The Current Music Blog: August 1, 2008 Archive

The Stream 08/01/08

Posted at 9:03 AM on August 1, 2008 by Barb Abney

Lollapalooza kicks off today.

There's an online petition asking Bono to retire.. for charity.

Hot Chip to release live EP via iTunes.

Today In Music History:
1942 - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) was born.
1953 - Robert Cray was born.
1959 - Joe Elliott (Def Leppard) was born.
1960 - Aretha Franklin recorded her first secular songs for CBS records.
1960 - Chuck D (Public Enemy) was born.
1960 - Suzi Gardner (L7) was born.
1971 - "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour'' debuted.
1981 - MTV premiered with The Buggles' video "Video Killed the Radio Star''.
1987 - MTV Europe premiered with the video "Money For Nothing" by Dire Straits ("I Want My MTV", indeed).
1987 - Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) married Siobham Fahey (Bananarama).
1994 - Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley announced that they had been married in a private ceremony nearly 3 months earlier.

Do the Shuffle

Posted at 2:00 PM on August 1, 2008 by Mac Wilson (2 Comments)

John Vanderslice - "Trance Manual"
The saga of an American journalist's encounter with an Iraqi prostitute. Vanderslice's production really shines through, especially with those beautiful chimes.

The Beatles - "Across the Universe"
I never saw the movie. I've been trying to get my younger sister into the Beatles for years, to no avail, and then the movie comes out and she's hooked. This is the original Phil Spector version, not the Let It Be...Naked or wildlife mixes.

Elvis Costello - "No Action"
The lead track from EC's This Year's Model. "Every time I phone you, I just want to put you down."

The Magnetic Fields - "All I Want to Know"
This fairly pedestrian song is from the Pieces of April soundtrack. Good flick about getting through tough times. Apparently you're never supposed to use store-bought stuffing.

New Order - "Truth"
Appropriately sad song from the band's sad, first album, Movement. You'd sound sad, too, if the lead singer of your old band had just hung himself. But as with all the best New Order songs, there's that flame of hope that still manages to rise above the gloom and grief.

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"My 3 Songs" for Friday

Posted at 2:37 PM on August 1, 2008 by Steve Seel

We might need a legal disclaimer on today's set. Mike Berg from St. Paul wrote in, "I spend most of my day in the car listening The Current, and these are three songs that make me want to drive like an idiot; which is to say, way too fast." Let's just say that Mike's decisions behind the wheel are in no way advocated by MPR ...

1) Ladytron, "Ghosts"
2) The Ting Tings, "Great DJ"
3) MGMT, "Kids"

Funny what makes different people drive fast. As I'm writing this, I'm playing The National's "Brainy." That would do it for me -- but someone else would say this song would actually make them slow down. What makes you drive faster?

Guest DJ Set 8-1-08

Posted at 9:44 PM on August 1, 2008 by Mark Wheat

DJ ESP is traveling worldwide, but locally he is performing ;
Tonight! at the Mellen Mountain Music Festival near Ashland, Wisconsin.
Accelerator Festival near LaCrosse Wisconsin Saturday August 16 and
First Avenue on September 13.

His label Communique Records has a newly revamped site and tons of cool new tunes, many of which are featured in tonights set;

friends - ween (usa) - chocodog records
two two - bry bry (usa) - communique records
astromagnetic - dakota veer (usa) - communique records
the walk - dj hyperactive (usa) - communique records
bang your head - the horrorist (germany) (dj esp remix) - acid tracks germany
my girlfriend is a psychotherapist - digital primate (australia) - communique records
E - k. larm & J. Raninen (finland) - communique records
the end - oculus (iceland) - communique records
long drive to fargo - the push (usa) - communique records