Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Music roundup

Music related things that are getting me excited in 2009.

1. The new Springsteen record leaked this week and not surprisingly its pretty damn good. Not as good as "Magic" or "The Rising" in terms of modern E Street Band projects, but good nonetheless. I still need some time to process it so I'll probably wait to post my review until its official release date of 1/27 - who knows, I may not really "get it" until I hear it on the Vinyl I buy from Music Millennium that Tuesday.

2. The new M. Ward is being streamed on NPR and is quite good. Two cool covers (two of my favorite tunes actually, "Rave on" by Buddy Holly and blues standard "Oh lonesome me"), great guest appearances and killer arrangements. Definitely will be picking this up in Feb.

3. First confirmed show of 2009! Lisa Hannigan at the Wonder Ballroom. Amber and I have a lot of work left to do to get to our 2008 concert total, 17 more shows to be exact.

4. Neil Finn's "7 world's collide" project seems to be progressing quite nicely. They have tons of awesome videos up. The CD and DVD will be must buys as all proceeds go to Ox Fam

5. I should have a great mix next winter, looks like theres a lot of good stuff on the horizon:

Likely releases:

Steve Earle's record of Townes Van Zant covers
Ryan Adams
Neil Young
Lucero's major label debut
Townes van Zant reissues
Ted Leo
Damien Rice
Art Brut (with Frank Black producing!)

Possible Releases
Pearl Jam (damn they take their sweet time making records)
Drive-By Truckers
Some Glen Hansard related project
The National

Not Anticipating
U2 - No Line on the Horizon (each time they record something do they play a game of who can pick the most pretentious sounding title?)

In 2009 I hope to see........

Bruce Springsteen (not likely, should be a short tour)
Pearl Jam (sort of a crapshoot there)
REM (not likely, looks like they're done touring the last record)
The National - finally (likely, I can't say why I just have a good feeling)
Ted Leo (likely, dude needs to get paid, and should have a new record)
Steve Earle (see above)
Damien Rice
Art Brut
Ryan Adams
Cr Avery
Pavement (might finally happen this year)

Monday, January 12, 2009

Chilling

Killer version of this song:

Bruce Springsteen
The New Timer (Autoharp) CAA 20005
http://www.mediafire.com/?1v4jqj4bnog

He rode the rails since the great depression
Fifty years out on the skids
He said you don't cross nobody
You'll be all right out here kid

Left my family in Pennsylvania
Searchin' for work I hit the road
I met Frank in east Texas
In a freight yard blown through with snow

From New Mexico to Colorado
California to the sea
Frank he showed me the ropes, sir
Just till I could get back on my feet

I hoed sugar beets outside of Firebaugh
I picked the peaches from the Marysville tree
They bunked us in a barn just like animals
Me and a hundred others just like me

We split up come the springtime
I never seen Frank again
'Cept one rainy night he blew by me on grainer
Shouted my name and disappeared in the rain and the wind

They found him shot dead outside Stockton
His body lyin' on a muddy hill
Nothin' taken, nothin' stolen
Somebody killed him just to kill

Late that summer I was rollin' through the plains of Texas
A vision passed before my eyes A small house sittin' trackside
With the glow of the saviours beautiful light

A woman stood cookin' in the kitchen
Kid sat at the table with his old man
Now I wonder does my son miss me
Does he wonder where I am

Tonight I pick my campsite carefully
Outside the Sacramento Yard
Gather some wood and light a fire
In the early winter dark

Wind whistling cold I pull my coat around me
Make some coffee and stare out into the black night
I lie awake, I lie awake sir
With my machete by my side

My Jesus your gracious love and mercy
Tonight I'm sorry could not fill my heart
Like one good rifle And the name of who I ought to kill

Friday, January 9, 2009

Coming Soon!

1. Bruce Springsteen - Nebraska Live

2. Best Political Songs of the Bush Era

3. Best live performances I've seen

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Okay, you decided

A Ryan Adams project by the end of the week then. The subject may be surprising.