Two From Tuesday - 11-13-07

Notes From The New Release Show:

Today's post is an Off The Beaten Track approach to the new music of the week. Let's jump right in.

On the new, unfamiliar and edgy side of the show is a band from Down Under. They are Operator Please who are from, you guessed it, Australia. Gold Coast, Queensland to be more precise. They have fun punk pop sound as you can tell from their latest single “Zero Zero.” Right now this tune is only available to us here in the US via I-tunes Australia. Yes, you can switch your I-tunes store home. The possibilities are endless. I’ll go broke one song at a time. The new album, out next week is called YES YES VINDICTIVE.

“Marilyn Monroe” is the latest single from Walrus. They are a dirty little garage band also out of Australia. They are more simplistic in their description: “Walrus is a rock band…we play rock music.” That’s pretty straightforward. They have a new Double A Side Single with Funky Monkey/Marilyn Monroe. Both songs are available for download on their myspace page, which is myspace.com/walrusrock. I happened to like the latter tune and played “Marilyn Monroe.”

I will not be on next Tuesday...WTMD will be broadcasting Towson Men's Basketball. I will however listen and review what we get in this week, so I will be able to share with you on next week's blog. Until then...

The Felice Brothers

The Felice Brothers Where One Of The Openers For Bright Eyes Recently.
I Enjoyed Them Quite A Bit.

Here's "Ballad Of Lou The Welterweight"


And "I'm Saved"


Also "Frankie's Gun "


Here's Their Website http://www.myspace.com/thefelicebrothers

New Track From U2

So it's been 20 years since U2 released the classic album The Joshua Tree.
They'll be giving it the deluxe treatment to re-release it next week. And I found a little gem when searching for details.
Take a look as Bono introduces a song that was salvaged from those original recordings.



The song is titled Wave Of Sorrow and it has the heart of U2 in mind, but I'd love to hear form U2 fans...
Do you think this newly finished song could stand next to the tracks on The Joshua Tree?

Two From Tuesday

Notes From The New Release Show

Two bands from last night's show I thought needed another mention:

Well, let’s get things kicked off with a new disc from John Ralston. John was forced into a solo career when his former band, Legends Of The Rodeo, met their demise because of a Label Split. John ended up with no contract, no label and no outlet for his music. His luck changed upon meeting a production engineer, Michael Seamen, and they began working together in Seaman’s Tennessee home studio. The end product is the album SORRY VAMPIRE. It’s a lush collection of finely penned tunes including the one I played last night, “I Guess I Wasted My Summer Now.”

Let’s keep things moving here with the first full-length release from the Dutch Band, Racoon. The CD is titled ANOTHER DAY and was released in Europe last year and they are searching for new life here in the states. They struck a distribution deal with the Red Eye label; they handle Paul Weller, and have a transatlantic tour scheduled with the Lemonheads starting this December. It’s a pleasant little album and has the Gin Blossoms written all over it, in a good way. I ended up playing the quasi-title track “Lose Another Day.”

See you next Tuesday - TK

U2 Surrender All at Red Rocks

Last night's awful Ravens game in Pittsburgh was matched equally only by the awful weather. It was pouring sheets of rain and fog shrouded Heinz Field. But, trying to look at the glass half full despite the pitiful outcome for my favorite football team, last night's weather coupled with a rabid crowd got me to thinking about my favorite live album of all time, UNDER A BLOOD RED SKY.

Fog and a cold rain enveloped Red Rocks Amphitheater on June 5, 1983, the day four Irish lads took the stage amidst lighted torches and an eager crowd, and blasted out one of the most passionate performances ever recorded in rock and roll history. In fact Rolling Stone named U2's Red Rock performance as one of the "50 Moments That Changed Rock and Roll."

Though, only two of the songs taped at Red Rocks actually made the album, the video of the show captured U2 at the cusp of being something way more than four guys banging on instruments. Plus, it gave us the Bono Mullet.

What's the scariest "song" of all time?

When I was a kid, my friend and I used to open up my bedroom window and crank The Beatles' "Revolution 9" on Halloween. Didn't need any typical haunted house music to frighten the trick or treaters and certainly the "Monster Mash" was best left for the dance floor.

No, the "tale" of the alleged death of Paul McCartney (most debunked urban legend of all time, but the Beatles had fun messing with us just the same- AND thanks to that, we have Death Cab For Cutie) from a car accident scared us out of our wits! My hair still stands up when I hear the train conductor from hell, emphatically announcing, "number nine, number nine, number nine." Of course, what he's really saying backwards is "turn me on dead man, turn me on dead man, turn me on dead man." I think the sound of ghoulish car horn and the fire are the worst parts for me.

I mean, any song that supposedly inspired Charles Manson has got to be THE scariest song of all time. So if you want a good Halloween scare, check out this video of reversed REVOLUTION NINE with subtitles. Be sure to turn out the lights!

Bob Dylan Sets a New DVD for Release

October 30th, it's a jam packed new music Tuesday, including the soundtrack to I'm Not There. Bobby D just announced that he'll be releasing The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963-1965 on that day as well.

Mr. Dylan was at Merriweather Post last month and put on a great performance, although I have to admit it was hard to get into him after a smoking warm up form Amos Lee and Elvis Costello. Dylan did however play a great rendition of Simple Twist of Fate, Blowin In The Wind and other Dylan Classics.

Can't wait til Tuesday? It's Mr. Tambourine Man Live from 1964, those were the days...

Mark Lanegan Revives Souls

Not probably since BITTERSWEET SYMPHONY by The Verve has a song come out that has the power to move in a spiritual, life-affirming way (or even to, perhaps, rev up a sports team) than REVIVAL by SOULSAVERS.

The UK duo of producer/remixers of Rich Machin and Ian Glover have put together movie scores and helped out bands like Starsailor put finishing touches on tunes.

But, on their second album, IT'S NOT HOW FAR YOU FALL, IT'S THE WAY YOU LAND, they enlist the help of Screaming Trees vocalist Mark Lanegan. He adds a powerful, weather-worn presence to a song that sounds like what would happen if you injected the Talking Head's ROAD TO NOWHERE, with a double drony dose of gospel and soul.

I haven't been able to stop thinking about this song for the past couple of weeks. See and hear why and then put this on your I-Pod, jog and see what kind of effect this song has on you!

Juliana Hatfield

Talked With My Friend Ann Last Night And We Were Talking Of The Show 120 Minutes.
She Brought Up Juliana Hatfield. So Here's Some Memories.



Jon & Juliana In 94

Grace Potter Live @ The 8x10

It's Our Cd Of the Month. "This Is Somewhere" Wtmd.Org For Details

Halloween...

It's right around the corner and dressing up is always cause for celebration, even if it happens to be as a monster rather than in a gown.

But why, you might ask, am I bringing this up in a music blog? Well, I was turned on to a new side project of Jackie Greene 's called Skinny Singers. It features the California singer-songwriter teaming up with Tim Bluhm of The Mother Hips. The collaboration is soulful and bluesy AND has incredible cover art!


I think Superhero costumes are a great idea for Halloween or any time! Hope it gets you in the mood and thinking about what to dress up as for the holiday.

And, while you're thinking, what's YOUR favorite Halloween inspired album cover?

Remember The Sweater?

With the crispness in the air, the reemergence of long sleeve clothes and football, my thoughts return to high school and things I just didn't get very well at the time. I go back to a song that had a pretty hip beat, some witty lyrics- and kind of a spacey, Laurie Anderson-like spoken word delivery. Mostly for me, though, Meryn Cadell's THE SWEATER helped me tap into what girls may have been thinking at the time, and that, gee, they too suffered angst and were mortified by things that went wrong when it came time to trying to impress the opposite sex. However, my confusion may have been confounded, once I learned "her" back story. Bongo Beat Records recently re-released the very excellent ANGEL FOOD FOR THOUGHT. Enjoy the flashback!

Attention Bruce and Arcade Fire Fans!

Bruce played in Ottawa last night and the crowd got a great surprise! Win Butler and Regine Chassagne jumped on stage for a couple of songs. Arcade Fire had just finished up a show in NYC the weekend before. Bruce often has a few special guests on his tours here and there so now, of course, it's time to speculate who might jump on stage at the Verizon Center Shows next month. Hmmmm....Do you think Al Gore can carry a tune all the way through Dancing in the Dark! :)

Bruce Stringsteen and Arcade Fire - State trooper
Uploaded by trendwhore

The Gentle Waves

Isobel Campbell's New Project (Belle & Sebastian Fame)

Oasis and Jamiroquai follow Radiohead's lead

By now I'm sure you've heard that you can purchase Radiohead's new album online for as much as you're willing to spend. Well Oasis and Jamiraquai just announced that they will be doing something very similar, providing the album for free digital download. Following these announcements page views skyrocketed on the websites. (What a great way to grab attention of the public)

If you're like me, you are wondering where am I going to pay more for getting this free music? Well the bands plan on making their money in concert tickets and other merchandise, afterall this is where bands make their loot these days.

Another issue brought up in this idea of free downloading is CD sales have plummeted and it's not that necessary for a band to be backed by a record label if they can produce their own cd, release it free on the internet then tour and make a lot of money doing so. Cut out the middle man. I'm starting to like this idea...more bands might jump on this trend, meaning we can enjoy music at home and on our iPods and all that good stuff and then go see them live knowing what we are supporting.

Let's see what happens, in the mean time enjoy this new video from Oasis, Lord Don't Slow Me Down