance to taste a small piece of the pie that you've been missing. It's a live EP available exclusively on iTunes and features the following tracks recorded live in Boston (not sure about the date):

1. Have You Ever
2. What Can I Say
3. The Story
4. Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash cover)

Stream a most satisfying cover of Johnny Cash's classic below and then try the rest on iTunes. You'll also find a live video of Brandi playing Josephine there as well.

Purchase the iTunes Live From Boston EP.

And here's another cover that you can take away with you now:

Brandi Carlile - Hallelujah (live Leonard Cohen cover) : WXPN All About The Music Festival 7-23-06

Visit her website, her label Sony Music, and become her friend on MySpace.

Big Gipp's Hot

Here's the third and final remix single that made its way into my grubby little hands and it's Hot! (forgive my cheesiness) It features a cut from southern rapper Big Gipp, and like the EPMD single I already shared with you, it's got three remixes of the track. You'll have to wait until October 21st to get all of 'em, but in the meantime, here's the 1st track, the Treasure Fingers Remix.

Big Gipp - Hot (Treasure Fingers Remix) : Scion Hot Remix Single

James Taylor's Covers

It seems like just yesterday that I wrote about James Taylor's last release, the live recording One Man Band, but in reality it was back in November of last year. That being said, he just released an album of new material earlier this week. It's titled Covers, and as you might guess, it is in fact and album containing twelve covers. As Taylor points out in the liner notes for the album, cover songs are nothing new for him; some of his largest hits have been covers: You've Got a Friend, How Sweet It Is, Up On the Roof, and Handyman.

What makes this particular collection of covers interesting is the breadth of material that he chooses to tackle. He touches on soul and R&B with songs made popular by The Spinners, The Temptations, The Drifters, and Jr. Walker & the All Stars ((I'm A) Roadrunner, which you can hear below), but also goes country by touching on Glen Campbell, John Anderson, and the Dixie Chicks. He also hits some middle ground with oldies from the 50's and 60's like Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart's Summertime Blues, Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away (which has a suprisingly snarling guitar line! hear it below) and Leonard Cohen's Suzanne.

I'm not going to lie to you; not all of the covers here do it for me. Part of it might be the material, the country songs in particular. I'm not all that familiar with the originals, so I can't compare, but Taylor's voice and even more so his style just don't seem suited for them. He does better with the Motown material and the oldies in my opinion. There are some good tracks here, you just might need to search through to see what tickles your fancy.

James Taylor - (I'm A) Roadrunner (Jr. Walker & the All Stars cover) : Covers

James Taylor - Not Fade Away (Buddy Holly cover) : Covers

Visit his website, his label Hear Music, and become his friend on MySpace.

Brett Dennen's back!

I was fortunate enough to catch Brett Dennen play early last year, and since then I've been looking forward to a new album from him. Well, my wait is finally over, as Hope For the Hopeless hits the shelves on the 21st. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet, but I have gotten hold of the first single from the album, Make You Crazy, which features Femi Kuti, and which you can listen to below!

In addition to the album excitement, Brett will be on the road for a mini-tour in November, followed by a headlining tour early next year. You'll find the November dates below. He's a great entertainer, and while I wouldn't say his live songs aren't light years better than the album versions, he does a super job connecting with his audience. Catch him if you can.

Brett Dennen - Make You Crazy (feat. Femi Kuti) : Hope For the Hopeless
(watch a live video)

Brett Dennen - Darlin' Do Not Fear (live) : Live at the Canal Room (studio version on So Much More)

Visit his website, his label Dualtone Music, and become his friend on MySpace.

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Upcoming Tour Dates

November 3 Portland, OR Doug Fir

November 5 Seattle, WA Triple Door

November 6 San Francisco, CA The Independent 

November 7 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café

November 8 Los Angeles, CA Hotel Café

November 10 Denver, CO Walnut Room

November 11 Austin, TX The Continental Club

November 13 Chicago, IL Schubas

November 14 Annapolis, MD Ramshead Onstage

November 15 Philadelphia, PA Tin Angel

November 16 Boston, MA Passim

November 18 New York, NY Canal Room