• Pop,  Soul

    Amy Winehouse steps out at the Mercury Awards

    Speaking of Ms. Winehouse, who Michael mentioned in his Sharon & the Dap-Kings post (the Dap-Kings also being Amy’s backing band on Back to Black), after going through what I would call a rough few weeks, she made an appearance at Tuesday night’s Mercury Awards in the UK.

    I’m pulling for her. Though her voice harkens back to the 60’s soul singers, there’s something that’s fresh and original about her. I’m bummed that she cancelled her upcoming tour dates. I was excited about catching her in Austin. But the important thing is that she gets her shit straight, and judging by her performance of “Love is a Losing Game” Tuesday night, I think she’s on her way. Though I don’t think that classy husband of hers is doing any good….

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5LsdEqSQO4 336 278]

  • R&B,  Soul

    Bringing Soul Back To Its Roots

    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

    100 Days, 100 Nights by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings could very well have been recorded and released in 1965. This record absolutely drips in the southern fried soul of the ‘good ol’ days’, though this record will undoubtedly (albeit criminally) be compared to more recent outings from Amy Winehouse. The fact that these ladies share a backing band is where that comparison should end. Where Amy is a profitable facsimile of soul, Sharon is soul, pure and simple. Hell, even their record label is kickin’ it old-school and releasing 7” singles and refers to their roster as a “stable”.

    The lead off track “100 Days, 100 Nights” finds Sharon in full-on vamp mode bemoaning the whereabouts of her man. And when she slows it down to a bluesy half time bridge you feel it. Elsewhere on the record you can find Sharon echoing Aretha (“Nobody’s Baby”), Otis (“Humble Me”, “Tell Me”) and Carla Thomas (“When The Other Foot Drops, Uncle”). And it needs to be said that The Dap-Kings stand as a modern day equivalent to Booker T. & the M.G.’s or The JB’s. The full record does not drop until the end of the month, but here’s one to tide ya’ll over.

    Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings100 Days, 100 Nights (MP3)

    Buy / Pre-Order: 100 Days, 100 Nights
    Link: Official Site | MySpace

  • Video

    New Video: Radio Nowhere

    Amazon has the video exclusive of “Radio Nowhere”, the lead single from Bruce’s forthcoming album, Magic.

    It’s dark and urgent, like a middle of the night pee.

    Bruce Springsteen & the E Street BandRadio Nowhere (Amazon Video)

  • Punk,  Rock

    Ickmusic Live: The Clash – Buy or Die!

    If you’ve been checking in with Ickmusic for a while, you know by now that I can’t go very long without a Clash or Joe Strummer post. So without much setup, here’s a great audience recording of a late 1978 gig at London’s Lyceum Ballroom. Find out a lot more background on the show at Black Market Clash (a fantastic live Clash / Strummer resource – click here for the home page with the frames).

    RIP Joe. We miss you.

    The Clash – Buy or Die !!!
    The Lyceum
    London
    From the Sort It Out” Tour
    December 29th, 1978

    1. Safe European Home
    2. I Fought the Law
    3. Jail Guitar Doors
    4. Drug Stabbing Time
    5. Cheapskates
    6. The City of the Dead
    7. Clash City Rockers
    8. Tommy Gun
    9. White Man in Hammersmith Palais
    10. English Civil War
    11. Stay Free
    12. Guns on the Roof
    13. Police and Thieves
    14. Julie’s Been Working for the Drug Squad
    15. Capital Radio
    16. Janie Jones
    17. Garageland
    18. Complete Control
    19. London’s Burning*
    20. White Riot*

    * The last two tracks come from the 12/28/78 show at the Lyceum