The Current Music Blog: December 7, 2007 Archive

Reading is fun

Posted at 1:05 AM on December 7, 2007 by Jill Riley (3 Comments)

I've decided to start reading again. I gave it up for a couple years after college, but old habits are hard to kick.

Can you recommend some stuff for me? I like music biographies. I feel like I should start with The Heroin Diaries by Nikki Sixx...

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The Stream 12/07/07

Posted at 9:01 AM on December 7, 2007 by Barb Abney

And The Grammy Nominations are...

Led Zeppelin talk about reunion.

Stephen Malkmus (Pavement) and The Jicks to release Real Emotional Trash in March.

Today In Music History:
1942 - Harry Chapin was born.
1949 - Tom Waits was born.
1958 - Tim Butler (Psychedelic Furs) was born.
1964 - Brian Wilson (Beach Boys) married Marilyn Rovell.
1967 - Otis Redding began recording "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay."
1973 - Damien Rice was born.
2003 - "Hey Ya" from Outkast was the #1 tune.

Live Blogging 12/07/07

Posted at 9:19 AM on December 7, 2007 by Barb Abney

11:30 a.m. Ben Lee
His sixth solo album, Ripe is available now.
He did an in-studio with us a couple of months ago.
He'll be joining Aimee Mann's traveling Holiday show next week.
More dates and info..

11:10 Band Of Horses
There are some great live photos of the band here..

10:30 a.m. Imperial Teen
In case you haven't already listened to it,check out their in-studio performance.
Will's band Hey Willpower to release their album stateside next month.
More..

10:10 a.m. Song Of The Day Info - Local Music - Blind Shake
Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're featuring Blind Shake with the tune "Midnight Scream" from their Carmel CD. Hear from Blind Shake again this Sunday night on The Local Show with Chris Roberts.
More info here and/or here.

9:55 a.m. The Breeders
Earlier this week it was announced that they'll be releasing a new album in April.

9:40 a.m. Oasis
You can see what their studio looks like here.
Anything else you've ever wanted to know about Oasis, you'll find here.

9:20 a.m. Local Music - Glorious Monster
Catch the release show for their In The Movies Remix EP tomorrow night at The Nomad.
More....

Do the Shuffle

Posted at 12:02 PM on December 7, 2007 by Tony Lopez

Shuffler don't fail me now! Happy Hannukah!

"Snakes in the Grass," The Essex Green
A little neo-psychedelia from the Brooklyn outfit's third album, Cannibal Sea (2006). Sasha Bell takes the reins on this one.

"My Lady Story," Antony & the Johnsons
It only makes sense: Nina Simone last week, Antony right on her heels. This is a song from the gorgeous I Am a Bird Now, which won the 2005 Mercury Prize. Expect a new album in spring ’08. Here’s bonus footage of Antony’s performance in the Leonard Cohen documentary, I’m Your Man. He was the best thing about that show.

“Side of the Road,” Beck
Beck goes acoustic on the aptly titled Sea Change. Nice album, but did he have to sound like Eddie Vedder’s kid brother?

“Iron Man,” Black Sabbath
This is one of those songs where I would kill to have been in the studio when the band was making it. Here’s a live version recorded in Paris. How Bill Ward made all that noise with just one bass drum is beyond me.

“Peking Spring,” Mission of Burma
It’s hard to find a more fiery group than this one. But, then, Mission of Burma have always played it that way. Simply put, this is one of the greatest post-punk songs ever slapped onto vinyl. The band has described it as emerging “Athena-like” from the head of bassist Clint Conley. Check out this vintage 1979 clip from an MoB gig in Boston.

What's on your player?

"My 3 Songs" for Friday

Posted at 2:31 PM on December 7, 2007 by Steve Seel (4 Comments)

This one's close to my heart today: Christian Castillo writes, "At the forefront of any great rock band is of course the lead singer, lead songwriter, lead something ... but what about the background I ask you? Far too often there is an individual holding everything together we often overlook. I speak of course of the drummer ... I dedicate this playlist to some of the greatest drummers presently in rock. Anyone can hold the 4/4 time, but few can actually make the song.

1) The Walkmen (drummer: Matt Barrick), "The Rat"
2) French Kicks (drummer: Aaron Thurston), "Also Ran"
3) Arctic Monkeys (drummer: Matt Helders), "When The Sun Goes Down"

Awesome set, Christian -- and I especially appreciate that you highlighted drummers who truly labor in relative obscurity at the rear of their respective bands. Most people know all the "star" drummers, even the ones whose celebrity is more recently achieved than 20-years ago(Christian cites Pearl Jam's Matt Cameron as one example), but what about those unsung skin-bashers who simply drive a song like there's no tomorrow? You've got three of them above. Anybody else want to chime in? One rule: this is a Neil Peart, John Bonham-free thread. In fact, let's start with 1980 on, please.

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Guest DJ Set 12-7-07

Posted at 10:19 PM on December 7, 2007 by Mark Wheat

DJ ESP celebrates one year as our Resident DJ the First Friday of every month! This is actually another section of one of the first mixes we featured of his, released in '05 " I Am Psychic You Know..." Next year we will expand his residency by combining the featured sets with a monthly live night at The 7th Street Entry, stay tuned for details!

Next week we'll replay another of my fave mixes of the year, and as always I'd love your feedback, especially if you have discovered a new DJ through these sets, drop me a line.