Ryan Adams - Cardinology - Rolling Stone review

Rolling Stone Magazine gives Cardinology 4/5!
Read the review here.

Josh Rouse - The Best of the Rykodisc Years - Album Review

JOSH ROUSE - THE BEST OF THE RYKODISK YEARS
(RHINO RECRODS)



The first of this double disc anthology features 19 favourites from Rouse's first five albums and two EPs. They run chronologically and the the track list is no surprise - it opens with "Late Night Conversation" and "Dressed Up like Nebraska", easily the best songs from his debut record before moving through Chester, the Josh Rouse and Lambchop frontman (Kurt Wagner) EP, and onto "Home". Home contains the song "Directions", which helped him reach new audiences when it was featured by Cameron Crowe in his wonderfully sound-tracked movie "Vanilla Sky".

While these songs are good, the golden years of Josh Rouse came on his final three records for the label - "Under Cold Blue Stars", "1972" and "Nashville". "Under Cold Blue Stars" was the album which brought him attention in UK, being heavily promoted by Q magazine, amongst others. The concept album about a travelling mid-western musician adds four great tracks to disc 1. "1972" with its change of direction into white-boy soul on "Come Back" and "Love Vibration" (it really works) provides another 4 tracks and the remaining 4 are pulled from Nashville, his final record with the stand out "My Love Has Gone" before leaving Rykodisc, getting divorced, moving to Spain and setting up his own label.

Josh Rouse has the rare gift of effortlessly producing strong melodies, that, together with his warm, approachable voice, provides a strand of continuity throughout the anthology, despite his constant attempts to vary his musical style. With the possible exception of a couple of the earlier tracks, disc 1 makes a gem of an album and an absolute must for anyone who hasn't checked out Rouse before.

Disc 2 features demos and b-sides and the near obligatory unreleased tracks. it also features the limited edition bedroom classics EP, to provide it to a wider audience. The second disc is interesting for fans, and "Sunshine" and "Suburban Sweetheart" are good songs but it is the first disc that will linger in your CD player. When Rouse began there weren't many people making alt-country pop and he may come to be regarded as a bit of a pioneer. It has been a real pleasure to re-discover Josh Rouse through this best of, and hopefully through this release many more people will make his acquaintance.

Rating:
Download: My Love Has Gone, Feeling No Pain, Love Vibration


Listen to Josh Rouse live at the Shepherd's Bush Empire and other concerts at www.joshrouse.com or here

Horse Feathers - House With No Home (album review)

HORSE FEATHERS - HOUSE WITH NO HOME
(Kill Rock Stars)
6 October 2008



House With No Home is Horse Feather's debut release on Kill Rock Stars and the follow up to their critically acclaimed "Words Are Dead".

Horse Feathers is lead by Justin Ringle and named after a phrase his Grandfather used. Horse Feathers share the same sparse sound and hushed, whispered vocals as Iron & Wine but aren't a derivative spin-off. They differ through the strong strings from multi-instrumentalist Peter Broderick and his sister Heather on cello and backing vocals.

The first album's strength was found in its minimalism - the songs were stripped down to nothing but the bare minimum, the space between the notes was as important as the notes themselves. Justin's vocal style is not so much about lyrics as the sounds the words make. If you liked Words Are Dead, you'll like House With No Home.

Initially I felt disappointed that "House..." appeared to start right where "Words.." left off. The same techniques, similar songs and melodies. Yet after a few listens, when you become more acquainted with it, House... reveals a personality all of its own. This happens around the fourth track - "Albina"; it feels arresting and heightened from the beginning developing into a powerful crescendo. The songs are more complex, featuring more strings and harmony vocals, yet retaining what made Words.. a great album. "Helen" is another highlight, featuring perfect orchestration and gorgeous backing vocals and the line:

Helen if you called my name you know I'd go
In much the same way the sun steals the snow

With House With No Home Horse Feathers show that they are still producing some of the best Americana out there.

Rating; 4/5
For Fans Of: Iron & Wine, Damien Jurado, Peter and the Wolf

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Fix It

"FIX IT" AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON OCT 7TH

"Fix It" will be available for digital download next Tuesday, October 7th. You can listen to a streaming clip of it now on ryan-adams.com.

The Cardinals have also added new tour dates with Oasis:Presale starts, Tuesday, Sept. 30 @ 10am.

Password: SPACEWOLF

December 3 - Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
December 4 - Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
December 6 - The Pearl, Las Vegas
December 8 - Broomfield Events Center, Denver, CO
December 10 - Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
December 12 - Allstate Arena, Chicago, IL
December 13 - Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
December 15 - John Labatt Center, London, ON (currently on sale)
December 17 - Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
December 19 - Susquenhanna, Camden, NJ
December 20 - GMU Patriot Center, Washington DC

Pesticides

They get a lot of stick these days and I think we've forgotten what Pesticides are good for.

I'm eating an organic apple and have just found that I'm not the only one. One bite revealed a worm also munching on my apple. I've let the worm finish it off.

modern dayWilliam Tell

What a photograph. Thanks to the Guardian for this. Jeffrey R Werner uses a special Hulcher camera that takes 65 frames per second to catch a bullet shot by John Richmond, just as it pulverises a watermelon on top of his brother Ken's head.

Free Wilco song

All you have to do it pledge to Vote.

And in the spirit of giveaways that seem to be sweeping the nation, Wilco are giving away an an audio postcard of sorts from a summer's night in Oregon with the Fleet Foxes & a lovely Bob Dylan tune.

All we ask is you go to http://wilcoworld.net/vote/ and click the "I pledge to vote in the 2008 Election" button. If you can spare it, Wilco ask you to consider a donation to Feeding America http://www.feedingamerica.org/ . Happy listening

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology - New record!

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals release their new CD ‘Cardinology’ on October 27 and the Cardinals have announced a UK tour as follows. The current itinerary began August 23rd at the Fillmore in San Francisco and includes a series of Canadian shows supporting Oasis. Cardinals are Ryan Adams (vocals, guitar, keys), Neal Casal (guitar, vocals), Chris Feinstein (bass), Jon Graboff (pedal steel) and Brad Pemberton (drums).

November 10 - Manchester Academy
November 11 - Newcastle Academy
November 13 - Leeds Academy
November 14 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Picture House
November 16 - Cambridge - Corn Exchange
November 17 - Birmingham Academy
November 19 - Brighton Dome
November 20 - London Brixton Academy
November 22 - Southampton Guildhall

new Ryan Adams album and tour

NEW CARDINALS CD AND CARDINALS UK TOUR DATES

Ok this is quite exciting. Not too long since we had Easy Tiger and a new Ryan Adams & The Cardinals cd is on the way scheduled for release October 27 2008.

Ryan and the Cardinals are currently on tour which began August 23rd at the Fillmore in San Francisco and includes a series of Canadian shows supporting Oasis. Cardinals are Ryan Adams (vocals, guitar, keys), Neal Casal (guitar, vocals), Chris Feinstein (bass), Jon Graboff (pedal steel) and Brad Pemberton (drums). They will be playing some UK dates. I hope to see them this time around.

November 8 - Dublin, Ireland - Ambassador Theatre
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 10 - Manchester Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 11 - Newcastle Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 13 - Leeds Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 14 - Edinburgh, Scotland - Picture House
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Password: SPACEWOLF
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 16 - Cambridge - Corn Exchange
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 17 - Birmingham Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 19 - Brighton Dome
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 20 - Brixton Academy
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

November 22 - Southampton Guildhall
Presale starts Wednesday, August 27th here
Tickets go on sale to the public August 29th here

Horse Feathers tour with Jose Gonzales

Horse Feather's first album - Words Are Dead was one of About The Music's top 10 records of 2006. A review of their second album will be appearing here soon. Meanwhile they've lined up a tour with José González, another great artist.

Horse Feathers will be releasing their second album, House With No Home, on Kill Rock Stars on 6th October. They will be supporting José González on tour.

Born and raised in Lewiston, ID, Justin Ringle has a natural affinity with the West. The band’s debut album, Words Are Dead, which was released on the local Lucky Madison label in 2006, and was nominated for the Plug Awards ‘Americana Album of the Year’.

On this, their second album, Horse Feathers have distilled their sound into a brilliant statement of minimalist Americana.

Horse Feathers will be supporting José González in October:

14th October - London, KOKO

15th October - Liverpool, Academy

16th October - Exeter, Lemon Grove

17th October - Canterbury Kent International Arts Festival

Films

Lately I've seen quite a few films that I'd like to reccommend. Last night Heather and I went to see Batman. 

I've never been a huge fan of comic book movies (superman aside), they're always too predictable, too CGI stunt filled and plot light, but I'd read some good things about Batman and we fancied a trip to the cinema. It's the opening weekend so we booked tickets and arrived early to queue. I haven't been to a blockbuster opening weekend film for so long, I remember queuing for an hour to see Jurassic Park, and the sense of anticipation when sitting in a packed cinema is well worth the wait.

I haven't seen Batman Begins because it didn't appeal so I don't know how the two tie together but my verdict on The Dark Night is - great. Go see it. 

I was blown away - it's complex, believeable, full of great (non cheesy) dialouge and one particular breathtaking stunt which had the whole audience gasping. A lot has been written about the late Heath Ledger and it's all true. He steals the shoe and is mesmerising, just like Daniel Day Lewis in there will be blood. He comes accross as amoral, psychotic in a scary, but compulsivly fascinating way. See clip below for an example. 

It's dark, brooding and wonderful. I could watch it again right now, and there aren't many movies I would say that about.

Last week I saw KNOCKED UP. 

Not as good as Juno but very funny and enjoyable.

The week before that I saw another film which really stands out - CLOVERFIELD. The trailer is possibly one of the best ever made and the film was gripping from start to finish. Shot completely from a hand held camera it captures the sense of fear, terror and confusion of a group of friends in New York fleeing from a disaster/emergency and trying to find a separated friend. What really impressed me was the clever way the plot developed, through clever dialogue - very difficult to do when it all comes from one camera.

Its from the creator of LOST, which I'm also a big fan of and his creativity is evident throughout. I'm about to watch War Of The Worlds now which I don't expect to be impressed with but who knows.

Counting Crows tour

I didn't think much of their latest album - Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings, but Counting Crows have been one of my first musical loves and a favourite live band. So it's a pleasure to find they're touring the UK. Supporting will be Ben Folds and Melee.

December

2nd - Newcastle, Arena

4th - Nottingham, Arena

5th - London, Wembley Arena

7th - Manchester, Apollo

8th - Cardiff, Arena

10th - Bournemouth Arena

11th - Brighton, Centre

13th - Birmingham, NEC

14th - Sheffield, Arena

18th - Glasgow SECC

Tickets are available at a price of £35 for London and £33.50 for all regional shows. Ben Folds also performs at all dates bar Glasgow.

Recipes for the recession

With food prices soaring, TIME magazine has an article on how to gourmet cook without spending top dollar. Click the link for the lot but below is my favourite recipe.

Spaghetti With Pancetta and Chili Flakes
Recipe by David Myers, Sona, Los Angeles
Ingredients:
• 6 quarts of water
• 1 pound spaghetti
• 4 ounces pancetta
• Chili flakes (to taste)
• ¼ cup olive oil
• 2 lemons (juiced)
• Salt and pepper

Directions:
1. Salt the water and bring to a boil.
2. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
3. While pasta is cooking, dice pancetta in 1/4-inch pieces.
4. In a large saut� pan, cook pancetta until crispy.
5. Pour out all excess fat and add cooked pasta to the same pan.
6. Add chili flakes to taste.
7. Evenly mix in the olive oil and lemon juice.
8. Season with salt and pepper.