THURSDAY THROWBACK: Superman’s not Dead, He’s somewhere out there February 26, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Thursday Throwback, Video.Tags: gravity, our lady peace, somewhere out there, superman's dead
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Although most probably remember Canadian rockers Our Lady Peace from their early 90s post-grunge hit “Superman’s Dead,” I came in a little bit later, buying 2002’s Gravity on a whim, because I thought the cover looked interesting. Glancing at it now, I’m not sure why I thought that. Anyhoo, “Somewhere Out There” was the lead single from that album, and I loved it. Still kinda do to be honest.
Lady Sovereign does the impossible – Gets worse February 24, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Video.Tags: close to me, lady sovereign, love me or hate me, robert smith, so human, the cure
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I never thought it possible, but the infamous “Love Me or Hate Me” rapper, England’s Lady Sovereign, has made worse music than that aforementioned tune.
There’s a video out for her new track “So Human,” and in keeping with The Cure theme (see the below post), the song heavily samples Robert Smith and company’s “Close to Me”.
It also makes use of a very tired cliche in poking fun at the paparazzi. View the trainwreck below. And below that, relive “Love Me or Hate Me.”
This pick the price model only works if the album is good February 24, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Video.Tags: 4:13 dream, in rainbows, Radiohead, robert smith, the cure, thom yorke
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Robert Smith, frontman for The Cure, blasted the Radiohead In Rainbows release model in an interview posted today on Music Radar, saying:
The Radiohead experiment of paying what you want – I disagreed violently with that. You can’t allow other people to put a price on what you do, otherwise you don’t consider what you do to have any value at all and that’s nonsense. If I put a value on my music and no one’s prepared to pay that, then more fool me, but the idea that the value is created by the consumer is an idiot plan, it can’t work.
Never mind the fact that In Rainbows skyrocketed to #1 in both the US and the UK when it was released physically on CD and vinyl early last year. The Cure’s latest, 4:13 Dream, peaked at 16 in the US and 33 in the UK. Hmm, maybe Radiohead’s just better and can get away with letting users pick the price? You be the judge:
In this corner, Thom Yorke and Radiohead.
In the other, Robert Smith and The Cure.
A song I love February 24, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Video.Tags: jay clifford, jump little children, know when to walk away, Zach Braff
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I’m a bit late to the party as far as this tune goes, but Jay Clifford’s (vocalist for Jump Little Children) “Know When To Walk Away” is a wonderful song. I first heard about back last year on Zach Braff’s blog, but never got around to downloding it. The 30 seconds on iTunes seemed good enough, but I just never pulled the trigger. We recently received a compilation in the Texan office that had the track, and I fell in love with it. Check out the video below, coincidentally directed by Braff.
NEW MUSIC TUESDAY: Steven Wilson goes solo; still kind of sounds like Porcupine Tree February 24, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, New Music Tuesday.Tags: insurgentes, porcupine tree, steven wilson
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Image Courtesy CD Universe
Steven Wilson is a busy man. Known primarily as the mastermind behind the modern progressive rock group Porcupine Tree, the multi-instrumentalist has also lent his talents to notable side projects like No-Man and Blackfield. Not content to simply rest on his laurels, Wilson is back again with his first official solo album, Insurgentes, an intriguing but inconsistent effort.
From the very beginning of the disc, it’s clear this is a Wilson project. The opener “Harmony Korine” starts off in Porcupine Tree-like fashion, with a meandering electric guitar melody conversing with Wilson’s standard English croon throughout the verses. In the chorus the song picks up and Wilson shows off his falsetto talents. All in all though, it’s a slow-burning track that sounds more like a B-side left on the Porcupine Tree chopping block than a standalone masterpiece from Wilson.
That is the main problem with the record. Wilson himself claims the album is meant to focus on its droning qualities, but unlike bands like Isis, Steven can’t quite pull it off. “Abandoner” is slow paced, almost to the point of boring, with some drum machine licks thrown in haphazardly for variation. “Veneno Para Las Hadas,” which translates to “Poison For The Fairies” is equally as lurching in its rhythm and doesn’t seem to go anywhere throughout the entirety of the song.
My Resume Gains Leverage February 23, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Newsworthy, Photo.add a comment
Associated Press
If you watched the Oscars last night, you know that Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire swept the ceremony, winning eight awards including Best Film and Best Director.
I’m personally freaking out because I interviewed the magnificent Boyle last year and now can add that chat with an Oscar winner to my resume. Relive the magic here.
Thursday Throwback February 19, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Thursday Throwback, Video.Tags: cold, happens all the time, stupid girl
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At Blake’s request, this week’s Thursday Throwback features Cold, those crazy mainstream post-grunge dudes who brought you “Stupid Girl.” However, rather than play that tune, I decided to go with a song that I actually still kind of like and have on my iTunes. It’s called “Happens All the Time” and it has a ridiculously good hook in the chorus.
M. Ward tells Letterman “Never Had Nobody Like You” February 18, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Video.1 comment so far
It’s a bit strange that I hadn’t really listened intently to M. Ward until my review of his newest CD Hold Time, but I’ve definitely become a fan. Ward played one of my favorite tracks from the record, “Never Had Nobody Like You,” on Letterman last night, and it was great. Ward’s vocals are a wonderful husky blend of a ton of great artists.
The song itself is interesting because of the juxtaposition of fuzzed out guitars churning along with an old school pop structure. Check it.
“The Wrestler” Video February 18, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, Video.Tags: bruce springsteen, darren aronofsky, mickey rourke, the wrestler
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Say what you want about Darren Aronofsky’s new film The Wrestler, there’s no denying that Bruce Springsteen’s tune he wrote for the film is a lock-in to win an Oscar. Well, now that song has a video.
Being an old wrestling fan, I personally love the song, and the video adds another bit of emotion to what is already a very great tune. Much different from Bruce’s crotch-shot at the Super Bowl, eh?
New Music Tuesday: M. Ward mixes genres with fantastic results February 17, 2009
Posted by Robert Rich in Music, New Music Tuesday.Tags: hold time, m ward, matt ward
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Photo courtesy CD Universe
Matt Ward is a mysterious figure. To the uninitiated, he’s simply another musician in a long line of Pitchfork’s “indie folk alt-rockers,” a name you’ve heard but probably never listened to due to the sheer volume of artist options in today’s musical landscape. That’s unfortunate, because Ward, who has appeared on albums ranging from Norah Jones to My Morning Jacket, is quite possibly the most badass contemporary retro folk-rocker you’ll ever come across.
In case you’re wondering, those labels are intentionally outlandish, because M. Ward cannot be classified, lest you end up looking foolish for even trying. The eclectic musician’s newest release, Hold Time, is no different, and features a range of sounds that trek from early blues to The Beatles to straightforward modern rock. “For Beginners” starts things off, and as the title suggests, is merely the pre-game discussion for the contest to come, with a shuffling acoustic guitar rhythm and a melody so contagious you’ll be giving it to all your friends.
