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.

Everyone's Talkin' 'Bout...Lykke Li

Stereogum names her artist to watch.
Futuresounds loves her.
Hankins (?) likes her too.



I haven't quite formed an opinion of her yet. I'll let you know down the road.

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.

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.

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.

My Band of Horses album review at Kevchino

You can read my review here. Or not.