Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Elton John, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Depeche Mode, Santigold, Blink 182, Michael Jackson, Blur, Where the Wild Things Are, Spike Jonze, Queen, Dave Gahan, Incubus, The Jackson 5, Korn, N.E.R.D., A&E, Carter Burwell, Coen Brothers, Maurice Sendek, MTV Games, Lego Rock Band
PREVIEW: Watch the trailer for Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are
On the eve of the premiere of Spike Jonze’s Where the Wild Things Are, Rolling Stone gives us a look at the production behind the film’s soundtrack. Both Jonze and co-composer Carter Burwell, who has worked on every Coen Brothers film plus Jonze’s own Being John Malcovich, have scored the cinematic adaptation of Maurice Sendek’s classic kid’s book. Burwell often urged musicians to approach the music in an unsophisticated manner, asking them to play like 5th graders instead of classically trained professional musicians. Check out RS’s behind-the-scenes look at the soundtrack production.
Sure, we all scoffed at the release of MTV Games’ Lego Rock Band. But now alt-rock legends Blur are on board for the game, allowing you to rock out to their classic library as a Lego version of the band, says Stereogum. The game’s soundtrack reportedly consists of kid-friendly selections from Blink 182, Elton John, Incubus, The Jackson 5, Korn, Iggy Pop, David Bowie and Queen, just to name a few. Available for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Wii, and Nintendo DS, the game will now give “budding musicians” the chance to play alongside the guys from Blur. Woo-hoo.
N.E.R.D. has been hard at work with dub queen Santigold, reports Pitchfork. The product of the collaboration, a freshly released single entitled “Soldier”, sounds distinctly mid-80’s, combining N.E.R.D.’s distinctive funk-rock sound with a more upbeat, hardcore tempo. The synth horns sound specifically nerdy (pun intended), but sound strangely natural next to Santigold’s vocals. Check out the MP3 here.
Earlier this week, electropop legends Depeche Mode took a pretty embarrassing mis-step at one of the stops on their South American tour. As leader Dave Gahan finished “Never Let Me Down Again”, he exclaimed, “Thank you Chile!” to a crowd of adoring fans at the Explanada del Estadio Monumental. The only problem was that the venue was in Lima, Peru. Oops. Depeche will be playing in Chile later on in the tour, so the blunder isn’t completely unjustifiable. Rolling Stone has a video of the slip, and also gives us a look at some other celebrity stage faux pas, including Alanis Morisette’s mistaking of Peru with Brazil.
A&E has recently said that Michael Jackson’s children may be appearing in the new reality show entitled The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty, says Rolling Stone. While A&E had first affirmed that the children would not be included in the taping, they have now come out saying that, “Filming is taking place right now. As production moves forward, it is entirely possible that the brothers’ paths will intersect with other members of the Jackson family, who may or may not be included in the finished series. However, we cannot at this point definitively know who else may make an appearance in the series.” The statement upsets Michael’s older sister, who has said that Michael would have never approved of their involvement with the show. The show is set to air in December.
– John Luposello
Filed under: News of Note | Tags: Anti- Records, Basement Jaxx, Channels, Chipmunk, Chris Walla, Daren Zentek, Death Cab for Cutie, J. Robbins, Jan van Nuenen, Jawbox, Kelis, Meika, Michael Jackson, NPR, This Is It, Tom Waits
Michael Jackson from the cover of his 1982 classic Thriller
The King of Pop’s “This Is It”, the title track from a soon-to-be released documentary of the same name, was available for streaming last night beginning at midnight on the King’s official website, says Rolling Stone. Michael Jackson, who often spent time in the public spotlight for his infamous highs and spiraling lows, is featured in this posthumous release alongside piano and strings. Recorded in 1991 during his sessions for Dangerous, the ballad features backup vocals from Michael’s four brothers. The film and soundtrack are scheduled to drop October 27, you can see the film trailer here. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: New MJ Single To Be Released]
UK-based house duo Basement Jaxx have released a music video for the title track of their fifth studio based album, Scars. Stereogum gives us a look at the video, which is directed by Dutch digital animator and artist Jan van Nuenen. The video thrives off of the effect-laden vocals supplied by Kelis, Meika, and Chipmunk, and features a rather threatening plant that grows and develops as the song progresses. Trust me, you’ll never look at a rosebush the same way again. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: 20 Watts Reviews Basement Jaxx's Scars]
Much to our delight. experimental pioneer Tom Waits has announced the release of a new live album. According to Pitchfork, the two disc set will consist of all live recordings from Tom and has been titled Glitter and Doom. While Disc 1 will consist of a collection of songs sampled from ten separate shows, the second disc will be entirely made up of one track. That one track, entitled “Tom Tales,” will consist of onstage ramble and banter from our favorite songwriter. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until November 24 for Anti- Records to release it. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Tom Waits Appears in Kerouac's Big Sur]
Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla and Jawbox’s J. Robbins recently appeared on NPR’s Project Song, a feature in which artists are challenged to collaborate and write a song in just two days. The pair had never worked together before, which made the entire process even more spontaneous. As Pitchfork shows us, the product, entitled “Mercury” possesses all of the qualities that we’d expect to come from this talented duo, which were joined by drummer Daren Zentek, who played alongside Robbins in Channels. You can check out video of the entire process, or video of the finished song. [Previous 20 Watts Coverage: Editors Pick #130: New Death Cab EP- The Open Door (2009), Editor's Pick #83: New Death Cab Music Vid]
-John Luposello
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: Emerging Artists, XCLUS!VES | Tags: Afro, Alex Toth, Brooklyn, Depeche Mode, Funk, funk n waffles, Hail to the Thief, Kalmia Trever, Kuma, Landing, Michael Jackson, Orchestra, Radiohead, Rose's Dream, Rubblebucket, Sophistafunk, Syracuse, The Bell House, There There, Thriller, Utica, World is Gonna Drown
Dancing the night away
PREVIEW: Download Rubblebucket’s “Bikes” MP3
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Emerging Artist: Rubblebucket Orchestra
VIEW: Photos below the jump
The lounge and bar area of Brooklyn’s The Bell House had less people sitting on the stools and chilling on their couches Friday, August 7, than usual. Instead, most of the people were in the back venue listening to some extraordinary live jams while chowing on waffles (Funk ‘n’ Waffles that is).
By a quarter to midnight Syracuse’s own Sophistafunk had ended their high energy performance that included a guest horn section from Utica whose saxophonist was especially feeling the groove. They blew the audience away with her insane improvisations. After such a finale it was hard to see how anything could follow up such a tour de force. Yet based on this writer’s experience, Rubblebucket Orchestra (or Rubblebucket—as they seem to be calling themselves now) have developed reputation of always miraculously exceeding expectations as they did in this show.
The way they entered the stage at The Bell House was uncharacteristically low-key, as the nine-piece band simply walked on stage by midnight and put their instruments on. My encounter before, with Rubblebucket was much different. It was at Syracuse’s Funk n Waffles and the show started with lead band members Alex Toth and Kalmia Traver entering from the front door — with a confident swagger that personified cool as they blew into their respective instruments and banged on a bucket, heading toward the stage and jamming into their first number as if it were nothing. (more…)
Filed under: Emerging Artists, Features, Interviews, XCLUS!VES | Tags: Alan Palomo, Beatles, Bullion, Chris Marker, Electrosanne, Grizzly Bear, Michael Jackson, MySpace, Neon Indian, Stan Brakhage, Stardust Memories, Twitter, Vega, Wings
Alan Palomo is the mastermind behind Neon Indian and VEGA
READ: 20 Watts Reviews Neon Indian’s “Terminally Chill.”
After some struggle, 20 Watts finally got to talk to Alan Palomo, a fast-rising emerging artist based out of Austin, TX, and the face behind disco house act VEGA, and up and coming electronica band, Neon Indian.
In light of Neon Indian’s upcoming debut LP release in October, Palomo, soon to be 21-years-old, talked a little about how Neon Indian got started and where he gets his inspiration.
20W: Talk a little about where you are from and your history with music.
Palomo: I was born in Mexico and grew up in mostly Texas, and I’ve been exposed to music all my life. I’m nostalgic to the Beatles, Wings and Michael Jackson. My brother had always been more musical than me, and only at the end of high school did I start playing music.
20W: How did you get into electronica and techno?
Palomo: I always had an interest in electronic music. It just happened one day when I found a an old synth machine at a pawn shop. It always stuck out to me.
Filed under: Scene Around Town | Tags: A Tribe Called Quest, Diddy, J Dilla, James Brown, Michael Jackson, Q-Tip
Q-Tip played a passionate, energetic set at Central Park on Saturday. Photo courtesy of Peter Ruprecht.
If there had been a roof at Central Park’s Summerstage last Saturday, Q-Tip would have brought it crashing down.
The Queens-bred rapper has always been an innovator when it comes to hip-hop. From his early days with A Tribe Called Quest to his solo career, Q-Tip has demonstrated an unrivaled talent for taking bits and pieces from all different styles, blending them into unusual, envelope-pushing compositions.
But as good as Q-Tip is on record, his live show — a topsy-turvey journey through old and new songs — is even better. Q-Tip rapped with poise and passion, spitting every line like he felt it. He danced and jumped across the stage with an energy level unparalleled in this day and age. And his live band added a dimension that isn’t usually heard in a genre so predictably mechanical.
Q-Tip started his set with “Good Thang” from his newest album, The Renaissance. He then launched into the Tribe Called Quest favorite “Oh My God.” The crowd was really feeling it and wasn’t afraid to let it show, jumping around and rapping every line to their favorite songs.
Q-Tip stopped rapping for a moment in the middle of his set to do a mini-James Brown tribute by dropping to his knees as he DJ ran over and put a cape on him. Q-Tip also gave shout-outs to his good friends J Dilla and Michael Jackson. He even went as far as to open “Move” with The Jack 5’s “Dancing Machine.”
Diddy even showed up for a brief moment to get into the action but quickly retired backstage after jumping around with Q-Tip and the band. The set ended, all too soon, but Q-Tip wasted no time running back onstage for a two-song encore of “Gettin’ Up” and “Life Is Better.” He came into the crowd for a sing-along of his last song, as his band grooved on the beat for about 10 minutes of beautiful soul.
– Zach Goldstein
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
Filed under: Features | Tags: Britney Spears, Elliot Smith, Eminem, James Brown, James Hetfield, Kurt Cobain, Michael Jackson, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Gogh
Musicians, regardless of their genre, are not what you would call normal people.
Michael Jackson reminded us of that with his tragic death. Jackson was an extreme case though. He wasn’t just troubled, he was literally bonkers. His father stole his childhood by putting him to work in the Jackson 5, and the rest was history as he developed a severe addiction to plastic surgery and drugs over the course of his life.
Sadly though, a lot of musicians are troubled and disturbed as well, although not many to the point where their noses fall off. Kurt Cobain, Britney Spears, Eminem, Ozzy Osbourne, Elliot Smith, James Brown, James Hetfield and Johnny Cash are a few names on an endless list. Musicians have similar stories that begin with fame and fortune and end with rehab and death. They’re flat-out crazy half the time, but you’ve got to believe their craziness and troubled stories are what make them great artists. An artist doesn’t become a genius through a happy life and ice cream every day. It’s the pain, the struggle and madness that makes a musician truly great. All geniuses, after all, are always crazy before they become geniuses.
Let’s face it. The Michael Jackson we loved and idolized died a long time ago — not last Thursday. That impostor walking around in masks was a zombie. He died in the early 1990s when all his baggage came to bite him in the ass. It’s amazing he lasted this long! But people lose sight of the bigger picture every time a celebrity dies — they forget all the pain and anguish and make them martyrs. Kurt Cobain? He’s a rock God now, but in real life he was a sociopath crackhead.
It’s amazing how disconnected a crazy musician can become from his/her work. Truly crazy people can make magical works of art, and yet people only see the art. All art has a price. Van Gogh? We don’t even need to go there.
It’s rare for musicians to have long lives because their bodies and minds take such beatings. The one outlier is, of course, Keith Richards. He should have died a long time ago, and quite literally looks like grim death.
The saddest part is that a lot of nutty musicians die and never see the true value of their insanity in their art. Michael Jackson was filthy rich before he died, but he left $500 million in debt. You can bet that debt will disappear this year once all of his old albums and merchandise sell off the rack.
–Jett Wells
Filed under: Industry News | Tags: Michael Jackson, Syracuse University, Twitter
Michael Jackson may have been one of the most significant and controversial musicians of all time. And although none of us knew him, we all reacted — sometimes violently, sometimes hilariously — to Thursday’s news of his death.
Below, 20 Watts has collected some Twitter reactions from Jackson’s SU fans. Want more? Follow 20_watts on Twitter and tweet us your reactions! We’ll post more as we get permission to use them.
@wangsanatame and my mom are crying over the phone about michael jackson.. its like we both grew up listening to MJ. how can this be? [Andrea Wangsanata, junior public relations/political science major]
@trevor_kiv What other living artists would have this kind of impact on us?!? McCartney? Dylan? Waters? What do u think? [Trevor Kiviat, junior music business major]
@HondoMesalistening to “Michael Jackson – Billie Jean Motown 25th Anniversary – MJNews” ♫ http://blip.fm/~8×8ij [Hondo Mesa Records, Syracuse NY]
@HarryRobertsyou think ppl will be walkin around nyc with one glove on? [Harry Roberts, sophomore music business major]
@starryreaMy kids are gonna listen to Michael Jackson and appreciate him like how I grew up on Earth, Wind & Fire and Marvin Gaye. [Elizabeth Reid, magazine journalism and political science major, class of '09]
@JohnCa55illoNot sure how I feel about Michael Jackson’s death. Quite an unfortunate few days this week for celebrities. [John Cassillo, senior public relations/political science major]
@tuanquocleso again, RIP MICHAEL JACKSON, King of Pop. a true legend. [Tuan Le, television, radio and film major, class of '09]
@TAJrani Watching CNN, still in disbelief. R.I.P. Michael Jackson. [Taj Rani, broadcast journalism, class of '09]
Amazon posted a preview of a few Spoon tracks off their new album Got Nuffin. No word on the release date yet.
–Jett Wells
