Only an EP this week

another slow week but this is a surprise. Jon Foreman's Fall EP. He of the Switchfoot lead singer fame has put together a folk-tastic cd. Well EP. In fact, he is planning 4 seasonal EPs.

More later
Bro

A couple cool videos...

Here's a fan video for Radiohead's "All I Need," composed entirely of footage from the 1996 French film, Microcosmos.




The video was made by J. Tyler Helms, who also did this great video for Arcade Fire's "My Body is a Cage," created with footage taken from Sergio Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.




More Later,
HelperMonkey

New TV shows

Yes I know I am way super late but why not? So what are your favorites of the new season.

Right now I am digging Reaper--amd here is the official website. I can deal with Chuck. I tried to get into The Bionic Women and stopped. I have all the Dirty Sexy Money's on DVR and have yet to find the time to watch any of them. I will watch Pushing Daisys too. So I guess in order Reaper, Chuck and Pushing Daisys.

So what are you into?

Speaking of DVRs I never thought I'd be a DVR guy but I can't live without it. Plus I love the Pause and rewind feature. I go through so many times in life when I want to stop and rewind and replay something like on my DVR. I literally find myself reaching for a remote for real life not to mention the radio. Wow I am a loser.

The Joshua Tree re-mastered

Not much out there...really.

You already have it and have listened to it (if you are around my age) thousands of times but really it's about the only cd worth buying this week. If you were too old or too young or too hip to get the cd before this re-issue. Go get it now. It might not hold the same impact but you will heard a glorious CD. Near perfect.

The remastered U2 Joshua Tree

You have choices too. 4 different ways to enjoy.
Vinyl.
remastered CD.
Remastered CD with bonus cd of bsides and "new" songs.
Double CD plus DVD.

I know Joshua Tree is "the one" but this is only because of timing. It has the special place in your heart. It is/was magical but if you truly judge the U2 cds front to back you'll have to agree with me that Achtung Baby is their best. I can't wait for that re-issue.

More later
Bro

Marc Cohn in concert

It is hard to believe it had been sixteen years since I first saw Marc Cohn perform. To say the least, there have been changes. My beautiful girlfriend who sat next to me back then, and was again next to me, is now my beautiful wife. There have been three new albums, with tonight’s show featuring his recent “Join the Parade.” And when Marc stepped on stage, I could see that he too had changed. He had added a Grammy, lost a little hair, and this was no longer a one man show. The audience had been warmed by the surprisingly entertaining Amy Correia, and was clearly eager to hear that trademark voice, filled with a soulfulness that serves as Marc’s calling card. Marc sat at the piano and began, starting the night with a charged “Live Out the String.”
Sixteen years ago, I felt as though I had personally discovered Marc Cohn (after he had recorded and released a full album, and had a single playing on the radio, of course). The Living Room in Providence, RI was a small, intimate venue. Marc simply stood in front of the room, no stage, no band……just a keyboard and himself. I had heard “Walking in Memphis” on the radio, bought the album, and grabbed the show tickets as soon as they were released for sale. I joined about 100 other people for a show that remains my favorite small show experience. Marc’s music reveals his intelligence and virtuosity, but his performances permit him to display his wit, warmth, and engaging personality. And as I sat in this new venue, the Highline Ballroom in NYC, I recognized that with all the differences, there were many similarities as well.
Marc’s sentimentality continues to compel audiences to listen intently as he performs haunting and personal songs that tell instantly recognizable stories. “Silver Thunderbird” captures the mysteries of fatherhood, from a small boy’s perspective. “Dance Back from the Grave” is a spirited story of recovery, with a healthy attitude. “Listening to Levon,” his most recent song on the airwaves, is a tremendous song about those small, pivotal moments in a young person’s life. His songs are like photographs, and Marc seems to know just where to point the lens.
While the songwriting for his latest effort is excellent, on a par with his first album, and superior to both “The Rainy Season” and “Burning the Daze,” Marc is also a great performer. In this show, he played piano, guitar, and the drums (not simultaneously) and his voice remains strong. He can sound like Clapton on a song like “If I Were an Angel,” Cocker on “29 Ways,” and Randy Newman on “My Sanctuary.” When the audience can’t help but sing out the familiar lyrics to a favorite song, Marc is kind enough to step aside and accompany us on the piano. He tells us the stories behind the stories, and suddenly Muriel from “Walking in Memphis” becomes an inspiration, as she obviously once was to Marc.
At the end of the night, I was glad to have traveled for an hour into NYC, on a Wednesday night, to see what turned out to be an excellent performance. But this show, for me, was partly about differences and similarities, change and constant. It was good to see Marc Cohn again, and his new album is a reminder of the gifts that initially brought him to our attention. He remains gracious, and the audience left happy. But I guess, like Marc Cohn, I am sentimental, and can’t help missing the closeness and simplicity of that first show sixteen years ago. Its too bad he had to be so successful.

By NEXT listener Mike

Only One Today...The Hives

Slow week but there is one that you should check out.

The Hives - The Black and White Album
A rock solid cd of garage punk. It's not perfect and there are a few bumps in the rock and/or roll on this cd but it is overall a strong and enjoyable and rockin' affair
Pretty cool vid for Tick Tick Boom.

2 CDs to check out

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Solos, Sessions, and Encores
It's SRV. Man do I miss this guy. My housemate in College saw his last show...why did I not go? I still remember him coming back after the show and telling us what happened. We started every one of our parties in college with the "HOUSE is A ROCKIN'". Just brilliant. So this CD is live cuts, TV performances and studio tracks, all showcasing Stevie Ray's guitar. It's uneven but what makes it a keeper are the previously unreleased live tracks and the fact it's SRV.




Citay - Little Kingdom
This is a guitar CD in all its forms but mostly in the Pink Floyd kinda way. serene, euphoric, pastoral and amazingly hippie. Here you will find bubbly plucking, noodly solos and positive vibes. You want guitar effects - you got'em maybe even too many plus violins, flutes, and synthesizers. You wouldn't always find lyrics but the vocals are of the breathey variety.

Chuck Prophet's Soap and Water

CD of the month...I could have pick "Magic" the latest from Springsteen but that cd is already gold and on it's way to Platinum which is no small feat in this atmosphere. In fact, looking back at this month it was one hell of a good month for releases.

You might or might not know that Prophet started with the band "Green on Red" in the 80s. If not it wouldn't hurt you or your ears to check that band out. You might be saying to yourself how did this band slip past...everybody? Well make up for it now.

He is great and as a solo artist some of my favorite songs of the past decade have been played by him. If "Summertime Thing" does not make you happy and/or smile you are reading the wrong blog. Head over to some blog that is touting the joys of listening to Colbie Caillat (seriously I just don't get how she has shot up the charts - c'mon people your better than that.) and yes I know that "Summertime Thing" is on a different CD.

"Water and Soap" is a "forever" CD. A CD that you will listen to for the rest of your life. It's a CD of roots-rock by a sonic texturalist. It is Magic.

Stand up for Heroes

Stand Up for Heroes

Would you like to help a wounded hero who has served in Iraq but don’t know how? The Bob Woodruff Family Fund is sponsoring an online charity auction to raise money for veterans with traumatic brain injuries. Click on the purple hyperlink at the top or bottom of this post and bid in this charity auction for cool items. Then please pass this link on to anyone you think can help.

More than 1.5 million men and women have served in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It is estimated that between 150,000 - 300,000 of them will have some kind of brain injury—ranging from traumatic injury from explosions to post traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder.

Bob Woodruff was injured while covering the war for ABC News. Although his recovery has been miraculous, no one who goes through an experience that critically life-altering, is the same person. These service members who have sacrificed so much deal every day with issues like memory loss, unexplained rage, depression, inability to concentrate, fatigue and confusion. The most severe are confined to their beds unable to walk or talk, struggling their way back to a quality of life.

Here is a way that YOU can help. And in the process you can snag a number of unique items and once-in-lifetime experiences for yourself or your family. Generous donations for this auction have come in from many celebrities, TV shows, media companies, fashion designers, houseware manufacturers, and more.

We have everything from a meet and greet with Oprah Winfrey to a backstage pass after a Bruce Springsteen concert to a chance to be a model for a day and amazing sporting events. All of the proceeds from the auction will go to the fund — which helps brain injured returning vets in three ways: 1) Individual grants for hardship situations; 2) Donations to community based groups helping the wounded with long-term therapy, re-employment, support for the caregiver and the family. 3) Working closely with the Department of Defense, Veteran Administration, and legislators to change antiquated laws governing access to healthcare and disability benefits.

Paramount in this is allowing the military access to private care rehabilitation facilities close to home for their long-term care after brain injury. We all owe a debt of gratitude to service members who willingly put themselves at risk in the service of their country. Through your donations to this auction you can enjoy a fun, rewarding way to repay that debt. So, please join us and STAND UP FOR A HERO – Click on the hyperlink below to get to the auction web page and then click on the pink “start bidding” button to see all the fabulous auction items.

Stand Up for Heroes

I should be going to this so I might post about my adventures.

Finally the Gold Star CDs for this week

Sorry but the P's were in town and I just couldn't blow them off to type up the Gold Stars for this week. Hopefully that gets me gold stars with my Mum and Papa.

this is the week of OST (offical soundtracks)

"I'm Not There" and "Control".

HM did "I'm Not There" a solid review so just read that and "Control" is a great cd of Ian Curtis music and music that inspired him and/or Joy Division.


Also check out Ian Ball's "Who Goes There"
he is the the first member of the band Gomez to release a solo album. He has been playing solo acoustic shows in his downtime, but those who have seen those acoustic shows or have seen Ball with Gomez may be a bit surprised at Who Goes There. It's most a laid back affair. Keyboard driven instead of guitar focused and where there are guitars, they're generally acoustic. Worth a quick listen to and a must for Gomez completists.

More later
Chris Bro