“A lot of bands have something to say,” explains TV On The Radio producer/multi-instrumentalist David Sitek. “We have something to ask.” Whether or not you care what that might be, there’s a lot to love on this band’s latest effort, Dear Science,. We can promise that it’s not like any other record you’ll hear this year, and that it’ll stick with you. Curious? Check out some samples in this edition of the Songlines podcast.
TV on the Radio debuted a fantastically weird video for the track “Golden Age” this fall. Its relatively static state belies the song’s complexity and funky underpinnings:
Yahoo Music analyzed its possible meanings and influences here.
Thursday October 23rd 2008, 9:08 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Akron, Ohio native Joseph Arthur first came into the national spotlight in the mid-’90s with support from Peter Gabriel, who signed him to Real World, and set him up with a performing slot on the WOMAD tour. Most recently, he’s been releasing music on his own Lonely Astronaut label. His new full-length Temporary People sports his strongest material to come out of the studio in quite some time. Hear some of its tracks in this Songlines podcast.
Curious about that visual art that Julia mentions in the podcast? Joseph has a current show at a gallery in Brooklyn, and just finished exhibiting a piece at Ritchies in Montreal. In addition, there’s a little teaser of an art gallery on his site, and there are really cool prints, pieces of jewelry, and t-shirts in his online store, too.
Monday October 20th 2008, 9:07 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Born to Irish parents in Oxford, England, Thea Gilmore began writing poetry and short stories in her early teens, and started pursuing songcraft at the age of 16, when she left home to begin working in a recording studio. She’s long been revered in the U.K., having been described as “the best wordsmith of her generation†(The Independent) and “the best British singer-songwriter of the last ten years . . . and then some†(Uncut). Her new record, Liejacker, is the fruit borne of two very difficult years in her life. Julia Clarke will tell you more about what Thea’s been up to in this edition of the Songlines podcast.
What’s with the album’s title? Thea’s site goes into quite an explanation. While you’re there, you can check out her tour dates. She’s out on the road opening for Joe Jackson.
Friday October 17th 2008, 9:16 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Last week, the Songlines crew caught the Pretenders’ CD release party for their excellent new effort, Break Up the Concrete, at the Highline Ballroom. It was an amazing show. The band hit many of the classics, including “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” “Talk of the Town,” “Kid,” and “Brass in Pocket,” as well as a healthy handful of new songs, which sounded right at home against the time-tested material. Particular standouts were “Love’s a Mystery,” “Rosalee,” and “Boots of Chinese Plastic.”
Chrissie looked and sounded radiant — she’s still got the body of a 20-year-old, and her voice has retained more of its early-’80s character than any other rocker from that era who’s still singing. She was charming and playful with the audience, and shimmied around with delight. The new players wailed, particularly James Walbourne when he stretched out on guitar on tunes like “Thumbelina.”Here’s a shot from the show, courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan:
In case you haven’t had an opportunity to dig into Break Up the Concrete, Julia Clarke offers up a guided tour in this Songlines podcast.
With production and contributions from guitar masters M. Ward and Marc Ribot, Jolie Holland’s latest effort, The Living and the Dead, is more fleshed-out and textural than any of her previous work. The Be Good Tanyas founder is already revered by fans from Tom Waits to Rolling Stone, and it’s time for you to become familiar with her fine work too. One place you might start? Listen to this Songlines podcast.
Jolie is on an extensive tour through mid-November. Catch her at a theater near you.
You can easily configure your iTunes to automatically download Songlines podcasts. Listen anytime on your iPhone or iPod. Don’t know how? Here are instructions.
Wednesday October 01st 2008, 8:45 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Kasey Chambers’ amazing voice has long been familiar to country, Americana and Triple A audiences in the States. The Aussie is back with her fifth studio effort, Rattlin’ Bones — a collaboration with her husband, Australian singer and songwriter Shane Nicholson. Their harmonies work beautifully, and the songs are some of the strongest in her career. Check out snippets in this edition of the Songlines podcast.
Thursday September 25th 2008, 8:30 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Sonya Kitchell launched her debut record, Words Came Back to Me, when she was only 16. That release sparkled with more than a few glimmers of promise, but few could’ve predicted the heights she’d soar to just three years on with the launch of her sophomore effort, This Storm. It’s got more edge, and is marked by an uncommon maturity. Sample some tracks in this Songlines podcast.
Wednesday September 10th 2008, 9:31 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
Michael Franti has spent the last two decades touring the globe, and has sold over a million albums along the way. All the while, he’s retained his spirit and identity as an independent artist. His latest offering is a rump-shaking romp recorded in Kingston, Jamaica, with Sly and Robbie behind the boards. Franti describes All Rebel Rockers as an album “intended to wage war on cynicism. It’s an invitation for people to dance in a world that is filled with chaos.” In this edition of the Songlines podcast, you’ll hear parts of tracks like “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “A Little Bit of Riddim.”
As part of an anti-poverty protest in 2000, Michael Franti decided not to wear shoes for three days. He never went back. Except for occasionally needing to wear shoes for air travel or to be admitted to a restaurant, he’s been barefoot ever since.
Friday September 05th 2008, 9:03 am
Filed under: Podcasts
Posted by: Melanie
A hardworking band that’s built up a great fanbase through strong releases and extensive touring, Jacksonville, Florida’s JJ Grey & Mofro are back with a terrific new set of songs inspired in part by the beauty and complexity of their state flower, the orange blossom. Treat yourself to a sampling of the album’s tracks, from the deep groove of “On Fire” to the sweet nostalgia of the title song, “Orange Blossoms,” with this Songlines podcast.
JJ Grey & Mofro do some of their best work out on the road — but not just on stage. They’ve got a wonderful tour journal on their web site. Keep up with their travels here.
Sarah Dugas, The Duhks’ new bilingual frontwoman, was thrilled by the process of making the band’s new record, Fast Paced World. “We traveled from Winnipeg, locked ourselves in a Nashville basement, pooled our ideas together and invented a new sound,†she says. Check out the revamped sonics in this Songlines podcast.
