Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Awesome Mix Tape #62 (in the shake*your*shores series)

Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, I humbly present "Angels Live in My Town."


1. Everclear - "White Noise"
The hidden track on "Slow Motion Daydream" and, coincidentally, the best thing about that release besides its cover.

2. The Pink Spiders - "Back to the Middle"
For those of us who fell head over heels in love with Handsome Devil (there's 12 of us), this is a nice reminder of how a little sugary power pop can brighten one's day.

3. The Killers - "Sweet Talk"
Some more dreamy goodness from the love-'em-or-hate-'em Vegas boys.

4. The Watson Twins - "Savin' You"
Majestic sentimental rock. Fit for royalty and/or the princess in your life.

5. Islands - "Vapours"
What I said then: "This grooves like old-school Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and then there’s that brazen brass section … I’m starting to subscribe to Diamonds’ assertion that “Islands are forever.” These tracks will surely be pumping on my stereo for years to come.

Another chance accolade: This is the best title track in some time.."

What I'm sayin' now: "Ditto, kiddo."

6. Boys Noize - "Jeffer"
Likewise, I've said my words about this group (and how I couldn't imagine listening to this outside of a rave-type situation) and ... while my thoughts haven't changed, I just want to reiterate that I appreciate what they're doing. Even if I wouldn't put it on if the queen came over....

7. Ash - "Return of White Rabbit" [Free MP3]
This song was written by Mark Hamilton. How random is that?

8. Colourmusic - "You Can Call Me By My Name"
Note to self: When you're giving a girl ride home for the first time -- and you want to see said girl again -- maybe this song, aka the quirkiest slice of heaven I ever did hear, isn't the one you want to put on after saying, "Oh yeah, I have 'normal' tastes when it comes to movies, music and beer." Not that I've ever been in that situation or anything....

9. The Phenomenal Handclap Band - "15 to 20 (Den Haan Remix)"
Nor is this one. It's funky enough, but it's kind of trance-inducing. She might think you're into purple pills or something.

10. Zack Martin - "The Trapper" [FREE MP3]
I was just about to write about this song's magical cinematic quality. But then I remembered it was used in "The Way We Get By."

Can I retire yet? I'm certainly already at that losing-my-mind stage....

11. Weezer - "In the Mall"
Anyway, back to the platter at hand. -> This little doozy, written by drummer Patrick Wilson, is exactly what you would expect from the genius behind the Special Goodness: Pure bliss. That's right; write off Weezer's "Raditude" all you want, but then you'd miss out on this *ahem* special goodness. Fool.

12. The Mother Hips - "White Falcon Fuzz"
Why aren't these guys huge rock stars yet? Selling out stadiums left and right, yeah? If you know anyone who can't get beyond classic rock, let this be the first "new" band you play for them. Chances are they won't hate life so much anymore.

13. Built to Spill - "Hindsight"
Doug Martsch can do no wrong. He's not quite at "golden god" status in my mind, but "can do no wrong" fits him pretty well, don't you think?

14. Atmosphere - "Mattress"
Funny, sexy and ... actually kind of sleazy. Ha!

15. Bob Dylan - "To Ramona"
This selection tracks back to my interview with Iron Range artist Nancy Miller. She's a huge Dylan fan now, sure, but it took this vintage composition to win her over: "I felt that the song really spoke to me of the heartache and loss I felt leaving Minneapolis, the friends and the dreams that I thought I had when I was living there. I truly gained respect for his work right then and there, and I really have adored his writing from that point on," she told me during a recent Budgeteer interview.

16. Breathe Owl Breathe - "Linda"
Kind of sleepy. Getting sleepy....

17. The Pixies - "Manta Ray"
But not for long, because I have this spaz-tacular Pixies B-side to help pick up my dance party's mood, pace and overall vibage.

18. Cars & Trucks - "Too Bad So Sad"
The most exciting to happen to rock 'n' roll since "New Jersey." ha ha ha (Anyway, for the Budgeteer's "Behind the Music" special on this song and accompanying album, visit this here linkeroo.)

19. Beulah - "Silver Lining"
Unlike Doug Martsch, Beulah's outspoken ringleader, Miles Kurosky, attained golden god status long ago. How? By uttering the words "Fuck Bob Dylan" (in the opening scenes of the band's documentary DVD, "A Good Band is Easy to Kill," no less). I'm a huge Bob fan, but, man, even I have to admit that takes guts.

20. Sloan - "Last Time in Love"
So true. And, surprisingly, it's a wonderful feeling!

21. Marching Band - "For Your Love"
If Rogue Wave were an '80s band, they probably would've sounded exactly like this. Makes me want to go back in time and attend North Dakota State University before Facebook was around to remove any sense of mystery.

22. Dressy Bessy - "Princess"
I thought I missed Denver. That was until I spun this hearty little fuzzbox. Now I just wanna get in my car and drive, drive, drive. Way out west is where my heart is.

23. Los Fabulosos Cadillacs - "Contrabando de Amor"
Haven't heard from these guys in a while. Starting to think that was a major oversight.

24. Gogol Bordello - "Wonderlust King" [Live at the BBC]
Another big thanks to Sir Walt Dizzo for introducing me to this rambunctious-as-f--- number. Cheers!

Thus concludes your sixty-second dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul." Hope you enjoyed it!

Is there hope for KQ after all?

KQ MORNING SHOW HOST AND O.M. BILL JONES LEAVING DULUTH

Management Changes Take Place at Red Rock Radio with New Morning Show to Debut in January Bill Jones, co-host of the popular KQ Morning Show and Operations Manager for Red Rock Radio Duluth’s 8 radio properties has announced he is leaving the market.
“As of December 15th, I will no longer be a part of the KQ Morning Show. It is with mixed feelings that I make this announcement as I will be sad to leave KQ and Duluth, but excited at the opportunity to do new things outside of broadcasting,” said Bill Jones.
Jones has been with KQDS-FM since the mid-1990’s and has been Operation’s Manager for the past 11 years. He has been co-host of the popular KQ Morning Show with Bill Jones and Jason Manning during that time. The KQ Morning Show has been the No. 1 morning radio program in Duluth/Superior with Adults and Men 25-54 since 1999.
“We will miss Bill and the energy he brought to the morning show over these many years,”said Red Rock Radio Vice President and General Manager Shawn Skramstad. “We are excited about the new morning show that will debut in January, and think that the very best of what the KQ Morning Show is all about will provide for an almost seamless transition.”
Morning show co-host Jason Manning will become KQDS-FM Program Director, while Tom Roubik takes over as Red Rock Radio Operations Manager.
The new version of the KQ Morning Show will debut on January 4, 2010 with more details to be
announced soon.

~Information courtesy Red Rock Radio

Just bought 'Starry Night'? Way to be original! (I'm a Picasso fan, if you can't already tell....)

Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night World’s Most Popular Oil Painting in 2009

overstockArt.com Releases Annual Top 10 List of Most Popular Oil Paintings

Wichita, Kan., Dec. 2, 2009 – The popular online art gallery, overstockArt.com, revealed today the annual Top 10 Oil Paintings rankings for 2009. Topping the list is Vincent van Gogh’s irrefutable magnum opus, Starry Night.

Van Gogh’s Starry Night reclaims its title as the world’s most popular oil painting a year after Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss snatched the title away. According to overstockArt.com’s statistics, van Gogh has the top two most popular oil paintings in the world, with Starry Night in first place and Café Terrace at Night in second. “Van Gogh consistently remains the most popular artist in the world, his total sales numbers have left everyone well behind,” said David Sasson, CEO of overstockArt.com. The top oil paintings sold online according to overstockArt.com are:

  1. Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh
  2. Café Terrace at Night – Vincent van Gogh
  3. The Kiss – Gustav Klimt
  4. Poppy Field at Argenteuil – Claude Monet
  5. Luncheon of the Boating Party – Pierre Auguste Renoir
  6. Garden Path at Giverny – Claude Monet
  7. The Rest – Pablo Picasso
  8. Red Cannas – Georgia O’Keeffe
  9. Farbstudie Quadrate (Color Study of Squares) – Wassily Kandinsky
  10. The Dream – Pablo Picasso

According to Sasson, the Top 10 list is released annually due to popular demand. “A lot of people want to know what’s selling best because it helps them stay up to speed with the latest trends and allows them to know which paintings are the hippest and most desirable on the market.”

“In the business world especially, where image is everything, many companies strive to keep up with the latest interior décor trends to maintain a modern appeal that will impress customers and clients,” said Sasson.

Van Gogh’s masterpiece, Starry Night, was created in 1889. To celebrate the 120th anniversary of the creation, overstockArt.com developed a special rendition of the masterpiece in deep oil paint. This special version of Starry Night was created by overstockArt.com over the course of a year, it took seven months to dry and weighs over 18 pounds. This distinctive one-of-a-kind 36” X 48” reproduction of Starry Night is available to purchase for $2,458. The conventional 20” X 24” reproduction is $119.

In 2009 overstockArt.com sold more than 45,000 oil paintings. They are one of the Web’s most successful distributors of wall décor items with over 10,000 daily visitors and 100,000 loyal customers.

~Information courtesy Overstock.com

Monday, November 23, 2009

Fourth Bridge School disc features Trent Reznor, Death Cab, John Mayer, Ministry, My Morning Jacket and more!

VOLUME IV OF LIVE RECORDINGS FROM BRIDGE SCHOOL CONCERTS AVAILABLE NOV. 24

John Mellencamp, Trent Reznor, John Mayer, Tom Waits, DCFC and others are featured

Every year, Neil and Pegi Young host the non-profit Bridge School Concert, benefiting the unique learning complex which assists children with severe physical impairments and challenging communication needs. The first was held in 1986, and the event is known as a totally unique musical event. Over the years the line-up of participants reads like a history of rock & roll.

Three years ago, Apple iTunes began offering live recordings from these legendary shows, and the first three volumes feature some of the most popular musical artists in the world. Since the concerts are basically acoustic presentations, the performers perform versions of some of their biggest songs like they never have before. It has turned the Bridge School Concerts into a yearly highlight, and offers a chance to hear truly original performances.

Volume IV, 22-track collection of live performances will be available digitally at iTunes on Tuesday November 24, 2009 and features a wide range of artists including John Mellencamp, Josh Groban, Trent Reznor, John Mayer, Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ministry, My Morning Jacket, Norah Jones, Tegan & Sara, Death Cab for Cutie and Band of Horses.

As always, the proceeds from the iTunes digital downloads will be donated to the Bridge School, where one of the thrusts of their learning program is the use of advanced augmentative and alternative communication systems and assistive technology. Over the history of the concerts since 1986, some of the most exciting and surprising performances of live music have become a hallmark of the shows, and most of them are now available for the world to hear and purchase.

The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 4

1) Ministry – Here They Come – 11/2/94

2) Ministry – Paisley – 11/2/94

3) John Mellencamp – Jackie Brown – 10/29/05

4) Jerry Lee Lewis – Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On -10/30/05

5) Trent Reznor – Fragile – 10/22/06

6) Trent Reznor – Hurt – 10/22/06

7) John Mayer – Heart Of Life – 10/27/07

8) John Mayer - Waiting On The World – 10/27/07

9) Regina Spektor – Ain’t No Cover – 10/27/07

10) My Morning Jacket – Gideon – 10/28/07

11) My Morning Jacket – Just One Thing – 10/28/07

12) Tegan & Sara – Dark Come Soon – 10/28/07

13) Tegan & Sara – Like Oh, Like H – 10/28/07

14) Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet – What Keeps Mankind Alive – 10/28/07

15) Tom Waits & Kronos Quartet – The Part You Throw Away – 10/28/07

16) Band of Horses – Marry Song - 10/25/08

17) Band of Horses – The General Specific – 10/25/08

18) Norah Jones – Jesus Don’t Cry – 10/25/08

19) Death Cab For Cutie – Cath – 10/26/08

20) Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart – 10/26/08

21) Josh Groban – Changing Colors – 10/26/08

22) Josh Groban With Neil Young – Harvest Moon – 10/26/08

http://www.1888media.com/News/Images/TheBridgeCollection.jpg (Artwork)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-bridge-school-collection-vol/id205102402 (Vol. 1)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-bridge-school-collection-vol/id208494388 (Vol. 2)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-bridge-school-collection-vol/id268022858 (Vol. 3)


About The Bridge School

The Bridge School is a non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure that individuals with severe speech and physical impairments achieve full participation in their communities through the use of augmentative & alternative means of communication (AAC) and assistive technology (AT) applications and through the development, implementation and dissemination of innovative life-long educational strategies. The Bridge School is an internationally recognized leader in the education of children who use augmentative and alternative communication and has developed unique programs and trained highly skilled professionals in the use of state of the art assistive technology.

Saint Anyway playing some Twin Ports homecoming shows this weekend!

Northland musicians Tony Petersen and Jamie Kallestad will return home for a busy 3 days, performing at local music venues over the upcoming holiday weekend. The folk/rock duo is looking forward to trying out new songs on a familiar audience, hoping to soon follow up last year’s debut CD “Paper Town” with a new album and more touring this summer. In addition to a hometown show at Gordy’s Warming house on Thanksgiving Day, Saint Anyway will perform Friday night at Sir Benedict’s in Duluth and Saturday at Superior’s Red Mug Coffee. Their schedule and music is available online at www.myspace.com/saintanyway.

Unfamiliar with this amazing duo? Check out my track-by-track breakdown of their debut album, "Paper Town," at http://shakeyourshores.blogspot.com/2009/07/readers-companion-to-saint-anyways.html.

The shows:

Thursday, Nov. 26 7:00 PM Gordy's Warming House, Cloquet

Friday, Nov. 27 10:00 PM Sir Benedict's Tavern On The Lake, Duluth

Saturday, Nov. 28 8:00 PM Red Mug Coffee, Superior

Friday, November 20, 2009

Alkaline Trio gets own label. I did not.

Alkaline Trio has announced the birth of Heart & Skull, the band's own label formed in partnership with Epitaph Records. The band will release its seventh album through Epitaph/Heart & Skull in early 2010.

Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band's longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba commented, "We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we're honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us."

Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added, "For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I've admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn't be more excited for how this is turning out!"

Alkaline Trio first emerged from Chicago in 1996 and has since released the full length studio albums Goddamnit, Maybe I'll Catch Fire, From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning, Crimson and last year's Agony & Irony, which was the highest charting record of the band's career to date. The band is comprised of Skiba, Andriano and drummer Derek Grant, all of whom are partners in Heart & Skull.

For more, see:
www.alkalinetrio.com
www.myspace.com/alkalinetrio
www.epitaph.com

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Monday, November 16, 2009

Beck and Wilco ham it up for 'Record Club'

RECORD CLUB, the informal and irregular gathering of various musicians to record an album in one day's time, has begun posting tracks from its third endeavor. The current album is SKIP SPENCE's classic OAR and as reinterpreted by Beck, Wilco, Feist and Jamie Lidell. First track "Little Hands" is up now at Beck.com and new tracks will be posted every Thursday in the same order as the original album sequence.

RECORD CLUB's version of OAR came together in June of this year when Wilco joined Beck and Lidell managing to record all 12 tracks in a night. Leslie Feist happened to be in town editing her documentary and joined in, as did drum legend James Gadson, known for his timeless work with Bill Withers. The session took place at Sunset Sound Studios in the same room where the Rolling Stones recorded much of Exile On Main Street.

Record Club is an informal meeting of various musicians to record an album in one day. The album chosen to be reinterpreted is used as a framework. Nothing is rehearsed or arranged ahead of time. A track is put up at BECK.COM once a week. As you will hear, some of the songs are rough renditions, often first takes that document what happened over the course of a day as opposed to a polished rendering. There is no intention to 'add to' the original work or attempt to recreate the power of the original recording. Only to play music and document what happens. And those who aren't familiar with the albums in question will hopefully look for the songs in their definitive versions.

The two previous RECORD CLUB subjects have been THE VELVET UNDERGROUND & NICO and SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN.

For further information, go to http://www.beck.com/record_club

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hope I don't miss Side 1 of Van Halen's 'Van Halen'!


Vinyl makes return to the commercial radio airwaves in the Northland

December 3rd marks the triumphant return of vinyl to the commercial radio airwaves in Duluth/Superior.

KHQG-FM “The Northland’s Classic Rock 102.5” has unveiled Album Side Thursday, a new feature that will debut Thursday, December 3rd at 9am following The Bob and Tom Show. From 9am until Midnight, entire rock LP album sides will be played without interruption on a real turntable.

“It will be a thrill to dust off some of the greatest albums of all time and drop the needle on the record. I can guarantee the studio will be filled with folks young and old marveling at the fact that we are spinning records on the air”, said 102.5 Program Director Brian Wheeler. “We can’t wait to hear the reaction from rock fans and vinyl-heads alike.” Classic Rock 102.5 is taking listeners’ suggestions for album sides at www.northlandsclassicrock.com

This is the first Album Side Thursday , but there is a strong possibility for this to be a semi-regular feature. “It’s a treat for our listeners. Like any treat, you don’t want to make a steady diet of it”, said Brian Wheeler. “We’ll gauge the reaction and respond accordingly. I truly hope Northlanders enjoy listening to Album Side Thursday as much as we’ll enjoy providing it for them.”

~Information courtesy 102.5 and, yes, side one of Van Halen's self-titled debut was the first thing I requested for this cool new program

Monday, November 9, 2009

Awesome Mix Tape #61 (in the shake*your*shores series)


Back from the dead and submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, I call this one "Those Shoes Look Canadian."

1. The Jayhawks - "Queen of the World"
A IS FOR A GIRL NAMED 'LAYNE.

2. Pete Yorn and Scarlett Johansson - "Relator"
B IS FOR BROMANSHIP.

3. fun. - "All the Pretty Girls"
C IS FOR CONFUSING GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH A COME-ON.

4. The Wave Pictures - "Just Like a Drummer"
D IS FOR DINOSAUR HUNTERS.

5. Shonen Knife - "BBQ Party"
E IS FOR ENOUGH PICTURES OF BRAIN-LOOKIN' MEATS IN THE SUNDAY PAPER.

6. Polysics - "Baby BIAS"
F IS FOR FORGETTING ABOUT ROCK STATESIDE.

7. The Starlight Mints - "Natural"
G IS FOR GRAPHITE ... GRAPHITE.

8. The Weakerthans - "The Reasons"
H IS FOR HOW MUCH I LOVE MEREDITH LEIGH MONROE. (ACCORDING TO LEGEND, SHE WAS F------ 30 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE JOINED THE CAST OF "DAWSON'S CREEK," WHERE SHE PLAYED A 16-YEAR-OLD!)

9. Monsters of Folk - "Say Please"
I IS FOR INSTANT GRATIFICATION.

10. The Raveonettes - "Suicide"
J IS FOR JUGGLING OBLIGATIONS.

11. Flowers Flowers - "Wet Diamonds"
K IS FOR KIND OF SORT OF WISHING I WERE A CARPENTER.

12. Atmosphere - "They Always Know"
L IS FOR LOOK OUT FOR FELT 3, DROPPING IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE.

13. Junkie XL - "Metrolike"
M IS FOR MACHINE GUNS AND MAHOGANY BASKETS.

14. Prong - "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck"
N IS FOR NOT REPEATING THE NAME OF THIS SONG IN GOOD COMPANY.

15. Amanda Blank - "Lemme Get Some"
O IS FOR THE FACE THIS SONG MAKES YOU MAKE.

16. Frank Black - "(Do What You Want) Gyaneshwar"
P IS FOR PUTTING DOWN THE BILLS FOR A GIRLY-LOOKIN' PIXIES HOODED SWEATSHIRT IN WINNIPEG ONLY TO HAVE IT "STOLEN" FROM THE LETTER A HALF A DECADE LATER.

17. The Very Foundation - "My Angel, One Last Time"
Q IS FOR QUIXOTIC LEANINGS. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

18. Pearl Jam - "Rats" [LIVE]
R IS FOR RALLYING 'ROUND YOUR RECORD COLLECTION WHEN YOU'RE DOWN.

19. Built to Spill - "In the Morning"
S IS FOR SLEEPING IN. SINCERELY.

20. The Lemonheads - "Waiting Around to Die"
T IS FOR BEING A TAD BIT DRAMATIC WHEN THE SITUATION DOESN'T CALL FOR IT.

21. For Squirrels - "The Immortal Dog and Pony Show"
U IS FOR UPTOWN (WISHING I WERE LISTENING TO ATMOSPHERE STILL).

22. Capgun Coup - "Blood, Sweat and Sex"
V IS FOR VICTORY OVER COURAGEOUS LITTLE BUGGERS WITH HORNS ON THEIR HEADS AND GRITS IN THEIR TEETH.

23. For Love Not Lisa - "Some Afternoon Glitch"
W IS FOR WATERBEDS. NEVER UNDERSTOOD SLEEPING WITH SEASICKNESS.

24. Tears for Fears - "Mothers Talk"
X IS FOR EXCUSE THE FACT THAT I DIDN'T LEAVE ROOM FOR Y AND Z....

Thus concludes your sixty-first dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tapes series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul." Hope you enjoyed the fix!

... And THIS is why I'm not allowed on the radio!

Hey, abuse your ears with an MP3 encore of Mike Simonson's "Final Edition" featuring Ann Klefstad and yours truly. It originally aired May 2, 2008, on KUWS 91.3 FM here in the Twin Ports and, what do you know, I made a complete ass out of myself.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Cloud Cult preps double-disc reissue w/ bonus tracks!

Cloud Cult Announce the December 8th Release of a Double-Disc Reissue – They Live on the Sun (2003) and Aurora Borealis (2004) – Remixed, Remastered and with Bonus Tracks!

New York, NY – On December 8th, 2009 Cloud Cult will release a double-disc reissue of They Live on the Sun (2003) and Aurora Borealis (2004) – two of their earliest albums. These two home recorded releases have been re-envisioned, remixed and remastered for the first time by Cloud Cult's Craig Minowa and this special double-disc release will contain previously unreleased bonus tracks. The albums, which are now out of print and could only be purchased at live gigs and select Independent record stores, will be available for the first time nationwide and fans can take advantage of a presale on the band’s web site in late November – www.cloudcult.com.

Cloud Cult’s lead singer/songwriter Craig Minowa created these albums during 18 months of seclusion at his Northern Minnesota organic farm after his two-year-old son passed away unexpectedly in 2002. Originally released on the band’s own Earthology Records, they were mainly available on a local level due to a shoe-string credit card budget. Despite the limited distribution, They Live on the Sun landed on Pitchfork’s 2004 Year-End “Found Sound column” and was put into rotation at KEXP, while Aurora Borealis climbed to the Top 5 on KEXP. In addition, both albums found fans at college radio across the US and The Live on the Sun even surpassed major label releases on many stations including Radiohead's Hail to the Thief.

2004 Pitchfork Year-End “Found Sound”

They Live on the Sun is a sweeping indie epic.”

Pitchfork--Marc Hogan

“Like Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, Aurora Borealis is the rare album that has the musical merit to match its great making-of story. Confident, mature, honest, inventive, eclectic, and unremittingly catchy: Minowa's fourth release deserves all the adjectives befitting a classic album.” – PopMatters

All of the attention these early albums received helped this Minneapolis band break out onto the national scene and it only seems fitting that they reissue these releases as the band is gearing up to hit the road in Spring of 2010 after taking their longest break from touring in 6 years. A self -imposed hiatus, the break gave Craig and his wife Connie time to adjust to being parents again as they welcomed a new addition to their family this October.

Cloud Cult has gone on to sell more than 30,000 copies of its follow-up releases, despite turning down major label offers along the way. In addition, they’ve just ended a very busy year where they played Coachella for the first time, made their late night TV debut on Last Call with Carson Daly and co-headlined a nationwide tour with Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s. Following the reissue this Winter and the Spring 2010 tour, the band is gearing up for a new album release in the Fall of 2010 – so please stay tuned for more news in the near future.

~Information courtesy Stunt Company

Monday, November 2, 2009

Details about new Spoon album announced!

Britt Daniel, Jim Eno, Eric Harvey and Rob Pope--collectively known as Spoon--have confirmed the release date of their first album in over two years and seventh overall: Transference will be released in the U.S. on Merge Records on the 26th of January 2010.

Produced by the band, Transference is made up of 11 new gems that honor the Spoon tradition while pushing the envelope of the band's sound ever further. "Before Destruction" opens proceedings with a transfixing air of foreboding before "Is Love Forever?" and "The Mystery Zone" kick in with hooks that grip the listener's cortex with the tenacity of an aural tapeworm. "Who Makes Your Money" and first single "Written In Reverse" will be familiar to Spoon fans who witnessed the band playing prototypical live versions at select dates in 2008, as will "Got Nuffin," title track of the EP released by the band earlier this year.

The complete track listing for Transference is:

Before Destruction
Is Love Forever?
The Mystery Zone
Who Makes Your Money
Written In Reverse
I Saw The Light
Trouble Comes Running
Goodnight Laura
Out Go The Lights
Got Nuffin
Nobody Gets Me But You

In other Spoon news, September 29 saw the worldwide digital release of the band's first four albums--Telephono, A Series Of Sneaks, Girls Can Tell and Kill The Moonlight--at spoontheband.com. The albums will be formatted as MP3s and high quality FLAC audio, with digital liner notes provided for the first time.

Spoon has also confirmed a one-off New Years Eve extravaganza at the Riverside Theater in Milwaukee with Jay Reatard supporting. Tour dates supporting Transference will be announced as they are confirmed. Check back frequently at spoontheband.com.

Transference is the first full length offering of new Spoon material since 2007's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon's first Top 10 album with U.S. sales having since exceeded 300,000. Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga was hailed upon its release with the band's biggest ever coverage in the likes of TIME and THE NEW YORKER, and wound up 2007 with year-end best of accolades from NPR, GQ, NEW YORK, ROLLING STONE, PITCHFORK, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY, SPIN, THE ONION, PASTE and the WASHINGTON POST, while Oct. 6, 2007 marked the band's debut appearance on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Obscure Bob Dylan track from 'Bringing It All Back Home' sessions to see release!

Among the new and previously unreleased tracks on the forthcoming NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack - Vol.2 is "California" from Bob Dylan. This never-before-released track dates from theBringing It All Back Home sessions and has been newly mixed and mastered exclusively for this soundtrack album. To coincide with the album's release date, the November 3rd episode of NCIS will prominently feature "California." This true gem from the Dylan vaults is available only on NCIS: The Official TV Soundtrack - Vol.2 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon today!

In addition to Bob Dylan's "California," the album also features new and previously unreleased tracks from some of music's most popular artists - including Norah Jones, John Mellencamp, Sheryl Crow and Joss Stone. In its seventh season, NCIS is the #1 most-watched show on television, with more than 20 million viewers weekly. You can see the full track listing and sample music clips athttp://ncismusic.com.

NCIS airs Tuesdays (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Bob Dylan's brand new album of holiday songs, Christmas In The Heart, is also in stores. All of the artist's world-wide royalties will be donated in perpetuity to organizations that provide meals for the hungry guaranteeing that millions of meals will be served to the hungry and homeless this holiday seasons, and hopefully for many years to come. Over 200,000 meals have been donated so far!

Get Christmas In The Heart today at bobdylan.com, iTunes or Amazon.

To find out more about how you can help feed the hungry year round and contribute to Feeding America, Crisis, or the World Food Programme, please see the links below:

About Feeding America: FeedingAmerica.org
About World Food Programme: WFP.org
About Crisis: Crisis.org.uk

~Information courtesy BobDylan.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

New Watson Twins album coming just in time for V-Day

THE WATSON TWINS TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM ON VANGUARD

TALKING TO YOU, TALKING TO ME OUT FEBRUARY 9, 2010

The Watson Twins will unveil their sophomore release Talking To You, Talking To Me on Vanguard Records February 9, 2010, their most ambitious album to date. The new album finds The Watson Twins taking a soulful turn a la Carole King, but with a pop edge reminiscent of Feist. The result is a heartfelt nod to their roots, retaining the ethereal harmonies that have become their signature while incorporating a variety of influences and inspirations.

In June of 2009 Chandra and Leigh, along with producers J. Soda and Russell Pollard, went to a remote cabin in the High Sierras near Yosemite to demo songs for the new album. What they captured there would be the backbone of Talking To You, Talking To Me. The songs were brought back to Los Angeles where a band of friends (including members of Everest and My Morning Jacket) came together to help record the album at Fairfax Recordings. Talking To You, Talking To Me captures the essence of The Watson Twins' extraordinary music... driving, poignant and beautiful.

More information and links below.

"The Watson Twins are a strong songwriting team, and one that has earned its time in the spotlight." -BILLBOARD

"...deep knowledge of the canyons of the heart." - BLENDER

Tour Dates
10/28/2009 Los Angeles, CA - Henry Fonda Theatre
10/29/2009 San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
10/30/2009 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre
11/1/2009 Seattle, WA - Neumo's
11/2/2009 Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
11/3/2009 Boise, ID - The Knitting Factory
11/5/2009 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
11/6/2009 Lawrence, KS - Granada Theatre
11/7/2009 St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill - Duck Room
11/8/2009 Birmingham, AL - WorkPlay Soundstage Theatre
11/10/2009 Saint Petersburg, FL - State Theatre
11/11/2009 Fort Lauderdale, FL - Culture Room
11/13/2009 Orlando, FL - The Social
11/14/2009 Atlanta, GA - Center Stage Theatre
11/15/2009 Raleigh, NC - Lincoln Theatre
11/17/2009 Washington, DC - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
11/19/2009 New York, NY - Webster Hall
11/20/2009 Philadelphia, PA - The Trocadero Theatre
11/21/2009 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11/22/2009 Boston, MA - House of Blues Boston

~Information courtesy Biz 3

Mojo Nixon: 'Did I lose a million dollars or gain a million fans?'

ORCHARD ARTIST MOJO NIXON SURPASSES ONE MILLION FREE DOWNLOADS ON AMAZON MP3
New Album and Entire Past Catalog Were Made Available for Free Download During Special Two-Week Promotion; Promotion Showcases The Orchard's Position as an Innovator In the Music Space

New York, NY - October 27, 2009: On October 6th, in support and celebration of the release of Mojo Nixon's latest album "Whiskey Rebellion", The Orchard, a full service media company specializing in the distribution of music and video entertainment, announced that Mojo's entire catalog would be available to download at no cost, exclusively from Amazon MP3. Since this announcement, the promotion has led to more than one million downloads of Mojo's music. As an innovative promotional tool to expose new and existing Mojo fans to his vast body of work, the free downloads are available at www.amazon.com/mojo until October 28th.

"The successful execution of this pioneering promotion has generated tremendous awareness for Mojo," said Brad Navin, EVP and General Manager of The Orchard. "This is a showcase of how The Orchard, as a nimble and forward-thinking company, has the ability to orchestrate trendsetting promotions for our clients. The success of this promotion will be measured by its long-term benefits, not the short-term risks, and our expectation is that it will generate sales momentum."

Mojo Nixon's current catalog includes 11 albums and 144 tracks. The downloads for this music during the two weeks of the Amazon promotional period amounted to a 23,000% increase from paid downloads across all digital retail networks in the United States during the first half of 2009.

BigChampagne, a technology-driven media measurement company that analyzes the trends of popular entertainment media, reported that the number of users and corresponding volume of files stayed pretty consistent overall on P2P sites during the two week Amazon promotion that began October 6th. In August and September, the average volume of files on P2P networks was 35,000 and in the first week of the promotion, there was 13% increase on the networks, but this fell back down to around 35,000 the following week.

"The success of this promotion is demonstrated by the numbers," commented Eric Garland, CEO of BigChampagne. "As a result of the giveaway, Mojo's online popularity is spiking across key indicators. It's also worth noting that there has been no concurrent increase in piracy of Mojo's material. Free Amazon MP3 downloads now completely dwarf the unauthorized flow of his catalog."

Mojo Nixon, remarking on his career and lack of digital marketing skills, said:
"Great googley moogley. I'm almost speechless. A million Mojo songs stirring up trouble across this great land. I'm a cult artist and apparently I've grown the cult and made the cult happy. A little blast of joy in these dark and desperate times. A retired lunatic with no Facebook, no Twitter, no MySpace or tour. Not even an e-mail list. Never underestimate the power of the Mojosity. The true sound of the American nutjob is forever. You can't kill rock 'n roll. The question is--did I lose a million dollars or gain a million fans?"

About Mojo Nixon

Mojo Nixon is currently a full-time on-air personality on Sirius XM Satellite radio hosting a daily music show on the Outlaw Country channel, a weekly political talk show on the Raw Dog Comedy Channel and a weekly racing show on the NASCAR channel. Bruce Springsteen has called him "The King Of The DJs."

Mojo is coming out of retirement for a tour to support Whiskey Rebellion. The tour includes a total of two shows in Texas with his backing band The Toadliquors. On Friday November 6th he will be performing at The Continental Club in Austin and Saturday November 7th at The Continental Club in Houston. Dash Rip Rock and New Duncan Imperials will support both shows.

Mojo Nixon released his first album in 1985. He has shared the stage with artists ranging from Dead Kennedys, The Pogues and The Butthole Surfers to Koko Taylor, Jerry Lee Lewis and Ali Farka Toure. He officially retired from touring in 2004. He was the unofficial captain of the medal winning 1998 US Olympic Luge team. In one week he appeared on a cover story in the Wall Street Journal while also appearing nude in Future Sex Magazine. A column he once wrote for Hustler Magazine was censored for inappropriate material. He has appeared in several bad movies. He debated Pat Buchanan on Crossfire. Don Henley once joined him onstage to sing along with the song Don Henley Must Die. He has surprisingly never been shot or arrested. He has been named Drunk of the Month by Modern Drunkard Magazine. He has performed in Moosejaw, Sasketchewan. In 2009 he was very surprised to find a shoe box under his front porch with 17 cassettes of unreleased songs.

~Information courtesy The Orchard

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

First impressions of … Islands’ ‘Vapours’

An “impromptu” track-by-track review of Nick Diamonds’ latest album-of-the-year contender by Matthew R. Perrine:

Islands releases just belong on the open road.

To be fair, I’m probably more than a little biased. My first “moment” with the genius of frontman Nick Diamonds was listening to the second Islands outing, “Arm’s Way,” while traversing up and down Highway 53 late last winter. I was covering the new Bob Dylan exhibit at Ironworld — sorry, Minnesota Discovery Center — but my excitement for that wonderful ode to Duluth’s most famous native son somehow took the backseat to the enthralling sounds being produced by my Canadian “co-pilot”: That Islands record was all at once epic (the Who-y “In the Rushes”), clever (“Kids Don’t Know S---”) and, with songs like “Pieces of You,” unabashedly powerful.

It was deep enough to keep me entertained on a roadtrip but exciting enough to keep me from dozing off and taking out a few mailboxes. That is, it was the perfect highway companion.

Since that unforgettable afternoon and evening, I’ve since discovered the rest of Diamonds’ acclaimed output: the Islands debut, “Return to the Sea,” and the Human Highway side project. So, needless to say, I was more than a little excited to hear “Vapours,” which finds Islands welcoming Jamie Thompson back into the fold. (Thompson left the group after the release of “Return to the Sea.”)

Here are my thoughts on the new one, whose tracks, regrettably, haven’t been “road tested” yet:

1. “Switched On”
Stop sweating. While most of the mid-2000s “It” bands have proven to be just flashes in the pan, Islands is in it for the long haul: Not only is “Switched On” a beautiful continuation of the ever-expanding soundscape that was “Army’s Way,” it also manages to pull off a more accessible vibe, which should land the Canadian group some new legions of listeners.

2. “No You Don’t”
Wow, listen to that intro — Michael Jackson would be so proud! Diamonds and company are really taking Islands in bold new directions: After those “Thriller”-worthy opening notes, “No You Don’t” incorporates ear-pleasing elements of some of today’s favorite throwback genres (reggae, ’80s pop).

3. “Vapours”
This grooves like old-school Elvis Costello and the Attractions, and then there’s that brazen brass section … I’m starting to subscribe to Diamonds’ assertion that “Islands are forever.” These tracks will surely be pumping on my stereo for years to come.

Another chance accolade: This is the best title track in some time.

4. “Devout”
Given the booty-shaking foundation this one sits on, a quick DFA remix and “Devout” will be rattling all the world’s dance floors in no time.

5. “Disarming the Car Bomb”
If this is an attempt at getting political, I’m not hearing it, because I’m too busy concentrating on ways to describe this expertly-pieced-together gem: Take any ubiquitous Robert Palmer backing track, throw in some of those guitar riffs preferred by Frank Black and … oh, hell, just go listen to it. No amount of flowery prose will effectively get across how amazing this track is.

6. “Tender Torture”
Again, is this about foreign wars? Or tickling? Nevermind, it doesn’t matter; this is simply midtempo gold. If Moby were to produce more rock bands (or any…), there’d be a lot more mood-elevating No. 1 shots in the world sounding just like this.

7. “Shining”
Kind of a snoozer, though, to be fair, there’s a buildup near the “dénouement” that’s at least a little rewarding.

8. “On Foreigner”
A strange little piece of tape. Did this psychedelic reel escape from the Flaming Lips’ acid-washed “Embryonic” by chance?

That’s not to unfairly dismiss this dreamlike affair, however, as it possesses impressive parallels to Danny Elfman’s Tim Burton-related body of work (the “Edward Scissorhands” theme in particular). I approve.

9. “Heartbeat”
Auto-Tune? Why? Is this some kind of “Gotcha!” response to Kanye West’s polarizing “808s & Heartbreak” album and its “Heartless” single?

Funny, I say that now, but this will probably be the one that lands Islands those aforementioned legions of fans. Which they deserve.

So, I guess, go on with your bad selves….

10. “The Drums”
Swimming in reverb, this is a fine return to form. Fans of Björk’s 1995 electronic pop masterpiece “Post” will find much to love here.

11. “EOL”
Perhaps a nod to the genius of Jeff Lynne, this track features a number of the tricks he employed with Electric Light Orchestra (or ELO, for those of you without any game). There are circling percussion grooves, crunchy guitar bits that sound as if they were molded in a more-adventurous 1950s and, evocative of that beloved group’s underrated 1981 album “Time,” trancelike synths that dance around in the background.

12. “Everything is Under Control”
Have you ever stood on the edge of an ocean — or, hey, maybe one of the Great Lakes — during a blustery storm and studied the crashing waves with such detached amazement that you totally forgot about all of life’s little problems? Good, because A) everyone needs a little release sometimes and B) this song is expansive enough to allow you to recapture that feeling and live it again and again, no matter where you are. Now that is a powerful piece of rock and roll music.

Listen to tracks from “Vapours” at www.myspace.com/islands.



Matthew R. Perrine (aka me, the guy wrote this) is a reporter for the Duluth Budgeteer News. Read his regular Arts & Entertainment coverage at www.duluth.com.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Supergrass side project Hot Rats a glorified cover band. And it's awesome.

Clear your holiday playlists: Gaz Coombes and Danny Goffey of Supergrass have teamed up with producer extraordinaire Nigel Godrich to bring you the must-have party record of 2010 (and beyond) with Turn Ons, their debut as THE HOT RATS, scheduled for release January 19 on Fat Possum.

What began as Gaz and Danny taking a little time out from their Supergrass commitments for a studio lark has now resulted in a modern day psychedelic punk descendant of Bowie's Pin Ups: often irreverent and sometimes initially unrecognizable but always loving and respectful re-imaginings of 12 classics spanning 40 years of rock, punk and even hip hop. Icons receiving the celebratory HOT RATS treatment range from the Kinks, Velvet Underground and Pink Floyd to the Sex Pistols, Beastie Boys and more.

Having whipped festival crowds into rock and roll frenzies across the UK this summer, THE HOT RATS have now targeted the lovely weather of the U.S. in January for their first ever stateside shows. Confirmed dates are as follows and will be on sale Friday October 2:

Tue-Jan-12 Brooklyn NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
Thu-Jan-14 New York NY Bowery Ballroom
Tue-Jan-19 Los Angeles CA Spaceland
Thu-Jan-21 Los Angeles CA Troubadour

http://www.thehotrats.com/
http://www.facebook.com/thehotrats
http://www.myspace.com/thehotrats
http://www.bebo.com/thehotrats
http://www.twitter.com/thehotrats
http://www.youtube.com/thehotrats
http://www.ilike.com/artist/hotrats

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Monday, October 12, 2009

Motion City Soundtrack loves you and everyone you know (in Chicago)

MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK take a Look Back with Three Special Nights at Lincoln Hall in Chicago this December; Band set to Perform their First Three Albums in their Entirety over Three Separate Nights – I AM THE MOVIE on DEC 18th, COMMIT THIS TO MEMORY on DEC 19th, and EVEN IF IT KILLS MEon DEC 20th

New York, NY – Motion City Soundtrack are giving fans a holiday season treat this year when they spend three nights at Chicago’s newest venue – Lincoln Hall – in December. The band will be taking a look back at their seven year career when they perform their first three albums in their entirety over three separate nights – I Am the Movie on the 18th, Commit This to Memoryon the 19th and Even if it Kills Me on the 20th. Tickets will go on sale on Friday October 23rd at 12pm and fans will be able to buy a three show pass for $49.99 and a single show ticket for $20. For more information you can visit the band’s web site: www.motioncitysoundtrack.com and the venue’s web site: www.lincolnhallchicago.com

Motion City Soundtrack – Justin Pierre, Joshua Cain, Matt Taylor, Tony Thaxton, and Jesse Johnson – wowed fans from the start with their 2002 debut I Am the Movie (Epitaph). The album features the undeniably catchy “The Future Freaks Me Out” (still a fan favorite) and earned them a tour with Blink-182 as well as a fateful friendship with Mark Hoppus. In 2004 the band asked Hoppus to produce their next album, 2005’s extremely successful Commit This to Memory (Epitaph). The album went on to sell more than 300,000 copies and garnered raves fromSpin, Rolling Stone, and Entertainment Weekly among others. It also found the band making their late night TV debut on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live. In 2007, MCS released Even If It Kills Me (Epitaph). Produced by Adam Schlesinger, Eli Janney and Ric Ocasek, the album debuted at #16 on the Top 200 Billboard Chart and earned them accolades from the media again including New York Times, SPIN and Blender as well as the cover of Alternative Press’ “Most Anticipated” issue.

Now it’s 2009 and the band will be taking a look back at the past seven years with their fans during this special three night engagement at Lincoln Hall. The event also comes on the heels of the band finishing up a new album – due out early next year and produced by their good friend Mark Hoppus. More news to come in the weeks ahead.

~Information courtesy Stunt Company

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Paul McCartney returns to Shea Stadium ... kind of

Multi-Disc CD/DVD Special Package Features Dazzling Performances of Beatles, Wings and Solo Classics From Citi Field, Formerly Shea Stadium, Historic Site of The Beatles' Landmark 1965 Concert

US Release - 17th November
FROM HEAR MUSIC/CONCORD MUSIC GROUP

"It was three great nights for the band and for me personally it was very exciting to be back opening a new stadium on the site of the old Shea Stadium where we had played 44 years previously. Even more exciting because this time round you could hear us!"


Paul McCartney's historic three-night musical christening of New York's Citi Field, witnessed by 120,000-plus attendees and universally hailed as a concert experience for the ages, will be immortalized November 17 when Hear Music/Concord Music Group releases "Good Evening New York City". This momentous musical experience will be available in two formats: a 3-disc (2 CD + 1 DVD) standard edition and a 4-disc (2 CD + 2 DVD) deluxe version featuring expanded packaging and a bonus DVD including McCartney's traffic-stopping, headline-making July 15 performance on the Ed Sullivan Theater marquee (including bonus numbers not aired on the Late Show with David Letterman broadcast). The set will also be made available in high quality vinyl. In any configuration, the 30+ songs and nearly 3 hours of music comprising "Good Evening New York City" are a must-have for attendees wishing to relive the July 17, 18 & 21 shows, those who couldn't get tickets and/or anyone interested in an audiovisual document of a living legend. "Good Evening New York City" marks McCartney's 2nd release for Hear Music. The first was 2007's highly acclaimed Memory Almost Full. The standard version of "Good Evening New York City" will be available at participating Starbucks company-operated locations in the U.S. and Canada and wherever music is sold.

As the inaugural musical event at Citi Field, the site of the former Shea Stadium, the July 2009 shows held special significance not only for McCartney but for generations of his fans. The shows were performed on the same hallowed ground that The Beatles, in 1965, played the 34-minute show that would set the precedent for the modern day stadium rock show--and where in 2008 McCartney joined Billy Joel for the final rock show before the original stadium's demolition. As documented on "Good Evening New York City", "I'm Down" from the 1965 set list was revived for the Citi Field shows, albeit this time played through a PA that was not overpowered by screaming fans (though there were still several thousand who tried). Other highlights of "Good Evening New York City" include faithful takes on Beatles classics "Drive My Car," "Got To Get You Into My Life," "The Long And Winding Road," "Blackbird," "Eleanor Rigby," "Back In The USSR," "Paperback Writer," "Let It Be," "Hey Jude," "Helter Skelter" and more, plus "Something" rendered on ukulele gifted to Paul by George Harrison, and a tribute to John Lennon in the form of a medley of "A Day In The Life" and "Give Peace A Chance." Wings era chestnuts include "Band On The Run," "My Love," "Let Me Roll It" and the pyrotechnic tour de force of "Live And Let Die," while timeless McCartney solo material ranges from "Here Today" to the upbeat "Flaming Pie" and "Dance Tonight" to a pair of numbers from Electric Arguments, the 2008 album released under the alias of The Fireman.

The concert footage featured on "Good Evening New York City" standard edition features concert footage directed by Paul Becher, who has overseen live visuals for McCartney for some 200 performances and counting. The 33-song 2 hour 40 minute performances were shot in High Definition using 15 cameras and digital footage incorporated from 75 Flipcams handed out to fans over the course of the three night stand. The audio mix, in both stereo and 5.1, was handled by longtime McCartney engineer Paul Hicks, whose credits include the recent Beatles remasters, The Beatles Anthology, Let It Be...Naked, and two Grammy awards for his mixing work on the Beatles' Love album.

The deluxe edition bonus DVD will feature footage of McCartney's July 15 performance on the outdoor marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater, previously available only as a webcast on the Late Show with David Letterman website. The marquee set, which marked McCartney's return to the site of The Beatles U.S. television debut, generated front page headlines and literally stopped traffic as word of mouth generated a crowd that packed Broadway from Columbus Circle to Times Square.

Paul McCartney's July 17-21 Citi Field stand has already been unanimously hailed by critics and audiences alike as the concert experience of a lifetime. On November 17, "Good Evening New York City" will document it for the ages.


About Hear Music
Hear Music is an innovative record label operated by Concord Music Group exclusively for Starbucks. Rooted in quality, authenticity and passion, Hear Music works directly with artists, both emerging and established, to bring quality music to the widest possible audience, in both Starbucks locations and traditional music retailers worldwide.

~Information courtesy Nasty Little Man

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Awesome Mix Tape #60 (in the shake*your*shores series)



You know the drill: You read. You giggle and/or vomit in your mouth. You get excited. You listen. You hurt your face smiling from ear to shining ear. You thank your lucky stars for awesome mix tapes.

Submitted for the approval of the Mix Tape Appreciation Society, I call this one "And On Your Right..." -- yeah, uh huh. (Note: I've had quite the wild ride the last few weeks, so that's why there are two "covers" this week. The first one was stolen -- and subsequently fiddled with -- from my buddy Matt Kobberdahl, who is the driving force behind the new band Skillsaw Symphony. And No. 2 is between me, my lady and Clearwater Lake....)

1. Remy Zero - "Glorious #1"
Yes! Finally somebody wrote a song about me! he he he

2. Felt - "Protagonists"
Slug + Murs + Aesop Rock (on production) = An indie(-ish) rap eargasm. ("Eww" is right.)

3. The Plastic Constellations - "Mazatlan"
Before he made his $$$ as Lazerbeak in Doomtree and Hand Over Fist, Aaron Mader was just one of the Plastics. And what a Plastic he was!

4. Tears for Fears - "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"
The other night at the Red Star nightclub in Fitger's the DJ was only spinning '80s pop masterpieces. It kind of felt like a scene from "American Psycho," but it was splendid fun nonetheless. But maybe that's because everyone in my entourage is still alive. LOL

5. fun. - "Light a Roman Candle with Me"
I love being in love (so sayeth this group's last incarnation, the Format). And, yes, I am proud of that "man vag" you'll discover in my armpit. ha ha ha

6. Kristoff Krane - "Easy Way Out"
Recommended to me by Jesse "Jaze" Unger of local hip-hop favorites Kritical Kontact, so you know it's good, my friends.

7. Brother Ali - "Us" [Video Edit]
HipHopDX.com gave this track's album a 4.5 out of 5. Congrats, Ali!

8. Amanda Blank - "Something Bigger, Something Better"
Fans of M.I.A. will dig this trippy/hypnotic/ethereal after-midnight thriller from the new Ms. Nasty.

9. TV on the Radio - "I Was a Lover"
Similarly, this after-bar-close cut will keep you mesmerized while you think about missed connections, the new smell of your clothes, how you'll feel the next morning ... you know, life stuff.

10. David Dondero - "Journal Burning Party"
In case you missed my recent news alert concerning this sent-from-above musical talent: He's from Duluth!

11. The Stereo - "Count on Me"
You can, A.J.H. The rest of you? S--- out of luck. ha ha ha

12. Accident Clearinghouse - "Bird on the Wing"
Like the Beatles' early mellow cuts? So does the Clearinghouse.

13. brakesbrakesbrakes - "If I Should Die Tonight"
"... Would you tell her that I loved her?" (No, I'm not trying to get you to puke in your mouth -- that's actually how the song goes!)

14. The SpongeTones - "Alayna"
Like the Beatles' mid-period mid-tempo cuts? So do the SpongeTones.

15. Weezer - "No Other One"
Yeah, it's a little f----- up for a love song, but I dig it. And always have.

16. RJD2 - "Exotic Talk"
You know how neon lights leave streaks across your field of vision when [REMOVED FOR FUTURE EMPLOYMENT'S SAKE]? This could very well be that awesome song you hear playing in the background. Like a "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" montage or something.

17. The Beatles - "I Want to Hold Your Hand" ["Love" vers.]
Like the Beatles' after-the-fact studio wizardry? Oh, wait.... (p.s. I don't want to brag or anything, but I managed to catch the "Love" show in Vegas this past week at the Mirage and, man alive, it was one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed in my life!)

18. Fuzzbubble - "Bliss"
Makes me wanna rock more than fake plastic guitars. (And this hot rocker comes equipped with choice lyrics to boot: "I don't want to fight, but everyone is wrong and I am right.")

19. Possum Dixon - "What You Mean"
And this one makes me wanna beat on more than fake plastic drums. (And please don't read that the wrong way. ha ha ha)

20. Looner - "I Love My Tamagotchee!"
Hey, remember when I interviewed this spunky husband-and-wife indie rock duo before they hit up Superior? Oh, well ... now you do!

21. Fleetwood Mac - "Over & Over"
A friend who digs the 'Mac is a friend indeed.

22. The Black Crowes - "A Train Makes a Lonely Sound"
Back on top of the world. As they should be.

23. The Jayhawks feat. Matthew Sweet - "All the Right Reasons"
The most romantic song since "Tupelo Honey"? Perhaps. (Sorry, Van!)

24. The Flaming Lips - "When You Smile"
This one's similarly romantic, but in more of a nontraditional/Cloud Cult doing "Chemicals Collide" kind of way.

Thus concludes your sixtieth dose of SHAKE*YOUR*SHORES, the awesome mix tape series formerly known as "Don't Tell a Soul." Hope you enjoyed the fix!