The Current Music Blog: September 9, 2008 Archive

The Stream 09/09/08

Posted at 8:46 AM on September 9, 2008 by Barb Abney

Steve Martin to release a new album of original tunes on his banjo.

The Mercury Music Prize will be announced later today.

Video of a Tegan (minus Sara) performing live.

Today In Music History:
1941 - Otis Redding was born.
1952 - Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) was born.
1956 - Elvis made his first appearance on The Ed Sullivan show.
1968 - The Beatles recorded "Helter Skelter."
1979 - Yusef Islam (Cat Stevens) married Fouzia Ali
1989 - New Kids On The Block's "Hangin' Tough" was #1.
1992 - Chris Novoselic (Nirvana) knocked threw his guitar up in the air and it knocked him unconscious during the MTV music and video awards.
2004 - Ernie Ball died.
2005 - An international conference devoted to Bruce Springsteen was held in New Jersey.

Live Blogging 09/09/08

Posted at 9:20 AM on September 9, 2008 by Barb Abney

Tunes On The Telly Tonight:
Grizzly Bear on Carson Daly

11:40 a.m. Kevin Drew
He'll be playing First Avenue along with Broken Social Scene on October 13th.
More...

11:35 a.m. Ratatat
Watch the "Mirando" video here.
They're playing First Avenue on September 19th.
More...

11:30 a.m. Kings Of Leon
Their latest, Only By The Night will be released on September 23rd.
They're playing Orpheum Theatre on November 1st with We Are Scientists and The Whigs.
More...

11:25 a.m. Drive-By Truckers
They're playing two nights at First Avenue along with The Hold Steady on November 15th and 16th.
More...

11:15 a.m. Weezer
They're playing The Xcel on October 3rd.
**120 "super close to the stage" seats were just released for sale.
More...

11:10 a.m. One Day As A Lion
Learn more about them here.

10:25 a.m. Conor Oberst
He and The Mystic Valley Band are playing First Avenue on October 29th.
More...

Song Of The Day Info - Calexico
Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're featuring Calexico with the tune "Two Silver Trees" from their new album, Carried To Dust, which hit the shelves today. It's our CD Of The Week.
Here's a nice review of the record.
Watch the "Two Silver Trees" video.
More...

9:50 a.m. Oasis
An update on Noel Gallagher and his attacker.
Dig Out Your Soul hits the shelves on October 7th.
You can pre-order it here.
They are currently on a North American tour with Ryan Adams.
More...

9:45 a.m. Local Music - Cloud Cult
Two of their tunes will be featured in a NY play. They'll be playing an acoustic set at this year's CMJ Fest. They're also giving away VIP passes/tickets to The Monolith Festival.
All of this and more from a recent Myspace update..

9:35 a.m. Kaiser Chiefs
Their latest, Off With Their Heads will be released on October 14th.
Read more about who helped out on the record here.
More...

9:10 a.m. Ben Folds
His latest, Way To Normal will be released September 30th.
He's reuniting with Ben Folds 5 for one gig next week.
He's playing The Myth Nightclub on October 17th.
More...

"My 3 Songs" for Tuesday

Posted at 2:43 PM on September 9, 2008 by Steve Seel

Stacy Noyes of Mpls writes today, "These were on a playlist I listened to while hiking Arches National Park ... serene."

1) Elliot Smith, "Waltz #2"
2) Coldplay, "Lost"
3) The Shins, "The Past and Pending"

I would have been a happy hiker listening to those tunes, Stacy. Thanks.

Mercury Prize winner!

Posted at 9:15 PM on September 9, 2008 by Mac Wilson

I felt it would be appropriate to follow up on the Mercury Prize, being as I published an entry about the nominees back in July. The winner is...

Elbow, for their album The Seldom Seen Kid. The Mercury Prize, awarded to the best UK/Irish album from the past year, usually throws some curveballs, but this year's result is still being regarded as an upset, considering other nominees included Radiohead, the Last Shadow Puppets, Adele, and Robert Plant & Allison Krauss. Personally, I'm thrilled with this result. Elbow have been producing melancholy, affecting, dreamy rock music for the last two decades, without ever crossing into bombast or treacle, as have many of their contemporaries. Lead singer Guy Garvey's voice is a dead ringer for that of Peter Gabriel. We've had a couple tracks from The Seldom Seen Kid in rotation this spring and summer. While these songs are at first glance a little too low-key, they've certainly worked their way into my head; the album has gradually become one of my favorites of the year. Elbow's songs are rather measured and drawn-out, yet rewarding in the end. I was pleased to see an album that requires patience, such as The Seldom Seen Kid, win recognition.

New Release Bonanza

Posted at 9:11 PM on September 9, 2008 by Mark Wheat

We often get the chance to play new music weeks before you can get them the old fashioned way, from a record store. So every Tuesday night we highlight the albums that we're playing which are being released. It's been a little slow of late but today there's a deluge of good stuff;

Our CD of the Week AND todays Song of the Day;
Calexico "Carried to Dust"

Last Week's CD of the Week and
one of many musical guests in town for the RNC;
Michael Franti & Spearhead "All Rebel Rockers"

Those crazy guys from the UK who met playing soccer
and who you might think are Japanese with their name;
Fujiya & Miyagi "Lightbulbs"

In town this Saturday at the 400 Bar with The Walkmen;
The Broken West "Now or Heaven"

One of Lucia's fave raves;
The Subways "All or Nothing"

Austin TX faves quickly following up on their breakout hit
'The Stage Names' and another Song of the Day pick;
Okkervil River "The Stand Ins"

The boy from Bristol UK who helped start trip hop
writing about his home town;
Tricky "Knowle West Boy"
- 'Council Estate', the track we've been playing a bunch, is perhaps the darkest
on the album and several listens have me liking it more and more, a return to form?

Kimya Dawson "Alphabutt"
- we haven't got this yet but it's Kimya's kids album!! Which will probably
kick alphabutt!!

My fave new discovery, 2nd release from Chicago band,
complex songs done simply!
Bound Stems "The Family Afloat"