The Fratellis - Costello Music

I was ready to dismiss The Fratellis as another band that had a kick butt single that Apple made famous in an iPod commercial. I'm glad I checked out their recently released (in the US anyway) album, "Costello Music" -- it's a great listen all the way through, not a bad track on it! They've got a sort of transitional style that lands somewhere in the pop rock genre, but pays a lot of tribute to 60's pop (I swear I hear some Hermans Hermits in there). This band is a lot of fun.

If you're wondering who I'm talking about, take a listen to "Flathead" which is the iPod single that has 3 or 4 songs worth of great hooks in there. After you lsiten to that a few times, go on to get the rest of the disc, as it's a keeper.

(post written by Joe)

Genesis Announces North American Tour Dates

The partially reunited Genesis (+ Collins, - Gabriel and Hackett) has announced a North American tour. Here are the dates:

Sep 07, 2007 Toronto ON CA BMO Field
Sep 11, 2007 Boston MA US TD Banknorth Garden
Sep 14, 2007 Montreal QC CA Olympic Stadium
Sep 16, 2007 Hartford CT US Hartford Civic Center
Sep 18, 2007 Philadelphia PA US Wachovia Center
Sep 22, 2007 Columbus OH US Nationwide Arena
Sep 23, 2007 Washington DC US Verizon Center
Sep 27, 2007 East Rutherford NJ US Giants Stadium
Sep 29, 2007 Cleveland OH US Quicken Loans Arena
Sep 30, 2007 Detroit MI US Palace of Auburn Hills
Oct 02, 2007 Chicago IL US United Center
Oct 09, 2007 San Jose CA US HP Pavilion
Oct 12, 2007 Los Angeles CA US Hollywood Bowl

Fear of a Blank Planet

The cover design and track listing have been released for Porcupine Tree's upcoming album "Fear of a Blank Planet". It'll be released in April. Check out the news here.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Gonzoriffic!

I am listening to an incredible album! It's called "The Doughnuts in Granny's Greenhouse" by The Bonzo Dog Band. One member of the band is Neil Innes who eventually was part of the Rutles. It came out in 1968.

With song titles like "My Pink Half of the Drainpipe" and "Can Blue Man Sing the Whites", this is a psychedelic pop wonderment.

I think you'd dig this stuff if you like any of the late period psychedelic stuff the Beatles did. My wife just came in and said, "Is that the Beatles?"

Paul McCartney, under a pseudonym, produced a track by these guys (not on the recording I have). Their song "The Trouser Press" was the inspiration for an underground rock mag and their song "Death Cab for Cutie" was the inspiration for, well... Death Cab for Cutie.

Videos of the 20 Greatest Guitar Solos

Just had to share this list real quick. Links to videos of the 20 Greatest Guitar Solos ever

New (Old) Release: TV Eyes

More than three years ago, some friends and I saw TV Eyes play up in L.A. It was awesome. I mean would you expect anything less than awesome from Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (Jellyfish, Imperial Drag), Jason Falkner (Jellyfish) and Brian Reitzell (Redd Kross)?

Well, even though the guys are always busy, TV Eyes all but vanished after that. But now the album has finally been released in Japan. You can get it as an import. You can try Amazon, CDUniverse or Tower. CDUniverse seems to be the cheapest. Unless you want to try this Japanese site.

Busy, busy, busy

I guess we've all been busy around here. No one has posted in a month. Yipes! I'm working on a project to convert a whole bunch of Christmas music on vinyl records to CD. So I haven't been listening to much of anything else. I can tell you that the new Jars of Clay album is really good. I also have been enjoying the new one from the Scissor Sisters. Check it out. Hopefully after the holidays I'll be back more often. See ya...