Amy Winehouse - Valerie

The song that's been bouncing around my noodle recently is Valerie, originally by the British band The Zutons. It is off their 2006 record Tired Of Hanging Around (links to Wikipedia). It was a top 10 hit for the band but was taken to the top when Amy Winehouse and Mark Ronson covered it for Mark's album Version. The Ronson version is an upbeat R&B take on The Zutons' indie-rock song but their exists another - near stripped down acoustic version with Amy that's available as part of the Back To Black: B-Sides record on iTunes. That version is the one stuck in my head and is performed live in the video below. Here's hoping Winehouse cleans up shop and is back in business soon.

Coldplay iTunes Commercial

With Coldplay's Viva La Vida only a couple of weeks out, Apple started running this commercial to advertise the exclusive bonus content for the album on iTunes. The band starred in a similar commercial for their last album X&Y. 

New Music Tuesday: May 27, 2008

I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend. If you were fortunate enough to be in Portland Sunday night we hope you were able to catch Beirut put on a great show at the Crystal Ballroom. It sold out quickly and for good reason. Zach and friends rock in a new and refreshing way. They still have a few stops on their tour and we highly recommended spending an evening with them. If you're looking for new music try Beirut' opening act, The Brunettes. Now on to Tuesday...

Usher releases his fifth studio album, Here I Stand, and his first since the mega-success (9m) of 2004's Confessions. The album features guest appearances from Will.i.am, Jay Z, and Beyonce. The albums first single, Love In This Club, features Young Jeezy.

Bring Ya To The Brink is Cyndi Lauper's 10th career album and first album of all new material in five years. She brings her dance floor hybrid of pop and electronica stateside after the album was released in Japan earlier this month. Apparently, she's quite popular in Japan and has released Japan only material in the past. The Japanese release featured two bonus tracks that are now available from iTunes as part of a deluxe package.

The Reverend Al Green has a fresh sound on Lay It Down, thanks in no small part to contemporary guests like Corrine Bailey Rae, John Legend, and Anthony Hamilton. It's great to see a younger generation of R&B'ers paying their respect for a legend like Green. It's also a lot of fun.

The Rest:

• Sex And The City (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - Various
• Same Old Man - John Hiatt
• Welcome - James Pants
• Songs in A&E - Spiritualized
• Survive, Kaleidoscope - Underoath
• Jenny Scheinman - Jenny Scheinman (a cool new-old school crooner who isn't British)

Coldplay's "Violet Hill"

Here's the official video for Coldplay's first single off of "Viva La Vida: Or Death And All His Friends," Violet Hill. While the video is interesting enough, it's certaintly not the most imaginative video Colplay has made. Still, I dig this song and can't wait to hear the new album when it drops June 17th.

New Music Tuesday: May 20, 2008

I hate to start off this post with Jesse McCartney and his album Departure. But like a bandaid - best to get it over with quickly. Phew. Now that that's over, let's get on with the real business. Like the Foxboro Hot Tubs...

Are they Green Day with additional members? Or are they, uh... hmm, I thought I had something else there. Well yes they are! Foxboro Hot Tubs is the side-project of Billie, Mike, and Tre plus three other gents brining classic garage rock into its umpteenth revival. With the sound of 60s garage rock and a slight nod to more modern fare, their first album, Stop Drop And Roll!!!, can be yours for the low low price of whatever you find it for. A good album but lets move on.

After three albums, 3 Doors Down are just now getting around to a self-titled release. Their fourth album is their first release in three years. Good thing mediocre - just one click past whiny - rock songs aren't their kryptonite or we may never have heard from them again.

The Ting Tings are bringing their big punk rock attitude to a larger audience thanks to a new album and a well placed spot on an Apple iPod commercial and complimentary Song Of The Week on iTunes. We Started Nothing is the duo's ultra catchy and energetic debut but has nothing new to offer. If it weren't for their music videos I might have thought CSS re-structured and became the Ting Tings.

Scarlett Johannson has released an album. It is called Anywhere I Lay My Head. It is a Tom Waits cover album. I have no comment. I'm as emotionless about the album as Scarlett is about singing it. But seriously, no comment here.

Bullet Points!!!

• Re-arrange Us - Mates Of State
• No Virginia... - The Dresden Dolls
• Crayons - Donna Summers
• The Bake Sale - The Cool Kids
• Julianne Hough - Julianne Hough (country - and yes, that usually facilitates a warning)
  
• In The Ever - Mason Jennings
• Electric Laser - Giant Panda
• Today Is Not The Day... - Gus Black
• Lie Down In The Light - Bonnie "Prince" Billy
  

DC4C's "I Will Possess Your Heart"" -Full Version

There's been some discussion on Death Cab For Cutie's first single off their brand new album, Narrow Stairs. Some reviews have mentioned that the extended intro to "I Will Possess Your Heart" runs a bit long and starts the album off on a bit of a self-indulgent note. Admittedly, when I first heard the song on the radio I just wasn't impressed, but now that i've spent some time with the album (which is awfully good) and listened through the 8:31 minute album cut; I must say it makes alot more sense. So for those who don't exactly dig the 4 min. radio cut; here's the music video for the full length album version.



Thanks to Adam for bringing the extended music video to our attention

New Music Tuesday: May 13, 2008

Welcome fellow musical minions to another beautiful Tuesday. New music is here so lets get started.

New British sensation Duffy will release her debut album, Rockferry, in the states today. The album was released in Europe back in March and from the beginning the Amy Winehouse comparisons have been unrelenting. Blame it on the British press who are bulldogs in their search and destroy mission for the "next Radiohead" or "next Oasis." Duffy's blue eyed soul is actually quite different from Winehouse and should be able to stand on its own. Her first single Mercy has been to the top of the charts in the UK and is starting to get some airtime here in the US.

Another musical import, this time from Canada, Bryan Adams is back with 11, his eleventh (get it?) studio album. It's nice to see Bryan still creating and exploring his own musical boundaries - even if the new album already sounds dated.


The Rest:

• Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
• We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. - Jason Mraz
• Blame It On Gravity - Old 97's
  
• The Moon Under Water - Ryan Cabrera (horrible title!)
• Brain Thrust Mastery - We Are Scientists

Drum Video: Beatbox Vs. Drums

What's that? You want another drum video? Okay.

Upcoming Releases In 2008

With the lack of quality releases lately (there are exceptions of course e.g. The Roots, Goldfrapp, Vampire Weekend etc.) we at the Tambourine look towards the horizon to see what upcoming releases show the most promise for 2008.

Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends- Coldplay

Due June 16th, this follow up to the band's hugely successful 2005 album, X&Y, will feature a number of stylistic changes from Coldplay's familiar sound. Writing for the new album began back in 2006 and the band wrote and recorded more material while touring Latin America in early 2007. A Latin influence will be present but is said to be less indicative of its sound as much as the overall feel. Chris Martin has also said there will be less falsetto vocals and more abstract lyrics and imagery. Brian Eno has produced most of the tracks for Viva La Vida.

The album is available for pre-order on iTunes with exclusive bonus tracks and an early download of the title track. The first single, Violet Hill, is also available for download.


Blame It On Gravity - The Old 97's

Along with Ryan Adams and Whiskeytown, the Old 97's helped bring the alt-country scene to the mainstream. Blame It On Gravity will be the Old 97's seventh studio album though many believed there wouldn't be a seventh album after the bands extended hiatus after 2004's Drag It Up. The Old 97's music has been featured on numerous television shows including Scrubs and Veronica Mars. Lead singer Rhett Miller has released two solo albums that have also been popular in television and film. Blame It On Gravity will be available May 13th

Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie

On May 12, Portland's favored indie sons make their return with Narrow Stairs - album number seven. Member and producer Chris Walla describes the album: "It's really weird. It's really, really good, I think, but it's totally a curve ball, and I think it's gonna be a really polarizing record. But I'm really excited about it. It's really got some teeth. The landscape of the thing is way, way more lunar than the urban meadow sort of thing that has been happening for the last couple of records." Their last album, Plans, was awfully good and we have high expectations for Narrow Stairs.

Those were just a few of the albums we are looking forward to in 2008. We've listed some other notable albums to watch for.

June releases

• Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
• Here We Stand - The Fratellis
  
• Weezer (red album) - Weezer
  
• Detox - Dr. Dre

Mid 2008 and Beyond

• Alice In Chains
• Michelle Branch
• Nas
• Dr. Dog
• Aerosmith
• Dido
• The All American Rejects
• The Black Eyed Peas
• Nelly Furtado
• 50 Cent
• Kelly Clarkson

New Music Tuesday: May 6, 2008

Elvis Costello released his new album Momofuku on vinyl a full two weeks before releasing it on CD. As he puts it, vinyl is the way it's meant to be heard. As for the music, Elvis re-teams with his excellent cast of regulars, The Imposters.

Unbelievably enough, Clay AIken is still releasing albums. I know I know. I'm just as amazed as you to know he's still alive. I thought for sure Ruben Studdard ate him at some point. I mean, I read it on the internet. Anyway, his new album is called On My Way Here (real edgy title) with the title track written by One Republic's Ryan Tedder. Um, Yay?

Da Rest:

• Home Before Dark - Neil Diamond
• Gavin DeGraw - Gavin DeGraw
• Greatest Hits/ Ever Mile A Memory - Dierks Bentley (a greatest hits comp. already?)
• Snacktime - Barenaked Ladies (a childrens album. No, seriously)
• The Age Of Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
• Supergirl - Saving Jane
• From First To Last - From First To Last
  

Album Review: Hard Candy - Madonna

Our review for Madonna's newest album, Hard Candy, is now available for you to completely ignore. You can begin ignoring it here. It's always nice to see a fifty-year old pop star age so, um... gracefully? Is that it?

New Apple Commericial=New Breakout Artist - The Ting Tings

For TV viewers who want to know just who that is singing the ultra catchy song for the new iPod + iTunes commercials; the answer is British poppers The Ting Tings. Their song Shut Up And Let Me Go, is the latest addition to Apple's advertising soundtrack. Past musicians to have hit the iPod maker's musical jackpot include The Fratellis, CSS, and most recently, Yael Naim.

Shut Up And Let Me Go is, of course, available on iTunes. Their single Great DJ is available right now for free as part of iTunes Single Of The Week feature.