22
Jun
2004
· The brightest promise for the future of punk rock, Authority Zero, releases a sophomore masterpiece this coming Tuesday, with wicked cover art lampooning Norman Rockwell's classic "No Swimming" image - painting the three summer lads in gas masks, liberty spikes, and the American flag.
Blaring a panoramic blitzkrieg of influences, the sound is passionate, heavy, and blisteringly alive. Entitled Andiamo (or, as we say outside of Italy, "We Go"), the album features some of the tightest chops found on a punk record, with one-man guitar army Bill Marcks and his soaring, triumphant tone, reminiscent of early high-speed Red Rockers, Clash, or GBH anthems, storming over the hills like a sea of Norsemen. Ska beats and surfer guitar shreds pop in and out, keeping it loose, and the one cover selection is a must-hear - Wall of Voodoo's MTV-era classic "Mexican Radio." Brimming with positive punk affirmations and tongue-twister lyrics, the album's politics are right up front, with the group mixing a recording of the Bill of Rights over the top of the track "PCH-82 (Pacific Coast Highway-82 beats per minute)." Another highlight on the Lava Records release is a high-speed, out-of-control version of the Irish drinking song "Rattlin' Bog."
· Concrete Blonde, one of the late 1980s' most original and endearing bands, has received the loving treatment of re-mastered re-issues of their first two albums, just in time for an all-new CD. The group's self-titled debut from 1987 and its 1989 follow-up, Free, both feature bonus tracks and bear the Superfecta Records imprint. A new label, Eleven Thirty Records, releases the new CD, Mojave, this coming Tuesday, featuring the original lineup. Cool covers show up on each of the three discs: Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness," and the country-and-western classic "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."
· Speaking of the 1980s, Everything but the Girl co-founder Ben Watt is keeping busy these days with his new artist-owned label, Buzzin' Fly Records, home to his signature "sensual club" sound. The label releases a limited-edition 12-incher next week for "A Stronger Man," noted for featured vocalist Sananda Maitreya, otherwise known as 1980s new-soul icon Terence Trent D'Arby.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno treats Uncle Kracker like family on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts The Von Bondies tonight, The Secret Machines on Thursday, and Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes on Monday; Jimmy Kimmel Live brings actress Katey Sagal back her roots as a rock/torch singer this evening overnight; Late Night with Conan O'Brien welcomes Heart on Thursday overnight and Ozomatli on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features the return of The Alarm on Monday overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with VAST on Thursday overnight and Donavon Frankenreiter on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 29:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Atomic 7 - En Hillbilly Caliente (Mint) new from Brian Connelly of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, featuring the song "What I Liked About Lord of the Rings"
Atreyu - The Curse (Victory) on tour with this summer's Ozzfest
Brandy - Afrodisiac (Atlantic)
Tom Carter - Monument (Kranky) solo album of lap steel guitar from the Charalambides founder, originally only available in limited edition of 55 CDs in 2001
Chronic Future - Lines in My Face (Interscope) debut from this young Arizona band, mixing rap and catchy pop-punk
Adrian Crowley - Northern Country (Ba Da Bing) third album from this Irish singer/songwriter
The Cure - The Cure (I Am/Geffen) all new
Delta Moon - Goin' Down South (Deep Rush) new grassroots blues from Tom Gray of The Brains, featuring a must-hear cover of Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing"
Einstürzende Neubauten - Tabula Rasa and Kalte Sterne (Mute) re-issues, each with a bonus CD
Lafayette Gilchrist - The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist (Hyena) debut from the Baltimore saxophonist
The Reverend Horton Heat - Revival (Yep Roc) with a bonus live DVD and "Roots of the Rev" featurette
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Armed Love (American Recordings)
IQ - Dark Matter (Inside Out) cream-of-the-crop prog rock from these masters in their original, classic lineup, featuring the 24-minute "Harvest of Souls"
L'Arc-en-Ceil - Smile (Tofu) Japanese anime rock featuring the band's theme song, "Ready Steady Go," from Cartoon Network's Full Metal Alchemist
Living Things - Black Skies in Broad Daylight (DreamWorks)
Los Mocosos - American Us (Six Degrees) driving salsa rhythms, Latin horns, and reggae bounce, all playfully mixed up in a Spanish/English culture mosh
Jesse Malin - The Heat (Artemis) with guests Pete Yorn and Ryan Adams
Marah - 20,000 Streets Under the Sky (Yep Roc) highly anticipated fourth album from these Philadelphia sons, led by brothers Dave and Serge Bielanko and their soulful, roots rock storytelling
Dave Matthews Band - Live at the Gorge (RCA) CD and DVD release filmed at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington
Kevin Moore - Ghost Book (Inside Out) hypnotic score for the comedy/horror film Okui, by the Dream Theater keyboardist
Mr. Complex - Twisted Mister (Raptivism) with guests Biz Markie, Morcheeba, Dilated Peoples, and comedian/actor Will Farrell
New Sense - New Sense (Brilliante) eight-track CD EP of clever funky-cool electro-pop from William Seidel and Ryan Weber of Promise Ring
Pan*American - Quiet City (Kranky) new from Mark Nelson of Labradford with guest David Max Crawford of Poi Dog Pondering
Chris Robinson & The New Earth Mud - The Magnificent Distance (Vector) excellent second album from the Black Crowes singer and songwriter, on tour with the Allman Brothers next month
Paul Simon - The Studio Recordings: 1972-2000 (Warner Bros) nine-CD box set
Slum Village - Detroit Deli: A Taste of Detroit (Capitol) with guest Ol' Dirty Bastard
Something for Kate - The Official Fiction (Red Ink) domestic release for this chart-topping album from Australia
Super Aquello - Mu Psiqui Ta (Brilliante) sexy, sultry Spanish indie-pop from Puerto Rico
Swingin' Utters - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck) CD or a two-LP set featuring bonus tracks
Tiger Army - III: Ghost Tigers Rise (Hellcat) psychobilly thrills from Nick 13 and crew
Tres Chicas - Sweetwater (Yep Roc) gorgeous debut from three of North Carolina's finest: Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown, Lynn Blakey of Let's Active, and Tonya Lamm of Hazeldine; featuring originals and covers of Lucinda Williams' "Am I Too Blue" and Loretta Lynn's "Deep as Your Pocket"
Uncle Kracker - 72 & Sunny (Lava) featuring a duet with Kenny Chesney on "Last Night Again"
Unearth - The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade) on tour with this summer's Ozzfest and MTV2's Head Bangers Ball tours
The Vandals - Hollywood Potato Chip (Kung Fu) enhanced CD featuring a cover of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now"
various artists - The Greatest Love Songs Ever: Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, & Spain (Petrol) debut of this new series from Time-Life Music
various artists - Toronto Rocks (Rhino) DVD release documenting last year's mega-concert with the Rolling Stones, Flaming Lips, Justin Timberlake, and the Guess Who
various artists - Kompakt 100 (Kompakt) two-CD or four-LP compilation celebrating the label's 100th release, with The Orb, Dettinger, Reinhardt Voight, and more
· Concrete Blonde, one of the late 1980s' most original and endearing bands, has received the loving treatment of re-mastered re-issues of their first two albums, just in time for an all-new CD. The group's self-titled debut from 1987 and its 1989 follow-up, Free, both feature bonus tracks and bear the Superfecta Records imprint. A new label, Eleven Thirty Records, releases the new CD, Mojave, this coming Tuesday, featuring the original lineup. Cool covers show up on each of the three discs: Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing," George Harrison's "Beware of Darkness," and the country-and-western classic "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky."
· Speaking of the 1980s, Everything but the Girl co-founder Ben Watt is keeping busy these days with his new artist-owned label, Buzzin' Fly Records, home to his signature "sensual club" sound. The label releases a limited-edition 12-incher next week for "A Stronger Man," noted for featured vocalist Sananda Maitreya, otherwise known as 1980s new-soul icon Terence Trent D'Arby.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno treats Uncle Kracker like family on Thursday; The Late Show with David Letterman hosts The Von Bondies tonight, The Secret Machines on Thursday, and Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes on Monday; Jimmy Kimmel Live brings actress Katey Sagal back her roots as a rock/torch singer this evening overnight; Late Night with Conan O'Brien welcomes Heart on Thursday overnight and Ozomatli on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features the return of The Alarm on Monday overnight; and Last Call with Carson Daly sits down with VAST on Thursday overnight and Donavon Frankenreiter on Friday overnight.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, June 29:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
Atomic 7 - En Hillbilly Caliente (Mint) new from Brian Connelly of Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, featuring the song "What I Liked About Lord of the Rings"
Atreyu - The Curse (Victory) on tour with this summer's Ozzfest
Brandy - Afrodisiac (Atlantic)
Tom Carter - Monument (Kranky) solo album of lap steel guitar from the Charalambides founder, originally only available in limited edition of 55 CDs in 2001
Chronic Future - Lines in My Face (Interscope) debut from this young Arizona band, mixing rap and catchy pop-punk
Adrian Crowley - Northern Country (Ba Da Bing) third album from this Irish singer/songwriter
The Cure - The Cure (I Am/Geffen) all new
Delta Moon - Goin' Down South (Deep Rush) new grassroots blues from Tom Gray of The Brains, featuring a must-hear cover of Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing"
Einstürzende Neubauten - Tabula Rasa and Kalte Sterne (Mute) re-issues, each with a bonus CD
Lafayette Gilchrist - The Music According to Lafayette Gilchrist (Hyena) debut from the Baltimore saxophonist
The Reverend Horton Heat - Revival (Yep Roc) with a bonus live DVD and "Roots of the Rev" featurette
The (International) Noise Conspiracy - Armed Love (American Recordings)
IQ - Dark Matter (Inside Out) cream-of-the-crop prog rock from these masters in their original, classic lineup, featuring the 24-minute "Harvest of Souls"
L'Arc-en-Ceil - Smile (Tofu) Japanese anime rock featuring the band's theme song, "Ready Steady Go," from Cartoon Network's Full Metal Alchemist
Living Things - Black Skies in Broad Daylight (DreamWorks)
Los Mocosos - American Us (Six Degrees) driving salsa rhythms, Latin horns, and reggae bounce, all playfully mixed up in a Spanish/English culture mosh
Jesse Malin - The Heat (Artemis) with guests Pete Yorn and Ryan Adams
Marah - 20,000 Streets Under the Sky (Yep Roc) highly anticipated fourth album from these Philadelphia sons, led by brothers Dave and Serge Bielanko and their soulful, roots rock storytelling
Dave Matthews Band - Live at the Gorge (RCA) CD and DVD release filmed at the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington
Kevin Moore - Ghost Book (Inside Out) hypnotic score for the comedy/horror film Okui, by the Dream Theater keyboardist
Mr. Complex - Twisted Mister (Raptivism) with guests Biz Markie, Morcheeba, Dilated Peoples, and comedian/actor Will Farrell
New Sense - New Sense (Brilliante) eight-track CD EP of clever funky-cool electro-pop from William Seidel and Ryan Weber of Promise Ring
Pan*American - Quiet City (Kranky) new from Mark Nelson of Labradford with guest David Max Crawford of Poi Dog Pondering
Chris Robinson & The New Earth Mud - The Magnificent Distance (Vector) excellent second album from the Black Crowes singer and songwriter, on tour with the Allman Brothers next month
Paul Simon - The Studio Recordings: 1972-2000 (Warner Bros) nine-CD box set
Slum Village - Detroit Deli: A Taste of Detroit (Capitol) with guest Ol' Dirty Bastard
Something for Kate - The Official Fiction (Red Ink) domestic release for this chart-topping album from Australia
Super Aquello - Mu Psiqui Ta (Brilliante) sexy, sultry Spanish indie-pop from Puerto Rico
Swingin' Utters - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck) CD or a two-LP set featuring bonus tracks
Tiger Army - III: Ghost Tigers Rise (Hellcat) psychobilly thrills from Nick 13 and crew
Tres Chicas - Sweetwater (Yep Roc) gorgeous debut from three of North Carolina's finest: Caitlin Cary of Whiskeytown, Lynn Blakey of Let's Active, and Tonya Lamm of Hazeldine; featuring originals and covers of Lucinda Williams' "Am I Too Blue" and Loretta Lynn's "Deep as Your Pocket"
Uncle Kracker - 72 & Sunny (Lava) featuring a duet with Kenny Chesney on "Last Night Again"
Unearth - The Oncoming Storm (Metal Blade) on tour with this summer's Ozzfest and MTV2's Head Bangers Ball tours
The Vandals - Hollywood Potato Chip (Kung Fu) enhanced CD featuring a cover of Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now"
various artists - The Greatest Love Songs Ever: Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, & Spain (Petrol) debut of this new series from Time-Life Music
various artists - Toronto Rocks (Rhino) DVD release documenting last year's mega-concert with the Rolling Stones, Flaming Lips, Justin Timberlake, and the Guess Who
various artists - Kompakt 100 (Kompakt) two-CD or four-LP compilation celebrating the label's 100th release, with The Orb, Dettinger, Reinhardt Voight, and more
