01. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – Cardinology
02. Kings of Leon – Only By the Night
03. Cat Power – Jukebox
04. Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends
05. Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
06. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
07. Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
08. The Music – Strength in Numbers
09. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
The Watson Twins' 'Fire Songs' Needs More Heat
Rating: 5 out of 10
Though album opener “How Am I To Be,” with its Rilo Kiley-esque guitars, seems promising enough, the Watson Twins’ full length debut, Fire Songs, mostly falls flat. The alt-country duo is severely lacking in its vocal range, and most of the melodies are incomprehensive. Rarely offering hooks to keep listeners, well, listening, the album just goes on without notice. If the goal was to create a perfect backdrop to coffee shop reading, one that wouldn’t dare to intrigue anyone enough to distract them, the Watson Twins have succeeded.
Fire Songs does have its moments, like the creepy cover of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and the Twins’ own disheartening, yet lovely “Only You,” both of which actually evoke emotion with their vocals, rather than just talk about it. “Lady Love Me,” which channels Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, actually has a memorable melody during the chorus, and it’s one of the album’s stronger tracks.
The Watson Twins’ poetic prowess should be duly noted, as in “Sky Open Up”: “Sky open up and listen to me / There’s gotta be something worth dreaming / My easy days ran away with the wind / Leaving me to find my tomorrow.” Not only do their efforts get lost in a dwindling delivery here, but also one must remember that a good poem doesn’t always make a good song. Lyrically solid tracks such as “Dig A Little Deeper” and the grunge-tinged “Waves” lack the melody and vocal range to bring listeners in deep enough to want to understand what is being said.
Although the musical arrangements are multifaceted and often intriguing, as in the Latin-influenced “Map to Where You Are,” which builds up confidence in the artists with a catchy arrangement of horns and shakers, listeners are often left wanting more from the song as a whole. The Watson Twins’ lack of passion keeps Fire Songs from moving forward, and it’s extremely difficult to suppose they believe in what they’re singing, even more so that others should believe in it as well.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Review: Moby's "Last Night"
Click here to read my review of Moby's newest album, "Last Night" on Kevchino.com. Stay tuned for more!
Upcoming Reviews:
The Watson Twins - "Fire Songs"
Goldfrapp - "Seventh Tree"
Old 97's - "Blame It On Gravity"
Friday, June 20, 2008
Cat POWER!
Close your eyes and you'd think you were listening to an old man in a smokey bar, playing the blues with a cigar in his mouth. Cat Power, also known as Chan Marshall, sings with a soul that is almost unheard of in today's music. Her voice is a story in itself, unravelling yarn after yarn of heartbreak, pain and unsettling endurance. Balancing her act with originals and very successful covers of classic songs (that many artists wouldn't dare to try), Cat Power is hope that good music will prevail. She has a way of conceptualizing songs in a completely original, yet totally authentic and powerful way (see her version of Sinatra's "New York" for proof). Even her cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" sounds completely fresh.
As a throwback to the early days of music recording, Cat Power's newest release, "Jukebox," was recorded as a live album of very successful covers.
Here she's performing my current favorite, "Lived in Bars," on Jools Holland (which was released on her earlier album, "The Greatest").
Performing "Crying, Waiting, Hoping," for Rolling Stone. You just don't hear songs like this anymore.
And finally, "Sea of Love" from her newest release, "Jukebox," as well as the "Juno" soundtrack. ENJOY!
Compare the above to the original (posted below) to really understand how her interpretations of these classic songs really bring something new to the table without sacrificing the elements that made the song so great from the get-go.
As a throwback to the early days of music recording, Cat Power's newest release, "Jukebox," was recorded as a live album of very successful covers.
Here she's performing my current favorite, "Lived in Bars," on Jools Holland (which was released on her earlier album, "The Greatest").
Performing "Crying, Waiting, Hoping," for Rolling Stone. You just don't hear songs like this anymore.
And finally, "Sea of Love" from her newest release, "Jukebox," as well as the "Juno" soundtrack. ENJOY!
Compare the above to the original (posted below) to really understand how her interpretations of these classic songs really bring something new to the table without sacrificing the elements that made the song so great from the get-go.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Potato Swaps and Life in the Slow Lane
So often I have the very same conversation with people over and over and over:
"Oh, Hi! How are you?"
"I'm fine. You?"
"Great. Things are well. [Insert long description of 'how things are going well' here]."
"Good to hear. It was nice talking to you."
"Definitely, we should get together soon."
"Definitely. Give me a call sometime."
"Ok. Will do. Bye."
"Bye."
And after such a conversation you, for one, know nothing new or interesting about the person's life to whom you have just spoken and are unlikely to make any efforts to be in touch again soon. It's sad really, and one of the main reasons I don't go out of my way to talk to people unless I really have something to say. To talk about the weather or pretend to listen to what has been going on in someone's life when you really hadn't wondered in the first place is all but painful... at least to me.
Maybe that's why I wasn't meant for a small town. In a city like Los Angeles, there are two types of people: the type of person who pretends to care in order to appease someone and the type who avoids small talk altogether unless absolutely necessary. What I noticed while in Madison, MN, however, was that these people genuinely do care (and actually remember what you tell them) to know what's going on in your life - whether they know you well or not.
I saw people who I hadn't seen (and had rarely thought of) in about 10 years. Granted, they had gotten updates over the years from my grandparents, but otherwise had no way of knowing what I was up to, nor I them. When we spoke, it was as if not a single day had passed since we last saw one another, and they were sincerely interested in what was going on in my life - even if they barely knew me anymore. Shockingly, they remembered things I had done over the years even better than me in some cases.
Downtown Madison, MN. May 24th 2008
We went to a small diner called Deetoy's after church on Sunday morning, where they serve "broasted chicken" (which I'm pretty sure is just fried chicken that is put in the oven after it's done) and the best toast you could possibly imagine (once an adequate balance of black and brown has been reached, the bread is topped with soft butter immediately after toasting to create tiny puddles of melted butter throughout). At least 80% of the diners were grey, and the rest were under 20 years old. Our waitress looked familiar, but no one at the table knew her by name. My grandmother thought to ask her name in hopes of drawing a connection. Turns out, she knew her mother. Having never met the girl and having really no reason to wonder, my grandmother began asking her questions about her life and education and career - with a sincerity that would blow your mind. Soon, over Sun Drop soda and salads drenched with ranch dressing, the entire table joined in a conversation about our waitress's life.
Later there was a slight discrepancy in our order: My aunt had ordered a baked potato, but received a roasted potato. The waitress brought a baked potato and offered to take the roasted back to the kitchen, but my aunt denied so as not to waste the poor roasted potato. When my grandfather received his plate, however, it was missing the potato altogether. I'm not sure if it was due to a lack of roasted potatoes in the kitchen, or a genuine desire not to waste food, but our waitress was then driven to pick the roasted potato off of my aunt's plate and place it onto my grandfather's - right at the table and with her bare hands nonetheless.
We were all a little taken aback and feeling too polite to say anything, so we ate and we enjoyed our homestyle meal (My grandfather even ate his handled potato.). I guess it was at that moment when I discovered and really began to appreciate the true charm - and slightly odd ways - of life in a small town.
Madison, MN: where they have clean sidewalks, green grass, ambrosia and fresh rhubarb. May 24th, 2008
"Oh, Hi! How are you?"
"I'm fine. You?"
"Great. Things are well. [Insert long description of 'how things are going well' here]."
"Good to hear. It was nice talking to you."
"Definitely, we should get together soon."
"Definitely. Give me a call sometime."
"Ok. Will do. Bye."
"Bye."
And after such a conversation you, for one, know nothing new or interesting about the person's life to whom you have just spoken and are unlikely to make any efforts to be in touch again soon. It's sad really, and one of the main reasons I don't go out of my way to talk to people unless I really have something to say. To talk about the weather or pretend to listen to what has been going on in someone's life when you really hadn't wondered in the first place is all but painful... at least to me.
Maybe that's why I wasn't meant for a small town. In a city like Los Angeles, there are two types of people: the type of person who pretends to care in order to appease someone and the type who avoids small talk altogether unless absolutely necessary. What I noticed while in Madison, MN, however, was that these people genuinely do care (and actually remember what you tell them) to know what's going on in your life - whether they know you well or not.
I saw people who I hadn't seen (and had rarely thought of) in about 10 years. Granted, they had gotten updates over the years from my grandparents, but otherwise had no way of knowing what I was up to, nor I them. When we spoke, it was as if not a single day had passed since we last saw one another, and they were sincerely interested in what was going on in my life - even if they barely knew me anymore. Shockingly, they remembered things I had done over the years even better than me in some cases.
Downtown Madison, MN. May 24th 2008
We went to a small diner called Deetoy's after church on Sunday morning, where they serve "broasted chicken" (which I'm pretty sure is just fried chicken that is put in the oven after it's done) and the best toast you could possibly imagine (once an adequate balance of black and brown has been reached, the bread is topped with soft butter immediately after toasting to create tiny puddles of melted butter throughout). At least 80% of the diners were grey, and the rest were under 20 years old. Our waitress looked familiar, but no one at the table knew her by name. My grandmother thought to ask her name in hopes of drawing a connection. Turns out, she knew her mother. Having never met the girl and having really no reason to wonder, my grandmother began asking her questions about her life and education and career - with a sincerity that would blow your mind. Soon, over Sun Drop soda and salads drenched with ranch dressing, the entire table joined in a conversation about our waitress's life.
Later there was a slight discrepancy in our order: My aunt had ordered a baked potato, but received a roasted potato. The waitress brought a baked potato and offered to take the roasted back to the kitchen, but my aunt denied so as not to waste the poor roasted potato. When my grandfather received his plate, however, it was missing the potato altogether. I'm not sure if it was due to a lack of roasted potatoes in the kitchen, or a genuine desire not to waste food, but our waitress was then driven to pick the roasted potato off of my aunt's plate and place it onto my grandfather's - right at the table and with her bare hands nonetheless.
We were all a little taken aback and feeling too polite to say anything, so we ate and we enjoyed our homestyle meal (My grandfather even ate his handled potato.). I guess it was at that moment when I discovered and really began to appreciate the true charm - and slightly odd ways - of life in a small town.
Madison, MN: where they have clean sidewalks, green grass, ambrosia and fresh rhubarb. May 24th, 2008
Saturday, May 31, 2008
A Change of Pace
A few photos from my trip back in time. Post to follow.
My grandparents' long driveway. Their nearest neighbor is at least one mile away.
Barns - the main reason for that distinct "farm" smell that is at once nostalgic and thick and a bit unbearable.
Up close and personal with the cows, who were very vocal over the weekend - a refreshing disturbance.
This is what midwesterners call a clothesline... They dry their clothes on this thing. I know, strange, but it does leave the clothes smelling quite pleasant.
Nature: browns, greens, blues
We are both going to miss this...
My grandparents' long driveway. Their nearest neighbor is at least one mile away.
Barns - the main reason for that distinct "farm" smell that is at once nostalgic and thick and a bit unbearable.
Up close and personal with the cows, who were very vocal over the weekend - a refreshing disturbance.
This is what midwesterners call a clothesline... They dry their clothes on this thing. I know, strange, but it does leave the clothes smelling quite pleasant.
Nature: browns, greens, blues
We are both going to miss this...
Thursday, May 22, 2008
It's a strange thing, going back...
In less than 24 hours I will be back in Madison, MN, a town whose claim to fame is being the Lutefisk capital of the USA. Although I only lived there for two years when I was very young, those were probably the most crucial years of my life. I was groomed to be the person I would become as an adult at the tender age of 8 years old.
Returning to this town will be bittersweet: Although I tend to think back on Madison as a very small, peaceful, slow-paced town filled with fresh air and open fields, it also brings back thoughts of the lowest points in my life... the most tragic, solitary memories that I often tend to block out.
I can't really predict the feeling I will get the first time I walk down Main Street, predictably lined with family-owned drugstores and antiquated diners. Will I be at ease, breathing in the thick scent of dandelions in bloom? Will I suddenly be reminded of the painful memories I've tried so hard to shove into that little red suitcase in the back of my mind?
Whatever the outcome, I'm prepared. It will be worth it to be able to see what has changed and what has remained the same: the public library across the street from our old house, the building where Sonny's (a clothing store my mom worked in, where I often stayed when home sick from school) used to be, the public pool that kept me busy during most of the summer, the old movie theatre where I got my first kiss, and my babysitter, Linda's big white house that kept me safe. These are the images I get when I think back on Madison, and I can't wait to experience them as an adult.
Returning to this town will be bittersweet: Although I tend to think back on Madison as a very small, peaceful, slow-paced town filled with fresh air and open fields, it also brings back thoughts of the lowest points in my life... the most tragic, solitary memories that I often tend to block out.
I can't really predict the feeling I will get the first time I walk down Main Street, predictably lined with family-owned drugstores and antiquated diners. Will I be at ease, breathing in the thick scent of dandelions in bloom? Will I suddenly be reminded of the painful memories I've tried so hard to shove into that little red suitcase in the back of my mind?
Whatever the outcome, I'm prepared. It will be worth it to be able to see what has changed and what has remained the same: the public library across the street from our old house, the building where Sonny's (a clothing store my mom worked in, where I often stayed when home sick from school) used to be, the public pool that kept me busy during most of the summer, the old movie theatre where I got my first kiss, and my babysitter, Linda's big white house that kept me safe. These are the images I get when I think back on Madison, and I can't wait to experience them as an adult.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Official Video for Coldplay's "Violet Hill"
Coldplay's new album, Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends will be released in the U.S. June 17, and I can't WAIT! Check out the official video for their first single, "Violet Hill."
Can't Go Back Now
This song has been stuck in my head for some time... I don't think it could be said any better than the below.
"Can't Go Back Now" by The Weepies
Yesterday, when you were young,
Everything you needed done was done for you.
Now you do it on your own
But you find you're all alone,
What can you do?
You and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now.
You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step,
The night will have no stars and you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get
But you and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now
And yeah, yeah, go where you want to go
Be what you want to be,
If you ever turn around, you'll see me.
I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else
But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself
And you and me walk on
Yeah you and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now
Walk on, walk on, walk on
You can't go back now
"Can't Go Back Now" by The Weepies
Yesterday, when you were young,
Everything you needed done was done for you.
Now you do it on your own
But you find you're all alone,
What can you do?
You and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now.
You know there will be days when you're so tired that you can't take another step,
The night will have no stars and you'll think you've gone as far as you will ever get
But you and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now
And yeah, yeah, go where you want to go
Be what you want to be,
If you ever turn around, you'll see me.
I can't really say why everybody wishes they were somewhere else
But in the end, the only steps that matter are the ones you take all by yourself
And you and me walk on
Yeah you and me walk on
Cause you can't go back now
Walk on, walk on, walk on
You can't go back now
Monday, May 19, 2008
New Oasis coming this Fall!
New album should hit stores this Fall. No official release date as of yet.
Here are some of the leaked demos to satisfy your cravings until then!
Here are some of the leaked demos to satisfy your cravings until then!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Utterly Disturbing News
Aside from the countless reports on the major natural disasters occuring all across the world, which is really, really beginning to scare me, our nation manages to create headlines with reports of completely off-the-wall events. Here are a few from recent news:
Canadian Man Nearly Dies During Rough Sex -- Click Here!
Female Inmates Launch Own Line of Womenswear -- Click here!
Phallic Museum in Iceland (Need I say more?!) -- Click here!
Source: Reuters
Canadian Man Nearly Dies During Rough Sex -- Click Here!
Female Inmates Launch Own Line of Womenswear -- Click here!
Phallic Museum in Iceland (Need I say more?!) -- Click here!
Source: Reuters
Library of Congress Announces 2007 National Recording Registry: 'Thriller' Makes the Cut
Here's my full article covering the Library of Congress' selection of this years 25 additions to the National Recording Registry. Brief version posted on Buzznet.com
To some, Michael Jackson’s Thriller might not seem like a crucial subject of reference for congressional matters, but because of its cultural importance, it has been added by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry. This merit means that Thriller is recognized as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” to American music history.
According to its website, the Library of Congress was established “to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.” Today it is the largest library in the world, with more than “29 million cataloged books and other print materials in 460 languages; more than 58 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.”
When the original library, which was located in the new Capitol, was set fire by invading British troops during August 1814, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his own library as a replacement. After 50 years of collecting books on everything related to America in any way, as well as rarities in the fields of science, Jefferson’s library was considered to be one of the most excellent in America.
He wrote of his personal library, “I do not know that it contains any branch of science which Congress would wish to exclude from their collection; there is, in fact, no subject to which a Member of Congress may not have occasion to refer.”
The Congress accepted Jefferson’s 6,487 books in 1815, and began establishing what would become a national institution. Even today the philosophy and collecting policies of the Library of Congress reflect the Jeffersonian concept of universality, “the belief that all subjects are important to the library of the American legislature,” which explains why even Thriller has a place in it.
In correspondence with the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the librarian – advised by the National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB) – selects 25 recordings to be added to the National Recording Registry each year. To be qualified, recordings must be at least 10 years old and have great significance in the history of American music. The 2007 registry hosts a variety of spoken word and music recordings between the years of 1925-1982.
Michael Jackson’s Thriller made the cut along with Harry S. Truman’s legendary address to the Democratic National Convention in 1948; a collection of more than 1,000 radio broadcast recordings by Ronald Reagan between 1976-1979; the Sounds of Earth disc prepared for the Voyager in 1977 while it traveled through space; Joni Mitchell’s For the Roses; the first trans-Atlantic broadcast from March 4, 1925; Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, considered by some as the most poetic, most enduring love songs in R&B history; and the original cast recording of My Fair Lady, among others.
Nominations are compiled through online submissions from the public and from the National Recording Preservation Board, which is made up of leaders in music, recorded sound and preservation fields.
Source: www.loc.gov
To some, Michael Jackson’s Thriller might not seem like a crucial subject of reference for congressional matters, but because of its cultural importance, it has been added by the Library of Congress to the National Recording Registry. This merit means that Thriller is recognized as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” to American music history.
According to its website, the Library of Congress was established “to sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations.” Today it is the largest library in the world, with more than “29 million cataloged books and other print materials in 460 languages; more than 58 million manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.”
When the original library, which was located in the new Capitol, was set fire by invading British troops during August 1814, retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his own library as a replacement. After 50 years of collecting books on everything related to America in any way, as well as rarities in the fields of science, Jefferson’s library was considered to be one of the most excellent in America.
He wrote of his personal library, “I do not know that it contains any branch of science which Congress would wish to exclude from their collection; there is, in fact, no subject to which a Member of Congress may not have occasion to refer.”
The Congress accepted Jefferson’s 6,487 books in 1815, and began establishing what would become a national institution. Even today the philosophy and collecting policies of the Library of Congress reflect the Jeffersonian concept of universality, “the belief that all subjects are important to the library of the American legislature,” which explains why even Thriller has a place in it.
In correspondence with the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000, the librarian – advised by the National Recording Preservation Board (NRPB) – selects 25 recordings to be added to the National Recording Registry each year. To be qualified, recordings must be at least 10 years old and have great significance in the history of American music. The 2007 registry hosts a variety of spoken word and music recordings between the years of 1925-1982.
Michael Jackson’s Thriller made the cut along with Harry S. Truman’s legendary address to the Democratic National Convention in 1948; a collection of more than 1,000 radio broadcast recordings by Ronald Reagan between 1976-1979; the Sounds of Earth disc prepared for the Voyager in 1977 while it traveled through space; Joni Mitchell’s For the Roses; the first trans-Atlantic broadcast from March 4, 1925; Tracks of My Tears, by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, considered by some as the most poetic, most enduring love songs in R&B history; and the original cast recording of My Fair Lady, among others.
Nominations are compiled through online submissions from the public and from the National Recording Preservation Board, which is made up of leaders in music, recorded sound and preservation fields.
Source: www.loc.gov
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Recognized by Library of Congress
Click here to read!
Another of my buzznet.com posts for all to see! Short, but sweet and pretty interesting . I'll post the extended version, which covers more on what the Library of Congress actually is in a bit!
Another of my buzznet.com posts for all to see! Short, but sweet and pretty interesting . I'll post the extended version, which covers more on what the Library of Congress actually is in a bit!
Whah?
I saw a billboard for Tillamook SHREDDED CHEESE yesterday. An entire billboard devoted to the advertisement of shredded cheese. Do people really care that much about the brand of cheese they toss all over their beef taco? I mean, someone actually paid a great deal of money to put that up there. Why, I ask... why?
I guess they got me to post a blog about their cheese, which says a lot. Maybe it's at least somewhat effective, but totally unnecessary!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Coldplay Happy with the 'Old-fashioned' Way
As the Internet changes the face of the music industry, fans are becoming more demanding than ever. It's difficult for bands to even know how to please fans in today's market. For example, The Cure are pre-releasing singles for purchase before their album is released in its entirety. The Raconteurs released their full-length with barely any notice or preview. And countless artists let their songs exist for months in preview before being released. Whatever the game, the issue remains the same – listeners want what ever they can get their hands as soon as possible.
But Coldplay don't seem too bothered by the whole ordeal. "If we knew what the solution was to everything, then we'd do it. We have absolute respect for the Radioheads and Raconteurs and people who can do what they like. We're in contract though, so we're just going to make the most of it and enjoy the people we get to work with."
Chris Martin nonchalantly describes the group's relationship with its label. "Being on a major label at the moment is like living in your grandparents' house," he says. "Everyone knows they need to move out, and they will eventually, but we kind of like our grandmother."
What Coldplay are more concerned with is getting back to the root of it all to produce music that has life and really share an experience with fans when they perform. Drummer Will Champion points out that "More than ever, you've got to give people a reason to be excited about music. With content being so available, you just want to give people as much as possible."
For work on the group's latest effort, Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends (released June 12 internationally on Parlophone/EMI and June 17 in North America on Capitol), Coldplay turned an old bakery into their own recording studio. They also brought Brian Eno and Markus Dravs on board to take their music in a less predictable, more adventurous direction. Martin explains, "I just felt, 'We have to get our own place … we have to play in a little room, burn all our awards and reviews, not go to swanky dinners, erase all that.'"
Putting their grassroots plan into motion, Coldplay will stage two free unsponsored concerts: June 16 at London's Brixton Academy and June 23 in New York's Madison Square Garden. An additional free gig in Barcelona is in discussions, but not yet confirmed. These shows will be followed by extensive touring through North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. Coldplay are also slated to headline the Summersonic festival August 9-10 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
While many bands seem to be embracing the Internet revolution and have already jumped on the independence bandwagon, Coldplay seem perfectly happy to be doing it the old-fashioned way. Martin jokes, "I think we're in contract until ... the end of the Space Age. On my deathbed, someone will come up and say, 'You still owe me three records.'"
Interview source: Reuters
But Coldplay don't seem too bothered by the whole ordeal. "If we knew what the solution was to everything, then we'd do it. We have absolute respect for the Radioheads and Raconteurs and people who can do what they like. We're in contract though, so we're just going to make the most of it and enjoy the people we get to work with."
Chris Martin nonchalantly describes the group's relationship with its label. "Being on a major label at the moment is like living in your grandparents' house," he says. "Everyone knows they need to move out, and they will eventually, but we kind of like our grandmother."
What Coldplay are more concerned with is getting back to the root of it all to produce music that has life and really share an experience with fans when they perform. Drummer Will Champion points out that "More than ever, you've got to give people a reason to be excited about music. With content being so available, you just want to give people as much as possible."
For work on the group's latest effort, Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends (released June 12 internationally on Parlophone/EMI and June 17 in North America on Capitol), Coldplay turned an old bakery into their own recording studio. They also brought Brian Eno and Markus Dravs on board to take their music in a less predictable, more adventurous direction. Martin explains, "I just felt, 'We have to get our own place … we have to play in a little room, burn all our awards and reviews, not go to swanky dinners, erase all that.'"
Putting their grassroots plan into motion, Coldplay will stage two free unsponsored concerts: June 16 at London's Brixton Academy and June 23 in New York's Madison Square Garden. An additional free gig in Barcelona is in discussions, but not yet confirmed. These shows will be followed by extensive touring through North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. Coldplay are also slated to headline the Summersonic festival August 9-10 in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.
While many bands seem to be embracing the Internet revolution and have already jumped on the independence bandwagon, Coldplay seem perfectly happy to be doing it the old-fashioned way. Martin jokes, "I think we're in contract until ... the end of the Space Age. On my deathbed, someone will come up and say, 'You still owe me three records.'"
Interview source: Reuters
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
My Elbow Review on Buzznet.com
Please click below to read my recent review of Elbow performing live at the Avalon on Friday, May 9. Look for more like this!
ELBOW MAKE FRIENDS...
A few photos from the event.
ELBOW MAKE FRIENDS...
A few photos from the event.
The Cure -- Back at it!
Sorry for all of you out there who have already been awaiting this moment, but I've just been filled in on the great news. The Cure will be releasing one single each month leading up to the release of their thirteenth studio album, out September 13.
Today marks the release of the first single, "The Only One," which you can download from iTunes and check out a sample at www.thecure.com. Thankfully, the group aren't going too far out of their comfort zone, so the sound is familiar and fresh at the same time.
The b-side track, "NY Trip," will be availble on the the first single, and the second single, "Freakshow," (out June 13) will feature the b-side "All Kinds of Stuff." Get 'em while they're hot, though, as the b-sides released with each single will not be released with the full-length album.
As a reminder, the band kicked off their US tour May 9 to promote the album and will be playing the Hollywood Bowl on May 31.
Source: www.NME.com
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