Lawrence Rothman dropped this video last Friday and it’s gorgeous and strange. Angel Olsen is featured on the track. There’s an awesome twist at the end. Be sure to watch all the way through. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8uaI7SGdPY
Written by Serge Gainsbourg, sung by France Gall who (according to the internet) was 17 at the time. This was a bit before her voice became a device that caused widespread madness. Like many female French pop stars during the sixties, she recorded and performed like a crazy woman. As in the US, they thought …
With this video for “I Love Isan,” a new release from The Isan Project, you can hear and see the sounds of Isan, a region in Northern Thailand, hitting the charts. Two brothers from Manchester, UK, Producer Will Robinson and his brother, hand-assembled four traditional Thai instruments, played them, and added some very Western EDM …
When Steve Wynn finished producing Chris Cacavas debut solo album in early 1989, I took the master tapes over to the offices of CMJ; College Music Journal. I played this song for the editor and he smiled and looked at me and said “holy shit, this sounds like the Buffalo Springfield jamming with Steppenwolf”. Two …
Yes, a staggering talent, like discovering the next Dalai Lama in the body of a six year old American boy… http://joeyalexandermusic.com/
One of the best French pop songs of the sixties. OK, Sylvie has crazy teeth and this video is all cheesy sci-fi robo-bondage, but the tune endures. If I ever go on tour beyond Spokane or Walla Walla, I’m gonna figure a way to include this in the set. And yeah, I’ll sing in French. …
This is from one of my favorite recently acquired jazz albums, Rising Son by Takayu Kuroda, a great up-and-coming jazz trumpeter. Modern jazz with a distinctive afro-beat influence (I’m a big afro beat fan). – Don Lundell
Here are 30 bands that I’ve NEVER shared a stage or dressing room with – and I’m totally at peace with that: 1) Pavement 2) Thurston Moore 3) Bonnie Prince Billy 4) Kid Rock 5) Tool 6) Helmet 7) Fleet Foxes 8) Rem (after Bill Berry left) 9) Replacements (after Bob Stinson passed) 10) Beyonce …
Yonatan Gat is a guitarist from Tel Aviv, and I saw him live at a rainy event on a farm yesterday, and he’s the REAL DEAL — just playing with a trio, and 90% instrumental. So many sounds from his guitar — ferocious surf punk and psychedelia that’s so musical it’s bursting and wonderfully exploratory. …
How fricken cool was it to open up the video file of Slim Wray’s “Take it or Leave it”?! About as cool as pulling an unlabeled can from the cup board, popping the seal and finding out it’s full of “Hell Yeah”. If that analogy doesn’t reach you, maybe you could imagine releasing a squirrel …
The Foreign Resort will perform at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland on Oct. 30. and at Substation in Seattle on Oct. 31. Tuning in to The Foreign Resort’s new release single “Under Bright Neon Stars” was like a trip down memory lane. I found myself back in the era of The Cure and quite frankly I …
This Bach fugue (a classical guitar favorite) is particularly stunning in Chris Thile’s hands – his subtle musical approach to the piece is incredible… and on a very limited instrument. Genius. – Don Lundell
Being uninitiated to Ghosts in Pocket and their music, I clicked on “stream” and released the flow of their musical creation. The bass line sawed away, the drums tapped and then, the lyrics sang, my mind opened, and I felt refreshed. Focusing in, I submerged for a closer look. For me, Ghosts in Pocket’s new …
This is a great moment in the history of music on the internet. Both Fleck and Washburn caress the fretboards of their respective banjos, one bluegrass style, the other frailing style, with such delicacy that they refashion this uberdramatic metal tune into passionate chamber music. Also, Bela looks awesome-tastic with long hair… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5AsyuNia5Y
This guitarist reminds of a young Michael Hedges. This vid is fun. The tune he’s playing is Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and the acoustic rhythms are imaginative, strong and splendiferous.
Imagine Dragons took an honest and introspective approach to creating the music video for their new single, “Roots.” The video follows lead singer Dan Reynolds in his struggle to maintain a sense of self and balance in the chaotic whirlwind of tour life by rediscovering his roots.
one more time, i’m posting this amazing record cover. it’s the cover of the LP (issued in 1967, a few months after “sgt. pepper” hit the streets) of the mothers of invention’s “we’re only in it for the money.” the delicious parody of the sgt. pepper cover is beyond cassic. it’s beatles anti-matter. the story …
Nations of the Soul are an indie folk duo from Norway who have just released their second single, “To the Loved Ones” (above). It’s a lovely, catchy tune which you’ll adore once you hear it. The duo’s first single, “Dancing Spirit,” released sometime before summer, was picked up and loved by the Norwegian press and …
Every couple of years, a new generation discovers folk singer/songwriter Jackson C. Frank – and gets all obsessive about him – similar to Nick Drake, Judee Sill, (and for reasons I’ve never understood) Vashti Bunyan – and yet, oddly not enough people do that with Sandy Denny. Anyway Frank is worth some obsessing – and …
The Queen of Rock n' Roll by The Sinners The Sinners have released a straight ahead rocker which is AWESOME and have chosen to have their world premiere on East Portland Blog which is even more AWESOME! Timothy Riley (that’s him in the photo on the right) is the chief among the Sinners as he …
Blending the gospel with the secular; Dylan in New Orleans, November 1981: This show was recorded for a proposed live album, which was never issued (apart from “Heart of Mine”, which appeared on Biograph), Dylan scholar Paul Williams calls this “one of his most inventive tours”, and the setlist — which mixes songs from the …
I had been a resident of San Francisco for all of 24 hrs when I strolled into a South of Market bar in October 1987 and spotted Chuck Prophet propping up a bar stool. I sat down, didn’t introduce myself, then started making comments and asking questions about the other members of Green On Red; …
The last time I saw Bowling For Soup was in 2009 at El Corazon. That’s the last time they played Seattle. Six long years I have awaited their return, and judging by the totally packed club and it being a Tuesday. It seems they were missed but not forgotten in Seattle. Bowling For Soup know …
this is my very favorite MOOG record – The ELECTRIC ECLECTICS of DICK HYMAN (his real name, by the way). stop laughing. i have 3 copies of this (just in case i ever lose one.) this is actually a really great over-the-top MOOG synthesizer recording done by a guy who is a trained jazz musician. …
I clearly remember Peter Holsapple and DB’s playing “Suspicious Minds” at Scorgies in Rochester, NY circa 1984 and Peter making an impassioned plee for folks not to believe all the myth and horseshit of Elvis and just dig the music – that made a strong impression on me. During that era doing an Elvis tune …
When I compiled a listing of my favorite singles of all-time about eight years ago (a kaleidoscopic endeavor that eventually BALLOONED to 800 entries, even though no artist was permitted more than ONE!), this string-fueled, now-rather-obscure, Family Soul smash from Summer 1972 (#2 in BILLBOARD, but #1 in CASH BOX!) came in at #19, just …
In New York City, a gig with Norwegian jazz singer Karin Krog joined by piano maverick Steve Kuhn for $14 is almost “free” – at Joe’s Pub on Wednesday September 30th, at 7:30 pm (one set only) – I think I may even roll into town for this. Click here for ticket info. Here’s a …
The always lovely Jasmine Jordan has a video out for her song “Smile” below which must not be missed. This LA-based RnB siren burns torch songs of powerful love with positive messages and upbeat sounds. She will be appearing live at Holocene in Portland on 9/17, and at Columbia City Theater in Seattle on 9/18. …
https://youtu.be/0v53_2eQ9zw There’s a great look to this video. They definintely project like they’re havin’ a great time… Philadelphia progressive soul ensemble Johnny Popcorn is emcee/producer/singer Hezekiah, producer/bassist Tone Whitfield, and vocalist Jani Coral. Before forming Johnny Popcorn, Hezekiah released music with Rawkus Records, in addition to working exclusively, writing for renowned neo-soul artist Bilal. Like …
I’ve always preferred men over boys and women rather than girls, so when I heard this ‘adult’ version of the Jackson 5 bubblegum hit (recorded just a few months after young Michael took it to the top), I asked myself ‘why in the hell’ did Motown sit on releasing it for 34 years ? The …