|
There is just not enough good indie pop out there, but if you look hard enough, you can find bands making it. Case in point: the trio from Portland, Oregon known as Derby, who are back with their sophomore effort, Posters Fade, the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed debut, This Is the New You. The hype is something you can take or leave, because ultimately the music-buying public is going to decide if they like it or not. With Posters Fade, Derby has delivered an album full of melodic, lushly (but not overly) produced songs that are just easy to listen to. Imagine a cross between Nada Surf and Collective Soul, maybe a bit more to the Nada Surf side, and that’s Derby. There is also a subtle Beatles influence, especially on the stunning best track, “If Ever There’s a Reason.” For the most part, Derby’s music will not grab you, shake you, and spin you around, but it will make a good soundtrack for watching someone get grabbed and shaken and spun around. (LABEL: Green Submarine) Filed under: Rock and Pop and Alternative and CD Reviews and Indie Labels and CD QuickTakes Comments: None |
|
After three years on major label Columbia Records, New York City based singer/songwriter Ari Hest is on his own again, and is embracing his independent status. Following an alarming trend of artists who feel the need to emancipate themselves from the major label machine to pursue more control and artistic freedom, Hest is launching a subscription based service on January 7 called “52.” The premise is that the prolific artist will deliver to his fans one new song per week with access to blogs, lyrics, interactive voting polls and more. “After an amicable departure from my record label this summer, I decided it was time to try something a little different,” he said. “It feels great to be an independent artist again, and I’m more inspired than ever to write and record. ” At the end of 2008, Hest will take the most popular songs from “52,” and record a new album with those tracks in 2009. There will be three levels to the subscription service, and fans can find out more by visiting Hest’s website at www.arihest.com Filed under: Rock and Pop and Alternative and Music Labels and Indie Labels and Songs Comments: None |
 Meg White of the White Stripes is suffering from “acute anxiety,” prompting the band to cancel its upcoming US tour that was set to begin this week. Refunds are available at points of purchase. So far, the Stripes are still planning to tour the UK beginning October 24. Word is that this year’s American Idol tour of the top 10 finalists didn’t do so well. Maybe it was the cost of concert tickets, or maybe it was the declining interest in the show as a whole. But the fact is, this show keeps pumping new pop artists into the system like no other medium. A few of the more popular alumni from the show are now in the early stages of planning a spring 2008 tour: Season 2 champ Ruben Studdard, as well as Clay Aiken and Kimberley Locke. After winning the VMA for Best Group, Fall Out Boy is planning some intimate shows to give back to their fans. Since the shows are unannounced, we have no information to announce, but that’s the beauty of events like this. Bassist Pete Wentz says that the shows will be in some small venues, and will be primarily acoustic versions of FOB songs as well as some covers. After being on the road for two years, The Fray are taking a break and recharging their batteries. Plans are in place to tour Europe in the fall, and the band is also working on their next album. After postponing a bunch of tour dates this fall because they wanted to finish recording, The Cure has announced it will head back to the US in the spring of 2008 beginning May 9 in Washington DC. Tickets for the postponed dates will be honored for the newly scheduled shows. In addition, shows were added to the tour including stops in Kansas City, Phoenix, Austin, Fort Lauderdale and Cleveland. The concert to raise funs for a Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial at the National Mall in Washington DC this coming Tuesday has added a few more high profile artists: Ludacris, Talib Kweli, and Wyclef Jean. Among the other acts already confirmed are John Legend, Robin Thicke, Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone. Another band foregoing a US tour to work on new material is the Kaiser Chiefs, who will still be playing their New York and Austin shows but canceling the dates in between. Here is the updated (more…) Filed under: Pop and Alternative and Hip Hop and Concerts and Radio and Indie Labels and American Idol Comments: None |
|
Oh, the drama. Lily Allen and Amy Winehouse both burst onto the music scene back in the spring, and whether or not you like one or both of the British singer/songwriters, you have to marvel at the ease with which they cancel tour dates. Winehouse in particular, whose alcohol and drug issues are well-documented, keeps missing shows and now she is postponing her North American fall tour in order to get her health in order. Allen, meanwhile is postponing a series of upcoming US West Coast dates after authorities revoked her work visa. Um, okay. After having to cancel some summer tour dates in the US, Morrissey will be back in the fall, including residencies in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. The tour kicks off September 21 in Las Vegas. Buzz band The Cold War Kids are still touring in support of their debut, Robbers & Cowards, including upcoming dates with The White Stripes. Here is the band’s current US itinerary (more…) Filed under: Rock and Pop and Alternative and Electronica and Hip Hop and Country and Concerts and Indie Labels Comments: None |
|
More than 50 bands will play the second annual Osheaga Music and Arts Festival in Montreal on September 8. Among confirmed acts are Smashing Pumpkins, Arctic Monkeys, Amy Winehouse, Interpol, and Damien Rice with more to be announced later. Crooner Michael Buble released his new album at the start of the month, and will be starting his tour in support of it on July 12. Plans are also in place for Buble to tour Europe in October. Erasure is joining Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry and The Dresden Dolls on the “True Colors” tour next month, but after that will be headlining a tour of their own that starts July 6 in Tampa. Tour dates are as follows: Fri 7/6 Tampa, FL Carol Morsani Hall @ TBPAC The Detroit Cobras’ new album (more…) Filed under: Rock and Pop and Alternative and Hip Hop and Jazz and Concerts and Indie Labels Comments: None |
|
A really cool lineup is shaping up for England’s Isle of Wight Festival from June 8-19. Among the partial confirmations are Snow Patrol, Keane, Paolo Nutini, James Morrison, and The Feeling.
Filed under: Rock and Pop and Alternative and Electronica and Concerts and Indie Labels and News Comments: 2 Comments |
|
When my editor told me he started this bit, I was the happiest person of all. Not only because all CDs come through me first before they are assigned and the pile is as high as a New York skyscraper. But because that means more artists get some kind of coverage. So here’s to you, Mr. Pulling Orphans Off the Pile Man….. NOTES FROM THE ORPHANAGE Avi Granite: 5 (Pet Mantis Records) Sam I Am: Whatever’s Got You Down (Hopeless) Dirty on Purpose: Hallelujah Sirens (North Street) Mushroomhead: Savior Sorrow (Filthyhands/Megaforce) The Beautiful Girls: Water (Cornerstone RAS) Cute is What We Aim For: The Same Old Blood Rush With a New Touch (Fueled By Ramen) Kristy Frank: Freedom (Ruffnation) |
|
With Sony/BMG and Warner Bros. recently getting hit with payola lawsuits, more music being purchased digitally, and more new artists becoming hip to the fact that they can survive on their own without “borrowing” money from a major label, the music industry is becoming more indie than ever. Distribution companies such as Redeye are allowing independent artists and indie labels the option of using channels that were previously reserved for the majors. And artists are able to sell their own CD’s online and digitally, as well as through traditional touring….and realizing that they can make and KEEP all or most of the proceeds. No more concern about getting dropped or about the spending the next five years paying a major label all the recoupable expense associated with breaking a new band. And when the war against payola reaches the radio programmers, it could be the end of FM radio as we know it. Which begs the question: will anyone care? I know I won’t. And once again the best artists are the ones who will get noticed. |
|
The Irises and their debut album Not Good In Bed would have made the top spot of my Best of 2004 list last year, if the Beastie Boys hadn’t also released To The 5 Boroughs as well. Actually, I would have liked to have listed both albums as best of last year, but wasn’t allowed to, so the edging out occurred. Still, I’d like to key you all in on to this fantastic group, especially those of ye who are into power pop or melodic pop of the three-minute variety. I’m still spinning this disc regularly, and that’s truly saying something after a whole year. The band is fronted by lead singer Roxanne Heichert. She’s got one of those voices that you can get into instantly, which is great, because the music appeales instantly as well. My fave songs on the album are “Perfect Boyfriend,” “I’m That Fool,” and “Loneliness,” but all the songs here are top notch. The Irises understand the whole less-is-more ethic, too. Ten songs and thirty some-odd minutes. Just like the old days. Hopefully they’ll put a new album out soon that’s just as excellent as the debut, but until then you can check out their official homepage and listen to clips of the songs there. However, this is one of those grooves that definitely should be purchased as well. If you missed ‘em, check ‘em out now. |
|
New York City-based Octone Records is not your typical indie record label by today’s standards. Launched a little over four years ago, Octone is an independent company that is best known for signing and breaking Maroon 5, one of the hottest acts on the pop charts today. |