Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Jay-Z, Radiohead, VH1 Storytellers and Pink Floyd

OK, so two of these things go together. Most likely it's not the two that you are thinking. Radiohead and Pink Floyd, right? Wrong. Radiohead and Storytellers? Not likely. So it must be a Pink Floyd Storytellers? Wrong again.

Jay-Z just recorded a version of VH1 Storytellers with a live 12 piece band called the Roc Boys. To be honest I thought this show went away with Dial MTV. Luckily not, I'm certainly interested in seeing this show. It premiers November 8th.

The other two artists are in the news today as well.

Radiohead signed with XL Records for the distribution of In Rainbows outside North America.

I hate Box sets and I hate re-releases, but Pink Floyd re-released their entire catalog in a single box set.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Saul Williams Recomends Donation On New LP...But You Can Get It For Free Too

I am a bout a day late on this one, but it looks like the free music floodgates are slowly starting to swing open. Saul Williams the Poet/Musician/Rapper will be releasing his new Trent Reznor produced album the Radiohead way. The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! will be available for donation download beginning November 1, 2007. However if you are easily ridden with guilt it won't be as simple to snag it for free as it was with Radiohead.

If you choose to pay the recommended price of $5 then it's all yours, but before clicking on the $0 price you will be forced to deal with this message:

I'm not concerned about that[supporting the artist]. I just want the music.

Personally, I haven't pre-ordered yet (catholic school guilt still rears it's head), but you can at that there link.

Either way it should be interesting to hear Mr. Williams working with Mr. Reznor.

Here's a video of Coldcut's "Mr. Nichols", it features said Mr. Williams.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Album Streams - Dave Gahan, Babyshambles, Ween, the Thrills etc.


I love these streams. Nothing like having 14 new albums once a week. I'm listening to Babyshambles now. I like it better than the first record...so far.

Free Liars...

Well, Brooklyn Vegan pointed out that the Liars are giving away some free tunes. You can download them from that link. I am still digging their new record. It may make the top ten of '07, although that lists changes so often for me.

Here's an old video back at the Knitting Factory.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Verve


So I'm aware that everyone knows that the Verve is back together and have planned to tour the UK (please come to the US, please come to the US), but did you know there is a free download of the first track that they recorded together in ten years available at NME?

"We all decided, that rather than meeting for a cup of coffee or a beer or whatever, we should meet in a studio where we can do what we do. Straight away."

And so the outcome of that is the download. The song is called, "The Thaw Sessions" (Cold War?) and it is 14 minutes long. Listening now. Sounds more like the band jamming than a song, but does have an authentic Verve feel.

Richard Ashcroft and the crews entire interview is here.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Sunday, October 21, 2007

Great Northern at Piano's (and tour dates)

Unfortunately, the only CMJ show I made it to was the Great Northern show at Piano's last night. However they were very good. Here are some pictures....











Tour Dates via their myspace:

Oct 23 2007 8:00P
Local 506 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Oct 24 2007 9:00P
The Village Tavern Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Oct 25 2007 8:00P
Bottletree Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 26 2007 8:00P
The Earl Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 27 2007 8:00P
Jack Rabbits Jacksonville, Florida
Oct 28 2007 8:00P
The Social Orlando, Florida
Oct 29 2007 8:00P
The Beta Bar Tallahassee, Florida
Oct 30 2007 8:00P
House Of Blues Parish New Orleans, Louisiana
Nov 1 2007 8:00P
Mink Houston, Texas
Nov 2 2007 8:00P
Club Deville Austin, Texas
Nov 3 2007 8:00P
The Cavern Dallas, Texas
Nov 4 2007 8:00P
Opolis Norman, Oklahoma
Nov 6 2007 8:00P
Modified Arts Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 7 2007 8:00P
Casbah San Diego, California
Nov 8 2007 8:00P
Echoplex Los Angeles, California
Nov 9 2007 9:00P
Bottom Of The Hill San Francisco, California
Nov 10 2007 8:00P
Crystal Ballroom Portland, Oregon
Nov 12 2007 7:00P
Crocodile Cafe Seattle, Washington
Nov 15 2007 8:00P
Larimer Lounge Denver, Colorado
Nov 16 2007 8:00P
The Jackpot Saloon Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 17 2007 8:00P
7th Street Entry Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 18 2007 8:00P
Schubas Tavern Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, October 20, 2007

New Led Zeppelin Songs????


The idea scares the crap out of me. With a near perfect catalog now, new songs by 3 old men and 1 middle age dude under the name Led Zeppelin doesn't sound like a good idea. About new music, guitarist, Jimmy Page said he would be, "really surprised if there wasn't. We're musicians - as we're playing we'll probably be coming up with all manner of things,"

You can read about it at the BBC.

In related news their music will soon be available digitally. Changing with the times I suppose.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Bon Iver Album Stream

So very upset I missed these guys both today and yesterday at CMJ. There album is pretty good. It's streaming here. According to BV they rocked last night.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

CMJ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much music it's almost unbearable. Right now I'm sitting at home, tired, listening to the Black Kids and wondering why I'm not out at the Brooklynvegan showcase tonight. Some other artists I'd like to see are: Yeasayer, the above mentioned Black Kids, Brother Ali, O' Death, Radiohead, etc....................................................................

That's a Yeasayer video down there.



BTW----kidding about Radiohead.

Monday, October 15, 2007

I don't know why I care but...

Hype Machine won't update it's site until 10,000 people are on the page at once. Go to the site and sit there. Right now they have 3449. Not looking good.

Richard Hawley - Serious (live on Jonathon Ross)

I dig this dude.

The Boss and Arcade Fire


I just read on pitchfork that Bruce Springsteen had Arcade Fire play with him on stage in Ontario.

Not a big Boss fan, but my roomate is.

Must have been some excited peeps at this show. As a matter of fact this is the first Bruce show that I'm upset I missed.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

My Review of the National at Terminal 5 on Kevchino



Check it out.

Portishead new album mixed and sounding 10 times better than it did in the beginning of October

Can someone tell me why this album being mixed isn't bigger news? Just check out this live performance for there amazing-ness.



From their blog...

10-02-07
hello we have mixed all the tracks and the whole album is shit, so were
going to start all over again. ok only kidding...sorry ! its sound pretty good
but we have to go back to a few things in the next few weeks though. it sound
pretty different from what we have done before i dont think the fondue society
will be happy oh well , like the bee joke ends....... fuk em bye geoff

10-12-07

ps. the tunes are sounding 10 times better today for some reason

10-13-07

we have finished the work in
bristol.----------------------------------------------------------- this
album
has been like watching lost, a never ending journy with very few
answers. it
seems that we can never do things the easy
way.------------------------------------------------ so thanks for
waiting.----------------------------- also------------------- looks like atp
has
sold out and theres still some really good people to be added to the
line up.
--------------- geoff

I for one am very excited.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

In Rainbows: An opinion


Well, I woke up and ran to my computer - which was acting up - and eventually got it downloaded before I ran out the door for work. I am not going to say its their best album since Kid A, although it probably is. What I will say is that I enjoy it, very much. It has a vibe, something that Hail to the Thief was missing. It floats like a sweet dream in which you wake up sweaty and frightened.

Huh?

Just give it another listen. You'll understand.

Alright, tour dates please.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Busy Week...Radiohead, Band of Horses, the National

So I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight with the new album out in a few hours. I'm like a little kid on Xmas eve. I ordered the disk box. Did you? If not what are you paying for the download? The new Band of Horses sounds nice. It's streaming at Spinner (So is Jens Lekman and another few goodies). Also, going to see the National on Thursday. Stay tuned for my review on kevchino.

Here's the video for Street Spirit to hold you (me) over. They look so young.

Black Flag kicks ass...

I was listening to them all day today, so here's a video.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

With Radiohead back, I'm back


So I haven't posted anything in some time. I needed a knock on the head to get me back to this blog. I suppose I got it on Monday morning when I woke up with the Radiohead news in my inbox. Everyone knows by now, but their new album which is called In Rainbows is available for download beginning on Wednesday. And get this...you can pay whatever you want!

Everyone, seems to think this is genius. And yea I suppose it is a great idea, but my problem is with the second format the "discbox"




THIS CONSISTS OF THE NEW ALBUM, IN RAINBOWS, ON CD
AND ON 2 X 12 INCH HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL RECORDS.
A SECOND, ENHANCED CD CONTAINS MORE NEW SONGS, ALONG WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTWORK.
THE DISCBOX ALSO INCLUDES ARTWORK AND LYRIC BOOKLETS.
ALL ARE ENCASED IN A HARDBACK BOOK AND SLIPCASE.





This "discbox" is the only way to get a physical copy of the album this year, but it costs $80.

Yes, Radiohead is my favorite artist of all time, but I hate these collector's item releases, but there is new music that isn't available on the download, but the new music will be on the regular release of the CD in '08, but '08 is so far away. Ya know?

Sooooo, what should I do? Shell out the $80 for 8 new songs or just deal with download? I mean it's radiohead and all, but........