November 27, 2006
The Stills
This Week In Music: Nov 27 – Dec 3
Monday, Nov 27th
Sam Roberts Band
Bowery Ballroom
$17/ $15 advance
Multi-platinum Canadian surfer/ songwriter Sam Roberts has something to sing about. His band's sophomore album, We Were Born In a Flame sold more than 500,000 copies in his native country alone and this was in no small part due to Roberts' adept crafting of accessibly warm pop-rock parcels like Small Road and Where Have All The Good People Gone. Supporting their new album, Chemical City Sam Roberts Band pull together a more stripped down and assured sound. If you've seen them before you're already sold. If not, you know what to do.
Tuesday, Nov 28
Manhattan Trinity
Dizzy's club Coca Cola
$30
Manhattan Trinity with Cyrus Chestnut, George Mraz, and Lewis Nash wont disappoint those who enjoy a sophisticated polish to their jazz. Is there anything this capable trio can't play to perfection?
Wednesday, Nov 29
Pat Martino
Birdland
$40
Having re-taught himself his own technical style of Virtuoso guitar after a life-threatening illness in the 80's, Martino is an impressive performer, always pushing his own limits through exploration of new material and the incorporation of talented, young musicians into his live show. His current CD celebrates the music of Wes Montgomery.
Thursday, Nov 30
Mercury Rev
Irving Plaza
$20
Having recently released both a Best Of compilation and a sound track to the film Bye Bye Blackbird, Mercury Rev are in top form – at least from the perspective that going along to their live show is like attending to the audio/ visual soundtrack of your last 10 years…at least it is if you've been taking lots of acid and surrounding yourself with small animals who speak to you.
Friday, Dec 1
The Stills
Bowery Ballroom
$18
Damn you Stills. Damn you to hell for writing your aggressively hooky tracks. What's with these Canadian bands showing us just how it's done?! Just take your little fingers to The Stills and have a listen to the entire Without Feathers album. Lucky for us, we've got Pete Yorn, Nada Surf and Alexi Murdoch or there'd need to be some serious questions asked about what we're doing to free up border control…
Saturday, Dec 2
Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Irving Plaza
$26
She's back, she's black (in attire) and it stands to reason that the queen of rock n' roll will blow away her Runaways devotees right through to fans of the current record, Sinner. Unwavering and true to their brand or punk-rock, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts deliver it live with a carefully selected set list of old and new. Based on the fact that I Love Rock 'N' Roll is still one of the greatest rock tracks of all time (and spent 8 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts) can you afford not to go?
Sunday, Dec 3
Grey Daturas
Mercury Lounge
$8
Melbournian instrumental noise-rock trio, Grey Daturas have a penchant for intense, high decibel tolerant compositions. Expect a unique and improvisational wall-of-sound.
Tags:
Alexi Murdoch, Australian Music, Birdland, Canadian Music, Grey Daturas, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Manhattan Trinity, Mercury Rev, Nada Surf, New Music, Pat Martino, Sam Roberts Band, The Stills
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Posted on 11/27/2006
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November 20, 2006
In a spectacular clash of genres unprecedented since the SoulWax lads mashed up your fave tracks of the last 30 years, comes the new release Rhythms Del Mundo from the Buena Vista Social Club's very own Ibrahim Ferrer and Omara Portuondo.
NYC.com can offer its music fans some soundbites just by clicking the links at the bottom of the page.
Rhythms Del Mundo brings together the Afro-Cuban sounds of The Buena Vista Social Club with tracks from contemporary artists such as U2, Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys and The Kaiser Chiefs. It also features the amazing vocals from famed Cuban vocalists, Omara Portuonda, and the last ever recording of the much revered Ibrahim Ferrer. The album is in aid of Artists Project Earth (APE), which lends support for natural disaster relief and climate change awareness. Universal Music Enterprises will donate a portion of its proceeds from sales of the album in the United States to the Music Rising campaign, an instrument replacement fund for musicians of the Gulf Coast.
Rhythms Del Mundo also includes music by famed Cuban singers Omara Portuondo and the last vocal recording of Afro-Cuban bolero singer, Ibrahim Ferrer, who died in 2005. The other Cuban musicians from The Buena Vista Social Club who perform on this album are as follows: Barbarito Torres, Amandito Valdes, Virgilio Valdes, Angel Terri Domech, Manuel 'Guajiro' Mirabal, Orlando Lopez 'Cachaito' and Demetrio Muniz.
The artists on this album fully support the record as a show of commitment to the music and to the cause that it endorses. Thom Yorke comments, 'We need a law, we need to have the Government put climate change in its place. If you leave industry to sort it out on a voluntary basis that's never going to happen. So everybody if they've got any concerns about climate change has to register that concern with their Government officials because it's the only way to go.
Track listing
1. Clocks – Coldplay
2. Better Together - Jack Johnson
3. Dancing Shoes - Arctic Monkeys
4. One Step Too Far - Dido & Faithless
5. As Time Goes By - Ibrahim Ferrer
6. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - Coco Freeman & U2
7. She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5
8. Modern Way - Kaiser Chiefs
9. Killing Me Softly - Omara Portuondo
10. Ai No Corrida - Vania Borges & Quincy Jones
11. Fragilidad - Sting
12. Don't Know Why - Vania Borges
13. Hotel Buena Vista - Aquila Rose & Idana Valdes
14. The Dark of the Matinee - Coco Freeman & Franz Ferdinand
15. High and Dry - El Lele De Los Van Van & Radiohead
Bonus track: 16. Casablanca - Ibrahim & Omara
Rhythms Del Mundo is out now through Hip-O Records/Universal Music Enterprises.
Tags:
Bono, Buena Vista Social Club, Coldplay, Dido, Franz Ferdinand, Indie, Kaiser Chiefs, Latin Music, New Music, Radiohead, Soulwax, Sting, The Arctic Monkeys, Thom Yorke, U2
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Posted on 11/20/2006
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November 19, 2006
Monday, Nov 20th My Brightest Diamond North Six $12
Raised with nothing short of a gypsy's upbringing - and now New York based - My Brightest Diamond's creative force, Shara Worden draws together an other-worldly vocal style to her captivating lyrical accomplishments. Elaborate strings weave throughout her melodic tales. The good folk at Pitchfork are also streaming the enchanting Dragonfly clip. Check it out here: http://stream.qtv.apple.com/qtv/toolshed/asthmatickitty/dragonfly_ref.mov then hand over the fold to see this rare talent.
Tuesday, Nov 21st
Sia Webster Hall $22
Australian vocalist, Sia has performed back-up vocals for Jamiroquai and has provided her distinctive vocals to tracks from electronic groove artists such as Massive Attack, Zero 7 and William Orbit.
Wednesday, Nov 22nd
Brian Wilson Beacon Theater $58.50 - $128.50
One of the all-time greatest arrangers, Brian Wilson was responsible for The Beach Boy's sound. His ear for perfect harmonies and elaborate strings led to a friendly rivalry between them and The Beatles for creative superiority in the mid-60's. Though Wilson is merely a small contributor to the actual sound coming from the stage, you merely need to close your eyes and The Beach Boys are there playing in front of you. This is in no small way attributable to the very talented musicians carefully assembled on stage to re-create the magic. Pet Sounds will be performed in its entirety along with other hits. One not to miss!
Thursday, Nov 23rd
Steve Tyrell Café Carlyle $90-$100
An unparalleled voice giving classics the respect they warrant. Tyrell has been hailed by many as the interpreter of choice when it comes to standards from Bacharach to Sinatra. A true New York experience catching Tyrell at this historic and intimate jazz venue. What better way to spend Thanksgiving?
Friday, Nov 24th
Peaches Irving Plaza $25
Peaches will implore you to "Impeach My Bush", "Set It Off", "Fuck Or Kill" and "Fuck The Pain Away" among other saucy, raunchy innuendo when she hits Irving Plaza tonight. The shock value is wearing thin so catch it now because next year who'll care less whether you can see through her sweat-soaked hotpants.
Saturday, Nov 25th
Senses Fail (under 21) Webster Hall $22/ $19 advance
This tight 5-piece from New Jersey return home after some well attended UK dates. Playing an edgy assortment of emo-punk ditties, their show is guaranteed to provide a see of "black" fans fresh from re-editing their Myspace profiles.
Sunday, Nov 26th
Houston Person Quartet Lenox Lounge $20/ 1 drink minimum
Person's prowess on the tenor sax has led him to partnerships with Etta Jones (who he toured and performed with for 30 years), Lou Rawls and Lena Horne. Praised by Dizzy Gillespie as being "one of the best" Person has also contributed to some 75 albums throughout his phenomenal career. Whether you're a soulful hard bop guru or simply enjoy accessible jazz, this show is for you.
Tags:
Australian, Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach, Cafe Carlyle, Chill Out Music, Dizzy Gillespie, Houston Person Quartet, Indie, Irving Plaza, Lena Horne, Lenox Lounge, Massive Attack, My Brightest Diamond, Myspace, New Music, New York bands, North Six, Peaches, Pet Sounds, Pitchfork, Senses Fail, Steve Tyrell, The Beatles, Under 21, Webster Hall, William Orbit, Zero 7
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 11/19/2006
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November 17, 2006
Album of the Week
Johann Johannsson "IBM 1401, A User's Manual"
4AD/ Beggars Group
Out now
Somewhere between Sigur Ros, Craig Armstrong and THX 1138 is where we find Icelandic electro-composer Johann Johannsson on IBM 1401, A User's Manual, his third album.
In 1964 Iceland took delivery of their first mass-produced digital computers, the IBM 1401. Johannsson's father, a maintenance engineer for IBM and keen musician learned of an obscure method to generate melodic tones from the computer using the electromagnetic waves of the computer's memory and placing a radio receiver next to it. The results were astonishing and by manipulating the memory in certain ways, the tones changed and evolved.
In 1971 the 1401 was superseded by the newer, smaller, faster model (sound familiar?) and in a gesture not too dissimilar to a wake for an office colleague who'd passed on to the other side, the final musical offering from this device - which had never been designed to create music - was recorded as a keepsake. Such was the feeling towards this noble piece of hardware...
Fast forward 30 years when Johannsson was regaled the story of the 1401 by his father. Moved by the story, Johannsson began work writing symphonic pieces based on the themes of this last recorded digital farewell.
On tracks 2 and 3 you'll even hear the layering of original IBM instructional tapes that were dug out of Johannsson's father's attic over the synthphonic backdrop. "There should be no sign of wear or play" explains the contained English accent of the IBM representative.
IBM 1401, A User's Manual can't be said to be a grower. It's far too immediate and addictive. Melding the organic with the digital has never been so beautiful, beguiling and emotive.
**** (Four stars)
Tags:
4AD, Album of the Week, Craig Armstrong, IBM 1404, Icelandic Music, Indie, Johann Johannsson, New Music, Sigur Ros, Synthphonic Music, THX1138
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Posted on 11/17/2006
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November 14, 2006
Your Favorite Vikings Have Returned! - To NYC
We really want you to come see Norway’s Real Ones while they are in New York City from November 15th through the 18th. The Real One's tenure has lasted over 11 years, one can expect a wonderful evening of flawless musicianship, it makes sense, that The Real Ones have lasted longer than the average marriage. These are Norway's finest, and nothing says it better than the music.
http://www.themusebox.net/featured_artist/images/realones_boaom.mp3
http://www.themusebox.net/featured_artist/images/realones_orlan.mp3
Their depth, skill, and dedication is evident in their beautiful melodies. The band has toured all over Europe and North America, building up a steady following of dedicated fans and well deserved reputation as a fantastic live band. Luckily for you, the Real Ones are looking to break into the American market. It is evident that this gang will be successful, and they are looking for a few new industry team members. Specifically they are ready to take on a label, an agent, and a publisher. You can catch them live in NYC at the following shows:
11/15 The Mercury Lounge
11/16 Living Room
11/17 Galapagos (Brooklyn) - Crashinin Party
11/18 Southpaw (Brooklyn)
More Info here:
www.realones.no/
www.myspace.com/realonesmusic
Tags:
Indie, Living Room, Mercury Lounge, New Music, Norway, Norwegian Rock, Scandanvian Rock, Southpaw, The Musebox, The Real Ones
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 11/14/2006
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November 14, 2006
SANCTUARY RECORDS SIGNS THE ATARIS
FIRST RELEASE, “WELCOME THE NIGHT,” DUE FEBRUARY, 2007
Sanctuary Records Group North America is pleased to announce the release of The Ataris’ new CD on Sanctuary/ Isola Recordings, the band’s own imprint. The Ataris, whose last CD, So Long Astoria, sold over 1 million copies worldwide and spawned two top-ten hit singles, will release Welcome The Night in February, 2007. The band’s amazing first single, “Not Capable of Love” is going to radio mid November and will debut online this week on their Myspace page: www.myspace.com/theataris
Says Executive VP and GM Bob Cahill, “I can’t wait for the industry and fans to hear this CD. The Ataris have delivered an album that has real depth, representing huge artistic growth while retaining the intensity and honesty that has earned them legions of fans worldwide. It also contains several massive hits, which Sanctuary intends to deliver in kind. I look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the band.”
Comments The Ataris’ Manager Darren Lewis, “The Ataris are excited to establish their own label and to be working with a true artist-oriented, independent-minded company like Sanctuary Records Group. We see arrangements like this as the future of the music business and we are glad to be embracing that future with a forward-thinking company like Sanctuary.”
Welcome The Night is The Ataris 5th release and first on Sanctuary/Isola Recordings. The Ataris are Kristopher Roe - Guitar, Vocals, Percussion ; John Collura - Guitar, Pianos; Paul Carabello - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals; Sean Hansen - Bass, Vocals; Shane Chikeles - Drums, Percussion; Angus Cooke - Cello and Bob Hoag - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Mellotron, Percussion, Vocals.
Tags:
Emo, New Music, Punk, Rock, The Ataris
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Posted on 11/14/2006
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November 13, 2006
Teddybears - Soft Machine
Atlantic/ Big Beat
Released: September 26
Borrowing their name from Phil Spector's 60's outfit, The Teddybears, this Swedish outfit meld monster ragga themes along side dizzy synth-pop, new wave clashes and electro-rock. Intriguingly they're chameleons of their craft. Just as you think you've got them pegged, they pivot and wriggle out of the pigeon-hole in which you've so cleverly placed them.
Stand out tracks include the classic-before its time, Punkrocker (featuring Iggy Pop), Yours To Keep (featuring Neneh Cherry), and Different Sound.
The party is clearly not over.
***1/2 (3.5 stars)
Tags:
Electro Rock, Iggy Pop, Neneh Cherry, New Music, New Wave, Phil Spector, ragga, Swedish bands, Teddybears
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 11/13/2006
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November 13, 2006
Monday, Nov 13th
Joanna Newsom
Webster Hall
$20
From the so-called current, "New Weird America" movement (I’d always thought Led Zeppelin in an L.A. Hotel with a groupie and a swordfish was ‘weird’ but what do I know), Joanna Newsom’s intriguing folkie pensioner-meets-elementary-school-child vocal style is one to be appreciated as is her finesse behind the harp.
Tuesday, Nov 14th
Tenacious D
Virgin Megastore, Union Square, 7pm
FREE
Taking the joke just that little bit further, Jack Black (Actor, Comedian, Style-guru, Musician) and Kyle Gass (um...) return to blow your eye-balls out of their sockets with their latest offering, the soundtrack to the film, “The Pick Of Destiny” which they’ll be signing copies of from 7:00pm. Don’t be a drop-kick. Get there early in the day and buy your copy in advance because (hello!), that’s what they’ll be signing. If you rock up at 7:00pm hoping for a look in, you’ll be disappointed. They’re cool. They’re funny. But they ain’t there to get a hair-cut, you get me?
Wednesday, Nov 15th
Detroit Cobras
Mercury Lounge
$15
Those no-fuss rock n’ rollers are back and lucky the flight over from Michigan is a quick one because they’ve got some things to tell you. If your idea of ‘cool’ and ‘edgy’ is the Simpson sister with the nose-job, stay away. These lasses and lads mean it and deliver with 100% power. Style-up.
Thursday, Nov 16th
Xavier Rudd
Webster Hall
$20
Australian singer/ songwriter/ surfer in the vein of Ben Harper/ John Butler Trio/ Donovan Frankenreiter returns to New York with an armful of new songs. Don’t like tree-hugging surfers? Music Editor defies you to wrap your listening gear around “The Letter” and not get hooked enough to stop wearing deodorant and trade your Chuck Taylor’s in for a pair of hemp flip-flops. Winter is here but the warmth hasn’t escaped our grasp.
Friday, Nov 17th
Ben Folds
Beacon Theatre
$30
The difficult-to-dislike Folds plays covers from the just released “Supersunnyspeedgraphic” album, a compilation of 3 existing EPs, Ben Folds returns to play the Beacon Theater. Alert! Alert! Never try covering a track if the original is already perfect. Having a stab at The Cure’s “In-Between Days” is trumped only by SQ2’s cover of The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony. Rod Stewart, take note.
Saturday, Nov 18th
Jose Feliciano
Iridium Jazz Club
$40 cover/ $10 minimum
An ex-fixture of the Greenwich Village coffeehouse circuit, Feliciano broke through with his re-interpretation of The Doors’ “Light My Fire” in 1968. Though he never quite topped this success, he has remained a cult figure, even landing a role in the 1996 film “Fargo”. See this performance with urgency.
Sunday, Nov 19th
Leon Russell
BB King’s Blues Bar & Grill
$25
An artist worthy of the “Legend” status he often receives, Russell has worked with the best. From supporting Jerry Lee Lewis as a teenager to penning the classic “Delta Lady” which delivered Joe Cocker a massive hit (and arguably his best) to session playing for Bob Dylan, The Byrds and Eric Clapton. Though quieter in recent years, this promises to be a thrilling performance by one of the all-time greats. Beg, borrow, steal.
Tags:
Ben Folds, Blues, Bob Dylan, Detriot Cobras, Greenwich Village Coffeehouse circuit, Jack Black, Joanna Newsom, Joe Cocker, Jose Feliciano, Led Zepellin, Leon Russell, New Surf Folk, New Weird America, Rock N Roll, Tenacious D, Xavier Rudd
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Posted on 11/13/2006
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November 13, 2006
Yusuf Islam – An Other Cup
Atlantic/ Ya Records
Released: November 14th
In what was one of the most remarkable departures from the pop music world of the 20th Century, Cat Stevens chose his newfound Islamic religion over the passionate following of 'Rainbow Children' who'd enjoyed such classics as "Moon Shadow", "Wild World" and "Peace Train". At the time little was understood about his choice other than the belief that he had that he could not reasonable devote himself to both his spiritual beliefs and the machine that was the pop music world.
Fans were distraught as he literally vanished from the public eye after changing his name to Yusuf Islam. Even the majority of musicians who he'd played and toured with for years were set aside.
Fast-forward 28 years…
Having picked up some unfinished tracks from 20 years prior, Islam returned to the studio with veteran producer Rick Nowels (Stevie Nicks, Santana, Madonna, KD Lang) and also developed some new tracks.
Sonically, the album is very true to Yusuf's previous leanings and though polished, its warmth transcends the folk moniker he branded so clearly in his previous work. Booming brass, piano-tinkling, elaborate string arrangements and Latin percussion lends depth to the already contemplative lyrics and delivers a contemporary, cohesive effort. Islam's self-analysis in tracks like I Think I See The Light "I used to trust nobody, trusting even less their words, until I found somebody" is matched only by his continued expression of humankind's need to find a better way to understand one another. In Maybe There's A World, Islam pleads, "I have dreamt of an open world, borderless and wide. Where the people move from place to place and nobody's taking sides". Providing back-up vocals on "The Beloved", Youssou N'Dour shines without upstaging.
There's both and innocence and a wisdom to the writing here and a most welcomed return…to the machine.
**** (Four stars)
Tags:
Acoustic Folk, Acoustic Pop, Album of the Week, Album Reviews, Cat Stevens, Folk, Heritage Artists, New Music, Youssou N Dour, Yusuf Islam
© All rights reserved.
Posted on 11/13/2006
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