01 December, 2007

Michael Veitch,music and compromise


+ I have had the privilege of listening to a great record. I found a man I did not know, but with perfectly crafted songs that talk about love and compromise, today's problems? You bet.

+ These songs were recorded with special care, as you will find if you listen to them. The Producer is Julie Last, who worked with Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, Shawn Colvin, to name a few. She said that "every song was given complete attention to detail", and I agree with that. She adds that " Michael's mature lyrics, strong singing and unique guitar work made it easy to build this set of compelling songs. They all come from his heart and the production has remained true to his vision". And I add, if you like Matthew Sweet or Iain Matthews, you'll love Veitch's music.

+ Finally, important in these days in someway, catchy rhythms, lyrics and verses that go to the bottom of your soul. Later, when you forgot the record, the songs will come back to you, naturally, and you will find yourself singing them. Isn't that the goal of an artist?. Michael Veitch got it.

+ Pleas, visit his webpage and be amazed by his goodbye-counter!. At the bottom of the page, you'll find another proof of his compromise. The cost of the war!.

+ I hope the man does not get mad at me for linking the song, but Goodbye is number one:

* Please, listen to Goodbye (never sounded so sweet).

* and to Come talk to me.

* (for a limited time only).

24 November, 2007

The Silver Seas, golden harmonies

+ This Nashville band, led by the multi-talented Daniel Tashian, made the catchiest album of the week.

+ I have had this song in my ears for the whole week. With their effortlessly breezy harmonies and indelible hooks, the members of Nashville’s Silver Seas dispense an abundance of beautifully rootsy pop.

+ Their latest album “High Society” is like a soft rock (in a good way) record out of the 70’s that is so pleasant, it’s kind of impossible not to like. They’ve been compared to James Taylor, Jackson Browne, The Eagles, The Beach Boys, and Van Morrison. In fact, tell me if you recognize a Van Morrison song in the country life.

* Listen to The Country Life.

* Listen to Imaginary girl.

21 November, 2007

James Taylor' sweetest songs live


+ Hey, if you plan to motor west, exactly to West Hollywood, CA, around november 28-30, you better try to get tickets to see this man, James Taylor and long time friend Carole King at the legendary The Troubadour. Oh, boy, I wish I could be there!.

+ Do not get fooled by his hat. The man is as bald as myself. James is already about to jump to 60, but believe me, his musical abilities are at his best.

+ James just released a wonderful set of CD/DVD for those of you that still sing fire and rain, you've got a friend, shower the people, and so many others. The title of the set is funny. One man band. But the guy is not playing alone. Almost. But, he's supported by keyboardist Larry Goldings, whom Taylor calls his "one-man band" in the liner notes. The album, recorded at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, MA during July 2007, is an intimate and predictable one. This is my opinion, of course, but it looks to me that Taylor is playing his songs more about the same way all of his life. Is this a capital sin? No, please!, it is a trademark. Think about Dylan! or Atlantic City in the Live in Dublin' Springsteen records.

+ I know, you want some music:

* Shower the people (with The Dixie Chicks).

* Fire and rain.

* Sweet baby James.

* You've got a friend.

* Handy man.

* Carolina in my mind.

16 November, 2007

U2 remasters The Joshua Tree

+ It was 1987. I heard that record dozens of times, over and over and over and over again. U2 got the circle quadrature!.

+ Now they tell me that U2's
The Joshua Tree has been meticulously re-mastered from the original analog master tapes to mark 20 years since its release and will be available on November 20, 2007.

"There has been continuous demand from U2 fans to have The Joshua Tree properly re-mastered," says Paul McGuinness. "As always, the band had to make sure it was right, and now it is."

In 1987, The Joshua Tree reached Number 1 around the world and won a Grammy for Album of the Year, while U2 won the Brit Award for Best International Act and Time Magazine put the band on its cover, proclaiming them "Rock's Hottest Ticket". Including the singles “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,” “Where The Streets Have No Name” and “With Or Without You,” The Joshua Tree went on to sell in excess of 20 million.

The album will be available in four formats:

  • A standard CD featuring liner notes from Bill Flanagan, lyrics and unseen photographs from long time collaborator Anton Corbijn.
  • A double 12" gatefold vinyl format, with the original album pressed across two 180 gram audiophile discs.
  • A deluxe edition including a second CD of b-sides and demos from the original album sessions.
  • A limited edition box set containing two CD's and a DVD featuring The Joshua Tree Tour live from the Hippodrome in Paris and other rare video footage.

The CD track listing (sure you remember it) is as follows: “Where The Streets Have No Name,” “I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For,” “With Or Without You,” “Bullet The Blue Sky,” “Running To Stand Still,” “Red Hill Mining Town,” “In God's Country,” “Trip Through Your Wires,” “One Tree Hill,” “Exit” and “Mothers Of The Disappeared.”

+ Now, I know you want to listen to some of the stuff:

* You can go to their space, but some cheap guy does not let to listen to whole songs!. Come on, guys, you listen to these songs on the radio EVERYDAY!

* Listen to where the streets have no name.

* Listen to bullet the blue sky.

* Listen to with or without you.

* The guys are superstars, but the music they did is today's mark.

03 November, 2007

Raul Midón, soulatin pop


+ This man you have to discover. The first song in his new job, a world within a world, called pick somebody up uses
arrangements lost two decades ago. Those violins recall us of real soul music. His blend uses that old soul music adapted to today's pop taste. I am sure his producer, son of legendary Ariff Mardin, has hit the target with those wonderful songs.

+ Raul Midón, a New Mexico-born, New York-based writer/vocalist/guitarist burst onto the scene in 2005 with his audaciously original debut album, State of Mind, and he's followed it up with an even more memorable song cycle, one that substantiates the depth of his talent and the degree of his dedication. A World Within a World, the title of the new album (Manhattan Records, Sept. 25), might refer to the status of pop music within the culture as a whole; it could also describe the expansive interior realm that this single-minded artist, blind from birth, has created with his imagination.

+ Midón was born in Embudo, N.M., to an Argentinean father and an African-American mother. A passionate music lover for as long as he can remember, Midón started playing drums at age 4 before shifting his focus to the guitar. He turned down a scholarship in creative writing offered by the University of New Mexico after being selected by the University of Miami for its highly regarded jazz program. Staying in Miami after graduating, Midón became an in-demand backup singer, working primarily on Latin projects for artists like Julio Iglesias, Shakira and Alejandro Sanz, while moonlighting as a club performer, sprinkling the requisite cover songs with the original tunes he was starting to write.

+
In 2002, when Midón felt he was ready, he walked away from his lucrative profession in order to pursue a solo career in New York City. “I wanted to become an artist and do what I wanted to do instead of being someone else's hired gun,” he explains. When Midón performed for the legendary producer/arranger Arif Mardin, fresh off the recording of Norah Jones’ breakthrough album, Come Away With Me, he offered the newcomer a deal on the spot-it would be the final signing of Mardin's long career. Raúl readily accepted, eager to form a partnership with the highly skilled veteran and with Arif's multi-instrumentalist son Joe. Father and son co-produced State of Mind, which garnered critical accolades for its heady fusion of old-school soul, timeless pop, Latin, jazz and the singer/songwriter idiom. Intrigued by what the youngster was cooking up, Wonder himself appeared on one track.

+
For A World Within a World, recorded after the death of the elder Mardin, Midón and Joe Mardin tightened the focus, with Joe laying down the grooves and playing additional instruments behind Midón's vocals and guitar parts on the majority of the tracks. “Like his father, Joe is a producer in the old-school sense of the word,” says Midón. “He's interested in how a record sounds; he can do arrangements and conduct an orchestra-which he did on 'Pick Somebody Up.' Joe brought the value of making an album to the project, as opposed to just a collection of songs.”

+
This is not your average pop record-not by a long shot. With A World Within a World, Midón has fashioned an album that is at once audacious and accessible, of the moment and suffused with history; it's personal yet universal, uncompromising yet inviting. This is that rare sort of pop album that could actually make a difference, and as such, it stands right alongside the pivotal works of the artists who inspired it.

+ Please, visit his space to listen to some of his songs.

28 October, 2007

Robert Gordon & Marco DiMaggio Trio touring Spain

+ Last night we went to Orihuela (Alicante) to hear and see the old rockabilly master Robert Gordon. Dressed with black slacks and shoes, and wearing a nice black shirt with fire flames, the good ol' rocker sang about a dozen songs, including rockabilly boogie, the way I walk, the fool, and fire. The man still has his trademark voice that made irresistible records more than 25 years ago. And also keeps his star statute, as we observed reverential looks both by the local organization (bikers' murcia chapter) and by his backing band. But this is another point. His backing band, I mean.

+ Of course, Mr. Gordon was very nice to everybody. He thanked the audience after each song and finished his act sending them some kisses (even most of the audience was full of bikers, you know, long hairdos and beards, big bellys and all that stuff, but nice guys and girls, music lovers).

+ But, as we were very pleased by Robert's singing, we were more than impressed by his band. The Marco DiMaggio Trio, which you can see at the right of this text. The bassman is on the left, Mattheo, Marco is at Robert's left, and the drummer, also Marco I believe, at the right of the image. The guitarist himself really keeps the show intense, the guy knows very well this style, using the pick (with the thumb and the index finger) and the other three fingers in a very professional way.They also maintained the audience rocking and rolling in the intermezzo Robert Gordon went to have a rest. His voice recalls a bit that of Raul Malo, but his guitar technique is superior. They performed a wonderful full-band version of the Buddy Holly's classic a capella Everyday that you can add to your Holly records as the version he would have recorded if not for the plane crash. A rockabilly version of The Police hit every breath you take did not satisfy as much as the rest of the set, but gave the opportunity the bikers to hug each other, he, he.

+ You better try to see the band in action. In the meantime, check out the following videos:

+ Robert Gordon videos:

*Rockabilly boogie. * The fool. * The way I walk. * Rockabilly boogie.

+ Marco DiMaggio videos:

* Just found out. *Crying, waiting, hoping. * Instrumentals mix.

+ Or listen to these favorites:

* Fire.

+ Long live to rock and roll!

21 October, 2007

The War


+ THE WAR tells the story of the Second World War through the personal accounts of a handful of men and women from four quintessentially American towns. The series explores the most intimate human dimensions of the greatest cataclysm in history, and demonstrates that in extraordinary times, there are no ordinary lives.

+Music is an integral element in the success of the award-winning documentary films produced and directed by Ken Burns, and three of his most recent projects have been accompanied by soundtrack albums released by Legacy Recordings: JAZZ (2001, certified multi-platinum), Mark Twain (2001), and Horatio’s Drive (2003).

+ Every musical track has been selected to underscore events or themes in the film. There is an eclectic mix of vintage era jazz (Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Nat ‘King’ Cole), popular singers (Kay Starr, Bing Crosby with guitarist Les Paul), classical works by composers Aaron Copland, Sir William Walton, and modernist Arvo Pärt, and evocative performances by Edgar Meyer (and friends) and Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble.

* Listen to The War podcasts by visiting this link.

* Listen to THE WAR Audio Streams:

American Anthem” by Norah Jones,

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_01_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_01_full_smil.mov

Two Pieces For Strings: Passacaglia: The Death Of Falstaff” [Edited Performance] by Leonard Slatkin & The London Philharmonic Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_02_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_02_full_smil.mov

The Wang Wang Blues” by Benny Goodman Sextet

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_03_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_03_full_smil.mov

Movin' Back” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_04_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_04_full_smil.mov

How Long Blues” by Count Basie

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_05_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_05_full_smil.mov

In the Nick of Time” [Instrumental] by Edger Meye, Joshua Bell, Sam Bush, & Mike Marshall

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_06_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_06_full_smil.mov

It's Been A Long, Long Time” by Bing Crosby, with Les Paul

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_07_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_07_full_smil.mov

America My Home” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_08_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_08_full_smil.mov

If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)” by Kay Starr, accompanied by the Capitol International Jazzmen

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_09_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_09_full_smil.mov

Blue As The Turquoise Night of Neyshabur” [Edited Version] by Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_10_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_10_full_smil.mov

Until I'm In Your Arms Again” by Wynton Marsalis

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_11_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_11_full_smil.mov

Variations For The Healing Of Arinushka” by Kalle Randalu

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_12_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_12_full_smil.mov

Basie Boogie” by Count Basie & His Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_13_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_13_full_smil.mov

Solitude” [78rpm Version] Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_14_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_14_full_smil.mov

Concerto For Clarinet & String Orchestra” by Benny Goodman, Aaron Copland, & Columbia Symphony Orchestra

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_15_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_15_full_smil.mov

If You Can't Smile And Say Yes” by The King Cole Trio

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_16_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_16_full_smil.mov

American Anthem” by Amanda Forsynth & Bill Charlap

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_17_full_100.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/710203/710203_01_17_full_smil.mov

+ Enjoy and think about it. Don't let others tell what you should think or say.

12 October, 2007

Music goes to film - U2 PopMart Live in Mexico


+ U2, PopMart Live in Mexico City.

+ ¡Muchos huevos!, finally a rock band publish a concert not recorded in Barcelona!+ The performance took place at Foro Sol Autodromo, in Mexico City, and it was filmed 3rd December 1997. The director was David Mallet. It was ten years ago, but it looks like today. One more video to add to the huge videography list of the group.

+ Impressive sound, impecable realisation and edition. And the music... and the mise en scene. From the de Niro' s The Bull's inspired entry of the band, surrounded by mal encarados real bodyguards to the huge watt consumption of the thousands leds of the videoscreens at the back of the band, the DVD bring us back memories of a time when U2, then THE rock band par excellence, ruled the arenas and stadiums throughout the world, with their succesful mix of pop-rock emotional anthems and bloody popular hooks, and made the change to a more modern, nocturnal and global sound.

+ There is another thing that impressed me. The booklet that accompanies the package. I thought about using gloves to touch it, it is so futuristic, so brilliant, so glossy. I thought, oh boy, this is plastic!. But, it was paper. Incredibly prepared and printed paper.

+ Please, check out these videos to have a glimpse on that superb film:

* Pop Muzik/Mofo.

* Even better than the real thing.

* Staring at the sun.

* Bullet the blue sky.

+ If you like U2 you should get the whole show. It is worth, I declare.

+, hey, catalonian fans, it's only a practical joke for you, don't get angry!. Now, even the Boss changes Barcelona for Bilbao. Happy Spanish National Day!

06 October, 2007

Brian Setzer, keep on swingin'!

WOLFGANG'S BIG NIGHT OUT.

+ Fun title, the man that revived rockabilly in the eighties with The Stray Cats is already rockin' with Mozart.

+ Following the succesful treatment of other previous geniuses such as Chuck Berry, who rolled over Beethoven and told Tchaikovsky the news, Brian Setzer and Orchestra takes on Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus.

+ Check out his space to listen to some of their new swingin' songs, which include rocking samples of the original masters, Amadeus and Ludwig also (take the 5th).

* If you wish, download (for a limited time only) two of these songs: one more night with you and the rocking Beethoven's 5th, Take the 5th.

03 October, 2007

Tick tack ticket, same old pirates

+ We won't be able to go see Bruce 's Magic because some modern pirates play with people, lying about selling tickets by phone or by web. Lies, damn lies!.

+ Instead, we will see the Boss playing (acting) in his videos. And the Band?, well, they were on their jobs, you know...

* Long walk home.

* Livin' in the future.

* Livin' in the future (live).

* Radio nowhere (live).

* Last to die (live).

* The promised land (live).

* Night.

30 September, 2007

Revived, yes it's true

+ The man found his rock and roll muse. Both delivered a rock and roll gem that will make Bruce with all his E-Street Band pale.

+ The band, his swamp band, is no joke: Kenny Aronoff on drums, Hunter Perrin on guitar, David Santos on bass and guest Benmont Tench on keyboards.

+ Watch the brand-new music video for "Don't You Wish It Was True:" QuickTime | WindowsMedia

+ John, 62 years now, sings as he was in heaven: but, if tomorrow, everybody under the sun, was your friend, happiness will never end, Lord, don't you wish it was true. Words of wisdom, you know.

* Listen to Gunslinger.

* Listen to It ain't right.

11 September, 2007

Will Dailey, close to the new Bruce

+ Boston singer/songwriter Will Dailey received last year an award for his songs. The album collecting them has just been released. The title, Back Flipping Forward. The prize was the 2006 Boston Music Award for Best Male Singer/Songwriter. Not bad, eh?

* Listen to some of these songs in his space.

+ The themes and ideas in Dailey’s lyrics hold true in my opinion. Within such songs as Eliza, Good To Me, and Undone, the ideas of redemption and restlessness play out as if in an early Bruce Springsteen song. In one of the strongest lyrical passages, at the conclusion of Rise, Dailey sings, “When I grow up/I hope I get the hang of this/I bleed from 6 strings/I let the truth fall from my lips.”

+ Will's vocals are outstanding and very very personal. You may have a hard time trying to tell a name that reminds you that voice. Maybe that's because he's got a broken heart, as he sings in the opening track, the excellent Boom, Boom.

+ Do not expect only an acoustic guitar and a voice. No. The record is produced according to actual taste in pop. Unexpected guitar solos and horns and infectious choruses are smartly distributed, as in Grand Opening or in Rise. Ryan Adams will probably sing this song soon!

+ Hollywood Hills is another gem, with that special jazz sound given by the great rhythm and the clarinet.

+ I am not sure this record will make its way in Spain, but singer-songwriters like Will Dailey, we do not have!

08 September, 2007

Sly & The Family Stone's Greatest Hits

+ You know these guys, the only thing you have to do is listen to the music. Well, in this case, dance to the music!

+ It was almost 4o years ago today. Sylvester Stewart was about to win his place in rock history, together with other hippys in San Francisco's summer of love. Oh, boy, they probably wouldn't wear flowers in the hair, but I can tell you that his and his group clothes very well reflect that sunny era. His songs also!

+ They are not very well known in Spain, but every rock connoisseur has to remember them as a wonderful surprise in The Festival of Woodstock. The band performed their set during the early-morning hours of August 17, 1969. The movie was of course seen in Spain later!

+ There was a time where Motown sound was going to be replaced by something we can call psychedelic soul. Listen to Life to know what I mean. Even The Beatles's infectious Obladi, Oblada is there!.

+ Visit and learn the history of Sly and the Family Stone.

* Listen to Life.

* Listen to Fun.

* Listen to I Want To Take You Higher.

* Listen to Stand!

* Listen to Dance to the music.

* Listen to Everyday people.

* Listen to Everybody is a star.

+ If you are interested, visit the link or your favourite record shop!

30 August, 2007

The great lost Cash's concert

+ It is strange. Now some intrepid workers managed to get Johnny Cash's home completely burnt, The cause is unknown, but Steele said the flames spread quickly because construction workers had recently applied a flammable wood preservative to the exterior of the house. The preservative was also being applied inside the house. No workers were injured, but one firefighter was slightly hurt while fighting the fire.

+ They did a ring of fire, in five minutes everything was gone. Everything?. No, not at all, my friend. Now you have an excellent piece of live Cash's music. In Asbury Park, NJ, in 1990.

+ I could not get the whole history about how they decided to recover this musical gem. But, I tell you it is worth the work. The man in black performs some 13 years before his passing, still in perfect shape with his band, including his son John Carter Cash and his second wife, beloved June Carter. With June, they do a great Jackson, energetic, rough voice, trading verses with Johnny.

* I'm gonna Jackson, look out Jackson town!

+ So, this record is really a must. In fact, how many live records do you think Cash did?. Ok, one?. You bet!.

+ Please, listen to some audio from The Great Lost Performance:

* Walk The Line.

*
Ring Of Fire.


28 August, 2007

Los Escarabajos - Beatles from Sevilla

+ I read the news today, oh boy, and learned about one of the best The Beatles' replica groups in Spain. Their name is the most appropriate in spanish. Since The Fab Four used the change of a letter for not being The Beetles, these andalusian boys really got a hold on these sounds and music. And in the name!

+ This knowledge is due to Diego A. Manrique, the paperback writer, who learned it from big ol' Gonzalo García Pelayo (anybody here remember "Para Vosotros, Jóvenes", with Carlos Tena?). Big ol' Diego can help it since he is a long time recognized fan of the Rolling Stones, when he writes about the Beatles. You can not see much emotion there.

+ Anyway, listen (and watch) to Los Escarabajos in:

* A day in the life.

* Sgt.Peppers-With a little help from my friend.

* Stand by me.

* She's leaving home.

24 August, 2007

Julio Ruiz's august favourites

+ The forever young Radio 3 presentador selects some of his favourites songs in Supernova Pop. Here you have some of them as found in you tube.

* Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position.

* Led Zeppelin - Good times, bad times.

* Wilco - Spiders.

* Bright eyes - Cartoon blues.

* The Go! Team - The Power is On.

*
Los Campesinos - You! Me! Dancing!.

* Peter Bjorn & John - Young Folks.

+ Isn't he grande¿, as his Disco?

17 August, 2007

Catch and release songs

+ Whereas the film has not been released in cinemas in Spain, we can have access to the songs in the interesting soundtrack, already commented here.

* Listen to Foo Fighters, Razor,

* and to Lemonheads, My Drug Buddy,

* and to Gomez, These three signs,

* and to Paul Westerberg, Let the bad times roll.

+ Obscure themes, aren't they?. Hope the movie it isn't!

16 August, 2007

Paul Simon at 65

+ Am I right if I proclaim that Paul Simon is one of the best songwriters ever?. Yes, you are, yes, I am right, the guy made such a tremendous amount of perfectly crafted, superb pop songs, that it is amazing that he is not compared to the same height of other great artists such as Lennon/McCartney, Dylan, ...

+ Now, that he is about to release an essential, The Essential Paul Simon, he titles, it is a good moment to revise him and include him in the list.

* Listen to Cecilia,

* and to For Emily, wherever I may find her,

* and to The Boxer,

* and to Kodachrome / Maybellene.

14 August, 2007

Low Stars, harmonies forgotten, recovered!

+ Last week, listening to The Gigolo Aunts' albums, I went at their web page, where they informed of the release of an album of Dave Giggs' new band, Low Stars.

+ If you like the forgotten sounds similar to Crosby, Stills, Nash (& Young), The Eagles, America, ... you will have a great time listening to Low Stars.

+ Visit their MySpace, where you will find four excellent examples of what I am telling you. Also, some clips where the guys play and sing their best.

+ They also have released a very shy and interesting rendition of Springsteen's One step up.

+ Listen to Need a friend.

+ Phil Hurley also had his own group, Stonehoney, which we should check out asap!.

08 August, 2007

Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Birthday!

* In celebration of the 50th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival Records will make its debut with a remarkable series of historic live-at-Monterey releases. Not only does this mark the first time a festival has launched its own label, but the riches of its tape archives—more than 1600 tapes with more than 2000 hours of concerts in the vault—makes this ambitious endeavor a jazz bonanza.

* The Monterey Jazz Festival, the pioneering West Coast-styled jazz party, inarguably holds the world record for the longest-running jazz affair, having been born in 1958 on the Monterey Fairgrounds, some 100 miles south of San Francisco. This year MJF turns 50, with its annual three-day gala (September 21–23) taking on special significance with a wealth of performances offered on nine stages spread throughout the festival’s 20-acre grounds.

* The first five recordings, to be released on August 21, capture the crème de la crème of the jazz heritage: Louis Armstrong (caught headlining the first night of the festival in 1958); Miles Davis (introducing to the West Coast his soon-to-be-classic ‘60s quintet rhythm section in 1963); and Thelonious Monk (his quartet augmented by bassist Steve Swallow and an expanded five-piece festival workshop in 1964), plus sets by Dizzy Gillespie (in 1965 having expanded his usual quintet with Kenny Barron and James Moody to a sextet by adding Big Black on congas) and Sarah Vaughan (backed by a young Bill Mays, Bob Magnusson and Jimmy Cobb – and one tune with the Jazz at the Philharmonic All-Stars in 1971).

* Please, hear some samples:

1. Louis Armstrong “Mack The Knife”, asx or qtl

2. Miles Davis “Autumn Leaves”, asx or qtl

3. Thelonious Monk “Rhythm-A-Ning”, asx or qtl

4. Dizzy Gillespie “Poor Joe”, asx or qtl

5. Sarah Vaughan “’Round Midnight”, asx or qtl

Enjoy!

06 July, 2007

Dance tonight alright!

+ You can dance, you can sing, you can surf, tonight, tonite, whenever, whatever.



+ You can come into my place tonite, you can do anything you want to do, uh!

+ Everybody wants to dance around tonight!.

+ And if you want, you can dance around tonight!

+ Jump and shout is also allowed!

+ This entry is because Paul (you know) has made a record. Period. It is called Memory almost full. You better check it out sooner than later. And then, tell me.

+ Paul, Macca, dance tonight!.

+ And get the rest of the memory out soon!

31 May, 2007

Paul: the shape I'm in

+ Don’t miss out on the world premiere of Paul McCartney’s music video ‘Dance Tonight’ on http://www.youtube.com !! ‘Dance Tonight’ is the first music video in support of Paul McCartney’s upcoming release Memory Almost Full in stores June 5th. Filmed in London last March, the video stars Paul McCartney, Natalie Portman and Mackenzie Crook. It was directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind). It will be available to watch on YouTube from 12 noon (UK time) or 7 AM EST (US time) on Monday May 23rd.

+ ‘Dance Tonight’ is the opening track on Paul’s new studio album Memory Almost Full, (UK release June 4th/US Release June 5th). Memory Almost Full is Paul McCartney’s 21st solo album. It will be the first release on new Hear Music (the label formed between Starbucks Entertainment and Concord Music Group).

“Ever Present Past” Audio Streams:

http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/audio/asx/PaulMcCartney-EverPresentPast.asx

http://www.concordmusicgroup.com/audio/ram/PaulMcCartney-EverPresentPast.rm

Memory Almost Full Snippet Audio Streams:

www.concordmusicgroup.com/audio/asx/PaulMcCartney-MemoryAlmostFull.asx

www.concordmusicgroup.com/audio/ram/PaulMcCartney-MemoryAlmostFull.rm

Download Memory Almost Full press release, album art, banners, lyrics, track by track info sheet, and wallpaper here:

http://www.specialopsmedia.com/assets/PaulMcCartney/assets.zip

Paul McCartney Official Site:

http://www.paulmccartney.com

Meyesight.com:

http://meyesight.com

iTunes Pre-order Link:

http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewPreorder%253Fid%253D254312862%2526s%253D143444

Amazon Pre-order Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Memory-Almost-Full-Paul-McCartney/dp/B000P2A242

05 May, 2007

Catch And Release, interesting soundtrack

When the fiancé of a quirky young girl (played by Jennifer Garner) dies in a tragic accident during his bachelor party, and an equally quirky assortment of friends (including Timothy Olyphant in his first movie role since “Deadwood,” and Clerks’ Kevin Smith) step into the picture to take up her slack, the result is Catch And Release from Sony Pictures, one of the most buzzed-about films of 2007.

CATCH AND RELEASE: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE does justice to this bittersweet romantic comedy in a way that has already been compared to Garden State, whose every song was carefully woven into the storyline. Features ’90s and ’00s tracks by established bands (Gomez, Doves, Foo Fighters, The Lemonheads), major alternative darlings (The Magic Numbers, Joshua Radin, Death Cab For Cutie), under-the-radar indies (Blinker The Star, New Radiant Storm King, Audible, Peter MacLaggan, Alaska!).

Catch And Release Audio Streams:
“Razor” - Foo Fighters
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/705852/705852_01_01_full_56.asx

http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/705852/705852_01_01_full_100.asx
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/705852/705852_01_01_full.ram
http://www.sonymusic.com/clips/selection/fu/705852/705852_01_01_full_smil.mov

Catch And Release Videos Streams:
“Nest For Two” - Blinker The Star
http://www.room.tv/posts/catchandrelease/nest_for_two_stream.mov

“Turning Blue” - The Swallows
http://www.room.tv/posts/catchandrelease/turning_blue_stream.mov

“What I Done” - Andrew Rodriguez
http://www.room.tv/posts/catchandrelease/what_i_done_stream.mov


Catch And Release E-card:
http://catchandreleasesoundtrack.com/ecard


Album art, press release, photos can be downloaded here:
http://www.specialopsmedia.com/assets/CatchAndRelease/assets.zip


Official Site:

http://www.catchandreleasesoundtrack.com

04 May, 2007

FoW, simply great!

..... The new album by pop rock musicians Fountains of Wayne is just great. Impressive collection of pop songs. I hope you know how to get to listen to the songs. If I would have a rock group, those would be the songs I (we) will (surely) play.

.... Right now, strapped for cash really breaks me down, this better me good gets me singing all day long, someone to love is to show Dover (spanish group with disco ambitions!) how great songs are made (yeah, I know, they also know, it was just a joke), and trafffic and weather is the song.

.... Maybe they' ve made it. The perfect pop song. Oh, boy, I wish they still pursue the task some more dozen of years!.

+ Check out FoW in my space. I95 and someone to love video are there!

+ Two more mp3s (Hotel Majestic and Fire in the canyon) in a Plague of Angels.

13 April, 2007

Elvis Costello publishes some of his greatest hits!

On May 1, Hip-O/Universal Music Enterprises will release The Best Of Elvis Costello: The First 10 Years and Rock And Roll Music a rock-themed collection of hits, key album tracks, b-sides and previously unreleased rarities.

May 1st will also see the digital premiere of Costello’s first 11 original albums, marking the first time they will be available for digital downloads and mobile tones. These 11 original albums will be available for download exclusively on the iTunes Music Store (www.itunes.com) for 30 days before they are made available to all the online partners. The albums will also be released in their original versions as digipaks with booklets and obie sleeves.

Both of the 22-song collections were compiled by Costello and signal the start of the label’s work with the musician’s catalog, with a previously unreleased version of “Welcome to the Working Week” on 'Rock and Roll Music' presaging the fall release of the 30th anniversary (My Aim is True Deluxe Edition).

+ You may listen to some of his more classic hits down here:

“Alison”

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/ume/alison.asx

http://boss.streamos.com/real/ume/costello/alison.ram

“What's So Funny 'bout Peace Love & Understanding”

http://boss.streamos.com/wmedia/ume/costello/whatssofunny.asx

http://boss.streamos.com/real/ume/costello/whatssofunny.ram

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