Season's Greetings!

U.S. Royalty To Release Mirrors In January + MP3

DC based U.S. Royality are gearing up for the release of their debut album MIRRORS. The record is scheduled for January 25. I've had a chance to check out the record and I'm diggin' it. "Hollywood Hollows" has been on repeat, lovin' this track to bits.

To get you in the spirit and whet your appetite for the album, we have for your listening pleasure we have "Equestrian" in the MP3 Grab below. Check it out and enjoy.

"With this record we wanted to present a body of work, a complete thought," says singer John Thornley. To achieve this, the band wrote and rewrote songs for a year, demoing and dissecting while on the road and at home. John continues, "Because we traveled for about a year and a half before we recorded the album, there is definitely a travel vibe to the record."

In March 2010, the band teamed up with engineer Gus Oberg (The Strokes, Albert Hammond Jr., Bloc Party) and Justin Long to begin recording the album. The band recently released the first single off the album, "Equestrian," and set a release date for the debut album, January 25th 2011.

Track List

• The Mirror
• Hollywood Hollows
• Monte Carlo
• Equestrian
• Vacation Vacation
• Old Flames
• Fool To Love (Like I Do)
• Give Up The Ghost
• The Desert Won't Save You
• Voice Memo

MP3 Grab: "Equestrian"

Duran Duran Tops Charts & Premiers New Video

British pop band Duran Duran released their 13th studio album All You Need Is Now today and it's already topping the pop download charts. The Mark Ronson produced record is #1 on the Pop Download Charts in the UK, US, Canada and Italy as well as currently holding the #2 position on the US iTunes Album Chart.

The video for the title song premiered on Yahoo! Music today as well. It was directed by Nick Egan (the man behind the bands "White Lines" and Ordinary World" videos) and features additional footage by Gavin Elder. Check it out below.

Year End Review: Paul McCartney & Wings - Band On The Run

November 2, we saw the re-mastered, re-release of Paul McCartney & Wings' classic hit album, Band on the Run. It's the first release from the Paul McCartney Archive Collection. The 2 CD/1 DVD special edition consists of the original album, a disc of bonus tracks plus a disc containing more than an hours worth of video footage all wrapped up in a tidy enhanced package.

Band on the Run, originally released in 1973, came after some hit and miss McCartney albums. There were some gems on those works but overall, they were just nice. Band on the Run however sparkled and shined with the well crafted pop goodies that McCartney was and is known for. It's a record that still holds up well.

I've been spinning this release. In listening to it, the first thing I noticed was, I needed better headphones! Once that was squared away, I plugged in and cranked the sound. The re-master is louder and more clean than previous releases of the record. I hear more little bits and bobs that I never noticed before.

I realized something while listening to the record. All of the songs that I as a child, first associated as being McCartney, came from this album. Yes, as a kid I knew The Beatles music. But that was The Beatles and Beatle Paul and Wings Paul may have been one and the same, but they were separate in my mind. Beatles Paul was in funny movies and was a cartoon, literally ... oh and he wrote some great songs. But, Wings Paul was a rock star that people could actually go and see. He wasn't the larger than life entity his earlier self had become. Hey, nobody ever said kids made sense! Anyway, two of my all time favorite Wings songs come from this record "Let Me Roll It" and "Bluebird." Even though I've heard the song many times over the years, "Mrs. Vandebilt" has jumped out at me. It just pops on this edition and has been getting repeated plays.

I was excited about the One Hand Clapping video footage. But, I have to say, I'm just a wee bit disappointed. Yes, I'm happy to have it but it doesn't look like it has had any work done to it at all. I realize the footage is old but I expected it to be cleaner. As it stands, it feels a bit like watching a second (maybe third) generation bootleg VHS recording.

In a way, you can consider Band on the Run a best of record. It's some of McCartney's best post Fab Four work to date. I can't imagine a McCartney fan who doesn't own the album. But, if you're one of those who has the album in its original release and never got around to buying it on CD or digitally, now's a good time to pick it up (vinyl lovers need not fear, it's available in that format as well), it's a good little package. Listening to this re-master reminded me just how much I like this record.

Since there are plans to release other records as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, I'm hoping the next one will be Wings Over America with a bonus DVD of Rockshow in its entirety. That would make me one seriously happy chick.

Band on the Run (Special Edition)

Remastered Album

• Band on the Run
• Jet
• Bluebird
• Mrs Vandebilt
• Let Me Roll It
• Mamunia
• No Words
• Picasso’s Last Words (Drink to Me)
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five

Bonus Audio Tracks

• Helen Wheels
• Country Dreamer
• Bluebird [from One Hand Clapping]
• Jet [from One Hand Clapping]
• Let Me Roll It [from One Hand Clapping]
• Band on the Run [from One Hand Clapping]
• Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five [from One Hand Clapping]
• Country Dreamer [from One Hand Clapping]
• Zoo Gang

DVD

• Band on the Run Music Video
• Mamunia Music Video
• Album Promo Featuring Band on the Run, Mrs Vandebilt, Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five, Bluebird
• Helen Wheels Music Video
• Wings In Lagos
• Osterley Park
• One Hand Clapping

Savoir Adore To Play Union Pool, 12/18 + MP3

Brooklyn duo Savoir Adore will be hitting the stage at Union Pool, Saturday, December 18. Doors are at 8PM and it'll cost you $10. Head on over and get your holiday party on. All of the important deets are below.

Savoir Adore are the giving sort. The duo will be holding a coat drive for New York Cares so bring a coat or jacket to donate. And, if that wasn't enough, they've even offered up a free download for all of you lovelies. Check out the MP3 Grab below and download "Loveliest Creature."

Saturday, December 18
Union Pool (484 Union Ave at Meeker)
Doors 8pm. 21+ $10
W/ Ravens and Chimes and Emil & Friends
DJ Sets by French Horn Rebellion and Yes Giantess

MP3 Grab: "Loveliest Creature"

My Song Of The Day: Keeley - "In My Dreams"

UK pop singer Keeley released her debut single "In My Dreams" on November 1. Her upcoming record is expected next year. In the meantime, give the single a listen. If your music tastes tilt towards the pop side of the R&B/club sound, check her out via the handy widget below.

'In My Dreams' is a catchy, clubby R&B tune about distant love and fantasy. It is universal, and easy to identify with, whatever your age – though surprisingly enough, according to Keeley herself it is a song about unfulfilled love between an earthling and an alien, one on earth, the other in space. Such love needs dreams in order to exist, as dreams are the only setting where it would be possible for it to grow. This is Keeley's first attempt at recording an original number, that is after years of performing cover songs in an impressive range of styles. From Alicia Keys & Beyonce to Queen, Keeley delivers great vocals, constantly adapting to different atmospheres and energy levels, marking her versatility as an awe-inspiring asset.

Keeley - in My Dreams by Downtown Artists

The Glass Live This Sunday, 12/19

The Glass will be live this Sunday, December 19. They will be at Le Bain (The Standard), 444 W 13th Street. There's a DJ set at 9pm AND a live show at 11pm. RSVP & info page is HERE. For a taste of The Glass, check out the handy widget below.

The Glass - At Swim Two Birds -album out now by theglass

Laurie Anderson Nominated For Grammy + MP3

Legendary, experimental, multimedia artist Laurie Anderson was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance for "Flow." The song is the closing track of her newest record Homeland, which was released in June. The album is her first studio recording in nearly ten years. In celebration of Anderson's Grammy nomination, we have for you a download of the song. Check out the handy widget below. Click the downward pointing arrow and enjoy!

Homeland is produced by Anderson with Lou Reed and Roma Baran, and engineered by Anderson, Pat Dillett, Mario McNulty and Marc Urselli. The music is instantly recognizable as Anderson’s, though it draws on a broad scope of styles: She sings throughout and plays newly developed sounds on violin, as well as contributing keyboards and percussion. Her vocals are often mediated by the vocal filter she long ago invented to perform her signature “audio drag,” this time voicing Fenway Bergamot, the male alter‐ego who appears on the album’s cover and narrates the song “Another Day in America.”

On Homeland, Anderson is joined by a diversity of collaborators, from the Tuvan throat singers and igil players of Chirgilchin to New York experimental jazz and rock players including Rob Burger (keyboards), Omar Hakim (drums), Kieran Hebden of Four Tet (keyboards), Shahzad Ismaily (percussion) Eyvind Kang (viola), Peter Scherer (keyboards), Skuli Sverrisson (bass), Ben Witman (percussion and drums) and John Zorn (saxophone). Antony Hegarty contributes additional vocals.

Laurie Anderson - "Flow" by Nonesuch Records

Holiday Cheer From Adam Taylor & Band

It's the holiday season which means, it's time for holiday music! Personally, I'm not all that big on the traditional old classics or the cheesy junk that people insist on playing. So, when I come across a new holiday song that isn't cheesy I get a little giddy. Who has made me giddy you ask? Adam Taylor, that's who. Adam and his band, Kate Young, Jason Hoffheins and Mike Giblin have given us "Mrs. Mistletoe." Check out the video below and head on over to Taylor's website (HERE) to get a free download of the song.

Oh, and on this day two years ago, Taylor released his debut EP, Play The Piano Drunk. Happy anniversary! Here's to many more years of good music. If you haven't added this record to your collection, what are you waiting for? It makes a good stocking stuffer! Time sure flies ... it was two years and five days that I first saw Taylor & Young perform and they just keep getting better.

Jen Gloeckner To Play Two Dates In NY This Week

Singer/songwriter Jen Gloeckner will be making two stops in New York this week. It's cold outside folks and what better way to warm up than to check out some live music? Gloeckner will be on the LES at The Living Room on Wednesday, December 15. The following night, Thursday, December 16, she will be in Brooklyn at The Bell House. For those unfamiliar with Gloeckner, she's been on the road supporting her latest record, Mouth of Mars which was released earlier this year; check out the handy widget below and grab "Pulse" from the record.

”Mouth of Mars” was recorded at Jen Gloeckner’s own Hazy Sky Studio in Dubuque, IA with additional recording by Brian McTear ((Apollo Sunshine, BC Camplight, Danielson, Wovenhand, etc.) and Amy Morrissey at Miner Street Recordings, Philadelphia. The album was produced by Gloeckner and McTear and mixed by McTear and special guests include Joseph Arthur, cellist Helena Espvall (Espers), violin player Joel Zifkin (Rufus Wainwright), bassist Lisa Umbarger (Toadies) as well as McTear and Amy Morrissey (Bitter Bitter Weeks).

Gloeckner draws artistic inspiration from moods and images that she receives in dreams, and listeners discern a mythical, collective-unconsciousness underlying her music —songs that can be as daunting as the darkest nightmares and as redemptive as purest desire. At times Jen comes across as a fearsome seductress—cruelly masculine in her lyrical directness and often aggressive, driving rhythms, then delicate and weak with longing as a Victorian lady taking to her fainting couch. As on “Miles Away”, “Mouth of Mars” achieves impressive coherence in the masterful balance of the opposites it embraces.