"4AD have launched a new section on their website, 4AD Sessions, a dedicated home to exclusive live sessions from artists on the label. The video recordings will see 4AD artists performing back-catalogue covers and alternative versions of their own material. Following on from the Deerhunter session last year at the Platts Eyott studio on the bank of the Thames, the label have returned to capture new signing Tune-Yards perform five tracks for the inaugural video session."
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"Starting today, NPR Music is looking back at some of the memorable moments and recordings of the past decade. We'll have a lot of new features on the site every day for the next two weeks, starting with our Question of the Day from Carrie Brownstein on the Monitor Mix blog, and The Decade Defined on All Songs Considered. Next week on All Songs Considered, beginning Nov. 16, we'll feature our picks for the 50 most important recordings of the decade. As we compile the final list, we'd love your input. Using the comments section below, tell us what albums or songs you think should be included."
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"An important distinction: We're not looking for everyone's favorite albums or songs, but rather ones that had some sort of historical significance. These are the game-changers -- ones that signaled some sort of shift in music, or ones that were particularly influential in some way. We're looking for the albums and singles people will still buy, share, listen to and talk about for years or decades to come."
- Michael W. May
Interesting. I'm inclined to think that Outkast were the most important artists of the decade but I'm not sure between Stankonia and Speakerboxxx\The Love Below which is the more important album.
- Jason Toney
Jason, not gnarls Barkley? Although I guess I see outkast's speakerboxxx as an influence.
- edythe
from iPhone
Yeah. I don't think we get Gnarls without Outkast. Particularly Ms. Jackson and Bombs Over Baghdad (and, of course, Hey Ya) as genre pushers and barrier breakers between hip hop and indie/alternative sounds.
- Jason Toney
Yeah, that sounds right. Astute!!
- edythe
from iPhone
I seem unable to have an opinion. I'm trying. Nothing is opinionating.
- Michael W. May
Maybe it's too soon. I can come up with stuff easily for prior decades, but not this one.
- LogEx
JT knows his stuff; today's NPR piece on the topic concerns OutKast: "As the music industry began to break apart and go niche, it's remarkable that a group as artistically ambitious as OutKast could break through the way it did. But Stankonia was one of those game-changing records that made everyone perk up and pay attention." http://n.npr.org/npr40...
- Michael W. May
I remember in 2001 when I first heard The Strokes album "Is This It"? It's low-fi griminess really caught my attention as it sounded like nothing else popular at the time. Go back and listen to that album now and compare their sound to the music that is being put out today nearly 10 years later.
- Steve
"The World Cafe will be broadcasting this session on Friday, December 4th, 2009. National Public Radio’s World Cafe with host David Dye can be heard on over 200 stations nationwide. Fans can find their local station at the following link by selecting a state from the pull-down menu: http://www.npr.org/templat... …or, worldwide, fans can connect to the WXPN Philadelphia stream Monday through Friday, 2pm to 4pm EST, here: http://www.xpn.org/listen-... "
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
I saw The Temper Trap twice at CMJ last week, and they put on an incredible show. If you haven't heard of them yet, YOU NEED TO! They had their song "Sweet Disposition" on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack. They're album has been released for a few weeks, so if you're a big fan of atmospheric indie rock, check it out:...
"Via Arts & Crafts: It's just been announced that Feist will be playing a free show tomorrow in Toronto at Bay & Bloor to celebrate the Holt Renfrew window unveiling. Show starts @ 7 p.m. (expect crowds!)."
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"Leave a review of the new album, win an autographed CD! Leave your review of the new album Alter the Ending (streaming on the profile!) below for a chance to win an autographed CD from Chris! Start writing!" Alter the Ending" comes out November 10th- pre-order from iTunes here!" !
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"Hey everyone, Sending out a massive thank you for making METRIC a winner at this year's Casby's! Awards like these, selected by you, are the ones that really matter. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for our fans, so THANK YOU!"
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
MUSIC FOR CAUSE - Artists and Music For Cause get together to support Australian Red Cross Indonesian Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Appeals. | Missy Higgins's MySpace Blog - http://blogs.myspace.com/index...
"Available online now is a music pack made of many great Australian artists. Missy Higgins has donated her music for this cause. Other artists Josh Pyke, Little Birdy, Kisschasy, Ash Grunwald and many more. The pack is available exclusively through http://www.musicforcause.com 100% download revenue (ex GST & transaction fee) being donated to Australian Red Cross’ Indonesian Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami (Samoa & Tonga) Appeals."
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"BLACK GOLD is looking for fans to be a part of their new video for "Shine." All types are welcome but you must be 18 or over. Filming will be at night on November 13th in the Los Angeles area. If you are available and want to be included in Black Gold's newest music video, please send a contact phone number and a recent snapshot to: blackgoldcasting@gmail.com, and more details will be sent to you. Thanks!"
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"san francisco here i come!! i’m not going to promise anything, but i may or may not have two very special guests joing me on stage for a song or two… :) Cafe du Nord w/David Choi, November 15, 2009 @ 8PM (doors at 7PM), 2170 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 Cost: $10 presale, $12 at the door; Notes: All ages! For presale tickets click here: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3... for all you socal people, i am planning a very special show in LA in december. i’ll keep you posted! xo, kina"
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
Have Strokes fans heard about Julian Casabalncas' new album? It's kind of like The Strokes, except with a huge 80's new wave pop influence. It's really cool and definitely worth adding to your collection of Strokes-related releases. Here's the first single: http://www.youtube.com/watch...
"Until November 27th, 2009 “Plug In Plug Out” will be exclusively available on Amazon in the US, the UK, France and Germany. Of course, as soon as the Amazon exclusive ends, “Plug In Plug Out” will be made available around the world (excluding Canada) directly from www.ilovemetric.com, as well as on iTunes and other fine online retailers. Unfortunately (and we’re REALLY, REALLY SORRY about this), due to the contract with our former Canadian label, we will not be able to offer the EP for sale in Canada until 2010... Obviously, we know this totally sucks, we love Canada and hate that this is the case, but we promise to make the EP available in Canada as soon as humanly possible!"
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"If it’s any consolation, we’ve made it so that the best comes to those who wait! In our ongoing efforts to offer you more for less when you go through us, anyone who buys “Plug In Plug Out” directly from www.ilovemetric.com will also receive additional bonus tracks absolutely free, plus you will receive premium, DRM-free, 320kbps MP3 or FLAC lossless audio files providing you with the...
more...
- Michael W. May
In that case, I'm glad I didn't buy it from amazon and will wait the month to get it from them
- RAPatton
from iPhone
"Everybody is singer/songwriter, Ingrid Michaelson's eagerly-awaited follow-up to her 2008 benefit CD, Be OK, and 2007 full release, Girls and Boys, which spawned the hugely popular single, The Way I Am. Ingrid's fan base is as idiosyncratic as her music, ranging from teen fans who appreciate her playful, ukulele-infused pop, to more seasoned listeners who appreciate the singer's assured ballads and soaring harmonies. The good news for all of these fans: Everybody will love Everybody."
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
"Analysts from Cowan and Company are claiming that the declining interest in music games, which was evidenced earlier this year by the poor September performance of key Activision and EA titles, may well continue into the future. The main reason for the slowing sales is the high price of equipment-heavy games, said Cowan and Company's Doug Creutz in a comment to GI.biz, as well as the fading buzz over the Guitar Hero franchise."
- Kol Tregaskes
from Bookmarklet
"Live Nation is offering a "No Fee" sale on Cranberries tickets for the November 24 Detroit show, TODAY ONLY! If you haven't picked up your tickets, here's a chance to save a few bucks! http://www.livenation.com/edp... "
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
Metric: New Acoustic EP "PLUG IN PLUG OUT" | Streaming on site, includes: Satellite Mind, Twilight Galaxy, Gimme Sympathy, and videos of Gold Guns Girls, Help I'm Alive (all acoustic) - http://www.ilovemetric.com/site...
"This Tuesday, October 27, METRIC will be releasing PLUG IN PLUG OUT on Amazon.com. After 30 days, the EP will also be available on iTunes, directly from the band on ilovemetric.com, and other fine digital retailers. Check out some acoustic videos that we've been saving for you, along with a preview of the EP, which features acoustic versions from our latest album FANTASIES below!"
- Michael W. May
from Bookmarklet
While it's just the companion image to her single (so who knows what the actual album cover will look like?), the edgy picture has already set tongues wagging and gotten us thinking about some of our other favorite envelope-pushing album artwork.
- Mitchell Tsai
from Bookmarklet