Pleasure Pressure Point by Black Affair

Ex-Beta Band-er Steve Mason's latest group releases its debut full-length. [Rock, Alternative]

Published: 2008-08-05 Provider: Metacritic

Smoking Section: AC/DC, Bob Dylan, The Stills

Sweet vindication! Last year in this column, AC/DC singer Brian Johnson promised that they’d tour in 2008. Well, he wasn’t kidding. Soon they’ll begin rehearsals in a secret location, before hitting U.S. arenas in late fall. We heard this news at the Sony HQ on New York’s Madison Avenue, before hearing all 15 tracks of the band’s earthshaking new Black Ice, recorded in Vancouver in just eight weeks with Brendan O’Brien. On it, Brian wails about skies on fire, blood in his eyes, storms raging, lightning flashes, hard rain and pretty women. Angus Young shreds throughout (we dig his slide work on “Decibel”), and the rhythm cats — Malcom Young, Cliff Williams and Phil Rudd — are solid as a rock. The first single is “Rock ‘N Roll Train”; “She Likes Rock ‘N Roll” will be a stripper anthem; and “War Machine” (our favorite) will tear you to pieces. ***** In Chronicles Vol. 1, Bob Dylan tells about a trip to Princeton, New Jersey, where, accompanied by his “obstreperous” buddy David Crosby, he received an honorary degree. The ceremony was a bummer — the speaker pissed off Bob by introducing him as “the authentic expression of the disturbed and concerned conscience of young America.” Dylan ended up writing “Day of the Locusts” about the trip. The S.S. recently had the pleasure of meeting Crosby and asked him for his side of the story. “I did something that I do to people: I got him really high,” said Crosby. “When we got there, there was an altercation between Bob and the Princeton people, who insisted that he wear a robe. I had to convince Bob to stay and do it.” In return, Crosby made it into “Day of the Locusts.” “There’s a line that goes, ‘The man standing next to me, his head was exploding,’ ” said Crosby proudly. “That’s me!” Crosby also told us that CSN are working on a new album with Rick Rubin, featuring covers of their favorite songs. “James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, the Beatles, people that we love,” says Crosby. “And Dylan, of course.” ***** We loved the Stills

Published: 2008-08-15 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Smoking Section

Pete Townshend Muses on Rock Honors, Smashing Computers, Eddie Vedder in E-Mail to Rolling Stone

After taping VH1 Honors: The Who, Pete Townshend e-mailed Rolling Stone’s Jenny Eliscu with a post-mortem discussing his own performance, his desire to smash plastic Rock Band instruments and the advice he gave Eddie Vedder a few years ago. Here’s the message: Despite my smiley face, I was on guard on the red carpet and didn’t say much although the New York Times guy caught me off guard with the best question of my life, delivered almost dead-pan: “WHY DON’T YOU JUST DO WHAT ROGER WANTS?” For a split second I tried to answer. The show felt clunky to me because I find it hard to mix work and pleasure, and so much of it was about mixing with people and accepting their good wishes. I tend to shut myself away before and after shows, it’s about making the best of the very little I have left to give the audience. Trying to increase the force of the water by closing down the valve on the hose, so to speak. I thought Roger sounded good. He’s been keeping himself active, doing small shows, and it showed. It always takes me 20 minutes or so to loosen up. This was our first show for a year or so, so I was rusty on guitar. I felt like I was holding a spade (shovel). I dreamed last night of trying to play the show with a guitar actually covered in soil. I have been playing piano since last July, and only acoustic guitar (on the sofa while watching episodes of Medium or Boston Legal as my way of remembering America). Electric guitar and arm-swinging is not what I do between dog-walks and arthritis. You probably know that VH1 Rock Honors was originally floated as an idea to help sell Viacom’s Rock Band. My son and his buddies did play with Rock Band around Christmas, until I lent it to the much younger son of Rachel’s drummer. I never tried it. I thought I’d probably end up smashing it. I did have an idea for a stunt — if Viacom is VH1, and they own Rock Band, what about giving me a plastic guitar to smash on the show? Even better, what about giving me five hundred thousand plast

Published: 2008-07-23 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Rock Diary

"Made in the Dark" by Hot Chip

Hot Chip's Made in the Dark is brimming with robot love, but it's far from being the work of slick automatons. On this, their third album, the British fivesome play sentimental, spastic robots. The record weaves (sometimes violently) from gorgeous, melancholic ballads into bursts of pleasure-principled electro-pop. The band have always juggled these two tendencies, but here the transitions are far more jarring than on either of their previous albums. Still, the individual parts are thrilling even if the whole doesn't quite gel. "We're Looking for a Lot of Love" strolls leisurely by with wistful whistles, clicking percussion and a pastel wash of key tones. "Touch to Much" is equally sweet, with its tinkling bells and a subdued kick. The highlights, though, are the really subdued numbers. On the "Wrestlers," woozy synths give way to a simple, understated piano melody, while Alexis Taylor sings, "I learned all I need to know I learned from wrestling" — baffling and charming at

Published: 2008-03-03 Provider: Artist Direct

Single Minded: Shelby Lynne, Joe Jackson, Mars Volta, Vampire Weekend and Protest the Hero

Every Tuesday Single Minded highlights new tracks hitting stores (or the Web) this week. On Fridays, come back for rarities, remixes, mash-ups and more. Vampire Weekend, “Oxford Comma,” “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” [Official Site] Vampire Weekend’s songs are bright and bouyant, so it’s a shame that by the time you finish reading this everyone you know will already hate them. Joe Jackson, “King Pleasure Time” [MySpace] After five years, Joe Jackson returns with a whole new batch of songs for the Raconteurs to crib from. Shelby Lynne, “Willie and Laura Mae Jones” [Official Site] Lynne gives a once-over to the Dusty Springfield catalog but, to the incredible relief of anyone who attended college in the Nineties, spares us the song they used in Pulp Fiction. The Mars Volta, “Untitled Exclusive Track” [Official Site] Successfully solve this puzzle, and get rewarded with an exclusive Mars Volta track. We’d tell you what it sounds like, but at a certain point the reward was no longer worth the effort. That “certain point” was after, like, nine or ten seconds. Protest the Hero, “Bloodmeat” [MySpace] And speaking of prog! Canadian band imagines a side project between Rush and Skid Row. Make of that what you will. [Photo: Getty]

Published: 2008-01-29 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded, Rock Daily

Radiohead Break Out Covers of Smiths, New Order During Webcast

Even though Radiohead slam-dunked their version of Björk’s “Unravel” during last night’s Webcast, it’s become apparent that the band has not got covers completely out of their system. We’re one hour into tonight’s live telecast, and have already enjoyed two covers: The Smiths’ “The Headmaster Ritual” and, for your viewing pleasure above, New Order’s “Ceremony.” The band also mixed in live versions of their own “Reckoner” (the debut performance of its current incarnation) and “Faust Arp,” which was previously recorded and performed in a field with singer Thom Yorke and guitarist Jonny Greenwood. Between performances, the bandmembers have taken turns DJing (who knew drummer Phil Selway loved him some Iron & Wine?) and broadcasting Stanley Donwood animation as well as hilarious skits, like the Se7en-themed music video for “15 Step.” To join in, head over to www.radiohead.tv.

Published: 2007-11-10 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Videos, Radiohead's "In Rainbows"

Single Minded: Ghostface Killah, Joy Division vs. Dr. Dre, Radiohead’s Webcast and More

Every Tuesday Single Minded highlights new tracks hitting stores (or the Web) this week. On Fridays, come back for rarities, remixes, mash-ups and more. Ghostface Killah featuring Beanie Sigel & Styles P, “Barrell Brothers” [Passion of the Weiss] We don’t know who leaked the second track from Ghosty’s The Big Doe Rehab, out December 4th, but we’re glad they did. Killah spits with focused veracity and Beanie Sigel unleashes his most spirited verse in ages. Joy Division and Dr. Dre, “Let’s Get High, Joy Division Style” [The Music Slut] What makes this mash-up so shocking is that this combination of JD’s “A Means to an End” and Dre’s “Let’s Get High” is really good, with Dre almost keeping pace with Joy Division’s visceral pace. Justice featuring Mos Def and Spank Rock, “D.A.N.C.E.” [RCRD LBL] Our first visit to the record label/free music blog RCRD LBL gave us this, the thirteen millionth version of Justice’s “D.A.N.C.E.” With Mos Def and Spank Rock involved, though, it seems that 13,000,000th time’s the charm. Radiohead, thumbs_down Webcast in MP3 form [Music Is Art] Frustrated you can’t bring Radiohead’s Webcast into your car? Now you can! Every song the band DJed and all the covers Radiohead performed are housed at this site for your downloading pleasure. U2, “Wave of Sorrow” preview video [U2.com] In this video, Bono previews a Joshua Tree demo from the album’s upcoming reissue. The highlight comes when Bono starts singing over the song, then stops mid-word to explain what he was singing about.

Published: 2007-11-17 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Single Minded

Rock Reality Show Recap: Rocket and the Muggs Get Pink Slips on Billy Joel Week of “The Next Great American Band”

The producers of American Idol think they can find The Next Great American Band on TV (and no, they’re not talking about the next great Grand Funk Railroad). We think we can find some pleasure in this pursuit with our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our fourth report: Two Great American Reality Hours in Three Sentences: Occasionally tuneless Detroit garage-rockers the Muggs and always-tuneless gal-punx Rocket, two bands Dicko claimed were a victim of “death by lead singer,” were sent home. After last week’s catty diatribe by the Hatch (”I’d like to say that America has spoken … I think about 300 people in Nebraska have spoken”) neither band were allowed to say goodbye beyond a silent blown kiss and an uncomfortable fidget. The remaining eight bands (including all the country groups — shocking news about a show where Americans choose the results) covered Billy Joel. The complete lack of rap groups on the series makes our yearning for the inevitable hip-hop “We Didn’t Start the Fire” cover even more tangible. Best Great American Band: While RS fave Franklin Bridge did a hard-rockin’ “Big Shot” that mirrored their winning twenty-ingredients-in-one-pot style (”Kickstart My Heart” whammy bar noise, slow soul, a little funk-metal, a reggae lilt, some dramatic “spirit finger” hand motions), they sadly took the judges’ advice from last week and dialed back their pyrotechnic drumming. The best band was actually the Clark Brothers, whose gorgeous, minimal and subdued version of “She’s Got a Way” was the only emotionally gripping cover of anything performed on the show to date. Dicko praised them for their conviction, the audience waved their arms like idiots. Worst Great American Band: Bluegrass BBQ-ers Cliff Wagner And The Old #7 complained that Billy Joel isn’t really suited to their style of music, and did a twangy cover of “Yo

Published: 2007-11-13 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Reality Show Recaps

Rock Reality Show Recap: Crappy Groups Galore Grace the Premiere of “The Next Great American Band”

The producers of American Idol think they can find The Next Great American Band on TV (and no, they’re not talking about the next great Grand Funk Railroad). We think we can find some pleasure in this pursuit with our Rock Reality Show Recaps. Here’s our first report: Two Great American Reality Hours in Three Sentences: The producers of American Idol scoured the nation for sixty bands, drove them to a stage in “the heart of the desert” and, unfortunately, did not do the world a great service by leaving them all there. We met our judges who already fit the Idol mold perfectly: the prickly veteran (Aussie Idol judge Ian “Dicko” Dickson), the overly nice diplomat (Sheila E., doing a perfect Paula) and someone to break their ties (Goo Goo Doll John Rzeznick). Twelve bands were chosen, but just one will emerge victorious … and dozens of others will have already sacrificed their dignity for a few extra MySpace hits. Best Next Great American Bands Bands: Of the twelve finalists chosen, most of them are glorified local bands who somehow convinced three judges and a team of producers they have potential: lame Maroon 5 clones (the Hatch), way-sloppy girl punks (Rocket), something with a lot of eyeliner and leaping (Dot Dot Dot), and a twelve-piece big band that doesn’t realize the swing-revival revival is still like fifteen years off (Denver and the Mile High Orchestra). Only two bands are truly worth putting a sawbuck in the office pool: Philly heavy-soul crew Franklin Bridge who have an air-tight mix of funk, rock and chops; and Nashville’s Sixwire, whose Sawyer-Brown-meets-Big-And-Rich-style blend of country, rock and fast-rap will probably go the Daughtry route and sell bazillions no matter if they win or not. (Advantage: They were signed to Warner Bros. in 2002 and are now the veteran also-rans competing in a contest of amateurs and future also-rans) Saddest Great American Moment: The entire episode worked on the premise t

Published: 2007-10-22 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock Reality Show Recaps

Fricke’s Picks: Wooden Shjips, Tulsa and Your 33 Black Angels

Day-Glo Drone Rock Guitarist-singer Ripley Johnson of San Francisco’s Wooden Shjips told me, after a show in March, that his original idea was a group of “nonmusicians” that would “take music back to the primitive trance of the Velvet Underground with [early drummer] Angus MacLise.” That concept fell apart, and it was a good thing. Wooden Shjips — Johnson, organist Nash Whalen, bassist Dusty Jermier and drummer Omar Ahsanuddin — now play a sleek, Day-Glo drone rock, with magnum liftoff. That Velvets pulse is the root motion on Wooden Shjips (Holy Mountain). But there is a bracing, open-air-worship quality in Whalen’s long-breath chords and the ecstatic seizure of Johnson’s heavily distorted guitar breaks. Brevity suits this band too. The Shjips’ first records were a ten-inch EP and a seven-inch 45; they have two new singles on Sub Pop and the band’s own label. Wooden Shjips itself is barely vintage-LP length: five tracks, thirty-three minutes. The first song on the album is “We Ask You to Ride.” It is foolish to decline. Love, Reverb and Twang Tulsa are slightly more earthbound, in that the seven songs on I Was Submerged (Park the Van), the Boston quartet’s new record, have actual choruses and bridges. Singer-songwriter Carter Tanton also examines loss and reunion with refreshing bounce. “I’m in love for the first time,” Tanton crows in “I Feel Great,” with no apparent irony. “It feels great/Thanks for asking.” But his indie-seraphim voice is not of this world — set in the same alpine reverb where Jim James of My Morning Jacket lives — while the iridescent bloom of the guitars is a quality flashback to the clean-twang and country-fuzz blend of the 1968-69 Byrds. Limited-Edition Pleasure This spring, the New York band Your 33 Black Angels quietly released one of this year’s treasures: Lonely Street (no label), in a numbered

Published: 2007-09-26 Provider: Rolling Stone Keywords: Rock News, Fricke's Picks

hercules and love affair - blind

good morning! yesterday i received a copy of the self-titled debut album from NY based hercules and love affair (join them on myspace) and i instantly tossed it on while i knocked out a bunch of work and i really enjoyed it (the band is a 'musical project' from DJ andy butler - here's a video of him talking about each track) the album releases today here in the states (it first released in the UK back on march 10th - of course all the good stuff comes out across the pond before hitting the US) their first single blind is posted below for your listening pleasure along w/ a hot remix and the video! they'll be playing los angeles on july 23rd at 'the echo' - i must go see them play live! popbytes over & out for now...xxoo » listen to hercules and love affair's blind | blind - hercules club mix

Published: 2008-06-24 Provider: Popbytes

Why Stop At 90210?

Dear Hollywood, I'm thrilled that you're bringing back Beverly Hills 90210 with the much edgier-sounding 90210. I'm even more thrilled that everyday when I wake up, I find out that a new former cast member will be appearing in the new series as grown-up versions of their original characters (Jenny Garth will play Kelly who is now a guidance counselor, Donna became the owner of an upscale fashion boutique, and now Shannon Doherty will reprise her role as Brenda, who is now a famous theatre director brought in to direct a musical at Beverly Hills High). But why stop there? So many television shows from our youth could EASILY be re-imagined, repackaged, and reborn for our viewing pleasure. Think not just of the money - not just of the countless child actors who totally deserve a comeback - but THINK OF THE CHILDREN. Children today have no concept of television glory from days gone by. They missed the heyday of the sitcom; they think reality television is normal. It's time to bring way more than 90210 back. Here are a few shows that are just SCREAMING for a revival: Original Show: JUST THE TEN OF US Edgier, Modern Show Title: JUST THE THIRTY-SEVEN OF US Comeback Roles: Deborah Harmon returns to play a 67-year-old woman who uses modern technology to keep having babies! And yes, everyone will be wearing footy pajamas!!! Original Show: CALIFORNIA DREAMS Edgier, Modern Show Title: SURF DUDES WITH ATTITUDES Comeback Roles: Michael Cade will return to reprise his role as Sly, a local bum who hangs around Paradise Cove, trying to convince everyone that he once managed the hottest band in Southern California. Original Show: HOME IMPROVEMENT Edgier, Modern Show Title: HOME IMPROVEMENT IMPROVEMENT Comeback Roles: Jonathan Taylor Thomas will return to play a grown-up Randy, who gets into all kinds of wacky trouble with tazers. Original Show: FULL HOUSE Edgier, Modern Show Title: WHORE HOUSE Comeback Roles: D.J., Stephanie, and Michelle (Michelle is played once again by both Mary

Published: 2008-07-21 Provider: VH1