The Polyphonic Spree have released an 8 minute mash-up of their soon to be released album, The Fragile Army. The mash-up contains all 11 of the tracks on The Fragile Army, which is scheduled to be released on June 19th.

Says Spree frontman Tim DeLaughter, “You are about to experience a sample of our latest recording achievement. Please raise your ears and hold on to your heart as we prepare you for The Fragile Army.”

MP3: The Fragile Army mash-up

New Zealand band, The Veils, released their sophomore album, Nux Vomica on, Tuesday. With a new line-up, Finn Andrews has made a pretty incredible album. Some of the songs remind me of Nick Cave/The Birthday Party with a little Jeff Buckley thrown in. Andrews sings with such intensity, you can really feel the emotion he puts into his songs. Their song Pan demonstrates the intensity of their Gothic Americana stylings. Which, by the way, sound nothing like his fathers work. Finn is the son of Barry Andrews, who played keys for XTC and who also has his own band, Shriekback.
While it is a great album, I think I’ll save this one for an overcast day in the winter.

“Psychedelic”, it’s got to be the most over used and stupid description for music unless your truly talking about a band that sounds like Pink Floyd or The Doors. They where truly “Psychedelic.” Ok, I’ll get off my high horse now. It’s just the first thing i see when I got to The Little Ones’ Myspace page is Indie / Folk Rock / Psychedelic, bleh. I’m so tired of that description, Indy, ya I see that, I’m still having a difficult time with “Folk Rock” as well, but I’ll let it slide, but “Psychedelic” they are not. Honestly, I like their music, they sound like something that could be on the sound track to Garden State or they genera of music. It’s up tempo, happy a little Polyphonic Spree without the choir, huge band and as much talent. Overall, I’ll skip The Not-So-Psychedelic Little Ones, though if I’m walking past them I may give a song or two a listen.

This past Monday I jumped in the Jeep, threw the kayak on top and headed for the coast.  Our State magazine was looking for photos of NC Piers.  It sounded like a good excuse to drive around the coast and photograph.  I hit Atlantic Beach first, then down to Emerald Isle where I camped next to the ocean, past a huge Marine base and then down to Wilmington.  Really nice drive, found several piers and took lots of photos, here they are, let me know what you think.

-BR 

I’m so excited by the new music coming out this spring/summer. We have already been talking about the greatness that has been released in the last month or so. Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, Bright Eyes, and now I’m really digging the New Arctic Monkeys that came out yesterday, great stuff. I would have to say those 4 are on my very heavy rotation right now, along with Neon Bible from The Arcade Fire, which came out before I really started updating this bloggy.

But that’s not all. Besides all the big summer tours, lots of bands I love have new albums coming out. Check out some of my highlights coming soon. I’m excited to hear the release from Rush, they where my favorite band in high school and still a huge fan of drummer Neil Peart, who since their last album has lost a wife and daughter in the same year, then later got remarried to a photographer.

24 Apr Tuesday:
Patti Smith Twelve

1 May Tuesday:
Tori Amos American Doll Posse
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Baby 81
Rush Snakes & Arrows

8 May Tuesday:
Bjork Volta

15 May Tuesday:
Wilco Sky Blue Sky

12 Jun Tuesday:
Queens Of The Stone Age Era Vulgaris

19 Jun Tuesday:
White Stripes Icky Thump

7 July Saturday:
Smashing Pumpkins Zeitgeist

10 July Tuesday:
Interpol [Title TBA]
They Might Be Giants The Else

More:

OK, don’t have alot today. I just got back from two days at the beach shooting piers for a NC magazine, more on that later. But I did notice Arctic Monkeys have a new release, Favorite Worst Nightmare. I’m on my first listen now, but sounds great so far. You can listen for free @ AOL’s Full CD Listening Party. Very UK, pretty hard-rock-punk-dance around music.

oh ya, and go Kucinich!

ok, more about this book thing.

I’d like to have a little written about Bonnaroo in the book as well, sort of a forward. anyone interested?  I could set up some sort of profit sharing or some sort of compensation, though it would have to come when/if the book actually sold since I’m not working full time any longer.  So, though of you on here that have been to Bonnaroo or are planning on going this year and are interested, let me know.  It would have to be about the shows themselves and/or about my photos, I’ll send ya some prints if you’d like.  Or maybe some sort of story from the festival.

So I’ve been pondering over the last few days/hours/months, whatever…this will be my 5th year shooting Bonnaroo, I’ve shot quite a few bands and had some great times and worked much harder at the shows then the average concert goer. I’m thinking about self publishing a book on my photography from Bonnaroo over the years. With these days of the internet, it’s actually fairly doable to create, publish and distribute one-off books. There’s no upfront costs, and no inventory. The overall cost of the book may be a little more, but it’s not a huge difference. I think the overall cost would still be around $60 to $75, but fine art, full color, photo books normally average anywhere from $50 to $100 or more. Does anyone think there would be enough interest for me to invest the amount of time I’ll need to pull something like this together? I mean there has to be some interest, around 100,000 people put down over $200 a year to go to the show, wouldn’t some good photos be worth remembering the shows? Maybe if I get enough interest I can get a major distributer to then publish my book.

-BR

I’ve always (secretly) enjoyed good mash-ups. I thought Danger Mouse’s Grey album, which mashed-up Jay-Z’s The Black Album and the Beatles’ White Album was terrific. I came across a very bizarre mash-up today. France’s DJ Moule found a way to combine the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil, Queen’s Another One Bites the Dust, and Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit. Have a listen.

-Paul

With so many of my favorite bands/performers (i.e. The Shins, The Arcade Fire, Modest Mouse, Kings of Leon, Bright Eyes, Wilco, The Polyphonic Spree) releasing new material this year it is so easy to miss out on new up and coming artists. I have to admit, in January I listened to practically nothing else but The Shins Wincing the Night Away. The month of February and early March found me listening to nothing but the Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible (thanks to receiving a pre-release), and ever since March 20th, Modest Mouse’s We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank has taken up most of my listening time. I can’t seem to get enough of this album. During the few times that I’ve taken a hiatus from listening to that album, before I wear it out (if that is possible) I did discover a few other bands that are noteworthy.

The first being The Fratellis a 3 piece from Glasgow. Of course most of you have heard their song Flathead from the iPod and iTunes adds. Their first album Costello music was released on March 13th, and I have to say I liked the album immediately. Their sound is a cross between the Arctic Monkeys and The Clash, and at times Greenday (although that is probably just because they are a bass, drums, guitar trio). Most of their songs are catchy upon the first listen and they have a very memorable/hummable chorus’. Their lyrics and song structures aren’t breaking any new ground but their catchy, pop-py garage tunes do satisfy.

Another band, I just discovered this morning is The Noisettes

They are a pop/rock trio from London and their debut album Whats the Time Mr. Wolf was just released April 17. What makes this album stand out is the incredible voice of lead singer and bassist, Shingai Shoniwa. Think of Karen O with a whole lot of soul. You can currently stream their new album in its entirety at AOL’s full listening party.

The Black Angels will be playing this year at Bonnaroo for the first time. I gave their 4 songs on their Myspace page a listen. I’d say this Austin, TX band is a psychedelic mix of The Velvet Underground, The Doors, and the some of their songs even sound like The Black Keys. Which is kind of amazing, since they are a six piece band and The Black Keys are only two. Anyway. I’ll probably skip them this year, though I’m sure they will have a decent draw with the jam band/psychedelic crowd. Though with The Police and Tool headlining this year we may have a different type of fan base.

As a side note, I did get word yesterday that I do have a press pass again this year, so I’m excited. I”m working on a video camera to cover the press tent and a few shows.

-BR 

Ok, fun stuff today.

I found this American Green Tree Frog (Hyla cinere) on my grill on Monday night, took bunches of photos of him (or her, who knows).  Here’s the rest….

How to get from NYC to London via Google Maps? Check this out.  Make sure you check step #23

Ok, not to keep harping on Kings of Leon, but Caleb Followi, lead singer look totally like Ozzy in this video, WTF? Maybe they are paying their respects, but sheesh.

Oh and just for the fun of it, nothing like line dancing to KOL…

If you haven’t seen the Flaming Lips live before I have to say your missing out. The video above is a small example of one of their shows. I’ve been to alot of live shows and I’m not sure many other performers put the kind of energy into their stage presence and set up.

Here’s their upcoming shows, I’m sure there’s more coming and I know they are scheduled for Bonnaroo again this year.:

Lollapalooza will be again in Grant Park, Chicago, on August 3-5. The standard price of the tickets this year is $195, and tickets are not subject to additional service fees.

2007 lineup in the order announced on the official website (April 12, 2007):

Pearl Jam, Daft Punk, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Muse, Iggy & the Stooges, Modest Mouse, Interpol, My Morning Jacket, Satellite Party, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Snow Patrol, the Roots, Patti Smith, Kings of Leon, the Black Keys, Regina Spektor, Spoon, Lupe Fiasco, TV on the Radio, Pete Yorn, G. Love & Special Sauce, Paolo Nutini, Amy Winehouse, LCD Soundsystem, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Silverchair, Femi Kuti, Yo La Tengo, Slightly Stoopid, the Hold Steady, Jack’s Mannequin, Stephen Marley, Sound Tribe Sector 9, M.I.A., Blonde Redhead, Sparklehorse, Sean Lennon, !!!, Blue October, Son Volt, Motion City Soundtrack, Polyphonic Spree, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Peter Bjorn & John, Silversun Pickups, Cansei De Ser Sexy (CSS), the Rapture, the Wailers, Roky Erickson & the Explosives, Tapes ‘n Tapes, Heartless Bastards, the View, the Cribs, the Fratellis, Ghostland Observatory, Tokyo Police Club, Rhymefest, Soulive, Cold War Kids, Annuals, Fields, Electric Six, Jim Noir, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Sam Roberts Band, the Black Angels, Charlie Musselwhite, Aqueduct, Juliette and the Licks, Dios Malos, Viva Voce, David Vandervelde, Los Campesinos!, Chin Up Chin Up, Ryan Shaw, Colour Revolt, the Satin Peaches, Illinois, Arckid, Mickey Avalon, The 1900s, Bang Bang Bang, Bound Stems, High Class Elite, Carey Ott, Matt Roan.

I gotta see about working on a press pass for this one.