05.31.06 (MusicPortal.com) The 2004 movie "Garden State" is to some of today's generation what "The Graduate" was to the baby boomer generation - a touchstone not only in its story, imagery, performances and lines of dialogue, but also its music. That movie's bittersweet yet sometimes uplifting songs provided an emotional barometer for what was happening on the screen. For fans of the award-winning film and its platinum-certified, Top 20-charting, Grammy-winning soundtrack, "The State I'm In" (Hip-O/UMe), set for release on June 13th, once again evokes the spirit of that film. A collection of a dozen songs selected for their college student melancholy and Indie vibe -- songs that just as easily could have been on the original soundtrack -- "The State I'm In" features tracks from alt-rockers Remy Zero ('Motorcycle') and Electronic popsters Frou Frou (the Top 25 Dance, Top 40 Adult Top 40 'Breathe In'), two artists who were heard in "Garden State." Also appearing is the Commodores classic 1978 #1 Pop smash 'Three Times A Lady,' quasi-featured in a pivotal scene of the film written, directed, and starring Zach Braff. In addition, the quirky lineup boasts a sense of discovery with genre-stretching bands such as The Sea And Cake ('Sound & Vision'), The All Seeing I (an electronica cover of Sonny & Cher's '60s anthem 'The Beat Goes On'), downtempo/drum 'n' bass duo Lamb ('Gabriel') and rising art-punkers the Yeah Yeah Yeahs ('Maps'). Also included are renowned yet edgy artists, groundbreaking hip-hop fusionist DJ Shadow ('Six Days') and cult hero singer-songwriter Paul Weller ('Wild Wood'), and vintage tracks from the Lou Reed-led Velvet Underground ('Sunday Morning'), Beck Pop favorite Serge Gainsbourg ('Requiem Pour Un Con') and confessional folk-pop great Cat Stevens ('The Wind'). "The State I'm In" Track Listing: 1. Sunday Morning - The Velvet Underground • 2. Breathe In - Frou Frou • 3. Requiem Pour Un Con - Serge Gainsbourg • 4. Sound And Vision - The Sea And Cake • 5. Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs • 6. Motorcycle - Remy Zero • 7. The Beat Goes On - The All Seeing I • 8. Six Days - DJ Shadow • 9. Wild Wood - Paul Weller • 10. Three Times A Lady - Commodores • 11. The Wind - Cat Stevens • 12. Gabriel - Lamb
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05.23.06 (AP) Coming from the radio speakers, BOB DYLAN sounds as craggy and weather-beaten as he looks - and quite playful, too. As he reaches his 65th birthday today, Dylan is carving out a new role as a part-time radio disc jockey. His weekly "Theme Time Radio Hour" airs 10 a.m. EDT Wednesdays on XM Satellite Radio, with Dylan as both curator and narrator. Much like his concerts, Dylan's radio shows are a journey through 20th century musical Americana, the sort of thing he would have heard growing up in Minnesota with a transistor radio hidden under his pillow when he went to bed. So far, about the only thing missing is Bob Dylan music, unless you count the off-key verse of 'Take Me Out To The Ball Game' that he croaked at the beginning of this week's show on baseball. Each week Dylan builds his show around a theme, like the weather and drinking songs. For Mother's Day, he celebrated moms with an hour that mixed Buck Owens' 'I'll Go To Church With Mama,' Ruth Brown's 'Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean' and LL Cool J's 'Mama Said Knock You Out.' The majority of the music Dylan plays predates his own heyday. "I think it's more akin to the way radio sounded in 1952 than it does in 2006," said Lee Abrams, XM Satellite Radio's chief creative officer. Dylan's entertaining baseball show also mixed in calls from classic baseball games, like Curt Gowdy announcing Ted Williams' home run in his final at-bat with the Boston Red Sox. He refreshingly avoids the obvious: Dylan spins Billy Bragg and Wilco's 'Joe DiMaggio Done it Again' and not Simon & Garfunkel's 'Mrs. Robinson.' He plays Buddy Johnson's 'Did You See Jackie Robinson Hit That Ball' and ignores John Fogerty's overexposed 'Centerfield.' "If diamonds are a girl's best friend, why do so many girls get mad when you want to go to the ballpark?" Dylan says during this week's show. "You tell me." That sort of absurdist humor is what may most surprise listeners. Dylan told mother-in-law jokes a la Henny Youngman during one show ("I just came back from a pleasure trip - took my mother-in-law to the airport"). He also discussed watching the old Country-flavored musical/variety TV series "Hee Haw." His intro to 'Mama Said Knock You Out' became an old white man's rap. "Here's LL Cool J," he said. "Don't call it a comeback. He's been here for years, rockin' his peers, puttin"em in fear, makin' tears rain down like a monsoon, explosions overpowerin' the competition. LL Cool J is towerin'." And catch this opening to that show on mothers: "Going to pay tribute to that bountiful breast we all spring from, mother dearest," he said. "'M's' for the many things she gave me. 'O' is for the other things she gave me. 'T' is for the things she gave me. 'H' is for her things, which she gave me. 'E' is for everything she gave me. 'R' is for the rest of the things she gave me. Let's talk about mothers." Although you can occasionally hear the shuffling of papers as he talks, Dylan sounds like a natural on the radio. "I was completely surprised" by his radio show, said Jonathan Cott, who edited an anthology of Dylan interviews that was released to coincide with the 65th birthday. "I was surprised when he wrote his 'Chronicles' book. I'm surprised by him all the time. I didn't think he'd ever be a disc jockey."
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05.19.06 (MusicPortal.com) From Tricky to Franz Ferdinand, from Cat Power to The Rakes, from Placebo to Michael Stipe, from Portishead to Marianne Faithfull and from Jarvis Cocker to The Kills, "Monsieur Gainsbourg Revisited" (to be released in June) is the latest compilation from Verve Forecast featuring the aforementioned artists. In the past few years, a new name, albeit an unpronounceable one, has appeared on the lips of English-speaking musicians - SERGE GAINSBOURG. The singer/songwriter/Pygmalion actor/filmmaker/author/entertainer/agitator/gambler/ladies' man is an individual whose many facets reflect in each other to form one of the most dazzling prisms in twentieth-century French culture, and whose sparkle now spreads well beyond both France and the century. A few years ago both Madonna and the underground prophet John Zorn declared their admiration for Gainsbourg - separately, but with the same zeal. The English group Portishead lifted the heady atmosphere of Cargo culte from the Melody Nelson album for their stunning remix of Massive Attack's "Karmacoma." De La Soul sampled Gainsbourg, Beck borrowed wholesale ('Paper Tiger'), and countless artists cover his songs. In France and worldwide (from Air to Sonic Youth) artists by the dozens claim him as an influence, to the point that the first proper Gainsbourg biography in English, A fistful of Gitanes by the journalist Sylvie Simmons ended up establishing Gainsbourg on the international scene both as a musician and cultural icon. Yet for a long time, all the British knew about Serge Gainsbourg was his romp on vinyl with Jane Birkin on 'Je T'aime Moi Non Plus,' a single banned by the BBC, condemned by the Vatican, and yet which topped British charts in 1969. They also knew that he got Brigitte Bardot, Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Adjani and Vanessa Paradis -- four landmarks of the French feminine ideal seen from outside France -- to sing, and that he shocked Whitney Houston on live television. He is therefore widely remembered in Britain as a sex maniac with -- as his album title says -- a cabbage for a head. But those used to pacing the avenues and alleys of his expansive repertoire know very well that Gainsbourg cannot be summed up in a bit of famous heaving and panting. In fact, Gainsbourg cannot be summed up at all - he is enlarged and appreciated from various angles with the helpless realization that none of... [full story]
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05.18.06 (MusicPortal.com) Like so much classic literature, art and poetry, 24-year-old GRAN BEL FISHER's circuitous journey from rural Sabina, Ohio to Los Angeles, California begins with something essential and ultimately inexplicable: life, love and death. Those themes are movingly explored on his upcoming Hollywood Records debut album, "Full Moon Cigarette," due for release on July 18th, and are based wholly on personal experience. "The Littleton Funeral Home has been in my family since 1905," explains Fisher, who has grown accustomed to the barrage of questions about the family business. "Our attitude was that it was a very normal occupation. Working there gave me a different perspective on things: I realized early on that everyone has the same reaction to death. Ultimately, I think working there made me more sensitive to life." Indeed, "Full Moon Cigarette" finds Gran Bel Fisher's unique, life-affirming perspective fueled by his powerful and mellifluous voice, passionate songwriting, and consummate musicianship. Witness the title track, which opens with him playing a single piano note suddenly transformed into a complex piano fugue before exploding into a full-throttle Rock groove with his soaring baritone voice. "The song is a reflection of my life," he explains. "I started thinking about how I see everything: life, love and death and those themes embody this entire album. The songs are inspired by my everyday realizations of life." "Full Moon Cigarette" is also about Gran Bel Fisher's utterly original songs and brilliant voice, which transcend fleeting fashions and simple categorization. Baring this out are soul-stirring tracks like 'Edible,' with its melodically-addictive chorus and Fisher's multi-octave voice, 'Far Cry's emotive expression of dislocation and alienation, and 'Moment,' which builds from a gentle Delta Blues croon to a ferocious, primal roar. Elsewhere, the ballad 'Bound By Love' explores the tension and release of heartache and solace, while the anthemic 'Crash And Burn' showcases Gran Bel Fisher's accomplished piano playing while simultaneously "burning the whole place down." To understand Fisher's multi-faceted references, one has to go back to Sabina, Ohio (est. population: 2,827), a single-stop light town and farming community nicknamed the "Eden of Ohio." His idyllic childhood was filled with music as his mother and father (a gifted pianist) introduced Gran Bel Fisher and his three siblings to music. "Beginning in second grade we all took piano lessons," he recalls. Thus began an eclectic music education where... [full story]
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05.17.06 (AP) Former Beatle PAUL McCARTNEY and his second wife, Heather Mills McCartney, said Wednesday that they are separating after nearly four years of marriage, blaming intrusion from the media and insisting their split is amicable. Rumors of a rift between Mills McCartney and the singer's children -- especially Stella McCartney -- have circulated for years. Talk centered around the idea that Mills McCartney, who is nearly half his age, wanted to devote more time to campaigning against land mines and fur. "Having tried exceptionally hard to make our relationship work given the daily pressures surrounding us, it is with sadness that we have decided to go our separate ways," a statement from the couple said. "Our parting is amicable and both of us still care about each other very much." McCartney, 63, and Mills, 38, married in June of 2002, four years after his former wife, Linda McCartney, died of breast cancer. McCartney and Mills had a daughter, Beatrice, in October of 2003. "Separation for any couple is difficult enough, but to have to go through this so publicly, especially with a small daughter, is immensely stressful," it added. "We hope, for the sake of our baby daughter, that we will be given some space and time to get through this difficult period." McCartney's wealth was estimated at $1.5 billion by the Sunday Times in their annual list of Britain's richest people. The couple are believed not to have a prenuptial agreement. Speculation immediately arose about the size of a possible settlement, with lawyers estimating Mills McCartney's share of the former Beatle's fortune at between $188 million and $376 million. On Wednesday afternoon, McCartney posted a message on his personal website, saying he was very upset over suggestions that Mills McCartney had married him for his money. "It's been suggested that she married me for the money and there is not an ounce of truth in this," he said in the post. "She is a very generous person who spends most of her time trying to help others in greater need than herself. All the work she does is unpaid, so these stories are ridiculous and completely unfounded. I'm very sad to see that some insensitive people would choose a moment like this to spread these vicious rumors." In 2002, Heather Mills told Vanity Fair that McCartney didn't force her to sign a prenuptial agreement before their huge wedding - despite tabloid reports to the contrary. Mills said she offered to sign an agreement, but that McCartney -- who was worth more than $1 billion at the time -- wouldn't allow it... [full story]
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05.09.06 (MusicPortal.com) The UK's biggest selling star, KATIE MELUA, is releasing her album "Piece By Piece" in the U.S. on June 6th. Following sold-out performances all over Europe, the young vocalist will be joining Il Divo on tour in North America to support the release. Still riding high on the success of her multi-platinum debut album, "Call Off The Search" -- which spawned the genre-crossing megahit 'The Closest Thing To Crazy' -- the Georgian-born, Belfast-raised Melua's "Piece By Piece" has already sold over 2.5 million copies and holds steady at the top of the charts throughout Europe since its release there. A Pop, Jazz and Blues chanteuse with talent to burn and a voice and songs to melt any heart, she is currently Britain's biggest-selling female artist for two consecutive years now (2004 and 2005), selling out London's Royal Albert Hall and appearing at Buckingham Palace last year. At just 21 years of age, this international singing sensation's soulful, acoustic sound has simply captured audiences around the world and more - having already performed for Nelson Mandela, rocked with legendary group Queen, and can honestly call the Queen of England one of her biggest fans. She even caught the attention of Hollywood when she was asked to record the title track for the feature film "Just Like Heaven" starring Reese Witherspoon. "Piece By Piece" Track Listing: 1. Shy Boy • 2. Nine Million Bicycles • 3. Piece By Piece • 4. Halfway Up The Hindu Kush • 5. Blues In The Night • 6. Spider's Web • 7. Blue Shoes • 8. On The Road Again • 9. Thankyou, Stars • 10. Just Like Heaven • 11. I Cried For You • 12. I Do Believe In Love Upcoming Tour Dates With Il Divo: June 14th Boca Raton, FL [Mizner Park Amphitheater] • June 15th Boca Raton, FL [Mizner Park Amphitheater] • June 16th Tampa, FL [Ford Amphitheater] • June 18th Atlanta, GA [Chastain Park Amphitheater] • June 20th Spring, TX [Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion] • June 21st Dallas, TX [Smirnoff Music Centre] • June 23rd Las Vegas, NV [Mandalay Bay] • June 24th Phoenix, AZ [Cricket Pavilion] • June 25th San Diego, CA [Bayside Concerts At Embarcadero] • June 27th Los Angeles, CA [Greek Theater] • June 28th Los Angeles, CA [Greek Theater] • June 30th Marysville, CA [Sleep Train Amphitheater] • July 1st Concord, CA [Chronicle Pavilion] • July 3rd Vancouver, BC [General Motors Place]
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05.05.06 (MusicPortal.com) On June 6th, "Move By Yourself," the sophomore release from singer/songwriter/pro surfer DONAVON FRANKENREITER will be released on Lost Highway Records, his first for that label. The album is somewhat of a sonic departure from the Southern California native's self-titled 2004 Brushfire Records debut, which yielded the Top 5 AAA single 'Free.' Frankenreiter and company -- Eric Brigmond (keyboards), Matt Grundy (bass) and Craig Barnette (drums) -- have stamped their signature brand of "feel good music with a soul" all over this new offering. The album feels like a breath of fresh air - old-school fresh air, that is. Frankenreiter lays down his most soulful vocals to date on top of the loose, Funk-filled grooves that make up "Move By Yourself." The opening title track, with its late 70's-ish bass line and clavinet buzz, feels as if you've just stepped out of a time machine. The album is also a showcase of infectious, laid-back tracks such as the bluesy 'All Around Us,' 'By Your Side' and 'Beautiful Day.' Once upon a time, mentioning surfing and music in the same sentence conjured up sepia-toned images of the early '60s. But thanks to artists like Donavon Frankenreiter -- who, unlike most of the old-school "surf-rockers," knows his way around a wave as well as he does a fretboard -- those images have been updated radically to focus as much on musical adventure as on the spreading of good vibes. Over the course of the past half-decade, the California-bred Frankenreiter established himself as one of the more original voices on the acoustic-rock scene, through tireless touring. But, unsatisfied with simply heading further down that path, the sun-kissed openness of his songs is still in full effect and he's now couching those feelings in a whole new set of sounds. "I listen to so much music, and I pretty much feel comfortable singing all of it, so I didn't want to come across as a guy who does nothing else but sit on a beach with an acoustic guitar, playing around a fire," says Frankenreiter. "The funky stuff, especially, is fun to play. It really lets me tap into a different part of my personality." In order to more fully explore different aspects of that personality, the Laguna Beach-based singer-songwriter decided a change of scenery would do him good. "Jack and Mario [Caldato] did a great job on that last record and I..." [full story]
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05.01.06 (MusicPortal.com) THE DUHKS proudly accepted a 2006 Juno Award for their self-titled album in the "Roots & Traditional Album Of The Year - Group" category at a recent ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The band will put the finishing touches on the follow-up to their breakthrough, self-titled album in Nashville after their appearance at Merlefest 2006. The group recorded the album with acoustic icon Tim O'Brien and engineer/co-producer Gary Paczosa, which is slated for release sometime in the Fall. The five practiced, risk-taking twenty-something musicians and singers who make up this singular new band out of Winnipeg, Manitoba will, if asked, good-naturedly toss out some of the attempts at labels astonished listeners have turned to... In the two years that they've been a unit, many have tried to describe The Duhks' music - "contemporary acoustic," "progressive soul-grass," and "kick-ass rock/folk fusion" being just a few of the attempts to classify the group. There are elements appropriated from Irish fiddle tunes, Canadian French and Scottish/Maritime Folk, and Appalachian Old Time string band in their high-energy music--but from the first sight of The Duhks (pronounced "The Ducks"), you know that no stab in the classifying dark can quite capture the synthesis and musical attack of this crew. That phrase "contemporary acoustic" doesn't readily suggest -- until the moment you see The Duhks enter and go at it live -- a drummer (Scott Senior) pounding dance rhythms, even graceful salsa polyrhythms, on a handmade cajon drum right out of Havana, or a striking, soulful singer up front (Jessee Havey) awash in tattoos, cooing, crying and shouting like a Punk-era Gladys Knight or India.Arie. That their Salsa and Soul regularly intertwine with turns on banjo (Leonard Podolak), fiddle (Tania Elizabeth) and guitar (Jordan McConnell) out of traditional instrumental Folk music only underscores that this band is essentially something else again, with sounds of their own making, working a potent new North American vein of World Music. Festival fans have been found dancing and banging on the front of the stage during their sets, in spontaneous full-on, working mosh pits. For all of the delicacy that The Duhks bring to their quieter... [full story]
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[Folk News: April 2006]
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