This is MP3Monster's blog. The blog covers music, technology, photography and anything else Monster considers worthy of blogging about.Airbourne Toxic Event
Posted by monster in Music
So where do you get to find out about new artists and groups? The net, magazines, hearing support acts, from friends. Well how about the barbers?
Yes, the barbers. A place for hair cuts and inane background music like local radio or daytime Radio 1. But not this time, no Airbourne Toxic Event blasting out good and loud.
So I better give you an idea of what ATE are like. Probably the easiest description is to say that they are a mix of early Elvis Costello and the Smiths.
Amazon maybe cheap for music, but for the extra special ….
Posted by monster in Music
Amazon maybe consistently one of the cheapest places to buy music, but you can often pickup some jems from other places such as recordstore.co.uk. For example you can pickup a number of signed copies of albums and/or limited editions. In terms of price - the only real difference is postage unless you order over £50. So always worth checking out. I’ve ordered my copy of the next Delays album (Star Tiger Star Ariel) from RecordStore.co.uk
More Gabriel music in the pipeline
Posted by monster in Music
The latest Peter Gabriel podcast has some fine news. Aside from extending his Red Blood (no guitars, no drums, orchestra) tour which features his Scratch My Back album on which I’ve already blogged, Peter has said he will take the Orchestra back into the studio to record the reworking of his own songs. The recording could be out later this summer. Then he is going to pick up his original album project again.
Only dissappointment is the new dates don’t include a return to the UK.
It is still early, but Scratch My Back may make the album of the year in my books.
Faithless live
Posted by monster in Music
We caught Faithless live last night touring their new album The Dance. I had been disappointed by the album with the exception of the monster Sun To Me. But in a live context (fo Faithless think more of a super club) the new album made a lot of sense and sounded great.
Of course they also performed their big numbers such as God Is A DJ and lesser numbers like Flowerstand Man.
Wonder over to photos.mp3monster.org to see pictures.
Record Shops
Posted by monster in Music
I’ve blogged in the past about the demise of the record store. But I came across a little video clip on Glorious Noise trailoring a documentary on the subject:
“Re-Vinylized” trailer from John Boston on Vimeo.
When I go travelling on business, and often being on my own I have a chance to go looking for those record stores that manifest the character of Nick Hornby’s Championcip Vinyl. rummaging through the racks looking for something different and interesting is a good way to kill some time. so I thought I’d point out a couple those fine emporiums I’ve encountered:
Polyester Records in Melbourne - a hint of commercialisation, but a brilliant section on Oz & Kiwi artists. More Empire Records than Championship Vinyl.
Basement Discs - good stock of vinyl, big on Folk. Easily missed as its only a small entrance at street level - but basement is big, right in the centre of Melbourne.
Dixons Recycled Disc - several stores around Melbourne (I visited the Prahan store as I wondered down Chapel Street) stocking second hand, or better put ‘pre-loved’ music. An aladin’scave of stuff. Yes, lots of the dross, but jems among them.
Amoeba Music - San Fransisco, a short cab ride from the city centre. But a place of pilgrimage.
Rasputin Music - heart of San Fransisco, just a minutes walk from Union Square and could be giving Amoeba a run for its money.
Peter Gabriel - New Blood Tour
Posted by monster in Music, Photography
The New Blood tour is following on the back of his Scratch My Back album - A different take on the covers album, by working the covers as orchestral pieces.
So the tour means a large Orchestra rather than his regular touring band. The concert has much in common with a traditional orchestral performance with the first half being the new album end to end. After the interval we’re treated with some great reworkings of his own songs. Some obvious choices and others not so.
With a large orchestra Peter can’t provide the usual style of performance he lays on with zorb balls, Sedgeways, massive moving floors. That’s not to say this was not a class Gabriel visual feast. No, we get curtains made from massive U2 style displays, visuals behind the orchestra; several camera crews filming, often right in the middle of the musicians so the stage side screens get you into the heart of the action.
So a beautiful and stunning concert. I have posted some photos on our flickr account. What is cool is that the guy (Stefan Goodchild) who produced some the visuals has found my pictures ans some by a few others (possibly more professional than mine) and put them together into a collection to show his work which can be found here.
If you read the journal, the artist will be making some video clips of the work available. We would highly recommend checking them out, along with the blog.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mp3monster/sets/72157623594005837/
Tom McRae Gig
Posted by monster in Music, Photography
Some Photos from the Tom McRae gig at the Wedgewood Rooms Portamouth. Another fine performance from Tom. Go here.
Wish Listing
Posted by monster in Music
All the music waiting to be purchased gets fropped into a wishlist, just incase someone was to feel a little generous ….
If only there was an easy universal wishlist app out there.
Tom McRae album
Posted by monster in Music
Yippeee my copy of the latest Tom McRae album - The Alphabet of Hurricanes has arrived with a bonus EP, which comes if you buy through Tom’s official website.
Posted by monster in Music
new album from Jesse Malin
Posted by monster in General, Music
Jesse Malin is very happy to announce that my new album “Love It To Life” is finished and will be released in stores on April 27, 2010 on Side One Dummy Records. It is produced by Ted Hutt (Lucero, The Gaslight Anthem, Flogging Molly), and YES it will available in VINYL, as well as CD and all the other digital stuff!!! The record was recorded with my new band, The St. Marks Social.
I’ve not yet seen the album listed on the usual online stores yet to preorder yet.
Article worth checking out
Posted by monster in Music
Glorious Noise hve an article about trying to support real record stores here. Although I do want to agree with the direction of the article, I am lossing faith in the bricks & mortar stores because they only seem to want to flog mass market and not cater or encourage more diverse tastes.
Having said that when I was in San Franscisco recently, I had a little bit of time spare and came across Rasputin Records. This is how record shops should be, rough around the edges - with that feeling you’d get that Nick Hornby captured in High Fidelity. Four stories of this within a block of Union Square!
The National - new album as well
Posted by monster in Music
The National have started to release news on the follow up to their brilliant The Boxer album. The new album hasn’t had its name published yet, but should be released in May through 4AD. Prior to the relaese will be a European and North American tour with dates through April and May (Royal Albert Hall in London May 6th).
Turin Brakes - Outburst
Posted by monster in General, Music
News of album releases are coming in rapidly now. The latest is for Turin Brakes with their new album Outburst due out on 1st March 2010. If you can wait that long then head onto their website (http://www.turinbrakes.com/) as has details of a free track download from the forthcoming album.
Plus a video of the creation of the album at http://www.vimeo.com/8715360RegardsTBx
Disappear Here - Hybrid, sound promising
Posted by monster in Music
…..
Scratching My Back ….
Posted by monster in Music
Finally the special edition of Peter Gabriel’s new album has a release date. Having heard extracts of the album it sounds very interesting …
New Josh Rouse album ….
Posted by monster in Music
Pre-Order Josh Rouse’s El Tourista and Get an Exclusive Digital Bonus Track Instantly at the Yep Roc Webshop.
Unexpected and utterly sublime, El Turista’s sultry song cycle shuffle seamlessly in tandem with Getz/Gilberto and Paul Simon’s Graceland, albums as boldly surprising in their eras as El Turista is in this one. The record marks a new direction for the critically acclaimed artist, while offering the musical sophistication and emotional depth Rouse’s devoted constituents have come to expect.
His new songs continue the consistently enthralling body of work highlighted by the modern-day landmark albums 1972 and Nashville. Throughout El Turista, simple, Spanish-influenced street rhythms unfurl into epic versions of Guaraldi-like jazz numbers, resulting in yet another career defining touchstone and a genre-blending album that is as sophisticated as it is infectious.
For one week only, Yep Roc/Bedroom Classics are offering fans a chance to stream the entire El Turista album for free. Click HERE to stream the latest release from Josh Rouse and to get a FREE download of “I Will Live On Islands,” starting today and ending 1/26.
Click HERE to pre-order Josh Rouse’s El Turista on CD or LP now.
Street Date: March 9, 2010
Every customer that pre-orders El Turista on CD or LP from the Yep Roc Webshop will receive the exclusive bonus digital track “To The Clock, To The City” in their Stash immediately upon completion of their order.
Alternatively …
El Turista
Josh Rouse @ Amazon
O Reilly article with an interesting look at the future of music
Posted by monster in Music
O Reilly published an article with a view on the history and the future of music. The article suggests in some respects that we’re approaching the point of closing a cycle in the way we can appreciate music.
I have to say although the article raises some interesting points, I am not entirely sold on all the arguments. But make your own mind up - article here.
Depeche Mode mini album
Posted by monster in Music
Depeche Mode are to release a new 8 track mini album on December 8th in time for their forthcoming UK tour. The album features track pulled from their recent ‘Sounds of the Universe‘ album as well as some special remixes. The full track list runs:
‘Fragile Tension’ - radio mix, ‘Hole To Feed’ - radio mix, ‘Perfect’ - Roger Sanchez Club Mix, ‘Come Back’ - SixToes Remix, ‘Fragile Tension’ - Laidback Luke Remix, ‘Hole To Feed’ - Popof Vocal Mix, ‘Fragile Tension’ - Peter Bjorn And John Remix, ‘Hole To Feed’ - Joebot Remix
Watch for Depeche Mode new releases at Amazon here.
Free Joseph Arthur tracks
Posted by monster in Music
Free Joseph Arthur downloads according to his website …
“Do you have friends whom you know will love the music of Joseph Arthur? Send them a message using this form and you’ll receive a free mp3 of the track “Can’t Let You Stay,” one of the bonus tracks from the newly released Nuclear Daydream re-issue! Be sure to let them know that if they join Joseph’s Mailing List they will receive a free mp3 of Joseph solo performing “Slide Away” from the Montreal Jazz Festival from July 4th, 2008, only available for signing up on the mailing list. For those of you already on Joseph’s Mailing List, you can fill out the mailing list form again and we’ll send you a link to download the mp3. We’ll make sure you only receive one email copy of Joseph’s newsletters.”
