If Triple M's favorite rock and roll farmer plays his new CD for the cows out in the barn in New Glarus, they're chewin' their cud a bit faster..and dancing in their stalls.
If you're a follower of local music, you've probably heard that Jimmy Voegeli brought in some heavy hitters to help out on "Gimme the Jimmys." Yeah, he's got Bun E. Carlos from Cheap Trick on one track, and Dan Baird of the Georgia Satellites playing the guitar solos on several songs, but while that looks great on press releases, the proof is in the listening.
So often a local band will sound great live, but when they try to make a record of original material it leaves you asking "Why did I buy this?"
Luckily, that's not the case with Gimme the Jimmys. It starts off really strong with " HaDaYa"..a great jumping boogie woogie number that you just want to turn up loud. And even though all the songs aren't traditional blues..they all fit and have a great flow. A couple of my favorites: "Hell or Heaven," and "JiMo Boogie," with the liner notes listing the musicians as Jimmy plus drummer Mauro Magellan, and a bottle of Jack. Gotta give credit where credit is due. I also can't get enough of Dan Baird's slide guitar on "She Don't Love Me."
Jimmy's a great keyboard player, fine tuning his chops as a member of the Westside Andy Mel Ford Band over the years. But he's not a show-off on this record..it's got great guitar solos..and the horn section (The Amateur Horn All Stars) is fantastic.
If you missed their Madison CD release party at the Harmony Bar, you still have a few chances to see the Jimmys live this month and pick up a copy of the CD. They've also got upcoming gigs at the Club Tavern, Knuckledown Saloon and the Brink Lounge
You can check out the Jimmys schedule and sample and buy their CD here. Reviewed by Kitty Dunn
It's been a while since we had a new album from the Cars. Can you believe it was 1987?
When bassist and co-lead singer Benjamin Orr died in 2000, most fans had probably given up on the idea of a Cars reunion. In 2005, Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes teamed up with Todd Rundgren and some other musical veterans to form The New Cars, which performed some Cars' and Rundgren hits on tour, but could it really be the Cars without Rick Ocasek?
Well Ocasek is back in the fold and their new record "Move Like This" sounds a LOT like the old Cars we knew and loved. It sounds so much like an old Cars record, that I bet if you played me some of the songs on it and said "those were from Side 2 of Candy-o" I probably would have believed you. (I remember I only really listened to one side of that album back in the early days.)
The first single, "Sad Song" starts with a riff and drum lick that's immediately identifiable as that Cars' sound. Despite the title, it's a fun upbeat song that would sound great cranked on the car stereo with the windows open in the summertime.
I also liked "Soon," which has a slow, dreamy quality that reminds me of the song "Drive," sung by Benjamin Orr on the 1984 "Heartbeat City" album.
While "Move Like This" will probably impress the die-hard Cars' fan that's been waiting since the late '80's for something new, I don't think it really stands up that well when compared to their self-titled debut or Candy-O. Ocasek goes a little too crazy on the keyboards, with a synthesized sound I don't really enjoy. For example, one song "Keep on Knocking" has a driving guitar sound that almost seems like a Neil Young thing going on, but then there's some keyboard overlay that just mucks it up.
-Reviewed by Kitty Dunn
Self-titled Debut AlbumThe Head and the HeartAlbum Rating:Â 2 1/2 M's
Genre:Â Folk, pop, rock, awesome,
This might be one of the better bands you've never heard of. The Head and the Heart launched itself onto the music scene in Seattle 2 years ago when they all met at a bar. The album starts off strong with "Cats and Dogs" and it feels like a potential huge hit for the group. The band has this wonderfully delightful mix of folk and pop that fuses together.
The next song of note is "Down in the Valley" that is emphatically and almost begrudgingly slow, but slowly builds itself to a crescendo of glory and then falls back down. It's incredible.
Here is a link for a free download of their song "Down in the Valley:"
Then we get a song like "Rivers and Roads" that just breaks your heart. It reminds me a lot of The Avett Brothers...and that's a good thing. It's sad lyrics reinforce feelings of loneliness and alienation in a beautiful and poignant manner. The song breaks in the middle for some primal Mumford & Sons yearning, mixed with a cool drum beat at the end combined with the lulling voices of singers Charity Rose Thielen, Josiah Johnson and Jonathan Russell.
The album is best listened to a few times...and then some more. Some of the songs like "Lost In My Mind" are easy to gloss over, but they are pretty good.   I enjoyed "Sounds Like Hallelujah" as well. I wish more bands could make music like this.
Overall:
This is a really fun album that has some great songs. Not all of them are wonderful, but there are some gems and this band would definitely be a good one to check out.
"Go Go Boots"
Drive-By Truckers
Musical Style: Â Alternative Country
Drive-By Truckers has been active for over 15 years and they released their 11th album in February. Â The album was released on ATO Records and marks the eighth album produced by David Barbe. Â The album has a soulful quality to it, but the souls presented in some of the songs aren't really interesting.
We start out with the song "I Do Believe" that has a nice flow to it and guides us through a child-like story of unconditional love. Â Then we get the title track that has a slow guitar entrance and mournful pacing that is enticing. Â Here is a quick video explaining some aspects of the album:
If you haven't already, you should check out more of the Go-Go Boots episodes that tell about the inspiration behind the album and some of the interesting stories behind the band. It gives you insight into a soulful band that has been around for a long time and is exploring new music. This album contains two covers by Eddie Hinton in "Where's Eddie" and "Everybody Needs Love" and both are really good, especially "Everybody Needs Love."
There are also other good songs like "Assholes" and you can't help but stomp your feet to songs "The Weakest Man" and "Pulaski." I will say that the last half of the album is probably the strongest. Some songs are pretty interesting, but a couple of them feel pretty underwhelming and dull at points.
Overall
This is a strong effort by Drive-By Truckers to create something that is yearning and deep, but sometimes I feel like energy is sacrificed in an effort to manufacture "soul." Â The album has its strong points and if you are fan of the band you will no doubt like it. Â I especially like the cover of "Everybody Needs Love" and most of the second half of the album. Â It's a strong effort by the band, but sometimes I couldn't connect with some of the music. Â I think the album has both strong and weak points, but it is something you should give a chance.
-Soren Nieminen
I've been an R.E.M. fan since my brother bought me a copy of "Life's Rich Pageant" back in the mid-1980s. I've got a lot emotionally invested in this band, so when they release a new album, I'm always excited..with reservations. Let's face it..some of the albums that came after "Automatic For the People" were not that good.
So when I threw "Collapse Into Now" onto the turntable...or popped the disc in the CD player...I wasn't sure what I was going to hear.
My first impression of the record was that I'd heard the songs before. Not in a "oh my goodness they're just churning out the same stuff and giving it new titles" kind of way, but each song seemed to remind me of one of their older tunes from back when I was really into the band (and listening on vinyl, by the way).
Uberlin reminds me of "Drive," and "Walk It Back" has a similar feel and message as "Everybody Hurts," with lines including "Reverse and rewind, erase and revise, and try to start again."
Not every song gave me a flashback though. There's an eerily soothing lullabye called "Every Day is Yours To Win," and a quirky rhyme-fest with a great title "Alligator-Aviator-Autopilot- Antimatter," that shows the band's rockin' side. And the last song, "Blue," is a musical beat poet collage that features Stipe and his hero Patti Smith, with a background of swirling atmospheric instrumentation.
And as weird as that is..it seems to fit. Kind of like an old comfy sweater that you just bought today.
-Reviewed by Kitty Dunn
"Fixin' To Die"
G. Love & Special Sauce
"The G stands for Garrett and the 'Love' just felt right." And G. Love & Special Sauce has put out another album last month that is a fun and catchy ride. Produced by the Avett Brothers (and I'm a fan of them), I have to say that this is sound is a banjo filled fun time.
Here is the title track from the album:
G. Love & Special Sauce ramp up the blues in this album. The second song of the album is "The Road," a melancholy ode to the grungy life of a band, connecting with fans but far removed from your family. The same goes for "Katie Miss." I was struck how this album goes from the high energy of "Fixin' To Die" to the soft lulling of "Katie Miss" to a song about coffee in "Milk and Sugar." But, I'm not particularly fond of odes to hot beverages and this is one of the few that fails to deliver.
Amazing Covers
I think that all artists should cover someone on their albums. It's a recipe for collaboration and a deep sign of respect. So, I especially loved the cover of "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover," one of my favorite songs by Paul Simon. G. Love & Special Sauce add their own special instrumental ending and it is spectacular.
The title track is by Bukka White, and has been covered by a host of musicians including Bob Dylan on his debut album.
The next cover is "Pale Blue Eyes," by Velvet Underground. I really enjoy this song and it it s a great way to end the album.
There are other great songs in the mix like "Walk On" and "Get Going" and several others.
Overall:
I think if you're a fan of The Avett Brothers, you will like this album. It has a nice mix of raucous and slow blues. G. Love & Special Sauce have created a great lively R&B album and I think that the range of covers is fun and well-done. I didn't like all of the songs, but I think overall there is a strong selection that a wide variety of listeners will like.
-Soren Nieminen
Cake is back after a 6 year hiatus with their new album "Showroom of Compassion" that was released in January. This is their 6th full length album from the group. It was the first album for the band to debut on the Billboard Top 200.
Cake has been around since 1991. It's kind of hard to categorize their music. They are kind of a college rock, ska, punk, jazzy, funky collaboration of sounds. The album starts off really nice. I love the first song: Federal Funding. I think this song is the strongest on the album. Here it is below:
It's sardonic and mocking and has such a nice beat.  My interpretation of the song is a lampoon of how poorly some Federal money is managed. "Take your colleagues out to dinner....You'll receive the Federal funding."
The thing that is hard about following a song like that...is that it's hard. And unfortunately, the new album goes down from there. The next song is "Long Time" and has an unusual funky beat that is infectious. I like it as well, but the bar is high because of the first song. Then there are yawners like "What's Now Is Now" and "Mustache Man (Wasted)." Then there is the instrumental "Teenage Pregnancy" that is both daring and simple. I enjoyed the horns in the song. They mesh well with the other instruments.
The rest of the songs are good and bad. "Bound Away" is probably the gem in the mix and has a solid orchestration and drifting quality that is alluring and presciently ethereal, examining death and the aimless wanderer. Lead singer John McCrea's sings, "Seconds turn to minutes, minutes turn to hours, Hours give you a lifetime and a grave with pink flowers."
We end on "Italian Guy." It's not an especially endearing song, but it's a good way to end the album. It has a solid sound, but leaves you wanting more.
Overall:
The album is a solid work overall. There are some songs that will stick with you, and others that wont'. I would encourage you to listen to the whole thing at least twice the whole way through to give it a chance. There are some songs that aren't very good, but the album is listenable and if you are a huge Cake fan, you will enjoy it.
-Soren Nieminen
Cold War Kids
So, the Cold War Kids are back at it again and this album...isn't really special. Â I have to say that I am a fairly big Cold War Kids fan. Â I like the sound of lead singer Nathan Willett. Â He has a painful drawl that sucks you in. Â No doubt that he is a good singer, but this album really doesn't have much behind it. Â I was longing for a Robbers & Cowards album that drew me in with classics like "Hang Me Up To Dry" and "Hospital Beds." Â This album feels much safer and blander than any of their previous efforts. Â There is something to be said for expanding on your previous sound, but sometimes it's like making a sequel that doesn't really feel warranted. Â Indiana Jones 4 anyone?
That said, there are some pretty decent songs in the bunch. Â I really enjoyed "Sensitive Kid" and "Bulldozer," and even found myself drifting to those songs after hearing some of the prior rubbish. Â Here is "Bulldozer" below:
I think that this song is the best on the album. Â If the whole album were encompassed by this sound, this would be gold. Â But, sadly, it doesn't. Â It feels mean to say it, but I found myself bored by a lot of their songs. Â They just didn't do it for me.
Songs I recommend:
Mine Is Yours, Sensitive Kid, Bulldozer, Broken Open, Royal Blue, Out of The Wilderness.
Overall:
I think that Cold War Kids are an enigmatic group that has had flashes of brilliance, but this albums feels very contrived at points. Â I recommend a couple of songs on it and no doubt there will be several fans who will love it, but it just wasn't for me. Â They have to learn how to explore their sound more. Â I look forward to what Cold War Kids will be doing in the future and I hope that this album will just be a slight blip on the radar of a great career. Â They have the potential for greatness and it shows on this album, but it also shows on the album that they have some more work to do.
-Soren Nieminen
"The Promise"Bruce Springsteen
Released:Â November 16th, 2010
The Boss has done it again with the release of this double cd compilation of unreleased music from the Darkness on the Edge of Town sessions. With 21 songs, it speaks volumes to how much material Springsteen has left on the shelves throughout his career and on how prolific he is. It's hard to believe that he is 61-years-old.
Let's Get to the Album:
To start out the album we get "Racing in the Street ('78)" and is an alternative version of the song that was on Darkness on the Edge of Town. It feels like a Billy Joel song with the piano intro and harmonica and it's a great beginning for an interesting album. I enjoyed "Outside Looking In" that is a head nodding good time of a song. It is a good reminder of how ingenius Springsteen is at creating pure sensory enjoyment.
Lots of Interesting Songs...
There is a neat version of the song "Because the Night" that was written by Springsteen and Patti Smith and is probably Smith's best known song. The song is a raw version that is subtly quiet and loud, beckoning you in with familiarity, as if you're listening to a local band cover a popular classic rock piece. We get a wide variety of songs from the melancholy "The Brokenhearted" to the peppy "Save my Love." If you're a Springsteen fan, there's no doubt you will enjoy this album. There are driving songs that are fun, but I feel that it's lacking any truly great songs. Fortunately, all of those were put on Darkness At The Edge of Town. I was kind of expecting more, but that's the problem whenever a great artist puts out something new, it's hard to surpass previous stuff.
There are fun songs like "Ain't Good Enough For You" and "Spanish Eyes," and then dull ones like "Talk To Me" that I really didn't enjoy. We then end on the songs "The Promise" and "City of Night" that are two somewhat good ways to end an album.
Overall:
I'm not the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan, but I did enjoy this album. It has some bumps on the way, but that is usually the case with stuff that made the cutting room floor. There are songs that are interesting and anyone who liked the Darkness On The Edge of Town will most likely like this album because it is a great continuation of that music created over 30-years-ago.
-Soren Nieminen
"The Lady Killer"Cee Lo Green
Released: Nov. 9th 2010
"They Lady Killer" is drenched in references to the past. It's palpable. The intro is filled with the 1960's and I feel Shirley Bassey is smiling somewhere. So is John Barry and I feel this album is epic enough to his liking. "The Lady Killer" takes no prisoners. It's do or die. And Cee Lo has admitted to reining in some of his creative urges to make hit songs. This album is definitely an attempt to be big, in a silly reach-for-the-stars way. But, once I overcame the kind of over-the-top performance and probably on my 3rd listen, I really grew to really enjoy the album. Here's the best track on the album, and probably the best single of 2010, in "F&@# you" below: (Be warned, this is the unedited version so if you're offended easily, don't watch it).
I really like that the album has an intro and outro, because I feel it's a cohesive piece. I feel album structure is somewhat of a dying art with the advent of torrents and online sharing and hit songs. This album deserves to be listened to as a whole.
Songs I really like: F&*$ you, It's Okay, Old Fashioned.
Cee Lo Green said to the Guardian: "For too long I've been underground and underdog, and I need to be seen as the thing to do: 'This is the direction to go in â follow this man.' I think I'm needed â as an artist, as an individual, as an entity, an enigma, an exhibitionist, an entertainer; as an alternative. So we sat down and weighed up the pros and cons, because you don't seal a deal with one single solitary opinion. Tolerance, compromise, understanding, acceptance, patience â I want those all to be very sharp tools in my shed."
I think this quote symbolizes what Cee Lo is striving for: fame. He wants this to be one of the greatest records out...but it fails on that account. It's not the best, but not for lack of trying. It just doesn't have the exacting precision and likability that determines popularity. The album is ultra cool and has the feeling of Motown, but I feel something is lacking.
Overall:
That being said, this is an excellent album. It has the bravado to take on the 1960's and the integrity to create some interesting sounds. Cee Lo has a voice that blends love and sex and hate and loneliness all in one. His lyrics are about power and male egos. I won't say this album is life changing because of a few songs that aren't really that interesting. But, I would highly recommend giving this album a listen.
-Soren Nieminen
Kings of LeonNew Album:Â "Come Around Sundown"Released:Â 10/15/2010
I kind of have mixed emotions about this newest Kings of Leon album. I mean they're coming off the extraordinary commercial success of their 2008 album Only By The Night with hits like "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody." They're being compared to U2 and these 3 brothers and cousin are living the American Dream. They're releasing their fifth album. They're on the cover of Spin magazine yet are on the hate list of opinion setters and anonymous bloggers alike in the music world.
To start off, this album is pretty good. We start off with the track "The End" and I honestly thought I was about to listen to the best album of the year.. This song is great. We are then introduced to "Radioactive," the song that is catchy/safe enough to get some radio play. It has a nice chorus and here is the video of it below:
Some people have eviscerated the video, Pitchfork even calls it "exploitative" but I think Pitchfork kind of crosses a line between pandering intellectual capacity and actual critique and is more concerned with impressing people with tight prose then actually reviewing music for what it is.
Continuing on with the album we get songs like "Pyro" and "Mary" that are pretty intuitively great. We catch the beginnings of this band's country music origins. The soft drawl of lead singer Caleb Followill and the twang of the guitar plays praise to the band's Tennessee origins. We have the soft fiddle in the song "Back Down South," an overt homage to their hometown.
Then the album gets dull
I really can't connect with some of the latter portions of the album. They have sorta catchy melodies, but it feels like I've heard everything this band has to say. The songs are so similar and they aren't memorable. "No Money" just putters away. "Pony Up" starts out strong, then dies too fast. "Birthday" has potential to be great, but it's a sliding scale and it doesn't fit with me. "Mi Amigo" is pretty darn good. It's catchy and thrusts out a mariachi sound that is fun and boisterous and the song really works.
Overall:
The album is pretty decent. It has some really great songs like "Radioactive," "The End" and"Mi Amigo" among others that are really fun and entertaining. It's just the other songs are kind of laborious to listen to. This band has a knack for writing some progressive music, but they haven't created anything holistically great, just something that feels hollow at points.
Favorite quote of the band: Caleb Followill said in Spin Magazine, "When you go and see a band and see how hungry they are and the next day you're recording your fifth album, it puts a fire under you. Everyone in New York it looking to take our job."
Miscellaneous News:
According to Billboard.com, Kings of Leon will be releasing a remix album with collaborations from Kenna, Lykke Li, Linkin Park, Pharrel and Justin Timberlake.
-Soren Nieminen
Unknown ComponentAlbum: The Infinitive Definitive (released 10/12/10)
Home town: Iowa City, Iowa
Musical Style: Alternative/Experimental Rock
For fans of: Puddle of Mudd, Sufjan Stevens (kinda), Fuel
So, until recently, the band Unknown Component wasn't on my radar. For those of you who were like me, I'll give you a little background on these guys. Or I should say 'guy' singular because this entire album is written, produced and recorded by Keith Lynch. This is a one man show. Unknown Collective has been active since 2003 with seven self-released albums and two unreleased albums. According to a press release, Lynch is self-taught and he performs live playing on an acoustic guitar.  Here is the opening track on the album "Moving Out of Frame."
There is no doubt that Mr. Lynch is a talented musician. He is prolific and plays each instrument really well. The problem is that the total sum of this music isn't really interesting to me. It reminds me of a combination of a lesser Sufjan Stevens combined with Fuel. Mr. Lynch's voice has a harsh raspy edge to it that is haunting at points, but it's just not something that I can listen to for a long period of time.
Instrumentally, the Unknown Collective is pretty strong from a pure logistical sense, but not really in an aesthetic one. The songs are well put together, but taking songs like "Future Circles" as kind of inductive to the whole album we hear a strong sound that is just kind of dampened by the vocal performance.
"A Heavy Heart or an Empty Stomach" has a catchy intro and is one of the songs that is faintly memorable. We then get songs like "The Experience of Understanding" that is pretty good at points, it has the dark quality of The National and a slow rhythmic churn that is intriguingly beautiful. The next song "Every Measure and Space" is a soft laid back song that really warrants listening to a few times to give it a chance. It is a pretty good song.
The rest of the album is just dull at points. "When the Illusion is What It Seems" is pretty engaging at first, but loses me when it drifts into the toned down howling of Lynch. The last song "Electric Dissolution" is well mixed and has a nice piano beat that is mystifying and I enjoyed the layers of Lynch's voice.
Overall:
I feel like Lynch is a strong musician who should hire another singer. I'm just not a fan of his voice. He is a strong songwriter and musician and I believe that his songs are put together well, but just suffer from the poor vocal performance overshadowing the instrumental. I would encourage people to check out this album if you're a fan of previous work of Lynch. I would also encourage people giving the tracks a few listens because some of them are good, but for the most part they did not connect with me.
-Soren Nieminen
The Walkmen
Barrymore Theatre, Oct. 14th, 8pm, $17/$19, all ages, more info at trueendeavors.com.
Prepare to have your mind blown. Or maybe just altered. Maybe a little inception?  Are you ready? Because, The Walkmen have come out with a new album called âLisbonâ that is probably one of the most complete sounds of the year.
We are introduced to this album with the song "Juveniles" that is kind of a twangy foot stomping introduction to pull you in. Lead singer Hamilton Leithauser conjures up Rod Stewart during the chorus in this song and he sounds great.
We are then launched into several other good songs and "Blue as your Blood" is one of my favorites. It has a rhythmic guitar and drum duet that reminds me of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. It's sad and subtle, beautiful and deep, and has a minimalist style that conjures up notions of wistful angst. The lyrics "The sky above, the sky above, Is blue as your blood, In a hazy, lazy daydream," speak to a level of daydreaming that transcends time and is deliciously dampening, but also liberating.
Then, we have the masterpiece. My favorite song. "Stranded." We begin with horns and a mariachi sound and launch into a kind of rustic horn session that is marvelous. As we continue through the album, we are introduced to a lot of other great songs like "All My Great Designs" and the haunting "Woe is Me."
SUMMARY:
This one deserves a TRIPLE M. Overall, this album is marvelous. It has a perfect bland and mix of different sounds that is magical and distant, a well blended mix of instrumental and the vocal acuity of Leithauser.  It's soft and subtle at points, but also bouncing off the walls and mesmerizing. They will be playing at the Barrymore on Oct. 14th at 8PM and I strongly encourage you to go!
Similar Artists:
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Rod Stewart and the Pogues
The Cure merges with Joy Division and a Mariachi band
Ray LaMontagne is a quiet, non-fame seeking musician. Or as LaMongatne says, "Simply put, I have no interest in fame. My self worth is not tied to other peopleâs opinions of meâI have a strong sense of self. Music for me is not a vehicle for fame; I just love music." Despite this lack of a need for commercial fame, LaMontagne has risen to musical prominence with his most recent release God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise.
God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is Ray LaMontagne's fourth studio album and the highest charting album of the raspy-voiced singer-songwriter. The album was released on August 17, 2010 and has already sold over 74,000 copies. This is quite an accomplishment for a man who worked at a shoe factory for years before quitting and establishing a music career.
Musically, the album is tight and well organized. Although the musical style is acoustic-blues/country, which can often head off in rifts and jams, the sounds are crisp, clean, and well placed. The first single off God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is the track "Beg Steal or Borrow" is a slow rolling track that features a brilliant slide guitar. The combination of LaMontagne's gravelly voice and the smooth twang of southern guitars creates a fantastic balance.
From the music side, God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is a very strong record yet lacks tracks that grab the listener and force them to listen over and over. There is a tendency of tracks to blur together and lack individuality after multiple listens. I am sure I will listen to God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise on occasion in the future, but there are no individual tracks on the album that will rise on my "Most Played" playlist on iTunes.
This fact should not take away from the strength of the album. Yes, it may lack the individual tracks to gain radio airplay or tracks that soar on charts, but God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is still worth listening to and appreciating. I mean really, should we expect a string of radio chart toppers from a guy who has zero ambition for fame? Ray LaMontagne writes and records music because it is what he loves to do, not for commercial appeal. Therefore, LaMontagne has succeeded in staying true to his musical style and desires while still creating a great album.
Before you grab yourself a copy of Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dog's God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise, check out some older Ray LaMontagne!
-Sam Ryan
Twenty years ago this week (August 27) Stevie Ray Vaughan sadly passed away here in Southern Wisconsin. On August 26, Vaughan was performing at the Alpine Valley Music Theatre for 30,000 plus spectators, which likely included many Triple M fans and listeners. Vaughan's final show included an encore performance featuring Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray. Early on the morning of August 27, a helicopter carrying Stevie Ray Vaughan crashed shortly after take-off, killing all people on board. Despite the sadness of this anniversary, it is best to celebrate Vaughan's musical legacy through listening to his smooth sounds and guitar licks.
Triple M remembers Stevie Ray Vaughan this week - for setlists, a timeline of his life, concert ticket stubs and more, check out our Stevie Ray Vaughan page.
On July 27, one month prior to the twentieth anniversary of Vaughan's death, Epic records and Legacy Recordings released the Legacy Edition of Vaughan's 1984 album Couldn't Stand The Weather.Couldn't Stand The Weather was Vaughan and his band Double Trouble's second studio album. The original 1984 album contained 8 songs and later in 1999 a remastered album version was released containing 5 additional tracks. The newly released Legacy Edition adds to the remastered edition an additional 6 tracks, three of which are recently discovered studio outtakes, along with a second disc from a live show at the Spectrum in Montreal on August 17, 1984.
On the first disc of the new release the original Couldn't Stand The Weather is fun to relive as well as hear some previously never before released material. It is clear Stevie Ray Vaughan was a Jimi Hendrix fan, as he included his version of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" on the original Couldn't Stand The Weather, but also a version of Hendrix's song "Little Wing" makes an appearance late on the first disc. Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Little Wing" version was originally released on the album The Sky is Crying in 1991. A previously never before released alternate version of the original album's final track, "Stang's Swang," is included on the first disc. The two other never-before released tracks are "The Sky is Crying" and "Boot Hill." Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan will truly enjoy this "new" material on the Legacy Edition.
The second disc of the Legacy Edition was recorded at a live show in Montreal in August of 1984. All the live recordings on the second disc were previously unreleased and being heard by the public for the first time off this album. One highlight of the live performance is the nearly 12 minute rendition of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." Vaughan takes his guitar magic even further on these live tracks as he adds more jamming and guitar play onto each track. Sadly, it is impossible to see Stevie Ray Vaughan rock out live today, so listening to a previously unreleased show is as close as it can get. Let's hope that video from a never before released show surfaces soon to get a step closer to the feel of being at a live Stevie Ray Vaughan performance. Until then, grab your copy of Couldn't Stand The Weather (Legacy Edition) and feel the smooth groove of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Check out video of Stevie Ray Vaughan working the guitar strings below in a version of "Voodoo Child."
-Sam Ryan
New Jersey natives, The Gaslight Anthem released their third studio album, American Slang, on June 15. Despite the buzz throughout the "blogosphere," I was reluctant to climb on board the bandwagon. I had no experience with their previous music and was only familiar with the band through a couple of magazine and blog articles. Through this early research, my understanding of the band was they are considered "punk" and that there were Bruce Springsteen comparisons. I was slightly confused and struggled to connect the dots of a fairly new and young "punk" band and The Boss. But, finally after a month, I got my hands on a copy and gave the record a listen.
What I surprisingly found was a connection of the dots that was partnered with a refreshing sound. Somehow, throughout American Slang sound elements of both "punk" and Springsteen are present and working. I don't know if a self fulfilling prophecy based on my prior reading, but lead singer Brian Fallon's voice sounds as if Bruce Springsteen took a punk route. Maybe it is just a New Jersey thing. But, to clarify, the sound of The Gaslight Anthem floats somewhere between Bruce and Punk creating a great alternative rock sound.
The Gaslight Anthem have released two studio albums prior to American Slang: Sink or Swim in 2007 and The '59 Sound in 2008. American Slang has been greeted with great critical and sales acclaim, moving 27,000 copies in its first week while charting number one among independent releases and 16 on the Billboard 200.
Despite the album being only ten tracks and 34 minutes in length, it packs a catchy punch. On multiple occasions, I found myself listening to the entire album before I even realized it had finished. A good sign due to the lack of change track moments, but sad that the record finishes so quickly. Overall, the album is well done. A fun listen and recommended to anyone looking for a new alternative band to follow.
Check out and download The Gaslight Anthem's track "The Diamond Church Street Choir" off American Slang.
The Diamond Church Street Choir (click to download)
In other Gaslight Anthem news, it was recently announced that they will be in Madison on September 19 playing a show at the Majestic Theatre. Head over to the Majestic to grab yourself tickets starting July 23.
Lastly, here is a video of The Gaslight Anthem and Bruce Springsteen jamming together last sumemr at Hyde Park in London.
-Sam Ryan
Rumors of a Danger Mouse (Gnarls Barkley and Broken Bells) and Mark Linkous (Sparklehorse) collaboration have been surfacing for the past two years. The details of the album have been shrouded in mystery until recently when it was revealed the album will officially be released on July 13, 2010. After a long battle with record label EMI, Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse will finally be able to share their beautiful work with the public.
There is a mysterious and slightly haunting feel to Dark Night of the Soul. This is caused by the actual sound of the record as well as the upsetting backstory of the album. Sadly, Mark Linkous, Dark Night of the Soul co-writer, committed suicide this past March, never getting the chance to see the project through to its release. Mark Linkous will truly be missed. Guest vocalist Vic Chesnutt also sadly took his own life last December and will be greatly missed in the music community as well. These tragedies put a shadow over the album, but within the mystery of the album there are hints of great joy.
After listening to Dark Night of the Soul a handful of times it is tough to put a finger on the emotion one should feel while listening. There is so much sad karma surrounding this album, yet Dark Night of the Soul is a delightful listen at moments. I almost feel guilty enjoying this album given the backstory.
It is difficult to put a genre or style to the music or even make comparisons to other artists or recordings due to the blend of styles on the album. Dark Night of the Soul contains a wide range of collaborating artists including The Flaming Lips, Julian Casablancas of The Strokes, Iggy Pop, Frank Black of the Pixies as well as many others.
Track to track the album alters styles depending on the artist(s) who are featured on the given track. My three, although there are others, choice cuts from the album include the opening track "Revenge" featuring The Flaming Lips, "Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It)" featuring David Lynch, and "The Man Who Played God" featuring Suzanne Vega.
Filmmaker and visual artist David Lynch created a series of original photographs that go with Dark Night of the Soul that act as a visual dimension to the project. Be sure to pick up a copy of the album and the photographs that go with this spectacular project.
Although they are no longer with us, Linkous and Chesnutt have left us with a beautiful album to remember them by.
If you would like to listen to the album before you purchase, NPR is streaming the album in its entirety.
Dark Night of the Soul Tracklist
1. Revenge (featuring The Flaming Lips)
2. Just War (featuring Gruff Rhys)
3. Jaykub (featuring Jason Lytle)
4. Little Girl (featuring Julian Casablancas)
5. Angel's Harp (featuring Frank Black)
6. Pain (featuring Iggy Pop)
7. Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It) (featuring David Lynch)
8. Everytime I'm With You (featuring Jason Lytle)
9. Insane Lullaby (featuring James Mercer of The Shins)
10. Daddy's Gone (featuring Mark Linkous & Nina Persson)
11. The Man Who Played God (featuring Suzanne Vega)
12. Grim Augury (featuring Vic Chestnutt)
13. Dark Night Of The Soul (featuring David Lynch & horns by Scott Spillane)
-Sam Ryan
It is fun watching a band grow both in style and popularity over time. It was not that long ago that Grace Potter & the Nocturnals swung through Madison and stopped by Studio M to play a couple tracks for the Triple M faithful.
If unfamiliar, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals are a rock/alternative country/pop band based out of Vermont. The band released their fourth studio recording on June 8, and the self-titled album has received very positive reviews so far. If the only way you are familiar with Grace Potter is through her Studio M performance, the first thing you will notice is that Potter & the Nocturnals can rock. Personally, before I listened to the new album I was expecting a lighter rock sound but was surprised to hear a solid alternative country rock sound with touches of pop around the choruses.
Grace Potter has a nice balance in her vocals of power and "grace." Tracks like "Hot Summer Night" and "Paris (Ooh La La)" are groovy and rocking with energy and forceful vocals, yet other tracks such as "Things I Never Needed" and "Goodbye Kiss" have the gentleness of a bluesy alternative country ballad. When attempting to make a comparison a name that comes to mind is Brandi Carlile, but with a touch of Jenny Lewis and a splash of country.
The two tracks from the album that have stuck with me are "Goodbye Kiss" and "Tiny Light." The harmonica use in "Goodbye Kiss" pulls the strings of bluesy country yet the sweet vocals of Grace during the chorus has pop written all over it. "Tiny Light" is a track that starts slow but builds as the chorus hits and a build up of energy is released. All tracks on the album were written by Grace Potter, with Mark Batson aiding on six of the tracks.
This album is absolutely worth picking up if you are looking for a new alternative country rock band. Grab yourself a copy of this album and keep your ears open for more Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.
For more information and purchasing means, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals official site, Amazon, or Strictly Discs
Here is the official video for the new track "Tiny Light"
Here is the Studio M performance from 3 years ago.
-Sam Ryan
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
Have you heard the song "Rumble and Sway" yet on Triple M?
The singer sounds like a raspy blues dude who's definitely been around the block a few times....but surprisingly, Jamie N. Commons is only 23 years old!
He was born in England, but...
Last week, I decided I would try one new, healthy food a week, and asked my facebook friends to make some suggestions.
The first thing I tried was mango. I'm sure I've had other mango flavored things, and mango as part of something else, but...
There's only one thing that might be worse than the Neil Diamond/Barbra Streisand duet "You Don't Bring Me Flowers." And that's Jonathan Suttin doing his best crooning...doing both parts. Most unpleasant.
A lot of people liked this song...
Artist: Alchemilla
Hail From: Boston
Song: 'The Wheel'
Album: Diamonds From The Penny Arcade
Sounds Like: Hole, Pearl Jam
In Their Words: "Alchemilla had been trying to write a ballad for a little while but it wasn't happening. There...
Last weeks challenge we thought went excellent! Of course we are a little biased.
The drinking song couldn't have been any better, or any less fun. We had a blast through out the whole process, and our performance rocked.
This week is an easy...
So the story goes Michael Jackson completed this song while watching cartoons with Paul McCartney. We'll just let that sink in for a moment.
Not sure what cartoons they were watching, but it must have worked because this song made it to number 2...
The Dalai Lama is back in town, sharing his message of peace and kindness with likeminded individuals, and the Wisconsin legislature. He also held a private meeting with Gov. Walker, who said he mostly listened to what His Holiness had to say (wise...
This duet by Ol' Blue Eyes and his daughter went all the way to number 1 back in 1967. It seems a little creepy that Frank and Nancy Sinatra are singing a love song. However, a lot of Triple M listeners were in the mood for it.
Here's...
Musically, the album is tight and well organized. Although the musical style is acoustic-blues/country, which can often head off in rifts and jams, the sounds are crisp, clean, and well placed. The first single off God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is the track "Beg Steal or Borrow" is a slow rolling track that features a brilliant slide guitar. The combination of LaMontagne's gravelly voice and the smooth twang of southern guitars creates a fantastic balance.
From the music side, God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is a very strong record yet lacks tracks that grab the listener and force them to listen over and over. There is a tendency of tracks to blur together and lack individuality after multiple listens. I am sure I will listen to God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise on occasion in the future, but there are no individual tracks on the album that will rise on my "Most Played" playlist on iTunes.
This fact should not take away from the strength of the album. Yes, it may lack the individual tracks to gain radio airplay or tracks that soar on charts, but God Willin' and The Creek Don't Rise is still worth listening to and appreciating. I mean really, should we expect a string of radio chart toppers from a guy who has zero ambition for fame? Ray LaMontagne writes and records music because it is what he loves to do, not for commercial appeal. Therefore, LaMontagne has succeeded in staying true to his musical style and desires while still creating a great album.
Before you grab yourself a copy of Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dog's God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise, check out some older Ray LaMontagne!
-Sam Ryan
On the first disc of the new release the original Couldn't Stand The Weather is fun to relive as well as hear some previously never before released material. It is clear Stevie Ray Vaughan was a Jimi Hendrix fan, as he included his version of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" on the original Couldn't Stand The Weather, but also a version of Hendrix's song "Little Wing" makes an appearance late on the first disc. Stevie Ray Vaughan's "Little Wing" version was originally released on the album The Sky is Crying in 1991. A previously never before released alternate version of the original album's final track, "Stang's Swang," is included on the first disc. The two other never-before released tracks are "The Sky is Crying" and "Boot Hill." Fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan will truly enjoy this "new" material on the Legacy Edition.
The second disc of the Legacy Edition was recorded at a live show in Montreal in August of 1984. All the live recordings on the second disc were previously unreleased and being heard by the public for the first time off this album. One highlight of the live performance is the nearly 12 minute rendition of "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)." Vaughan takes his guitar magic even further on these live tracks as he adds more jamming and guitar play onto each track. Sadly, it is impossible to see Stevie Ray Vaughan rock out live today, so listening to a previously unreleased show is as close as it can get. Let's hope that video from a never before released show surfaces soon to get a step closer to the feel of being at a live Stevie Ray Vaughan performance. Until then, grab your copy of Couldn't Stand The Weather (Legacy Edition) and feel the smooth groove of Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Check out video of Stevie Ray Vaughan working the guitar strings below in a version of "Voodoo Child."
-Sam Ryan
The Gaslight Anthem have released two studio albums prior to American Slang: Sink or Swim in 2007 and The '59 Sound in 2008. American Slang has been greeted with great critical and sales acclaim, moving 27,000 copies in its first week while charting number one among independent releases and 16 on the Billboard 200.
Despite the album being only ten tracks and 34 minutes in length, it packs a catchy punch. On multiple occasions, I found myself listening to the entire album before I even realized it had finished. A good sign due to the lack of change track moments, but sad that the record finishes so quickly. Overall, the album is well done. A fun listen and recommended to anyone looking for a new alternative band to follow.
Check out and download The Gaslight Anthem's track "The Diamond Church Street Choir" off American Slang.
Dark Night of the Soul Tracklist
1. Revenge (featuring The Flaming Lips)
2. Just War (featuring Gruff Rhys)
3. Jaykub (featuring Jason Lytle)
4. Little Girl (featuring Julian Casablancas)
5. Angel's Harp (featuring Frank Black)
6. Pain (featuring Iggy Pop)
7. Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It) (featuring David Lynch)
8. Everytime I'm With You (featuring Jason Lytle)
9. Insane Lullaby (featuring James Mercer of The Shins)
10. Daddy's Gone (featuring Mark Linkous & Nina Persson)
11. The Man Who Played God (featuring Suzanne Vega)
12. Grim Augury (featuring Vic Chestnutt)
13. Dark Night Of The Soul (featuring David Lynch & horns by Scott Spillane)
-Sam Ryan
country yet the sweet vocals of Grace during the chorus has pop written all over it. "Tiny Light" is a track that starts slow but builds as the chorus hits and a build up of energy is released. All tracks on the album were written by Grace Potter, with Mark Batson aiding on six of the tracks.
This album is absolutely worth picking up if you are looking for a new alternative country rock band. Grab yourself a copy of this album and keep your ears open for more Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.
For more information and purchasing means, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 
