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Friday, July 31, 2009

Lollapalooza Week - Bon Iver

So Lollapalooza is one week away and I thought I'd be a nice guy and give you a few goodies as we get oh so close... For the next seven days, I will post a video or song from an artist that is scheduled to play this year. I promise it will be something worth checking out. I'll do my best to get you a remix or acoustic version, definitely not something you've heard before.

Bon Iver has been playing daily on the iPod for the last year and I don't see it changing anytime soon. With a new collaboration called Volcano Choir and a rumored gig working on the next Twilight soundtrack, expect much more from him. Please check him out, he's playing the Playstation stage, Friday @ 3pm.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Pearl Jam Debut "Backspacer" Album Cover


Pearl Jam chose an unusual and slightly annoying way to debut the cover of their latest album, Backspacer, scheduled for release September 22nd. Wednesday morning, on numerous websites, they gave you one piece of a nine part puzzle. Upon finding all nine pieces, the cover would be revealed and fans would get access to a limited download. The art accompanying this post was found on Rollingstone.com. Once again, Pearl Jam has found a new way to get news out, and are really showing some creativity now that they are no longer signed to a major label. If you are inclined to search, have fun, it took me about 3 hours. For those of you with limited time on your hands, enjoy the song below, a demo of "Speed of Sound". You can pre-order the album on their website, the tracklisting is:
1. Gonna See My Friend
2. Got Some
3. The Fixer
4. Johnny Guitar
5. Just Breathe
6. Amongst The Waves
7. Unknown Thought
8. Supersonic
9. Speed Of Sound
10. Force Of Nature
11. The End


Speed Of Sound (Unreleased EV Solo Demo Version) - Pearl Jam

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

The Dead Weather - The Vic 7/28/09


After listening to The Dead Weather's Horehound for the last month or so, I was hoping that my expectations weren't too high for the show. With only one album out, most bands play a very short set and usually don't have the ability or time to change the studio version into something better live. Thankfully, this band is full of top notch musicians who pounced on the opportunity to play loud, occasionally jam and energize an already salivating crowd.

First and foremost, please allow me at least 5 hours to tell you how great Alison Mosshart(The Kills) is... She is the epitome of a lead singer and anyone hoping to draw in a crowd while nailing the vocals should take notice. I will be honest, I normally do not like female lead singers due to the fact that they don't convey the same emotions and usually keep the vocals on the high end, normally ruining rock music. Alison Mosshart is not your typical female lead singer. Most guys would struggle leading a band with Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs) on the drums, or even near the stage, but she demanded attention and more than held her own.

Even Jack Lawrence (The Raconteurs) took it up a notch, swaying back in forth during some fuzzed out riffs and removing his trademark leather jacket. Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age) might have been the most valuable player last night, seamlessly moving from guitar to keyboard, often during the same song. But the attraction is and will always be Jack White, who can really hit some skins, but got the biggest applause when he strapped on a guitar and let loose. If you were fortunate enough to see last night's show, you realized this side band may turn into a full time gig, because the audience was dying for more when the lights turned on. They are playing again tonight, maybe that will satisfy me, for now...

Setlist:
1. 60 Feet Tall
2. Bone House
3. Hang You From The Heavens
4. You Just Can't Win (Them cover)
5. So Far From Your Weapon
6. Cut Like a Buffalo
7. A Child of a Few Hours is Burning to Death (West Coast Pop Art Experiment cover)
8. Rocking Horse
9. No Hassle Night
10. Will There Be Enough Water
Encore
11. Forever My Queen (Pentagram cover)
12. Treat Me Like Your Mother
13. New Pony

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Julian Casablancas To Release Solo Album

Julian Casablancas, lead singer of the Strokes took an interesting approach to announce his forthcoming album, Phrazes for the Young. Eerily similar to something you might have seen in a dirty movie theatre in the late 70's, a trailer is posted on the website. No vocals accompany the trailer, instead a collection of images and very lush, electronic tones. While most people have given up on the Strokes, especially since their solo works have done well (Little Joy, Albert Hammond, Jr.), I think they are great together and on their own. As far as I know, together they are working on demos and hoping to have a new album out in early 2010.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Beastie Boys Cancel Upcoming Shows

Those of you looking forward to catching the Beastie Boys at Lollapalooza, or any of their upcoming shows will have to wait a bit longer. M.C.A. and Ad-Rock sent out this video in an email explaining the situation this morning. Get well soon...

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Discovery Makes It A Little Better...


So for the last 2 weeks, I've been slightly unmotivated to write about music. Say what you like about Michael Jackson, but him and the Jackson 5 were a great amount of joy for me. Growing up in my house you could hear anything from Motown to Metal, and I can still think back to my mom cleaning while "I Want You Back" rang through the house. His death has seemed to polarize people like I've rarely ever seen, but I hope regardless of what side you're on, you appreciate the music...

In one of those, "As someone dies, someone is born" kind of ways, I recently got a copy of Discovery's debut album, LP. The partnership of Rostam Batmanglij & Wes Miles sounded like a very promising idea from the beginning. Rostam is a member of Vampire Weekend, one of my favorites and Wes is in the very underrated Ra Ra Riot. Given their bands and the type of music they already make, I was expecting a lush, acoustic based album that would rock you to sleep on a beach at sunset. I was wrong.

Discovery is a electronic band, based on 808 beats, auto-tune vocals and 80's R&B. Coming from 2 guys in indie rock bands, it's a bit of a stretch, but they pull it off by not acting like they belong, instead just love that type of music. Their fans, who have made a very good album that can play at the club and a bbq with little difference. Highlights include "Orange Shirt", "Can You Discover?" a remake of Ra Ra Riot's "Can You Tell" and a cover of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back". Not the best cover I've ever heard, but right now it was a reminder of how far Michael Jackson's influence spread.

I Want You Back - Discovery