BrooklynRocks Top 10 List for 2009

Happy New Year Everyone!

Here is my top 10 list (in no particular order):

1) Kati O'Toole - On Ashland (Snow Ghost Music)
2) Sunn O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions (Southern Lord)
3) White Wizzard - High Speed GTO (Earache)
4) Red Collar - Pilgrim (Self-Released)
5) The Besties - Home Free (Hugpatch)
6) Oceano - Depths (Earache)
7) Evergreen Terrace - Almost Home (Metal Blade)
8) Mystery of Two - That's The World Over (Exit Stencil)
9) Absu - Self-Titled (Candlelight)
10) La Coka Nostra - A Brand You Can Trust (Suburban Noize Records)

Dios Release Free Single in Advance of New CD (Due Out 15/Feb. on Buddyhead)

DOWNLOAD: Dios - "4th Quarter Single"

Cali rockers Dios (Malos) sound like the Beach Boys raised on cheap beer, kind bud and crushing cynicism. -Village Voice

Hailing from Hawthorne, CA - home of the Beach Boys - Dios' sound is a product of their environment. Hawthorne has slowly devolved into its current chaotic blend of race riot aftermath, shuttered malls,and used car lots. Smog, graffiti and strip malls have replaced the surf, orange groves, and beach bonfires of the Beach Boys' songs. Dios' points of reference are the high-school dropout, the homeless man, and the ragged car-wash attendant smoking in the sunset.

Dios has been working on this new disc for the past three years which has been described as a "schizophrenic combination of powerful melodies and compelling arrangements...songs melt together, creating a pocket-symphonic-folk-song-cycle in which leitmotifs drift in and out, aurally suggesting a Fellini score played over the Electric Kool-Aid acid test".

Dios do not sing about cars, surfing, and/or high school. Dios' themes of ridiculousness, illicit substances, and going crazy are more in keeping with the Beach Boys of Smile, not “Fun, Fun, Fun".

The band's third disc, We Are Dios, comes out February 15th on Buddyhead.

Links:
Dios' MySpace Profile

Lissie (Maurus) Opens for City and Colour on Friday, Jan. 8th at Webster Hall

DOWNLOAD: Lissie - "Everywhere I Go"
DOWNLOAD: Lissie - "Wedding Bells" (Hank Williams Cover) [HearYa Session]

Lissie made her NYC debut at the end of November with a well received show at Mercury Lounge. After touring late last year with Ray LaMontagne, Lissie is back on the road supporting Dallas Green's folk project City and Colour. The tour kicks off this Thursday at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC and stops at Webster Hall on Friday, January 8th.

Lissie is touring behind her debut EP, Why You Runin', which was released on Fat Possum in early November. This five-track disc combines the country-folk sounds of artists like Tift Merritt and Emmylou Harris with 60's girl group melancholy to come up with an engaging slice of Americana. Tracks include a reinterpretation of Hank Williams' "Wedding Bells", a sentimental piano-ballad that pays tribute to the Mississippi River ("Oh Mississippi") which bordered Lissie's hometown of Rock Island, IL and the haunting and emotional "Here Before". Bill Reynolds (from Band of Horses) produced this disc in addition to playing bass and his production fits the supporting instrumentation and backing vocals around Lissie's emotive, smokey voice.

Here are the upcoming tour dates for Lissie and City and Colour:

JAN. 7 - WASHINGTON, DC @ 9:30 CLUB
JAN. 8 - NEW YORK, NY @ WEBSTER HALL
JAN. 10 - SOMERVILLE, MA @ SOMERVILLE THEATRE
JAN. 11 - ORLANDO, FL @ PLAZA THEATRE
JAN. 13 - MINNEAPOLIS, MN @ TRIPLE ROCK SOCIAL CLUB (Solo headlining show)
JAN. 15 - CHICAGO, IL @ METRO
JAN. 16 - DETROIT, MI @ THE FILLMORE
JAN. 18 - COLUMBUS, OH @ CAFE BOURBON STREET
JAN. 21 - AUSTIN, TX @ CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
JAN. 22 - SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ THE FILLMORE
JAN. 23 LOS ANGELES, CA @ HENRY FONDA THEATRE

Links:
Lissie's MySpace Profile

Short Sharp Shock (SSS) Release Free Christmas Song (Earache Records)

DOWNLOAD: Short Sharp Shock - "Merry ChristmaSSS"

UK thrash band Short Sharp Shock have released a new Christmas song, "Merry ChristmaSSS", as a free download.

Earache Records did an interview with SSS frontman Foxy where he talks about the new song and what Christmas means to him. Here are some of the highlights:

Q: Why have you done a free Christmas song?

Foxy: "We are following in the footsteps of some of the greatest Christmas songs ever written from yesteryear - Slade, Wizzard, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Shakin Stevens, FEAR and Band Aid - that have all placed themselves firmly in our hearts and on cheap Christmas compilation CDs at this time of year. Now here's our meagre festive rattler that will be played for years to come at family discos and shake the false teeth from all our nans' heads."

Q: Did you enjoy Christmas as a kid?

Foxy: "What's not to like about Christmas when you are a kid? A time when there was actual snow at Christmas. Being the first in the yard and lining up snowballs to lob at your mates and teachers. Skidding in one strip on the ice until the caretaker dumps grit on it. Making cards, crackers (out of a toilet roll), cotton wool snowmen and calendars. Mucking around as a king in the nativity play and changing the words to the carols, "While shepherds wash their socks night...". Bringing toys in on the last day of term was always a doss. A big countdown to a day you thought wouldn't ever come, so you get to your pit early, try to sleep, then wake up with a stocking on the end of your bed full with all sorts of stuff, mosh into all your presents and play out the front of your house, get cold, then back for your dinner and watch Star Wars. Then play with everything properly on boxing day. Bingo.

The full text of the interview is posted on SSS's MySpace blog.

Links:
Earache Records
Short Sharp Shock

Nick Oliveri Brings 'Death Acoustic' Tour to Pianos on Jan. 23rd (QotSA, The Dwarves)

Bassist Nick Oliveri is playing a series of East Coast shows starting next month in support of his solo debut Death Acoustic.

Fans of Oliveri's over-the-top performances with QOTSA, The Dwarves and Kyuss shouldn't be scared off that Oliveri is playing an acoustic set. The material on this new EP includes covers of G.G. Allin ("Outlaw Scumfuc"), The Dwarves ("Dairy Queen") and QOTSA's "Autopilot". There are a number of live videos posted to YouTube from Oliveri's recent tour of Australia, New Zealand and Europe which show that, while he has reduced the volume, he hasn't lost any of his intensity.



Here are the upcoming tour dates:
Fri, January 22nd - Middle East , Cambridge MA
Sat, January 23rd - Pianos , New York NY
Sun, January 24th - Khyber , Philadelphia PA
Mon, January 25th - Velvet Lounge , Washington DC
Tue, January 26th - Volume 11 Tavern , Raleigh NC
Wed, January 27th - Casbah @ Tremont Music Hall , Charlotte NC
Thu, January 28th - Lenny's , Atlanta GA
Fri, January 29th - The End , Nashville TN
Sat, January 30th - Hi Tone , Memphis TN
Mon, February 1st - Double Door , Chicago IL
Tue, February 2nd - Frequency , Madison WI
Wed, February 3rd - Southgate House , Newport KY
Thu, February 4th - Grog Shop , Cleveland OH
Fri, February 5th - Small's , Hamtramck MI
Sat, February 6th - Garfield Artworks , Pittsburgh PA

Links:
Nick Oliveri

Hurricane Bells Release Free Download of "Christmas Don't Be Late" (Vagrant Records)

DOWNLOAD: Hurricane Bells - "Christmas Don't Be Late"

Hurricane Bells/Longwave main man Steve Schiltz has released a cover of "Christmas Don't Be Late" ( The Chipmunk Song) as a free download. This stripped-down acoustic version of the song, with Steve accompanied by Ashen Keilyn (Scout) on vocals, sounds nothing like the ghastly Chipmunks version.

Steve released his first solo disc last month under the name Hurricane Bells (available digitally through Vagrant Records). The new disc, Tonight is the Ghost, has a mellow, echo-drenched, late-night listening vibe which this Christmas song is in keeping with.

Hurricane Bells got some significant exposure when one of the b-sides, "Monsters", from Tonight is the Ghost was included in the movie The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Below is some of Steve's footage from the "Twilight: New Moon" mall tour.



Links:
Hurricane Bells' MySpace Profile

Agnostic Front - "Victim In Pain" (1984) Lineup Reunites for 25th Anniversary Show at The Bell House

Agnostic Front's 1984 / Victim In Pain lineup is reuniting for one show at The Bell House on February 26th. This show is all ages; tickets are $15 and doors are at 8PM.

Roger Miret, Vinny Stigma, Rob Kabula and Dave Jones haven't played together since 1984. “This is the CLASSIC lineup together again doing vintage AF songs and some classics. We couldn’t be more excited to do this!” said vocalist Roger Miret.

To help Agnostic Front commemorate the 25th anniversary since the original release of Victim In Pain, Bridge Nine Records has put together a proper reissue. Victim In Pain has been given extra special treatment, with a gatefold LP cover, complete with a dirty gold metallic ink with an embossed logo & title. The gatefold opens up to the original handwritten layout of the first pressing, and later censored original cover is printed full size on the front and back of the dust sleeve.

Bridge Nine Records has also reissued Agnostic Front's 1983 debut EP "United Blood" which has a similar metallic ink & embossed logo front cover and also has the original cover design printed in black and white on the enclosed dust jacket.

Links:
Agnostic Front
Bridge Nine Records

Iron Age Announces Tour with Skeletonwitch / Headlining Show at The Charleston

DOWNLOAD: Iron Age - "Burden of Empire" (from The Sleeping Eye)

Heading right back on the road after their recent tour with Baroness, Iron Age have announced a run up the East Coast in February with Skeletonwitch and Howl. Iron Age are kicking off the tour with a headlining date at The Charleston on February 16th.

Here is the full set of tour dates:
2/17 Boston, MA @ Great Scott w/ Doomriders
2/18 Albany, NY @ Valetine's
2/19 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
2/20 Hartford CT @ Webster Under w/ Doomriders
2/21 Washington, DC @ The Red & The Black
2/22 Wilmington, NC @ Lucky's Pub
2/23 Asheville, NC @ The Rocket Club
2/24 Knoxville, TN @ The Cider House
2/25 Savannah, GA @ The Jin

Iron Age released their newest disc, The Sleeping Eye, on Tee Pee Records this past August and it has been earning consistently strong reviews.

This is music for fans of fucking furious, tight, beer-soaked, basement mosh-pit party metal like Trash Talk and Bison B.C., Metallica Ride The Lightning-era guitar riffs pushed to the fullest and real in every way with nary a speck of hipster retro throwback. The Sleeping Eye kicks as much ass as any thrash-influenced record released all year - MetalSucks

Links:
Iron Age's MySpace Profile

Bouncing Souls Release "Live at Lime" Digital EP (LimeWire)

DOWNLOAD: Bouncing Souls - "I Think That The World..." (Live at Lime)

I have to give kudus to LimeWire as they have successfully transformed themselves from a P2P network (earlier this decade) to a online subscription-based music store.

LimeWire has been releasing a number of exclusive live sessions and the most recent is a digital live EP from Bouncing Souls that was recorded this past August. The five-song EP features Souls' classic numbers "Gasoline" and "True Believers" (featuring Sick of It All's Lou Koller), as well as "The Mental Bits" (featuring Fishbone's Angelo Moore), "I Think That the World..." and "Sing Along Forever".

The EP is $4.95 but you can sign up for a 7-day trial of LimeWire which allows you to download and keep 50 free songs.

Links:
LimeWire
Bouncing Souls

We Are Wolves Release First Single "Holding Hands" from CD (Dare To Care)

DOWNLOAD: We Are Wolves - "Holding Hands" (from Invisible Violence)

Montreal electro-rock trio We Are Wolves have released "Holding Hands" as the first single from the forthcoming US release of their third disc Invisible Violence.

Earlier this year, NME commented that We Are Wolves were “out to unbutton starched collars and cause stiff upper lips to wobble". The band hasn't slowed down or lost any of their manic energy on this new disc. Invisible Violence was recorded in Montreal this past summer with producers Radwan Moumneh (Thee Silver Mt. Zion, Pas Chic Chic) and Hadji Bakara (Wolf Parade, Megasoid).

Here is a live video for the lead-off song from the disc:



Links:
We Are Wolves' MySpace Profile

Julie Peel Plays Last Minute Show at Cameo Gallery Tonight (20th/Dec)

DOWNLOAD: Julie Peel - "Unfold" MP3

Canada-to-Brooklyn transplant Julie Peel has announced a last minute full-band show tonight at Cameo Gallery opening for Uninhabitable Mansions (which is a new band that features members of Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Au Revoir Simone, Radical Dad, and Dirty On Purpose).

Julie takes the stage at 8PM tonight - cover TBD.

Julie released her well-received debut CD Near The Sun (American Laundromat Records) a few months ago which I thought sounded like a cross between Michelle Shocked and Lisa Germano. Below is a live solo performance of one of the songs from Near the Sun along with a Weezer cover.





Links:
Julie Peel's MySpace Profile

The Record Machine Release Free 10 Song "The More The Merrier Christmas" Compilation

The Record Machine is a pretty cool independent record label based in Kansas City, Missouri. The label has been around since 2003 and has worked with a wide range of artists that include State Bird, the Winston Jazz Routine, Max Justus, Sam Billen, Caleb Winn, Interstates, The Parade Schedule, Interstates, Capybara, Of Asaph, The Billen Brothers, Cheyenne, Every Gentle Air, Colonel Rhodes, and James Dean Trio.

Sam Billen, who just released his first solo album in five years, has curated a 10 track Christmas CD of Record Machine artists which the label has made available as a free download.

Links:
The Record Machine

Dead Leaf Echo Release New Vinyl 7" "Half-Truth"

DOWNLOAD: Dead Leaf Echo - "Half-Truth"

Brooklyn-based shoe-gazers Dead Leaf Echo have announced a pre-sale for their new single, "Half-Truth", which is from their forthcoming release Truth.

This is the band's first release on vinyl and the b-side is a new, unreleased song entitled "Babyeyes". The first 100 copies are hand-numbered with hand-screened covers that come in 3 different colors.

Click on the 7" cover to go over to Custom Made Music's pre-sale site.

Links:
Dead Lead Echo

Hurricane Bells - Tonight is the Ghost CD Review (Vagrant Records)

DOWNLOAD: Hurricane Bells - "This Year" (MP3)

Hurricane Bells is the new solo project by Longwave guitarist/front-man Steve Schiltz. This is a solo project in the truest sense of the word as Schiltz wrote, played, recorded and mixed every note himself. Some songs were written within the past 18 months while others are crafted from pieces written throughout his years as a songwriter.

Tonight is the Ghost is fascinating debut that is a significant depature from Longwave's guitar-driven indie rock. The majority of these songs have a mellow, echo-drenched, late-night listening vibe. My only complaint is that this record doesn't quite come across as a coherent body of work as Schiltz moves through a number of style across the disc. The disc starts with the melancholy opener "This Year" and moves on from there to the lo-fi pop of "This is a Test". The third track, "I Can't Remember", is a John Lennon sounding piece and the remainder of the disc takes bends around alt-country ("Freezing Rain") and Steely Dan style indie rock ("The Winters in New York". There are also two instrumentals on the disc - the too-brief "Crocodile" and "Tenterhooks"

Schiltz should get a lot of attention for this disc as one of the b-side, "Monsters" was included in the movie The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Schiltz describes "Monsters" as "a little more rocky, up-tempo than the stuff that’s on the Hurricane Bells MySpace page — it’s got some fuzzed-out guitar and a ripping guitar solo.”



While the late-night vibe of this disc may not hold up well during the bustle of the day, the rawness of Schiltz's performance and the variance of the songs keeps this disc engaging after repeated listens.

Tonight is the Ghost is available digitally through Vagrant Records and physical release is schedule for February.

Links:
Hurricane Bells' MySpace Profile

The Canon Logic Release New Christmas Single as a Free Download / NYC Shows on 12/17 and 12/19

DOWNLOAD: The Canon Logic - "Kiss Me on Christmas"



Getting in the holiday spirit, The Canon Logic have released an original holiday song, "Kiss Me on Christmas", as a free download (link is above). The band also released the first single, "Avenue of Criminals", from their forthcoming full-length FM Arcade. The new single is available on a three song EP on iTunes which comes with a live and acoustic version of "Avenue of Criminals" along with Annie Lane (a non-LP b-side).

The Canon Logic are playing two shows this week:
Thursday, Dec. 17th @ Bar Matchless, Brooklyn
Saturday, Dec. 19th @ Piano's (w/ Pants Velor)

Links:
The Canon Logic

Inu - "Monster" CD EP Review (Count, Tim Hingston, Zoe Keating)

DOWNLOAD: Inu - "The Bailing" (Download requires registration)

Inu is an experimental/electro San Francisco based trio lead by Mikael (Count) Eldridge (who has produced/ remixed DJ Shadow, New Order, Radiohead, etc.) that features cellist Zoe Keating (Imogen Heap, Rasputina, Dresden Dolls) and bassist/guitarist Tim Hingston (The Nightland, Stripmall Architecture).

This five-song EP mixes traditional guitar/bass/drums instrumentation with Keating's cello, mellow dance beats and a range of electronic squiggles to come up with an enjoyable trip-hop influenced disc. The first song on the EP, "The Bailing", is available as a free download (the link is at the top of this post) and the song's dreamy, mellow vibe is indicative of the sound of this EP. The one exception is the song "Stephen Colbert" which heads down the track of fuzzed-out Dinosaur Jr. style pop.

Inu will be following up this EP with a full-length in March of next year.

Links:
Inu's MySpace Profile

Adam Green Plays Surprise Full Band Show Tomorrow Night at Lit Lounge

DOWNLOAD: Adam Green - "What Makes Him Act So Bad"

Adam Green moved over to Fat Possum Records for his sixth album Minor Love which will be released in the US on Feb. 16th. Green is touring with The Cribs starting in January but will be playing a surprise full-band show tomorrow night at Lit Lounge. Cover is only $6.00 and Green is scheduled to go on around 11:30PM.

GOOD NEWz!!!
I am PLayingk a Surprise Full-BANd Showe at LiT LOUNGE (2nd Ave. and 5th st.)
ON MoNDAY The 14th
With THe SHinIng Twins
and Delilah
Its ONLY SIX DOLLARZ
THE SHINING TWINS Go on at 9:56pm
DELILAH Goez on at 10:49pm
and I (ADAM GREEN) Go on at 11:27pm
This Seems like a good idea!
KOme!

Green's forthcoming disc Minor Love was recorded in Los Angeles, CA, in late spring with producer and friend Noah Georgeson (Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newson, Little Joy). Green plays the majority of the instruments on Minor Love himself and guest players include Rodrigo Amarante of Little Joy on guitar and Georgeson on bass.

Links:
Adam Green's MySpace Profile

zerobridge - "There We Were, Now Here We Are" CD EP Review

STREAM: Zerobridge - "2mins5"

NYC band zerobridge recently released the EP “There We Were, Now Here We Are” which is the band's third release. On this disc, the band wears its 80's alt-rock influences clearly on its sleeve and the band's sound fit well alongside a number of the Steve Lillywhite produced bands from this era (U2, Psychedelic Furs, The Chameleons, etc.). The leadoff song from the new EP, “Montreal Chic”, essentially name-checks Joy Division with the repeated line “dance, dance, dance to the radio” but vocalist Mubashir "Din" Mohi-ud-Din sings in an emotive style which falls closer to Mike Peters (The Alarm) or Bono than Ian Curtis.

Musically, "There We Were, Now Here We Are" features prominent pulsing bass lines, ringing U2/Church-style guitars and an an atmospheric production that has an underlying sense of melancholiness. While bands like U2, Joy Division/New Order, The Clash, The Replacements, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, The Beatles, the Stones and David Bowie are cited as major influences, Din also cites South Asian music like The Sabri Bros and Hindi film composers like RD Burman, A.R. Rahman, and Nadeem Sharavan as inspirations.

zerobridge has had a strong year thus far with a sold-out homecoming show at Brooklyn Academy of Music and an American Embassy sponsored tour of Morocco. One representative from the embassy said, “It was like the Beatles had just come to Morocco!” The band also had the song "Havre de Grace" (from the 2007 “Havre de Grace” EP) featured in the motion picture, "The Messenger," starring Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton and Jena Malone. Most recently, the band performed at the NYC restaurant/club At Vermillion for an MTV party. A live version of "Suffering Moses" from this performance is below.



Links:
zerobridge's MySpace Profile

Charred Walls of the Damned Release First Single from Forthcoming CD (Metal Blade)

Charred Walls of the Damned is a new “super group” formed by drummer Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth, Howard Stern show) that features “Ripper” Owens on vocals, and Jason Sucof (guitar) and Steve DiGiorgio (bass). DiGiorgio was a member of Death, Control Denied and Iced Earth and Sucof has written and produced a number of metal band; most notably Black Dahlia Murder, All The Remains, etc.

Charred Walls of the Damned combines Death’s technical precision and intensity with Ripper's clean vocals and the melodicism of bands like Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Anthrax.

Christy explained on The Howard Stern Show that the band's name was derived from a series of radio prank calls he and Sal the Stockbroker made to a Christian radio station. In mentioning the pranks they had been receiving, the radio show host described how he prayed for the pranksters to be "saved by God's grace and not in the devil's hell where you'd be put in your nails in the charred walls of the damned".

The band signed with Metal Blade and their debut CD is due out in February of next year. The first single, “Ghost Town”, is now available on iTunes. The band recorded a cover of Powermad’s "Nice Dreams" which will be available on the Japanese CD and as a bonus track on iTunes. "I've been a huge fan of Powermad's classic 1989 album ‘Absolute Power' since it came out. I wanted to do a cover song that I loved and at the same time, one that a lot of people probably have not heard. ‘Absolute Power' has been out of print for some time now so I'm sure the song Nice Dreams will be new to a lot of people, but will also bring back some great memories for metalheads like me who love the song and who love Powermad" explains Christy.

Links:
Charred Walls of the Damned
Metal Blade

Shrinebuilder's Self-Titled Debut Now Available on Ltd Edition Vinyl (Neurot)

Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut is now available as a 3-sided limited edition vinyl release through Neurot Recordings' web store (click on the picture). This 2LP set was mastered at 45 rpm to bring out the band's sound and one of the sides is etched (which you can sort of see in the picture).

Neurot has only have 400 copies available through its web store - 200 of the US color scheme and 200 of the European color scheme - so these are likely to go quick.

Links:
Shrinebuilder's MySpace Profile

The Gulu Widows Group of Uganda Cover "Home" by Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

DOWNLOAD: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - "40 Day Dream" (Live on Daytrotter)
DOWNLOAD: Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros - "Home" (from the Vagrant CD Up From Below)

Former Ima Robert vocalist Alex Ebert has been getting quite a buzz with his new freak-folk project Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. The band formed in 2007 and released their debut CD, Up From Below (Vagrant Records), earlier this summer.

At the album release party this past July, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros raised money for the Gulu Widows Group of Uganda. The women used the band's donation to start a farm to sustain their community. They recently had their first harvest; to celebrate and show the band their appreciation, they made this video in which they sing the band's song "Home."



Here is video of Edward Sharpe performing "Home" live on Late Night with David Letterman from this past September.



Links:
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Chalie Boy Releases "I Look Good Remix" (featuring Slim Thug, Juvenile and Bun B.)

STREAM: Chalie Boy - "I Look Good Remix"

Calvert, TX rapper Chalie Boy has followed the chart success of his single "I Feel Good" with a new remix (streaming above) that features Slim Thug, Juvenile and Bun B.

Chalie has been hitting the radio circuit to promote his new single and below is a video interview of him on Houston hip-hop stations, KBXX 97.9. Chalie answered questions about his sudden success (which hasn't reduced his hustle and drive) and his excitement at being in the game. The video wraps up with Chalie doing some impromptu free-styling with DJ J-Mac.

Chalie Boy will have a new record out sometime early next year on Dirty 3rd Records.



Links:
Chalie Boy's MySpace Page

Adam Yauch (MCA) Launches Indie Film DVD Club (Oscilloscope Laboratories)

Beastie Boy Adam Yauch’s independent film distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories has just started offering a new subscription service called “The Circle of Trust” that allows fans to get top-line independent films on DVD a week ahead of the general public.

Adam Yauch, the Minister Of Information at Oscilloscope Laboratories commented "There's a real void in the marketplace since Columbia Record club is no longer active, so we're hoping to hire a staff of tens of thousands to call our valuable membership over and over again and harass them until they cry."

Getting serious, for an annual fee of $150, you get 10 newly released DVDs as well as half-off any DVDs from the back catalog. (Here is a link to Oscilloscope Laboratories' back catalog) This is a great opportunity to see the best of the independent film scene.

Frightenly enough, even Oprah recommends these DVDs as a great Xmas gift.

Links:
Oscilloscope Laboratories
Beastie Boys MySpace Profile

Karen Rockower (Bugs in the Dark) is Playing a Solo Acoustic Show Tomorrow Night

DOWNLOAD: Karen Rockower - "Drawing Roses"

Karen Rockower, guitarist/vocalist from Bugs in the Dark, is playing a solo acoustic show tomorrow night at Local 269 Bar. Karen is currently recording a solo disc with producer Mark Turrigiano and she will be playing songs from this forthcoming release tomorrow.

Tomorrow night's show is free and Karen is playing at 10PM. Local 269 Bar is located at 269 E. Houston Street (@ Suffolk Street).

Links:
Karen Rockower's MySpace Profile
Bugs in the Dark

Jawbox Plays One-Off Reunion Tomorrow on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Making their first appearance since 1997, DC post-punk heros Jawbox are playing a one-night-only reunion on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tomorrow night.

The band has acquired the rights to their Atlantic/TAG Records LPs and re-released a remastered version of For Your Own Special Sweetheart (1994) last month. This new CD/LP reissue was remastered by Bob Weston (Mission of Burma, Shellac) and includes the limited edition Savory +3 EP as bonus tracks.



Unfortunately - J. Robbins has said that the Jimmy Fallon show will be the band's only appearance.

Capgun Coup Release 'Only the Times Are Changing' Video From Maudlin (Team Love)

Omaha, NB quintet Capgun Coup released their sophomore CD Maudlin last month on Team Love Records (see Maudlin CD review).

The band just released the first video from the new disc, "Only The Times Are Changing", which was directed by Jacob Thiele (of The Faint).



Capgun Coup are currently on tour with Cursive and here are the band's upcoming shows:
Dec. 07, 2009, 8:00PM, Lenny’s, Atlanta, Georgia
Dec. 08, 2009, 8:00PM, Proud Larry’s, Oxford, Mississippi
Dec. 09, 2009, 8:00PM, The Rev Room, Little Rock, Arkansas
Dec. 10, 2009, 8:00PM, George’s Majestic Lounge, Fayettville, Arkansas
Dec. 11, 2009, 8:00PM, Mojo’s, Columbia, Missouri
Dec. 12, 2009, 6:00PM, Vaudville Mews, Des Moines, Iowa
Dec. 13, 2009, 8:00PM, Waiting Room, Omaha, Nebraska
Dec. 27, 2009, 8:00PM, Bourbon Theatre, Lincoln, Nebraska

Links:
Capgun Coup's MySpace Profile

Foreigner - Can't Slow Down CD Review (Rhino/Atlantic)

When I was a teenager, 70's rock bands like Foreigner, Styx, Van Halen and Aerosmith were staples of FM radio. I haven't actively listened to Foreigner in almost twenty years but those first 3 - 4 albums were such a part of my youth that I still know the words to every song on each of these albums. I lost touch with what Foreigner was doing in the mid-80's as I couldn't get into the keyboard-heavy sound that the band started embracing with Agent Provocateur (1984) and I only heard a bit of Mr. Moonlight (1994) which didn't do much for me. As such, I didn't have high hopes for Foreigner's first new studio album in fifteen years - Can't Slow Down. I'm happy to say that my fears were unfounded - Can't Slow Down is a great AOR album fits right in with the first four Foreigner albums.

Vocalist Kelly Hansen has been fronting Foreigner for four years now and his voice sounds like an edgier, more emotive Lou Graham. Hansen paid his dues in the LA club scene fronting bands like Hurricane (which included Robert Sarzo and Tony Cavazo, younger brothers of Quiet Riot's Rudy Sarzo and Carlos Cavazo). The other musicians in Foreigner include Brian Tichy (who has toured/written with Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, Billy Idol, etc.), Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio), Thom Gimbel (Aerosmith, Jon Butcher) and Michael Bluestein (who comes from a jazz background).

The thirteen songs on Can't Slow Down include rockers, power ballads and a remake of "Fool For You Anyway" (which was originally on Foreigner's debut CD). The disc starts out strong with the title track "Can't Slow Down", which was written as a salute to NASCAR in celebration of Foreigner’s appearance at the Samsung 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway. Some of the other strong rockers include "Give Me A Sign" and "Too Late" (which appeared on last year's best-of compilation and it is the only cut to feature the now-departed Jason Bonham on drums).



The slower songs are predominately power ballads that (thankfully) don't fall into the schmaltz/syrupy trap that some of the 70's rock have fallen into in recent years. These songs have some "teeth" to them and should keep the lighters in the air during the band's live set. Two of the stronger power ballads are "When It Comes To Love" and "I'll Be Home Tonight".


What really impressed me with this package is that it is a 2CD/1DVD set that retails for $12 at Walmart. Disc 2 contains 10-tracks of Foreigner's greatest hits. This isn't a re-recording of these songs - Anthony Focx (Guitar Hero) and Marti Frederiksen (Aerosmith) have remixed the original songs (with Lou Graham on vocals) to give them a bit more edge and punchiness. The last disc is a live DVD that shows the band performing new and classic Foreigner while on tour in Europe earlier this year. What stuck me right away is that Kelly Hansen shows he can seamlessly deliver both the old and new material. Long-time fans may end up saying "Lou who?" over time.

Foreigner are playing some California dates to wind out the year and then are back on the East Coast in January. There aren't any NYC dates scheduled right now but there are some holes in the tour schedule so a New York/New Jersey date would seem likely. Here are the current tour dates:

1/15/10 -- Tampa, FL, Ruth Eckerd Hall
1/16/10 -- Silver Springs, FL, Silver Springs Twin Mansions Theater
1/21/10 -- St. Charles, MO, Bottleneck Blues Bar @ Ameristar Casino St. Charles
1/22/10 -- Paducah, KY, Carson Four Rivers Center
1/23/10 -- French Lick, IN, French Lick Resort Casino
2/18/10 -- Troy, OH, Hobart Arena
2/19/10 -- Rama, Ontario, Casino Rama
2/20/10 -- Rama, Ontario, Casino Rama
2/21/10 -- Kingston, NY, Ulster Performing Arts Center
2/24/10 -- Lancaster, PA, American Music Theatre
2/26/10 -- Harris, MI, Island Resort & Casino
2/27/10 -- Harris, MI, Island Resort & Casino

Links:
Foreigner's Website