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May 14, 2008
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| Death Cab For Cutie 'The Narrow Staircase': Full Album Stream |
Some albums you should give a listen to, right now, are streaming at Spinner. Death Cab For Cutie, We Are Scientists, Tim Fite, and Langhorne Slim are worth your time.
Death Cab For Cutie, 'The Narrow Staircase'
We Are Scientists, 'Brain Thrust Mastery'
E for Explosion, 'Reinventing the Heartbeat'
Various, 'Juno B-Sides: Almost Adopted Songs'
The Presets, 'Apocalypso'
Emmanuel Jal, 'War Child'
Langhorne Slim, 'Langhorne Slim'
Tim Fite, 'Fair Ain't Fair' |
posted by alan williamson @ 9:37 PM   |
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| May 13, 2008
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| Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: Live at Vorst Nationaal, Belgium May 1 2008 |
Nick Cave and band are currently touring Europe and they gave the crowd at Vorst Nationaal in Brussels, Belgium nearly two hours of entertainment last Thursday, May 1. The show was recorded by some mysterious person, or persons, and that recording has found it's way to me and what can I do, but pass it on to all of you. The sound could be a lot better, so this is more than likely of real interest to hardcore Nick Cave fans alone.
Here's part one of the show, part two will be posted in another day or two.
PART 1
night of the lotus eaters
dig, lazarus, dig!
tupelo
today’s lesson
red right hand
midnight man
nobody’s baby now
deanna
lie down here (and be my girl)
hold on to yourself
the ship song
PART 2
we call upon the author
papa won’t leave you, Henry
more news from nowhere
the lyre of orpheus
get ready for love
stagger Lee
into my arms
hard on for love |
| posted by alan williamson @ 11:33 PM |
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| May 11, 2008
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| The Child Ballads: Cheekbone Hollows Pop. ½ Life |
 The Child Ballads
Cheekbone Hollows (POP. ½ Life)
Gypsy Eyes Records
There’s a loose, slack groove that slides like slippers on a hardwood floor as soon as this fine 6 track EP starts up. Opening with the title track “Cheekbone Hollows (POP. ½ Life)”, former Jonathan Fire*Eater front man Stewart Lupton comes on like the best possible amalgamation of Lou Reed and Mick Jagger – while your feet are dancing to the shuffling groove your head is singing with the lyrical verse. There’s a lot of great shuffling on the record… and loosely strummed acoustic guitar, Lupton hadn’t wasted his time since the implosion of JF*E, he went to university where he studied modern art history and poetry, he even learned to play acoustic guitar. This final point may explain the bare, chord based songs, songs that benefit greatly from Lupton’s vocal and lyrical flair. Lupton can sound like ‘Jagger as New Yorker’ (even if Lupton is from Washington DC) which is fitting as a number of songs exhibit the loose limbed junkie shuffle that Keith Richards nearly owns. Give “Laughter From The Rafters” a listen; it shines with electric lead from good friend Judah Bauer of the John Spencer Blues Explosion. And speaking of guest support, the EP balances the aforementioned ‘shine’ with the grainy shadows drawn across several songs by Betsy Wright’s viola.
Cheekbone Hollows (POP. ½ Life) is the encouraging first step by Lupton towards the greatness expected of him in the ‘90s with JF*E. Now I’ve got to get some slippers, a hardwood floor, and some room to dance.
cheekbone hollows [mp3]
laughter from the rafters [mp3]
BUY |
| posted by alan williamson @ 12:01 AM |
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| May 06, 2008
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| Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: North American Tour! |
I can finally let those of you out there, who actually visit Sixeyes, know that Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds are coming to North America this fall. This isn't 'news', but I held off until I had some tickets to see him and the band 'up close and personal' in my own dirty little hands (I cannot believe how easy it was to get these tickets, now Mr Tom Waits has got to get his wrinkled ass up here to Toronto for Christ sake. Jesus, come on, Tom). So, I've got five months to wait for this Toronto show and it should be worth every second if Cave and the band are as good as The Abattoir Blues Tour double DVD shows them to be.
Here are all the upcoming dates for Mr Cave and the Seeds in support of their fantastic new album Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!:
05-07 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
05-08 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
05-16 Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
05-17 Stockholm, Sweden - Annexe
05-19 Copenhagen, Denmark - KB Halle
05-21 Berlin, Germany - Tempodrom
05-24 Prague, Czech Republic - Sazka Arena
05-25 Vienna, Austria - Gasometer
06-03 Zagreb, Croatia - IN Music Festival
06-04 Belgrade, Serbia - Arena
06-06 Salonika, Greece - Moni Lazariston
06-07 Athens, Greece - Lycabetus Theatre
09-16 San Diego, CA - 4th & B
09-17 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
09-20 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
09-22 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
09-23 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
09-26 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
09-29 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theatre
10-01 Toronto, Ontario - Kool Haus
10-02 Montreal, Quebec - Metropolis
10-04 New York, NY - WaMu Theater at MSG
10-05 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
There are only two Canadian dates, but I'll be at that Toronto show with bells on (now I've got five months to get me some bells... any suggestions?).
From Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
dig lazarus dig
From The Lyre of Orpheus
babe, you turn me on
breathless
BUY Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds music. |
| posted by alan williamson @ 6:34 PM |
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| April 28, 2008
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| Culture Reject |
Michael O'Connell is the main man behind the Toronto based solo project Culture Reject. I say 'main man' because the man, obviously talented, has musician friends who lent a musical hand, or two, while he recorded the album's 11 tracks. More notable amongst these were Jim Guthrie (drums, vocals), Karri North (background vocals), percussionist Dave Clark and a horn section consisting of Michael Barclay, Bradley Fauteux, and Venezuelan/Canadian saxophonist, Bernardo Padron. This is one of those little underground indie records that struggle to get heard by all the right, or even the wrong people. And the song that would easily earn the tag 'single' would be "Inside The Cinema", a simple but effervescent melody which only gains more prominence as the guitar parts weave beneath handclaps and equally staccato horn parts. I believe that O'Connell bears the perfect voice for his music, it doesn't distract the listener with vocal gymnastics, the wildest it gets is the favoured double-tracking of his voice. At times this records recalls Modest Mouse, or Isaac Brock's offshoot band, Ugly Casanova. This is a very strong debut solo outing for O'Connell (he previously played with indie band Black Cabbage), and he has given us a record which should, and will (if given a fair shake), be discovered over many listens... all it needs is a chance to grow.
From Culture Reject (White Whale Records)
inside the cinema [mp3]
fireflies are fading [mp3]
BUY Culture Reject
Culture Reject at iTunes |
| posted by alan williamson @ 4:49 AM |
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| Phantom Planet: 'Raise The Dead' MP3 |
The first four tracks on Phantom Planet's latest effort, Raise The Dead, usher in all that is good and strong about the band and the power they possess, but the rest of the record nearly makes you want to ask them to leave... almost. They're still flexing the muscle that tore through their shirt sleeves when "Big Brat" jumped from your speakers on 2004's Phantom Planet, and that same muscle will lift you out of your chair, or the funk you may find yourself in, when those four Raise The Dead openers, "Raise The Dead", "Dropped", "Leader", and "Do The Panic" are finished with you.
As I suppose, with most who've heard the new record, "Do The Panic" was the song that had you smiling, not only about the band sounding so good, but the song is a very good pop song, although like many pop songs it has a short shelf life and that's why it was quickly replaced by "Dropped" as my favourite from the record. "Dropped" is the kind of song that makes me want to jump up and down and yell and shout, maybe it even makes me feel young again (and it has made me jump up and down, just ask my neighbours), whatever it's doing, and has done, it sure feels good and (added bonus) I don't feel cheap and used afterwards. A damn fine record, I can't think of any other in recent memory that leads off with four very strong tracks... go get it.
dropped [mp3]
The band is currently on tour, check out the dates (and links to buy Phantom Planet music) here. |
| posted by alan williamson @ 4:44 AM |
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| REDISCOVER: Phil Lynott of Thin Lizzy |
 I named this post REDISCOVER, but many of you may not yet know of Lynott, or even the band that brought him fame, Thin Lizzy, so I envy you, I would love to get up this Sunday morning and discover an artist with this much talent and charisma. And even if you are familiar, perhaps you've forgotten...
When listening to Phil Lynott, even when you're familiar with his voice, you can't help but find your ears prick up. The presence and charisma of his voice can only be compared to that of an actor whose appearance on screen is electric, it demands that you watch, but as it's happening it's subliminal, quietly filling crevasses in your psyche you're unaware of, that you couldn't understand. This is a small sample of Phil Lynott's work with Thin Lizzy, a few songs that have been ringing in my ears lately:
little girl in bloom [mp3]
little girl in bloom (Peel Session) [mp3]
randolph's tango [mp3]
cowboy song (Peel Session) [mp3]
things ain't working out down at the farm[mp3]
Phil Lynott died at age 36 on January 4th 1986. |
| posted by alan williamson @ 7:40 AM |
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| April 10, 2008
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| Jason Collett: Here's To Being Here |
 I'm not a fan of Broken Social Scene, but several members of that musical collective catch my fancy as solo performers and one of those is Jason Collett. His latest album, Here's to Being Here has been in my mp3 player for weeks now and just recently I've noticed that when I'm working and listening to music I skip many of the artists currently in that player, but when Collett pops up I always look forward to what's coming, no showing off, no showboating, just good solid hooks delivered in a familiar and welcome fashion. And don't forget to wallow in the malleable drawl which Collett has brought to the fore on his last two solo releases, I know I do. That drawl is what makes his sound so singular, that and the straight up recording of his voice as opposed to the double tracking and frequent over production of his vocals on solo debut Motel Love Songs.
Standouts on the new record include "Papercut Hearts", "Roll on Oblivion", "Out Of Time", "Through The Night These Days", and "Somehow". This record doesn't do anything new or flashy, then how does it satisfy with every listen? With a wack of strongly written songs and that voice, that's how.
from Here's To Being Here 2008 BUY
papercut hearts [mp3]
from Idols Of Exile 2005 BUY
i'll bring the sun [mp3]
BONUS: Live - Minneapolis - The Fine Line Jan 29/06
hangover days feat. FEIST [mp3]
from Motor Motel Love Songs 2003 BUY
tiny ocean of tears [mp3] |
| posted by alan williamson @ 5:11 AM |
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| April 03, 2008
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| Radiohead: Live at The BBC April 1/08 MP3s |
Radiohead: Live at the BBC Radio Theatre, London, April 1, 2008.
These files are no longer available. BUT... IF YOU WOULD LIKE THEM TO BE RE-POSTED... JUST LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS.
The mp3s have been re-posted here. |
| posted by alan williamson @ 5:55 PM |
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| March 25, 2008
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| Scott Matthew |
 Australian native and Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Scott Matthew is a wonderful mix of Devendra Banhart and Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons. Now that combination may sound like music which may be alienating to many people, but it isn't at all. As I stated earlier it's a 'wonderful' combination of these two artists; the otherworldly quality which Antony lives and breathes and pours out through his voice and that inexplicable charisma that new folk icon Devendra Banhart wears like an unselfconscious child. In Matthew's music these are brought together in a form much more accessible to your average music listener, but I may hear it this way as a result of my having tastes that could be termed 'slightly askew'.
Matthew gained much deserved attention for his contributions to the cutting-edge sex comedy/drama Shortbus (2006), both musically and on screen, but that film, like his music, lives in the sadly overlooked genre labeled 'indie'. It has surely gained him a new audience, but there's always room for more and so here comes his full length self-titled debut on Glitterhouse. Working with acoustic instruments (piano, guitar, violin, ukulele, bass, drums) allows the honesty of Matthew's voice to shine and float, within and above, the instrumentation, whereas electric and computerized sounds would simply weigh down his vocal gift, and therefore detract from the songs. Although that could possibly be gotten around by utilizing backup singers and or doubletracked vocals, although to me that wouldn't be the same Scott Matthew, the singer whose songs, and singing, remind me of Antony and Devendra. Two Matthew originals that appeared on the Shortbus soundtrack show up on this new record, with one, "Little Bird", being the same version, and I can't argue with his decision to include that one here, it's hard to imagine a better take. The record offers up a different take of "Upside Down" though, but sadly it doesn't include my favourite song from the soundtrack, "Language" (but if you go all out and purchase the vinyl version of the album, there are two bonus tracks, one of which is "Language"). What is most apparent, once you've grown accustomed to Matthew's voice, is his love of, and gift for, penning classic pop melodies and delivering them in his own quietly personal way. I recommend, highly, this album, this music, and this musician.
little bird [mp3]
abandoned [mp3]
(The album is now available in several European countries, but I haven't heard about a North American release, yet)
Scott Matthew 2008
1. Amputee
2. Abandoned
3. Prescription
4. Ballad Dear
5. Little Bird
6. Laziest Lie
7. Upside down
8. Habit
9. In the End
10. Surgery
11. Market me to Children |
| posted by alan williamson @ 7:47 PM |
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| Sixeyes: Wilco's New North American Tour Dates |
photo credit: will marsh
Wilco are currently thrilling the masses Down Under (does that sound really wrong, or not?), but they'll share some of that love beginning in late April with a flurry of dates in the US and one lonely date smack dab in the middle of Canada. This is one professional outfit, not many bands sound as good as Wilco do live, just download some of the tracks from this post, or this one, and you'll be a believer.
From Sky Blue Sky
hate it here [mp3]
Down Under
03-22 Whitianga, New Zealand - Bluesfest
03-23 Auckland, New Zealand - Bruce Mason Centre
03-24 Wellington, New Zealand - Opera House
03-26 Melbourne, Australia - Palace Theatre
US + CANADA
04-30 Rochester, MN - Mayo Civic Center
05-01 Fargo, ND - Fargo Civic Auditorium
05-02 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cummings Theatre
05-04 Bozeman, MT - Emerson Cultural Center
05-05 Missoula, MT - Adams Center
05-07 Grand Junction, CO - Avalon Theater
05-08 Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center
05-09 Albuquerque, NM - Popejoy Hall
05-11 Austin, TX - Stubb's
05-12 Austin, TX - Stubb's
05-15 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
05-16 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
08-07 Charleston, SC - North Charleston PAC |
| posted by alan williamson @ 7:24 AM |
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| March 19, 2008
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| Sixeyes: The Raconteurs Reveal Consolers of The Lonely Tracklist |
 March 25th is the day, hell, that ain't long, is it? The Raconteurs announced the other day that their latest record, Consolers of The Lonely, would be released on that very day in every format. I'm betting that White and Benson have got at least one "Steady As She Goes" on this new disc. Now most of you are familiar with Mr White and his Striped work, are you not? You surely know he's got a way with a song, but his fellow Detroiter, Brendan Benson, can write and sing a catchy tune as well.
Here's a sampling of some solo work:
Brendan Benson
tiny spark [mp3]
metarie [mp3]
crosseyed demo [mp3]
me just purely [mp3]
cold hands warm heart [mp3]
Check the band's upcoming tour dates here.
Consolers of the Lonely Track List
01 Consoler of the Lonely
02 Salute Your Solution
03 You Don't Understand Me
04 Old Enough
05 The Switch and the Spur
06 Hold Up
07 Top Yourself
08 Many Shades of Black
09 Five on the Five
10 Attention
11 Pull This Blanket Off
12 Rich Kid Blues
13 These Stones Will Shout
14 Carolina Drama |
| posted by alan williamson @ 8:55 PM |
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