The album art for TMV’s upcoming album, Octahedron – out June 23. A few months ago I talked a bit about The Mars Volta’s latest up and coming record, titled “Octahedron,” and how glad I was to hear that we’ll be finally dealing with a more cohesive and unitary record, seeing how supposedly the whole band is now creatively involved. Well, time’s past and we’re now only one week away from Octahedron’s release date. Consequently,…
Only one week separates us from Grizzly Bear’s new album release, however, until then we can get the next best thing – some live acoustics of Veckatimes tracks performed by the band in just these past days. First is the simple, but beautifully effective acoustic version of “All We Ask,” performed in a car’s back seat for the Black Cab Sessions. Then we’ve got a more ellaborated GB set as part of their guest appearance…
Those of you kind readers who’ve been following my writing for the last couple of weeks may have noticed that I’m a big fan of Natasha Khan’s latest LP, “Two Suns.” It’s eery, up-lifting and filled with hope. I always feel more motivated and ready to face the world after I give it a spin, from the first to the last track. The bonus songs on the album aren’t too shaky at all, too.If you…
Without a doubt, Leonard Cohen is one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. A true legend. And although for the past decade or so, he’s been leaving in somewhat seclusion, his fans haven’t and won’t ever forget his soothing baritone voice. Last year, Cohen performed on stage once again, after a more than 15 years long absence from any live gig. He came back in full swing though, with an extraordinary set…
I’m not sure there’s a modern rock band more steeped in the history of rock n’ roll than the Drive-By Truckers. Band leader Patterson Hood is the son of David Hood, a key figure in the old Muscle Shoals music scene; they were the backing band for the forgotten queen of soul, Bettye Lavette’s Scene of the Crime album; and their last album, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark, featured Spooner Oldham (who is being inducted into…
If you enjoyed Arcade Fire’s Burning Bridges from a few weeks ago, here’s another new/rare song from the band. “Lenin” (originally titled “When Lenin Was Little”) was recorded for the increasingly awesome indie compilation Dark Was The Night, that also includes songs from the likes of Bon Iver, My Morning Jacket, Beirut, Sulfjan Stevens, The National and more other popular indie acts. Lenin, although far from a stand out Arcade Fire track, is quite fun,…
Mastodon’s new album, “Crack The Skye”, is just a few couple of week away, but, even so, anticipation grows ever unbearable, especially with the annoyingly awesome teasers the band’s promo company do. Above is pictured the official art work for Crack The Skye, definitely too abstract and packed with symbolism for all of us to fully comprehend. An impaled bear walking over the globe, two twin Tsar genies (two Rasputins, more likely), levitating a globe…
Bon Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago” ranked #3 on our ZME Top 50 of 2008, making it, for us at least, one of the best albums of year and one of the best debuts in years. Although “Blood Bank,” the latest material from Justin, is just a short, four track EP, it’s interesting to see if he can produce music of the same quality, without being confined to an isolated Wisconsin mountain cabin. For those…
Back when summer was in full swing, we posted Franz Ferdinand’s first single in a long time, the iTunes exclusive Lucid Dreams, a song set to appear on the band’s upcoming third full length studio album – “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” Yesterday the Scotsmen premiered a new single, “Ulysses,” on BBC’s Radio 1, and now it’s available for streaming on their myspace page. The song is pretty Franz Ferdinandish, if I may. Sarcastic, fun and very…
It’s official, folks! No bullshiting any more from behalf of Mr. Axl. He’s lived up to his word and delivered, “Chinese Democracy,” Guns ‘N’ Roses’ first single in almost ten years, to the airwaves and interwebs yesterday, on October 22. How’s the song you ask? It’s OK. For a single that’s been expected with high anticipation by million of fans all over the world, it’s a bit disappointing. For those of you who’ve downloaded the…
Tibi Puiu
Al Byrne