The Current Music Blog: April 7, 2009 Archive

Lady Day's Day

Posted at 7:11 AM on April 7, 2009 by Steve Seel

1946 - Bill Kreutzmann (drums, The Grateful Dead) was born.
1947 - Florian Schneider (Kraftwerk) was born.
1949 - John Oates (Hall and Oates) was born.
1956 - The CBS Radio Network premiered the first regularly scheduled national broadcast rock & roll show, Alan Freed's 'Rock 'n' Roll Dance Party.'
1962 - While at Ealing Jazz Club, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards met Brian Jones for the first time. Jones was calling himself Elmo Lewis.

On this day in 1915, Billie Holiday was born. Considered by many to be the greatest female jazz singer of all time, she made over 100 records, including many with Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Holliday led a famously rough life - battling drug addictions and abusive relationships - and died on July 17th 1959 from liver failure, at aged 44.

A cheerful tune today to celebrate Lady Day: "Too Marvelous For Words."

Now We Can See... For Free!

Posted at 9:03 AM on April 7, 2009 by Barb Abney

Today The Thermals officially released their fourth full length album, Now We Can See. In celebration, we're featuring the title track on our Song Of The Day Podcast. Their CD release show is later this week at the Wonder Ballroom in their hometown, Portland, Oregon. They're playing The Triple Rock Social Club on April 26th.
Get this tune, as well as new songs from Amadou and Mariam, The Honeydogs, Ben Lee and Maria Taylor for free! when you subscribe to our Song Of The Day Podcast.
The Thermals on Myspace

These three songs are full of love.

Posted at 9:49 AM on April 7, 2009 by Barb Abney (1 Comments)

Katie Klesk from St. Paul picked today's My 3 Songs set because..

"Simply, because I love them!!! & love the current!!!"

The Decemberists - "Valerie Plame"
Solid Gold - "Get Over It"
Atmosphere - "Sunshine"

Make your "My 3 Songs" requests here.

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How do I love thee Glasvegas? Let me count the ways...

Posted at 10:46 AM on April 7, 2009 by Melanie Walker (4 Comments)

I wore all black today in honor of Glasvegas coming to The Twin Cities. I don't think I've ever seen them in any colors brighter than grey. Being Scottish, I'd guess life lends itself to be a bit more grim and gritty than most. Especially when you grow up in Dalmarnock, a deprived district of Glasgow that has a checkered past filled with violence and crime. The wardrobe definitely suits their background. Plus, black is so rock and roll.

Point blank, I love them. With new music, I usually find myself to be a bit more obscure with my musical tastes. I'm surprised I've fallen so head over heels for what NME magazine describes as "The Best New Band in Britain". The moment I heard It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry it was over. I was hooked. There is something so authentic, raw and undeniably catchy about them. I'm seriously at this bands mercy. Maybe it's because my grandfather is from Glasgow (hometown of the Glasvegas crew), or maybe it's their grandiose wall of sound that just floors me. It's one of the best debut albums I've ever heard.

I'm bound to make a total fool of myself when I meet them today. We radio people can be super fans too. I've got my Glasvegas poster for them to sign! I only hope I can muster the courage to ask them to sign it. They'll be on live today with Mary Lucia for an interview and performance around 2:30pm. If you're still on the fence about this band or afraid of falling for the "hype", I dare you to tune in. I saw the biggest skeptics in Austin for SXSW, loose themselves in the shimmering guitars and thick Glaswegian brogue. You'll kick yourself if you miss it.

Glasvegas's show is tonight at The Varsity theatre. What was that you said? You don't go to shows on weeknights? It's an early show people. Suck it up. I promise, you won't regret it. It'll be one of those moments you can say you saw Glasvegas before they blew up to become one of the biggest bands of our generation.

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Beatlemania hasn't bitten the dust...yet!

Posted at 8:29 PM on April 7, 2009 by Bill DeVille

Looks like everything the Beatles ever did will be digitally re-mastered for the 1st time & reissued for worldwide CD release on Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

By more than coincidence, it's also the same day as "The Beatles: Rock Band" video game is released.

All of the CDs will be packaged with replicated original UK album art, including expanded booklets containing original and newly written liner notes and rare photos. For a limited period, each CD will also be embedded with a brief documentary film about the album. On the same date, two new Beatles boxed CD collections will also be released.

Maybe the CD isn't quite dead yet!