Listen Up: American Babies
Seems like 4 out of every 5 new bands I discover these days are from Brooklyn, NY. Here’s another one: Tom Hamilton’s American Babies. This tune caught my ear recently, I think on Sirius. Influences range from Ryan Adams to Bright Eyes to Mr. Springsteen. But in this one, I hear Rodney Crowell.
Catchy, quality roots-rockin’ goin’ down right here. Oh, also, drumming in the band is Joe Russo from Benevento-Russo Duo.
American Babies – Invite Your Friends (mp3)
Linkage: Official Site | MySpace
Buy American Babies for $10 on CD Baby. Go. Now.
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!
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: May 2, 2008
For most people, Friday’s just the day before the weekend. But after this Friday, the neighborhood’ll never be the same.
It was back to the daily grind this week (day job, well, during the day and Mr. Home-Improvement-Man in the evening) and that means the tunes have been going nearly non-stop. The wife and I decided that we’re taking this weekend easy, despite the unfinished project so I’m psyched to push play on this weeks Five. Last week we missed a few of the faithful fivers but had a few new friends to play along. For the first timers, here’s the deal… I hit the shuffle button and share the first five tracks along with thoughts, quips and memories.
Then it’s your turn!
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Keith Urban – Days Go By (from Days Go By)
While I’m not much for the stuff they call “Country Music” these days I make exception for guys like Keith Urban and Brad Paisley. Both bring a bit more rock to the table then most of their pop-driven peers not to mention that both are wickedly good guitarists.
2. Tool – Prison Sex (from Undertow)
Have you ever tried to explain Tool to someone? It’s nearly impossible to define them. Art-Rock? Progressive-Metal? Disturbing? I haven’t a clue. What I do know is that I’ve faithfully purchased every single thing that they have released in their 15+ year tenure as one of the most indefinable bands of the last decade and enjoyed every moment thoroughly.
3. Prince – La, La, La Means I Love U (from Emancipation)
Can we take a minute here to acknowledge the fact that Prince has pretty much managed to set the bar for all future Cochella headliners straight into the stratosphere? Aside from the sensational take on Radiohead’s “Creep”, the man delivered a solid performance that could sell out a stadium on its own.
4. Hall & Oates – You Make My Dreams (from Greatest Hits: Rock ‘n Soul, Part 1)
I’ve got a wicked soft spot in my heart for the blue-eyed soul of Daryl Hall and John Oates.
5. Chet Baker – When Lights Are Low (from Chet Baker in New York)
And a beautiful and romantic tune to take us into the weekend.
Okay, it’s your turn, what’s knocking you the f**k out?!?
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
Transforming Hip-Hop: Flobots
It’s been awhile since a tune I heard on the radio made me sit up and pay attention but that’s exactly what happened the first time I heard “Handlebars” by the Hip-Hop collective Flobots. Socially conscious and politically charged and completely live this is the visceral type of Hip-Hop that keeps me believing despite the crap they pass off as rap these days. The group was recently signed to Universal so I imagine you’ll be hearing and seeing a lot more in the near future. Stay tuned and check out the original video for the track that got me hooked.
Buy Fight With Tools: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
James Brown Throws Down in Zaire
In 1974, a DC-10 took off from the U.S. en route to Kinshasa, Zaire. The Rumble in the Jungle was about to go down – a heavyweight fight between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. It was Don King’s first big fight as a promoter. To precede the fight, a music festival was planned. So aboard that DC-10, not only were Muhammad Ali and his crew on board, but all of the musicians too. And their gear. And their wardrobe. Making the flight were Bill Withers, B.B. King, the Pointer Sisters, the Jazz Crusaders, Sister Sledge, James Brown and his crew (Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, and others), and even more musicians.
Brown and his gang were headlining the festival, and as you’ll hear, he and his great band were in prime form. The musicians spent a couple of weeks in Zaire, staying for free in luxury hotels, soaking up the nightlife, and having a great time. As Fred Wesley said in this article he wrote for the Seattle Times, “I think maybe some of the economic problems Zaire is experiencing today are a residual effect of that 1974 music festival.”
James Brown
Live in Zaire
September, 19741. Intro – The Payback
2. Soulpower
3. The Boss
4. Make It Funky
5. Doing It To Death
6. Bewildered
7. (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine
8. Cold Sweat – I Can’t Stand It
9. Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag
10. Gimme Some More
11. Get On The Good Foot
12. Zaire Soul
13. Sax Solo (Maceo)
14. Try Me
15. For The Love Of Money
16. The Payback (reprise)
17. My Thang
18. Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud
19. Please Please PleaseTRIVIA: Do you know who won the Rumble in the Jungle? Ali (32 yrs old) or Foreman (24 yrs old)? Well, one of ’em went down in the 8th round. You can watch Round 8 here to find out…
DVD: I just Netflixed an Oscar winning documentary about the Rumble in the Jungle, which not only documents the fight, but the music festival as well. It’s called When We Were Kings. You can find out more about it by clicking the DVD cover. I’ll be watching it soon.
Foreman vs. Frazier (1973) -Before George Foreman faced Muhammad Ali in Zaire, he had risen from from the ranks since his gold medal victory at the 1968 Olympics. In 1973, he faced Joe Frazier, completely dominating, with the fight being called in the 2nd round. Check out George Foreman, before the Grill ®.
First Listen: The Great Outdoors
What is it about the changing weather that has inspired musicians throughout the centuries? I’ll admit to not being too familiar with the folk-rock ensemble The Great Outdoors prior to receiving their new EP Spring, but that’s something that I hope to remedy soon. There is a simple, gentle yet urgent beauty to the three tracks that make up the EP that captures the renewal and rebirth of its namesake season. I’ve got the first track “Spring Flower” available below and you can hear the entire EP at the group’s official site.
The Great Outdoors – Spring Flower (MP3)
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
Oval Room, by Blaze Foley
Written about Ronald Reagan in the early 80’s by the late Blaze Foley, “Oval Room” sure is just as fitting today as it was 25 years ago, isn’t it?
Blaze Foley – Oval Room (mp3) from Oval Room [buy it]
→ 265 days left.
Oval Room
In his oval room, in his rockin’ chair
He’s the president, but I don’t care
He’s a business man, he got business ties
He got dollar signs in both his eyes
Got a big airplane, take him everywhere
Got his limousine, when he get there
Everywhere he goes, make the people mad
Makes the poor man beg, and the rich man gladHe’s the president, but I don’t care
Ooh, Ooooooh, OohAt the factory, never been so slow
Got a big fourth down, ninety nine to go
And down on the farm, nothing growing there
But the debts they owe and their gray hair
In the desert sand, and the jungle deep
He thinks everything is his to keep
He’s a real cowboy, with his makeup on
Talks to kings and queens on the telephoneHe’s the president, but I don’t care
Ooh, Oooooh, OohHe’s a movie star, if you stay up late
And he’ll search your car, if you don’t look straight
In his Oval Room, in his rockin’ chair
He’s the president, but I don’t careHe’s the president, but I don’t care
Ooh, Oooooh, OohHe’s the president, but I don’t care
Ooh, Oooooh, OohReview: Friday at the 2008 McDowell Mountain Music Festival
When you show up to at a music festival to pick up your press credentials, and you’re handed a VIP pass with 12 free drinks ready to be punched, at a Sierra Nevada-sponsored festival, well – you just know it’s gonna be a great day. Nine hours later – after seeing and hearing the likes of Gov’t Mule, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, the subdudes, Steve Reynolds Band, and Mikel Lander, Meridith Moore & Friends – I was right, it was great.
This was my second straight year at the Friday offering of Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountain Music Festival. It’s a young festival (this was it’s 5th annual), and with the impressive lineups, the great organization, and so much room at the Westworld venue to expand, it’s going to pick up steam and continue to grow each year. So on this Friday, my partner in crime was my friend Greg. Let me take you through our day…
Scarlett’s New Album
You know, after hearing this Listening Party stream of Scarlett Johansson‘s album, color me impressed. Not that I expected her to release a pile of garbage like Paris Hilton, but you never know what to expect with the actress turned singer debut album (did I just call Paris Hilton an actress?). But ScarJo’s got a lot of impressive things going with this album: first of all, Anywhere I Lay My Head is essentially a Tom Waits cover album – 10 of the 11 songs are Waits songs. Secondly, it was recorded here, at Dockside Studio, deep in Louisiana bayou country. And thirdly, she brings in quite the supporting cast: David Bowie sings on a tune, TV on the Radio producer David Sitek produces, and also appearing are Yeah Yeah Yeahs guitarist Nick Zimmer, and Sean Antanaitis from Celebration.
Anywhere I Lay My Head is released on May 20th.
Album Stream Playlist
1. Fawn
2. Town with No Cheer
3. Falling Down
4. Anywhere I Lay My Head
5. Fannin Street
6. Song for Jo
