Yesterday, August 4, Medeski Martin & Wood released Radiolarians III. The record is the third of the Radiolarians Series and was released on their self-owned label Indirecto.I became familiar with Medeski Martin & Wood during my semi-jam band fan stint. Quirky to English translation ... while others were deeply submerged in the jam band waters, I just kind of floated along the edge picking and choosing where to stop and tread water for a while. It was during that time that a friend of mine handed me a tape of a live show and insisted I listen. I popped in the tape, an audience recording, and it turned out to be MMW. I thought, hm, not bad but ended up tossing the tape on a pile.Since then, MMW always seems to make an appearance in my collection in some way or another. Well, guess what? They've made another appearance. And, that brings us to Radiolarians III. I got my hand on a copy of the record a couple of weeks ago. I cued it up on my music player and let it play in the background while I was working. This of course isn't the proper way to form an opinion on a record. But, I learned one thing right off, I can work with it playing without it getting on my nerves. It's always a plus when something is non-nerve wrecking.So, yesterday, while 
trying to decided what to listen to, I remembered it was release day for Radiolarians III. I cued it up and gave it a proper listen. I've decided that I like Radiolarians III better that I & II. MMW do a bang up job of putting together laid back, experimental, jazzy jam band fare. Three tracks in particular stand out, "Kota," "Undone" and my favorite of the record, "Walk Back." Fans of MMW won't be disappointed by Radiolarians III. I also think, others like me, who are casual listeners will enjoy this one too. If you're among those of us who can listen to music while working, this is a good one to spin.
Track Listing
- Chantes Des Femmes
- Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down
- Kota
- Undone
- Wonton
- Walk Back
- Jean's Scene
- Broken Mirror
- Gwyra Mi
www.medeskimartinandwood.com
www.myspace.com/medeskimartinandwood
Interesting things happen at folk festivals, during life in general and to The Low Anthem. Last year, The Low Anthem's Ben Knox Miller was at the folk festival in Newport, RI. However, he wasn't performing. Miller was a volunteer on the festival's recycling team. He had the not so glamorous job of going through garbage bins to pull out all of the recyclable items that were discarded in the improper receptacles. Miller made the most of his recycling gig though. He took the opportunity to pass The Low Anthem's self-released album Oh My God, Charlie Darwin to folks including one of the producers of the festival. That tenacity paid off. This year, Miller along with his bandmates Jeffrey Prystowsky and Jocie Adams, will take the stage at George Wein's Folk Festival 50. The Low Anthem will be center stage on Saturday, August 1, day 1 of the two day festival. They, along with legends and a who's who of folk music's bright future, will help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival. For the daily festival schedule, click HERE.
lowanthem.com
www.myspace.com/lowanthem
www.folkfestival50.com
www.folkfestival50.com/music-cubes.html
Athens (Georgia) band Dead Confederate are going on the road. They have a slew of dates in September with Meat Puppets. Then in October, they'll be out with A Place To Bury Strangers. For those of us in the New York area, they'll be at Bowery Ballroom on October 30. Check out their MySpace page for dates elsewhere. They've been busy. They're compiling live material from shows in 2008 - 2009 for digital and possible limited edition vinyl release that in addition to the band's original material will include rarely performed covers.In the meantime, you can grab the acoustic "It Was A Rose" recorded during the Wrecking Ball sessions HERE (save as). And, you can watch the video for "The Rat" from their 2008 full-length debut release Wrecking Ball HERE.
www.myspace.com/deadconfederate
A Fine Frenzy have passed a million followers on Twitter and in celebration? of that, they're giving away a song. Hey, I'm all for any excuse to celebrate, especially when there's free stuff to be had. Visit their website HERE to get "Blow Away" which was recorded live at WKRQ in Cincinnati. "Blow Away" is the new single from their upcoming record A Bomb In A Bird Cage which is scheduled to drop on September 8.
www.afinefrenzy.com
New York based Sean Bones released Rings today, July 21. For those unfamiliar with Sean Bones, they play reggae based indie pop. I'm not normally into anything reggae aside from a few old school things so, it may come as a shock to anyone who knows me that I would like this band. But, I saw them perform at the end of May and they put on a hell of a show and thus the reason I decided to check out the record. Rings is full of laid back summertime listening. The highlights for me are "Dancehall" and "Sugar In My Spoon" the latter of which is a must see live. Live the song is one of those combo "say wha ... well damn" things. That aside, the studio version is just as enjoyable. I'd say if you like your indie pop firmly ensconced in reggae beats, you'll like this record. It'll be the record you throw on late into the barbecue and dance with your friends, drink firmly in hand.If you're in NY, then you have a few chances to catch the band. They're having a record release party at Glasslands in Brooklyn tomorrow, July 22. If you can't make that, they'll be tearing up the LES at Pianos on July 30 and at Mercury Lounge on August 7. So, go check them out. The initiated already know they'll get a good show. Those not in the know, go, you just might find yourself like me, wowed by a killer show.
Track Listing
- Easy Street
- Cry Cry Cry
- Coco
- Act So Casual
- Sugar In My Spoon
- Instigator
- Smoke Rings
- Visions
- Dancehall
- Captain Tying Knots
- Turn Them
www.seanbones.com
www.myspace.com/seanbones
www.tinyurl.com/seanbonesfacebook
The schedule blocks for George Wein's Folk Festival 50 have been announced. Now you can find out when your favorite artists will be performing and on what stage. The iconic granddaddy of festivals takes place on Saturday, August 1 & Sunday, August 2 in Newport, RI.
www.folkfestival50.com/music-cubes.html
Broken Side Of Time, the album from rock band Alberta Cross is due out September 22. But, you can get a taste of the upcoming record now. Check out/stream "Leave Us And Forgive Us" HERE. Nice guys that they are, they're giving it away for FREE too. You can download it from their website or by using the handy little widget below that they so kindly set up.
www.albertacross.net
www.myspace.com/albertacross
Funny People - The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is due to be released on July 28. The movie, Funny People, stars Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen and Leslie Mann in the story of a famous comedian who has a near-death experience and what happens when the other side isn’t at all what you expect. Eric Bana, Jonah Hill and Jason Schwartzman co-star. The movie will be in theaters July 31.The soundtrack features a stellar line-up of classic pop artists. That being said, I'm not sure why they felt the need to toss in not one, but two songs from the film's star Adam Sandler. To make matters worse, one of the songs he's allowed to "sing" is John Lennon's "Real Love." Granted, the song sounds better than I expected it to but still, it didn't really need to be here. He is definitely the weak link among the tracks. On the other hand co-star Jason Schwartzman's band Coconut Records, whose work I actually like, fairs much better with their two songs especially the catchy "Wires."There's Beatles presence other than that Sandler misstep. Paul McCartney's "Great Day" from my favorite modern day McCartney album Flaming Pie, is the opening track. And in the end ... the album closes out with back to back Beatles. Ringo Starr's "Photograph" a song he co-wrote with George Harrison for his 1973 record Ringo which is followed by an acoustic demo version of John Lennon's "Watching The Wheels."The soundtrack also boast two new live tracks. The first, James Taylor's live on-camera performance of "Carolina In My Mind" in the film and "Jesus, Etc." by Wilco featuring Andrew Bird on violin.Listen to "Jesus, Etc." by Wilco featuring Andrew Bird Here.Listen to "Watching The Wheels" by John Lennon Here.Watch the official Funny People Trailer Here.
Track Listing
- Great Day - Paul McCartney
- Wires - Coconut Records
- All The King's Horses - Robert Plant And The Strange Sensation
- Carolina In My Mind - James Taylor
- Keep Me In Your Heart - Warren Zevon
- Real Love - Adam Sandler
- We - Neil Diamond
- Jesus, Etc. - Wilco featuring Andrew Bird
- George Simmons Soon Will Be Gone - Adam Sandler
- I Am Young - Coconut Records
- Memory - Larry Goldings featuring Maude Apatow
- Numb As A Statue - Warren Zevon
- Photograph - Ringo Starr
- Watching The Wheels - John Lennon
Yesterday, August 4, Medeski Martin & Wood released Radiolarians III. The record is the third of the Radiolarians Series and was released on their self-owned label Indirecto.
trying to decided what to listen to, I remembered it was release day for Radiolarians III. I cued it up and gave it a proper listen. I've decided that I like Radiolarians III better that I & II. MMW do a bang up job of putting together laid back, experimental, jazzy jam band fare. Three tracks in particular stand out, "Kota," "Undone" and my favorite of the record, "Walk Back." Fans of MMW won't be disappointed by Radiolarians III. I also think, others like me, who are casual listeners will enjoy this one too. If you're among those of us who can listen to music while working, this is a good one to spin.
