My Eyes Are Wide Open
Remembering John Lennon...
via Brandon Schott - today only
Remembering John Lennon...
via Brandon Schott - today only
Coldplay has released their new Christmas song called Christmas Lights.
Here's the video.
As November turns into December and we await the long winter chill, a little Brandon Schott goes a long way to provide some much needed warmth...
Brandon Schott on iTunes and Amazon MP3
Guster has found the spirit of Christmas and it is at Target! Guster would like you to share the spirit of Christmas at Target.com. Guster, Merry Christmas. Me gusta Guster.
MP3: Guster - Tiny Tree Christmas (via Target)
For those of you popsters who enjoy their daily dosage with a healthy splash of twang will be thrilled to hear the classic lineup of The Jayhawks are recording their first new album in 15 years!
"Our goal is to make the best Jayhawks album that's ever been done," Louris tells Rolling Stone. "Mark and I both feel that there is some business left undone and we got together and wrote some great songs."I enjoyed sporadic Jayhawks tunes when they were together but never fully appreciated their legacy until they were gone. Being who I am I'm particularly partial to the pure pop of the Olson-less Smile, but how fun for us to have the classic lineup return! Expect a release in spring or summer of '11. In the meantime, there are some great chances to see them live in January! And you can read more about the reunion thanks to Rolling Stone.
In honor of the recent release of The Beatles on iTunes, the insanely talented and criminally under-known Jeff Litman continued his Monday covers series with Two of Us. Stellar, Mr. Litman.
In other Litman news, you have a few chances to catch him live. Check out your opportunities here.
And of course, if you don't already have his Postscript album, download it here to rectify that shameful oversight. Don't thank me; thank Jeff.
Apple and The Beatles did indeed confirm the addition of The Beatles' catalog on iTunes today. You can get all the original albums and their accompanying documentary videos in addition to last year's box set, Past Masters, and the Red and Blue albums. Missing are releases such as Let It Be ... Naked, 1, etc. Those are for another day I'm sure. Most unique and available on the box set is Live at Washington Coliseum, 1964, the video of The Beatles' very first US performance.
The Beatles on iTunes
More
And they did. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that a deal has finally been reached to release Beatles music on iTunes after years of speculation. Apple is making an "exciting announcement" about iTunes tomorrow, teasing it as "just another day [t]hat you'll never forget."
This is huge. It opens up the music for the upcoming generations who can't quite understand what an LP is and might not be interested in old fogey music that isn't even available legitimately through on online retailer. The Beatles music shouldn't only be a soundtrack to a video game. It can shape the way you experience and fulfill your love of music as it did for me. Do you remember discovering The Beatles for yourself? I did it 25+ years ago and I've been enjoying sharing the discovery with my kids throughout their early years.
Tomorrow will be fun. And just in time for the holidays.
Former Oasis jester Liam Gallagher's new band Beady Eye has officially released it's first new tune and it's as retro as you'd expect. Bring the Light is available as a free download as of today. Use the widget below or go to their official site. More news from the new band coming soon.
Posted by 2poppy at 10:30 PM
0 commentsTags: compilation, davidgilmour, newrelease, pinkfloyd, sydbarrett, video
Guster has finally revealed the last video for Easy Wonderful. Guster has done well. Guster invites you to view all the videos here. Guster is coming to Des Moines 1/27 and elsewhere on other days. Me gusta Guster!
Do What You Want from Guster on Vimeo.
It's a rare treat when Dada hits the road these days, yet they seem to find time to get back together every year around New Year's Eve. This year? Chicago on the 30th, Philly on the 31st to bid adieu to 2010, and Boston on the 1st to welcome 2011. More here. I've seen them twice - granted back in their prime Puzzle days - and they are a must-see. They put on a hell of a show.
Mansfield University Radio, WNTE, recently had a Jellyfish special featuring their songs, but more importantly demos, live performances, solo projects, collaborations, and a few surprises!
A must listen for the Jellyfish Fans out there! Show is embedded below.
Shirley Manson has confirmed that Garbage is working on a new album. New album and a tour next year? Here's hoping they can capture some of the dark magic found in their earliest music.
The news comes a mere few days after it was announced Garbager Butch Vig is working again with the surviving members of Nirvana on a new Foo Fighters album that will be "totally old school analog." Totally rad.
Guster should know that Iowa has been enjoying one of the nicest Octobers weather-wise in recent memory. Guster should be here now. Guster, in their infinite wisdom, chose January to visit us in Iowa instead. Guster Guster Guster.
01/14/11 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
01/15/11 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
01/16/11 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
01/18/11 - Seattle, WA @ The Moore Theatre
01/19/11 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom
01/21/11 - San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
01/22/11 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Music Box
01/23/11 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
01/24/11 - Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
01/27/11 - Des Moines, IA @ Hoyt Sherman Theatre
01/28/11 - Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre
02/04/11 - Atlanta, GA @ The Tabernacle
02/05/11 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
-via
Guster's new album Easy Wonderful is quite wonderful, it's easy to say. Me gusta Guster.
Paul McCartney and Wings' epic Band on the Run is getting another reissue treatment. I think this album has been babied more than any other Beatles related album. It is great though and it's ready for pre-order. Check out a plethora of options here. Yeah, I said plethora. If you want to wait it hits "stores" on November 2.
Happy Birthday to Matthew Sweet. Without you, I highly doubt Too Poppy would be here. Hope you've had a great one.
If last Tuesday was Super Tuesday, yesterday certainly could be considered its faithful sidekick.
The stellar new album from Guster called Easy Wonderful was finally released. Guster was quite generous in previewing many of the tunes via downloads, videos, and streams, yet it's great to finally hear it all put together. After one full listen, I'll go out on a limb and say I think it's their best since Lost and Gone Forever - or at a minimum it's their Too Poppiest!
iTunes / Amazon.com MP3
The superdupergroup of Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper, and Dhani Harrison - collectively known as Fistful of Mercy - dropped their new full-length As I Call You Down yesterday as well. The iTunes reviewers are expressing widely divergent views on the album. Check it out for yourself.
iTunes / Amazon.com MP3
Finally, most of John Lennon's catalog has been remastered and rereleased to commemorate what would have been his 70th birthday on October 9. There's never been a better time to fully explore the genius of solo Lennon. Check out the new compilation Power to the People, the questionable "Stripped Down" version of Double Fantasy, and the Signature Box, a new box set featuring the vast majority of his music.
iTunes / Amazon.com MP3
Posted by 2poppy at 10:53 PM
0 commentsTags: boxset, compilation, fistfulofmercy, guster, lennon, newrelease, rerelease
Posted by 2poppy at 10:30 PM
1 commentsTags: benfolds, clapton, ginblossoms, peteyorn, review, theposies, young
Okay, so I've been sitting on this one for quite a while now, late June to be specific. I've certainly been Distracted.
Seth Swirsky's Watercolor Day is a wonderful album. It has everything you hope and expect from a true power pop outing. If you read this blog, you'll love this album, and that's a Way2Poppy Guarantee™. Lots of great guitars, harmonies, pianos, trumpets and even a clarinet or two.
Standout tracks include the ambitious Movie Set, title track Watercolor Day, and delicious I'm Just Saying, to name just a few. I highly recommend the full album purchase.
I'm definitely will be checking out his other outings, Instant Pleasure and She's About To Cross My Mind (as part of the pop duo The Red Button).
iTunes
Amazon (New School)
Web
HisSpace
Facebook
Bleu's new rocker Singin' in Tongues is available as a free download. It's from his upcoming Kickstarter-funded album Four out October 25.
Go to NME.com for the download and 9 others, including a cover of Macca's Ram On by The Morning Benders!
MP3: Bleu - Singin' in Tongues
MP3: The Morning Benders - Ram On (Paul McCartney cover)
...via
R.E.M.'s new album is done. It was recorded in the same studio as Achtung Baby and Heroes. Way to play down expectations.
Out next spring.
Another new song from Guster. Sweet.
Also, download Bad Bad World for free! If you're feeling creative, make a music video for it and send it to the boys to win a merch pack.
Guster shared the first video from their upcoming album, Easy Wonderful, this evening. The nicely done video for Stay With Me Jesus is below. Their new album comes out in just 4 short weeks (pictured to the right). You can pre-order it today! The boys have put together all sorts of interesting packages.
It appears The Charlatans have a bit of an alternative radio hit on their hands. Love is Ending has debuted at number one on some alt charts a couple weeks in advance of the new full-length Who We Touch out September 14. It's the biggest, loudest song we've heard from The Charlatans in a while - a nice feat 20 years after their debut album Some Friendly was released. I'm geeked.
Album and tour details
iTunes
The Wilderness Downtown - an extraordinary new interactive video by Arcade Fire set to their tune We Used to Wait. It's extraordinary on several different levels. It uses the power of HTML5, Google Chrome, and Google Maps to deliver a visual experience unlike any other yet experienced in the post-Music Television world. It's gimmicky, but it's not a gimmick. Thematically the "video" fits the song and really the entire Arcade Fire album The Suburbs. Fantastic.
Close your other programs and open Chrome if you're not already using it (Firefox would likely work too). MTV be damned!
It seems appropriate on a day I wear my Dr. Martens I would happen to come across a video and MP3 of The Raveonettes covering The Stone Roses' I Wanna Be Adored. This very faithful cover version is in honor of the iconic footwear maker's 50th Anniversary. Enjoy.
MP3: The Raveonettes - I Wanna Be Adored (Stone Roses' cover, via Dr. Martens)
I never set out for Too Poppy to be a music review blog, but when something trips my trigger I feel the urge to share it. Here are just two I've neglected sharing for too long now with more coming soon!
Fistful of Mercy is Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper & Dhani Harrison. Wow, what an embarrassing wealth of talent wrapped into one entity.
Fistful of Mercy from Fistful of Mercy on Vimeo.
Still can't get over how much Dhani looks like his pop.
Developing...
Official Site
Facebook
TheirSpace
Twitter
8/27 UPDATE via Rolling Stone
The Posies are touring with Brendan Benson in what is most certainly a match made in Too Poppy heaven!
Nov 5 Fri. Turner Hall Ballroom Milwaukee, WI
Nov 6 Sat. Bottom Lounge Chicago, IL
Nov 7, Sun Southgate House Newport, KY
Nov 9 Tues. The Majestic Theatre Detroit, MI
Nov 10 Wed. Outland Live Columbus, OH
Nov 11 Thu. Mr. Small's Theatre Millvale, PA
Nov 12 Fri. Water Street Music Hall Rochester, NY
Nov 13 Sat. The Highline Ballroom New York, NY
Nov 14 Sun. The Trocadero Theater Philadelphia, PA
Nov 16 Tues. Royale Boston, MA
Nov 17 Wed. 9:30 Club Washington, DC
Nov 18 Thu. Cat's Cradle Carrboro, NC
Nov 19 Fri. Exit/In Nashville, TN
Nov 20 Sat The Loft Atlanta, GA
Nov 21 Sun. Minglewood Hall Memphis, TN
Nov 24 Wed. Granada Theater Dallas, TX (No Brendan Benson)
Nov 26 Fri. La Zona Rosa Austin, TX
Nov 27 Sat. The Argentum Houston, TX
Dec 1 Wed. Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
Dec 3 Fri. Club Nokia @ LA Live Los Angeles, CA
Dec 5 Sun. The Independent San Francisco, CA
Dec 8 Wed. Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
Dec 11 Sat. Showbox at the Market Seattle, WA
via Brooklyn Vegan
Check out a new U2 song called Every Breaking Wave performed live in Helsinki a couple nights ago. The new album Songs of Ascent is somewhat of a companion album to No Line on the Horizon. It's still unclear when it'll be released.
Rolling Stone reports U2 is also working on a "rock album" and a "club-sounding" album in addition to Songs of Ascent and some Spider-Man musical nonsense.
U2 also announced today U2:DUALS, a collection of collaborations exclusive to subscribers to U2.com. Give 'em credit, they seem to deliver on the paid subscription for hard-core fans.
File under NOT SURPRISING:
Apple Corps Ltd. and EMI Music are pleased to announce that The Beatles’ original 1973 compilations, 1962-1966 (‘Red’) and 1967-1970 (‘Blue’) have been digitally remastered for worldwide CD release on October 18 (October 19 in North America). Both 2CD packages include expanded booklets with original liner notes, newly written essays by Bill Flanagan, and rare photos.So there you go. Completists are already wetting themselves at the opportunity to shell out more bucks to Apple Corps and EMI. No word on digital versions, but don't hold your breath.
This special deluxe edition of Lonely Avenue includes the album on CD, four short stories by Nick Hornby, and 15 images by acclaimed photographer Joel Meyerowitz, all in a hardbound, 152-page book. Orders include downloads of the album as high-quality, 320-kbps MP3s starting release day. Pre-orders include an exclusive, limited-edition Folds/Hornby-penned manuscript score from the album track "Picture Window," a number of which will be signed by Ben and Nick.Check out the preview video below. I'm liking what I'm hearing!
One of the greatest joys in life is "discovering" a band no matter how old or new. Do you remember the first time you heard The Beatles? How about Jellyfish? Two defining bands in my life and I remember vividly those first few moments of discovery.
The A.V. Club's Better Late Than Never? column documents such discoveries that arguably should have come much sooner in life. The latest is Big Star, a band I didn't discover until college when I realized virtually every band I loved called Big Star a primary musical influence. This author was turned on to them for tragic reasons, but gives us a glimpse into what it's like to discover.
I've listened to a lot of music through the years so discoveries of past greats are becoming rare. Thankfully my son is ripe for learning the ways of Too Poppy so I can live vicariously through his ears. Nothing is more amazing than seeing your 7-year-old's eyes light up while listening to the music you love on his iPod! I'm not sure he's up for Big Star quite yet, but he'll get there!
Man, talk about the dog days of summer. My absence from Too Poppy has less to do with being out of town for nearly a week and much more to do with generally being uninspired to write about anything - until now anyway.
Weezer releases their new album Hurley on September 14. Haven't heard much about it until now...
Hurley will focus on the melodies and major chords of traditional '60s pop. In addition to the planned first single "Memories," other new tracks include "Ruling Me" and "Hang On," another pop-rock track that "sounds like Frankie Valli but mixed with Metallica guitars."Love the sound of all that. Love the old Weezer and the occasional new flash of brilliance, but this has Too Poppy potential all over it!
"Licenses to Hide" is emblematic of the new album's adventurous attitude, with a dizzying amalgamation of parts, not unlike a piece of musical theater. After opening with a somber, piano-led musing, where Stringfellow delivers a line about "feeling so old" backed by the Posies' trademark, chill-inducing harmonies (with an assist from Broken Social Scene's Lisa Lobsinger), the track veers into both '70s arena rock (think Styx, in a very complimentary way) and a Billy Joel-like, storyteller-style chorus.Hmm, Styx? Billy Joel? How about Jellyfish?! Seems to have a totally different sound than what you'd expect from The Posies, but really, it's not that far off. Now I'm very excited about Blood/Candy - out September 28.
The Posies' Ken Stringfellow has heard R.E.M.'s new album and calls it "very old school."
"It had a very live feel. It's really quite beautiful, some of the recordings were a little bit dark and had just the kind of murk that you would hear on an old REM record. I thought that was a great thing to bring back." via NMEAccelerate seemed to be somewhat of a throwback as well but it just never stuck. We'll see about the new one!
The Seattle powerpop veterans' seventh album, which is due out on September 27 [UK], saw the band collaborating with a host of guest stars via email for the first time in their 23-year career.Previously...
Pete Yorn's new self-titled album comes out September 28. Download a Petty-esque freebie from it called Precious Stone. All you need to do is tweet it! No Twitter for you? Stream it via SoundCloud below.
Pete Yorn by Oedipus
MP3: Pete Yorn - Precious Stone