Album Review: Warpaint - The Black Crowes

The Black Crowes have ended their seven year silence and released Warpaint to the world. Despite our love here for Southern Rock, we tried to stay fair and balanced. You can read our review of Warpaint here or continue reading this page to ignore the review completely.

Nick Cave Swaggers Like Jagger

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds have been around long enough to hear praise and criticism in equal parts. Last year's Grinderman side-project was a well received break for the band and had a decidedly heavier sound than the 'Seeds. When the next album for Cave and the seeds was announced, Cave went on record saying the album would have a sound closer to the sinister garage-rock of Grinderman. The new record, called Dig, Lazarus, Dig! has already been released in other countries and will hit stateside on April 8th. Here's the video for the first single that shares the same title as the album.

New Music Tuesday: March 25, 2008

Okay, so unlike last week we have a number of major releases this week - let's get started.

News of The Raconteurs' Consolers Of The Lonely broke only a week before its release. Interesting marketing angle that i'm sure every news blurb will mention. None of that matters however since we finally have a new Raconteurs album to enjoy.

Gnarls Barkley released The Odd Couple to online music stores last week and are now getting around to releasing it on CD. As we mentioned in an earlier post none of the tracks we've heard are particularly inspiring; but, we'll reserve judgment until we hear the entire album. St. Elsewhere kicked ass and we have nothing but high hopes for The Odd Couple.

It's been sixteen years but the ever young B-52's are back for another campy romp with Funplex. The album is already getting some positive marks from early reviews.

The rest:

• Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings - The Counting Crowes
• Reason To Believe - Pennywise
• Pretty. Odd. - Panic At The Disco
• Parc Avenue - Plants and Animals
• Live At The Bass Performance Hall - LIndsey Buckingham
• Another Country - Tift Merritt

The Raconteurs Announce New Album One Week Before Release

A pleasant surprise for Raconteurs fans - their follow up album to Broken Boy Soldier will be Consoloers of the Lonely and will be coming out tomorrow. Yes tomorrow! The album has been kept well under wrap with no promotion leading up to the announcement a few days ago. The first single will be Salute Your Solution. A music video for the single has already been shot and is expected to debut the same day as the album. We'll have more info and a review as soon as we get our hands on a copy.

photo courtesy of Pitchfork Media

New Gnarls Barkley Album Available Online

We purposefully overlooked this one since it was a digital only release; but Gnarls Barkley's sophomore album, The Odd Couple is available at various online music stores including iTunes and Rhapsody. The CD release will be out in brick and mortar stores March 25th. We've only had a chance to hear a couple of the tracks on the new album and we're feeling a bit underwhelmed. Of course, since we're not Maxim magazine, we'll reserve judgment until we hear the entire album.

Album Review: Volume One - She & Him

Zooey Deschanel may be better known as an actress but her day job is now split between film and music. She has been writing songs since she was young and now with a little help from friends like M. Ward and Jason Schwartzman she has recorded an albums worth of original material. Read our review for Volume One here.

Cry Baby Cry: American Idol Covers The Beatles

I'd like to say up front that I openly despise American Idol and everything it stands for*. Even more now since the inconsequential televised popularity contest has obtained the rights to the Beatles catalog. For a Beatles fan like me, some say freak, this is like someone ripping out my heart and stomping on it. And then peeing on it. Needless to say, i'm none too happy 'bout it...but I have watched. Ah, I should have known better.

To cover a Beatles song is serious business. At least it should be. Obviously most of the contestants this season (seventh? thirteenth?) don't share this sentiment. I mean, just watch some of the interviews. Through uninspired performances, weak interpretations, and regrettable arrangements (did I just repeat myself in a different way three times?) it's easy to see who has the chops for the Beatles and who doesn't. I've ignored all the crappy performances and really only have two that I think were good. Not great. but good. Note also that i'm commenting on the performance and not the performer as both of my picks muffed other Beatles songs.

The first is Jason Castro singing If I Fell nice and short and to the point. The acoustic guitar is a must and works well with his falsetto bits. I hate myself for saying it but I agree with Paula. And now i'm full of shame.


My next pick is Carly Smithson's rocking version of Come Together. I absolutely hate when people cop out and instead of re-capturing the vibe of a song they simply sing it louder and harder. Carly bypasses that pitfall pretty easily and captures some magic on this one.


Special honor to pre-pubescent David Archuleta singing Lennon's Imagine. Not a Beatles song but stunning none the less.

Also, a quick mention for Michael Johns. I really want to like this guy. He has a good voice and his version of Across The Universe was decent if not a tad paint-by-numbers. Check out Rufus Wainwright's version for the best take on that song and to see how a proper Beatles cover is done.

*I do enjoy when Paula and Simon get into a scrap.

New Music Tuesday: March 18, 2007

the cover screams artistic integrity

This week's new releases feature quite a few unknown artist for me, but it's okay. Like Maxim magazine I don't need to hear the music to judge it*. Just kidding, but seriously, i've never listened to most of the artists this week or even heard of half of them.

First up is Danity Kane with Welcome To The Dollhouse. The group was formed through master mogul P. Diddy's MTV reality show - Making The Band. They're like a less talented (is that possible?) female version of O-Town.

I was ready to write a bit on new-comer Flo Rida and Mail On Sunday but just remembering O-Town has, like its members, drained me of any and all creativity. On to the bullet points!

• Soundboy Rock - Groove Armada
  
• Heroes Soundtrack - Various
• Texas - Playradioplay!
• Midnight Boom - The Kills
• Trouble In Dreams - Destroyer (terrific solo stuff from New Pornographers collaborator)
• Hits - New Found Glory
• Goodbye Blues - The Hush Sound
  

*If you don't know the story already you can read the MSNBC article here. OR, read on to see me condense the situation into one long run on sentence. Basically Maxim magazine wrote a review on The Black Crowes new album Warpaint and gave it an extremely low rating which perturbed the Crowes because they hadn't sent an advance copy to Maxim for review and when they called them on it Maxim began back peddling saying it was a preview and not intended to be a final review which makes little sense since they had nothing to preview in the first place and now the incident has raised speculation on the validity of past Maxim reviews which brings me to my point and this sentences conclusion - Maxim is SHIT! Stick to half naked ladies and leave music alone you cads.

No Paper For The Paperback Writer

In a move that's more neat than cool, Bob Neaverson has re-released his book The Beatles Movies as a free online resource. This is probably only considered news for Beatles freaks like me but it's a novel idea. HA. Me made pun. Very very bad un-applicable pun. Read more at the terrific Beatles blog, I Read The News Today.

Leonard Cohen Joins Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame

Yesterday Leonard Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Lou Reed presented the honor (unless your Johnny Rotten) to Leonard in his typical ultra-dry fashion. To see these two prolific legends trade accolades is pretty cool. Each has had an amazing career and have amassed a wide body of work known for intelligent and moving lyrics. If you've never heard any of Leonard Cohen's music; you're doing yourself a disservice. Like Elvis Costello or Randy Newman, Cohen has garnered the respect of his peers but has never achieved major mainstream success. Nevertheless his music is timeless and continues to influence artists the world over.

This years list of other Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees include John Mellencamp, Madonna, The Ventures, and the Dave Clark Five. It's about time for the Dave Clark Five and I suppose Madonna if you grew up in the 80s. The Ventures. Neat. John Mellencamp? Take him or leave him.

Heres the video of the always cool, calm, and understated badass Leonard Cohen accepting his award from Lou Reed.

New Music Tuesday: March 11, 2008

There were more hip-hop releases this week than usual. Snoop Dogg releases his ninth album, Ego Trippin', while Fat Joe has The Elephant In The Room, and Q-Tip drops The Renaissance. Also Trilla by Rick Ross. So many hip-hoppers, so little interest.

The rest:
Enigma - Ill Nino
These Are The Good Times People - The Presidents of the United States
Now That's What I Call Music! 27 - Various
Dreaming of Revenge - Kaki King
Honeydew - Shawn Mullins
Alopecia - Why?

The Moonwalk(s)

Bumming around YouTube I came across Michael Jackson's career defining dance move, the moonwalk. It made its debut in 1983 at the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, and Forever celebration in probably the finest performance of Billy Jean. Our younger readers may not realize the impact the moonwalk made on young America at the time. Everyone was trying to do the moonwalk and if you could nail it, you were cool. It was, at the time, the ultimate dance move. Unfortunately, time hasn't been too kind with MJ, but as this performance proves, no matter what, he'll always remain one of America's greatest entertainment performers.

NOTE: Michael's moonwalk appears almost at the four minute mark. Also, we've included the video of the actual Apollo 11 lunar landing from 1969 because, um, we're all about learning? Yeah, that sounds right.

Discover Music: Meiko

LA based singer-songwriter Meiko made her debut with one of last years best overlooked gems. Her self-titled album was featured at certain Starbucks stores and her first single Reasons to Love You was a single of the week on iTunes. Though often classified as folk, that label doesn't really encompass the full depth of her sound and may give a wrong impression of her music. True she does play acoustic guitar and the songs have a minimal stripped-down approach, but her pop sensibilities are too keen to keep the songs strictly folk. Her smoky vocals and earnest delivery blend seamlessly on songs like Reasons To Love You, How Lucky We Are, and Under The Bed. Meiko is a pure musical delight and an album to fall in love with. You can get to know Meiko (before everyone else) by visiting her myspace page or check her website to listen to her entire album for free.

Drum Video

Wow.

New Music Tuesday: March 4, 2008

I know it's Wednesday and not Tuesday but hey, I had some things to do yesterday. Anyway, here's what's new this week - one day late.

The Black Crowes end their seven year drought with their latest release, Warpaint. I just got this album and haven't had a chance to hear it in its entirety but from what i've heard so far, the Robinson brothers haven't lost their knack for engaging Southern roots rock. Look for a review of Warpaint coming soon.

Irish rockers, Flogging Molly, released their fourth album, Float. As of this posting you can stream the entire album on their Myspace page found here. I find there's only enough room in my heart for one Irish punk band. So, sorry Flogging Molly, unless you totally kick the shit out of Dropkick Murphy, you're dead to me. DEAD TO ME! Ahem.

The rest:
Good Time - Alan Jackson (fact: he grew his first mustache at age 5 and hasn't shaved it since)
Passed Away, Vol. 1 - Dr. Dog (a collection of their unreleased material)
Asking For Flowers - Kathleen Edwards
Go Away White - Bauhaus
Solo Acoustic, Vol. 2 - Jackson Browne
Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus (getting good reviews)
Quaristice - Autechre (pronounced: awe-teh-ker)
What Doesn't Kill Us - What Made Milwaukee Famous