Canadian Musicians Group: "Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical"

Several Canadian musical artists who favor "a fresh approach to copyright law reform" have formed The Canadian Music Creators Coalition. They will advocate legislative changes and programs that support artists while bringing an end to file-sharing lawsuits against their fans.

Sloan, Stars, Broken Social Scene, Sarah McLachlan, John K. Samson (of The Weakerthans), Dave Bidini (of Rheostatics), Raine Maida (of Our Lady Peace), Chantal Kreviazuk, Bob Wiseman, Andrew Cash, Barenaked Ladies, Billy Talent, Sum 41, and Avril Lavigne are among those who have signed on thus far.

Coalition members including Broken Social Scene, Barenaked Ladies, and Andrew Cash are holding a press conference Monday, May 1st, from 10:30 AM until noon EST at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. They will reveal the identities of additional Canadian musicians joining their cause, speak about the issues, including their "demands for a face-to-face meeting with government Ministers responsible for these issues."

The coalition has named three principles it feels "should guide the copyright reform process":

1. Suing Our Fans is Destructive and Hypocritical

Artists do not want to sue music fans. The labels have been suing our fans against our will, and laws enabling these suits cannot be justified in our names. We oppose any copyright reforms that would make it easier for record companies to do this. The government should repeal provisions of the Copyright Act that allow labels to unfairly punish fans who share music for non-commercial purposes with statutory damages of $500 to $20,000 per song.

2. Digital Locks are Risky and Counterproductive

Artists do not support using digital locks to increase the labels' control over the distribution, use and enjoyment of music or laws that prohibit circumvention of such technological measures. The government should not blindly implement decade-old treaties designed to give control to major labels and take choices away from artists and consumers. Laws should protect artists and consumers, not restrictive technologies. Consumers should be able to transfer the music they buy to other formats under a right of fair use, without having to pay twice.

3. Cultural Policy Should Support Actual Canadian Artists

The vast majority of new Canadian music is not promoted by major labels, which focus mostly on foreign artists. The government should use other policy tools to support actual Canadian artists and a thriving musical and cultural scene. The government should make a long-term commitment to grow support mechanisms like the Canada Music Fund and FACTOR, invest in music training and education, create limited tax shelters for copyright royalties, protect artists from inequalities in bargaining power and make collecting societies more transparent.

To put that last part in a bit of context for those not from the land of the Tragically Hip and Leonard Cohen, to promote Canadian music, Canadian Content Rules (or "CanCon") require that 35% of the music aired on both AM and FM stations every week be "Canadian". To qualify as "Canadian" at least two of the following "conditions" must "generally" be met (generally?):

M (music) - the music is composed entirely by a Canadian.

A (artist) - the music and/or the lyrics are performed principally by a Canadian.

P (production) - the musical selection consists of a live performance that is (i) recorded wholly in Canada, or (ii) performed wholly in Canada and broadcast live in Canada.

L (lyrics) - the lyrics are written entirely by a Canadian.

It's called the MAPL system! 'Cause... they like syrup. So, on some level, it makes people more likely to find the system appetizing? Somewhere a consultant or a committee said that, you just know it. There's more, but Canadians are well-familiar with it, and non-Canadians who didn't know about this business are likely either shocked because they thought you guys were more sensible than to come up with such schemes, or feeling smug that you're no better than us Americans in that respect at least. MAPL? PLZ.

The idea of artists having a good deal of say in copyright law makes sense. One can only hope the people who thought up MAPL have retired and the new folks will listen.

Sloan - Out To Lunch (from the Japanese edition of Navy Blues)

Stars - Krush (from The Comeback EP)

The Weakerthans - Aside (from Left & Leaving)

Rheostatics - Saskatchewan (from Melville)

Barenaked Ladies - The Old Apartment (from Born On A Pirate Ship)

Sarah McLachlan - Fallen (live) (from the Live Acoustic EP)

The Wrens Announce New Album

The Wrens tell Billboard while they're still writing their next album, they hope to release it before the end of the year. A remastered version of EP Abbott 1135 is also in the works, with release set for Fall.

As for the album, the group's Charles Bissell tells Billboard it will address the coincidence that happened right before the 2003 release of Meadowlands, with every member of the group experiencing the death of a parent within two months.

The Wrens have several tour dates over the next few months, and Bissell says the group plans on putting some older and unreleased songs on their website later this year.

The Wrens Tour Dates:

May 4 - Berlin, Germany - Rotor Salon

May 5 - Dresden, Germany - StarClub

May 6 - Vienna, Austria - Planet

June 30 - Groningen, Netherlands - Vera

July 1 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg

July 2 - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Metropolis Festival

July 13 - Regensburg, Germany - Alte Malzerei

July 14 - Heidelberg, Germany - Karlstorbahnhof

July 15 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust

The Wrens - Happy (from Meadowlands)

REM Side Project to Tour; Members Free to "Play Nothing"

R.E.M. bandmates Bill Rieflin and Peter Buck have announced a short tour with another band, dubbed Slow Music.

Along with Buck, Robert Fripp (of King Crimson) gives the band two guitarists, which isn't unusual. Two drummers, however, might raise a few eyebrows. Either because one drummer can't meet their needs, or as an homage to Spinal Tap, drummer Matt Chamberlain is also part of the group. Keyboardist Hector Zazou and bassist Fred Chalenor (of Here Comes Everybody) round out the lineup.

Rieflin told Billboard.com, that Slow Music is "based on the idea of space, rather than filling space" (although two drum kits on one stage would seem to fill a lot of space.) He explains, "In an improvised context, instead of saying, 'Hey, play this,' I'm saying, 'If you don't know what to do, play nothing.' With six guys on stage, there's going to be at least one person to try and keep the ball rolling. Whereas so-called ambient or textural music ideas tend to live in a programmed context, I wanted to put it in a performing and playing context with musicians. In a way, it's a challenge for the musicians to learn how to work with space."

Last October, the group played some "completely improvised" music at Seattle's Crocodile Cafe. A recording, Live at the Croc will be released "somehow, somewhere", says Rieflin. Right now, there are no song titles.

So apparently Rieflin, Buck, & co. are tired of the tyranny of songs. Lyrics, the pressure to play instruments at predetermined points to please "the people" (you) and "The Man" (record labels, their parents, what have you), set lists, the pressure of being the only one to play that instrument, boring song structures (verse/chorus/verse or verse/verse/chorus, somehow, a chorus always sneaks in there.) Finally, they just couldn't take it anymore!

Is this how jam bands start? "If you don't know what to do, play nothing" is an intriguing concept for a band to pursue for entire concerts and recordings. If people may have trouble calling out for particular Slow Music songs... since they don't really have "songs", does this mean they should double-up on requests for "Freebird"?

As for R.E.M., the word is "hiatus", with "some discussion about cranking things up in autumn, maybe winter." The chances of Rieflin working with his former band, Ministry, again, are "an absolute zero".

Another R.E.M. side project, The Minus 5, recently recorded a session with The World Cafe. It will be broadcast on Thursday, May 4th. To listen live, you can look for a local station or listen online. You can also listen after the 4th, as the broadcast will be archived. There will likely be songs, with lyrics, and titles.

Slow Music Concert Dates:

May 5 - Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater
May 6 - Seattle, WA - Showbox
May 9 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
May 12 - San Juan Capistrano, CA - The Coach House
May 13 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

The Minus 5 - Where Will You Go? (from Down With Wilco)

Two more songs from Down With Wilco and one from In Rock are available at the group's website, and at a decent bitrate, too.

The Minus 5 - My Life As A Creep (from The Minus 5)

Hindu Love Gods - Raspberry Beret (from Genius: The Best of Warren Zevon ... an old side project of several R.E.M. bandmates, who were joined by Warren Zevon)

King Crimson - Happy With What You Have To Be Happy With (from The Power To Believe)

Songs That Suck, Songs That Don't

CNN.com, isn't just a trusted news authority and source of pop-up ads. They're also about fun polls! For instance, they have revealed the results of a worst songs poll.

Out of more than 5,800 "entries", the five worst songs were identified as:

5. Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun (from Ultimate 70's Pop)

4. Charlene - I've Never Been to Me (from 80's One Hit Wonders)

3. Debby Boone - You Light Up My Life (from Billboard Top Movie Hits: 1970s)

2. The Captain and Tennille - Muskrat Love (from Captain & Tennille's Greatest Hits)

1. Paul Anka - (You're) Having My Baby (from 30th Anniversary Collection)

Songs receiving at least 1% of the vote included Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods' "Billy, Don't Be a Hero", Paper Lace's "The Night Chicago Died" Starship's "We Built This City", Morris Albert's "Feelings", the Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight", the Archies' "Sugar, Sugar", Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart", America's "A Horse with No Name", and Ohio Express' "Yummy Yummy Yummy". Oh, and naturally, Los Del Rio's "The Macarena", and Don McLean's "American Pie".

"The Horse With No Name" is a typo, obviously. Otherwise, stellar choices.

Morris Albert - Feelings (from Super Hits Of The '70s Vol. 17)

Ohio Express - Yummy Yummy Yummy (from Super Hits Of The '70s Vol. 17)

Starship - We Built This City (from Billboard Top Hits: 1985)

Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods - Billy, Don't Be A Hero (from Super Hits Of The '70s Vol. 13)

Other respondents named Dan Hill's syrupy "Sometimes When We Touch", Lionel Richie's "Say You Say Me", and Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On", one of my own choices for worst song ever.

Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch (from Super Hits of the '70s: Have a Nice Day Vol. 21)

To make up (somewhat) for all the suckage... some high-quality music.

The first is a haunting and beautiful cover by a band who may not have gotten as much attention as they deserved, at least not in the States. They have now changed their name to Moreau and have a new album out. In one fell swoop, the new name eliminates confusion with that explorer dude and creates an exciting new mystery: which Moreau are we supposed to be confusing the group with, exactly? More than one? It's fun!

I very much dig The Ocean Blue and Jets to Brazil. I suggest listening to Anka's drek, gazing at that picture of him sitting on top of the world, then listening to "I Typed For Miles"' wonderfully-written depiction of how painful life can be for a talented musician.

Enjoy!

Hmm, the JJ72 song is a bit deep too.

Perhaps some peppy songs tomorrow. Perhaps. Having to listen to those bad songs does something to a person...

Cousteau - Blue Melody (from Sing a Song for You - A Tribute To Tim Buckley)

Jets to Brazil - I Typed For Miles (from Orange Rhyming Dictionary)

The Ocean Blue - Don't Believe Everything You Hear (from Beneath The Rhythm And Sound)

JJ72 - October Swimmer (from Melody Maker: 21st Century Noise and JJ72)

The Lemonheads Sign Deal; New Album Expected In September

In September, the Lemonheads performed their entire acclaimed fifth album It's A Shame About Ray in concert for a pair of shows in London, and reported that their eighth album was nearly finished. The group have now signed with Vagrant to release the album.

Frontman Evan Dando is co-producing the album - title yet to be revealed (which would make a swell title) - along with drummer Bill Stevenson, who along with bassist Karl Alvarez comprises the new lineup of The Lemonheads. September's lineup was minus Alvarez, with Josh Lattanzi in his place.

"Title Yet To Be Revealed" "is being penciled in for a late September release". Songs recorded for the record include "Pittsburgh", "Black Gown", and "Become The Enemy".

Vagrant Records President Rich Egan, said, about the signing, "The thing I remember most about Vagrant's first year is being locked up in my apartment, drinking coffee, stuffing 7"'s into envelopes and listening to It's A Shame About Ray on cassette all day, every day. If it wasn't for that record, we probably would've left the apartment eventually and given up the label. Nobody writes songs like Evan Dando, nobody sings likes him...the new songs are incredible. He is in top form."

The Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray (from It's A Shame About Ray)

The Lemonheads - Rest Assured (from Come On Feel The Lemonheads)

The Lemonheads - Into Your Arms (from Come On Feel The Lemonheads)

Clash Magazine Ones to Watch Vol. 2 CD

The cover of UK bimonthly Clash Magazine boasts "voted music magazine of the year".

The honor was bestowed by a music industry website, which came up with "The Record of The Day Awards" to honor music writers and PR folks. Clash won the first magazine award last December.

Clash dedicates a fair amount of space to "label profiles" - it's easy to see why the music industry would like that. Many of the labels profiled are home to artists with songs on the Clash CD included with this issue. Aside from label profiles, and "One to Watch" articles about artists on the CD, this issue includes music and film reviews, interviews with other artists (such as Mogwai, the Flaming Lips, and Graham Coxon) and a few features about fashion.

Clash Magazine: Ones To Watch Volume 02 Track Listing:

1. Larrikin Love - On South Downs
2. Battle - Wicked Owl ("Taken from the download "Wicked Owl available from Winter 2005")
3. Merz - Postcard From A Darkstar
4. Errors - Songos ya mongos!
5. Alex Smoke - Never Want To See You Again (Edit)
6. Lawrence - Wasting A Fall
7. Fat Freddy's Drop - Flashback
8. Sol Seppy - Move (from the EP Move)
9. Mazarin - The New American Apathy
10. Jel - To Buy A Car
11. Melnyk - Jasper (He Drowned)
12. Melnyk - Art Of Seduction (from Silence)
13. Daso - Go Upstairs
14. Pro Forma - Croation Rock Music (from the EP After Parting)
15. Cortney Tidwell - Hard 2 Tell
16. Pop Levi - Skip Ghetto
17. Feeling - Sewn (live)
18. The Holloways - Generator (a single)

Global Rhythm Collector's CD June 2006

Bought a couple of new-to-me music magazines today. First up: Global Rhythm, which covers "world music, culture and lifestyle". I bought the June 2006 issue, which features The Corrs on the cover, looking slightly disgruntled.

Interviews, reviews, and articles inside (including one about Italian barley coffee).

Every issue includes a free CD...

Global Rhythm Collector's CD June 2006 Track Listing:

1. The Corrs - Peggy Gordon
2. Mamadou And Vanessa - Sen Sen (from Nacama. The married couple's Nacama blends melodies from Mamadou's Mali - specifically Wassalou - with Vanessa's American blues. Upbeat, infectious)
3. Sara Tavares - Balance (from Balance, and that e should be accented... lovely, upbeat, yet a bit mellow)
4. Homayun Sakhi - Kataghani
5. Randy Weston And His African Rhythms Trio - Portrait Of Frank Edward Weston
6. Las Rubias Del Norte - Corazon, Corazon
7. Solas - Pastures Of Plenty (from Reunion: A Decade of Solas. Fiddle-fueled cover of the Woody Guthrie song by an Irish-American group)
8. Anouar Brahem - Halfaouine
9. Kava Kon - Zombie
10. Tengir-Too - Sagynam (I Miss You)
11. Benet - Flora Y Fauna (from Flora Y Fauna. Think lo-fi/bachelor's pad music)

Underwhelmed...

Not that I think Blogger's forthcoming planned outage might somehow wind up lasting a moment longer than its scheduled 45 minutes, but after my extended, unpleasant wrestling session with Blogger last night... a post... just in case.

Maybe Blogger didn't like my attempted "thank you" ramblings because I forgot to thank Blogger. Pretty ungrateful of me, really. Without Blogger, where would I be? Posting somewhere else, sure. But that sarcastic/obvious point aside, I do love Blogger. Thanks Blogger!

So, please, baby, let's not fight anymore.

Sloan - Underwhelmed (from Smeared and A Sides Win (Singles 1992 - 2005) )

A more substantive post later if you-know-who is feeling cooperative... for now, I'm off to discuss my forthcoming wisdom teeth extraction. Eek.

Kofi's hat is One Year Old Today

A year ago today, I began this blog.

The first group I mentioned was Aqualung... really a one-man group, the man being Matt Hales, who named the blog, and assured me that yes, he really did want to let me "have" his son's name for it. He explained that "Kofi's" should be capitalized and "hat" lowercase, and wrote the name on a post-it note, which I've kept in my Strange & Beautiful jewel case.

At first, I found it difficult to listen to Strange & Beautiful, because it seemed hard to believe that it could capture a sufficient amount of the poignancy or charm of the live show to make it anything but disappointing in comparison.

In time, I grudgingly came to accept that the album stands on its own as excellent and touching. However, I still think the music is especially touching and lovely in concert. Plus, at a show, there are often cover songs and sometimes new songs. And the shows are funny! Er, not during the poignant parts, generally...

The first song I mentioned was an improvised song about Amoeba Music's Hollywood store. Matt Hales sang it during his Amoeba (of course) in-store. Lyrics were as follows:

Amoeba, Amoeba, Amoeba
It's a single-celled organism
That I have grown to love
Simple things, simple things, simple things
Amoeba, Amoeba, Amoeba
And me ... me

The first pre-existing song mentioned: "Strange & Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You)", which (formally) opened the set at Amoeba.

Aqualung - Strange & Beautiful (I'll Put A Spell On You) (from Strange And Beautiful))

First person mentioned at Kofi's hat - me! me! me! In the first sentence of the first post:

What have I gotten myself into?

Wow, how prescient of me. Especially with this daily-posting-thang, which I didn't start until late June. I love the hat, but this "24 hours in a day" thing sometimes makes things challenging. Nevertheless, I've no intention of giving up the daily posts. If I do miss one at some point, the world likely will not end. If it does, it might be some butterfly's fault, not mine. Anyway, the world would be over, so good luck coming here to post a comment calling me out. Ha!

In the spirit of such chaotic randomness...

Seven Songs Randomly-selected by My WinAmp:

1. Oasis - Live Forever (updated to note that "Live Forever" is from Definitely Maybe. "Be Here Now" must have been a typo)

2. Richard Thompson - Let It Blow (from Word Of Mouth's September issue but not previously posted here. Also on Let It Blow. Not my cup of tea but my WinAmp has spoken and I respect it)

3. Bob Mould - Paralyzed (from Body of Song... on the which was previously "randomly" selected by my WinAmp on the one previous occasion I turned over song-selecting authority to it) YSI mirror: Bob Mould - Paralyzed

4. Wolf Parade - It's A Curse (from . Well, I don't think it's a curse, but out of all the many songs WinAmp could have picked, it's just weird that the same one was picked twice. Not even two different Bob Mould songs... that same one. It is a great song)

5. Paramore - Here We Go Again (from All We Know Is Falling. Yeah, "here we go again" is right!) YSI mirror: Paramore - Here We Go Again

6. The Lucksmiths - Smokers In Love (from the Staring at the Sky EP)

7. Nouvelle Vague - A Forest (from Nouvelle Vague)

My WinAmp's favorite song, and artist, seems clear. No other artist, let alone song, is a repeat from the last time. Perhaps there is also an agenda here: to urge more readers to purchase Body of Song.


Assorted Good Tracks:

The Tragically Hip - It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken (from The Tragically Hip - It's A Good Life If You Don't Weaken) (from In Violet Light)

Sweet - Blockbuster (from The Best Rock and Roll Album In The World Ever... 2) YSI mirror: Sweet - Blockbuster

The Long Winters - Blue Diamonds (from When I Pretend To Fall, etc.)

Lush - Ladykillers (from Ciao! Best of Lush, etc.)

Camper Van Beethoven - The Light From A Cake (from Key Lime Pie)

Luna - Dear Diary (from The Days Of Our Nights)

Yeti - Never Lose Your Sense of Wonder


Songs from pre-Kofi's-hat CDs-that-came-with-mags:

Smoking Popes - Need You Around (from CMJ Vol. 23, July 1995 issue, also on Born to Quit and the Clueless soundtrack)

Blanche With Jack White - Who's To Say (from UNCUT Presents: 15-Track Pick Of The Best Recent Music, 2004)

Cable - Pocket Promise (from Select - Hot, December 1998 issue, also on Sub-Lingual)

Ash - Jesus Says (Evening Session Version) (from Select - Hot, December 1998 issue)

Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea (from CMJ Vol. 27, November 1995 issue, also on Washing Machine)

The Rentals - Friends Of P (from CMJ Vol. 27, November 1995 )

P - Michael Stipe (from CMJ New Music Monthly Vol. 28, December 1995 issue, also on P)

For Squirrels - 8:02 PM (from CMJ Vol. 28 December 1995 issue, also on Example)

Neil Finn - Twisty Bass (from Vox, 1998, Spring Collection CD, also on Try Whistling This) YSI mirror: Neil Finn - Twisty Bass

R.E.M. - Imitation Of Life (from Essential Glastonbury: The Greatest Hits From The Greatest Festival, which came with the July 2004 issue of Q, also on The Best Of REM: In Time 1988-2003)

Spain - Untitled #1 (from Mojo: Piece Of Cake (20 Years Of Ryko), November 2003 issue) YSI mirror: Spain - Untitled #1

And now for something completely different...

Gordon Hempton - Meadowlark (from Dawn Chorus. A couple of minutes of the gentle and sweet chirping of a meadowlark)

Monday update: Every time I attempted to edit this post to add a thank you message last night, Blogger stalled on publication. I figured Blogger either did not want me to thank anyone or hated the way I tried to do it. I therefore eventually pouted and gave up.

Take two (and sneaking in some YSI mirror links as well): thanks to all readers. Me appreciate you reading/downloading folks. Thanks to others to be delivered via lavish fruit baskets with sweet, beautifully-written notes attached. Anyone expecting suvh a basket who does not receive one should think evil conspiracy.

The B-52's Cancel Tour To Finish Album

On April 3, the B-52's announced the cancellation of their European summer tour. The band explained that they have been "deeply involved in the writing of their next album, and they have become so excited with its progress that they now feel quite strongly about not wanting to disrupt their momentum." The B-52's added that they're "very much looking forward to presenting and touring behind their new album in early 2007."

Naturally, at least some of the European music press jumped right on the story. On April 22.

Today, NME.com informed its readers that "The B-52s have issued a statement saying they are pulling all their European dates." The piece does not mention the date of the statement. A link to the band's website is included, but not a link to the news page containing the statement.

Gigwise writes that the band "have pulled their upcoming European tour", mentions the statement on the official website, but does not reference its age or link to it.

It seems no reporter wants to essentially admit that they don't regularly check in with the B-52's website. It's just to embarrassing.

If a press release had been issued, it wouldn't have taken NME nearly 3 weeks to write about the tour cancellation. A week-and-a-half, tops! More likely, an hour.

No one can keep up with the website announcements, or even mailing lists, of every alternative rock artist. It's a Sisyphean task.

Such stress is why we need music like "Dance This Mess Around", perhaps now more than ever.

The B-52's - Dance This Mess Around (from The B-52's)

The B-52's - Strobe Light (from Wild Planet)

The B-52's - Give Me Back My Man (from Party Mix/Mesopotamia)

Drop Black Sky CD Release Party This Sunday in San Francisco

Like most groups whose music can be heard on college radio stations, Drop Black Sky includes a Chinese violin (er hu).

They cite as influences such groups as Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, and Tool, but as that er hu shows, they have ways of crafting a complex sound all their own. A variety of video imagery helps make their live performances all the more unique.

The band celebrates the release of their EP, Ring Pass Not this Sunday, the 23rd, with a CD release party at 7:00 PM at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco (21+), along with several unique opening acts. It's $9 in advance or $12 at the door. Wearing butterflies to the show will fetch you a $2 discount on merch.

Streaming audio of a dozen tracks from Drop Black Sky's CD is available at the group's website. Their EP, Ring Pass Not is available for $8.

Opening for Drop Black Sky are:

Comedian/juggler/cook Scot Nery - "Wacky and nutty stunts from cooking strange items to roasting marshmallows from a flaming foot will have your belly aching and your mind questioning the purpose of this show all the way home", promised a review of one of his shows.

Magic Box draws upon many genres of music - including jazz, classical, Middle Eastern, Rock, and certainly trance in creating their music. Tom Maxwell of the Blue Hawaiians is on percussion, and Glen Lynskey on electric guitar.

Streaming audio clips of songs from Magic Box's album, Bliss of a Madman are available at their website. The album is available for purchase for $14.

Norton Wisdom, a "performance painter"; many examples of his work are available at his website.

The Greyman has the distinction of being the only artist whose live work I can vouch for, as I saw and quite enjoyed a preview of the
Trichotomy 1.0 show he'll be performing in San Francisco. It consists of 3 scenes: anger, happy, and serene. The performance includes chant, scatting, and beatbox, and mimicking of various instruments. He claims his influences are "Dead Can Dance, Depeche Mode, Tool, Enya, Bobby McFerrin, Kid Beyond, and the many colors of the human voice." However, I don't recall much lime green.

Audio, including MP3s, of The Greyman's music, is available on his website.

The Stunt People will "present a live fight and stunt demonstration!"

The Stunt People are a group of stunt people (of course), as well as acrobats, and martial artists, who think fight scenes in American action films need not look to other countries for top-notch talent. They direct, produce, and edit their own short-and-feature-length films, while seeking other film work. They're San-Francisco-based but some members live elsewhere in California.

If you live in the San Francisco/Bay Area, and work out with them at their gym and/or make movies with them, you're already a "part" of the group". No audition is necessary. If you're interested, drop them an email. However, "Considerate and polite people only, please."

Plus: DJ Merrick, a resident DJ at gothic/industrial club Death Guild. DJ Merrick favors "neo-folk, dark ambient, and militant" music.

DJ RMS (Repetitive Motion Syndrome), an "avid experimental music collector", completes the impressive line-up. Expect to hear some music you haven't heard before... could be in any genre, likely several. He has eclectic tastes.

Kaiser Chiefs Songs "Leak" Via YouTube Videos

Kaiser Chiefs have been playing three new songs on their current tour. Perhaps inevitably, footage of the blokes performing the tunes has been posted on YouTube.

Fortunately, the band isn't upset. Lead singer Ricky Wilson takes the recordings in stride. He told the Daily Record, "We played three songs which are already on the internet," noting that they were recorded on cellphones. Wilson said, "the clips are there for people to hear, but it won't do us any harm. It's not like people are going to hear it and say 'I don't like that distorted clip so I'm not going to buy the album'." That album is not expected to be available until next year anyway. Plenty of time for people to forget how distorted they remember those new Kaiser Chiefs songs sounding! According to NME, the group hasn't even chosen a producer yet.

The new songs are "Learnt My Lesson Well", "Highroyds", and "Heat Dies Down".


Learnt My Lesson Well Video



Highroyds Video


Heat Dies Down Video

Do People Prefer Less Meaningful Lyrics?

Perhaps more interesting than the results of a recent VH1 UK poll of 13,000 people, which found U2's "One" was the #1 song lyric, is what this arguably says about people in the UK.

So "One" has popular lyrics, but the BBC asks, "is it profound and meaningful?"

"One life, with each other, sisters, brothers."

They quote Billy Bragg, who has always found lyrics important: "I've always been a content over style man. I do try and put some form of meaning into my lyrics whether it is a love song or a political song."

However, he believes that "It is often the songs that have less meaning that people tend to attach their meaning to, like One - what is it actually about?"

The article notes that people seem to believe the song is "a magically moving piece of music" and it's often played at weddings, despite lyrics such as "I can't be holding on to what you got when all you've got is hurt" which wouldn't seem to bode well for the beginning of a marriage.

Participants in the poll were given a list of 100 lyrics chosen by people in the music industry. The complete top 100 reveals a poor showing for Radiohead's "No Surprises" (97), Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Two Tribes" (86), and even Roxy Music's "Love Is The Drug" (92). Maybe the respondents were given 30 seconds to complete the survey. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Billy Bragg - Must I Paint You A Picture (from Victim Of Geography)

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Redemption Song (from Legend, #4 on the list)

Jack White's Coke Commercial - "Love is the truth"

"Love is the truth" - so buy some Coke!

When the deal with Coke was announced, White said, "I certainly wouldn't want a song that I'd already written to be used on a commercial. That seems strange. But to be asked to write something particular along one theme of love in a worldwide form that I'm not really used to appealed to me. I've written a song and I wrote it really quickly and it's an interesting commercial that's been made. I was inspired by the commercial."

The ad appears to involve interchangeable dopplegangers, or possibly clones, being loving and caring. Sweet! The relationship of love to artificially-sweetened-and-colored, carbonated beverages remains unclear to this viewer, unless the idea is an artificial love.

Damon Albarn Wants One Last Gig With A Reunited Blur

If Damon Albarn has his way, Graham Coxon will rejoin Blur, at least for one gig, that is.

In an interview that seems to track back to Virgin.net and is not sourced elsewhere, Albarn is quoted as saying, "I just think it's a real shame that we've put so much of our lives into it and no one's able to... It would be really nice to do a gig and just have nothing to prove and enjoy playing the old songs and have fun just reliving stuff."

Coxon has said he has no intention of ever playing with Blur again. Albarn is further quoted as saying, "I'm not really criticising anyone. I can appreciate where Graham's coming from." It's a good start anyway. Maybe a card or present next?

Blur - Tender (Cornelius Remix) (B-side to "No Distance Left To Run")

Graham Coxon - Tell It Like It Is (from Love Travels At Illegal Speeds)

Peep Jousting

After watching a lot of microwaving-Peep videos at YouTube, these two stood out for their laugh-free soundtracks and their microwaving of Peeps both by the pair and in large numbers.

I'd like to think that even those who don't celebrate Easter can enjoy a good Peep-microwaving. I do celebrate Easter, but Peeps were never my favorite Easter candy. I do, however, find their college library antics intriguing, and think The Man should cut them a little slack and allow them to break a few rules. Peeps apparently have a thirst for adventure and risk-taking, and are willing to accept the high mortality rate that goes along with that.

Happy Easter!





MxPx - Chick Magnet (from Life in General)

The Lightning Seeds & Stooges Are Back; Co-Headlining Tour Not Anticipated

These are good times for fans of sweet alt-pop and thrashing hard-rock music.

The Lightning Seeds will soon reportedly announce a reunion tour, planned for this summer, including a number of sets at festivals. Official word of the tour is expected sometime this week. Apparently the tour will likely be timed ideally for those who wish to both attend The Lightning Seeds' concert(s) and purchase their best-of album. Not their 1997 best-of album, Like You Do... Best of the Lightning Seeds, mind you. This will be their other Best-Of collection (their second compilation, Life of Riley: The Lightning Seeds Collection, doesn't count as a greatest-hits; that included earlier tracks, and no football/soccer songs were anywhere in sight).

The Lightning Seeds have had at least four songs in the U.K. top 100 since 1997's best-of collection, although two of them were the exact same song, reissued, and an earlier version of it ("Three Lions") was on Like You Do. Nonetheless, this is a best-of collection, and "best" is not synonymous with "best-selling".

Meanwhile, Iggy Pop tells Reuters that he has been in "a little cottage in the boonies on a little river" writing music for a Stooges reunion album, which he thinks will be released in 2007. A Stooges tour is also planned.

Pop said the album will be produced by Steve Albini but a number of songs - referred to by Reuters as "a package of songs" -- will be produced by Jack White. Maybe White will wind up singing or playing on one or more of the songs. Why, that might even lead to him touring with the Stooges. If any of that happens, let's hope someone asks him if the Stooges are a side project for him. I think he would secretly get a kick out of that.

On Monday, April 17, the Florida Chapter of the Recording Academy will honor Pop, along with the Backstreet Boys, singer Ednita Nazario, and producer/engineer Roger Nichols. Pop's name is listed last in the press release, but if they went alphabetically, that's just how it would shake out for the "legendary punk icon". The icon will perform with Sum 41 during the ceremony. What, the Backstreet Boys turned him down?

Asked about writing with his old band again, Pop tells Reuters, "All the same passions and problems are there. But the problems are in a more muted style."

Maybe a co-headlining tour with The Lightning Seeds isn't such an outlandish idea.

The Lightning Seeds - Pure (from Cloudcuckooland)

The Lightning Seeds - Change (from Jollification and the Clueless soundtrack)

The Stooges - Down On The Street (from Funhouse)

Iggy And The Stooges - Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell (from Raw Power)

Sarah Harmer, Unplugged

The buzz surrounding Sarah Harmer in the States is perhaps as heartfelt as her music, but it might be about as loud as well, which is to say not very. It's low-key, is all.

Her latest album, I'm A Mountain (a tarot reading provided the idea for the title song), marks a shift to a quieter and more traditional sound. It's her first acoustic album. While everyone hasn't settled on one description (it's been alternately described as bluegrass, folk, roots, and country), previous labels like alt-pop do seem to have been set aside for now. Regardless of quality, that change will likely alienate some listeners, but commercial considerations don't seem to have entered into the equation for Harmer. She says, "I made it for myself." She was driven by a personal quest of sorts. Sick of being cooped up in a van while on tour, she decided to go and see some actual land up close.

Harmer tells the Los Angeles Times about the two weeks she hiked part of the Niagara Escarpment's 480-mile Bruce Trail with her band last summer. During the hike, they played songs about the threatened land, songs which later landed on I'm A Mountain.

The Times describes "Escarpment Blues" as "the true story of a quarry's recent bid to expand its operations into Escarpment farmlands - farms that border the land Harmer grew up on and on which her parents still live." Her father sings backup on "the piano-dappled" "Oleander".

Harmer says, "People are responding to the simplicity and the approachable quality of this record. I made it for myself. But when it has the effect of helping someone else or being something that someone else likes, it's really satisfying."

Harmer has a show tonight at Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco, then heads south for a set at The Knitting Factory in Hollywood Saturday night. Great Aunt Ida opens for both shows. Doors are at 8:00, Great Aunt Ida's set begins at 9:30, and Harmer will be on stage at 10:30, according to her website. Tickets are $20.

Sarah Harmer - Oleander (from I'm A Mountain)

Sarah Harmer - Open Window (The Wedding Song) (from Hillside Festival Volume One)

Excerpts from Uncut's "The Passion of the Morrissey" Interview

Excerpts from Morrissey's interview in the May Uncut:

First, from Moz playing the either/or game (sort of):

Friday or Saturday?

Everyday is like Sunday.

Sneeze or yawn?

Sneeze.

Eyes or smile?

Smile.

Birthday or Christmas?

Avoid both.

Loved and lost or never loved at all?

I only know the latter.

From the Main Interview:

What did you make of 24 Hour Party People?

I really enjoyed it, but Tony Wilson was enraged with me because I refused permission for "This Charming Man" to be used. I refused because my compatriot Linder Sterling [artist/singer with Ludus] was badly depicted in the script and she took legal action to have her bits taken out - which they eventually were, but during the time her litigation was underway it would have been wrong for me to be compliant with them in any way.

.......

When did you first want to be a singer?

When I was two. I saw The Righteous Brothers on television. Bill and Bobby. I thought, fantastic. That's me.

.......

What finally triggered the move onto a stage?

Well, I didn't really have that much choice. I felt so despairing

Are all the music bloggers weird descendents of yours?

Yes, they are the modern me, because, of course, I am not. Nor do I want to be.

You have an iPod?

Is that a trick question? Yes.

What's on your iPod?

Oh, ths usual suspects, and a few less so... I cast the net quite broadly... I'm like a very obese person who eats food but doesn't enjoy it. I listen to a lot of new music but I don't enjoy it.

.......

Is what drives you on a fear of disappearing into the past?

What, worried about being seen as a specimen of a bygone age? No, that's not something that concerns me, really. To be honest, I don't think it's a problem. I feel startlingly now-ish. It isn't 1957 any more. It can't be 1957 any more. Are you surprised to hear me say that? I've very much living in the swill of modern life.

Do you take yourself too seriously?

If I don't, who will?

I might.

But I don't know that. You fluctuate.

.......

Is there a dichotomy between your nostalgia for certain elements of entertainment and society, and the fact that you're interested in music and ideas that were about remaking the world to move forward, and creating a better future?

Oh, definitely. But it would be nice to have things both ways. There's a cosy side of the brain that needs to be comforted and there's a side of the brain that needs to be pushed and pulled. That's your article right there... [snigger/sneer/sigh/face/glance to the heavens and the hells]

Was the Smiths' debut album the greatest debut album of the past 25 years?

What an extraordinary question... [face]

.......

You talk a lot about keeping your integrity.

Not many people have it.

What is it?

It's avoiding social embarrassment in all ways. It's trying desperately not to answer the telephone at the wrong time. It's trying desperately not to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's trying not to be seen doing something ridiculous. It's not wanting to be trapped or engineered into doing or saying and being something you don't want to.

But doesn't that make it difficult getting through the day?

Not at all [face]... [agitated sluggishness]

The myth is that it does, that you're too sensitive to live, that no one can imagine how you function, that you're too awkward and too bothered by perceived slights...

Well... that isn't the case. I can only promise you that this is not the case.

But the perception is that this is the case, hence the incandescent nosiness and prurient wonder is provoked by interviews like this, where you slip into grimly playful interview mode. People want to know: does he have a good time, does he watch telly, what's he laughing at, who are his friends?

What's it matter? The truth is in the songs. So much is in the songs. No one is interested in those questions in relation to a champion ice-skater. They either succeed or they don't succeed...

But your songs and where they go, what they do, tempt us to find out more, or to find out how and why they exist.

It's all in the songs.

Morrissey - In The Future When All's Well (from Ringleader Of The Tormentors)

The Smiths - This Charming Man (from The Smiths)

Uncut May Playlist CD & Best/Worst Songs About God

The Passion of Morrissey is the cover story of the May 2006 issue of Uncut. A single tear trails down Moz's left cheek. Both his blue eyes twinkle beatifically. The cheeky devils at Uncut have outdone themselves; it's a great cover. There are other details, but you get the idea. Some excerpts from the interview tomorrow.

Perhaps feeling inspired by the religious theme of Morrissey's photo shoot, Uncut has made lists of the best and worst songs about God.

The 10 best songs about God:

1. Elvis Presley - "How Great Thou Art"
2. George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord" ("Thou shalt not steal. Unless it's from The Chiffons")
3. The Clash - "The Sound Of Sinners"
4. Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill" ("Celestial Wife Swap with the wuthering witch")
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Oh My Lord"
6. Prince - "Temptation" ("So good the Lord Himself makes a cameo...")
7. Outkast - "God (Interlude)"
8. XTC - "Dear God" ("Anti-deity diatribe unlikely to make Pope's iPod")
9. Depeche Mode - "Blasphemous Rumours"
10. Bob Dylan - "Gotta Serve Somebody"

The 10 worst songs about God:

1. Bob Dylan - "What Can I Do For You?" ("God sure wasn't on His side when he penned this")
2. Joan Osborne - "One Of Us" ("If He was, thanks to this, He may wish He was deaf")
3. Van Morrison & Cliff Richard - "Whenever God Shines His Light"
4. Faithless - "God Is A DJ"
5. Siouxsie & The Banshees - "The Lord's Prayer" ("Seemed like a good idea at the time. So did Betamax.")
6. Chris Rea - "God's Great Banana Skin"
7. Paul Weller - "All Good Books"
8. Sinead O'Connor - "Guide Me God" ("Replace 'Guide' with 'So help'...")
9. Joni Mitchell - "God Must Be A Boogie Man"
10. The Police - "O My God"

Uncut: The Playlist May 2006 Track Listing:

1. Band Of Horses - The Funeral (from Everything All The Time. Well... this one is just a shimmering gem, isn't it?)
2. Lambchop - All Smiles And Mariachi (from the reissued album How I Quit Smoking. Unusual, perhaps a bit odd, and lovely)
3. The Charlatans - Muddy Ground
4. Calexico - Cruel
5. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets
6. Editors - Let Your Good Heart Lead You Home
7. Fairport Convention - Crazy Man Michael
8. Ronnie Spector - Here Today Gone Tomorrow
9. Japan - Nightporter
10. Tom Verlaine - The Earth Is In The Sky
11. Jose Gonzalez - All You Deliver
12. Faust - Just A Second (Starts Like That!)/PicnicOn A Frozen River/Deuxieme Tableaux
13. Graham Coxon - Say So What (B-side from the 7" vinyl version of "Standing On My Own Again". Pretty groovy)
14. Candi Staton - I'll Sing A Love Song To You
15. Bob Marley & The Wailers - Soul Shakedown Party
16. Demin - I'm Against The Eighties (from Back In Denim, and mistitled "Back In Denim" on Uncut's tracklisting. Fun song wishing for a return to the 70s and railing against the Me Decade's many shortcomings, like "bands that couldn't play" and Duran Duran, those "fake make-up boys". Complete with heavy synth and guitar, handclaps, and sense of humor)

The Library Of Congress Loves Sonic Youth

Tomorrow, the Library of Congress will officially announce this year's 50 sound recordings selected for addition to the The National Recording Registry, having been deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and therefore worthy of restoration and preservation. Note that "or". Apparently any recordings found, for instance, both culturally and historically significant are considered ineligible for protection. Perhaps any such copies submitted to the Library of Congress for their consideration are immediately burned. It wouldn't be pretty, but rules are rules.

The full list of 2006 selections is already available, but the press conference is not a pointless, going-through-the-motions farce. It will feature "a five-minute comedy routine" by "members of the Firesign Theatre". Coincidentally, the Firesign Theatre's "Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers" is on the list.

Other special guests include Martha Reeves (of Martha and the Vandellas, whose "Dancing In The Street" made the cut) and Jimi Hendrix's cousin Bob Hendrix ("Are You Experienced?" was found one kind of significant). Sonic Youth's Daydream Nation is also on the big list, but apparently the band is unable to attend the press conference. They already filmed their guest spot for the show, but maybe they're still too busy hanging out with their new friends at "Gilmore Girls". Or maybe they're exhausted from having to talk so quickly. The folks at the Registry would understand that.

The Registry has been adding 50 recordings a year since 2002. The selections are wildly diverse. Songs and albums chosen for protection in previous years include Bruce Springsteen's Born To Run, the Star Wars soundtrack, Nirvana's Nevermind, Public Enemy's Fear Of A Black Planet, the satirical Songs by Tom Lehrer, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book, Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust", Ethel Waters' "Stormy Weather", the Okeh Laughing Record, and Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit".

Non-musical content on the list includes "NBC radio broadcast coverage of Charles A. Lindbergh's arrival and reception in Washington, D.C.", Abbott and Costello's first radio broadcast of "Who's On First", Katharine B. Payne's recordings of Asian elephants (which demonstrated methods of communication between them), and General Dwight D. Eisenhower's D-Day radio address to the Allied nations.

The nomination form isn't up to date for the next round yet, but the rules and forms are online... "Individuals may submit up to ten Registry nominations per year" Ten nominations... hmm...

The 2006 National Recording Registry's 50 Historic Recordings:

"Canzone del Porter" from "Martha (von Flotow)," Edouard de Reszke 1903

"Listen to the Lambs," Hampton Quartette; recorded by Natalie Curtis Burlin 1917

"Over There," Nora Bayes 1917

"Crazy Blues," Mamie Smith 1920

"My Man" and "Second Hand Rose," Fanny Brice 1921

"Ory's Creole Trombone," Kid Ory June 1922

Inauguration of Calvin Coolidge, March 4 1925

"Tanec pid werbamy/Dance Under the Willows," Pawlo Huemiuk 1926

"Singin' the Blues," Frankie Trumbauer and his Orchestra with Bix Beiderbecke 1927

First official trans-Atlantic telephone conversation Jan. 7, 1927

"El Manisero" ("The Peanut Vendor"), Rita Montaner, vocal with orchestra, 1927; "El

Manisero," Don Azpiazu and his orchestra 1930

Light's Golden Jubilee Celebration Oct. 21, 1929

Beethoven's Egmont Overture, Op. 84, Modesto, Calif., High School band 1930

"Show Boat," Helen Morgan, Paul Robeson, James Melton and others; Victor Young, conductor; Louis Alter, piano 1932

"Wabash Cannonball," Roy Acuff 1936

"One O'clock Jump," Count Basie and his Orchestra 1937

Archibald MacLeish's "Fall of the City," Orson Welles, narrator, Burgess Meredith, Paul Stewart April 11, 1937

"The Adventures of Robin Hood" radio broadcast May 11, 1938

Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight, Clem McCarthy, announcer June 22, 1938

"John the Revelator," Golden Gate Quartet 1938

"Adagio for Strings," Arturo Toscanini, conductor; NBC Symphony 1938

"Command Performance" show No. 21, Bob Hope, master of ceremonies July 7, 1942

"Straighten Up and Fly Right," Nat "King" Cole 1943

Allen's Alley segment from "The Fred Allen Show", radio broadcast Oct. 7, 1945

"Jole Blon," Harry Choates 1946

"Tubby the Tuba," Paul Tripp (words) and George Kleinsinger (music) 1946

"Move on up a Little Higher," Mahalia Jackson 1948

"Anthology of American Folk Music," edited by Harry Smith 1952

"Schooner Bradley," performed by Pat Boone 1952-60

"Damnation of Faust," Boston Symphony Orchestra with the Harvard Glee Club and Radcliffe Choral Society 1954

"Blueberry Hill," Fats Domino 1956

"Variations for Orchestra," Louisville Orchestra 1956

"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," Jerry Lee Lewis 1957

"That'll Be the Day," Buddy Holly 1957

"Poeme Electronique," Edgard Varese 1958

"Time Out," The Dave Brubeck Quartet 1959

Studs Terkel interview with James Baldwin Sept. 29, 1962

William Faulkner address at West Point Military Academy 1962

"Dancing in the Street," Martha and the Vandellas 1964

"Live at the Regal," B.B. King 1965

"Are You Experienced?" Jimi Hendrix Experience 1967

"We're Only in It for the Money," Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention 1968

"Switched-On Bach," Wendy Carlos 1968

"Oh Happy Day," Edwin Hawkins Singers 1969

"Don't Crush That Dwarf, Hand Me the Pliers," Firesign Theatre 1970

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," Gil Scott-Heron 1970

"Will the Circle Be Unbroken," Nitty Gritty Dirt Band 1972

The old foghorn, Kewaunee, Wis., recorded by James A. Lipsky 1972

"Songs in the Key of Life," Stevie Wonder 1976

"Daydream Nation," Sonic Youth 1988

Count Basie - One O'Clock Jump (from One O'Clock Jump)

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five (from Time Out)

Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day (from Greatest Hits)

Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot (from Daydream Nation)

Ignore Your Parents. It's Siblings Day!

Today, April 10, is Siblings Day, at least it's Siblings Day in 22 states. The day was designed to "to acknowledge the importance of the relationship among siblings, to express appreciation to our brothers and sisters for the strength and understanding they have brought to our lives, and to remember with love and gratitude those who are no longer with us." Both the brother and sister of Siblings Day founder Claudia A. Evart, died young. It's Evart's goal to have Siblings Day recognized on a national level, much as we recognize Mother's Day and Father's Day, to similarly honor the bond between siblings.

This post is awfully late in the day, but if you're reading it late at night on the 10th, and you are lucky enough to have siblings you can call, I encourage you to go ahead and wake them up to tell them you "cherish, love and appreciate them." Or maybe call tomorrow, but don't blame me if they get mad that you didn't call on Siblings Day. Where was their call? Did some neighbor kid take that too, like your Barbie dolls' heads?

Or you could just send an e-mail.

Not to brag, but my brother never took my Barbie dolls' heads, and has always altogether rocked as a brother and a person. Not that it's a competition... but if it was, I'd be polishing something shiny right about now...

Toad the Wet Sprocket - Brother (from In Light Syrup, etc.)

Rufus Wainwright - Little Sister (from Want Two)

J.J. Cale - Don't Cry Sister (from The Very Best of J.J. Cale, etc.)

Alice in Chains - Brother (live, MTV Unplugged) (from MTV Unplugged)

The Nixons - Sister (from Foma)

Mojo's Top Modern 100 Tracks

To celebrate the 150th issue of Mojo, the mag's writers, readers, and on-line users were asked to name the best albums released since the magazine started (in October 1993). According to the folks at Mojo, the "first past-the-post system - though the best available - tended to penalise prolific bands with uncertainty over their best work. Hence, Lampchop lose out."

Mojo's Top Modern 100:

100. Coldplay - A Rush Of Blood To The Head
99. Sizzla - Black Woman & Child
98. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
97. D'Angelo - Brown Sugar
96. Underworld - Second Toughest In The Universe
95. Rufus Wainwright - Poses
94. Michael Head & The Strands - The Magical World Of The Strands
93. System Of A Down - Toxicity
92. Manu Chao - Clandestino
91. Boards Of Canada - Music Has The Right To Children

90. Maria McKee - Life Is Sweet

Maria McKee - I'm Awake

89. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Californication
88. R.L. Burnside - A Ass Pocket Of Whiskey
87. The Jayhawks - Sound Of Lies
86. Paul Weller - Stanley Road
85. Salif Keita - Moffou
84. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
83. The Prodigy - Songs For The Jilted Generation
82. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
81. Manic Street Preachers - The Holy Bible

80. Guided By Voices - Bee Thousand

Guided By Voices - I Am A Scientist

79. Tinariwen - The Radio Tisdas Sessions
78. Eminem - The Marshall Mathers LP
77. Tricky - Maxinquaye
76. Bruce Springsteen - The Ghost Of Tom Joad
75. The Verve - A Northern Soul
74. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me
73. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
72. Blur - Parklife
71. Al Green - I Can't Stop
70. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun
69. Aimee Mann - Lost In Space
68. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Orange
67. Lauryn Hill - The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill
66. Neil Young And Crazy Horse - Sleeps With Angels
65. Primal Scream - Xtrmntr

64. Tortoise - Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Tortoise - Glass Museum

63. Morrissey - Vauxhaul And I
62. Wu-Tang Clan - Enter The Wu-Tang
61. Oasis - (What's The Story) Morning Glory?
60. Arcade Fire - Funeral
59. Magnetic Fields - 69 Love Songs
58. R.E.M. - New Adventures In Hi-Fi
57. The Libertines - Up The Bracket
56. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain
55. The Beta Band - The 3 EPs
54. Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
53. Bjork - Post
52. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker
51. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
50. Blur - Blur
49. Gillian Welch - Time (The Revelator)
48. Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust)
47. Queens Of The Stone Age - Rated R
46. Supergrass - In It For The Money
45. Kate Bush - Aerial
44. Super Furry Animals - Rings Around The World
43. Antony And The Johnsons - I Am A Bird Now
42. Jimmy Page & Robert Plant - No Quarter
41. Elvis Costello & the Imposters - The Delivery Man
40. P.J. Harvey - To Bring You My Love
39. Pulp - Different Class
38. Belle And Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister
37. Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson Presents Smile
36. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
35. Portishead - Dummy
34. Solomon Burke - Don't Give Up On Me
33. The Strokes - Is This It
32. Beck - Mutations
31. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
30. Mercury Rev - Deserter's Songs
29. Madonna - Ray Of Light
28. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
27. Air - Moon Safari
26. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

25. P.J. Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea

P.J. Harvey - The Whores Hustle And The Hustlers Whore

24. Elliott Smith - Either/Or
23. Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club
22. OutKast - Speakerboxxx/The Love Below
21. Tom Waits - Mule Variations
20. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - I See A Darkness
19. D.J. Shadow - Entroducing...
18. Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix
17. Johnny Cash - American III: Solitary Man
16. Radiohead - The Bends
15. Bob Dylan - Love And Theft
14. Massive Attack - Mezzanine
13. Nirvana - In Utero

12. Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space

Spiritualized - Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space

11. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - The Boatman's Call
10. Beck - Odelay
9. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York
8. The White Stripes - Elephant
7. Radiohead - Kid A
6. The Flaming Lips - Soft Bulletin
5. Oasis - Definitely Maybe
4. Bob Dylan - Time Out Of Mind
3. Radiohead - OK Computer
2. Johnny Cash - American Recordings
1. Jeff Buckley - Grace

Check out the May issue of Mojo for a close-up look at some of these albums, and some interesting related lists (such as "10 albums with only one vote" - poor Travis' The Man Who)

Mojo: Hail to the King! CD

The May 2006 Mojo honors Elvis Presley with its monthly compilation CD, Mojo: Hail To The King!. The cover feature takes us back to 1956 (without each reader even having to bother finding a DeLorean, a Flux Capacitor, and a bit o' plutonium). While staying in '56, we follow the progress of Presley through the year, with "eyewitness" sidebar stories providing further insight (and especially useful for those with short attention spans, who may ignore the rest). There are also shorter features, like one about "track of the year", "Heartbreak Hotel".

Also in this issue: lengthy interviews with The Pretenders' frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, The Raconteurs, and Christy Moore.

Mojo also lists the top 100 modern classics, "modern" meaning since Mojo began (hey, that's how I've always defined it! I feel so validated). More on their top 100 in another post.

For now, on to the CD!

Mojo: Hail To The King! Tracklisting:

1. The Jeff Beck Group - All Shook Up (also on Beck-Ola)
2. Duffy Power - Lawdy Miss Clawdy
3. Betty Everett - Hound Dog
4. Albert King - That's All Right (also on Blues For Elvis)
5. Little Richard - Money Honey
6. Rockin' Rebels - Let's Play House
7. Johnny Cash - I Forgot To Remember To Forget (also on Walk The Line. Hyped he may be, but who doesn't love Johnny Cash?)
8. Link Wray - Love Me Tender (also on Apache/Wild Side Of The City Lights. Wray named one of his sons Link Elvis Wray)
9. Roy Orbison - Trying To Get To You
10. Chris Clark - In The Ghetto (also on The Motown Collection. Mojo calls Clark "possibly one of the most underrated blue-eyed soul performers of all-time.")
11. El Vez - It's Now Or Never
12. Jerry Lee Lewis - Don't Be Cruel
13. The Flamin' Groovies - Milkcow Blues
14. Dean Carter - Jailhouse Rock
15. Dead Kennedys - Viva Las Vegas

Keep Waiting, Kentucky: Sufjan Stevens Announces More Music From "Illinois"

It can now be told. Sufjan Stevens' humble one-disc Illinois was originally intended as a two-disc set, which would have included nearly 50 tracks. Fair enough that Stevens decided the project was becoming too "unwieldy", but even the loss of the reviews of the 2-disc Illinois is a shame. It's such a missed opportunity for us all to learn a great many synonyms for "sprawling".

Let's find solace in music... broadway style! Actually, let's skip that last part. Stevens returned to work on the leftover material at the end of last year. Some songs were done, some needed a lot of work... in the end, Stevens put together a 21-song collection of Illinois outtakes he has titled The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album. The title (the first part, that is) is taken from a song initially "intended for the leading role" on Illinois but in the end included only the vinyl version, as a bonus track.

The new album, which will be released July 11, also includes three alternate versions of "Chicago" and a song in which "Carl Sandburg arm-wrestles Saul Bellow."

Tracklisting for The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album:

1. The Avalanche (also from the vinyl version of Illinois)
2. Dear Mr Supercomputer
3. Adlai Stevenson
4. The Vivian Girls Are Visited In the Night by Saint Dargarius and his Squadron of Benevolent Butterflies
5. Chicago (acoustic version)
6. The Henney Buggy Band
7. Saul Bellow
8. Carlyle Lake
9. Springfield, or Bobby Got a Shadfly Caught in his Hair
10. The Mistress Witch from McClure (or, The Mind That Knows Itself)
11. Kaskaskia River
12. Chicago (adult contemporary easy listening version)
13. Inaugural Pop Music for Jane Margaret Byrne
14. No Man's Land
15. The Palm Sunday Tornado Hits Crystal Lake
16. The Pick-up
17. The Perpetual Self, or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do?"
18. For Clyde Tombaugh
19. Chicago (Multiple Personality Disorder version)
20. Pittsfield
21. The Undivided Self (for Eppie and Popo)

And because this project will likely delay the next state songs album (incidentally, I'm only predicting Kentucky as its theme if that turns out to be correct), here are a few non-Sufjan-Stevens tunes along those lines (at least in the geographically-themed sense):

Michelle Shocked - Anchorage (from Short Sharp Shocked)

Ben Kweller - Commerce, TX (from Sha Sha)

John Linnell - Maine (from State Songs)

John Linnell - Louisiana (from State Songs)

The B-52's - Private Idaho (from Time Capsule: Songs For A Future Generation)

The New Amsterdams - Idaho (from Never You Mind)

The Cash Brothers - Nebraska (Bruce Springsteen cover, from Uncut: Thunder Road - Tracks Inspired By The Boss)

The New Amsterdams - From California (from Worse For The Wear)

More Cowbell!

As if Canada hadn't already contributed enough to pop culture by giving us Norm MacDonald and oh so many other comedians, they now bring us more cowbell - in fact, Maximum Cowbell, a compilation of cowbell songs.

Alright, technically, the album, compiled by James Greenspan of Toronto, along with his friends, is currently only available in America Jr. But surely it's only matter a time before the cowbell-fueled sonic goodness is shared with the rest of North America, and hopefully with the rest of the globe. Everyone craves cowbell.

The compilation includes Mountain's "Mississippi Queen", Ted Nugent's "Free for All", Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein", Loverboy's "Working for the Weekend" (the only Canadian song on the album), Elvis Presley's "Burning Love", and Santana's "Evil Ways".

Greenspan said Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" and Grand Funk Railroad's "We're an American Band" were left out to "leave room for volume two."

There are enough cowbell-enhanced songs for plenty of volumes, although of course there's never enough cowbell. Almost any song would sound better with at least a little cowbell, and likely a lot of cowbell.

Loverboy - Working For The Weekend (from Loverboy Classics: Their Greatest Hits)

The Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein (from They Only Come Out At Night)

Blue Oyster Cult - Don't Fear The Reaper (from Don't Fear The Reaper: The Best of Blue Oyster Cult)

Free - All Right Now (from The Best Air Guitar Album In The World Ever Vol. 1)

Santana - Evil Ways (from Santana's Greatest Hits, etc.)

Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog (from the Lords of Dogtown soundtrack, etc.)

The Beatles - You Can't Do That (from A Hard Day's Night)

Unit 4 Plus 2 - Concrete And Clay (from 60 Number Ones Of The Sixties)

EMF - Unbelievable (from Schubert Dip)

LCD Soundsystem - Daft Punk Is Playing At My House (from LCD Soundsystem, etc.)

Hugh Masekela - Grazin' In The Grass (from Hope)