silence is a rhythm too
Tuesday 10/28
P. Diddy's Sean John line of clothing is accused of using sweatshop laborers - P. Diddy, the Kathie Lee Gifford of hip hop.
Note to self - remember to watch the MTV Europe music awards on November 6, featuring a live performance from Kraftwerk.
New releases day today = pretty slim pickings. There's the new Strokes album, the R.E.M. greatest hits package (available as a 2CD with all kinds of rarities & stuff) and the 2CD reissue of Eric B & Rakim's Paid In Full, which includes the seminal Coldcut remix of the title track.
Pet Shop Boys 2CD Greatest Hits collection hits stores in the UK in November. Called Pop Art, it features all 33 (!) of the bands top 20 hits plus 2 new songs.
Elliott Smith Tribute Show next week in L.A. will feature Beck, Grandaddy and Beth Orton.
Monday 10/27
Time For Football
The Vikes blew it. They are now 6 -1, leaving the churning death machine AKA the Kansas City Chiefs as the lone unbeaten team in the NFL. My cautious optimism was dashed once again by Kerry Collins, who I think has a 3 way deal between himself, Jim Fossel and the Devil so that they can always beat the Vikings! Actually, the Vikes beat themselves, because they were in it for most of the game, but stupid plays, lack of plays and a certain sloppiness crept in and gave the G-Men the advantage. Oh well, I didn't expect this team to go undefeated, and 6 -1 is still better than 1 - 6! Here's hoping the Vikes will be better prepared for the visiting Packers next Sunday!
Sunday 10/26
Yesterday was the first Wellstone World Music Day, and the turnout in the Twin Cities was big. All of the profits from the various events are being given to Carry It Forward, which is a documentary in the making about the life of the Wellstones.
Time For Football
The Vikings host the Giants today in a game that the Vikes ought to dominate. I say "ought to" because history has shown the G-Men to have our number - remember the 41 - 0 pounding in the NFC Championship game in 2000? I do. Today's G-Men have a lot of the same talent as the other team, but they are struggling on offense, turning over the ball a lot. Their defense is still to be respected, but now so does ours, and I think our pick happy secondary has to be excited about facing the Giants offense. I'm "cautiously optimistic" because my high hopes have been shattered before. Mike Tice has this team well prepared every week, and unlike the Vikes of old, these guys are stepping up to the challenge when they are down, and so far they have refused to choke in the face of adversity. Just wait until running back Michael Bennett gets back into the lineup next week to see what this offense can do with the high speed running game factored in!
Friday 10/24
You've seen the Fatboy Slim video for Weapon Of Choice - Christopher Walken dancing like Fred Astaire through the deserted hotel lobby. Now, check out this version for a funny take on the same theme.
This one is for those of you who have cable with MTV2 - don't forget to check out tonight's Shortlist 2003 presentation at 8:00 PM Eastern. It's preceded by an hour long special highlighting the nominees. Hey, it's a chance to actually see some good music on MTV!
The new Stereolab album is called Margerine Eclipse and will be out on January 27th.
Right before Radiohead released Hail To The Thief I posted a little link to a story where Thom Yorke was saying that after the album came out the band were going to go in a whole different direction. It would appear that is still the case. Personally I'm glad to hear it because I think they need a change...I haven't listened to Hail To The Thief since a couple of weeks after the album came out - not a good sign!
Thursday 10/23
In among all the new items purchased over the last couple of weeks are a couple of David Bowie 24 bit digital remasters - Scary Monsters and Lodger. I already own Scary Monsters on CD (and LP) but it's one of those infuriatingly quiet Ryko discs. It's the first Bowie record I ever owned (a big sentimental fave) so I am ever-so-happy to have a copy of it that I can put in the 5 disc shuffle at work and actually hear it. Lodger is something I've only owned on vinyl, and my copy is a bit worn and has always sounded a bit tinny to me. This remaster is fanastic - the old cliche about "it's like hearing it for the first time" certainly fits. The mix is louder and a lot punchier, as are all of those crazy Eno sound effects. I love this record - it's a great arty, New Wave-y rock album, with some killer tunes - DJ, Boys Keep Swinging, the huge drumming on Look Back In Anger. Next up, Let's Dance...
Wednesday 10/22
I've got a lot of new music to digest this week - here are a few first impressions. Fans of Yo La Tengo who miss the hard rocking version of the band will be pleased with the new EP Today Is The Day. It kicks off with a new recording of the title track, a harder edged version, and then it proceeds to blaze through a couple more rockin' tunes before settling down into a mellower vibe. Very Yo La Tengo, very good. The Rapture's album Echoes finally came out this week, and it also is the shit. I own a bunch of the tracks already so I more or less knew what this was going to be - a great mix of post-punk rock - chunky bass lines and scratchy guitars, disco beats and a bunch of electronics. Produced by The DFA, it's got hype all over it, but it largely lives up to it. House Of Jealous Lovers still sounds fresh today.
RIP Elliott Smith.
New mp3s today...Basement Jaxx give us the title track from their album, featuring Siouxsie Sioux on vocals - post punk electro clash all up in your face. Two hip hop cuts - the Outkast is the first single from the Big Boi half of the album, an 808 bumping, horn riffing track featuring the smooth r'n'b vocals of Sleepy Brown. The Talib Kweli is from last year, and is an ultimately uplifting track - big choral back ups, positive message and an extremely catchy melody make this track huge - I bought the album on the basis of this one track. Finally, British Sea Power give us the big 80's flavored rock jam - and a very definite Psychedelic Furs feel.
Tuesday 10/21
Madonna has a "Remixed And Revisited" EP due out on November 25th. 7 tracks of remixes, a rarity and the song performed with Britney & Xtina at the MTV VMAs.
A BIG day for new releases today with new albums from The Rapture (finally!!), The Stills, Basement Jaxx, Laika, Plaid, a new EP from Yo La Tengo and a bunch of re-issues of David Sylvian's solo works. Happy shopping!
Monday 10/20
Exactly one month from today I'll be on my way to Chicago to see Duran Duran. The music geek count down has begun...
The return of Fischerspooner, where Warren Fischer is quoted as saying "We don't want an album that goes pop song to pop song. This will be an album with themes that flow from one to another. Pink Floyd is a reference, but it's not as down and introspective, though it takes you on a journey. It's the record I always wanted to make as a kid, something that feels substantial." Pink Floyd, eh?
Time For Football
To win the pool I need between 49 and 59 points to be scored tonight when the Raiders host the (only undefeated team in the NFL besides the Vikes) Kansas City Chiefs. Go Chiefs.
Sunday 10/19
Time For Football
The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated, 6 - 0, after beating the Broncos 28 - 20 this afternoon. Anyone who watches football will by now have seen the "play of the day". It's the last play of the first half, and Culpepper lobs the jump ball towards the end zone. Randy Moss and 3 defenders are there, and of course Randy makes the catch and is tackled simultaneously, and as he's going down he flips the ball over his shoulder into the waiting arms of Moe Williams who runs it in for the touchdown. What an amazing fluke of a play! The defense for the Vikes was huge - a bunch of sacks and picks, and stopped the Broncos on 4th and 10 to win the game. After years of watching the Vikes play with little to no defense I have to say that I'm impressed. Next week we host the Giants, and then the Packers come to town. Could we be looking at 8 - 0? And to top it all off again, I'm in a 3 way tie for the pool. Tonight I'm DJ'ing the bar and I think I'll be in a pretty good mood...
Friday 10/17
In the name of good offensive fun - "What's your prison bitch name?
Missy Elliott is set to release a new album next month and the first single is Pass That Dutch, her homage to Musical Youth's early '80's hit Pass The Dutchie. I'm sure it will be bumpin'. Also from The NME is THIS item about a rumored Radiohead remix album that may (or may not) get released in the US next year (but not in the UK). One of the rumored remixers is Madlib - I'd like to hear that!
Thursday 10/16
Minneapolis based writer Jim Walsh has come up with Wellstone World Music Day in honor of the proudly liberal senator from Minnesota who tragically died in a plane crash last October 25th.
To quote THIS open letter from Jim Walsh, "We're going to start something right here, right now, and we're going to call
it Paul and Sheila Wellstone World Music Day. It will happen on Saturday,
Oct. 25th. On that day, every piece of music, from orchestras to shower singers,
superstars to buskers, will be an expression of that loss and a celebration
of that life. It will be one day, where music-which, to my way of thinking, is
still the best way to fill in the gray areas that the blacks and whites of
everyday life leave us with-rises up in all sorts of clubs, cars, concerts, and
living rooms, all in the name of peace and love and joy and all that good stuff
that gets snickered at by Them." Here is a list of the events that have been scheduled so far.
Wednesday 10/15
Everybody has heard about the fan who got the ball in the Cubs - Marlins series yesterday - the most wanted man in Chicago today after being escorted out of the park last night as fans chanted "Kill him! Kill him!". A friend of mine got THIS in his e-mail today. Funny.
Punk rocker riot in Montreal, eh? Members of The Exploited were denied entry by Canadian customs, leading to the cancellation of the show. Punk lives on...
OK, so I'm a couple of days late for the "International Day Of Action", but here's a link to the Bands Against Bush homepage.
New mp3s today...Duran Duran's Anyone Out There is in honor of the upcoming roadtrip to Chicago - one helluva funky bassline! The Stills tune is a killer new wave song - look for their new album next week. Finally, Monarques are a Twin Cities band born out of the ashes of the Selby Tigers. Typesetter's Song reminds me a lot of Folk Implosion - love the guitar on this one. The other track is a remix by the Busy Signals (another great local act) and is a rocking mash up of beats and My Bloody Valentine styled guitar ambience.
In what has turned out to be a Duran filled week comes more stories...their triumphant return to the British stage and this Dandy Warhol related item.
Tuesday 10/14
On a personal level, this item is huge. My bro and I will be at Chicago's House Of Blues on November 17th to see freaking Duran Duran. He got the tickets today, and our plan is in motion. After 20 plus years of fandom (and of never seeing them live), we are both incredibly psyched. After reading the positive reviews they've had for their recent club gigs I think we're in for a treat. WOO-HOO!
One of my favorite electronic acts Underworld are releasing Anthology 1992-2002 on December 9. A 2 disc set, it covers all the hits and misses. Also being re-released is a CD single for Born Slippy (you know, Trainspotting, lager lager lager} with a new edit of the song and 5 alternate mixes as well as a DVD with four videos for the song.
A slow day for new releases today - look for the new Meshell N'degeocello, The Distillers' Coral Fang and the return of Greg Dulli's Twilight Singers with Blackberry Belle.
Monday 10/13
I updated the upcoming releases page today.
Former REM drummer Bill Berry joined his former band for one song at the end of their US tour. I'd have to say that the part of the story that interests me the most is the little item about his post-REM endeavours - becoming a trained sushi chef - what a crazy change in career direction!
Also from the NME is this item about the Duran Duran comeback show in London - sold out in 4 minutes! Guess I'm not the only Duran fan left.... ;-)
Sunday 10/12
Jet are an Aussie four piece who have just released their debut album Get Born. Based on seeing the video for the first single Are You Gonna Be My Girl (available as a download this week, over to the left of the page) and enjoying it greatly I picked up the album this week. It rocks. Don't expect anything earth shatteringly new here, because new it ain't. These guys are one of those bands for whom time stopped in the late '70's - a mix of Supergrass and some blazing AC/DC and Rolling Stone guitar riffs - and on Lazy Gun a serious blast of T-Rex. The album has a handful of slower tunes on it, but it's the rockers that make it work for me. The record is cheap too, so if you're looking for a fun rock record it's worth checking out.
Another album that has been rocking the house is the The Decline Of British Sea Power by British Sea Power. The record kicks off with some spacy chanting, then launches into the screaming punk rock of Apologies To Insect Life and Favours In The Beetroot Fields. From there it takes in The Psychedelic Furs (the singer on occasion is a dead ringer for Richard Butler), The Butthole Surfers and David Bowie and creates a a classic Brit indie rock album. The track Lately clocks in a 14 minutes and ends with a huge wank fest of feedback and is about the only thing I don't like about the record. It's taken a few listens for this record to pay off, but it has, and I think it will continue to get bigger and bigger...
Saturday 10/11
Blah. That's been my attitude around here the last couple of days, so I haven't written anything at all. Blah. The Vikes don't play this weekend so there isn't even football for me to get excited about. Blah.
Thursday 10/9
And the answer to yesterday's "will Pete rejoin the Libertines?" question is YES. He joined the band for a tiny club gig the same day he was let out of jail. In other Brit related news, Duran Duran have also announced a surprise London gig, the first for the original line up in 18 years!
Wednesday 10/8
News from The NME...Libertines' star Pete Doherty is released early - will he be back in the band? Radiohead's new single 2 + 2 = 5 will have alternate versions of songs from Hail To The Thief, including remixes by Four Tet & Christian Vogel.Also of note is this U2 item - Bono talks about their new album being "a monster" of raging rock. Hmmmmm.
New mp3s today....Jet's track is their new single, and is just a great rock tune - OK, it copies classic riffs from all over the place, but it's still kickin'. The Chemical Brothers is a new track from the singles collection, and features help on vocals and instrumentation from The Flaming Lips - and according to the boys this is the direction their new music is going. The Stereolab track is from their new EP (a slightly harder edged affair) - love the title. Finally, Terry Hall & Mushtaq bring us some Middle Eastern flavored hip hop. Enjoy!
Tuesday 10/7
New releases day today, and new records are out from Aussie rockers Jet, as well as Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros, Death Cab For Cutie, a new EP from Stereolab, and remastered & expanded reissues of all of the old Culture Club records. Happy shopping!
Time For Football
In what has to be one of the greatest comebacks ever the Indianapolis Colts beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in overtime last night. They were down 21 - 0 at the half, and they came out firing in the second half and tied the game 35 -35, then won it on a Vanderjagt field goal 38 - 35. What a huge victory, and because I picked the Colts to win (my big upset pick), and the points total was high I won the football pool again. That puts me at 3 -2 for the year to date. Woo-hoo! My fellow pool players aren't going to like this at all...
Monday 10/6
The Chemical Brothers' Singles 93 - 03 compilation kicks. Always a strong singles act, this is just one block rockin' party tune after another. I picked up the 2CD version, with the second disc being b-sides and 5 previously unreleased tracks. I own most of this music already, and even tho' the bonus stuff is pretty cool, it's mostly the rush from listening to all the hits in a row on disc one that makes it work for me. From Song To The Siren to the new track The Golden Path, a collaboration with the Flaming Lips, it really shows what a great, inventive and most importantly, fun bunch of records these were.
Also rocking the box this weekend was the Compilation #1 collection from the so hip it hurts label The DFA. It's all of the vinyl releases from the last couple of years, and includes such party favorites as The Rapture's House Of Jealous Lovers, LCD Soundsystem's Losing My Edge & Give It Up and tracks from The Juan Maclean & Black Dice. The two Black Dice tracks do nothing for me - arty noise wankery - but the six other tracks are guaranteed to please.
Sunday 10/5
Time For Football
It's about 4:30 in the afternoon and the Vikings have gone 5 - 0. They were looking ugly the first half of the game, and went in at the half down 20 - 12. The second half saw a bunch of adjustments by the Purple, and a return to the running game, and led the boys to their 8th (current longest winning streak in the NFL) straight win - final score 39 - 26. Only Kansas City and Carolina remain undefeated. Now we get a week off, and come back to face the Broncos. God I love football.
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Saturday 10/4
Earlier this week I found out that Virgin Records in the UK has reissued all of the Virgin era recordings by Japan. They are one of my absolute favorite bands from the early '80's UK scene - I've got all of the records - so I was over the moon to see them get the remastered / bonus cuts treatment. Today I was out at the record store and there it was - Gentlemen Take Polaroids, my first ever Japan record, and for sentimental reasons my fave. Even though I own the bonus cuts (2 ambient instrumental b-sides and a Steve Nye remix of Taking Islands In Africa) I still had to have it. It sounds fab - the funkiest fretless basslines, the icy cool synths, the tightly syncopated beats, David Sylvian's otherworldy croon. A lot of people dismiss this stuff as "bad Roxy Music clones" but that's a load of poo. Even my daughter was dancing around the house with me to this one! Now I'll need to get Tin Drum.
Time For Football
The 4 - 0 Vikings head to Atlanta to play the Falcons tomorrow, and again it's a game they should win. The Dirty Birds are a one horse trick, and Michael Vick isn't playing. That should put us at 5 - 0 going into the bye week, and then we host the Broncos - who I picked to lose this weekend against the juggernaut killing machine that is the Kansas City Chiefs. My upset picks this week were Seattle over Green Bay at Lambeau & Indy to beat Tampa at the "New Sombrero" Monday night.
Paul over at God's Audio/Visual Aid has a different take on the whole Limbaugh / ESPN / black QB thing. Personally I say screw Rush - he gets what he deserves.
Friday 10/3
Courtney Love hospitalized / arrested for drug overdose / breaking windows. Way to go & set a good example for Frances. Also newsworthy, Radiohead won Q's Band of the Year award and sent a video where they blasted the mag for it's coverage of the band. Rockstars taking themselves too seriously?
Duran Duran readies 25th Anniversary Tour. Two shows in Chicago in November - my brother & I are already talking roadtrip. Yeah, baby! (They also won Q magazine's lifetime achievement award)
In light of my recent dogging of Fatboy Slim and his Rolling Stones remix I was interested to see this item in the NME today. He's been recording his new album and claims to be moving on to new styles. He says it's quite different and is not going to sound like classic Fatboy - "a more hip hop direction". Guest vocalists include Damon Albarn, Bootsy Collins and Lateef from Blackalicious. A much needed change!
I hit up Hymie's vintage record shop this week and came out with a couple of great scores. Sergio Mende's The Swinger From Rio is, if I'm not mistaken, his solo debut in the US. Most people are familiar with his later "easy listening" output - this album is an album of instrumental, piano based samba and bossa nova, some of it accompanied by Antonio Carlos Jobim on guitar. It was released in 1965, and the copy I scored was immaculate. I have never seen this record before (and I'm a Sergio collector) so I was psyched to come across it, and it's fabulous. The other album is Cannonball Adderley backed up by the Sergio Mendes Trio, another "never heard of this one before" score, and it's more of the same music, but with Cannonball's sweet sax work. Now to see if I can get them burned to CD....
Wednesday 10/1
New mp3s today....Ima Robot's Scream is my current fave from the record. The Outkast tune is from Andre 3000's disc and is some crazy synth pop stuff - keep your eyes peeled for the surreal video where he plays the whole band as they play on an Ed Sullivan type show. Coati Mundi was Kid Creole's sidekick, and the tune is super funky, especially when it breaks into the riff for Me No Pop I. Finally, The Commodores tune is another stone cold funk classic from the '70's. Enjoy...