I mean is there anything cooler than Herb Alpert? Whether it be the crazy horns and those cool arrangements, the iconic album covers - or the samples of his music which are completely interlaced into modern hip-hop - Herb's the man and still completely larger than life. Please join us today in wishing Herb a happy 85th birthday!
Excited the new Man Man album, Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In-Between, will be out in about five weeks. This band are capable of so much. The new video today, Future Peg demonstrates some of that prowess. Presale link below.
I grew up in a smallish town in a small state. No one would have accused any of us being trendy but I can clearly remember hearing Personal Jesus, Enjoy the Silence and Policy of Truth for the first time. This was foreign-sounding, fearless and sexy music. I think I had followed a girl to the album and she loved the record. Things for us didn't work out but the album stuck.
Depeche Mode's Violator turns 30 years old this week and remains as timeless as fun than ever - a placard for a decade but also a touchstone for music. 47 minutes of good times and bad which will be with us
Like it's party and sun predecessor Duran Duran's Rio - Depeche Mode's album was the perfect, bleak and beautiful party point-in-time album. This was a girl in a black skirt and a pair of dark sunglasses strutting past a mysterious man a black hat. This was a dangerous album it felt like. Moments, images and sounds locked in time.
1. "World in My Eyes" 4:26 2. "Sweetest Perfection" 4:43 3. "Personal Jesus" 4:56 4. "Halo" 4:30 5. "Waiting for the Night" 6:07 6. "Enjoy the Silence" 6:12 7. "Policy of Truth" 4:55 8. "Blue Dress" 5:41 9. "Clean" 5:32
With pretty much everything out there in society, arts and culture canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, musicians everywhere (who have found their tours, festivals and live shows canceled) are finding clever, effective ways to reaching people and still keeping their creative muscles fit.
Kelsey Hunter Weinberger photo
Bent Knee have been one of my favorite listens the last few years. Was delighted to find (and now share) these sweet session videos recorded in Rhode Island studio Big Nice. After seeing the band's April tour canceled these were an amazing find. The newest of these "It Happens" was just dropped a few hours ago.
Thanks to DeSant Productions for these sessions that provide real insight into a very smart band poised to explode. Unusual time signatures, fearless creativity, big vocals and boundless energy live here.
DATELINE: Boston, MA - Hard rock duo Test Meat released the video for Heat Knob from their album Enjoy a few weeks back but as we approach the Easter holiday and are under the stresses and strains of the world - I thought it might be a great share. Blow off some steam and enjoy the clip of an enraged bunny kicking some tail.
On Friday, 3/20 Bandcamp will be waiving all fees - meaning musicans collect all the funds generated from sales. Would be a great time to pick up Enjoy so you can be surrounded by Test Meat all year long.
Test Meat is Darryl Shepard (vocals and guitar) and Michael Nashawaty (drums)
Why You Should Care: For a bunch of n'aer do wells, this is a bang-up collection of songs about desperation and austerity. It's also a record that reminds us to look for whatever light we can find. Slightest of Treason is my March 2020 Album of the Month. I've been a fan of Eldridge Rodriguez, the contorted wrestling mask worn on stage by Midriff Records' Cameron Keiber (The Beatings) for as long as I remember. Thankfully he rarely fails to depress. These are beautiful coming of age tales for kids who are going to have a whole series of new modern problems.
ER's studio and live band took shape with Clayton Keiber, Dennis Grabowski and Dave Grabowski. Eldridge Rodriguez is modern blues, sad-pop, all that stuff. The music explores classic themes such as man vs. nature, religion and race, entitlement vs. theft, willful ignorance, aggressive stupidity, forgiveness and redemption in a smart mouthed, sometimes vulgar and irreverent way. Album tones swing from indie pop to ballad to gospel to noise and beats. It’s music for people who like to dance in the dark, alone.
SXSW Called Off Ultra Music Festival has been canceled. France’s Tomorrowland has been canceled. Winter Music Conference 2020 is canceled Coachella and Stagecoach are postponed Pearl Jam postpones it's US Tour for their new album.
