Entries Tagged 'Music' ↓

Dave alerted me to this little nugget of news coming from Dublin yesterday:

Rolling Stone reports:

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Joshua Tree, Irish rockers/builders of tall towers U2 will reissue their epic 1987 album in multiple formats on November 20th. The remastered album will be available as a single disc, double disc, double disc/single DVD, and double vinyl. The second disc will likely feature demos, alternate takes, and B-sides from the Brian Eno-produced sessions. The DVD will feature a July 4th, 1987 concert as well as the documentary Outside, It’s America.

The Joshua Tree is one of my favorite albums, second only to The Beatles’ Revolver. My CD copy is from the early 90s (upgraded from my 1987 tape), so it’ll be nice to have an improved recording, and the concert DVD is just icing on the cake.

moe.
October 11, 2007
Rams Head Live
Baltimore, MD

Set I:
Shoot First >
Tailspin
Stranger Than Fiction >
Time Again
Faker >
Head

Set II
The Ghost Of Ralph’s Mom >
Wormwood >
The Ghost Of Ralph’s Mom
Water>
Kids
Sensory Deprivation Bank >
Down Boy >
Recreational Chemistry

Encore: Akimbo

I had seen the ad for this show in the City Paper, but wasn’t really into going by myself, and quickly forgot about it.  Imagine my surprise then, when Brian texted me the morning of the show offering me a ticket.  We made arrangements to meet at my house before heading to the show, and did just that.  Brian was able to take advantage of the leftover beer that was still in the fridge from Mikeapalooza, which helped take the edge off after a manic drive down from Wilmington.

We headed to show around 8:00, and got there in time to catch opening act, PMG.  They’re a three-piece band from Indiana who play crunching blues in the vein of the Allmans and Govt. Mule.

(more later)

Radiohead released their seventh album this week, amid much hoopla. The “pay what you want.” feature has been debated on the web and in the media ever since it was first announced back on October 1st. Here’s a question, though. How’s the music?

Well, I’m happy to report that the music is excellent. While not the giant stylistic leap that Kid A was from OK Computer, there is definite evidence of growth on In Rainbows.

The first thing that jumps out at you is the percussion. Phil Selway’s drumming propels the band throughout the album. However, it’s the blending of the guitar-driven rock and more experimental material that seems to finally be reaching the heights hinted at on the last album, Hail To The Thief.

The opening track, 15 Steps, is full of the electronic beats and syncopation we heard on Kid A and Amnesiac. However, this time, they’re complemented by a wonderfully warm guitar and bass. The album is drawing you in with the same ethereal qualities of the Bends and OK Computer, but it’s still challenging you like Kid A and Amnesiac. The blend is irresistibly inviting.

Fuzzy, churning guitar introduces my early favorite for best track on the album, Bodysnatchers. The pace is ferocious and the song quite frankly kicks major ass. Ed and Colin hitch a ride with Phil while Jonny and Thom provide signposts along the way.

The third track, Nude, is a song that the band have been working on for over ten years. Originally part of the sessions for OK Computer, and originally titled “Big Ideas (Don’t Get Any)”, it was featured during the tour promoting the album back in 1997, but was never actually recorded. After a decade of tinkering, the result is another beautifully haunting ballad in the tradition of Street Spirit.

We’re right back to prevalent drums in Weird Fishes/Arpeggi, which features a great jam where the lead guitar seems to be more like a twinkling bell (do bells twinkle?).

All I Need proceeds at a dirge-like pace, and the music is as low key as the pace suggests. However, the lyrics are some of the most heartfelt/creepy on the album. Is it a song of love? Not quite. Listen again.

Soft acoustic guitars and violin are featured in Faust Arp, a song that recalls Eleanor Rigby.

Reckoner has an almost dance beat to it. A very cool groove going on underneath some disturbing lyrics. Ahh, Thom.

House of Cards is another one that makes you think. Is it a political statement? Not necessarily. Listen again, and it sounds like maybe it’s a discussion between two adulterers.

Jigsaw Falling Into Place features a prominent acoustic guitar, and rolls along at a good clip. Describing life in a band, or just a night out perhaps?

Closing out the album is Videotape. Thom at the piano musing on death, it’s a haunting end to an excellent album.

In Rainbows is a document of a band at the height of their powers. I haven’t been this excited by a record in years.

A +

Got an email from WASTE this morning with some news that just keeps this high I’m riding going along even more. Now, I knew the album was done, but I didn’t know it was DONE, if you know what I mean.

After “Hail To The Thief”, Radiohead no longer have a record contract, so they’ve come up with a pretty cool offering in order to distribute the album. The first is de rigeur for the early 21st century, a digital download of the entire album will be available on October 10th. What’s not so normal is what the band are going to be charging for the download. You see, they’re leaving it up to the individual. When you go to the website, the price has a question mark and the comment “It’s up to you.” The band are banking on the common decency of their fans to give a fair amount. The argument is that those who choose to give less than the average price of an album (9.99 let’s say), are the same people who would be more inclined to download the album illegally. It’s an interesting theory for sure, and one that the rest of the music world will be watching.

However, for your more obsessive types, such as myself, there’s another, much more enticing offer:

IN RAINBOWS -DISCBOX

THIS CONSISTS OF THE NEW ALBUM, IN RAINBOWS, ON CD
AND ON 2 X 12 INCH HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL RECORDS.
A SECOND, ENHANCED CD CONTAINS MORE NEW SONGS, ALONG WITH DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND ARTWORK.
THE DISCBOX ALSO INCLUDES ARTWORK AND LYRIC BOOKLETS.
ALL ARE ENCASED IN A HARDBACK BOOK AND SLIPCASE.

THE ALBUM DOWNLOAD AUTOMATICALLY COMES WITH THIS PACK.
YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE FILE DIGITALLY FROM THE 10TH OCTOBER 2007.

DISCBOXES ARE BEING MADE TO ORDER AND ARE PRICED AT £40.00 INCLUDING POSTAGE.
SHIPPING WILL BEGIN ON OR BEFORE 3RD DECEMBER 2007.

Here’s the tracklisting for the discbox. The first disc is what you’ll get if you choose just the digital download:

CD 1 AND VINYL
15 STEP
BODYSNATCHERS
NUDE
WEIRD FISHES/ARPEGGI
ALL I NEED
FAUST ARP
RECKONER
HOUSE OF CARDS
JIGSAW FALLING INTO PLACE
VIDEOTAPE

CD 2
MK 1
DOWN IS THE NEW UP
GO SLOWLY
MK 2
LAST FLOWERS
UP ON THE LADDER
BANGERS AND MASH
4 MINUTE WARNING

I can’t wait. For more details, check out the album’s mini site, “In Rainbows”

UPDATE 10/2 - According to the BBC, the “In Rainbows” site crashed yesterday due to fan demand. The article goes on to quote the band’s spokesman, Murray Chalmers, as saying, “Although the idea is that you can decide what you want to pay, most people are deciding on a normal retail price with very few trying to buy it for a penny.” The article goes on to say that the majority of fans are opting for the discbox.

Avett Brothers
Recher Theater
Towson, MD
September 19, 2007

(Setlist pending)

Got turned on to these guys just a few months ago by my cousin Jeff. While the albums are good, they’re nothing compared to seeing the band live. I had a great time, and will definitely be checking them out again.

It was the worst kept secret in rock these past few weeks, but the word is now official. Led Zeppelin will be re-uniting. For one show.

According to the BBC, the show will take place at London’s O2 Arena (formerly the Millennium Dome) on November 26th. The show is actually a benefit concert in memory of Ahmet Ertegun, one of the two co-founders of Atlantic Records, who passed away last year.

The lineup will include of course Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, and will feature John Bonham’s son Jason on drums.

While nothing’s been said today, there are strong indications that based on the response to the performance in November, a full blown tour could take place in 2008.