Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Chris Cornell - Live @ The Fenix - Seattle, WA (05/08/07)

This was the MSN concert broadcasted a while ago. Here's THE COMPLETE SET including what I'd call "The Best of" of his career. You'll hear classics from Temple of the Dog (Say Hello to Heaven and Hunger Strike), Soundgarden (Outshined, Jesus Christ Pose, Spoonman and so many others), Audioslave - not included in the webcast (Conchise, Like a Stone) plus several songs of his solo career (including a live version of Seasons!).

For us fans, a delightful gift brought you by Chris Cornell Nation website.

+ Check it out (It requires pre-registration, totally worth it!).

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Cary Brothers - Who You Are (2007)

A college mate of Zach Braff (indie film director, and star of comedy series, Scrubs), Brothers’ career got a leg-up when one of his songs (Blue Eyes) was used in the show and onto the Grammy-winning soundtrack to Braff’s movie, Garden State.
Who You Are
is an impressive debut. There are moments when his self-confessed Brit-pop affections jar with the LA sun-soaked melancholy permeating his more mature material. “Who You Are” for example borrows Snow Patrol’s chugging introspection. Give it some play time and pretty soon you'll be singing "it's my jealousy/creepin' up on me" over and over… and over again.
Rate: A+
+ Jealousy
+ Ride
+
Who You Are
+ Loneliest Girl in the World

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Jeff Martin's Kingdom



Well, since I haven't blogged anything here for awhile, I figured I'd make two entries today. Another artist that I don't think has had a fair shake in America is Jeff Martin, or his previous band, the Tea Party. They put out 7 very good CDs off their label and 1 previous to being signed. The unfortunate turn of events that led to the band's demise will, I'm sure, never be fully realized because I'm sure all three of them have varying stories as to why exactly it happened. The main reason seems to be that Jeff wanted to get back to the roots of what his music (and, ultimately, the Tea Party's music) was all about. His first outing as a solo artist brings us Exile and the Kingdom, a sweet blend of his Rock-meets-World music stylings of the Tea Party with the acoustic leanings that he has expressed in interest in as of late. With the first song on the disc being the orchestral 'The World is Calling', one might be questioning whether it was a departure from the Tea Party's music Jeff needed or just a departure from his bandmates, as this stands up with the best of what the Tea Party offered (and feels like a continuation from their 4th CD, Triptych). Indeed, even the bluesy 'Black Snake Blues' feels like a throwback to their 2nd disc, Edges of Twilight. But anyone who's heard Jeff in interviews will know that's what he was going for in the first place. The songwriting on the rest of the disc is very fresh -- a logical growth between their rock opus, Seven Circles, and this record. The fact that it's a great mix of electric and acoustic numbers and the fact that Michael Lee (of Page and Plant fame) is on drums makes this CD even better.

Martin talks about the next CD being completely acoustic, but he said that about this one as well. The good thing about Jeff is that he's constantly evolving and that will always be his greatest strength. It will also be why he will remain at the forefront of iconic musicians of this age.

Queensryche - the Forgotten Genius


One thing I've noticed with a lot of my musician contemporaries is that most of them are afraid of change (which, to me, says 'oxymoron' about a musician); they don't step out of their protective and secure boxes to attempt anything that's outside of their realm of influences.
You see this of a good deal of music fans as well, unfortunately. I recently read a blog about Queensryche singer Geoff Tate and how QR's new CD (their follow-up to Operation: Mindcrime II, shown at right) will be 'a big surprise' to QR fans and that they would be touching on new areas of music writing. The fans were noticeably, for the most part, disturbed by this. In fact, the major debate for this particular set of QR fans was when they started to go downhill. Was it Empire? Promised Land? Hear in the Now Frontier? Q2K? None of them could decide. Very few of the fans actually acknowledged that they listened to the CDs that QR's been putting out since HITNF. A shame, really. Queensryche was always a band I felt akin to, musically. Not because I write in their vein of music (if you could even hold it within a catagory), but because they are CONSTANTLY trying to grow as musicians between releases. Even with OMC II, the sounds on the CD may have linked with the first CD (which, if you're a musician worth your salt and trying to produce an audio sequel, you need to accomplish for continuity purposes at least!), but their growth as musicians is apparant in every song on the disc. A lot may argue that OMC II isn't as good as the original (movies and music alike, I would assume, fall into the sequel syndrome of being compared instead of taken as a separate entity), but I say the CD, sitting on it's own, is just as great an achievement as any of their greatest work.
I, personally, am looking forward to a new QR CD. Actually, writing this has given me the ambition to complete my QR catalog. Oh, and if you are a fan and don't have the updated CDs with the extra tracks and the updated sound quality, I highly recommend them.
Cheers,
Luke

Friday, August 17, 2007

So Real: Songs From Jeff Buckley (2007)

Buckley was never interested in selling out or shooting to the top of the charts, and that’s part of why his music seems so raw, so real, so untainted by corporate bigwigs with dollar signs in their eyes. He was a visionary, and through posthumous releases like So Real and whatever comes next, his voice remains a gift that keeps on giving. This compilation ncludes two rarities, 'So Real' (Live and Acoustic in Japan - non album version/ promo single) and 'I Know it's Over' . (Previously Unreleased - Smiths cover from a session at Sony Studios that was edited for broadcast on WNEW on April 6, 1995. It was not included on the radio broadcast.) Other highlights include 'Last Goodbye', 'Forget Her', 'Everybody Here Wants You' and more.
+ Dream Brother (alternative take)
+ I Know it's Over (which resambles a lot of Hallelujah!)

++ Look here previous posts on Jeff Buckley

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Jeremy Enigk - New single and CD!

This guy never stops! Jeremy Enigk returns with the quick follow-up to last year's highly acclaimed World Waits with The Missing Link (to be released August 21st), which features brand new material along with acoustic versions from World Waits. The first single, John, is available for free download at the Insound website.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Radiohead - Live in Seine Festival (France) - 26-Aug-2006

This one was probably the last concert for their tour before the long-waited upcoming unknown release date/name album. Thom Yorke's band did not disappoint. Great performance!
SETLIST
01 Intro
02 Airbag
03 2+2=5

04 The National Anthem
05 My Iron Lung
06 Morning Bell
07 Fake Plastic Trees
08 Videotape
09 Nude
10 The Gloaming
11 Paranoid Android
12 All I Need
13 Pyramid Song
14 Lucky
15 The Bends
16 I Might Be Wrong
17 Idioteque
18 Everything In It's Right Place
Encore:
19 You And Whose Army?

20 Bodysnatchers
21 There There
22 Karma Police
+ Download the complete set here! (Link fixed)

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Eddie Vedder - Early Demos (1998)

This tape was sent by Eddie to the guy who lived downstairs from he and Beth (long time girlfriend and ex-wife) in San Diego when he moved to Seattle. A collective group of fans, purchased this from Eddie's neighbor/friend.

Tracklist
01 - One Step Up (Bruce Springsteen's cover)
02 - Crossroads
03 - Believe You Me
04 - Reggae Woman
Date: Summer 1988
Sound: A+
+ Link 1
+ Link 2

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

The Cinematics - A Strange Education (2007)

Formed in Glasgow not so long ago, the group has enjoyed critical praise and this debut album Strange Education, is a long-awaited affair for new fans who first saw them support the likes of The Editors. Powered by tight grooves that demand movement and passionate, powerful and thoughtful vocals, the Cinematics also bring emotion and warmth. The end result is music that transcends any trends or underground niche. Of particular note is the ripping cold-war guitar solo on “Keep Forgetting” – reminiscent of The Edge’s Unforgettable Fire-era work… more of this will earn The Cinematics some respect, if not Top 40 status.
Grade: A-
+ Race to the City

Saturday, August 04, 2007

Interpol - Our Love to Admire (2007)

Give New York-based post-punk outfit Interpol credit, then, for consistently living up to expectations. Though recorded for the first time with an outside producer - Rich Costey, the man who ramped-up Muse's space-rock aspirations on 'Black Holes & Revelations' - 'Our Love To Admire' is not exactly a departure. Instead, the band's third album plunges straight back into a world of brooding nighthawks, seedy streets and dark corners lit by violent neon blasts.
Fantastic and delicious!
Grade: A-
+ No I In Threesome
+ The Heinreich Maneuver
+ Who Do You Think