Thursday, December 20, 2007

Fun flash games

Not music related but still fun.

Spotted this in the Guardian here.

This has been a staggering year for freebie Flash games. If, for example, you miss out on Valve's Orange Box collection, which includes the brilliant mind-bending puzzler Portal, check out Portal: The Flash Version (tinyurl.com/2u6m2j) - a lovely 2D take on the game by two indie coders. If it's shooting action you're lacking, try The Last Stand (tinyurl.com/2mjwxy), a relentless zombie blaster with decent visuals and a generous stocking-full of deadly weapons. Even music games like Guitar Hero have their browser equivalents. Super Crazy Guitar Maniac Deluxe 2 (tinyurl.com/2crol8) is a keyboard-based rhythm action romp with 14 songs and a huge online following.

The Flash scene has also propagated its own fads and genres, often based around gameplay found in larger retail releases. This year saw dozens of "tower defence" titles, in which the player protects a citadel from encroaching invaders. This would be a mere snippet of a major real-time strategy title such as Warcraft, but in the Flash realm, coders have modified the idea into a style in its own right. My favourite is Onslaught (onslaught.playr.co.uk).

Elsewhere, one of last year's big Flash titles, Line Rider - a snowy level design challenge in which you drew ski slopes then let a physics-enhanced sledge plummet down them - has started a new craze for sandbox experiences. Free Rider is an utterly enthralling BMX version where you design a track then race along it collecting stars. An even better sequel has just been released, and can be found at tinyurl.com/2u4knu.

The visually accomplished Stackopolis, where you place blocks on an isometric grid according to an increasingly complicated blueprint, is much more fun than it sounds. I also love another physics-based challenge, Ramps (tinyurl.com/2vvnu9). If none of these do it for you, check out aggregation sites like Newgrounds.com and Kongregate.com, or play any of Ferry Halim's beautiful relaxing experiences on ferryhalim.com/orisinal.

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Interpol free live tracks

Check out these tracks from Interpol's LIVE EP (out now.) They were recorded live at London's Astoria.




Mammoth (live)


Stella Was a Diver and She Was Always Down (live)


You can find a list of indie stores where you can purchase the EP at http://cimsmusic.com/.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Hate sprouts at Christmas? You'll love this

For everyone who sees Brussels sprouts as a necessary evil at your Christmas dinner and push them around your plate, then this game is for you.

Defend your plate from attacking hordes of sprouts!

http://www.christmastimeuk.com/game/

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

2007 - end of year top records

I've enjoyed plenty of records of 2007, and as the curtains close on this year it's customary for about the music to list it's favourites. I should add that there are plenty of records I believe are good but haven't heard this year, but the list below reflects the ones I loved from the ones I heard.

In the order they occurred:

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

I count this as a return of a great Ryan Adams record. Really it's a Cardinals record but with quality control. Every track is great, some fantastic and because the filler is omitted, even though it's a shorter album than previous Cardinals releases, it feels like a better one. Old classics emerge like "Off Broadway" and new ones are born like "Everybody Knows". Still haven't tired of it.

Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

This record rather snuck up behind me and burrowed into my iPod. Inspired by a 100 year old photograph and travelling eastern europeans in Paris, but recorded in America, this short album is something of a gem. Horns abound but above all is the strength of the melodies - rock solid.

A Fine Frenzy- One Cell In The Sea


Ever since I heard a demo record I've been a fan. Seattle born 22 year-old Alison Sudol has an amazing voice and her piano led songs are astounding. Ranging from incredibly intimate "Almost Lover" to Amy Mann style "Ashes and Wine" she has hints of Coldplay, Bjork, Motown. I haven't enjoyed many albums as much as this in a while. A real find.


Wilco - Sky Blue Sky.

Eagerly anticipated (at least by me) and it didn't let down. Some were dissapointed by a more accessible record without some of the noise of A Ghost is Born and certainly not the curve ball that YHF was, but it sounds like a band comfortable in its skin. Nels Cline adds beauty to every song with perfect guitar playing and for once, Jeff Tweedy sounds happy.

The National - Boxer

Following on from the slow-burning success of Alligator, Boxer delivers another solid punch. Some were dissapointed that the rockier moments of Lit Up and Mr November weren't replicated but what is present is more strong songwriting.

Band Of Horses - Cease to Begin

I was late to discover Everything all the Time but when I did I loved it. Cease to Begin follows on and progresses what Everything started. Not quite the Shins/My Morning Jacket cross over of the previous record and more their own band, but still throuoghly enjoyable.

Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter


Josh probably did the right thing by opting not to write another Animal Years, instead going the other way with a relaxed, jamming big band sound. Gone is the earnestness and back is the fun, resembling more of his live performances than previous albums.

Bright Eyes - Cassadaga

I was initially disappointed with this, but found myself listening to it all the time. As obvious as it may be, it sounds like a cross between Lifted and I'm Wide Awake It's Morning. "Four Winds" is great and it doesn't really drop from there.

John Mayer - Continuum

I dismissed him as too poppy for a long time, but on hearing this album had to reevaluate my opinion. My only criticism is it's almost too perfectly produced, sounding too smooth for its own good, but he writes the sexiest music of any white man alive.

Horse Feathers - Words Are Dead

This album blew me away when I heard it early in the year. Think Iron & Wine, but with the murmurs of early R.E.M. Great banjo playing, hushed lyrics leading to some almighty cacophonies. One I constantly return to.


If I was allowed another 3 they would be Iron & Wine's "The Shepherd Dog", The Shins' "Wincing the Night Away" and Kings of Leon - Because Of The Times deserve an honourable mention

Friday, November 23, 2007

Tarzan musical

ever wanted to recreate that evocative Tarzan yell in the comfort of your own living room with the instrument of your choice?

Now you can. The musical notation has been registered as a trade mark, using the score below:

Sunday, November 18, 2007

great stop motion video

Perhaps you've made a 30 second movie a frame at a time with a camcorder. I used to, but seeing this video, and what can be done with stop motion is quite incredible. Watch it:

Thursday, November 08, 2007

CD Review - Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Everybody Knows EP

Ryan Adams - Everybody Knows EP

(LOST HIGHWAY)


Another day, another Ryan Adams release. Of course he's prolific but this isn't quite an album, but at 8 songs long, it's not missing much. To coincide with the UK tour this EP is released as a stand-alone version and as a bonus on a limited edition version of Easy Tiger.

The title track is taken from Easy Tiger and wieghing in at 2:26, it's short, snappy and sweet; everything a single should be. Seven new recordings follow - 'Follow The Lights' is a 'Demolition' style acoustic song with a harmony chorus and simple structure. 'My Love For You Is Real' is a very early Adams song resurrected and revamped for US TV Drama 'October Road'. It's the stand out track from the EP, similar to 'Oh My Sweet Carolina' from Ryan's debut.

What follows is a Ryan Adams recording of the song he wrote for Willie Nelson to sing on his songbird record, and it sounds great, slightly more acoustic to Willie's version but full of gusto. 'Down In A Hole' is a cover of the Alice In Chains classic before a Cardinals version of 'This Is It' the opening song from the ill-fated Rock'n'Roll album. Laid back, unpretentious and comfortable in it's own skin, it sounds like it was always meant to.

The EP closes with two live in the studio recordings of 'If I Am A Stranger' from Cold Roses and 'Dear John' from Jacksonville City Nights. Until hearing this version I'd never realised just how good a song '...Stranger' is and while 'Dear John' isn't his strongest, it closes a worthy EP. While it probably won't convince any doubters, it tastes like milk and honey to the converted.

Download: Everybody Knows, My Love For You Is Real, Blue Hotel
For fans of: Whiskeytown, Wilco, The Jayhawks
Rating: 8/10

CD Review - Patrick Briscoe

PATRICK BRISCOE – COLOURS WILL FLY

(CYPRESS GROVE

“Many Rivers”, the opening track on the Manchester singer-songwriter’s second full length album, has a riff so similar to Nick Drake’s “Which Will” that it comes something as a surprise not to hear his voice singing out. Briscoe has a much lower, gruffer voice than Drake, but his ghost haunts every inch of the album. Briscoe is just as skilled as Drake at the acoustic guitar and sometimes matches him for verse. “Portrait of England” is a beautiful Larkin like reverie and “Just Drifting” is a charming song of beautiful simplicity. Colours Will Fly breaks no ground, but if you want another Nick Drake album, this could be your answer.

FOR FANS OF: Nick Drake and all solo acoustic artists

DOWNLOAD: Brighter Days, Many Rivers

RATING: 3/5

Dylan Donkin -

DYLAN DONKIN – FOOD FOR THOUGHTLESSNESS

(WALL OF SOUND/ WE LOVE YOU)

Dylan Donkin may have been named after Bob, but that doesn’t mean he took his mantle. Instead the Californian rebelled against his parents’ folk sensibilities and joined a band; a metal band. That band was Echobrain featuring Metallica’s then bassist Jason Newstead. Following lawsuits and MTV glare, the band dissolved and Dylan fled to Hawaii. There he found the sunshine and rediscovered a gentler kind of song writing. This mini-album is his first solo release. The reverb on the vocals and feel of the album is similar to My Morning Jacket, with some Grandaddy and Street Spirit era Radiohead thrown in. In fact “The Commonaut” is like “Pyramid Song” while “Yolk” could be Nirvana unplugged. It’s early days now, but Dylan Donkin is showing promising signs of being a creative talent.

FOR FANS OF: My Morning Jacket, Grandaddy

DOWNLOAD: Make A Choice, Fall Through The Wall

RATING: 3/5

CD Review - Ben Lee - Ripe

BEN LEE - RIPE

(COOKING VINYL)

You’ve probably have heard Ben Lee before. His music has saturated numerous adverts, movies and the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy”, not to mention a live performance at the closing ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

With “Ripe” Lee aims for a power-pop masterpiece, but falls short. He does everything right - perfect production, catchy hooks, teen romance lyrics, but somehow despite the Bon Jovi style chorus in “Sex Without Love”, the album’s not quite the sum of its parts. His direct style lacks the intelligent insight of one-time collaborator Ben Folds and ends up feeling a little obvious. The twelve songs are all likeable, but forgettable. “Ripe” feels like it has been made using a power-pop masterpiece for dummy’s book, and ends up enjoyable, but not as satisfying as it could be.

FOR FANS OF: Ben Folds, Matthew Sweet, Brendan Benson

DOWNLOAD: Numb, Blush, Love Me Like The World Is Ending

RATING: 3/5

Monday, October 29, 2007

Spiders on drugs!

Heather told me about a scientific experiment where scientists gave spiders various drugs. I wasn't convinced, so Heather turned to the scientist's best friend: YouTube.

This looked quite convinving until...

Thursday, October 25, 2007

New Ryan Adams & The Cardinals EP - Everybody Knows

Spinning in my CD player is the brand new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals record - the Everybody Knows EP. It's great. Weighing at 8 tracks, it's just short of a new album with 7 unreleased songs, the track listing is as follows:

1. Everybody Knows
2. Follow The Lights
3. My Love For You Is Real (A new version)
4. Blue Hotel (sung by Ryan, not Willie Nelson)
5. Down In A Hole (Alice In Chains cover)
6. This is It (Cardinals Version)
7. If I Am A Stranger (Live studio version)
8. Dear John (Live studio version)

It's released Nov 12 to coincide with the UK tour. I'll give you more on it after a few listens.

West Indian Girl full album stream

West Indian Girl's new album "4th & Wall" hits stores tomorrow 10/23


You can stream the entire album for free right now @ Spinner:

And here's their mp3 for "To Die In LA" in case you haven't listened yet:

official site:
myspace:

3 Bob Dylan trailers

Download three trailers for:
The Other Side of The Mirror -
Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963 - 1965

Download Here

Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings will release on DVD, for the first time in any format, The Other Side Of The Mirror - Bob Dylan Live At The Newport Folk Festival 1963 - 1965, on Tuesday, October 30th. A long-awaited event for Bob Dylan aficionados, The Other Side Of The Mirror brings together more than 80 minutes of exquisitely filmed performances, 70% available here for the first time, drawn from three seminal years in the artist's ever-evolving career.


Produced and directed by Academy Award winner Murray Lerner (From Mao To Mozart: Isaac Stern In China), The Other Side Of The Mirror - Bob Dylan Live At The Newport Folk Festival 1963 - 1965 opens a window into a critical epoch in American cultural history as reflected in the musical transformations of Bob Dylan's galvanizing watershed performances at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, 1964, and 1965.

www.bobdylan.com

www.legacyrecordings.com

www.columbiarecords.com

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

King of Kong

Documentaries are on the up, there are loads of good ones coming out at the minute, and here's another.

king of kong:
Follows a middle school science teacher as he battles a hot sauce mogul for the Guinness World Record on the arcade classic Donkey Kong. May not sound like much but if you were brought up on Dig Dug and Pacman, then it might stir some nostalgia. Check out the trailer and you'll want to see it.

Official Site

Trailer

Retro to Go!

My good learned friend Arron pointed this out to me.

If you like your retro music flavoured (and I presume you do), then you could do much worse than this White Stripes special edition Lomography cameras.Both sets sell for $180 (£90) each, get them now or miss out.



You can buy them on the White Stripes website.

Saturday, October 13, 2007

DYLAN contest

Bob DYLAN competition!



3 CD singles (18 tracks) to give away, US residents only. To win, leave a comment below together with your email address saying what is your favourite Dylan track and why. Winner will be notified by email, good luck!

And if you haven't already, try out this brilliant e-card. So much fun!

E-Card:
http://www.dylanmessaging.com/create

Official Website:
http://www.dylan07.com/

James Blunt single

I'll make no bones about it. I hate James Blunt. He's a travesty for music. Mass produced sing-along meaningless slop. But if you're one of the many who seem to like him, then here's a new single:

Audio: "Same Mistake" stream: REALPLAYER, WINDOWS

Thursday, October 11, 2007

CD Review - Iron + Wine - The Shepherd's Dog



IRON and WINE
The Shepherd's Dog
(Sub Pop)

When I reviewed WOMAN KING, the 2005 EP by Iron and; Wine, I said the presence of whooa, drums and, what's this? electric guitar, was just Sam Beam et al letting his beard down and getting something out of his system. Sure he'd go back to his gentle 1 man and his guitar work that characterised The Creek Drank The Cradle and Our Endless Numbered Days.

Well turns out I was wrong. I picked up a copy of Iron & Wine's latest album, and first full length for a good while, The Shepherd's Dog the other day. And I have to say, at first anyway, I was disappointed.

I bought the vinyl 10" single first and it was a warning. Wah-wah pedals, drums, sitars, crazy stuff. This is man I love for doing so much with four notes and his beautiful voice. Like seeing a child grow up and become a punk rocker, I have to let go and admit it, Iron & Wine is a band now.

But at least he isn't a punk rocker, yet. It's still Americana, if with a smattering of dub, blues and west African styles. The opening track, "Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car" is full of big bass, technicolour but then reminds me of what he used to be with some slide guitar and banjo.

I couldn't listen to it. My little band has grown up and changed. But I had to. So i put it on again, and again, and I realised that beneath the bravado and independence, is, to borrow from Pitchfork "the core of Iron & Wine remains Beam's voice, guitar, and songwriting, which is still more suggestive than concrete, and is built mostly around strophic verse/verse/verse forms rather than leaning on choruses". And this is important, Beam's songs only work because of his beautiful melodies, and thankfully they remain. The colours are different but he still knows how to write a strong song. He also knows how to climax a song, as he does with the wonderful steel guitar at the end of "Love Song of the Buzzard"

You have to listen to this record lots to appreciate it. I would have loved another Creek Drank The Cradle, but every parent would love their baby back. Perhaps it's best to let them grow, mature and create something wonderful. I'll catch up

Read the Pitchfork interview with Sam Beam from Iron & Wine.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Tuesday, October 09, 2007

West Indian Girl

indie band West Indian Girl.

Here's a free download mp3 for the song "To Die In LA"

WEST INDIAN GIRL REVEALS DETAILS OF THEIR NEW ALBUM
'4TH & WALL' SET FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 23 ON MILAN RECORDS

FIRST SINGLE "BLUE WAVE" AVAILABLE NOW ON ITUNES

http://www.westindiangirl.com/
www.myspace.com/westindiangirl

Friday, October 05, 2007

Killers new Joy Division cover

The Killers release Joy Division cover "SHADOWPLAY" from their upcoming B-Sides album SAWDUST out NOVEMBER 13th! SHADOWPLAY is at radio now & will be available from Digital Retailers October 9th.


“Shadowplay” By The Killers:

Windows Media DOWNLOAD


Flash:

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

New free Josh Ritter mp3

New Josh Ritter mp3 available--

"Rumors (Live in Berlin)" DOWNLOAD


-----

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter is out now!

Josh Ritter - "To The Dogs or Whoever" MP3: DOWNLOAD

Monday, October 01, 2007

CD Review - Patrick Watson - Close To Paradise

PATRICK WATSON – CLOSE TO PARADISE

(STREET CITY RECORDS/V2)



Now this really stands out from the pile of new releases. Since “The Arcade Fire” Canadian artists have had exposure like nothing before. Montreal has produced another talent in Patrick Watson and his four piece band. This is not a tried and tested formula rehashed, this is new and exciting. Patrick combines experimental noise/post rock, cabaret guitar/piano pop, electronic beeps and loops, walls of noise and Beatles-esque melodies. Can that work? Just about.



The album opener (and title track) glides in with “Closer to Paradise” a hazy, dreamy song introducing Watson’s Devendra Banhart like voice. Then on “Giver” he produces Jeff Buckley style vocal acrobatics. The album has a dark fog hanging over it, but at times like “Man Under The Sea” it lifts shifts to reveal the perfect pop chords. To appreciate Close To Paradise give it repeated listens; you’ll find something new each time. There’s a bit of a fuss growing around Patrick Watson and I think he deserves it.

FOR FANS OF: Arcade Fire,

DOWNLOAD: The Great Escape, The Storm, Weight Of The World

RATING: 4/5

DOWNLOAD MP3: Lucious Life
Download Giver MP3
Visit Myspace
Official Site

Friday, September 28, 2007

Definitive Dylan

I love Dylan. I think everyone who loves music does.

A definitive Bob Dylan collection will be released next Tuesday, October 2nd. And when I say definitive, I mean definitive. 3 discs, packed full of the best Dylan has ever produced.

Chronicling four decades of Dylan's groundbreaking studio recordings, as well as his enduring influence on popular music and culture, DYLAN provides an expansive overview of the artist's musical evolution for long-time devotees while offering an ideal introduction to Dylan's music for new fans.

But the best thing about Dylan is this e-card. Type your message and have Dylan display it in the iconic video for Subterranean Homesick Blues. Just try it, brilliant.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Free Athelete mp3s

There's a new FREE mp3 available from Athlete via AOL Spinner, check it out:

NEW MP3 - "Airport Disco":


Also, we now have the mp3 for "In Between 2 States" hosted (finally!).

MP3: "In Between 2 States":


Wednesday, September 12, 2007

ATHLETE
remember them? First album was huge and they were everywhere, that slightly annoying but very catchy south london accent and nice white-boy tunes? then they had a disspointing second album and everybody forgot about them and moved onto the artic monkeys? well they're back. New album is called Beyond The Neighbourhood and is out on Astralwerks on September 25, 2007.

Check out an audiostream of:

AUDIO: "Hurricane"
windows
realplayer

and download an MP3: "In Between 2 States"
DOWNLOAD FOR FREE

The Neighourhood is the band's third album and will be released on September 25, 2007.
The quartet (Joel Pott, Carey Willetts, Tim Wanstall, and Stephen Roberts) started recording Beyond The Neighourhood in the summer of 2006 in their brand new studio in South London after a whirlwind year and half that included months of worldwide touring for their own sold-out US headlining tours, support slots for U2 in the UK and Europe and Snow Patrol in the US, a stellar performance of their modern rock buzz single "Half Light" on Jimmy Kimmel Live, and was capped off by winning the UK's prestigious Ivor Novello songwriting award for "Best Contemporary Song" for their track "Wires".

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

KT Tunstall To Release "Drastic Fantastic" on September 18th

VIDEO: "Hold On"
Quicktime Low
Quicktime High
Windows media low
Windows media high

Grammy® nominee KT TUNSTALL became one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters in the world in one giant step, with the amazing two-year global journey of her multi-million selling debut album, Eye To the Telescope. On September 18, 2007, Virgin Records will release Tunstall's second album, 'DRASTIC FANTASTIC'. For 'DRASTIC FANTASTIC' KT again tapped Telescope producer Steve Osbourne (U2, New Order, Happy Mondays). The album was mixed by Michael H. Brauer (Coldplay, The Rolling Stones, My Morning Jacket). Tunstall recently told a British interviewer that her acquisition of two "very sexy" guitars had inspired her to crank them for the new album, providing a clue to the sound of her new work.

The release of 'DRASTIC FANTASTIC' follows one of the truly extraordinary artist development stories of recent years. In a classic showbiz story, she subbed for an absent rapper on Jools Holland's television show in her native U.K., and her entirely self-accompanied performance of "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" - which she had chosen simply because it was her most recently-written tune -- created fierce anticipation around the album, which eventually became a quintuple platinum smash in the British market. Tunstall won the 2006 Brit award for Best British Female Solo Artist, and "Suddenly I See" won the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically, while "Black Horse" was honored as Q Magazine's best track of the year.

Check out the video, see what you think.

Saturday, September 01, 2007

CD Review - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

Josh Ritter - The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter

(Sony/Victor)



The world needs more Josh Ritters; those songwriters with a natural gift of poetry and an ability to speak out about important things like Iraq as he demonstrated on last years 'The Animal Years€™'.

It'€™s a little disappointing then that with '€˜Historical Conquests'€™ Josh has abandoned his earnest, intricate watchmaker approach to songwriter in favour of 'shooting the watch to pieces'€™. The 14 new songs are raucous, varied, sing-a-long and fun. It opens with Joan of Arc and Calamity Jane trapped inside Jonah'€™s whale, ladies underwear and the temptation of Adam. It picks up where 'Wolves' left off on 'The Animal Years'€™, upbeat and vintage. It feels like the end of the summer vacation, a last hurrah before the real work begins.

Download: Right Moves, Mind's Eye, Open Door
For fans of: Bob Dylan, Josh Rouse, Ray Lamontagne

Rating: 3.5/5

Buy from Amazon

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Brandie Carlile/ Fine Frenzy tour

A Fine Frenzy and Brandi Carlile are touring together for the Vh1 "You Oughta Know" tour. You really oughta know about these girls, both are brilliant, if you're in any of these cities check them out.

Last spring, VH1 expanded its successful "You Oughta Know" new music promotion franchise to concert halls across the country with its first-ever "You Oughta Know" tour featuring Mat Kearney and special guests The Feeling and Rocco DeLuca & The Burden. The tour was a hit and VH1 is proud to give the ladies a turn this time with the second YOK tour featuring Brandi Carlile with special guest A Fine Frenzy.

A Fine Frenzy is the music of 22 year-old Alison Sudol. Born in Seattle to dramatic-arts teacher parents, she developed a strong love for the fantastic literary worlds of CS Lewis, Charles Dickens and others, while becoming a passionate author in her own right. She immersed herself in classical music, Motown, Aretha Franklin, swing bands, Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Louis Armstrong, the Beatles, Technicolor movies and classic 1950's television. After teaching herself to play piano, she found solace in the new global British bands Aqualung, Radiohead, Coldplay and Keane, etc... She was also moved by the diatonic minimalism of Philip Glass and the transportive allure of Icelandic music (Bjork, Sigur Ros.) Inspired, Alison developed the sound of A Fine Frenzy - hypnotic piano arrangements under classic American melody fused into irresistible, atmospheric songs with the power to reach around the world.


VH1 "YOU OUGHTA KNOW TOUR" FEATURING BRANDI CARLILE
WITH SPECIAL GUEST A FINE FRENZY
09/06 - Eugene, OR - W.O.W. Music Hall
09/08 - San Francisco, CA - Filmore
09/11 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
09/12 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
09/13 - San Diego, CA - House of Blues
09/14 - Phoenix, AZ - The Marquee
09/15 - Tucson, AZ - Riatto Theatre
09/19 - Austin, TX - Texas Union Ballroom
09/20 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
09/21 - Houston, TX - Meridian
09/22 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
09/24 - Birmingham, AL - Workplay SoundStage
09/25 - Atlanta, GA - Roxy Theatre
09/26 - Nashville, TN - City Hall
09/28 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
09/29 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live!
10/01 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
10/03 - New York, NY - Filmore (Irving Plaza)
10/04 - New York, NY - Filmore (Irving Plaza)
10/05 - Boston, MA - Orpheum
10/07 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
10/10 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
10/11 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
10/13 - Indianapolis, IN - Vogue Theatre
10/14 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews
10/16 - St. Louis, MO - The pageant
10/17 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave
10/18 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
10/20 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
10/23 - Boise, ID - Big Easy
10/24 - Spokane, WA - Big Easy
10/25 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
10/27 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
10/30 - Bellingham, WA - Mount Baker Theatre
11/02 - Seattle, WA - Paramount

Check out the latest video for "Almost Lover"

Quicktime:

http://boss.streamos.com/qtime/virg001/a_fine_frenzy/almostlover/video/afinefrenzy_almostlover_700v.mov?siteid=cmg

Windows Media
:

Josh Ritter tour dates

Hi all.

about the music is back and online once again. Yup, I'm married now, getting used to the ring on my finger, getting used to being back in colder weather and wishing I was still in Rome. Well the summer is almost over but autumn/fall is on the way, and if you want something to look forward to, how about a josh ritter tour?

Paste Magazine Presents
JOSH RITTER (full band tour):

03-Oct-07 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street Ballroom
04-Oct-07 Boston, MA Somerville Theater
05-Oct-07 Boston, MA Somerville Theater
06-Oct-07 Westport CT - TBC
09-Oct-07 Washington D.C. 9:30 Club
11-Oct-07 Charlottesville, VA - TBC
13-Oct-07 Lewisburg, WV - Carnegie Hall Performing Arts Center
14-Oct-07 Charleston, WV - Mountain Stage radio show
15-Oct-07 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
16-Oct-07 Chicago, IL - Park West
17-Oct-07 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center
18-Oct-07 Boulder, CO - Fox Theater
20-Oct-07 Boise, ID - Egyptian Theater
21-Oct-07 Seattle - Showbox
22-Oct-07 Portland - Aladdin Theater
23-Oct-07 Portland - Aladdin Theater
24-Oct-07 San Francisco - Bimbo's 365 Club
25-Oct-07 Los Angeles - El Rey
27-Oct-07 Tucson, AZ -Plush
29-Oct-07 Austin, TX - the Parish
31-Oct-07 Birmingham AL - Workplay
01-Nov-07 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
02-Nov-07 Nashville, TN - Exit-Inn
03-Nov-07 Louisville, KY - Headliners
04-Nov-07 Cincinnati, OH - Southgate House
0?-Nov-07 Carrborro, NC - Cat's Cradle - TBC
07-Nov-07 Philadelphia - World Cafe Live
09-Nov-07 New York - Webster Hall

New album, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter, due out August 21 via Sony/Victor.

Check out "Right Moves", the first single off The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter:
or for windows mediaplayer

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Down Time



About The Music may be a little quiet for a while. You see, I'm getting married. When I get back from honeymoon and get an internet connection we'll be back, but until then kick back and relax with some time off.

Here's some news to keep you going:

Here is "Big Old House" performed by Bright Eyes from The Hottest State soundtrack:

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Ryan Adams interview + bbc 4 performances

Ryan did a show for BBC4 when he was in the UK last month. UK residents can watch the interview and performances of Wild Flowers and I see Monsters here:

You can watch the entire acoustic show on
BBC FOUR SESSIONS: RYAN ADAMS
Friday 3 August 2007 10.30pm-11.30pm; rpt 3am-4am; rpt Sunday 5 August 1.05am-2.05am (Saturday night)

Thursday, July 26, 2007

New Josh Ritter album!!!

I ranked Josh Ritter's The Animal Years as my top album of 2006 in the Alternative Ulster end of year poll. So it is with great excitement that I can announce the follow up to that supreme album, called THE HISTORICAL CONQUESTS OF JOSH RITTER, to be released on AUGUST 21.

I wasn't alone in my adoration of The Animal Years, Paste Magazine named him one of the "100 Best Living Songwriters" and author Stephen King named it his #1 album of 2006 stating, "this is the most exuberant outburst of imagery since Bob Dylan's A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall."

The Animal Years charted mid-western America in the era of silent movies and bar room brawls, each song painted a vivid picture and told a captivating story. Apparently for Historical Conquests, Ritter altered his approach to the recording process in an effort to make a more spontaneous album. Ritter expounds, "A lot of this record is an effort to capture moments when they were at their most passionate; to capture many different emotions that simply wouldn't work if we had ever tried to re-record them." He goes on to describe, "The vocal take on 'To the Dogs;' the feel of 'Wait for Love;' the guitar of 'Mind's Eye'--there are a lot of different feelings here, but what ties them together for me is how raw they were captured and how we maintained that rawness throughout the production."

Recorded in the winter of 2006 during breaks from being on the road, The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter was produced by keyboardist and longtime collaborator Sam Kassirer in Maine at The Great North Sound Society. The album's 14 songs were written by Ritter (vocals and guitar) and feature Kassirer (electric and acoustic pianos, organs, guitar, vibraphone, and percussion), Zack Hickman (double bass, electric bass, acoustic and electric), Liam Hurley (drums and percussion) and The Great North Sound Society Orchestra.

Check out "Right Moves", the first single off The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter in your particular flavour below:
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/712256/712256_01_03_full_100.asx
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/712256/712256_01_03_full_smil.mov
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/712256/712256_01_03_30.swf
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/712256/712256_01_03_full.swf

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Fine Frenzy Almost Lover- another (!) video

You know we love this band, and so it's a pleasure to post a brand new version of the video for this excellent song - Almost Lover:

QUICKTIME:
low bandwidth


high bandwidth


WINDOWS MEDIA:

low bandwidth


high bandwidth

Monday, July 16, 2007

Free secret The Cribs show

Myspace Secret Shows is very proud to present The Cribs with Maximo Park for FREE - this Wednesday July 18th in Kansas City, MO at The Record Bar. The show is all ages and doors open at 7:00pm.

Record Bar
1020 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816)753-5207

Entry is limited so get there early to ensure success! THIS IS FIRST COME FIRST SERVED, so get there early and stay in line. Please arrive early, show will start immediately.


And also just for good measure, here is another Smashing Pumpkins performance on David Letterman. This time it's "That's The Way", from their new album Zeitgeist.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

listen/ watch

A Fine Frenzy

I love this band. Listen to the entire album online:

Full Album Stream
http://www.vh1.com/music/the_leak/

and check out VH1.com Unplugged Performance. .
http://www.vh1.com/music/unplugged/

and seeing as the new Smashing Pumpkins album has just come out, here's a video of "Tarantula" live on Letterman.







CD review - The Cribs: Mens's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever

ARTIST: The Cribs

ALBUM: Men's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever

Label: Warner Bros




In a few weeks I'm due to marry a girl from a town known only for coal mines, a ruined castle and liquorice cakes. Despite its humble stature, the neighbouring town has some famous residents. Ryan, Gary and Ross Jarman come from Wakefield, UK and make up the indie/punk rockers, The Cribs.

Their third album, Mens's Needs, Woman's Needs, Whatever is due for US release on July 17and is pretty good. Described as indie/punk, it's only punk in that the label seems to be attached to anyone who raises their voice these days, indie alone conjures up the image of NHS glasses and white pop-socks pulled up as far as they can go on white boys with perfectly messy hair. The Cribs don't really fit that image, but they certainly aren't Iggy Pop or The Ramones Either. No, in fact their nearest sonic relatives are The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand and The Libertines.

Produced by Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) and featuring a special guest appearance by Lee Ranaldo of Sonic Youth on 'Be Safe' it definitely has big name credentials. And by and large, it delivers too. I won't lie and say I'm crazy about this album, I don't think it does anything that hasn't been done before, there aren't many tracks that I feel I just have to listen to again but it is indie/rock-pop done well. The spoken word appearance from Lee Ranaldo works particularly well actually, it reminds me a lot of 'Out Of Time' era R.E.M. where Michael Stipe talks over 'Belong'.

The Cribs' trump card, is some solid melodies, strong basslines and nice vocal harmonies. The quality of each song is high, production is faultless, and in short if you like the single track (listen below) then the chances are that you'll like every track. I know a lot of people who love this record, so you probably will too.

Rating 3.5/5


BUY IT NOW FROM AMAZON

Check out MEN'S NEEDS, the first single off MEN'S NEEDS, WOMEN'S NEEDS, WHATEVER -

Windows:
Quicktime:




Sunday, July 08, 2007

A Fine Frenzy - Almost Lover official video

A brilliant song. Check out this video, I can't get it out of my head. Almost Lover by A Fine Frenzy.

Here are the official video streams for "Almost Lover" by A Fine Frenzy. Enjoy. -Jessie




ALMOST LOVER video:
Quicktime:
MED
HIGH

Windows Media:
MED
HIGH

Thursday, July 05, 2007

The White Stripes competition!!!!!!!!

About The Music has The White Stripes buttons, stickers, t-shirts, albums, and posters to give away!

Just leave you name and email in the comment and the first responders will win a prize!


Smashing Pumpkins

Fans of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS who pre-order the upcoming ZEITGEIST CD (out July 10 on Martha's Music/Reprise) on iTUNES will receive a unique password to purchase pre-sale concert tickets on www.ticketmaster.com.

ZEITGEIST (Martha's Music/Reprise) is the band's much-anticipated sixth album and first of new material since 2000. It features the first single "Tarantula," now positioned at #2 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and #7 on the publication's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart after arriving at radio only a few weeks ago. ZEITGEIST represents a powerful rebirth and reaffirmation of the Pumpkins by two of its key members, main singer-songwriter and guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. On the road, Billy and Jimmy have welcomed Jeff Schroeder (guitar) and Ginger Reyes (bass) to the line-up, which is supported by keyboardist Lisa Harriton.

DATE: CITY: VENUE:
Sat 9/8 Montreal, CAN Osheaga Fest.
Sun 9/9 Toronto, CAN V Fest
Thu 9/13 Las Vegas, NV The Pearl
Sat 9/15 TBA
Sun 9/16 TBA
Tue 9/18 Phoenix, AZ Dodge Theater
Wed 9/19 San Diego, CA Bayside Amp.
Fri 9/21 TBA
Sat 9/22 TBA
Mon 9/24 Vancouver, CAN PNE Forum
Fri 9/28 Salt Lake City, UT McKay Center (U of U)
Sun 9/30 Denver, CO Red Rocks
Tue 10/2 St.Paul, MN Wilkins Aud.
Thu 10/4 Normal, IL Braden Aud.
Sat 10/6 TBA
Sun 10/7 Detroit, MI Fox Theater
Tue 10/9 Pittsburgh, PA Palumbo Cntr (Duquesne U)
Thu 10/11 Columbus, OH LC Pavilion
Mon 10/15 Boston, MA Orpheum
Tue 10/16 Boston, MA Orpheum
Sun 10/21 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
Mon 10/22 Philadelphia, PA Tower Theater
Thu 10/25 Memphis, TN Mud Island Amp
Sat 10/27 TBA
Sun 10/28 TBA
Tue 10/30 Atlanta, GA Fox Theater
Sat 11/3 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater
Mon 11/5 Nashville, TN Ryman Theater

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Silversun Pickups pick up some speed

They're known as the new Smashing Pumpkins. Which is unfortunate really as the new Smashing Pumpkins are in fact, the Smashing Pumpkins as Billy Corgan has reunited with orginal drummer for new album and tour. Speaking of which, here you can stream the whole album of Zeitgeist.

ZEITGEIST STREAM:
"TARANTULA" VIDEO:

But this is a post about Silversun pickups. Their album is good, a lot of fuzz, steady songs, good melodies and probably all it takes to 'make it'. And it appears they're going about it the right way. Signed to Warner Bros, big label promotion and now support slots for Foo Fighters and Snow Patrol...all of this before a commercial single release! You can catch them on XFM and Later with Jools... and if you want more:

'Well Thought Out Twinkles' - the new single from their album 'Carnavas' is released on July 16 (digital release July 9).

Windows High

Windows Low

Realplayer High

Quicktime High

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Superbad

This coming of age movie looks pretty good. In a similar vein to Napoleon Dynamite etc.

Friday, June 22, 2007

CD Review - Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger
(LOST HIGHWAY)

PR: Richard Wootton Publicity

This is another Ryan Adams & The Cardinals album, and the best yet. Clocking in around 40 minutes, it's also the shortest, but the most consistent. Some of the songs have been around for years. 'Off Broadway' first appeared on the unreleased 'Suicide Handbook' in 2001 and 'These Girls' used to be called 'Hey There Mrs. Lovely' and is even older.

The point is that while Adams has been a little short on quality control lately, with Easy Tiger it's as if he wants to show us that he can choose the right songs to create an album with a definite feel. The feel is of a comfortable, well-oiled band. 'Goodnight Rose' and 'Halloween Head' showcase the garage rock side of the Cardinals similar to 'Sweet Illusions' and it's a shame that side doesn't appear more. The rest of the album is all acoustic guitar and Adams reclaiming his crown as the 'Bummer King'. 'Two' is a beautiful lament with Sheryl Crow, 'Everybody Knows' has a great chorus about unrequited love and 'The Sun Also Sets' is a classic. While it's short on instantly gratifying hits, the songs reward repeated listens until you realise that this is his best album since Gold.

Download: Two, Halloween Head, Oh My God Whatever etc
For fans of: Whiskeytown, Wilco, The Jayhawks
Rating: 4/5

Stream Easy Tiger

Ryan Adams NY Times artice



Ryan Adams Didn’t Die. Now the Work Begins.

ONE afternoon, as Ryan Adams was recording his new album, “Easy Tiger” (Lost Highway), at Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village, the singer-songwriter Steve Earle dropped by to visit. Jimi Hendrix had built Electric Lady in the late 1960s, and Mr. Earle pointed out that “there are some good ghosts here.”

Read the rest of the artice

Thursday, June 21, 2007

California - The Cream of LA's Seventies Rock

California Dreaming, The Cream of L.A.'s Seventies Rock - Various Artists
(WARNER MUSIC TV)



I remember watching the Counting Crows live as Adam Duritz started into their breakthrough hit 'Mr Jones' he sang 'So you wanna be a rock'n'roll star, well listen now to what I say/ just get yourself and electric guitar and learn how to play'. I thought it was a pretty cool line but it was only
when I listened to California Dreaming that I realised he was singing the opening lines to The Byrds song of the same name. This feeling of familiarity and realisation happens constantly as you listen to this excellent compilation of the overlooked 'Larurel Canyon' era. The Grateful
Dead's "Truckin'" reveals where Ryan Adams stole his riffs, not to mention Gram Parsons and more obvious comparisons. In fact listening to the cream of L.A.'s seventies rock doesn't feel like an old CD because it is still echoing through bands like Wilco, Josh Rouse and much of the Americana scene. As an introduction to all the music you probably should have listened
to it's invaluable. 40 artists feature from Crazy Horse to little known genius of Judee Sill through Fleetwood Mac and some tracks never available before on compilations including James Taylor 'Fire & Rain', Eagles 'Witchy Woman' and Joni Mitchell 'Blue'. There are too many great songs to list but Buffalo Springfield, who are best remembered for giving Stephen Stills and Neil Young their first platform, stand out with their hit 'For What It's Worth' with its carefully calibrated understatement.

If you want a thorough education in an influential period of American music without buying
40 CDs then you needn't look any further than California Dreaming.

For fans of: Any modern singer-songwriter

Rating: 4/5

Disc: 1
1. So You Want To Be A Rock 'n' Roll Star - Byrds (1)
2. Creeque Alley - Mamas & The Papas
3. For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
4. Love The One You're With - Stills, Stephen
5. I Don't Want To Talk About It - Crazy Horse
6. Fire And Rain - Taylor, James (1)
7. Blue - Mitchell, Joni
8. Sweet Surrender - Buckley, Tim
9. Mama Told Me Not To Come - Newman, Randy
10. Love Has No Pride - Raitt, Bonnie
See all 20 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Take It Easy - Browne, Jackson
2. Witchy Woman - Eagles (1)
3. Sin City - Flying Burrito Brothers
4. Return Of The Grievous Angel - Parsons, Gram
5. Border Town - Souther-Hillman-Furay
6. Werewolves Of London - Zevon, Warren
7. When The Ship Comes In - Guthrie, Arlo
8. Road To Cairo - Ackles, David
9. Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts
10. Long Train Runnin' - Doobie Brothers
See all 20 tracks on this disc


Smashing Pumpkins tour and TV performances

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS will make their first televised performance since 2000 when they bookend the week of July 9th on "The Late Show with David Letterman" by performing Monday, July 9 and Friday, July 13. These appearances coincide with the July 10 release of ZEITGEIST, the band's much-anticipated sixth album and first of new material since 2000.

ZEITGEIST (Martha's Music/Reprise) features the first single "Tarantula," now positioned at #3 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart and #10 on the publication's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart after arriving at radio only a few weeks ago. ZEITGEIST represents a powerful rebirth and reaffirmation of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS by two of its key members, main singer-songwriter and guitarist Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. But what about James Iha? I always thought he was the solid rock of the Pumpkins

Date: City: Venue:
6/23 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
6/24 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
6/26 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
6/27 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
6/29 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
6/30 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
7/02 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
7/03 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
7/05 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel
7/07 - E. Rutherford, NJ - Live Earth, Giants Stadium
7/15 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/16 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/18 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/22 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/24 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/25 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/27 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/28 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/30 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
7/31 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
8/01 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
8/05 - Washington, DC - V Festival at Pimlico Park
8/17 - Hasselt, Belgium - Kempische Steenweg Kiewit
8/24 - Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
8/26 - Reading, England - Reading Festival
8/29 - Athens, Greece - Terra Vibe Park
9/01 - Istanbul, Turkey - Hezarfen Airfield
9/08 - Montreal, QC - V Festival
9/09 - Toronto, ON Toronto - Island Park

Post #401

A bit of Queens Of The Stone Age news.

This Friday, June 22, tomorrow in fact, Queens of the Stone Age will be the featured artist on the Henry Rollins Show. At 11pm on 6/22, QOTSA will be performing "Misfit Love", so tune into IFC for that.

More information:


Watch the online exclusive performance of "Battery Acid":

As an added bonus, there's a video interview of Josh, Joey, and Taylor explaining the thinking behind naming the album
Era Vulgaris, what it means to be serious, Black Flag, and other random topics:

Also, check it: more confirmed dates on the
"Duluth" tour, including that coveted spot with Rage at Alpine Valley. Tickets on sale now:

July 23rd - Bakersfield, CA - The Dome

August 5th - Louisville, KY - Coyote's

(Tickets go on sale Saturday, June 23rd at 10am local time)

August 24th - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre
(Appearing with Rage Against The Machine!)

-----

The Duluth Tour
7/22 - Costa Mesa, CA - OC Fair
7/23 - Bakersfield, CA - The Dome
2/24 - Chico, CA - Senator Theater
7/25 - Eugene, OR - McDonald Theater
7/27 - Boise, ID - The Big Easy
7/28 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater
7/29 - Billings, MT - Shire Auditorium
7/31 - Fargo, ND - Playmaker's
8/01 - Duluth, MN - DECC Arena
8/04 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
8/05 - Louisville, KY - Coyote's
8/07 - Memphis, TN - New Daisy Theater
8/08 - Little Rock, AR - The Village
8/10 - Tulsa, OK - Cain's Bathroom
8/11 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
8/24 - East Troy, WI - Alpine Valley Music Theatre

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Ryan Adams Easy Tiger downloads

Thanks to Largehearted Boy for this one. If you're feeling in the need to get into the right mood for Easy Tiger, then Ryan previewed several of the songs on the album in this Glenside, New York show from last month. The Sun Also Sets is a great song.

Ryan Adams: 2007-05-15, Glenside [mp3,ogg,flac]
"The Sun Also Sets" [mp3]
Ryan Adams: 2006-07-23, Charlottesville [mp3,ogg,flac]
"Love Satellite" [mp3]
Ryan Adams: 2005-06-05, Norfolk [mp3,ogg,flac]
"Magnolia Mountain" [mp3]
Ryan Adams: 2001-05-09, Leicester [mp3,ogg,flac]
"Dear Chicago" [mp3]
Ryan Adams: 2001-04-25, Stockholm [mp3,ogg,flac]
"Dreams of a Working Class Clown" [mp3]
other music blog posts: @lhb @hype @elbo.ws | @myspace


Plus, WXPN is streaming Ryan Adams' Friday June 15 World Cafe performance from Philidelphia.

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Ryan Adams

"I won't say Adams is the best North American singer-songwriter since Neil Young... but I won't say he isn't either." - Stephen King

This morning I got my copy of Easy Tiger through the door. First impressions? Well Ryan has always threatened to make another great record, and this could be it. There are about two tracks (and one of those is a bonus track) that don't really grab me, but the rest seem great. A couple have appeared on unreleased demo recordings that you may have heard, like "Off Broadway" and "These Girls"

Anyway, stay tuned, more soon.

Friday, June 15, 2007

CD Review - Polly Paulusma

A lovely little ditty by Polly Paulusma about having and losing babies.

Polly Paulusma - Fingers & Thumbs LP

(ONE LITTLE INDIAN)

RELEASE: 4 JUNE 2007




Following up from her well-received 2004 debut "Scissors In My Pocket", Polly Paulusma continues where she left off delievering ten warm guitar pop songs with her signature husk of a voice. Fingers & Thumbs is the melancholic diary of a depressing and frustrating journey of miscarriages and false starts as Polly and her husband tried for a child. There is light at the end of the tunnel as baby Valentine was finally conceived during rehearsals and born at the final mixing. Production is uninventive but the songs are heartfelt with good melodies that makes for enjoyable, if not groundbreaking listening.

Download: Back To The Start, Where I'm Coming From
For fans of: Maria Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Gemma Hayes
Rating: 3/5

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

White Stripes news


Check this out for a novel idea. The White Stripes have created 3,333 limited edition usb drives filled with their new album, Icky Thump.

You can order one here from
The White Stripes web store :

There's also more limited edition shenanigans with
pre-orders for Icky Thump in CD and LP format. For a limited time, orders for the CD will include a free set of 3 button badges. The LP is double vinyl in a gatefold sleeve and is pressed on 180 Gram vinyl and for a limited time will come with a custom peppermint turntable slip mat. There is also a very limited-edition pressing of the "Icky Thump" single on 12-inch 180 gram vinyl with an etching on the B-side. Only 300 were pressed. Limit one per order.

so if you're a fan get moving, if not, you could make a profit on e-bay.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Ryan Adams live in London review

i didn't make the gig but this review was in the Guardian at the weekend.


*** Koko, London

Caroline Sullivan
Saturday June 9, 2007
The Guardian


Ryan Adams recently posed a question concerning his new album, Easy Tiger: "I'm feeling this stuff. Is anybody else feeling it?" He had only to look at Koko, so full that half the crowd saw nothing but the backs of taller people's heads, for the answer. Having kept faith with him through personal crises, onstage tipsiness and nine albums of occasionally transcendent alt-country, his fans offer unconditional love.

Capricious as ever, Adams repays it tonight with a short, downbeat set devoid of his notorious pugnacity and, by extension, a sense of event. That's the effect of a year of sobriety - his extraordinarily expressive voice may be reaping the benefit in the form of greater clarity, but gone are the surreal asides and entertaining flightiness.



So it's all about the music - and, these days, Adams presents himself not as a solo artist but a member of the five-man Cardinals, to which end he physically plants himself in the middle of the lineup and never steps out front. He is right to share the credit, because the others, especially fabulous pedal-steel player Jon Graboff, shoulder just as much of the load - more, in fact, since a "skateboarding accident" has stopped him playing guitar with the fury that was once his trademark. The rest of his energy, it appears, is being funnelled into singing like a spent, southern-accented angel.

Adams's setlists are traditionally dissected on fan websites, which complain that he failed to play this or that favourite; tonight, he omits all of his UK chart singles in favour of a sedate preview of Easy Tiger and random catalogue picks. The clip-clopping slowness of everything except a tense I See Monsters and the sparkling newbie String of Pearls ultimately robs the show of impact, but doesn't for a moment hide his considerable talent.------------------------------

And from answeringbell.com, here is the set list. Notably he doesn't play Halloween Head or many fan favourites:

Games
Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
Blue Hotel
The Sun Also Sets
Nightbirds
I Taught Myself How To Grow Old
Carolina Rain
Goodnight Rose
Dear John
Pearls On A String
Goodnight, Hollywood Blvd.
Rip Off
How Do You Keep Love Alive?
I See Monsters

Encore:
My Winding Wheel
Down In A Hole
Two