thus spake drake: 04/01/2011

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.26.11

It's the last release week in this month of April that's turning out to be the coldest on record here in Seattle. In fitting fashion, two chilly releases headline the weekly drop -- Times New Viking and Cass McCombs. Also, look for new releases from funk legend Bootsy Collins, Steve Earle, Explosions in the Sky, Thao & Mirah, An Horse, Emmylou Harris, Prefuse 73 along with EPs from They Might Be Giants, The Fresh & Onlys and Of Montreal.

Playlist: New Releases 04.26.11

Times New Viking - Dancer Equired
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

For the past six years, Times New Viking has been serving up some of the noisiest pop out there, delivered behind a wall of hiss and distortion thanks to the lowest of lo-fi recording techniques. Not for the faint of ear, their first four albums dragged their pop knuckles down through barbed wire and steel wool. For their first album on Merge Records, the Ohio trio recorded in an actual studio, upping the fidelity tenfold the minute they pressed record. Now you can actually make out chord progressions, the delivery of lyrics and even entertain with harmonies. There's still an endearing sloppiness in the playing and lo-fi still works as a genre even with said studio, so TNV purists shouldn't protest too much. All told Dancer Equired is a fine example in how a band can expand their audience while keeping their existing fans.

Download: "Ever Falling In Love" [mp3]

Cass McCombs - Wit's End
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Cass McCombs lets us peer into the blackest reaches of his soul, and, if you can make it out the other side, reaffirms that our lives are not so bad. Past the stunning opener, "County Line," McCombs' relentless darkness can begin to wear thin if you're not prepared -- those not wearing black need to make sure you have an anti-depressant nearby and some access to sunshine.

Free AOL Album Stream

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Glee "Born This Way": On the Nose

Supersizing this episode of Glee was as needed as a nose job on Rachel/Leah Michele. The reason for it seems to be to play spoiler to NBC's launch of The Voice, a trick ironically learned from NBC's Thursday night circa the late 90s.

Aside from the obvious filler stretching out the time of the episode, "Born This Way" was a much better episode than we've had in awhile. And it seems they're able to hit their stride when they go to the 'insecurities' well, which for High School plot lines, is a plentiful well. Musically, the highlight had to be the Warbler-led rendition of Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" (but I must admit a weakness for Duck Sauce's "Barbara Streisand").

Playlist: Glee - Episode 2.18 [itunes]
1. "I Feel Pretty / Unpretty" - Glee Cast [amazon]
2. "I've Gotta Be Me" - Glee Cast [amazon]
3. "Somewhere Only We Know" - Glee Cast [amazon]
4. "As If We Never Said Goodbye (from Sunset Boulevard)" - Glee Cast [amazon]
5. "Barbara Streisand" - Duck Sauce [amazon]
6. "Born This Way" - Glee Cast [amazon]

Previously: "The Night of Neglect" (Episode 2.17)

Monday, April 25, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 04.18.11: Steve Earle

Steve Earle is on Letterman Friday, April 29

Fitting that the week that Treme comes back on the small screen, Steve Earle is back as well. His run on the first season wasn't long or very high profile, but it was immensely helpful tying things together and game him the opportunity to act with his son, Justin Townes Earle. The elder Earle returns to Letterman on Friday.

Elsewhere, it's a great week for fans of good country music, as besides Earle there's Alison Krauss (Monday on Leno, Wednesday on Ellen) and the legendary Emmylou Harris (Wednesday on Letterman) in the mix.

Picks for the week
Monday, April 25
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Alter Bridge
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Lupe Fiasco
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Go! Team
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Alison Krauss & Union Station with Jerry Douglas
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion
TBS: Conan: Drive-By Truckers (REPEAT)
Tuesday, April 26
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Robbie Robertson
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Twilight Singers
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Go! Team
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The Airborne Toxic Event
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Twisted Sister
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Girl Talk, Interpol
TBS: Conan: The Black Keys (REPEAT)
Wednesday, April 27
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Augustana
CBS: The Early Show: Natasha Bedingfield
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Emmylou Harris
FUEL: The Daily Habit: New Boyz
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Buddy Guy
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Dispatch
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lykke Li, The Hours
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Alison Krauss & Union Station
Thursday, April 28
ABC: The View: Aretha Franklin
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Airborne Toxic Event
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Lupe Fiasco
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Naked and Famous
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: OK Go
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Craig Wedren, Screaming Females
TBS: Conan: Lykke Li (REPEAT)
Friday, April 29
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Steve Earle
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings
FUEL: The Daily Habit: New Boyz
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Moby
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Aretha Franklin
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Mona
Saturday, April 30
PBS: Austin City Limits: Alejandro Escovedo, Trombone Shorty (REPEAT)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Treme "Accentuate the Positive"

HBO's Treme is back for its second season, and as expected, there is a ton of music to sort through in the episode. "Accentuate the Positive" was co-written by renowned chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain, so naturally there's a lot of restaurant action throughout the episode.

There are a ton of great musician cameos throughout as well, including John Boutte, the subdudes, Galactic, Bonerama, and a hell of a lot more. As always, Nola.com's 'Treme Explained' gives you the Inside Baseball look at the episode.

Playlist: Treme - Episode 2.01
1. "I Thought I Heard Buddy Bolden Say" - Antoine Batiste plays trombone at cemetary [amazon]
2. "Basin Street Blues" - Sonny (Michael Huisman) [amazon]
3. "Light in Your Eyes" - the subdudes with Annie (Lucia Micarelli) [amazon]
4. "Carved in Stone" - the subdudes with Annie (Lucia Micarelli) [amazon]
5. "Drop and Give Me 50" - 10th Ward Buck [amazon]
6. " " - Christian Scott
7. "Mr. Go" - Bonerama [amazon]
8. "Para Donde Vas (Where Are You Going)" - Iguanas [amazon]
9. "Accentuate the Positive" - John Boutte with Annie (Lucia Micarelli)
10. "Sisters" - John Boutte with Annie (Lucia Micarelli)
11. "El Pavo" - Wardell Quezerque
12. "From the Corner to the Block" - Galactic with Juvenile [amazon]
13. Baby Boyz Brass Band
14. "Accentuate the Positive" - Dr. John [amazon]

Previously: "Shallow Water, Oh Mama" (Episode 1.06)

Friday, April 22, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.19.11

I won't go pretending last week's releases weren't missed, especially a batch that included the latest from Panda Bear, TV On the Radio, The Feelies, Low, Jonny, Vivian Girls and Sonny & the Sunsets. Both vacation and laptop woes limited computer time, so it was necessary. But really, even with a shallower collection of releases, this week's might be better remembered, if only for the amazing sophomore release from shift-key killer tUnE-yArDs.

Playlist: New Releases 04.19.11

tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Aside from the slight annoyance of shift-key reliance in the band name, Merrill Garbus' project tUnE-yArDs is a wonder to behold. Her 2009 debut was just her performing an intimate lo-fi collection bursting with ideas, so moving to a professional studio with supporting musicians (including the bass stylings of Nate Brenner) could've easily lost some of the magic. Instead the spark in those recordings is fully realized with w h o k i l l, a brilliant anti-pop pop masterpiece that mixes R&B, folk, jazz, afro hop and funk for an addictive concoction. The first thing that should be said about Garbus is that she has the most amazing voice, and what makes it an even more valuable instrument is her choice to use it in both conventional and unconventional ways. From the dense sampled layering of "Bizness" to the beautiful lullaby crooning of "Wooly Wolly Gong," every inch of her vocal range is explored -- and not for exploration's sake. It's an exhilarating release that both demands and seduces second listens. Required listening.

Live from SXSW (NPR)
Download: "Bizness" [mp3]

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
O' Death - Outside / "Bugs" [mp3]
Malajube - La Caverne
Title Tracks - In Blank / "All Tricks" [mp3]
I'm From Barcelona - Forever Today / Free AOL Album Stream
Del the Funky Homosapian - Golden Era / Free AOL Album Stream
DJ Quik - Raven in the Grave
Dengue Fever - Cannibal Courtship / Free AOL Album Stream
Les Nubians - Nü Revolution
The Unthanks - Last / "Queen of Hearts" [mp3]
Duff McKagan's Loaded - The Taking
The High Llamas - Talahomi Way / "Fly Baby Fly" [mp3]
The Watson Twins - Night Covers / Free AOL Album Stream
Glee Cast - Glee: The Music: Presents the Warblers EP

REISSUE
Superchunk - Here's Where the Strings Come In
Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady To

tags: music, album review, tune-yards, title tracks, indie rock, new releases

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Glee "Night of Neglect": Smarty Pants

Glee is back after what feels like forever, but is even more problematic than ever. At least when there's a terrible episode, there are things to talk about. Here? Yawn. Too bad they mostly wasted another return of Holly Holiday (Gwyneth Paltrow).

But how about getting some Lykke Li in the house?

Playlist: Glee - Episode 2.17 [itunes]
1. "All By Myself" (Eric Carmen) – Glee Cast (Charice) [amazon]
2. "I Follow Rivers" (Lykke Li) – Glee Cast (Jenna Ushkowitz) [amazon]
3. "Bubble Toes" - Jack Johnson [amazon]
4. "Turning Tables" (Adele) – Glee Cast (Gwyneth Paltrow) [amazon]
5. "Ain't No Way" (Aretha Franklin) – Glee Cast (Amber Riley) [amazon]

Previously: "Sue Sylvester Shuffle" (Episode 2.11)

Happy 6th Birthday, High Dive!

The Fremont venue the High Dive has gone through minor changes over the years, but it's always managed to both attract some good artists and sound good -- thanks in part to the acoustic friendly shape.

Now, High Dive has sort of become a North of the ship canal version of Columbia City Theater -- or perhaps, a closer to home mini Doe Bay Festival -- thanks to Kevin Sur of Artist Home who now books the venue.

This weekend the venue is celebrating their 6th anniversary with a couple stellar shows. Friday night has Shim and Hounds of the Wild Hunt (tickets), while Saturday has the Pickwick and Kelli Schaefer (tickets) and don't be surprised if in a couple weeks you find a few (or all) of these artists listed for the 2011 lineup for Doe Bay Fest.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 04.18.11 - The Head and the Heart

The Head and the Heart make their TV debut on Conan, Thursday

Picks for the week
Monday, April 18
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jessie J
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Funeral Party (REPEAT)
CBS: Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson: Everest
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Mos Def
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Cake (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Tres Mts (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Fitz & the Tantrums (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Scala & Kolacny Brothers
TBS: Lopez Tonight: REO Speedwagon
Tuesday, April 19
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Sammy Hagar
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Airborne Toxic Event
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Alice Cooper with Dweezil Zappa (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Strokes (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Janelle Monae (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Plan B
Wednesday, April 20
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Lenka
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Royal Bangs (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Mellowhype of Odd Future
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Peter Bjorn and John (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Emmylou Harris
TBS: Conan: The Strokes
Thursday, April 21
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Phantogram
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Steve Martin (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Lonely Forest
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Duran Duran (REPEAT)
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Leon Russell (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (REPEAT)
PBS: Tavis Smiley: Robbie Robertson
TBS: Conan: The Head and the Heart
Friday, April 22
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Airborne Toxic
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: The Lonely Island (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Cee-Lo Green (REPEAT)
Saturday, April 23
PBS: Austin City Limits: My Morning Jacket (REPEAT)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Still Here!

So yes, the blog has slowed down in the past month. Getting laid off and having your laptop sent off to the doctor for a bit is bound to slow you down, but rest assured, your regularly scheduled content will be back soon enough.

In the meantime, anyone pick up David Foster Wallace's posthumous release The Pale King yet? Anyone else as excited for Game of Thrones as I am?

Monday, April 11, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 04.11.11: TV on the Radio

TV on the Radio appear on Letterman, Wednesday

Picks for the week
Monday, April 11
ABC: Good Morning America: Carly Simon
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Asking Alexandria
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Wiz Khalifa
COMEDY CENTRAL: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Foo Fighters
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Sounds
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: k.d. lang
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Lykke Li (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lykke Li (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: P.J. Harvey
Tuesday, April 12
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Jenny Johnny
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Foo Fighters
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Naked and Famous
NBC: The Today Show: Jessie J
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Kenny Rogers (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Matt & Kim, Screaming Females (REPEAT)
Wednesday, April 13
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Robyn
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Bad Religion
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jessie J
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Motorhead (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Lissie (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: The Kills
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Robyn
Thursday, April 14
ABC: Good Morning America: k.d. lang
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Francis and the Lights
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: TV on the Radio
FUEL: The Daily Habit: David Banner
The Today Show: Alison Krauss
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Bright Eyes
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Lupe Fiasco (REPEAT)
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Florence & the Machine (REPEAT)
TBS: Conan: Queens of the Stone Age
Friday, April 15
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Chris Cornell
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Bad Religion
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Eliza Doolittle
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Morning Benders (REPEAT)
SYNDICATION: The Ellen DeGeneres Show: Jessie J
Saturday, April 16
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Eliza Doolittle
PBS: Austin City Limits: The Avett Brothers, Heartless Bastards (REPEAT)

Thursday, April 07, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 04.05.11

While there's plenty to see here, most are looking to next week's crop, and with good reason thanks to TV on the Radio and Panda Bear. This week's crop features Bill Callahan, Maritime, Ray Davies, Robbie Robertson, Alela Diane, The Kills, Glasvegas, Cold Cave and special reissues from Rush and the 20th anniversary of Material Issue's energetic debut, International Pop Overthrow.

Playlist: New Releases 04.05.11

Bill Callahan - Apocalypse
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Apocalypse is Bill Callahan's third album since shedding the Smog moniker, and another step in the artist's maturation process. While not as accessible as 2009's Sometimes I Wish I Were an Eagle, the latest sees Callahan mixing in both a political yet personal slant along with some of the experimentation of mid-era Smog, for a concoction that new, yet still so very Callahan.

Maritime - Human Hearts
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Three releases in now, it's become obvious that Maritime is a wholly different beast than the Dismemberment Plan/Promise Ring parts that make it up. By this point, those expecting to hear those bands with this group have either accepted this or moved on -- like former bassist Eric Axelson also formerly of Dismemberment Plan, who left after the first album. Of course, now that the past is behind them, I have to bring up The Promise Ring again, just to say that Human Hearts is their first release that rivals the former's catalogue. The vocal maturation of Davey von Bohlen continues here, to the point where von Bohlen is interjecting a lot of the same charisma he had back in the Cap'n Jazz, only this time with melody at the forefront.

Free AOL Album Stream
Download: "Paraphernalia" [mp3]

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
Robbie Robertson - How to Become Clairvoyant
Alela Diane - All You Need Is Now / "To Begin" [mp3]
The Kills - Blood Pressures
The Smithereens - 2011 / Free AOL Album Stream
The Raveonettes - Raven in the Grave / Free AOL Album Stream / "Forget That You're Young" [mp3]
Glasvegas - Euphoric /// Heartbreak \\\
Daft Punk - TRON: Legacy Reconfigured / Free AOL Album Stream
PAUL (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
The Submarines - Love Notes/Letter Bombs / Free AOL Album Stream
Timber Timbre - Creep on Creepin on / Free AOL Album Stream
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons - Mysterious Power
Gretchen Parlato - The Lost and Found
Cold Cave - Cherish the Light Years
Matthew Dear - Slowdance EP
Amores Vigilantes - You Can't Live Forever In Paradise On Earth (Without Me)
Ha Ha Tonka - Death of a Decade / Free AOL Album Stream
Wolf Ram Heart - Betrayal of Hearts / "Humming Doves" [mp3]

REISSUE
Rush - Moving Pictures
Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow 20th Anniversary Edition
The Residents - Meet the Residents

tags: music, album review, ray davies, maritime, indie rock, new releases

Monday, April 04, 2011

Music on TV - Week of 04.04.11: Wire

Wire appears on Fallon Tuesday night

It's a week for nostalgia on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, with artists spanning the history of American Pop Music of the 20th Century, with both Booker T (Monday, Tuesday) and Paul Simon (Wednesday, Thursday) appearing two nights, and post-punk pioneers Wire (on Tuesday).

Elsewhere, The Band's Robbie Robertson helps fill in the blanks with a couple appearances, first on Letterman Tuesday and then again Wednesday morning on The View.

Picks for the week
Monday, April 4
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Bad Religion
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Cold War Kids (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Bass Drum of Death
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Augustana
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Booker T. Jones
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Fitz & the Tantrums
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Lil Jon, Panic! At The Disco
Tuesday, April 5
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: The Decemberists
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Robbie Robertson
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Mellowhype of Odd Future
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Fitz & the Tantrums
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Booker T. Jones, Wire
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Oh Land
TBS: Conan: Infantree
Wednesday, April 6
ABC: The View: Robbie Robertson
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Funeral Party
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Big Sean
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Paul Simon
TBS: Conan: OneRepublic
Thursday, April 7
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Ellie Goulding
CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: The Strokes (REPEAT)
FUEL: The Daily Habit: The Lonely Forest
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Jeff Beck with Imelda May
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Paul Simon
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Johnny Irions
TBS: Lopez Tonight: Avril Lavigne
TBS: Conan: Hanson
Friday, April 8
FUEL: The Daily Habit: Big Sean
NBC: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: FaR*eAst Movement
NBC: Late Night With Jimmy Fallon: Saigon
NBC: Last Call With Carson Daly: Nicole Atkins & the Black Sea
Saturday, April 9
NBC: Saturday Night Live: Foo Fighters
PBS: Austin City Limits: Spoon (REPEAT)

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Now Downloading: New Releases 03.29.11

Didn't get a chance to spend much time on the computer this week, which has me behind and sad that I didn't get to spend more time writing about this week's releases. There are a few I've been wearing out, namely from Peter Bjorn & John, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Obits and The Mountain Goats. The latest from Radiohead also sees commercial release this week along with new releases from Broken Bells, Those Darlins and Royal Bangs.

Playlist: New Releases 03.29.11

Peter Bjorn & John - Gimme Some
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Not sure I understand the criticism being levied at Gimme Some, except, perhaps, in frustration with more ear worms from the band that made the world whistle back in 2006-2007. Instead of whistling, perhaps a call for more cowbell ("Second Chance").

The Pains of Being Pure of Heart - Belong
Stream / Purchase [mp3]

Much of the shoegaziness in past releases is gone in favor of 80s synth, and the result is sometimes breathtaking. The hear breaks much cleaner to sounds that the ghost of John Hughes is writing teen comedies to ("Heart in Your Heartbreak").

More on the radar (and in the mp3 player) this week:
The Mountain Goats - All Eternals Deck
Obits - All Eternals Deck / "You Gotta Lose" [mp3]
Radiohead - The King of Limbs
Broken Bells - Meyrin Fields
Those Darlins - Screws Get Loose
Royal Bangs - Flux Outside
The Sounds - Something to Die For
Funeral Party - The Golden Age Of Knowhere
Hunx and his Punx - Too Young to Be in Love
Alcoholic Faith Mission - And the Running with Insanity EP
Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis - Here We Go Again: Celebrating The Genius Of Ray Charles

REISSUE
Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter
Pearl Jam - vs & Vitalogy 3 CD Deluxe Edition

tags: music, album review, peter bjorn and john, the pains of being pure at heart, indie rock, new releases