RIP Quincy Jones, whose musical accomplishments across a range of genres and endeavors may be wider and deeper than any other figure of the past century. In the realm of jazz . . . His abilities as a trumpet player put him on the road with the Lionel Hampton big band at the age of …
Twin Cities-based trio Semisonic released a new song “All It Would Take” from their forthcoming EP You’re Not Alone out September 18 via Pleasuresonic Recordings/Megaforce Records. The song follows “You’re Not Alone,” the title track to the forthcoming EP and the band’s first single in nearly 20 years, which just debuted at #40 on Billboard’s …
Grammy-nominated, Twin Cities-based, trio Semisonic has just released a video for “You’re Not Alone,” the group’s first new song in nearly 20 years. The single is the opening track from their forthcoming five-song EP You’re Not Alone out on September 18 via Pleasuresonic Recordings/Megaforce Records. The video for “You’re Not Alone” was directed by Minneapolis-based …
Dan Wilson released a new song, “The Rules,” in keeping with his announcement last year to release a new song each month in lieu of full length album in 2019. These songs, which include “Fly Safe,” “Uncanny Valley” and “We Ain’t Telling,” follow the release of his critically-acclaimed 2017 solo album Re-Covered where he revisited songs he wrote with other artists including Adele, Chris …
This is the guy from Trip Shakespeare: February 14, 2019: Today, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Dan Wilson released a new song “Fly Safe” following his announcement last year that he will begin releasing a new song each month in lieu of full length album in 2019. These songs, which include “Uncanny Valley” and “We Ain’t Telling,” follow the release of his critically-acclaimed 2017 solo album Re-Covered where he revisited …
On August 4, Dan Wilson will return with Re-Covered, a unique album that finds the Grammy-winning songwriter reinterpreting songs from his storied career that he wrote for and with other artists. The album, which marks his third solo studio release, is now available for pre-order on iTunes and Pledge Music and includes instant downloads of …
I remember a moment in the early 1990s when I stood in the crowd at First Avenue as we all waited for the show to start. The house speakers blasted Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine, and other loud awesomeness. Suddenly, I was arrested by an amazing new song I hadn’t heard, a sonic revelation …
The Dixie Hummingbirds, one of the great Gospel vocal groups of the past half century, are perhaps best known to listeners as the background vocalists on Paul Simon’s “Loves Me Like a Rock.” (I’m posting their own version below.) One fact about the group has always fascinated me: After one of their members, William Bobo, …
Having walked past various coin-op kiddie rides in the neighborhood, I sometimes wonder if these contraptions provide a child’s first experience of being underwhelmed. Toddlers eagerly climb atop the plastic horses as their exhausted parents fish out the coins and drop them into the slot. Then, as soon as the canned music starts and the …
As amazing as they are, the things you hear Jaco Pastorius do on the bass might not be the best part of his musicianship. To my ears, what sets him apart is his ability to disappear into the song. Every little Jaco moment is preceded by some bit of subtle magic he’s worked in the …
At the Tea Lounge this morning, I sat next to an empty table with a pronounced slant. I wondered if two people were to sit at that table and play a chess game, would the advantage go to the person playing downhill (the white pieces), or might it fall to the person playing black, who …
Author and Semisonic drummer Jake Slichter has been gigging and recording in NYC lately with Resistor, a post-modern post-punk ensemble of the first order. Slichter keeps the rhythm solid. Doug Halsey, operator of the fine animal rescue website, Ready4rescue.org, is the main songwriter/singer/rhythm guitarist. Shawn Tracy, a veteran of some excellent 90s bands such as …
I saw my friend and rock and roll mentor, Paul Chastain, rock the bass last night at NYC’s City Winery. Joining him were his longtime partner in crime, Rick Menck on drums, as well as Dennis Taylor on guitar, and some singer/songwriter named Matthew Sweet, who, judging by the crowd response, seems to have a …
[Update 4/19/2012 – On his website, the family of Levon Helm has announced, “Levon Helm passed peacefully this afternoon. He was surrounded by family, friends and band mates and will be remembered by all he touched as a brilliant musician and a beautiful soul.” The material below was posted earlier in the week, prior to …
Dan Wilson strikes songwriting gold again, this time with Dierks Bentley‘s “Home,” which Dan cowrote with Dierks and producer Brett Beavers. It has worked its way up to the number one slot on the country charts. (Here’s an excellent interview with Dan on CMT.com.) – Jacob Slichter
Just discovered this. Very nice. . Booker T & the MGs – Green Onions, by Jacob Slichter, Celebrity Guest Blogger Miles Davis and John Coltrane – So What?, by John Munson, Celebrity Guest Blogger .
Nathaniel Hawthorne once observed that “easy reading is damned hard writing.” The same holds true in music, where great mastery is often found in the simplest performances. Booker T and the MGs, one of the greatest backing bands of all time, played with such a profoundly deep groove that little elaboration was needed. It’s fitting …