Sunday, September 30, 2007

When I Feel That Something


The soundtrack to the major motion picture Across The Universe was released a week or so ago and it's great. I haven't seen the picture yet, but I will soon. But the soundtrack is amazing. Raw, emotional and true. Actors Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood feature mostly throughout the soundrack and they're amazing. There are some amazing interpretations of the Beatles' tunes, one of which is Eddie Izzard's For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite. Quite entertaining. My only disappointment was Bono's versions of I Am The Walrus and Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds. Not only do they not quite fit with the rest of the album, but you can actually hear his ego drowning out the song. Regardless, I can't wait to see the movie.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

So It Seems

Liam FinnStereogum is providing the cool kids a choice download of Second Chance by Liam Finn in their "Band to Watch" feature. I've been watching since July and anxiously awaiting the January release of I'll Be Lightning. Go below for the download, you not-as-cool kids.

Hisspace

MP3: Liam Finn - Second Chance (scroll down - via stereogum)

It's All Over Town

Cool news! Martin Scorsese is directing a George Harrison documentary!

"Harrison's music and his search for spiritual meaning is a story that still resonates today and I'm looking forward to delving deeper," Scorsese said in a statement.
No word on a release date.

Monday, September 24, 2007

Songs of Love

We walked up to the Vaudeville Mews entrance only to be stopped by a couple well-meaning fans encouraging us to see a great artist there that night. Wisely. Yeah, we know. So we walk in, pay the $5 cover, order a beer, and settle in with all 3 other people. Yep, roughly 5 people in Des Moines came out to see Wisely at an early Friday night show. Sure, I can come up with a lot of excuses (Oktoberfest, early show, Des Moines radio sucks, what do you expect from the town that gave the world Slipknot, etc.), but I was disappointed. That feeling wouldn't last long.

Seconds later, we were informed the show was pushed back to 9:45. Refund, right? Yeah, not so much. Nonetheless, the bartender encouraged Willie to play a few tunes for us - and shockingly, he did. Class act. We got to sit back and enjoy 5 or 6 great Wisely tunes (I forgot - I was a bit excited). It was as personal a concert I have ever and will likely ever experience, and it was unforgettable. It was a truly interactive experience as Willie asked for requests. He was about to finish with my new favorite tune Through Any Window before Mrs. 2poppy made some wiseass remark about my geek-crush on Jenna Fischer. Willie had lost the desire to do the tune. Dammit.

We come back a few hours later to see the rescheduled show. Yep, another $5. Really, Mews, really? But it's only $5 and it is Wisely, so be it. The crowd has engorged to about a dozen or so, not counting the night's next band moving in all their equipment right in front of the stage. We were rewarded with about an hour of excellent Wisely tunes until the Mews basically forced him offstage to make way for that other band. He sounds as good live as you'd expect. And we got Through Any Window.

Thanks, Willie. I've seen so many concerts that I've lost count (not that I ever kept count). Yours was truly a unique experience and one that renewed my passion for music in ways I never expected. Plus Mrs. 2poppy now has a crush - and keep in mind she picks her music crushes quite carefully.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Peaceful Quiet You Create For Me

Dan Wilson Free Life EPAs previously reported, Dan Wilson (of Semisonic, Trip Shakespeare) has a solo album coming out October 16 called Free Life. To get you juiced, he's released the Free Life EP via iTunes complete with three tunes: Cry, Easy Silence (previously available Dixie Chicks-style on their album), and All Kinds. It's emotional, sentimental, mellow, adult, singer-songwritery stuff so be prepared. It's also quite good.

Free Life tracklist:

1. All Kinds
2. Free Life

3. Breathless

4. Baby Doll

5. Come Home Angel

6. Sugar

7. Cry

8. Golden Girl

9. Against History

10. Honey Please

11. She Can’t Help Me

12. Hand On My Heart

13. Easy Silence


Why did DW add this song to the album? "Of all the songs the Chicks and I wrote together," he said, "'Easy Silence' felt the most universal to me and also seemed like the one that I related to most personally. I thought it would be interesting to hear what the song would sound like from a man's perspective. Plus, I wanted an excuse to play more slide guitar on the album."

Monday, September 17, 2007

C'mon Baby Leave Some Change Behind


Yawn. One of my favorite 90's band, Live, releases a 10-track "rarities and two new songs" album. Yawn.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

I'm On My Way to a Mystery Unraveled

The Disciplines Best MistakeKen Stringfellow - he of Posies fame and regular R.E.M. live keyboardist - has a new project called the Disciplines with some Norwegian guy. Forgive me. It's my first exposure. It's basically Stringfellow getting garagey and it's worth a listen. New UK vinyl out for Best Mistake. They're currently touring, uh, Norwegia.

Check out the tunes at theirspace.

You'll Never Know How Hard I Tried

Rogue Wave Asleep At Heaven's GateJust picked up the new Rogue Wave, Asleep at Heaven's Gate. After the first listen, I can definitively say it's pleasant. I can't say anything more at this time. Give me time, geez.

Ok fine, I feel your pressure. One more thing, Chicago X 12 is the standout so far. So is Lake Michigan. Must be biased toward songs related to my hometown.

Previously...

I'll Run Away With You

That didn't take long. The Cure have rescheduled their tour. No Iowa, but KC is pretty close and worth the trip for a legendary band. The new album, probably a double-disc, will be out around the same time as the tour.

May 9: Fairfax, Va. (Patriot Center)
May 10: Philadelphia (Wachovia Spectrum)
May 12: Boston (Agganis Arena)
May 14: Montreal (Bell Centre)
May 15: Toronto (Air Canada Centre)
May 17: Chicago (Allstate Arena)
May 19: Kansas City, Mo. (Starlight Theatre)
May 21: Morrison, Colo. (Red Rocks)
May 23: Salt Lake City (E Center)
May 25: George, Wash. (Sasquatch! Music Festival)
May 26: Vancouver (GM Place)
May 29: Santa Barbara, Calif. (Santa Barbara Bowl)
May 31: Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl)
June 1: San Diego (Cox Arena)
June 4: Phoenix (Dodge Theatre)
June 6: Dallas (American Airlines Center)
June 8: Austin (Austin Music Hall)
June 9: Houston (Toyota Center)
June 11: Tampa, Fla. (St. Pete Times Forum)
June 13: Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. (Bank Atlantic Center)
June 15: Atlanta (Gwinnett Center)
June 16: Charlotte, N.C. (Bobcats Arena)
June 18: Cleveland (TBA)
June 20: New York (Madison Square Garden)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

It Means Nothing

The Stereophonics are releasing a new album on October 9 called Pull the Pin. It will likely have one or two killer tunes, many good tunes, and a few so-so tunes if they're going to stay consistent with past releases. Let's hope for lots of tunes as good as Have a Nice Day, Maybe Tomorrow, Dakota, and A Thousand Trees.

Theirspace
Video for It Means Nothing:

This Isn't Happening

Death Cab for Cutie is working on a new album. Where is Postal Service's second album?

Coldplay is working on a new album. Dear god, please don't fix me.

Radiohead took a dump wow, no, it's real news this time - Radiohead is finished with their new album!

Curtain Opens, Spotlights The Gentleman


Sensory Lullabies, the 35-track, 35-band, 5-country 2-CD Jellyfish tribute album is now available from Not Lame. If you've not heard some samples from the space page, head over there now as well as over to Not Lame to hear some more and purchase.

Can I Take You to the Show?

And so it is ... Led Zeppelin reunite for a one-off show in London on November 26. It's a tribute show for their former Atlantic Records boss. More on that here. Most shockingly, though, is the lack of attention Foreigner is getting for also performing at the upcoming show. C'mon! Where's the love?

Saturday, September 08, 2007

Beatnik Beatch

Beatnik BeatchIt's been a collector's item for Jellyfish nuts for over a decade. Noble Rot Records will change that on October 9 when they re-release Beatnik Beatch, the band's self-title major label debut.

Read more and hear more about Beatnik Beatch at theirspace. In short, Beatnik Beatch is to Jellyfish as The Quarrymen is to The Beatles.

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Call me tonight, and I'll come to you

In his USA Today interview, Steve Jobs says the Beatles are coming:

"We'd love to have the Beatles. It will happen — I hope by the first half of next year. As soon as they're ready, we're ready," Jobs said.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

The World Is Treating Me Bad, Misery

No Beatles-on-iTunes announcement today. No special edition Beatles iPod announcement today. Instead, we get a fat iPod nano and an overpriced, understoraged iPod touch. The future is not today.

No thanks.

Tuesday, September 04, 2007

I Do Appreciate You Being 'Round

The Beatles Help! DVDHelp! is finally seeing the light of day again on DVD October 30, The Beatles just announced today.

The story follows The Beatles as they become passive recipients of an outside plot that revolves around Ringo's possession of a sacrificial ring, which he cannot remove from his finger.
Right, the story. Yeah, that's important. Better yet:
In addition to starring the Beatles, 'Help!' has a witty script, a great cast of British character actors and features 7 classic Beatles tracks, including:
*'Help!'

*'You're Going To Lose That Girl'

*'You've Got To Hide Your Love Away'

*'Ticket To Ride'

*'I Need You'

*'The Night Before'

*'Another Girl'
It is naturally digitally restored and comes with plenty of extras:
*The Beatles in Help! – 30 minute documentary about the making of the film with Richard Lester, the cast and crew. Includes exclusive behind the scenes footage of The Beatles on set.
*A Missing Scene – Featuring Wendy Richard

*The Restoration of Help! – An in depth look at the restoration process.

*Memories of Help! – The cast and crew reminisce

*Theatrical Trailers – 2 US trailers and 1 Spanish trailer.

*1965 US Radio Spots - Hidden in disc menus.

*There will be 2 editions of the DVD - a standard digipack and a deluxe boxed set that will contain a reproduction of Richard Lester's original annotated script, 8 lobby cards and a poster, plus a 60-page book with rarely seen photographs and production notes from the movie.
Both the deluxe book and the standard booklet feature an introduction by Richard Lester and an appreciation by Martin Scorsese.
Very, very nice. Watch a trailer for the release here. Any other announcements today tomorrow?

Monday, September 03, 2007

A Toot and a Snore

The rare Lennon and McCartney reunion album recorded in '74? Check it out for yourself and don't expect the White Album or anything.