23
Apr
2002
· One of the most mesmerizing concerts from the past decade is getting the digital boost to DVD this Tuesday: Portishead's one-night-only session with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1997, simply entitled PNYC Roseland New York.
While flying under the radar commercially, the band's haunting, soaring grace created some of the most memorable beats of 1990s trip-hop, experimenting with an intriguing mix of electronics and British soul. More organic than digital, more trip than hop, the quartet that developed from founders Geoff Barrow and Beth Gibbons has created many perfect moments, from their 1994 debut Dummy to soundtracks for movies such as Stealing Beauty and Killing Time. For this concert, the 35-player classical ensemble was arranged in the round, facing inward, on the floor of the historic Roseland Ballroom, heightening the intimate mood. The DVD re-issue is full of expanded material in a lush 5.1 channel mix, including promo videos and an acoustic version of "Wandering Star." The Go Beat/London Records release also features three short films including To Kill a Dead Man, a film-noir spy piece with Barrow playing the assassin.
· Details about the upcoming Beth Orton album, Daybreaker, are starting to emerge in advance of its July release on the Astralwerks label. The list of guest artists and producers is amazing, with Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams, The Chemical Brothers, Johnny Marr, and Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. Look for a North American tour May 20 through June 15.
· This Tuesday will see the release of the highly anticipated soundtrack to Spider-Man, but will it swing or squash? Aerosmith serves up the film's theme song on the Sony Music set, alongside Sum 41, Alien Ant Farm, and Pete Yorn. Highlights include Macy Gray's "My Nutmeg Phantasy" remixed by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and "Hero" from a nu-metal supergroup of Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Dead Man, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, and Josey Scott of Saliva.
· Speaking of music for the "kids," Chicago's ornery Bloodshot label is putting the finishing touches on an upcoming collection of children's music covered by its stable of stars. Entitled The Bottle Let Me Down, the 26-track set is due early summer and will feature gems such as Kelly Hogan's "Senor El Gato" and "Rubber Duckie," Jane Baxter Miller's serving of "On Top of Spaghetti," Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys' lament of "It's Not Easy Being Green," and Freakwater's lurk into "Little Red Riding Hood."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno features Liz Phair on Thursday, Sheryl Crow on Friday, and Michael Bolton on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Cee-Lo on Thursday and Paul Westerberg on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Belle & Sebastian on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn winds up Tenacious D this Friday overnight and Billy Bragg Tuesday overnight; Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher gets, well, political with Andrew W. K. on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Mick Jagger. Two Bic lighters and a "Dude!" for the 100th episode of That '70s Show, airing this Tuesday on Fox. Look for a cameo performance from Roger Daltrey, playing a high-school music teacher morphing a choral program into a musical fantasy.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, April 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Alabama Thunderpussy - Staring at the Divine (Relapse)
Ali - Heavy Starch (Universal) new from the St. Lunatics member
Marc Anthony - Mended (Columbia) featuring the single "I'll Stand by You Always" written by Bruce Springsteen
Big Brother & The Holding Company - Live in San Francisco 1966 (Varese Sarabande) featuring the bonus track "Hall of the Mountain King," recorded at KQED-FM in 1967
Big Country - Bon Apetit! The Web Album (Cleopatra) intimate acoustic sessions recorded shortly before the death of singer Stuart Adamson
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow (MCA) the band's first in four years, with guests Gil Scott-Heron, Zach de la Roacha of Rage Against the Machine, Hi-Tek, and Cut Chemist
Boeing - Beta (Urabon) house music from Buenos Aries
Damon & Naomi - Song to the Siren: On Tour with Kurihara (SubPop) CD and DVD tour diary, recorded in Spain on the group's 2000 tour with Ghost guitarist Michio Kurihara
Dianogah - Millions of Brazilians (Southern) twin bass and drum combo featuring guest John Upchurch of The Coctails
Jimmy Fallon - The Bathroom Wall (Dreamworks)
Fatboy Slim - Live on Brighton Beach (Ministry of Sound) domestic release
Marvin Gaye - Performance (Goldenlane) live concert material recorded in the summer of 1983
David Holmes - Come Get It, I Got It (13 Amp) second DJ mix album from this legendary funk strings producer
Jivaro - Jivarodelia (Electronic Watusi Boogaloo/Kindercore) blending Detroit techno and German electronica
Jethro Tull - Living with the Past (Fuel 2000) CD or DVD documenting 32 years of live performances
Cledus T. Judd - Juddweiser, the King of Jeers (Sony/Monument) more corn-fed yuks
Kaia - Oregon (Mr. Lady)
Kelper - Missionless Days (Troubleman Unlimited) sparse recordings from Ottawa, Canada
Jeffrey Lewis - The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane & Other Favorites (Rough Trade) anti-folk New York City singer-songwriter
Martinets - Your Avid Output (Scooch Pooch) old school punk from Daniel Rey and company
Meat Purveyors - All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (Bloodshot)
Johnny Paycheck - The Soul & The Edge: The Best of (Columbia Legacy) 23-track collection from the man best known for his 1978 barroom anthem, "Take This Job & Shove It"
Porcupine Tree - Stars Die: The Delerium Years 1991-1997 (Snapper) two-CD box set featuring an extensive booklet
Simon & Milo - Ready Ready Set Go (Hollywood) animated pop rock from Canada featuring the number-one MTV2 hit "Sucks to Be You"
various artists - More Ethereal Melodic Trance (Water Music) with ATB, DJ Light, White Russians, and more
various artists - Ralph Ellison: Living with Music (Columbia Legacy) selections from the 1930s through the 1950s, plus a rare reading by Ellison of his own "Hidden Name & Complex Fate"
Walkmen - Blizzard of 1966 (Troubleman Unlimited) vinyl-only EP featuring former members of Jonathan Fire Eater
· Details about the upcoming Beth Orton album, Daybreaker, are starting to emerge in advance of its July release on the Astralwerks label. The list of guest artists and producers is amazing, with Emmylou Harris, Ryan Adams, The Chemical Brothers, Johnny Marr, and Ben Watt of Everything but the Girl. Look for a North American tour May 20 through June 15.
· This Tuesday will see the release of the highly anticipated soundtrack to Spider-Man, but will it swing or squash? Aerosmith serves up the film's theme song on the Sony Music set, alongside Sum 41, Alien Ant Farm, and Pete Yorn. Highlights include Macy Gray's "My Nutmeg Phantasy" remixed by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and "Hero" from a nu-metal supergroup of Nickelback singer Chad Kroeger, Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Dead Man, Matt Cameron of Pearl Jam, and Josey Scott of Saliva.
· Speaking of music for the "kids," Chicago's ornery Bloodshot label is putting the finishing touches on an upcoming collection of children's music covered by its stable of stars. Entitled The Bottle Let Me Down, the 26-track set is due early summer and will feature gems such as Kelly Hogan's "Senor El Gato" and "Rubber Duckie," Jane Baxter Miller's serving of "On Top of Spaghetti," Rex Hobart & The Misery Boys' lament of "It's Not Easy Being Green," and Freakwater's lurk into "Little Red Riding Hood."
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno features Liz Phair on Thursday, Sheryl Crow on Friday, and Michael Bolton on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman welcomes Cee-Lo on Thursday and Paul Westerberg on Monday; Late Night with Conan O'Brien hosts Belle & Sebastian on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn winds up Tenacious D this Friday overnight and Billy Bragg Tuesday overnight; Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher gets, well, political with Andrew W. K. on Monday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Mick Jagger. Two Bic lighters and a "Dude!" for the 100th episode of That '70s Show, airing this Tuesday on Fox. Look for a cameo performance from Roger Daltrey, playing a high-school music teacher morphing a choral program into a musical fantasy.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, April 30:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change.
Alabama Thunderpussy - Staring at the Divine (Relapse)
Ali - Heavy Starch (Universal) new from the St. Lunatics member
Marc Anthony - Mended (Columbia) featuring the single "I'll Stand by You Always" written by Bruce Springsteen
Big Brother & The Holding Company - Live in San Francisco 1966 (Varese Sarabande) featuring the bonus track "Hall of the Mountain King," recorded at KQED-FM in 1967
Big Country - Bon Apetit! The Web Album (Cleopatra) intimate acoustic sessions recorded shortly before the death of singer Stuart Adamson
Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow (MCA) the band's first in four years, with guests Gil Scott-Heron, Zach de la Roacha of Rage Against the Machine, Hi-Tek, and Cut Chemist
Boeing - Beta (Urabon) house music from Buenos Aries
Damon & Naomi - Song to the Siren: On Tour with Kurihara (SubPop) CD and DVD tour diary, recorded in Spain on the group's 2000 tour with Ghost guitarist Michio Kurihara
Dianogah - Millions of Brazilians (Southern) twin bass and drum combo featuring guest John Upchurch of The Coctails
Jimmy Fallon - The Bathroom Wall (Dreamworks)
Fatboy Slim - Live on Brighton Beach (Ministry of Sound) domestic release
Marvin Gaye - Performance (Goldenlane) live concert material recorded in the summer of 1983
David Holmes - Come Get It, I Got It (13 Amp) second DJ mix album from this legendary funk strings producer
Jivaro - Jivarodelia (Electronic Watusi Boogaloo/Kindercore) blending Detroit techno and German electronica
Jethro Tull - Living with the Past (Fuel 2000) CD or DVD documenting 32 years of live performances
Cledus T. Judd - Juddweiser, the King of Jeers (Sony/Monument) more corn-fed yuks
Kaia - Oregon (Mr. Lady)
Kelper - Missionless Days (Troubleman Unlimited) sparse recordings from Ottawa, Canada
Jeffrey Lewis - The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane & Other Favorites (Rough Trade) anti-folk New York City singer-songwriter
Martinets - Your Avid Output (Scooch Pooch) old school punk from Daniel Rey and company
Meat Purveyors - All Relationships Are Doomed to Fail (Bloodshot)
Johnny Paycheck - The Soul & The Edge: The Best of (Columbia Legacy) 23-track collection from the man best known for his 1978 barroom anthem, "Take This Job & Shove It"
Porcupine Tree - Stars Die: The Delerium Years 1991-1997 (Snapper) two-CD box set featuring an extensive booklet
Simon & Milo - Ready Ready Set Go (Hollywood) animated pop rock from Canada featuring the number-one MTV2 hit "Sucks to Be You"
various artists - More Ethereal Melodic Trance (Water Music) with ATB, DJ Light, White Russians, and more
various artists - Ralph Ellison: Living with Music (Columbia Legacy) selections from the 1930s through the 1950s, plus a rare reading by Ellison of his own "Hidden Name & Complex Fate"
Walkmen - Blizzard of 1966 (Troubleman Unlimited) vinyl-only EP featuring former members of Jonathan Fire Eater
