Friday 8/30
So last night was the big MTV Video Music Awards show,and the big news story is the show closing performance from long time missing-in-action rockers Guns & Roses.YIKES!Axl looked like shit,with some extremely dodgy cornrow/braids.They opened with Welcome To The Jungle,and while the band sounded good,Axl's voice was clearly not up to the task,as he was unable to hit a lot of those high notes.It's really funny to see Tommy Stinson(the one time Replacement) playing in this band now...makes me wonder why he does it.Right after they were done,Kurt Loder asked Axl if the new album was any closer to coming out,and the response was pretty much no.People were obviously psyched to see them,though IMO it really is just living in the past.
Jimmy Fallon did a decent job of hosting,and his opening montage of song spoofs was pretty funny,especially the Julio Iglesias and Nelly bits.I didn't really pay attention to the whole show because I was flipping back and forth between it and the last VIKINGS pre season football game.Next week the season begins...I hope my Purple People Eaters can inprove on their dismal 5-11 record from last year!
Live musical highlight of the show...The Hives and The Vines back to back was great,and I also have to admit to liking the Justin Timberlake solo track.It's got all of the NEPTUNES trademark sounds in it,and the guy can dance and sing as well as anyone.Move over Michael Jackson...
Wednesday 8/28
I've picked up a lot of stuff the last couple of days,so here's the run down on what I've had a chance to listen to...
GUS GUS are back in action with a new label(Moonshine) and a new record,Attention.Stripped down to a four piece,this is pretty much what you'd expect to hear from them,with lots of funky [acid] house grooves,a few mellower songs,and a healthy dash of pop/'80's electro flavor.When I heard they'd signed to Moonshine I was nervous because that label was one I've come to avoid,and so I'm happy to report that all is well!This actually reminds me a bit of the FC Kahuna album,which is a good thing.
COLDPLAY's sophomore album is out,entitled A Rush Of Blood To The Head.From the first few plays I'd say they've avoided the dreaded slump.This is lush,well crafted guitar pop,filled with memorable tunes.I think after a few more listens I will like this better than Parachutes.It's definitely weepy,but so what...we all need a little of that from time to time.
INTERPOL's Turn On The Bright Lights is this NYC combo's much hyped debut.Rooted firmly in British early '80's rock,it fits right in with my current listening obsessions.A lot of reviews have touted the Joy Division connection(as in 'they sound like'),and there some truth to that,tho' I don't think these guys sound quite as gloomy.I hear a lot of Echo & The Bunnymen,and a bit of Psychedelic Furs in the vocal delivery.It feels like 1981 all over again!
Sunday 8/25
Haven't been in a record shop for almost 2 weeks now,and I 'm jonesing for sure!This week will be a busy one due to catching up on last week's releases(Interpol/JazzyJeff/PlaygroupDJKicks) as well as this week's,including the new Coldplay & GusGus.Happy shopping!
Thursday 8/22
Even out in the boonies your intrepid host is able to find a computer with internet access!There will be no music info updates until this weekend when my vacation is over and things return to normal.Until then,I'm lying on the beach soaking up the sun and doing a little fishing,and probably going to play a little golf tomorrow.Ah,it's a hard life!!
Ok,just one music update...
HERE is this year's Shortlist prize nominees.For those of you who don't know,this is the US version of the UK's Mercury prize for best record of the year,picked by a panel of celebs from the music world.Some interesting choices!
Thursday 8/15
Big news from FlamingLips.com..."
Beck recently did an interview with MTV news where he officially announced the
badly kept secret that the backing band on his October tour would be none other
than everyone's favorite Oklahomans.
Yes, the Flaming Lips will be going out with Beck in support of his
acoustic-based record 'Sea Change.'?The Lips will open up with their own set,
before playing with the man himself on his set. No further details are available
yet."
WOW!Now that's a show!
CORNELIUS was very entertaining last night!His band were kitted out in new wave white shirt/skinny black tie mode,looking good,and sounding really tight...the blond female drummer is absolutely amazing,perfectly able to play those complex stop start rhythms.They played a nice mix of tunes from Point & Fantasma,along with some b-sides too.The visuals were super synchronized with the tunes,and were a lot of fun.A one point it was Elvis in Blue Hawaii doing the hula,and during the song a guy from the crowd was brought up on stage to help Cornelius coax a few bars of Love me Tender from his theremin.There's no spontaneous jamming due to the sync-up with the visuals but it's definitely worth checking out if he ever comes your way!
Wednesday 8/14
I'm still not quite sure what to make of the new FutureSoundOfLondon record.It is a very organic sounding record for sure,with lots of guitars and sitars.I liked the first rack The Lovers right away,but it reminds me more of something that would come out on GrandCentral than FSOL.I'm also kind of surprised at how much more mainstream it sounds.I guess the experimentation this time around is in the prog-rock/hippie lyrics area,which is unfrotunate.The Mellow Hippo Disco Show?Yikes!There are some very nice ambient moments on here,but it still needs a few more spins.
Create your own "Lego person" version of yourself.
I'm going to see CORNELIUS and SOUTH tonight!I'm psyched,having never seen either of them.Should be a pretty entertaining show .
Tuesday 8/13
VHS or Beta are a band I've been reading about for a few months now.They were described as a real live band (from Louisville,Kentucky!) that plays the type of French dance music championed by Daft Punk or Bob Sinclar.I picked up their album Le Funk today,and the descrition fits.6 tracks(2 live) of pure party funk and disco.Not earth shatteringly original,but if you put it on at your next bar-b-q some rumps will shake!!
As I write I'm listening to the new FutureSoundOfLondon record The Isness and I'm not really sure what to say at this point...it's different for sure.More to come.
Wednesday 8/7
I've been playing that FC KAHUNA record a lot lately,and am also enjoying the new YUKA HONDA album Memories Are My Only Witness.With CiboMatto now defunct,I'm interested to see what the girls do apart,and this is a nice set of instrumentals.Some soundtracky ambient stuff is mixed with hip hop and break beats,and there's even a funky little house number.Click on "Oracles" at Tzadik Records(John Zorn's label) for more info.
THIS is a link to a great site for those of you who wonder what that song is that's playing in the commercial you keep seeing.There are links to samples and artist webpages too.
Friday 8/2
My local finally got some copies of the 2 Many DJ's compilation As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt.2,and I am just blown over by the inventiveness of the whole thing.I played it at work and all kinds of people were talking about it.Suffice it to say that this is a very entertaining listen,with all kinds of crazy mash ups of songs.A couple of the most memorable moments for me...when Salt'n'Pepa's Push It collides with The Stooges' No Fun,& when that crazy Jets sample drifts in and out of the mix,& the Destiny's Child/10CC bit,and the Jaxx over Emerson,Lake & Palmer...way too much fun!If you find it in your local,it's worth the import price tag.
7/31/02
FC KAHUNA are a Brit duo who emerged out of the BigBeat scene in the late '90's.Their new album Machine Says Yes is out now,and is already looking to be one of the better(maybe best?)electronic albums of the year.Wisely leaving the big beat stuff behind,they've crafted an album that embraces all sorts of styles.The opening track Fear of Guitars is an ambient track featuring the highly processed vocals of Gruff Rhys from SuperFurryAnimals,which opens up into Glitterball,a giant techno track.Disco,breakbeat,downtempo and more ambient bliss are served up,some with the vocals of former GusGus singer Hafdis Huld.Some other points of reference could be BasementJaxx/DaftPunk/ChemicalBros/Justin Robertson and maybe even Bent and Zero7 on the slower tracks.Anyway,this is a great album of diverse tunes,and is well worth investigating!
7/29/02
SUPER FURRY ANIMALS have announced a second round of US shows,and are stopping in Minneapolis Oct.3.This time they're playing one of the better venues in town,so it should be an improvement on a few months ago!
Hi.I'm DJ Rez & I'm a DURAN DURAN fan.I have been since their first single Planet Earth,so naturally I try and follow what the guys are doing(and look forward to hearing the reunion album!).Keyboardist Nick Rhodes has teamed up with Stephen 'TinTin' Duffy as THE DEVILS. Stephen Duffy was the first vocalist in Duran,and had some solo success as TinTin in the early '80's(the big hit was 'KissMe'),then went on to form The Lilac Time.I haven't heard any of this yet,and have seen it described as '80's flavored electro-pop,so I'm looking forward to checking it out!
7/28/02
ROOTS MANUVA has released an album of odds 'n' ends mixed with dub re-rubs of tracks from Run Come Save Me called Dub Come Save Me.While not up to the original's standard,it's still a fun listen,and one of the tracks is remixed by SuperFurryAnimals,so hit the link to the official site and listen to RealAudio clips of the whole thing.
SUPERGRASS return in September with a new record called Life On Other Planets.No US release date yet....doh!Also in upcoming release news is a new WEEZER 7 song EP called The Lion And The Witch.Apparently it's a limited run of 25,000 only so keep your eyes peeled!
7/24/02
This is what the cover of the new Rjd2 record looks like...If you are a fan of (mostly)instrumental hip hop,you're going to want to check it out!It's got some pretty fat beats,including some of those Shadow-esque jazz break-beat mash ups,and there are all kinds of samples,from blues-y vocals to easy listening riffs & big horns & snippets of dialogue.The Horror is sci-fi movie soundtrack stuff,while The Proxy is all shimmering and chiming guitars over a bumpin' beat.This is a really diverse,tuneful,soulful,well produced record.This one is the big pick of the week!
7/23/02
A couple of fun links....Which Radiohead song are you?I'm FakePlasticTrees.What about which Pixies song ?I'm In Heaven.
Only listened to it once so far today,but the new Rjd2 album DEADRINGER has me very impressed!DJ Shadow is an obvious comparison on some of it,but it's a really nice blend of styles and sounds.More about this one later....
7/20/02
Oh,behave!AUSTIN POWERS is back in Goldmember.I have all of the soundtracks to these movies...yes,I'm a fan.The latest soundtrack is a fun listen,steeped in some 70's style funk.There are some oldies from Earth,Wind & Fire and The Rolling Stones(remixed by Dr.Dre!),a couple of comedy songs from Austin & Dr.Evil(a wicked funny parody of JayZ' Hard Knock Life),and new tunes from a whole slew of todays chart toppers.Very commercial,very mainstream,but somehow still very entertaining.Hit the link for the official site where you can listen to all of the tracks.
7/18/02
Some MASSIVE ATTACK news can be found HERE,courtesy of The NME,and at their own site.It just keeps getting stranger...
7/17/02
QUANTIC's Apricot Morning is a really nice set of funky tracks,a bit more uptempo in mood than his debut album.There's some housey stuff,some almost garage beats,and the usual jazzy downtempo.Big ups to the TruThoughts posse again!
THE VINES are this years 'next big thing'.The Aussie band 's HighlyEvolved is a rocking bunch of songs,sounding at times like Supergrass,and at other times like some of the Elephant 6 bands(ApplesInStereo).I've read a few reviews that referred to them as Nirvana crossed with TheBeatles,and that fits in places too.Nothing new,but good stuff all the same!
LAIKA COME HOME is the name of the new 'GORILLAZ in DUB' set,and is tracks from their debut given the rub-a-dub treatment by SPACEMONKEYZ.
This is a super skankin' set,and the songs lend themsleves nicely to the remakes.Smoke up and relax,man...
7/15/02
Tomorrow's a BIG day for new releases...FLAMING LIPS,The Vines,MORCHEEBA,Gorillaz In Dub,and the new AUSTIN POWERS soundtrack.Time for some shopping!!
7/12/02
OLDIES week continues at TheRezidence...
THE PIXIES have released a self titled 9 track CD.This is demo stuff from way back in the late '80's,and includes early versions of HereComesYourMan & Subbacultcha.Not vital unless your a completist,but still pretty entertaining!
Don't forget to go and buy your new FLAMING LIPS album on Tuesday.It's a big record.Nuff said.
7/9/02
Just got wind of a KILLER double bill tour that's happening this fall...CLINIC and APPLES IN STEREO.This promises to be one hell of a good show!Tour dates are listed on the Apples' webpage...go to this show if it comes to your town!!
The '80's electro/hip-hop star MANTRONIX has compiled a tasty set of old skool jams called That's My Beat.It's unmixed,and features Art Of Noise,Yello,YellowMagicOrchestra,Ryuichi Sakamoto,Viasge and more.Boy,does this take me back!Another quality SoulJazzRecords release.
The ongoing saga of WACKO JACKO continues..."the MAN" is keeping him down!
7/6/02
WIRE are back with a new EP called Read & Burn,and are also hitting the road this summer to promote their new material.The EP is a blazing post punk rocker,5 tracks of taut energy.It's not as electronic-y as some of their '80's output,instead hearkening back to their earliest years.
JAZZANOVA have finally gotten around to releasing an album of their own material!It's called In Between,and features a bunch of guests that the band have worked with,including Ursula Rucker,Vikter Duplaix,and Valerie Etienne & Rob Gallagher.I've heard a lot of negative reviews of this,but on the first few spins it's sounded OK to me.I think people's expectations were a little too high due to all of the quality remix work they've done...it's going to take a few more listens to have a yea or nay opinion!
I've finally seen a couple of the new MINIS on the street,and have to say that they are pretty damn cool.Too bad they're so small...no room for any kind of family.Still,we can all dream....
7/4/02
HERE is a link to more information on the return of FutureSoundOfLondon / AmorphousAndrogynous.
SONIC YOUTH are a band I gave up on about a decade ago,so when I heard that Jim O'Rourke was now the 5th member/producer of the band,my interest was piqued.I picked up Murray Street last week,and the results are in...they're back!There are lots of those classic moments on this,where the lovely melodies disintegrate into the controlled chaos they do so well.I am happy to hear the return to form.
7/2/02
I finally picked up the BLACKALICIOUS album Blazing Arrow,and am really enjoying the funkyness of it all.Lots of cool guests and plenty of old school vibes.
Another release from a while ago I never mentioned is the new DOVES album The Last Broadcast.This record is a bit more uplifting in tone than the last,and IMO that's good.This has a real STONE ROSES vibe going,especially on the 1st single 'There Goes The Fear'.An excellent set of tunes,lushly produced.
6/29/02
PEACE ORCHESTRA is the name that Peter Kruder records under,and the album Reset is a bunch of remixes of tracks from his 1999 self titled debut.This is a great set ,with mixes from GotanProject,Beanfield,Raw Deal,Chateau Flight and more.
ORBITAL are the latest act to compile a Back To Mine,and theirs is a little different from it's predecessors in the way that there are quite a few uptempo tracks on it...it's not as "chill".It goes from John Barry to PJ Harvey to Plaid,stopping off at classics from Eon,Lee Perry,JethroTull and The Divine Comedy.ALL over the place,but a good listen,and worth it for the exclusive track from the boys themselves called Ska'd For Life.
6/26/02
The BIG news item today is the imminent arrival of new material from FutureSoundOfLondon alter-ego Amorphous Androgynous.The album comes in July and is called 'The Isness',and advance word has it sounding very bizarre,with 15 minute prog rock flavored tracks,and Gary Cobain singing!Keep your eyes peeled.
ASH released Free All Angels last year in Europe,and it finally sees US release this week.They've regrouped,and are back to rocking like they used to.Good catchy stuff.Nice 2 disc package with a free DVD.
PREFUSE 73's The '92 vs.'02 Collection is a new 4 track EP,and is his 'gangsta' record,influenced by the tunes that ruled hip hop radio in 1992.Sonically,it really reminds me of the WagonChrist album Throbbing Pouch ...quirky,glitchy fun.
6/23/02
The GORILLAZ are releasing a dub remix of their album called Laika Come Home on July 16th.The dub versions are done by Space Monkeyz,and if you go here you can hear a few of the tracks.
6/20/02
CORNELIUS is coming to town on August 14th,and the opening act is none other than SOUTH.What a great double bill!South were just here,but they played my least favorite venue in town,and so I skipped it.Won't be skipping this one!!
E.S.G. are a late 70's family act out of NYC's NoWave scene.The record A South Bronx Story captures the punk funk sound of that era perfectly.Sampled by hip hoppers,inspiring today's scene(PLAYGROUP),they are still together.Great stuff!
RADIO4 are also inspired by that same scene,reminding me a lot of bands like Gang Of Four.Their album Gotham! rocks super hard,yet always has a groove,from disco to dub.
Team USA plays Germany tomorrow in the World Cup.
GO USA!!!
6/18/02
AKUFEN is a Canadian musician/electronic artist who has just released a fantastic new album,My Way.It's similar in a lot of ways to the type of glitch house that HERBERT creates,using found sounds.The majority of the samples on this are snippets of white noise and random bursts of "spinning down a radio dial" vocals and sound FX.I feel the same sense of 7ow! that I did when I heard Herbert for the first time,and it's as funky as the best of the Frenchies,with some of the same playfulness too.Bound to be one of the best electronic records of the year!
6/12/02
GRANDMASTER FLASH is the latest to deliver an Essential Mix,and his is strictly on the old school tip,mixing '80's classics from acts like NuShooz,Indeep,Blondie,AfrikaB and loads more.It's a sure fire set of jams to rock your party!
DAVID BOWIE has a new record out called Heathen,and he's teamed up with his old producer Tony Visconti for a record that sounds more like the Bowie you've been wanting to hear for a few years now!A couple of classic cover tunes(Pixies' Cactus!) and some new stuff,with a nice 2disc pack available with remixes from Moby & Air.Another old geezer making good!
SANDOZ is an AKA of Richard H.Kirk,one half of Cabaret Voltaire.His new record Chant To Jah is a pretty skanking electro dub affair.Very spacy with some nice vocal samples.Rub-a-dub!
The HookUp >Thanks to my bro' I finally have IAN BROWN's Music Of The Spheres,which is a really lovely record.Somebody needs to put this out in the US!!Also,a HUGE big-ups to my boy at my local music mart for the promo of the new FLAMING LIPS album.People are really going to dig it.More to come....
I also found out today that Amon Tobin & Bonobo will be coming through town on Oct 19th to do DJ sets...should be a very entertaining evening!!
6/8/02
DJ SHADOW put on a very entertaining show last night!The last time I saw him(in the late 90's)he was opening for Jeru da Damaja,and it was super low key,just him in the dark with 2 decks.The show he has now is an audio-visual feast,with 4 decks and some keys,and a big 3 panel video projection set up behind him.The visuals are great,everything synching up with the music,and with some very Floyd like psychedelic moments(Walkie-Talkie).
The sound was pretty good,and he worked the decks deftly,cutting in snippets of songs,fx,and his scratching was amazing.There was a camera mounted by the decks,and when he was letting it fly it a close up shot was projected up on the screen.He focused on the new record,but also played a few classics from his debut.The crowd loved it,and he seemed very genuine,both in his approach & his attitude.Go early enough to catch the mini film that shows first!
6/7/02
I'm off to see DJ SHADOW on the 1's & 2's tonight with my mates ApeONaut & Shifty...should be an interesting experience!He'll be dropping selections from his new LP,and who knows what else.
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