Filed under: Issue 19, Issue 19 Lofi | Tags: Jimi Hendrix, the Black Keys, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Bob Dylan, lo-fi, Syracuse University, Nebraska, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dinosaur Jr., Mouth's Cradle, Bears in America, beck, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Modest Mouse, Maroon 5, GarageBand, Devon Stewart, Ween, John Frusciante, Tascam Portastudio, The Basement Tapes, The Band, Logic Pro Studio, Devon James Stewart, Aux Records, Rascal Flatts
Devon Stewart rocks the Shaefer studios while working on his self-titled solo project
Lil Wayne. Kanye West. Maroon 5. Rascal Flatts. Music purists loathe them for at least one reason — Auto-Tune, a downloadable audio processor that corrects vocal and instrumental blunders in order to attain perfect pitch. By using this program, a producer can fill in a recorded performance’s holes, smooth its edges and polish its smudges. Everyone must use this to attain musical nirvana, right? Negatory. In fact, musicians that admire large holes, adore peculiar edges, and worship pesky smudges are alive, well and plentiful. They are lo-fi artists.
Lo-fi is a shortened form of “low-fidelity,” fidelity meaning the extent to which an electronic device such as a radio or television can accurately reproduce a sound or an image. Taken literally, lo-fi can be defined as low-quality sound. (more…)
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Bella Union, Billy Corgan, Bob Dylan, Bonaroo, Bruce Springsteen, Lil Wayne, Midlake, Passion Pit, Santigold, The Beastie Boys, The Black Eyed Peas, The Decemberists, The-Dream
Lil Wayne's No Ceilings mixtape leaked today
Lil’ Wayne’s No Ceilings has leaked four days prior to its scheduled debut of Halloween, reports RS. The mixtape is the most recent release after Weezy pleaded guilty to weapons charges, and includes hints at his pending incarceration like, “T.I., hold your head.” Carter rhymes over tracks like The-Dream’s “Fancy” and the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling”. Check out the leak courtesy of our friends over at Nah Right.
Midlake has finally released the details regarding their third release, which is apparently set to be titled The Courage of Others, reports Stereogum. The record, which will come to us via Bella Union Records, will feature a sound more reminiscent of, “British folk scene of late 60’s stuff,” says the group. With three years having passed since their last release, we’re expecting quite the album. Stereogum has a look at the track list and a few of the first dates of their 2010 US tour.
Billy Corgan hasn’t released anything worth its salt from the past couple of years, but apparently he’s feeling confident enough to take on the Swine Flu in his blog. In an 800-word rant against the disease and the “propaganda machine” behind it, Corgan explains why he won’t be taking the vaccine, reports Pitchfork. Corgan claims that the disease is man-made, according to “people” whom he has spoken to “as doctors”. He further goes on to boldly proclaim that, “I am willing to question anything: the existence of God, the existence of me or you or Robert Zimmerman.” That’s right, folks, even Bob Dylan.
For those of you who couldn’t make it to this year’s Bonaroo, fear not. On December 15th, the powers behind one of the indie communities most massive festivals will be releasing a DVD of this past year’s show, the aptly named Live From Bonaroo 2009, reports Pitchfork. The DVD will include performances from The Beastie Boys, Bruce Springsteen, Santigold, Passion Pit, and the Decemberists, to name a few.
– John Luposello
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Acrylics, Bob Dylan, Bon Iver, Charlie Sexton, Chris Taylor, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Grizzly Bear, Jason Klauber, Molly Shea, sufjan stevens, Terrible Records, The Cars, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Vish Khanna, Volcano Choir, Wings
Legendary guitarist Charlie Sexton reunites with Bob Dylan's live band
Bob Dylan fans recently got the long-awaited opportunity to celebrate the return of the Texas-native blues-rock guitarist Charlie Sexton to Dylan’s live band, reports RS. The return of Sexton means that the Tambourine Man can now play lead guitar and organ lines, which are an asset to his sets. Dylan celebrated Sexton’s first gig with the band since 2002 with a three-night stand in L.A. at the Hollywood Palladium, where Sexton reportedly held center stage for most of the night with a dominating stage presence. Dylan and Sexton apparently battled all night for stage superiority amidst a set dominated by Dylan’s well-known electric blues. The night was capped off with a forceful rendition of “All Along the Watchtower”, during which Dylan appeared all too pleased with his old friend’s return. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Music Biopics]
While making it clear that he won’t be retiring, Sufjan Stevens has recently bared his concerns and misgivings regarding the creative process, as reported by Stereogum. Stevens said in a recent interview with Vish Khanna that while he is famous for his epic endevours regarding the production of albums, they never really start out as the odysseys that they eventually turn into. Sufjan also put to bed the rumors that swirled regarding the possibility of his retirement, explaining that, “I would never explicitly say something like that. But I definitely feel like ‘What is the point? What’s the point of making music anymore?’” Excuse our skepticism, but you’re making us a little nervous, Sufjan. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Sufjan Announces an Intimate Tour]
Folk rock icon Bon Iver has recently come off of tour promoting his critically acclaimed LP For Emma, Forever Ago and sophomore effort, EP Blood Bank. According to leader Justin Vernon’s website, Bon Iver has played it’s “last show for the foreseeable future,” according to Pitchfork. The show went down at Milwaukee’s riverside Theater on October 11 and has been named as the band’s final show “before taking a well-deserved break from public performance. Although it’s a pretty major blow to folk rock fans, Vernon will most likely be taking the time to spend working on his side project, Volcano Choir, a collaboration between Vernon and Collections of Colonies of Bees. The group recently released their debut full length, Unmap, to plenty of critical acclaim. We’d say it’s enough to keep pining Bon Iver fans satisfied. The performance is available for streaming and download here. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Volcano Choir's Unmap]
Brooklyn-based AOR pop group Acrylics recently spoke with Pitchfork about some of their recent happenings. They’ve managed to distinguish themselves from the indistinguishable herds of patchy indie groups that have been pouring out of Brooklyn recently with their debut EP All of the Fire, which is scheduled to drop on October 28th on Chris Taylor’s (Grizzly Bear) label, Terrible Records. From their beginnings as a rock group called Standing Nudes to recording an EP in a church, the group’s leaders, Molly Shea and Jason Klauber, shed a bit of light on what it means to be a pop group from Brooklyn. They cite some of their influences as The Cars, Wings, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and plenty of other pristine pop groups from the 60’s and 70’s. Check out the record’s title track here.
– John Luposello
Filed under: XCLUS!VES | Tags: Ticketmaster, The Hold Steady, Bob Dylan, lo-fi, americana, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Neutral Milk Hotel, positive jam, ithaca, the felice brothers, deer tick, Stewart Park, Cayuga Lake, Ithaca Beer Company, Dave Matthews Band, festival, Associated Press, Brewfest
Positive Jam: a weekend of good beer and great music
Check out the rest of 20 Watts’ exclusive coverage of Positive Jam here!
PREVIEW: Get the 20 Watts Positive Jam Mix here!
Music festivals and beer go together like ice cream and Grey’s Anatomy.
That was presumably on Ithaca concert promoter Dan Smalls’ mind as he began to organize the first Positive Jam Festival, featuring The Hold Steady, in conjunction with Ithaca Beer’s annual Brewfest at Stewart Park.
On Saturday, Sept. 5, beer lovers in Ithaca’s Stewart Park will indulge in the Ithaca Beer Company’s brews (alongside those of other small breweries across New York State) while enjoying the scenery of Cayuga Lake. The next day is all about the music — but both days will involve plenty of beer, with little corporate intervention to spoil the mood.
“It’s not just a big corporate moneymaking event, it’s about the city [of Ithaca],” Smalls told 20 Watts in a telephone interview. “There’s so many beautiful parks here, and Ithaca is just such a great summer location that it would make sense to have a summer venue like this. I think two successful years of putting on the Brewfest allowed us the leeway with the city to take a chance on something like this.” (more…)
Filed under: Positive Jam Reviews | Tags: Bob Dylan, Conor Oberst, Killingsworth, Mark Twain, positive jam, Team Love Records, the felice brothers, The Minus 5, Yonder is the Clock
The Felice Brothers are playing at Positive Jam on Sept. 6 in Ithaca
PREVIEW: Download The Felice Brothers’ “Rise and Shine“ MP3
WE GIVE IT: 18/20 Watts
This review is part of 20 Watts’ exclusive Positive Jam coverage. Check out the rest here!
More than most bands out and about today, The Felice Brothers take part in an American tradition as old as Mark Twain, from whom they stole the title Yonder Is the Clock. With lead vocalist Ian Felice’s raspy voice, comparisons to Bob Dylan are inevitable. Rather than hurt them, though, using themes that may seem ancient to us today only enhances the music and sets the album apart.
Free-flowing rhymes like, “She’s the fairest of them all / She loves her adderall,” in “Run Chicken Run” provide a stark immediacy reminiscent of Dylan’s most acclaimed work. The lyrics, like those on The Minus 5’s recent release Killingsworth and like those of “Times They Are a-Changin’,” remind listeners of hardships and injustices. Whether fraught with political imagery or just a mad adderall addict, the two songs operate from a viewpoint of someone watching and commenting.
The Felice Brothers drench the record with imagery of past or impending doom — from a first-person narrative of dying in New York’s noted hub on “Penn Station,” to the effects of “Memphis Flu” on all the “pretty women, men dying” in 1929. The album would be a gloomy ordeal if the vocals weren’t so comfortably sung and the instrumentals so vibrant. Would anyone read Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn if it ran pedantic with message? The raucous vocals on “Memphis Flu” equate nicely to Finn’s Duke of Bilgewater — impersonator of the Duke of Bridgewater. It’s called satire — beautifully at work on both Yonder Is the Clock and in Huckleberry Finn. (more…)
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Bob Dylan, Invitation Songs, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Cave Singers, Welcome Joy
The Cave Singers release their second album, Welcome Joy
PREVIEW: Download The Cave Singers’ “Beach House” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 16/20 Watts
For fans of art-punk outfit Pretty Girls Make Graves, I’m sure you’re already over the fact that The Cave Singers sound nothing like them. Gone are the quick hits and angsty vocals of the former. In their place, The Cave Singers are dominated by Pete Quirk’s Dylanesque stylings encased in the more subdued aesthetic they introduced on their previous effort, Invitation Songs, and have nearly perfected on Welcome Joy. Don’t mistake that for timidity though. Quirk’s voice soars over the strong, yet soft, instrumental pieces with a confidence only acquired with experience. (more…)
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Blink 182, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Franz Ferdinand, free music, Girl Talk, Kanye, Lil Wayne, maryland, merriweather post pavilion, Oasis, virgin mobile festibal, Weezer
FreeFest brings bands like St. Vincent and Girl Talk to Baltimore -- for free!
PREVIOUS FREE MUSIC COVERAGE: Free NYC shows this weekend, Free Dirty Projectors show July 19th
This year’s Virgin Mobile Festival– the yearly festival that brings acts like Bob Dylan, Kanye West, Chuck Berry, and Lil’ Wayne to the same venue– will be free of charge! Well, free, except for the recommended $5 donation towards youth homelessness, but I would say that’s a relatively fair trade-off (it’s actually a steal).
The concert will be on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. I guess people acted fast because free tickets, as well as optional packages WERE available on Ticketmaster.com, but they’re now sold out. However, according to the website, if you sign up to volunteer with homeless youth agencies, you’ll be eligible to win tickets.
Though many of us will already be back at ‘Cuse, if you live somewhat close to the area, you should definitely consider going back a day late because like years past, this year’s lineup (below the jump) is awesome:
Filed under: Features | Tags: Beatles, Blind Melon, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Discovery, Elliot Smith, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lykke Li, M83, MGMT, Passion Pit, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stones, The Wallflowers
Hate DJing for your parents?
I just got back from a two-day getaway trip to UpState New York with my parents. It sucked, but I’m not going to get into that. However, it reminded me of an annoying occurrence that happens every time I share a car with my parents for a prolonged period—choosing music.
Every time, my mom or my dad asks me to put in my iPod, which is filled with tons of music I love, cherish and worship. To them, a lot of my music is challenging, repetitive and just plain obnoxious. Music is one of the many generational divides we face with our parents, but there are ways to pick music that all sides can enjoy. Keep in mind, this method doesn’t last forever, and you’ll get tired of it, but it helps. All parents are different, but the following tips apply to even the most conservative music lovers.
1) Avoid songs/bands/genres that are repetitive
This means no house music, techno, or Top 40 music. My parents hate hearing the same notes repeated over and over again. It drives them crazy, which is understandable. It’s not like you’re parents want to pull the car over and have a full-out dance party.
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Bob Dylan, Def Leppard, Dirty Projectors, Metallica
In light of the scary news that the Dirty Projectors had a bad car accident outside Detroit (everyone’s fine, thank goodness, but will be canceling shows in Montreal and Toronto), I thought it’d be interesting to reflect on rock history’s most famous, not necessarily deadly, motor vehicle accidents.
1) Bob Dylan Motorcycle Accident
-In 1966, after Dylan crashed his bike on a remote road, his whole sound changed, and people started saying the real Bob Dylan died that day. He didn’t die, but it changed the career of a key voice in the Civil Rights movement.
2) Def Leppard’s Rick Allen
-In 1984, Rick Allen, Def Leppard’s drummer, lost his arm in a savage Corvette accident in England. Like a true rock star, he rehabbed and rejoined the band with one arm.
3) Metallica’s Cliff Burton
-In 1986, Metallica suffered a major setback in Sweden when their bus flipped over and killed their original bassist, Cliff. The band, still to his day, has never mentally gotten over it, and the band never truly replaced Cliff.
On a sidenote, the members of Dirty Projectors are recovering in New York, and will eventually continue touring. Get well soon, guys!
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Editor Picks, Features | Tags: Beta Band, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens, Creation, David Bowie, Dick Dale, Frou Frou, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Iggy Pop, Jack Black, John Lennon, New Order, Quentin Tarantino, Seu Jorge, sufjan stevens, Swell Season, The Shins, The Who, Velvet Underground, Wes Anderson
Jason Schwartzman in "Rushmore"
I’m a huge movie fanatic, and music worshiper too, so it only makes sense that I really love movies with great soundtracks. A bad soundtrack doesn’t really break a movie, but it can make it a whole lot better. Music is cool like that. So thus, I’ve compiled my Top 10 soundtracks over the 21-year span of my movie-watching career.
A rule of thumb in finding good soundtracks is knowing the directors who appreciate good music, and the best kind of music used in films is usually semi-obscure classic rock music. These usual suspects are none other than Wes Anderson and Quentin Tarantino. These two are geniuses at finding music that contrast, and at the same time, blend with the style of their films. That’s why the music sticks out. Typical Wes Anderson is playing David Bowie’s “Queen Bitch” in a closing scene with Bill Murray jogging. Tarantino is another fan of 60s and 70s classic rock and usually layers them in his legendary dialogue scenes. These two will no doubt pop up in the Top 10.
For me, at least, good soundtracks are not just good mix tapes, but they have to work hand-in-hand with the movie.
The Top 10 (Not ranked in order)
1) High Fidelity
Not only is this movie one of my favorites of all time, it’s stacked with great songs by Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, The Beta Band, The Velvet Underground and the Kinks. I discovered a lot of cool songs off this album, and they all work really well together. There’s even a cover of “Lets Get it On” by Jack Black in it. What’s not to love about that?
2 and 3) Rushmore and Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
Half of these movies’ charm are in the soundtracks, and they’re both classic Wes Anderson. Rushmore is filled with classic hits by Cat Stevens, John Lennon, Velvet Underground, Creation and the Who. They’re all off-beat songs with quaint feeling. The songs are handpicked to catch you off guard in their respective scenes. Even if Anderson is a one-trick pony filmmaker, he knows his music. Although Life Aquatic isn’t as complete a soundtrack as Rushmore, it gets recognition for me exposing me to Brazilian songwriter Seu Jorge.
4 and 5) Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs
I paired these two Tarantino films together because they do the same thing, but still make two awesome soundtracks. Without the soundtracks in these movies, they’d probably lose a step. Take Pulp Fiction for example, the credits set the pace with “Misirlou” by Dick Dale. It hits you in the face, like “wow, here we go!” Tarantino does a lot of the same things Anderson does, except he’s doesn’t use humor in his soundtracks, he adds coolness with his selected music.
6) Once
This one gets this nod because the music was written for the movie, which is highly impressive. The film was all about the music in this case; in fact, it was more like a musical. The music was filled with fiery and passionate acoustic ballads about love and heartbreak. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova had me at the first note. The cool part is the actors and Swell Season band mates dated for a long time, but recently broke up. I loved this soundtrack so much I saw them perform live twice and met them both in person.
7) Little Miss Sunshine
This soundtrack is only here because it introduced me to Sufjan Stevens, whose name I still can’t pronounce correctly. Great movie though.
8 ) Trainspotting
This is the kind of movie that’s so good, it doesn’t even need a soundtrack, but it made it so much better. Bolstered by great hits by Iggy Pop and New Order, this soundtrack is full of illustrative songs about the drug culture in England during the late 80s and early 90s. Not to mention, playing Iggy Pop along with Ewan McGreggor running for his life made him look really cool.
9) Hedwig and the Angry Inch
This was a very weird movie about rock n’ roll tranny touring the world in pursuit of a long lost lover, but the music is all original. The music is all about the life of a heartbroken tranny, but the lyrics are poignant and a few songs are bad ass rock ballads. A quality album, especially the song, “Origin of Love.”
10) Garden State
Ahhh, last not but not least, Garden State. This is the only case where the soundtrack was miles better than the movie. Lots of indie kids think this is the greatest soundtrack of all time, and it did really well for itself at record stores when people still bought music. It might’ve been the biggest bridge for out-of-the-loop kids in suburbs to get exposed to indie bands like the The Shins and Frou Frou.
Here are some samples I talked about:
“Queen Bitch” in Life Aquatic
“Origin of Love” in Hedwig and the Angry Itch
–Jett Wells, Reviews Editor
