screams, whispers and songs from planet earth

Category: Music News Page 3 of 5

New David Bowie video: “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”

After so many years away from the public eye (and so many years after I’ve uttered such a phrase, and not in this digital medium), it feels downright strange to type “here’s a new Bowie video, from his soon-to-be-released album.” But well, here it is. Called “The Stars (Are Out Tonight),” it’s both disturbing and hilarious. A man who is happily (boringly?) settled into a comfortable though uneventful life is besieged by fashionably dressed stalkers. Though of course in Bowie’s case, these are fashionista monsters of his own making. His wife is portrayed by Tilda Swinton, and Norwegian model Iselin Steiro does a dead-on reading of a young ‘Thin White Duke.’ Keeping with the whole androgynous theme, models Andrej Pejić and Saskia de Brauw play the stalker couple. Just brilliant.

“Stars are never sleeping / dead ones and the living // We will never be rid of these stars / but I hope they live forever.”

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Reason To Believe—The Songs of Tim Hardin

Tim Hardin performing at Woodstock in 1969

Tim Hardin performing at Woodstock in 1969

Tim Hardin once said “My songs aren’t personal. They sound it ‘cos it was me who revealed them, but it was my head that got the lightning shot through it.” It’s an eloquent way to describe the inspiration that guides truly great songwriters. James Timothy “Tim” Hardin (1941-1980) was a “musicians’ musician,” writing and performing songs that were deeply heartfelt and communicated soul to soul. It is sad that while he was alive, he never achieved the level of success as the many artists, classic and contemporay, whom he influenced—Johnny Cash, Rod Stewart, Scott Walker, Joan Baez, The Kingston Trio, Nico, Echo and the Bunnymen, Paul Weller, Leon Russell, Doc Watson, Robert Plant, Bob Seger, Marianne Faithfull…

There is now a new generation of musicians to carry Tim Hardin’s masterpieces into the future, bringing his vision back to life. Reason To Believe—The Songs of Tim Hardin is a celebration of Hardin’s music, performed by artists such as Smoke Fairies, Okkervil River, Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees), The Phoenix Foundation, Diagrams and Hannah Peel. On this special collection, Hardin’s classic folk tunes are lovingly resurrected with each band’s unique creativity, modern sounds and sensibilities. The album’s artwork is by Miles Johnson at Third Man Records, with liner notes by Rock’s Backpages music critic and author Barney Hoskyns.

“I’ve always been haunted by the devastating voice and beautiful songs of Tim Hardin. I can’t imagine anyone hearing him and not feeling the same.” — Mark Lanegan

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Depeche Mode’s “Heaven” – first single from their upcoming album

Depeche Mode will soon be releasing album #13, their first since Sounds of the Universe in 2009. The new album will be called Delta Machine, due out March 26 on Columbia. For now, the lead single “Heaven” was premiered on KROQ. The video for this track will be released on February 1, ahead of the single’s release on February 5th. So far, there’s just a slew of European tour dates for May through July. Listening to the delicious slow burn of this new song, I can tell you I’m really looking forward to hearing the album.

web | facebook | twitter | :::::: LISTEN TO “HEAVEN” ON KROQ ::::::

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Happy birthday David Bowie, and a harrowing new song


“Where We Are Now” by David Bowie (the original vimeo wouldn’t let me embed, so thank you SparkyHughes33 on YT)

Happy Birthday, David Bowie. For his 66th birthday, he’s decided to give all of us a surprise present—a brand new song after nearly a decade of musical silence. “Where Are We Now” is a harrowing ‘state of the planet’ assessment, viewed from a place where he probably felt most, if you’ll forgive the New Ageism, “grounded”—his time spent in Berlin in the late 1970s. The song is produced by long-time collaborator Tony Visconti and the video, directed by Tony Oursler, is disturbingly stunning. It features footage from that time, of his old Berlin neighborhood, mixed in with scenes from a cluttered loft, David and an unknown companion in the guise of sad and neglected children’s dolls, and enough cryptic imagery to keep a team of psychoanalysts happily engaged for decades. It’s a beautifully orchestrated, lyrically wistful, piano and strings-driven stroll through a winter forest of melancholia. Welcome back, David.

If this song out of nowhere isn’t enough to leave one breathless, there’s also a new studio album called “The Next Day” (his first since 2003), to be released on March 8 (Australia) and March 12 (U.S.) on Columbia Records. The album will feature 14 songs, and a deluxe edition will include three bonus tracks. No word yet on if there will be any tour. His last stage performance was at a New York charity concert in 2006. In other Bowie news, Victoria and Albert Museum in London will have a major exhibition dedicated to him, which opens on March 23.

This is going to be quite a year.

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An appreciation of… The Deadly Syndrome

Some very sad news tonight. One of my favorite Eastside L.A. bands, The Deadly Syndrome have called it quits (band announcement). As I just reported in my ‘infamous roundup’ of those marvelous bands of Silver Lake, Echo Park and surrounding areas, The Deadly Syndrome released their third full length album last year, All In Time, and I was looking forward to seeing what they had planned for 2013, and especially if they’d be (finally) touring on the East Coast. Alas, that wasn’t to be.

However, rather than mourn, let’s celebrate the great music they gave us. Some of my personal favorites from their debut album The Ortolan were “Wolves in the Garden,” “Eucalyptus” and “Animals Wearing Clothes.” As for their follow-up, Nolens Volens, I named it as a favorite in the Ryan’s Smashing Life 2010 Album Buyers Guide. What I said was this: “Quirky, fun and folky on their debut, The Deadly Syndrome dips into more adventurous (though still melodic) waters and pushes their sound into new places. Lyrically there’s an increased self-awareness and edgier quality that shows a band in transitional growth.” On “All In Time,” they were still pushing boundaries and trying new things, not content to rehash previous successes.

It’s been a supreme challenge to see my beloved Eastside L.A. bands in the flesh, though I’ve been very fortunate, considering the 3,000 mile chasm. I had the great pleasure of seeing The Deadly Syndrome—along with The Union Line and Earlimart—at a curious little venue in the oft-maligned Orange Country, the Slide Bar in Fullerton (Bostonians, it would be analogous to seeing an Allston band performing in Saugus).

As I don’t see “The Ortolan” on their bandcamp, I’ll leave you with their latest. I’m sure they had their reasons not to include it. They probably just wanted to move on. Go ahead and buy it. You’ll thank me.

To The Deadly Syndrome—thank you for being one of the three bands who played a now legendary gig at Spaceland back in December of 2008. Just hearing about that show started me on a long, wonderful musical odyssey where I would be totally knocked out by many fine bands. My very best wishes to you in all your future endeavors.

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Help! Our Bands Are On Fire! (to benefit victims of the 95 Columbia, Central Square Fire)

Benefit Festival going on TODAY & TONIGHT in Union Square!
(and how others not in the area can help)

Back a few weeks ago, there was a horrible house fire in Cambridge – a house that was home to many area musicians and artists. Despite heroic efforts from Cambridge firefighters and volunteers, these folks are still struggling to “regroup” after being unceremoniously tossed out of their homes. They haven’t even been able to go back in yet to see what’s salvageable (though fortunately everyone is ok). So today and tonight, going on right now, is a benefit ‘mini festival’ in Union Square at three venues – P.A.’s Lounge, Sally O’Brien’s and Precinct. Taking part are many of their fellow Boston-area bands – Molly Zenobia, Parlour Bells, Mighty Tiny, Streight Angular, Satellites Fall and many more. If you’re in the area, definitely check this out! | More Info & Set Times

If you’re not in the area, check out the work of some of these artists who lost much if not all of their belongings (and we’re not talking wealthy rock stars here…). If you can, help them out a little. Here some more info. And here’s some of their music!

Brendan Burns

guitarist & educator; founding member of the Elephant Tango Ensemble

Tony Leva

upright bass player for Jaggery

Mary Bichner

Composer, arranger, transcriber, performer, and formerly of Box Five

Other artists from 95 Columbia:

Brendan Higgins | Pete Moulthrop | Thomas Huber, Adam Jones, Jackie, John Lian, and Jimmy Tang.

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MTV Hive Live Premieres in Boston with Cloud Nothings ~ Sunday Night (3/25) at Brighton Music Hall – with Live Streaming!

Fenway Recordings Sessions, Crossroads Presents and MTV Hive present Cloud Nothings, with Classic Education and The Dirty Dishes at Brighton Music Hall
Sunday, March 25 ~ Doors at 8 PM; Show at 9 PM; 18+ show; $10 advance
::: buy tickets ::: | Live Stream 3/25 at 11pm!

The Fenway Recordings Sessions folks have teamed up with MTV Hive for a very cool concert series which kicks off on Sunday night with Cleveland’s indie punk rockers Cloud Nothings at Brighton Music Hall. This new collaboration, Live In Boston, is an expansion of MTV Hive Live’s ongoing Live in NYC concert series at New York’s Webster Hall, that has featured such bands as The National, Sleigh Bells, The Black Keys, Two Door Cinema Club, Theophilus London, and St. Vincent. Their mission has been to bring emerging artists (and some fairly well established ones) to the masses via live-streamed concerts. With this new venture, they’ll be bringing Boston’s music scene and visiting artists to a global audience (hopefully this will also benefit the local bands on these bills). For those who can’t make it to the show, you can watch an hour of it online Sunday night at 11pm ET. The BMH show also features Boston’s The Dirty Dishes and Bologna, Italy sextet A Classic Education.

[Editor’s note: how annoying are YouTube ads? Sorry!]

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Introducing SeñoritAwesome – Recording & Editing Workshop at the Apple Store (w/ acoustic performance) – *tomorrow*

photo by Evol Graphics, Atlanta

photo by Evol Graphics, Atlanta

Lauren Fareira (a.k.a. SeñoritAwesome)
Workshop: Recording and Editing on a Mac (& acoustic performance)
the Apple Store, 815 Boylston Street, Boston, Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Atlanta artist Lauren Fareira’s stage name, SeñoritAwesome, suggests something showy and gimmicky, though truth be told, she’s anything but. As soon as her music begins, you’re immediately taken in by her warm, soulful jazzy pop vocals, intelligent lyrics, plucky ukelele and intimate acoustic guitar. There’s also some fine instrumentation that includes strings, flute, piano, percussion, though the focus is squarely on Lauren’s compelling storytelling.


[audio:http://www.bostonsurvivalguide.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/ImaginaryLoveSong.mp3|titles=”Imaginary Love Song” (album edit)]

Her debut album, I Sing, I Play, I Write… was released back in March of last year, and true to the DIY spirit, she recorded and edited her demo album using GarageBand, Logic and Pro Tools (and iMovie to create her promo videos). She’ll be conducting a workshop on using these important tools at the Apple Store on Boylston Street, Boston, Wednesday February 22, 2012 at 7pm. The presentation will also include a short acoustic set from her album, and she’ll discuss how she uses Apple software to run her music career. This sounds like a very interesting evening for musicians just starting out, and for music fans who’d like to check out a natural talent. Awesome indeed.

web | facebook | twitter | thesixtyone

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Remembering Etta James

EttaJames_TheDreamer

Etta James is a legendary artist who crossed the boundaries of blues, R&B, rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, soul and jazz, having released 28 studio albums in her 50-year career. Sadly, she’s been terminally ill, and news just broke today of her passing. The lovely video below of “Misty Blue” is by nnigani. It’s from her final studio album released last year, The Dreamer. My god, what a beautiful song. Truly a class act. | Etta James – wikipedia



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Happy Birthday, David Bowie

Yeah, I didn’t quite make it in time; sorry about that. A very happy 65th birthday to Mr. David Bowie, and a little nostalgia below for the old folks. It all seems so long ago… it WAS so long ago! First time I saw Bowie: July 15, 1983, at the Hartford Civic Center. Number of times I’ve seen Bowie: a lot. This very cool video is from his 50th birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, and it features Robert Smith on co-vocals on one of my favorite Bowie songs. Very best wishes, David.

'Lovers' rice paper serigraph, from his Tarot Card series, circa 1975

'Lovers' rice paper serigraph, from his Tarot Card series, circa 1975

'Heroes' Self Portrait print

'Heroes' Self Portrait print

'A Child In Berlin' print, circa 1976

'A Child In Berlin' print, circa 1976


'Save the Children' Self Portrait, for Rykodisc, circa 1990

'Save the Children' Self Portrait, for Rykodisc, circa 1990

The legendary Sound & Vision Newsletter, circa 1990

The legendary Sound & Vision Newsletter, circa 1990


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