Thursday, February 25, 2010

Review: The Fela "Chop 'N Quench" Batch


I've been listening to the first 9 re-releases of Fela's catalogue, which w
ere released earlier this month, for a little while now. 9 records and if you've had the Fela Kuti experience, then you know you're in for some long groovy, jazzy, rhythmic jams. Needless to say, it took me a while to make my way through this part of the catalogue. But, these are must have records from the late Arfobeat legend.

I've been listening with the intention of doing a review. Of course, when I set about doing that, I didn't take into consideration that once you start listening, you soon forget you're supposed to be thinking about writing a review. Somewhere along the line, during the first song, I found myself wiggling around to the dynamic rhythms. So, my "review" is bordering on non-existant!

If you don't already own them, need to upgrade your collection (you know from the vinyl you lifted from your parents collection when you were a teen ... okay, maybe the rest of y'all didn't get sticky fingered with your parents stuff) or new to the Fela experience, pick them up. They're well worth the investment. I promise you, you'll have fun while listening and you'll understand why you're getting a borderline review. It's too hard to type and dance! You end up losing yourself in the music. Perhaps that's the best review there is, music so good you lose yourself in it.

My personal faves are Fela Ransome-Kuti and The Africa'70 with Ginger Baker - Live! and the Open & Close / Afrodisiac releases. Be warned, if you listen at work as I do, you may find yourself dancing around he office and some offices frown upon that. Thankfully, mine isn't one of those offices. They give you the feeling of being there.

Fela.net


Video: ?uestlove Discusses Fela


?uestlove
put his thoughts to video. He sat down and discussed the importance of Fela Kuti on a personal level as well as on music and culture. Check out the video below.




Over the next several months, Knitting Factory Records will be re-releasing Fela's entire catalogue. The "Chop 'N Quench" batch, containing 6 CDs (9 albums total) from 1964-1974, is available digitally and physically now. Buy them from Fela.net to get a deal better than you'll find anywhere else!

Fela.net

Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers Announce Tour & New Album


Legendary rockers Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers announced th
eir 2010 North American tour and the upcoming release of their new record today. Mojo, their first studio record in eight years, is scheduled to be released this spring on Reprise Records. The Live Nation produced North American tour, which begins May 6 in Raleigh, NC, will take the band across the US and Canada. Tickets go on sale Monday, March 8 at LiveNation.com.

The tour will bring Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers to New York. They'll take the stage at Madison Square Garden on July 28. Supporting artists for the NY show haven't been announced yet while other dates will include a mix of appearances by My Morning Jacket, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Joe Cocker, ZZ Top, and Drive-By Truckers.

All 2010 Tour tickets purchased online will include an MP3 download of every track on the Heartbreakers' electrifying new album, Mojo. It will work like this; once fans purchase tickets online they will receive an email with codes entitling them to download two tracks from Mojo ("First Flash Of Freedom" and "Good Enough.") Then, on the release date of the album, currently slated for this spring, ticket buyers will be sent a download of the entire album. Also included with every online ticket purchase, to be delivered at the end of the 2010 tour, will be a selection of live tracks recorded during the tour.

Mojo is a fiery statement from a band that is making some of their most exciting music over three decades into their career. "Good Enough" from the new album is now available for streaming at the revamped TOMPETTY.com. More details on the new album to follow soon.

Tour Dates
  • May 06 - Raleigh - Time Warner Cable Pavilion at Walnut Creek (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 07 - Charlotte - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 09 - Tampa - St. Pete Times Forum (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 15 - Dallas - Superpages.com Center (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 16 - Houston - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 18 - Phoenix - US Airways Arena (w/Joe Cocker)
  • May 22 - Los Angeles - Hollywood Bowl (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 02 - San Diego - Cricket Wireless Pavilion (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 03 - Irvine - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 05 - Oakland - Oracle Pavilion (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 08 - Vancouver - GM Place (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 11 - Seattle -The Gorge (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 12 - Seattle - The Gorge (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 15 - Calgary - Pengrowth Saddledome (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 16 - Edmonton - Rexall Place (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 19 - Winnipeg @ MTS Centre (w/Joe Cocker)
  • Jun 22 - St Paul @ Xcel Energy Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jun 23 - Omaha @ Qwest Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jun 25 - Milwaukee @ Summerfest (w/ZZ Top)****
  • Jul 10 - Indianapolis @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 13 - Kansas City @ Sprint Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 15 - Cincinnati @ Riverbend Music Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 17 - Chicago @ United Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 20 - Cleveland @ Blossom Music Center (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 22 - Detroit @ Palace of Auburn Hills (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 24 - Pittsburgh @ First Niagra Pavilion (w/Drive-By Truckers)
  • Jul 28 - New York @ Madison Square Garden (w/TBD)
  • Jul 31 - Philadelphia @ Wachovia Center (w/TBD)
  • Aug 11 - Atlanta @ Philips Arena (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 12 - Nashville @ Sommet Center (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 14 - Darien Lake, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 15 - Bristow @ Jiffy Lube Live (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 17 - Hartford @ Comcast Theater (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 19 - Boston @ Comcast Center (w/My Morning Jacket)
  • Aug 21 - Boston @ Comcast Center (w/My Morning Jacket)
  • Aug 24 - East Rutherford @ IZOD Center (w/My Morning Jacket)
  • Aug 25 - Toronto @ Air Canada Center (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
  • Aug 27 - Saratoga Springs @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center (w/Crosby, Stills and Nash)
***Summerfest show in Milwaukee, WI onsale March 6

www.tompetty.com

Hot Chelle Rae Release Video


Hot Chelle Rae released a video for "Bleed," the new single from their debut album, Lovesick Electric. But, the video isn't finished yet! They're asking fans to be a part of the process. Check out the first cut of the video and read details, both below.

Over the next few weeks while the band is on tour with Sherwood, the guys will be asking fans at their shows to write (or “bleed”) some short thoughts out on a scrap of paper, your hands, your feet, your ticket stub, etc. They will film the lucky fans and their statements, and each week they will update the video with the new fan footage. Once the tour is done, the video will be done. So, keep checking the site for updates, come see a show and be prepared to become part of Hot Chelle Rae history.


New York,
Hot Chelle Rae will visit us and you have a couple of chances to catch them. They'll be at Highline Ballroom on March 17 and The Fillmore at Irving Plaza on March 28.

www.hotchellerae.com
www.myspace.com/hotchellerae
www.twitter.com/hotChellerae

Keane Announce US Album Release Date


UK group Keane announced the release date of their upcoming new record. Night Train, will be released on May 11 here in the US, via Cherrytree/Interscope Records. While dates haven't been announced yet, they will tour North America this spring.
Night Train features eight powerful new tracks which were written and recorded during the band's Perfect Symmetry world tour that saw them playing to packed arenas in 28 countries.

The album takes its title from the band's favorite mode of transportation during the tour, and includes Keane's genre-busting collaborations with Somali/Canadian rapper K'Naan, 'Stop For A Minute' and 'Looking Back'.

"I think these tracks show us in a completely different light." says Keane frontman Tom Chaplin.

www.keanemusic.com

Nada Surf Album Details, Tour Dates + MP3



Nada Surf has a new record coming out. if i had a hi-fi, a covers record, is initially only going to be available for purchase at shows. But, after their spring tour, the band has announced that the record will be available digitally and on CD/LP via the the bands label, Mardev Records and distributed through ADA. Nada Surf's spring tour kicks off with three sold-out shows here in New York and ends in May at the Sasquatch Music Festival. To get you all nice and ready for the tour and the record, Nada Surf is giving fans a preview of the upcoming record. You can download their cover of Bill Fox's "Electrocution" in the MP3 Grab below.

if i had a hi-fi is full of inspired, unexpected choices: from avant-pop Kate Bush to underground power-pop classicist Dwight Twilley. There are some intriguingly obscure numbers, like Spanish band Mercromina's "Evolution" and under-documented Bill Fox's "Electrocution." The as yet little known Fox, of Cleveland cult band The Mice, inspired local groups like Guided by Voices and Death of Samantha. Doug Gillard, who was in both of them, lends his highly evolved guitar skills to "Electrocution" as well as the Twilley and Go-Betweens songs.

That was another benefit of these sessions. Says lead singer and guitarist Matthew Caws, "It was a great excuse to have friends of ours sit in on something without having to wait another two years." Guest players include Martin Wenk (Calexico), Phil Peterson (Kay Kay and the Weathered Underground), Joe McGinty (Losers Lounge, Psychedelic Furs) and Holly Miranda.

CareFusion Jazz Festival New York Announces Schedule


Today, festival producer George Wein and medical device company CareFushion announced the schedule for the 2010 CareFusion Jazz Festival New York.  The Festival will take place June 17 - 26 with 45 concerts at 20 venues, full schedule below. 
“I am grateful that CareFusion came forward to re-ignite the tradition of New York’s annual jazz festival in June. With more than 1,000 jazz events taking place throughout New York every month, it’s an exciting challenge to program a 10-night festival, said Mr. Wein, CEO of New Festival Productions, LLC. “We booked the festival using the underlying theme of “accentuate the positive,” which includes partnering with some of the city’s hottest venues from Manhattan to Queens, from Brooklyn to the Bronx. Together, we have booked a stellar festival filled with great music for all tastes and at all prices.”

Tickets for concerts at Carnegie Hall and The Town Hall go on sale Monday, March 22. For more information on events and tickets, please visit www.nycjazzfestival.com

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Circa Survive's Blue Sky Noise Time Lapse Video + Track List


Circa Survive
have a new record coming out titled Blue Sky Noise. It is scheduled to be released on April 20. The album cover was painted by Esao Andrews. A slick time lapse video of Andrews painting the cover has been released. Check it out below.





Track Listing
  • Strange Terrain
  • Get Out
  • Glass Arrows
  • I Felt Free
  • Imaginary Enemy
  • Through the Desert Alone
  • Frozen Creek
  • Fever Dreams
  • Spirit of The Stairwell
  • The Longest Mile
  • Compendium
  • Dyed in the Wool
www.circasurvive.com
twitter.com/circasurvive
www.myspace.com/circasurvive

Ash To Release A-Z Vol. 1 On 4/19


Back in October 2009, Ash launched their singles collection series. They set out to release 26 singles, bi-weekly, over a year long period. Well, they're approaching the halfway mark on this project. To celebrate, they'll be releasing A-Z Vol. 1 on April 19. The compilation will contain singles A-M as well as a bundle of bonus material.

Oh my lovelies, but that's not all! Not only can you pre-order the album now, you also have options. A-Z Vol. 1 will be available as a limited edition (5,000 copies worldwide) CD/DVD combo too. It will feature an A-Z Tour documentary that was filmed last fall. So, you have two physical options to get your Ash fix.

Subscribe to the A-Z Series before Feb 25 and get the dark new bonus track "Night Terrors"

As the band describes it: "Lyrically 'Night Terrors' tongue-in-cheek humor starkly contrasts an angry tale of wished comeuppance upon a despicable individual. This song is for anyone who's known a loved one to have been royally fucked over, to the degree that you'd like to see the guilty party suffer eternally in the grip of their own diabolical insanity."

Who hasn't?

And like "Gallows Hill" and "Lay Down Your Arms," "Night Terrors" won't be available anywhere else.



So, head on over to the bands site HERE and subscribe.


Track Listing:

  • A. True Love 1980
  • B. Joy Kicks Darkness
  • C. Arcadia
  • D. Tracers
  • E. The Dead Disciples
  • F. Pripyat
  • G. Ichiban
  • H. Space Shot
  • I. Neon
  • J. Command
  • K. Song Of Your Desire
  • L. Dionysian Urge
  • M. War With Me
  • ...plus 4 unreleased bonus tracks
www.ash-official.com
www.myspace.com/ash
twitter.com/ashofficial
www.facebook.com/ash

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

April Smith And The Great Picture Show Listening Party On Spinner


Songs For A Sinking Ship, the new record from April Smith And The Great Picture Show was released earlier today. The sassy and fun record is being featured on Spinner.com. So, for those of you who haven't heard it, you can listen to the album in its entirety via Spinner's listening party. And, as a treat, you can grab the opening track from the self-released record, "Movie Loves A Screen" in the MP3 Grab below.

And New York, you should head on over to Mercury Lounge on March 10 to catch April Smith And The Great Picture Show live!


Tour Dates
  • 2/24: Crocodile Cafe---Seattle, WA #
  • 2/25: Knitting Factory---Spokane, WA #
  • 2/27: Urban Lounge---Salt Lake City, UT #
  • 2/28: Larimer Lounge---Denver, CO #
  • 3/10: Mercury Lounge---New York, NY
  • 3/13: Rock N Roll Hotel---Washington D.C. *
  • 3/15: The Earl---Atlanta, GA *
  • 3/19: Ale House (SXSW)---Austin, TX
  • 3/22: Off Broadway Nightclub---St. Louis, MO
  • 3/23: Schuba's---Chicago, IL
  • 3/24: Beachland Ballroom---Cleveland, OH
  • 3/25: Club Cafe---Pittsburgh, PA
  • 4/11: WVU Creative Arts Center (NPR Mountain Stage)---Morgantown, WV
# w/ Fanfarlo
* w/ Here We Go Magic

MP3 Grab: "Movie Loves A Screen"

www.aprilsmithmusic.com
www.myspace.com/aprilsmithmusic
twitter.com/aprilsmithmusic