Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Zak Recommends 'Erykah Badu' and Indie Artists of the Day 'Wunami'

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh


Support your local independent record store. Record store day is April 17th. Check out http://www.recordstoreday.com/



Motown

Real. This is the adjective I will use to describe all things Erykah. The vibe, The Talent, The Music, The Groove thang, The bass, The message. A groovy sexy cool for real protest visionary R & B underline Rhythm underline blues Motown force of nature. Far from the autotuned phony glossy 'R&B' found on the top of the so called hot charts. This thing is burnin up. Now do yoself a real favour and get down. I mean to ground zero where the needle drops and pull hard on the gotta funk it out lever cuz thats the only way to go wit this piece of heaviness that just oozes truth for real and whatchoo need to hear not whatchoo think you need to hear. You gettin this? I ain't gonna go into some kindof waxy poetic motherfuckin squeeky bull shit review. I'm sayin this shit fo real. Go on now .. get yo pale ass down there and pik it up before I leave my bootprint on it.



Erykah Badu for those that don't know is the Queen of Neo-Soul. She is originally from Texas and this newest album marks her sixth release over the last 13 years. She has also appeared in a half dozen major motion pictures.

Tracks:
1. "20 Feet Tall" 3:25
2. "Window Seat" 4:50
3. "Agitation" 1:33
4. "Turn Me Away (Get MuNNY)" 5:26
5. "Gone Baby, Don't Be Long" 4:39
6. "Umm Hmm" 3:45
7. "Love" 6:02
8. "You Loving Me (Session)" 1:04
9. "Fall in Love (Your Funeral)" 6:06
10. "Incense" (featuring Kirsten Agresta) 3:27
11. "Out My Mind, Just in Time" 10:21

Upcoming Shows:
3 Apr 2010 20:00 The Wanda Sykes Show Los Angeles, California
5 Apr 2010 20:00 Chelsea Lately Los Angeles, California
8 Apr 2010 20:00 American Airlines Arena - Waterfront Theatre Miami, Florida
23 Apr 2010 19:30 2010 Tobago Jazz Experience

Official Website:  http://www.erykahbadu.com/



Wunami - Indie Artists of the Day



Wunami makes the following statement on their Myspace page:
Wunami is a four piece band that seeks to creatively destroy the rest. Our message is simple: relinquish your musical endeavors, for they are lost. No gimmick will help you. No amount of technical artistry will save you from our wrath. For the gods, RZA and GZA, are on our side. Let the holy Contra tear down the walls of Outer Heaven. For This is Good and This is Evil. All will and must be lost. May the revolution not fall on indifferent ears.
Now that is a mouthful and I don't know bout all that but I will say this. They are a hard rockin 'Ambient/Metal/' outfit. Tectonic riffs, pulsing bassline, rockin beats. Go to  http://www.wunami.bandcamp.com/  to get a free download of 'The Gutless Wonder' which is an epic awesome track.
Official website:   www.myspace.com/wunami



Zak's Tidbits for March 31st/2010

Check out this video from JustinTimberlake.com interviewing Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne.



Go to www.whoismgmt.com to see details on MGMT's newly announced U.K. tour as well as the new video for 'Flash Delirium'



Barsuk records has just announced the release of Zak favourites Phantogram's new video. Check it out at this link:  http://pitchfork.com/tv/#/musicvideo/4145-phantogram-mouthful-of-diamonds-barsuk

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Zak Flak Recommends 'Gonjasufi' and Indie Artist of the Day 'Finneyerkes'

Gonjasufi - A Sufi and A Killer

Support your local independent record store. Record store day is April 17th. Check out http://www.recordstoreday.com/



Warp Records

This is Gonjasufi's debut full length release. AKA as Sumach Ecks. Gonjasufi takes us on a freaky trippy trip here. Gonja explores a variety of styles, always putting his strange re-realized shape to the music. Hip Hop and rap are two genre labels that are applied to define his sound however he takes these and pushes them into new unexplored territory. He sets the bar high in the quality of the creativity. He puts a far east twist on some of the tracks like 'Kowboyz & Indians' & 'Kobwebz'. 'Sheep' has Soul & R& B influences. 'Suzie Q' is a rocker. 'Candylane is pure 70's funk. 'Ageing' has a 60's psychedelia feel to it. The production is handled by Flying Lotus, The Gaslamp Killer and Mainframe. There is a crackly bassiness to the whole production which gives the album its atmosphere and pulls all the genre hopping together under on cohesive feel. This as well as Sumach's croaky vocals. Some reviewers are calling this album a masterpiece. I won't go this far but I feel it is close to that. It is an exhilarating and interesting listen.



Sumach Ecks is a yoga teacher, rapper and DJ from San Diego. He has been making music for twenty years and it was recognition form his appearance on a Flying Lotus album that caught Warp's attention.

Tracks:
1. Untitled - 0:55
2. "Kobwebz" - 2:13
3. "Ancestors" - 2:36
4. "Sheep" - 4:03
5. "She Gone" - 2:45
6. "SuzieQ" - 1:44
7. "Stardustin'" - 1:04
8. "Kowboyz&Indians" - 2:43
9. "Change" - 2:04
10. "Duet" - 3:06
11. "Candylane" - 2:07
12. "Holidays" - 3:57
13. "Love of Reign" - 2:39
14. "Advice" - 2:45
15. "Klowds" - 3:28
16. "Ageing" - 2:42
17. "DedNd" - 3:38
18. "I've Given" - 3:35
19. "Made" - 10:45

Official Website: http://www.sufisays.com



Finneyerkes - Indie Artists of the Day


Finneyerkes are Randy Yerkes & Matt Finney. They are ambient artists and if you love atmospheric sounds blending beautifully with natural sounds than you must check them out. They are currently working on their newest album 'Approaching'. Release date TBA. You can download four previous albums from their MySpace page.



Official website: http://www.myspace/finneyerkes



Zak's Tidbits for March 30th/2010

Jack White's latest project 'The Dead Weather' just released the first single from the upcoming album. 'Die By The Drop' is available to purchase. The new album is to be named 'Sea Of Cowards' and will be released May 10/11.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Zak Recommends 'Ali Farka Toure & Toumani Diabate' and Indie Artist of the Day 'Wilfred'

Ali Farka Toure And Toumani Diabate - Ali & Toumani
Do not support piracy. Support the artists you love. BUY your music!



World Circuit

This album was recorded five years ago and was the second collaboration between these two great World Music artists. Ali was very sick at the time of this recording and unfortunately passed away the following year. These two men from Mali travelled together to London to play and to record. The desert blues of these two greats has a wonderful cultural tradition that is shaped by their distinctive style. Toure's steel guitar plucking is beautiful and Diabate plays the Kora which has a harp like quality which blends and intertwines wonderfully with the guitar work. The gentle instrumental melodies are backed by the acoustic bass of Orlando Lopez who calls these two Malian's 'Great musicians'.




Whatever the reason that saw this gorgeous recording take so long to see the light of day, the fact is that this is no posthumous throwaway intended to take commercial advantage of the deceased artist. This is a complete and wholly realised piece of work. It is deep and powerful. Ali said, 'playing this music on a traditional guitar is something different'. Of this music which is 100% in the Songhai style 'This blending of music from the north & the south of Mali is truly exceptional' . Highly recommended!

Tracks:
1. Ruby
2. Sabu Yerkoy
3. Be Mankan
4. Doudou
5. Warbe
6. Samba Geladio
7. Sina Mory
8. 56
9. Fantasy
10. Machengoida
11. Kala Djula

Official Website:   http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Ali_Farka_Toure

Official Website: http://www.worldcircuit.co.uk/#Toumani_Diabate



Wilfred - Indie Artists of the Day


Americana folk rock Norwegian style! Drop the needle on Wilfred, lie back and close your eyes. No matter which guess you make on which part of the U.S. these guys are from you would be wrong. They are from Oslo, Norway. The music is base d on 70's rock with great pop hooks. they have been getting airplay in North America with their tunes 'Time After Time' & 'Blue Eyed Angel'. They have finished working on their first full length album and release. Date & Title TBA. You can check out the Myspace page for a variety of tracks or go to the bands official website to check them out.



Wilfred are: Terje Sager, Ingar Blix, Olav Torgeir Kopsland, Alf Magne Hillestad (Lars Andre Kvistum keys : "Searching" and Trond Lien featuring on Hammond B3 : "Land of the blind")

Official website: http://www.wilfredmusic.no

MySpace: http://www.myspace/psychedelic discoangels



Zak's Tidbits for March 29th/2010

From Devo's Blog dated today Mar. 29th :

Friends,

The response to our SXSW panel has been overwhelming and we thank all of you for your continued support. Representatives from our musical division, the band Devo, as well as our corporate partners, used the occasion to present the ongoing mission and plan for the future in an open forum where the public was given the opportunity to respond. And while, unfortunately, important business commitments kept me from attending, I can safely report to you that the meeting accomplished several key tasks:

- Clarifying the state of de-evolution
- Illustrating the mechanics of our marketing plan
- Reviewing our current data and online statistics
- Focus group testing possible album titles
- Autographing a large inflatable dinosaur.

Most importantly, we had the chance to hear directly from the public regarding our mission to appeal to everybody and officially announce the upcoming Devo Song Study. As Derek Feltcher, Manager of Business Affairs, is currently ironing out the final technical details, I can only reinforce to you the importance of this upcoming focus group and continue to express my burning anticipation for its release.

Until then please review this focus group in which, our corporate partner, Mother LA, tested the effectiveness of Devo's new song "Fresh".


I think we can surmise this down to Devo just released their new song 'Fresh'. Check out the video:

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Zak Recommends 'Mose Allison' & Indie Artist Of the Day 'Psychedelic Disco Angels'

Mose Allison - The Way Of the World
Buy your music and support your favourite artists!



Anti Records

Mose Allison was born in 1927. He is one of the most influential Jazz Blues artists of all time. He had a huge impact on the blues based rock bands of the 60`s. Artists such as The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Cream and the Who have repeatedly cited Mose as a major influence. The Who made `Young Man Blues`a staple of their live repertoire. The Yardbirds and many others have covered Ì`m Not Talking`. He was later covered by 70`s `punk`acts. The Clash & Elvis Costello. Van Morrison did an entire tribute album to the man.


After a twelve year absence from recording , Mose, 82 years young has returned with a new album titled `The Way Of The World`. this is his 34th full release in a recording career now going into its 7th decade. The shear depth and breadth of his work is utterly remarkable. This new album recorded over five days with a small loose group of collaborators demonstrates that this man still has the fire and wit of an active and curious mind. The voice is weathered and leathery. There are touches of waltz, swing, bop and blues here and it is played out on the piano with artful crispness.

Tracks:
1. My Brain
2. I Know You Didn`t Mean It
3. Everybody Thinks You`re An Angel
4. Let It Come Down
5. Modest Proposal
6. Crush
7. Some Right, Some Wrong
8. The Way Of the World
9. Ask Me Nice
10. Once In A While
11. I`m Alright
12. This New Situation

Official Website: http://www.moseallison.com

Upcoming Shows:
April 2 & 3, Jazz Corner, Hilton Head, SC
April 9, The Beauty Shop Restaurant, Memphis, TN
April 10, The Township Jazz Festival, Ridgeland, MS
May 22 & 23, Snug Harbor, New Orleans, LA
May 27, Anthology, San Diego, CA
May 28, Jazz Institute Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, CA Celebrating Al Cohn and Zoot Sims




Psychedelic Disco Angels - Indie Artists of the Day



Psychedelic Electronica house beats. Hypnotic cool rhythms. Dreamy disembodied vocals. Throbbing pulsating Bass lines. Based in Jersey City, PDA are currently in the studio working on the next batch of magic that will be their next album. This will be their second effort and is to b titled `Digital Power`. Check out the Myspace page where you can get a free download to chill to.



Psychedelic Disco Angels are: Roman - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Keys, Bass, Drums, Beats, Noise

Meredith - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Keys, Bass, Beats

Official website: http://www.myspace/psychedelic discoangels



Zak's Tidbits for March 26th/2010

Gord Downie - Still untitled third solo release is coming out June 8th. It is his first in 7 years. See  http://www.gordownie.com/

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Zak Recommends 'The Dillinger Escape Plan' & Indie Artist of the Day 'Night of the Snake'

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis

Please BUY your music & support the artists you love! As my friend Fearless Fred said on the EDGE today, 'It's Basic Economics kids!'


Season Of Mist Records


The Dillinger Escape Plan's fourth release is an epic monster! 2010 has so far been a great year for music with many great releases by a great assortment of artists but honest to Betsy kids I am putting this one at the top of the list so far. This album is multi-faceted. DEP can assault you with an unbelievable sonic force of screaming guitars and vocals and then trail off into a melodic interlude then plunge you right back into the gale force sonic blast. It all works and it is all beautiful. This is an honest and brilliant piece of work. "Gold Teeth On A Bum' and album opener 'Farewell, Mona Lisa' are standout tracks. The vocals on Gold Teeth are awesome.

 This is such a raw tour de force of an album that it takes a few turns to really start to appreciate the detail and precision of this work as well as the technical proficiency of the playing. And thats a good thing because on first play you may not only miss the finer points, you may even have an adverse reaction. No worries because you can look forward to the fact that repeated plays will bring you to the point where you really appreciate all that is the glory of this great album.



The Dillinger Escape Plan emerged from the punk trio Arcane in 1997. Ben Weinman is the last remaining founding member and the lineup now consists also of Liam Wilson, Greg Puciato, Jeff Tuttle & Billy Rymer.

Tracks:
1. "Farewell, Mona Lisa" − 5:23
2. "Good Neighbor" − 2:30
3. "Gold Teeth on a Bum" − 5:22
4. "Crystal Morning" − 2:02
5. "Endless Endings" − 2:32
6. "Widower" − 6:23
7. "Room Full of Eyes" − 4:15
8. "Chinese Whispers" − 4:06
9. "I Wouldn't If You Didn't" − 4:14
10. "Parasitic Twins" − 4:41

Official Website:  http://www.myspace.com/dillingerescapeplan

Upcoming Shows:
27 Mar 2010 20:00 The Basement - HEADLINING Columbus, Ohio
28 Mar 2010 20:00 First Unitarian Church - HEADLINI Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
29 Mar 2010 20:00 Otto Bar - HEADLINING Baltimore, Maryland
30 Mar 2010 20:00 Chameleon Club - HEADLINING Lancaster, Pennsylvania
31 Mar 2010 20:00 Diesel - HEADLINING Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1 Apr 2010 20:00 The Eagle Theatre - HEADLINING Pontiac, Michigan



Night of the Snake - Indie Artists of the Day


 I needed to feature a tour de sonic force artist for this feature to equal the gale force of todays 'recommends' review. I needed to look no further than fellow Torontonians 'Night of the Snake'. Monster riffs, Monster vocals, Monster tunes. Self described Death Metal outfit ROCKS super hard. 'Earth+You=Happy Me' is a particular fave tune for me. Nights of the Snake is playing 'DC Music Theatre' in Toronto this Saturday. Please check out their Myspace page.



Night of the Snake are: Remi vocals, MattyB bass & Pat guitar

Official website: http://www.myspace/nightofthesnake



Zak's Tidbits for March 25th/2010

MGMT have some limited edition Litho prints available for sale on their website. Check out  http://www.whoismgmt.com/. New album releases officially April 13th.

Green Day - Check out Billy Joe Armstrong & Paul Westerberg's interview for Spin Magazine here:  http://www.spin.com/articles/billie-joe-armstrong-meets-paul-westerberg

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Flames Of Ice - Indie Artist Of The Day


 
Buy Your Music and support the Artists you love!



If you love Techno/Industrial check out Flames Of Ice. He is an independent artist out of Ball Ground, Georgia. His Techno Industrial housebeats are grounded in that tradition. Brooding, Moody and Apocalyptic. The kind of beats that will get you on the floor. FOI is currently working on a new album and if tracks like 'Without', 'Starting Over' & 'My level' are any indication of what's in the pipeline I can't wait to hear what he's been stirring up. FOI has been cultivating a steadily rising fanbase and for fans of this genre there is good reason for this. Check it out for yourself on his website.


VLOG 3

Flames Of Ice ~NEW BLOG!!!~


MySpace Music Videos

Official website:  http://www.myspace.com/flamesofice

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Crime In Stereo, I Was Trying To Describe Someone To You Review - Johnny Philko, Indie Artist Of The Day


Zak Recommends: Crime In Stereo - I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone
PLEASE BUY YOUR MUSIC & SUPPORT THE ARTISTS



Bridge Nine Records

'I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone' is a phenomenal album. It is the fourth for these hard rockers from Long Island, N.Y. Many of the tracks have an almost stadium size feel to them. Check out 'Exit Halo',' Type One' & 'Dark Island City'. On tracks like 'Drugwolf' & 'Everything I am not' I can hear the audience slogan chanting as I listen to these spacious anthems. To call this hard rock is to not do it justice. This is a band that has pushed themselves and in the process have achieved a new level that sets the bar high for them and their contemporaries. This is an accomplished piece of work. A definite contender for best album so far this year.


Crime In Stereo formed in 2002. They are Kristian Hallbert - Vocals, Alex Dunne - Guitar/Vocals, Scotty Giffin - Drums, Gary Ciono - Bass & Eric Kuster - Guitar.

Tracks:
1. Queue Moderns
2. Drugwolf
3. Exit Halo
4. Not Dead
5. Odalisque
6. Young
7. Type One
8. Republica
9. I Am Everything I Am Not
10. Dark Island City
11. I Cannot Answer You Tonight

Official Website:  http://www.crimeinstereo.com/

Upcoming Shows:
26 Mar 2010 19:00 Looney Tunes In Store and Signing West Babylon, New York
3 Apr 2010 20:00 Ethical Humanist Society Garden City, Long Island, New York
6 Apr 2010 7:30 The Basement **Headline Show** Columbus, Ohio
7 Apr 2010 20:00 Subterranean **Headline Show** Chicago, Illinois
8 Apr 2010 20:00 Mad Maggie’s **Headline Show** Elgin, Illinois
9 Apr 2010 20:00 The Loft **Headline Show** Madison, Wisconsin



Johnny Philko - Indie Artists of the Day



Johnny Philko are a Blues/Rock outfit from Cleveland. Their new album, Exit From Babylon is an excellent rocker. They do a cover of Bruce Cockburn's 'If I Had A Rocket Launcher' that gives me goose pimples. I truly love it. Peace Prayer is a beautiful slow paced hymn with super nice guitar work. Check out the MySpace page to get a listen. The album is available online from CDbaby, Kunaki, Amazon & Target through the bands official website. Their song 'One Stormy Night' from the first album, 'Songs To Swear By' is listed as # 29 on Neil Young's top protest songs of all time.


Johnny Philko are: Mike Kinkead, Chris Kinkead, John Hughes & David Sanderson.

Official website:  http://www.johnnyphilko.org/



Zak's Tidbits for March 3rd/2010

Justin Bieber's new album is out today and that is a fact that would not normally show up on this page. Funny thing is, it is getting good reviews for what it is.

Zak says 'Hey Man it's a slow fukn news day.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Polar Bear Peepers Review & Exit The Ordinary Indie Artist of the Day


Zak Recommends: Polar Bear - Peepers
Buy your music and support the artists you love!
Leaf Spain Records

Polar Bear are a five piece experimental jazz band that are led by drummer and composer Seb Rochford. Peepers is their fourth album. Led by Seb this is a group of five experienced, talented and creative musicians getting it done. The saxophone work of Pete Wareham & Mark Lockheart is superb. Wareham in particular is outstanding here. Rochford's percussion work is equally impressive and Leafcutter John's guitar work gives the sound a bit of a rock edge.



Polar Bear started out in 2004. They are based in London, England,

Tracks:
1 Happy For You • 4:09
2 Bap Bap Bap • 2:12
3 Drunken Pharoah • 3:26
4 The Love Didn't Go Anywhere • 7:00
5 A New Morning Will Come • 4:42
6 Peepers • 4:24
7 Bump • 0:38
8 Scream • 0:36
9 Hope Every Day Is a Happy New Year • 4:07
10 Want to Believe Everything • 4:36
11 Finding Our Feet • 6:38
12 All Here • 5:50

Official Website:  http://www.polarbearmusic.com/

Upcoming Shows:
27 Mar 2010 20:00 the firestation windsor
23 Apr 2010 20:00 ether festival free gig london
26 Apr 2010 20:00 jazz club hipnoza Katowice
2 May 2010 20:00 camden crawl camden london
3 May 2010 20:00 cheltenham jazz festival cheltenham
13 May 2010 20:00 rescue rooms nottingham



Exit The Ordinary - Indie Artists of the Day



Exit the Ordinary are an Alternative Indie rock band from Detroit. Their self titled album is out now and is available on iTunes, Amazon and Best Buy. They just signed a deal with MTV, E! & Oxygen networks so you could be seeing their songs on shows like The Hills etc. Also their tune 'The Place You Are' was selected for the movie "The Butterfly Effect 2" soundtrack. They are also getting lots of College radioplay and are charting on the college rock charts. The album is excellent. Check out their home page and their MySpace page to get a sample of what their sound is like.



Exit The Ordinary are: Tim West - Vocals/Guitar, Justin Niemi - Bass, Kyle Bondy - Drums.
Official website:   http://www.exittheordinary.net/



Zak's Tidbits for March 2nd/2010

MGMT fans take note. The boys have been streaming tracks from the upcoming new album on their website. Check it out while they are still up.  http://www.whoismgmt.com/

Muse from SXSW. Go to Muse's website and check out the awesome video of their performance at SXSW. I caught them in Toronto recently and as awesome as their full stadium show is, this small venue event looks mindblowing. http://www.muse.mu/

R.I.P. Alex Chilton. the great and legendary leader of Big Star passed away just three days before their show at the SXSW. The band played a teary eyed tribute performance to their fallen leader and many 'Big Stars' stepped in to deliver on the vocals.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Zak recommends, Pavement - Quarantine the Past

Please support your local independent record store!


Matador Records


I'm sure that all Pavement fans are aware that they are re-uniting this year and will be touring. To go along with this the band has hand-picked 23 tracks for this greatest hits compilation. I don't normally review greatest hits collections in this space but I feel this release is warranted as it is filled to overflowing with many great tracks and for anyone who has not heard Pavement before this is a great place to start. Most of the faves & classics are here however there is also some oddball choices to keep things interesting. They are also not in chronological order, which I have no issue with. The whole is cohesive and it works well. There is a wide enough range of material represented here to give the listener a good spectrum of the range of this great bands work.


Pavement's lo-fi slacker rock was probably the best indie music of the 90's. There are probably going to be many who will complain about some of the omissions in this collection but that is bound to happen when you try to distil their work down and still try to maintain a solid cross section. there are tracks from their first EP right up to their final studio album. Although not a commercially successful band these guys are cited as major influences by many artists that came in the decade after them. A chance to see them this year on the tour should be memorable.

Tracks:

1 Gold Soundz (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
2 Frontwards (Watery, Domestic EP)
3 Mellow Jazz Docent (Perfect Sound Forever EP)
4 Stereo (Brighten the Corners)
5 In the Mouth a Desert (Slanted & Enchanted)
6 Two States (Slanted & Enchanted)
7 Cut Your Hair (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
8 Shady Lane / J Vs. S (Brighten the Corners)
9 Here (Slanted & Enchanted)
10 Unfair (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
11 Grounded (Wowee Zowee)
12 Summer Babe (Winter Version) (Slanted & Enchanted)
13 Range Life (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
14 Date w/ IKEA (Brighten the Corners)
15 Debris Slide (Perfect Sound Forever EP)
16 Shoot the Singer (1 Sick Verse) (Watery, Domestic EP)
17 Spit on a Stranger (Terror Twilight)
18 Heaven Is a Truck (Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain)
19 Trigger Cut/Wounded-Kite at :17 (Slanted and Enchanted)
20 Embassy Row (Brighten the Corners)
21 Box Elder (Slay Tracks 1933-1969 EP)
22 Unseen Power of the Picket Fence (No Alternative compilation)
23 Fight This Generation (Wowee Zowee)
Official Website:  http://www.myspace.com/pavement

Upcoming Shows:

April

Wed 07 Tokyo, YO JP Studio Coast

Thu 08 Tokyo, YO JP Studio Coast

Sat 10 Osaka, KA JP Zepp

Mon 12 Nagoya, YA JP Club Quattro

Mon 12 Nagoya, YA JP Zepp

Sun 18 Indio, CA Coachella

The Kenzos - Indie Artists of the Day

Buy your music to support the artists you love!


The Kenzos


Get Lost Records

Kenzos is a local term for denizens from the fine Philly hood of Kensington. Guitar player/singer Joey James was high school pals with bassist Keith Graber. They went their separate ways after that and after doing some world travelling to different corners of the globe, both ended up in L.A.. Neither of them were aware that the other was there and only 20 mins. apart. After discovering this via family they got in touch and started up their band the Kenzos with drummer Mark Savage. They list among their influences STP, Sabbath, Nirvana, Radiohead, NIN, Beck and a wide array of other Rock & Alternative artists. It is this mix of influences that gives these guys a nice grunge/rock sound with prog & blues influences. Joey's vocals are reminiscent of Jeff Martin from the Tea Party & their overall sound is similar to the Tea Party. I particularly enjoyed the track 'Carstruck' and enjoyed their tracks overall. Their debut self titled CD is available through all the usual online places. Check it out at  http://www.thekenzos.com/


Maniac

The Kenzos


MySpace Music Videos

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Zak Recommends - The Besnard Lakes - ...Are The Roaring Night

Please buy your music from your local independent music store! Record Store Day is April 17th! Check out: http://www.recordstoreday.com/



Jagjaguwar Label


'the band could have just as easily named their new album The Besnard Lakes Are the Most Consistent Rock Band On Earth', Greg Argo adequacy.net, ' Right now no one is making music this grand, this big, this moving with so much assurance.' Greg Kot Chicago Tribune. These are a couple of examples of the kind of high praise that The Besnard Lakes are drawing from the critics on their new release. This is the bands third release and their best to date. These Canadian indie artists are among the best around right now. They are being ranked with fellow Canadian artists like Arcade Fire & Broken Social Scene. High praise indeed and worthy. This album is excellent. The structure of it is two five track sections. The first opens with 'Like the Ocean, Like the Innocent; Pts. 1 & 2 & the second part with 'Land of Living Skies; Pts. 1 & 2. Both are epic and build slowly to a full force gale. They have an atmospheric sound and sonically this album sounds very similar or maybe even a continuation of the last album '...Are the Dark Horse'. This album seems to be more cohesive. This is most likely a result of being recorded in one month long effort and mixed in another three week session. The first two records were recorded in a more haphazard schedule. I believe this has resulted in a higher achievement artistically.



The band is named after an isolated lake in the wilderness of Saskatchewan. Jace Lasek the leader and lead vocal of the band started making an annual trip with a friend to the lakes. Here is where the quiet and solitude would give Jace the opportunity to reflect and eventually develop the idealistic inspiration for the themes that run through his music and lyrics. The band is based in Montreal, however Jase is originally from Regina and met Olga there.

Tracks:

1. Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent; Pt. 1: The Ocean
2. Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent; Pt. 2: The Innocent
3. Chicago Train
4. Albatross
5. Glass Printer
6. Land of Living Skies; Pt. 1: The Land
7. Land of Living Skies; Pt. 2: The Living Skies
8. And This is What We Call Progress
9. Light Up The Night
10. The Lonely Moan

The Besnard Lakes are husband & wife Jace Lasek & Olga Goreas, Kevin Lang & Richard White.

Official Website: http://www.thebesnardlakes.com

Upcoming Shows:

25 Mar 2010 20:00 Liverpool Academy 2 Liverpool

26 Mar 2010 20:00 Arnolfini Bristol

27 Mar 2010 20:00 Cockpit Leeds

28 Mar 2010 20:00 Captain’s Rest Glasgow

29 Mar 2010 20:00 Dulcimer Manchester

30 Mar 2010 20:00 Hare and Hounds Birmingham

31 Mar 2010 20:00 Cargo London

1 Apr 2010 20:00 Vera Groningen, Noord-Holland

2 Apr 2010 20:00 Paradiso Amsterdam, Noord-Holland

3 Apr 2010 20:00 Trix Antwerp

4 Apr 2010 20:00 Logo Hamburg

6 Apr 2010 20:00 Cafe Mono Oslo

7 Apr 2010 20:00 Debaser Stockholm

8 Apr 2010 20:00 Debaser Malmo

11 Apr 2010 20:00 Magnet Berlin

12 Apr 2010 20:00 59 to 1 Munich

13 Apr 2010 20:00 Sudhaus Basel

14 Apr 2010 20:00 Casa a Chocs Neuchatel

15 Apr 2010 20:00 Theatre Lino Venture Nice

Sean Atkins - Unsigned Indie Artist of the Day

Buy your music to support the artists you love!


Sean Atkins


Unsigned

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is Sean Atkins our Unsigned indie artist of the day. He has a beautiful Indie folk sound. Check out his myspace page where he has a good selection of his recordings available as free downloads. It is worth the effort. His vocals are tender with an aching emotional quality on tracks like 'So Little To Lose'. There is also a nice vocal duet with Rachel Reed on 'Gone'.


Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/seanatkins

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Dead Surf Country - alt. Country/Folk Welsh Style

Buy your music and support the artists who enrich your life!


Unsigned


If you love alt country/americana then you should check out Dead Surf Country from Wales. Tender acoustic guitar combined with electric guitar riffs and Meg & Lizzie's vocals has a real American feeling for these Welsh folk. The electric guitar has a nice soaring quality and interplays with the acoustic work perfectly. Check out tunes like 'Then I Met You', 'Lost' & 'My first Trip' on their Myspace page. This is sweet chill acoustics. Gentle love poems with White Cave Receiver pushing into some spacier electronic realms courtesy of Black Mountain Transmitter. 'My First Trip' has got a nice folksy feel and the duo vocals are beautiful. DSC are currently in the studio working on a couple of new tracks. Their EP is available through their website & much more on iTunes & other online channels.


Dead Surf Country is Meg Jenkins & Lizzie Clarke - Vocals, Mark Mathews - Acoustic Guitar & Glen Hawksworth Electric guitar & Banjo. They hail from Swansea in the SW of Wales, a city of Approximately 170,000.
Official Website: http://www.myspace.com/megandmark

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach

Buy your music and support the artists you love!


Virgin Records


Well I'm sure that most of you are aware of the fact that the newest Gorillaz release 'Plastic Beach' is out on the street. It is just so damn good I must give it space on the old blog here. It is an impressive project with an impressive list of collaborators which includes Snoop Dogg, Bobby Womack, Mos Def, De La Soul, Lou Reed, Mick Jones & Paul Simonon among others. Damon Albarn & Jamie Hewlett have come up with another smasher. It is brilliant, mind blowing, each collaborator is used to the best against the tableau in which each is placed. This album is sure to produce a handful of hits with 'Rhinestone Eyes', 'Stylo' & 'Superfast Jellyfish' sounding to be surefire as they come. the overall concept has our man Murdoc marooned on an island consisting entirely of garbage. This idea of pollution and waste accumulating to destroy the planet is prevasive throughout the album. This work is so dense and detailed that it will take repeated listens to start to connect the dots and hear all the nuances, layers and details. You will want to do this as it all sounds so fucking good. Another great contender for my best pick of the year.


This is the Gorillaz third album and the first to be self produced by Damon Albarn.

Tracks:

1. "Orchestral Intro" (featuring sinfonia ViVA) Gorillaz 1:09

2. "Welcome to the World of the Plastic Beach" (featuring Snoop Dogg and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble)
Gorillaz, Snoop Dogg 3:35

3. "White Flag" (featuring Bashy, Kano, and The Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music)
Gorillaz, Bashy, Kano 3:43

4. "Rhinestone Eyes" Gorillaz 3:20

5. "Stylo" (featuring Bobby Womack and Mos Def) Gorillaz, Mos Def 4:30

6. "Superfast Jellyfish" (featuring Gruff Rhys and De La Soul) Gorillaz, De La Soul, Gruff Rhys 2:54

7. "Empire Ants" (featuring Little Dragon) Gorillaz, Yukimi Nagano 4:43

8. "Glitter Freeze" (featuring Mark E. Smith) Gorillaz, Mark E. Smith 4:03

9. "Some Kind of Nature" (featuring Lou Reed) Gorillaz, Lou Reed 2:59

10. "On Melancholy Hill"  Gorillaz 3:53

11. "Broken" Gorillaz 3:17

12. "Sweepstakes" (featuring Mos Def and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble) Gorillaz, Mos Def 5:20

13. "Plastic Beach" (featuring Mick Jones and Paul Simonon) Gorillaz 3:47

14. "To Binge" (featuring Little Dragon) Gorillaz, Yukimi Nagano 3:55

15. "Cloud of Unknowing" (featuring Bobby Womack and sinfonia ViVA) Gorillaz 3:06

16. "Pirate Jet" Gorillaz 2:32

Official Website: http://gorillaz.com

Upcoming Shows:

Live Rehearsals that will play in front of audiences

21st March – Portsmouth Wedgwood

22nd March – Bristol Trinity

23rd March – Cambridge Junction

25th March – Brighton Old Market

26th March – Birmingham Irish Centre

27th March – Lincoln Engine Shed

This will be followed by an appearance @ Coachella on Sunday April 18th

Monday, March 15, 2010

Titus Andronicus - The Monitor

BUY your music from the BEST place you can, your local independent record store. They care about the music you love and deserve your support!



XL Recordings

The Monitor is Titus Andronicus' second full length release & first for the XL label. The album title is from the famous Civil War battleship. New modern Americana punk. The best way to understand where you are is draw upon the history of where you have been. This record feels so new and modern and yet at the same time, so old and antiquated in a very good way. In a very relevant and effective way. With references pulled from so many sources and varied sources. Stolen lyric from local hero Springsteen. Actual recording of Abe Lincoln speech that resonates with the message of where we are at today. This reveals an incredible ability to use these historic references to give warning on where we stand today. There is a lo-fi girttiness to the feel of the music with lyrics that provide a narrative of the pessimistic times band leader Patrick Stickles finds himself in. There is bleakness in the message but there are moments of great tenderness. And there are a lot of moments where the band plain rocks with lusty singalong vocals and jangling riffs, mixed with dance hard rhythms. This is just a plain damn good rock record with intelligence and a concept that works in its whole.


Titus Andronicus are Patrick Stickles, David Robbins, Amy Klein, Eric Harm & Ian Graetzner. They are from Glen Rock, New Jersey.
Official Website: http://www.titusandronicus.net

Upcoming Shows:

18 Mar Rolling Stone Showcase @ Beauty Bar Annex w/ Deer Tick [SXSW] Austin, Texas

19 Mar Frontgate Tickets Party @ Frontage Tickets Lot [SXSW] Austin, Texas

20 Mar Pitchfork Showcase @ The Scoot Inn w/ Here We Go Magic, the Very Best [SXSW] Austin, Texas

20 Mar Fucked Up Saves Music showcase @ Red 7 Patio w/ Fucked Up, J Mascis [SXSW] Austin, Texas

21 Mar Black Market w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] EL PASO, Texas

22 Mar Chyro Arts w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] Phoenix, Arizona

23 Mar Bootleg Theater w/ Let’s Wrestle [18+] LOS ANGELES, California

24 Mar Club Mercy w/ Ted Leo/RX [ALL AGES] Santa Barbara, California

25 Mar SLO Arts Center w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] San Luis Obispo, California

26 Mar Cellar Door w/ Let’s Wrestle [21+] Visalia, California

27 Mar Luigi’s Fungarden w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] Sacramento, California

28 Mar Slim’s w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] SAN FRANCISCO, California

30 Mar Vera Project w/ Let’s Wrestle [ALL AGES] SEATTLE, Washington

31 Mar Mississippi Studios w/ Let’s Wrestle [21+] PORTLAND, Oregon

1 Apr 917 Main Street w/ Let’s Wrestle [19+] Vancouver, British Columbia

2 Apr The Palace [18+] MISSOULA, Montana

4 Apr The Aquarium FARGO, North Dakota

5 Apr 7th St Entry [18+] MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota

6 Apr Project Lodge [ALL AGES] Madison, Wisconsin

7 Apr Bottom Lounge [17+] CHICAGO, Illinois

8 Apr Majestic Café [18+] DETROIT, Michigan

9 Apr Sneaky Dee’s [19+] Toronto, Ontario

10 Apr Green Room [ALL AGES] Montreal, Quebec

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Adam Gnade - Trips To The Dark Side & Beyond

Please buy your music and support the artists you love!


Punch Drunk Press

I have had the pleasure of having an interview/discussion with Adam over the last few days. Adam is an artist who is deeply committed to his craft both literary and musically. His vision is distinct and his message is real. He was very honest in our talk and his frankness was refreshing and revealing. Here was our talk:

Q. Because of the specificity geographically to many of your song stories I am curious to know what and/or who are your main influences both musically and literary?

A. Well, I mostly write about California. That's what the book's about, and the next one will be too. So I guess it makes sense that I like a lot of California stuff. Steinbeck's Salinas River Valley stories are big ones for me. Joanna Newsom too. I like very detailed, dense, crowded things like that. Things that feel alive and imperfect and human. When I lived there I listened to nothing but the band X. Nothing but drinking 40s and getting in trouble and listening X's "We're Desperate" over and fucking over again. That shit was my mantra. I wanted to fucking kill. I was a monster.

Q. That must have taken you to some dark places. It is from the dark we see more clearly the beauty in things I think, I'm glad to see you mention Joanna. She is incredibly detailed and dense in her work. I guess many of your stories are autobiographical?

A. Yeah, there were some dark times. I tend to tone the stories down a lot. I don't want them to be too brutal, or as brutal as real life is. But yeah, it's autobiographical.

Q. In writing your talking songs, do you start with the tune or melody and then start to apply the lyric? What is your approach to the process?

A. Earlier it was a mess. I'd record drunk, do a lot of directless improv, bring friends in, just jerk around fast and loose with it. But I was never happy with the result. Recently the music's become a much more solitary thing. I like the idea of full-band recordings but for me it makes more sense with the lyrics--which really are a loner's story, y'know someone wandering out in the wasteland--to have it be solo recordings. Lately I've gone even deeper into minimalism. I like bare, stark recordings that feel like lonely places. So the music comes first because I want to set that mood.
The Wild Homesick's the record I feel best about. I wanted it to feel like a hot, troubled summer in Texas, electricity in the skies, bats in the dusk, motels and trailerparks. So I recorded some very bare, warm, busted-up acoustic tracks and then wrote the lyrics to suit. It's not my most crowd-pleasing record, but I don't really care.


Q. Having been to Texas, I really get that. I love it. I also really like your idea of the solitude. The loner. I understand you are now living in a fairly isolated setting. Expanding on this idea of the writing is there an underlying or overarching message to your writing whether literary or musical?

A. Sure. I want to tell people, Don't live your life in a way that you'll end up disappointed with it. Because there's nothing worse than being disappointed with how your life turned out. That goes back to living in a way you're satisfied with, and with not turning your back on what you believe your purpose to be. Life's a nasty, hard, mean motherfucker sometimes and lots of assholes will tell you to live different than you should, but you can't ignore your inner-drive. There's nothing worse than someone who sees the direction they should go in and then goes the opposite way. You've got to trust your heart when it tells you your purpose.

Q. Cool. I say each challenge and experience whether it is good or bad gives you two options. You have the choice. Either be better or be bitter. What was your early life like growing up? Family? Siblings? How has your upbringing and family life impacted and influenced you?

A. I grew up close to the beach. We had money and then we were poor and in a trailerpark and then we had money again and then we were poor and back and forth. It was a good upbringing I guess. I'm an only child. No brothers and sisters. I don't know if any of that affected or influenced what I do directly. If anything not having siblings made me learn how to be okay being alone. I figured out how to entertain myself early. Didn't have much use for a lot of friends. Even now I keep close to some very good people but I don't care much for having a social group. Work is more important to me than parties, for sure. That's the big problem with being the kind of writer that writes books. You need this big gap of time every day to be alone. It's terrible to your friendships. After a while people just stop calling. But if you're going to follow what you believe is your purpose, there are some things you just have to accept, sacrifices you have to make...

Q. Absolutely. Commitment to your art or purpose involves self sacrifice. Do you have any plans for side projects such as the Faux-Hoax endeavour?

A. Yeah, definitely. I'm in this noise band called COASTS with some kids from Pennsylvania. We did an EP that was really just one long 20-minute track, that came out on the Hello America! split CD with some of my own stuff and some Ohioan tracks. It's kind of just quiet textures, lots of field recordings, everything really mellow, warm, no vocals besides some wordless harmonies. I'm kind of from the noise scene, so this is my chance to do that. We're working on a full-length right now for a tape release. Gonna be music to fall asleep to. Lots of space, lots of barely-there stuff. I'm really happy with COASTS. Nice not to do vocals sometimes. I get sick of myself.

Q. LOL! Don't get too sick of yourself. Sounds like fun stuff to work on. How was it working with an aged veteran like Dave Allen from such a legendary group the Gang Of Four?

A. Dave's a guy I know from Portland, where he lives now. I guess I met him through Danny Seim, who's in a good Portland band, Menomena. I really liked doing that track, Your Friends Will Carry You Home, but there wasn't much working together. We kind of just recorded our stuff separately and then it was put together. After that some other guys came and added stuff, Jim from Granddaddy and Modest Mouse and John from Tracker. We talked about touring it but Dave did the Gang of Four reunion thing right after that and then Menomena went on tour and I went on tour and it was done. Pretty fun to have something of mine on vinyl though. Somewhere there's a remix that's ten times better than the song Polyvinyl released.

Q. That's alright. Gang Of Four and X are from my day. Entertainment! is one of my all time fave albums. How about Youthmovies? It looks like you guys are tight. Any planned collaborations coming up?

A. Youthmovies are my best friends. Always the top notch of everything. This tour I'm leaving for next week is their farewell tour so there's no more of that. I'm pretty bummed out about it. We did an EP of songs together and a couple more that came out on their last EP on Blast First (Petite.) We're tight as it gets. Playing with them is a huge party every time.

Q. Thats gotta be fun, working with good pals like that. I see a handful of dates in Britain on your calendar. Are there more dates planned beyond this?

A. No, it's just a short one. I'll probably do some US dates when I get back but that's all in the UK for now. I have high hopes for Manchester. I've played there for the last four years and each show has been at the Nite and Day and each one has been progressively worse. This time we're playing the Deaf Institute, so fingers crossed. One of my friends who lives out there blames all the old satanic mills in the area. We had a laugh about it, but I just blame myself.

Q. Blame yourself in what way?

A. I get rattled easy. And when I get rattled I have a hard time getting through my set and when I have a hard time getting through my set I drink more and then I get mouthy and then I stop caring and then I do stupid things like challenging people in the crowd to fights. Every show at the Nite and Day, which is a fine venue, something's gone wrong that's shook me up and ruined my set. Last time my guitar pickup just died on me mid-song which made me really nervous, then I jumped off the stage and stood in the middle of the crowd to play without amplification and it was so loud on the floor I couldn't hear my guitar and I played a song and a half and left. It's always something stupid like that. Time before that, the stage lights were so hot I was sweating into my eyes so much I couldn't even see. The lights got so hot they started burning the skin on my face and I got into this big argument with the lighting guy and after that it was just a big downhill slide.

Q. Thats too bad man. Like I said earlier. Bitter or better. If you can, tell me what your five favourite all time albums are?

A. Let's go with Neutral Milk Hotel's In the Aeroplane Over the Sea, Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run and Born in the USA, Los Angeles by X, and Donovan's Greatest Hits. Though maybe that Donovan one doesn't fly. I'm kind of only picking it because of the "Hurdy Gurdy Man," which is my favorite song. So instead of that, let's go with the first Locust CD, the self-titled 3" CD.

In addition to his mini tour of the U.K., Adam is currently working on his second novel, Friends Will Carry You Home.

Official Website: http://www.adamgnade.com





Saturday, March 13, 2010

Junk Culture

Please buy your music to support your artists and their work.



Illegal Art Indie Label


Check out Junk Culture. AKA Deepak Mantena, he is a self described Soul/Tropical/Visual artist. His music is a mad mix of electronics, DJ scratches, samples, and effected vocals. All are used to create a sound image. He uses footage from 1950's propaganda films to create a hypnotic visual backdrop to his live performances. Used to great effect, it is captivating and surreal. Check him out at either myspace.com/nojunkculture or at nojunkculture.blogspot.com where you can get a free download of his latest or click this link http://www.mediafire.com/?keyhgdmn22w . You should also check out his great cd 'West Coast'. It is available through his website or directly from iTunes, Amazon etc.



Deepak is from the great college town of Oxford Mississippi.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

These New Puritans - Hidden

If you care for the artists and the music you love you will pay for it. Piracy sucks the life out of the music and just plain sucks.




Record Label: Domino

Release Date: March 2nd, 2010

This is their followup to the debut Beat Pyramid from March 2008.

This album is a vast departure from TNP's debut. Fans of the first record will see first off that there is a great lack of guitar work here. There is a strong focus on electronics. Tribal rhythms, strong bass lines and copious chanting. This is mixed with artfully arranged choral backing. Brass, Wind with atmospheric orchestral arrangements are used effectively. This is a difficult work that can hardly be called a rock album. However this is a stunning and outstanding piece of work from a group of musicians who are barely in their mid 20's. There are obvious MIA & jazz influences that are re-constructed in a fresh and new way. A bold and fearless expression of a young band pushing their limits and creating something modern, new and bold. there is also a digital crispness to the sound but it is a very direct and harsh production with very little filtering of 'real' noise made during the performance. This adds to the immediacy and charm of the album. It helps distinguish the uniqueness of the work. The second track, the 7 min & 23 second 'We Want War' is epic and striking. From the opening 'Time Zone' to the final cut '5', the work flows as a cohesive whole. Artful and transcendent, this is an impressive piece of work from this young band.



These New Puritans are from the Southend-On-Sea area of England. They are leader Jack Barnett (Writer, producer, vocalist, multi-intrumentalist), twin brother George (drums, loops), Thomas Hein (Bass Guitar, samples, drums) & Sophie Sleigh-Johnson (Keyboards, samples).
Track Listing:

1. Time Xone

2. We Want War

3. Three Thousand

4. Hologram

5. Attack Music

6. Fire-Power

7. Orion

8. Canticle

9. Drum Courts - Where Corals Lie

10. White Chords

11. 5
Official Website: http://www.thesenewpuritans.com/

Upcoming Shows:

22 Mar 2010 20:00 PRIZENBAR HALLE HAMBURG

24 Mar 2010 20:00 TEENAGE CANCER TRUST supporting SUEDE @ ROYAL ALBERT HALL LONDON

26 Mar 2010 20:00 M4MUSIC ZURICH

27 Mar 2010 20:00 TVORNICA ZAGREB

3 Apr 2010 20:00 PALLADIUM - ELECTRON FESTIVAL GENEVA

7 Apr 2010 20:00 TUNNEL CLUB MILAN

8 Apr 2010 20:00 TRAFFIC ROME

9 Apr 2010 20:00 LOCOMOTIV BOLOGNA

10 Apr 2010 20:00 SPAZIO 211 TORINO

14 Apr 2010 20:00 THEKLA BRISTOL

15 Apr 2010 20:00 ACADEMY 2 LIVERPOOL

16 Apr 2010 20:00 CABARET VOLTAIRE EDINBURGH

17 Apr 2010 20:00 LEADMILL SHEFFIELD

18 Apr 2010 20:00 PLAYAWAY FESTIVAL SKEGNESS

19 Apr 2010 20:00 RESCUE ROOMS NOTTINGHAM

20 Apr 2010 20:00 GARAGE LONDON

24 Apr 2010 20:00 BOHEN 2 COLOGNE

25 Apr 2010 20:00 KARLSTORBAHNHOF HEIDELBERG

26 Apr 2010 20:00 CAFÉ ATLANTIK FREIBURG

27 Apr 2010 20:00 BOTANIQUE BRUSSELS

28 Apr 2010 20:00 BITTERZOET AMSTERDAM

29 Apr 2010 20:00 PONT EPHEMERE PARIS

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Adam Gnade

Buy your music and support the artists you love.




Punch Drunk Press

Albums:

• Run Hide Retreat Surrender (2005, Loud + Clear Records)

• We Are Ghosts and Bones Down Stone Walled Wells (2006 self-release, 2008 Lazy Acre, 2008 Red Red Sun Records)

• Trailerparks (2008, tour-only limited edition release, Try Harder Records)

Eps:

• Palaces/Whidbey Island (2007, limited edition double-EP/CD, Bad Drone Media 2007, Red Red Sun Records 2008)

• The Wild Homesick (2009, CD, Punch Drunk Press)
Adam is San Diego born. He is a self described Experimental, Americana Folk artist. His spoken word compositions paint word pictures. Imagery is drawn from a southwest flavour and inspiration. Stories of world weary characters stumbling across the dry and red rock southwest american landscape. Wordplay spoken against the strumming of his guitar and banjo which plays to the imagery perfectly. Adam plays unamplified sitting or standing in the middle of the crowd. Haunting imagery and chordal plucking work together to weave enchanting modern day storytelling, holding spellbound the listener. Found street sounds mixed with atmospheric synths makes for extraordinary atmosphere on some of the recorded tracks.

In addition to his musical endeavours, Adam is also an author and is currently working on his second novel, Friends Will Carry You Home.


Official Website: http://www.adamgnade.com

Upcoming Shows:

MAR 23 SNEAKY’S PETE’S, EDINBURGH, WITH YOUTHMOVIES, THE ART OF… DJS, SCOTLAND

Mar 24 DEAF INSTITUTE, MANCHESTER, WITH YOUTHMOVIES, THIS TOWN NEEDS GUNS, FOALS DJS, ENGLAND

Mar 25 BRUDENELL, LEEDS WITH YOUTHMOVIES, HONOUR BEFORE GLORY (SOLO WHISKAS SET), ROLO TOMASSI DJS

Mar 26 BORDERLINE, LONDON, ENGLAND WITH YOUTHMOVIES, FRIENDSHIP, AND MIKE DIVER AND CRABLIN DJING THIS SHOW IS SOLD OUT

Mar 27 ACADEMY, OXFORD, ENGLAND WITH YOUTHMOVIES, JONQUIL, AND MIKE DIVER AND CRABLIN DJING

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

Please buy your music. Support the artists, patronize your local independent record shop.


Joanna Newsom - Have One On me


Record Label: Drag City

Release Date: February 23rd, 2010

This is Joanna's followup to the brilliant 'Ys' from 06'.

I have read many reviews on this latest effort from Joanna and have been amused by reviewers either avoiding the topic of genre altogether or at least admitting defeat in trying to apply a label that is suitable or adequate. My conclusion is that no label can be adequate to describe the breadth and depth of what she does as a musical artist, poet, lyricist. I am going to say 'art prog folk', which is this writers inadequate stab at a genre label that suits. That aside, I will step out into the dangerous territory of potential overstatement and gaudy hyperbole to state that this record is a masterpeice and an instant classic. There I said it and I am sure there are many out there who are rolling their eyes and clicking the X button, top right but please hear me out.



Epic is not an overstatement. Three discs at over 2 hours is considerable breadth. Each disc at approx. 40 minutes though gives one the option to digest this work in easier to process chunks. I do however encourage the listener to spend the two hours at some point and let this incredible piece wash over you. Rinse and repeat regularly to allow the music to reveal itself bit by bit with each listen. Her progression as an artist is evident everywhere on this album. Her voice, lyrics, melodies, and overall feel is much more accessible than her two previous releases. There is a wide and intriguing range of styles, instruments and influences in these compositions. One cannot write of this work and not mention similarities to Joni Mitchell, especially from the Blue album. There is also a very distinct feel of Kate Bush both in the vocal style and the lyrical fantasy and medieval shadings. Stunning, ambitious, breathtaking, devestating, are just a few of the adjectives I have read from other reviewers to describe this record. Haunting and enchanting. It reminds me of my first listen to Kate Bush's Never For Ever back in 1980. It takes us to a new previously unexplored place with an emotional realness.

Favourite tracks are the title track, Good Intentions Paving Co., Baby Birch, Soft As Chalk (Which she performed on Jimmy Fallon last night) & Kingfisher.

Joanna was born in and grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California.

Track Listing:

Disc 1

1. "Easy" 6:04
2. "Have One On Me" 11:02
3. "'81" 3:51
4. "Good Intentions Paving Company" 7:02
5. "No Provenance" 6:25
6. "Baby Birch" 9:30

Disc 2
1. "On A Good Day" 1:48
2. "You And Me, Bess" 7:12
3. "In California" 8:41
4. "Jackrabbits" 4:23
5. "Go Long" 8:02
6. "Occident" 5:37

Disc 3
1. "Soft As Chalk" 6:29
2. "Esme" 7:56
3. "Autumn" 8:01
4. "Ribbon Bows" 6:10
5. "Kingfisher" 9:11
6. "Does Not Suffice"


Official Website: http://www.joanna-newsom.com/

Upcoming Shows:

3/15/10 Ukrainian Federation Montreal Quebec Canada

3/17/10 Sanders Theatre Cambridge MA

3/18/10 Town Hall New York NY

3/19/10 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia PA

3/20/10 First Unitarian Church Philadelphia PA

3/22/10 Sixth & I Historic Synagogue Washington DC

3/23/10 Sixth & I Historic Synagogue Washington DC

3/24/10 Jefferson Theatre Charlottesville VA w/ Jens Hannemann

3/25/10 Carolina Theatre Durham NC w/ Jens Hannemann

3/26/10 Variety Playhouse Atlanta GA w/ Jens Hannemann

3/27/10 Big Ears Festival Knoxville TN

3/28/10 Mercy Lounge Nashville TN

3/29/10 Southern Theatre Columbus OH

3/30/10 MusicNOW Festival Cincinnati OH

3/31/10 Buskirk-Chumley Theatre Bloomington IN

4/2/10 Pabst Theater Milwaukee WI

4/3/10 Vic Theatre Chicago IL