Filed under: Genre Columns, Indie Rock, Industry News | Tags: U2, Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Woodstock, Glastonbury, Michael Eavis, Worthy Farm, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, No Line on the Horizon, Bono, Joshua Tree, Monterey, Halo, V
U2 are looking more and more like aging Irish Porn Stars
PREVIEW: LISTEN to U2’s “No Line on the Horizon”
Just when you thought aging, self-absorbed rock stars couldn’t be more agonizingly full of themselves as displayed in the upcoming TV special of the 25th Annual Rock Hall of Fame Awards/concerts — U2 strikes again in destroying everything that’s halfway decent about popular Rock music by headlining England’s Glastonbury 2010 Music Festival.
Despite the poor sales of this once-great band’s most recent album No Line on the Horizon, U2 still don’t know when to quit. Since playing on top of buildings in London and causing a carefully orchestrated and televised stir earlier this year didn’t work, perhaps Bono figures that their spanking new songs will resonate with an audience whose only relation to the band is that their parents had Joshua Tree playing in the background during their conception. (more…)
Filed under: Editor Picks | Tags: Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, MySpace, Explosions in the Sky, Weaver at the Loom, The Waste Land, lyrics, The Album Leaf, I Was Searching and Then I Found
Weaver at the Loom
PREVIEW: STREAM Weaver at the Loom’s I Was Searching and Then I Found on their Myspace
Everyone loves Explosions in the Sky. As one of the most innovative bands in the current music scene, Explosions has inspired multiple artists to delve into the world of musical epics. One brainchild of the band is Weaver at the Loom.
Like Explosions, Weaver is comprised of four members who each contribute their musical talents. The difference between the two bands: Weaver features vocals in every song. As was described on their Myspace, Weaver masterfully combines “atmospheric elements of groups like Explosions in the Sky and The Album Leaf with the songwriting grace of compositional masters Death Cab for Cutie and Coldplay.” To add to this wonder, the lyrics of every song on the band’s only album, I Was Searching and Then I Found, flow together to make a story that could be comparable to Eliot’s The Waste Land. Much like Explosions, the album is meant to be listened to from start to finish.
With some of the most beautiful vocals I’ve ever heard and simple yet emotional instrumentation to compliment, I Was Searching and Then I Found could easily be classified into the coveted “album that I could never get tired of listening to” category. If you are listening to the album for the first time, here is what I recommend: play the album all the way through while reading the lyrics. It is honestly a spiritual experience.
–Elizabeth Vogt, Assistant Front-of-Book Editor
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: ABBA, Black Gold, Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Filter, Genesis, Girl in a Coma, iTunes, Jeff Beck, Kids Company, Kiss, LL Cool J, Matador Records, Metallica, Michael Jackson, MySpace, NME, Pitchfork, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stone, Run-DMC, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Stooges
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio
PREVIEW: WATCH the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ video for Californication.
Rolling Stone reports that the Red Hot Chili Peppers, LL Cool J, Kiss, Genesis, the Stooges and ABBA are among the artists nominated for the 2010 class of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees. This is the first year in which LL Cool J and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are eligible for induction. Last year’s inductees included Jeff Beck, Metallica and Run-DMC. (Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Industry News, Week 3)
Brooklyn’s indie duo Black Gold has decided to embark on a US tour supporting Texas-native punk sweethearts, Girl in a Coma, as reported by Filter. The multi-instrumental duo comprised of Eric Ronik (lead vocals, keyboards) and Than Luu (drums, percussion, vocals) will be performing tracks from their debut full length entitled Rush, which was released this past February. You can check out their dance beat-infused tunes on both iTunes and Myspace.
An unreleased Michael Jackson single and album has been announced for release in October, reports NME.COM. The track “This Is It” is the fist posthumous Jackson single to be released and will come out October 12, followed by a compilation album on October 26 and a movie entitled “This Is It” on October 28. In a message on Jackson’s Web site, it was revealed that the compilation album will be a two-disc set featuring past hits, previously unreleased mixes and a spoken-word piece from Jackson called “Planet Earth.” [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Syracuse Reacts to Michael Jackson’s Death]
Syracuse.com’s Listen Up Blog posted an especially sentimental birthday note to The Boss, who is celebrating his 60th Birthday today. Bruce’s last gigs in ‘Cuse include a two night stand at the Dome in 1992 and a critically acclaimed show at the Landmark Theater in November 1996. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee apparently celebrated his 60th during a concert on September 21 in Des Moines, Iowa. Seriously, Bruce? No rocking the Spectrum (actually, he’ll be there in October) or perhaps MSG (where he’ll be this November) on the big day? I guess you are getting old…
Pitchfork and NME.com report that Coldplay have donated one million pounds ($1,616,809 American dollars) to the charity, Kids Company. Kids Company aims to provide support for inner-city children. According to NME the band also plans to give music lessons to kids at Kids Company centers. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: The 20: An Essential Guide to Britpop]
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists haven’t had much luck with record labels in the past after Lookout! Records folded and Touch and Go stopped releasing new records. Pitchfork reports that the band has signed to Matador Records.
–20 Watts Staff
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: A View to Kill, Adam "MCA" Yauch, Alicia Keys, Amy Winehouse, Billy Corgan, Coldplay, Daniel Craig, Duran Duran, Hello Nasty, Hot Sause Committee Part 1, Jack White, James Bond, Joe Satriani, last.fm, Mark Ronson, Mary Travers, Mountain Goats, muse, Paul and Mary, Peter, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Smashing Pumpkins, SPIN, The Beastie Boys, The Colbert Report, The New York Times
Smashing Pumpkins will release 44 new track for free
SPIN announces that Smashing Pumpkins will release a new 44-track free record, entitled Teargarden by Kaleidyscope. On top of the free songs, the band will also be putting out eleven limited-edition EPs of the tracks. Even though leading man Billy Corgan is the only original Pumpkin left, it’s still an intriguing project for the 90s alt-rock stalwarts. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: News of Note: Muse Stream The Resistance, Jay-Z, Wild Beasts, White Lies, Kurt Cobain's Guitar Hero Avatar, and much more]
The Beastie Boys, while waiting for Adam “MCA” Yauch to hopefully make a speedy recovery from cancer treatment, are re-releasing 1998’s Hello Nasty. On top of the original album’s content, the deluxe edition will feature 21 additional tracks, including 10 never-before-heard segments and songs. Hopefully we don’t overdose on the guys before the eventual release of Hot Sauce Committee Part 1. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Releases of the Week: Kanye Samples & the Beastie Boys]
According to Rolling Stone the copyright infringement lawsuit between legendary guitarist Joe Satriani and British Rock gods Coldplay has been dismissed. Satriani claimed that “substantial original portions” of his song “If I Could Fly” were used in Coldplay’s smash hit “Viva La Vida.” Both parties are refusing to say whether or not a financial settlement was reached.[Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Coldplay Releases A New Video For "Strawberry Swing"
New York Times reports that Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary died Wednesday night of cancer at the age of 72. Mary was a member Peter, Paul and Mary, which was one of the most influential Greenwich Village folk groups of the 1960s.
NME.COM reports that rock band Muse have expressed interest in creating the theme song for a future James Bond movie. Muse drummer Dominic Howard spoke to BBC News and said that the band’s epic music would fit well with the franchise. "It's something we'd probably say yes to, or at least give it a good go," he said. "Certainly some of our music fits with the James Bond vibe – and I think it could work." The last James Bond film had a few tribulations when it came to the movies main theme. Originally, Amy Winehouse and producer Mark Ronson were set to make the song, but the pair didn’t make enough progress, which led to it being replaced by Jack White and Alicia Keys’ track “Another Way To Die”. The 23rd Bond film will have Daniel Craig returning as agent 007 and is set for release in 2011. If Muse were to record the next Bond song they would be the first British band to do so since Duran Duran, more than 20 years ago, in "A View To A Kill". [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Muse’s The Resistance]
Pitchfork reports that the Mountain Goats will appear on “The Colbert Report” on October 6, the same day the band releases their new LP, The Life of the World to Come. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: News of Note 9/14/2009]
Starting October 5, internet radio and music community website, Last.fm will launch actual radio stations. These radio stations will broadcast on CBS’s New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco radio channels, Billboard reports.
Brooklyn Vegan recently posted a rumor, based on information from “multiple reliable sources,” that Pavement
Filed under: Editor Picks, Keep It Classical | Tags: Chris Martin, classical music, Clocks, Coldplay, Live Earth, Persia, Qin Dynasty, Twelve Girls Band
Twelve Girls Band covers Western songs with Chinese instruments
Twelve is a significant number in Chinese culture. There are, as any restaurant placemat will tell you, 12 animals in the zodiac. There are 12 golden hairpins, or jinchai, that represent womanhood. Twelve “Earthly Branches” follow the planets’ orbits to determine months, seasons and hours. The lunar calendar is split into 12-year cycles. And Twelve Girls Band has—you know it—12 girls in it.
The classically-trained members Twelve Girls Band all hail from China’s top music conservatories. Chosen from 4,000 auditions, they play classical instruments such as the erhu, a two-stringed fiddle; the guzheng, a zither dating back to the Qin Dynasty; and the yangqin, a hammered dulcimer originating from ancient Persia. With these they inject some drama into traditional Chinese melodies as well as modern Western pieces—like Coldplay’s Grammy-Award-winning hit “Clocks:”
While they faithfully replicate Chris Martin’s stirring, minimalist piano riff, they also give it the distinctive voice and solo of otherwise-forgotten instruments that peaked in the lavish court ensembles of ancient Chinese royalty. The result is a stunning blend of the familiar—Western ears will recognize the opening notes at a Pavlovian level, while those from the People’s Republic will spot the dizi (a Western-style flute) solo in place of the vocals from a mile away—and the unheard-of, combining into something beautiful that proves to be greater than the sum of its parts.
Twelve Girls Band has toured America in 2004 and 2005, promoting two of their six studio albums. They’ve played Live Earth as well as striking it huge in Japan—and there should be no surprise to their popularity with songs like these.
– Blake Rong, Features Editor
Dizi
Filed under: Features, XCLUS!VES | Tags: All Points West, Coldplay, Etienne De Crecy, La Roux, Lykke Li, Silversun Pickups, We Are Scientists
– Jett Wells
Filed under: Features | Tags: Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Coldplay, Elastica, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Kaiser Chiefs, Kasabian, Madchester, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Pulp, Ride, shoegaze, Snow Patrol, Suede, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, The Verve
You’ve heard of Blur — you’ve jammed to the Verve — you’ve probably sung “Wonderwall” in the shower. But if someone asked you to reel off your favorite bands from the Britpop movement, you’d have little choice but to “Slide Away” or “Stutter,” Elastica style.
Here at 20 Watts, we understand your pain. There’s so much music in the world — and only so much hard drive space! That’s why we’ve recruited a team of music fanatics to write comprehensive, 20-album guides to all their favorite genres. Our exhaustive, brand-new feature, THE 20, is more than a curated list — it’s the absolute best of a style or movement, condensed to a form you can play in one sitting.
So what’s the very best in Britpop? 20 Watts’ DAN KAPLAN has the answer in our first 20 installment. Watch for 20s each Thursday — only on 20 Watts.
Filed under: Releases of the Week | Tags: Radiohead, Coldplay, indie, Paul McCartney, howling bells, radio wars, Bella Union, Ken Nelson, Independiente Label, Dan Grech-Marguerat, Air, Juanita Stein, PJ Harvey
Howling Bells release their sophomore album Radio Wars
PREVIEW: Download Howling Bells ”How Long”
Hundreds of bands rise to the surface each year. Many dominate major music festivals, while a handful even get a record deal or produce highly-acclaimed albums, knocking the critics off their feet. That’s precisely what Howling Bells did when they took the indie scene by storm in 2006 with their self-titled debut released on Bella Union, produced by none other than Ken Nelson of Coldplay.
Finally Howling Bells are gracing their fans with a sophomore effort, Radio Wars. The album will hit stores in the U.S. and Canada on July 28th, 2009, though it’s been circulating on the other end of the pond since March. It seems that this is the year Howling Bells will be leaving their most memorable mark on the indie music industry. Not only have they joined London-based label, Independiente, they had Dan Grech-Marguerat (who’s worked with Radiohead, Air, Paul McCartney) produce Radio Wars.
The new album is quite an evolution for the band. Their debut was full of folk- and blues-charged melodies that flung listeners back a few decades, while Radio Wars does the contrary. It submerges you in incredibly melodic, futuristic songs which make you feel like you just went for a walk on the moon. (more…)
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Coldplay, Music Videos, Strawberry Swing, Viva La Vida
Martin as superhero in "Strawberry Swing"
Coldplay’s music can be kind of a sleeper, but their music videos rarely are. Their latest video for “Strawberry Swing,” the fifth single off of Viva La Vida, was released yesterday and maybe the most stunning.
This is saying something since Chris Martin had to sing a song backwards for “The Scientist” music video. In “Strawberry Swing,” Martin plays a superhero in a live-animation world made of chalk. The amazing intricacies of the video explain why the video was released now instead of a year ago when Viva La Vida first came out.
But the coolest thing about this video is that it’s so childlike. The video says something about the band, because they are family men with wives and children. It’s spectacular, personal and brings a different perspective to the song.
You can view the video at Babelgum.com
—Ashley Collman
Somehow, people translated Michael Jackson’s untimely death as an excuse to get away with horribly covering his beautiful, perfect songs. Chris Martin is apparently the latest offender — he covered one of the most untouchable hits of the last century, “Billie Jean” at the Belgian music festival, Rock Werchter. And if Youtube is telling the truth, this routine has actually become standard in Coldplay’s recent concerts. But admittedly, this video is worth a listen for one reason, and one reason only: the faint, yet obvious communal “ugh” uttered throughout the crowd as Martin plays the first notes. Surely there are better ways to pay homage, Chris, and I think the crowd would agree.
– Carly Wolkoff
