The Current Music Blog: August 30, 2007 Archive

The Stream 08/30/07

Posted at 8:30 AM on August 30, 2007 by Barb Abney (1 Comments)

Hilly Kristal, the founder of CBGB's died yesterday.

Sigur Ros to release CD/DVD set on November 6th.

Bo Diddley is recovering from his recent heart attack.

Amy Winehouse cancels scheduled appearace at MTV's Video Music Awards show.

Belle and Sebastian are looking for gals to record with.

Today In Music History:
1935 - John Phillips (The Mamas and the Papas) was born.
1939 - John Peel (BBC radio DJ) was born.
1961 - Keith McKenzie (The Shamen) was born.
1963 - Paul Oakenfold was born.
1969 - "In The Year 2525" by Zager and Evans was at #1.
1988 - Bruce Springsteen's wife Julianne filed for a divorce after seeing newspaper photos of Springsteen and Patti Scialfa together.
1988 - Papa Dee Allen (War) died from a massive heart attack while on stage.
1989 - Billy Joel fired and later sued his manager/former brother in-law after an audit revealed mis-handling of nearly $90 million.
1995 - Sterling Morrison (Velvet Underground) died of cancer
2003 - Sam Phillips (founder of Sun Records) died.

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Live On Air Blogging 08/30/07

Posted at 9:01 AM on August 30, 2007 by Barb Abney

11:40 a.m. Aesop Rock
None Shall Pass is in stores now. He'll be playing First Avenue on September 16th.
Tour dates and news here.

11:10 a.m. Feist
If you missed her performance on Letterman along with members of Broken Social Scene, The National, everybody in Grizzly Bear and Mates of State and Carl "A.C." Newman of the New Pornographers.. watch the performance here.

10:50 a.m. Hot Hot Heat
Happiness Ltd. will be in stores on Sept.11th.
They're playing The Fineline on October 3rd along with Bedouin Soundclash and De Novo Dahl.
More HHH.

10:30 a.m. Ryan Adams
He's coming back to town on September 27th.
He dropped by for an in-studio interview the last time he was in town.

10:10 a.m. Song Of The Day Info - Liars
Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're featuring Liars with the tune "Freak Out" from their self-titled album which is in stores now. They'll be opening for Interpol at The State Theater on October 12th.
More Liars info.

10:00 a.m. Ween
On October 23rd the band will release La Cucaracha, their first release in 4 years.

9:50 a.m. Bruce Springsteen
He'll be releasing a new album in October.
He'll be playing Xcel Energy Center on November 2nd.

9:30 a.m. Shout Out Louds
They'll be releasing Our Ill Wills next month. Pre-order it here.
They'll be playing at The Fineline on October 18th.

9:00 a.m. Amy Milan
Her band, Stars will be releasing In Our Bedroom After The War on September 25th.
They will be playing Pantages Theater on November 3rd.
Pre-sale info here.

"My 3 Songs" for Thursday

Posted at 1:39 PM on August 30, 2007 by Steve Seel (1 Comments)

Jenn Harris of Coon Rapids reports that "these three bands at Lollapalooza sounded as good or better than their CDs. It was amazing to see such talent." (She adds, "P.S. Worst of the weekend, hands down: Amy Winehouse!")

1) Modest Mouse, "Fire It Up"
2) Yeah Yeah Yeahs, "Cheated Hearts"
3) Muse, "Starlight"

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The Sandinista! Project - Side 1

Posted at 6:06 PM on August 30, 2007 by Mac Wilson (4 Comments)

While the Current is broadcasting from the Minnesota State Fair, they've called me in to operate the boards back at the studio (it's nice that they were able to find something for the overnighter to do). I have about a half-hour drive to work each day, so I've decided to take on a project for the remainder of this week. In the car for each of these commutes, I'm going to listen to one "side" of the Clash's epic 1980 triple album Sandinista!. It's always been a bit too sprawling for me to enjoy in a single sitting, so why not break it up into digestive portions? Mark Wheat has also challenged me to do what pundits have been trying to do for 27 years: condense the best of the 36 tracks into a single (not double, not triple) album. So let's get crackin'!

"The Magnificent Seven" -- What a way to kick things off! I’m always amazed at the sheer number of words Joe Strummer is able to cram into the song…and there’s still 35 songs to go.
"Hitsville U.K." -- One of the general ideas of the album was apparently for the band to try their hand at whatever genres they hadn’t tackled yet. This is their crack at soul. The band deserves credit for elevating the song above 'failure' status, and the song actually winds up being a pretty good emulation of the Supremes, et al. Although the lyrics are a unique slant on music industry cynicism, I still feel the song doesn’t quite have the gravity for it to be a classic.
"Junco Partner" -- Not terrible, but the Clash seemed more ambitous with Junior Murvin’s “Police & Thieves”. This one feels a tad phoned-in.
"Ivan Meets G.I. Joe" -- When I was 20, I thought the lyrical distillation of the Cold War into a Studio 54 dance-off made for a brilliant song. Now, I look back and realize that while the concept is cool, the chorus is underwhelming and a bit of a letdown. I think the band perfected what they were trying to get at here with “Rock the Casbah” two years later.
"The Leader" -- Pleasant little rockabilly number. I think it tends to get swallowed up among the weightier material, much the same way “Koka Kola” did on London Calling. The lyrics about a government scandal (Larry Craig, anyone?) are a riot.
"Something About England" -- In which Mick Jones meets a (phantom?) wino (played by Strummer) who reminds the young bloke that there is a long legacy of British unrest, and not everything can be blamed on the immigrants and the youth. Great, prescient stuff, driven by a “Death or Glory”esque beat.

Check in later tonight, when I take on Side 2!

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