New Tunes: Old 97’s Blame It On Gravity Out Tuesday
I’m goin’ old school tomorrow and will head out to my local record store (Zia Records) during my lunch hour, and buy myself the new Old 97’s album. Blame It On Gravity (New West) is their first studio release in four years, and reviews show it to be a return to their more charged up, electrified indie-cowpunk that they perfected with 1997’s Too Far To Care. Want to hear the Old 97’s at their optimal level? Listen to Too Far To Care‘s opener, “Timebomb”.
I’ve found something to love about every Old 97’s record, but if Blame It On Gravity is a return to this form, I may call off the rest of the workday and drive through the desert at ridiculous speeds.
Hot Stuff: Santogold
A few months ago I caught some buzz on Santogold as someone to check out. At the time, her record wasn’t out, and I simply forgot about it. This week I found a slip of paper (amongst many) on my desk that said simply ‘Santogold.’ Coincidentally, her album dropped in the US this week.
This might be my pick for 2008 so far.A knee jerk reaction would be to compare her to M.I.A. However, that comparison is unfair to both parties. Sure, there might be some stylistic similarities in some of Santogold’s tracks, but she’s hardly “this year’s M.I.A.” Rather, Santogold is straddling the fence between indie rock and hip-hop/dance. The current single, “L.E.S. Artistes,” is very much in the rock idiom. Check out the video:
Hot track!
Other parts of the album are more in a hip hop/dance vein, and are executed equally well. For example:
Santogold – You’ll Find a Way (mp3)
Give the album a spin. This along with the new Roots and Jamie Lidell albums are basically all I’ve been listening to all week. Three hot releases in one week – score!
The Art of Zen
Gavin Rossdale has no delusions about the risk of going it alone after being the frontman of alt-rockers Bush. “There’s such a minefield of people who have gone from bands that had success to the solo thing,” says Rossdale. “There’s a chasm to get from one to the other. It’s like Death Valley and you look down and there’s fucking scorched singers.” Looking to vault that gap, the singer is set to release his solo debut WANDERLUST on June 3rd. Here’s a taste of what’s to come in the very theatrical trailer for the record.
WANDERLUST Trailer (on imeem)
Buy Love Remains the Same: iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
New Tunes: Bridges and Powerlines
I hadn’t heard of NYC’s Bridges and Powerlines until they hit my inbox. But it’s a great sign when a song grabs me by the 00:03 second mark, which this one did. After the intro, a “Road to Nowhere”-like rhythm eases in, and what ensues is four minutes of quality power-pop.
The band formed back in ’05, and is made up of singer Andrew Wood, bassist Keith Sigel, guitarist Jon Crockett, and drummer Pete Mucek. Their first full length album, Ghost Types, was released just yesterday (April 22). I haven’t had the opportunity to take in the whole album yet, but if this very strong opener is any indication, you’re gonna want to dig a little deeper into these guys.
Bridges and Powerlines – Uncalibrated (mp3)
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Buy Ghost Types on: emusic, itunes, insound, tonevendor
My Morning Jacket’s Evil Urges
I want to be the 840th blogger to post the new My Morning Jacket single, “Evil Urges”! I don’t know how it sounds to you folks, but it sounds like Jim James is channeling his inner Prince here? However you wanna swing it, cool tune all around, in my opinion.
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
From the forthcoming album of the same name, due out June 10th.
Sad News: RIP Danny Federici (1950-2008)
Danny Federici, Bruce Springsteen’s organ, keys, and accordion player for the last 40 years, passed away Thursday afternoon after a three year battle with melanoma. My prayers and warmest condolences go out to Danny’s Family and the E Street family.
Rest in Peace Danny.
- Bruce Springsteen.net
- A nice tribute from Ben at Deeper Shade of Soul.
Budos Band’s Chicago Falcon
They bill themselves as “the unheralded emperors of Instrumental Staten Island Afro-Soul”. They are white, they are bearded, and they know how to get down in that old school “Dirty Harry” kinda way (this could fit right into ‘The Enforcer‘). Check ’em out….
The Budos Band – Chicago Falcon
Links: Official Site
Songs To Wrestle To – WWE, The Music
I can’t call myself a fan of the rasslin’, but my buddy Charlie sure is. It’s time for Charlie to spread the good word of the WWE… – Pete
Professional wrestling is a lot more than big, sweaty men throwing each other around in tights. True to their name, the WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) truly tries to entertain their fans. Music plays a huge role in wrestling today. Back in the early 80’s wrestlers started playing music to accompany their walk to the ring. Wrestlers would use popular rock songs when this practice first started. Welcome to the future. Now, most of the songs used for entrance themes are all original.
It is a very exhilarating feeling when you’re sitting in a crowded arena and the music of your favorite wrestler blasts across the sound system. People start cheering or booing after the first seconds of the songs. Only sick, demented wrestling fans like myself would understand that feeling. The WWE just released WWE: The Music, Volume 8, the latest installment in the company’s top selling series. There are 14 tracks on the CD, and you’ll find a heavy rock influence to most of the songs. My favorite is the song “Break The Walls Down”. It’s the entrance theme for a guy named Chris Jericho. You might recognize him because he was the lead singer for a group called, Fozzy. The music matches his persona in the ring perfectly.
Check out this cd and the next time the WWE has a live event in your town, buy a ticket and go be entertained for a couple of hours. It beats reality!EndeverafteR – No More Words [mp3] (Jeff Hardy Theme)
Drive By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Guest post from friend of Ickmusic Cam in Toronto.
Drive-by Truckers (DBT) are mostly known for their great live shows and categorized in the ‘southern rock’ genre. Over the past few years, though, they haven’t exactly acted like your standard ‘southern rock’ band.
Last year they backed blues woman Bettye Lavette on her Scene of the Crime album, which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary Blues Album category (the award went to Eric Clapton). This year, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West, 2008) received 4 stars, and much praise, from Rolling Stone, amongst many others, but is also featured on CMT. Their previous album, A Blessing and a Curse (2006), had elements of early 70s rock, showing influences like Faces & the Rolling Stones.
Rave On!
The Raveonettes are undoubtedly one of my favorite bands of recent years. They incorporate elements of garage, girl groups, surf and wall of sound in ways that somehow manage not to sound passe. I’m also enamored with their harmonized vocals, which always seem to grab me. Last year, the band issued its fourth release, Lust Lust Lust, which just recently made it to U.S. shelves (with bonus tracks – score!).
The album continues the band’s trademark sound. Initially I didn’t feel it was too different from 2005’s Pretty in Black. But the more I listen to it (particularly since picking up the US version), I find myself reevaluating my take a bit. Granted, the band’s previous three releases each have a more distinct sound from each other. Lust Lust Lust seems to me a combination of Pretty in Black’s focus on girl group-style pop with the garage emphasis of 2003’s Chain Gang of Love. The result = a splendid rock album with pop sensibility and an awareness of its roots.
“Aly, Walk with Me” opens the album, and has been obsessing me for the last week following the band’s performance on Letterman. Check it:
The Raveonettes – Aly, Walk with Me (mp3)
And for good measure, here’s the video for “Dead Sound”:
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=SH8nJks6Vqs 336 278]
