Archive for July, 2010
Straight Shooters: An Interview With Los Lobos
Los Lobos are known for being able to play anything from blues to rock to Latin music. Their latest album, Tin Can Trust (due August 3 from Shout Factory!), finds them in top form, moving from Spanish-language ballads to Tom Waits-ian instrumentals to a Grateful Dead cover. We talked with singer-guitarist David Hidalgo about where [...]
The Pitchfork Paradigm: Reviewing Chicago’s Hippest Festival
Last weekend, the Pitchfork Festival again graced Chicago and Union Park with its presence. Now in its 5th year, Pitchfork has gained a reputation as that other Chicago festival of note — the less corporate, less main-stream, and therefore more hip festival to Perry Farrell’s Lollapalooza that hits Grant Park in August. Unlike other larger [...]
On Record: The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach
photo by John Peets Dan Auerbach, the guitar-playing/singing fraction of The Black Keys, has been busy. There was the solo record Keep It Hid, then the hip-hop collaboration Blakroc, plus a dizzying array of other recent production credits (Hacienda, Cadillac Sky), not to mention the 15 crushingly awesome tracks on Brothers, he and drummer Patrick [...]
Taylor Swift Drops The Deets On Speak Now
Taylor Swift fans have something to celebrate today. In a live Ustream chat, the new queen of country music announced that her upcoming album, Speak Now, will hit stores on October 25. Swift is the sole songwriter on the album, which was largely recorded in co-producer Nathan Chapman’s basement in Nashville. “You gotta give yourself [...]
The Mercury Prize 2010: Will It Be Paul Weller, Or Dizzee Rascal?
This year’s nominations for the U.K.’s prestigious Mercury Prize are in. For those who don’t know, the Mercury Prize, voted on by artists, journalists and industry members, is kind of like the Grammy for being really cool and making a great record. Check out the list of this year’s nominees — the winner will be [...]
Ruth Gerson: This Can’t Be My Life
Ruth Gerson This Can’t Be My Life Wrong Records Rating: On This Can’t Be My Life, Bay Area-based singer-songwriter Ruth Gerson addresses her emotionally tumultuous time living in New York City. Originally readied for release in 2007, Gerson put the album on hold to deal with divorce, single parenthood and a relocation to the West [...]
Frazey Ford: Obadiah
Frazey Ford Obadiah Nettwerk Records Rating: Frazey Ford’s first solo album away from Canadian vocal group Be Good Tanyas continues down her band’s rootsy path while taking a side trip to Soulville. We’re not talking blasting Stax horns and dancing-in-the-streets arrangements; instead, think of a Gillian Welch disc that’s more infatuated with Memphis than mountain [...]
The Top 20 Ryan Adams Songs: A List, An Odyssey
Ryan Adams –- I’m not so much of a fan. Well, wasn’t much of a fan. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Whiskeytown when they burst on the scene –- if you don’t like Faithless Street and Stranger’s Almanac, there’s something seriously wrong with you -– but when Heartbreaker came out I didn’t feel like [...]
Lyric Contest Deadline Extended To July 22nd
Good news, songwriters. The deadline for the September/October Amateur Lyric Contest has just been extended to July 22nd. Turn that inspiration into perspiration and send us your songs. You’re work may be featured in the September/October issue, and the First Prize winner will take home a brand new Martin DCX1E acoustic guitar, a Shure SM58 [...]
Leonard Cohen’s Bird On A Wire Coming To DVD
On August 31, MVD Visual will release Bird On A Wire, a 1972 film by experimental British filmmaker Tony Palmer (200 Motels, All My Loving) that has since faded into obscurity. The footage is taken from Cohen’s 1972 tour, and captures 17 song performances and four poems. The original film is lost, but Palmer has [...]
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