this from our friends at polyvinylrecords.com
Pre-Order Birthmark Antibodies CD/LP/T-Shirt+MP3
On Birthmark's third full-length Antibodies, Nate Kinsella (Make Believe, Joan of Arc) beautifully blends organic instrumentation and deeply personal lyrics to create his most compelling album to date.
. Package deals available with new t-shirt design.
All orders receive an INSTANT full-album MP3 download at checkout.
Pre-orders ship May 4. In stores May 15.
Birthmark Antibodies CD - $10 / White LP - $14
Pre-Order HERE
"I'm stuck in here / I'm stuck / Wish I didn't have a name / Wish I could get lost / I'm stuck in here / I'm stuck"
The basic human desire to break free from one’s true self -- if only for a moment -- is a feeling Nate Kinsella (the sole songwriting force behind Birthmark) knows all too well.
Choose any song on Antibodies, Birthmark's third full-length, and you'll quickly find lyrics that reveal Kinsella isn't always at ease with being the person that he is.
"I get so scared, honey / I can never be somebody else / ... / I get so tired of hearing my own voice"
"I really do try to present myself as a positive person in normal everyday life," Kinsella says, "But I also spend a lot of time thinking about death and feeling guilty, remorseful, regretful, and everything in between."
And so, Antibodies became Kinsella's outlet for the adverse thoughts constantly lurking just beneath the surface.
From the contrast of how he views his own ugly faults in relation to his wife's beautiful flaws ("Your Imperfections") to his self-proclaimed inability to keep on living if a loved one were to be violently taken away ("Pacifist Manifesto"), Kinsella earnestly examines his own fears and shortcomings.
And yet, despite a lyrical slant toward acute self-criticism, musically Antibodies unfolds to the ebb and flow of a gentle, unhurried cadence that is often the hallmark of a record comfortable in its own skin.
This trait might not seem so surprising, though, when you consider the organic origins of its sounds.
From vibraphones to violins, cellos to clarinets, each instrument on the album was played either by Kinsella or a session musician. Even the stunning backwards string section on "Shake Hands" was painstakingly composed and performed with an actual string quartet.
Elsewhere, album closer "Big Man" resonates just as deeply from the opposite end of the musical spectrum. Pairing only a sparse bass guitar with Kinsella's reverberating vocals, the song is undeniably captivating in its sublime simplicity.
And in the end, Antibodies finds Kinsella closer to being at peace with the knowledge that, as he has learned, "for better or worse, you can't escape you ever."
"I wish I could be anything I have to be / But if I were anything different I wouldn't know the difference"
Tracklist:
Stuck
Shake Hands
Pacifist Manifesto
Please Go Away
You Lighten Me Up
Keep 'em Out
Your Imperfections
Big Man
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SOULSAVERS NEW ALBUM THE LIGHT THE DEAD SEE
RELEASED MAY 22 ON MUTE
LYRICS AND VOCALS BY DEPECHE MODE'S DAVE GAHAN
Soulsavers will release their new album The Light The Dead See through Mute (US/Canada) on May 22nd.
Featuring vocals and lyrics by Dave Gahan, the record is the follow-up to 2009’s critically acclaimed album Broken. Recorded at various locations and mastered at Abbey Road, the record will be available on CD and digital download.
“There was no real script,” says the laconic Rich Machin of the extraordinary fourth album The Light The Dead See, a set of songs of majesty and momentum. “It just rolled and rolled; it was effortless.”
Yet the writing was on the wall from the moment Dave Gahan stepped in to tackle vocal duties that this was going to be something very special. “We realized we were coming from the same place in so many ways,” adds Machin. “He’s really laid himself bare on this record, his performances are astonishing: he really is a terrific singer.”
Says Gahan, “Everything about it was relatively unplanned, surprising: a magical thing. We were a perfect match and I’m very, very excited about this record.”
Soulsavers – the music and production team of Rich Machin and Ian Glover – have been a growing force since 2003’s debut Tough Guys Don’t Dance. 2007’s It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land brought their dark flair to a wider audience. The inimitable Mark Lanegan served as primary singer, though there were also vocal contributions from Will Oldham and Jimi Goodwin. In 2009, third album Broken confirmed that Soulsavers were moving away from early electronica to earthier guitars, use of space and what Machin described as “a soulful twist”. Lanegan again led the vocals on standouts such as ‘You Will Miss Me When I Burn’ and ‘All The Way Down’, with other guest vocalists including Oldham again, Jason Pierce, Richard Hawley, Mike Patton and Gibby Haynes. Clearly, there was no shortage of acclaimed singers ready to lend their lungs to Soulsavers’ stirring, seductive, soothing or startling creations.
Venturing out from the studio to the road, Soulsavers were invited to support Depeche Mode on the European leg of their vast and eventful 2009-10 Tour Of The Universe, during which tour Dave Gahan bounced back from more than his fair share of illness and injury. Here, the seeds of The Light The Dead See were sewn.
“We got to know each other,” says Machin. “I really warmed to him, thought he was a particularly nice guy. Dave said he was a fan of our previous albums, and watched us almost every night, and, as you do, we said: Hey, we should work on something, at some point in time…”
“The tour together was great,” recalls Gahan enthusiastically. “I love Soulsavers and I’ve also been a Lanegan junkie for years. Rich mentioned doing some writing, and I told him to send over any pieces he liked, however minimal. What Rich does – big grinding bluesy organs, gospel choirs – somehow that touches something in me.”
With Gahan penning lyrics for the music and recording his own vocals in New York, then Machin building up the results into fully-formed and arranged epics, the international project was a case of “chemistry working”. “Nothing he did, did I need to alter,” says Rich. “Everything he did just felt right.
Gahan was recovering from well-documented illness when the project began. “I’m very good now,” he says. “I still have my hospital visits now and again, but fingers crossed I’m in good health.” Then, just as the pair got settled into a rhythm, Machin acquired a “horrendous” ear/hearing problem. “I woke up in the middle of the night in agony; it was like someone was drilling into my ear.” He lost his hearing in one ear for around nine months, and is still learning to manage tinnitus. When it began to clear up, I was half-expecting we’d have to re-do everything, but it sounded great, so we pushed on. The train hadn’t come off the tracks.”
Gahan’s lyrics and melodies came to him with spontaneity and passion. “About five songs in, I realized I was writing outside myself. I was having a go at myself, to be honest: my questions around faith, and God, or the lack thereof at any given moment. Sometimes I’m full of faith, but there are always questions. And I struggle with letting go of control of what’s going on around me. This album became very therapeutic. No restrictions. Coming out of getting sick myself, I found I HAD to get this stuff out of me. This music gave me the perfect palate to play with the BIG questions that we all ask when life becomes less about what can we GET, than: what can we DO? I’ve been very fortunate, and I’m privileged in my life, so I want to do things I feel really connected to now, otherwise there’s no point. Rich and I had both come out of something difficult. This is something to do with that. It was a wonderful experience.”
The Light The Dead See Track Listing:
1.La Ribera
2. In The Morning
3. Longest Day
4. Presence of God
5. Just Try
6. Gone Too Far
7. Point Sur Pt. 1
8. Take Me Back Home
9. Bitterman
10. I Can’t Stay
11. Take
12. Tonight
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great post at ultimateclassicrock.com, for shits and giggles, check it out
Top 10 ‘The Monkees’ TV Episodes
by: Dave Swanson
Debuting on NBC on Monday, Sept. 12, 1966, 'The Monkees' television show brought the concept of the teenage garage band into living rooms across America. Inspired by the Beatles in general, and ''A Hard Days Night' in particular, the TV show turned its four musician stars into into a real live breathing entity also known as the Monkees, who became even more famous outside the show, touring the world, making actual big hit records that have stood the test of time. Let's go back where it all began by running down our Top 10 'The Monkees' TV Episodes:
Read the rest and see some vintage footage at
ultimateclassicrock.com
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ANATHEMA: Reissue On Vinyl
UK atmospheric rock band ANATHEMA has issued the following update:
"One of the most remarkable consequences of the digital music age is that vinyl has made something of a comeback. Remember vinyl, kids? It was like a big flat mp3, only it sounded better. The demand for high-quality sound and packaging has been reawakened in recent years and [we are] proud to share these pictures of the ANATHEMA album 'Eternity' (1996).
Reissued by Svart Records and re-packaged by Duncan the way it was originally intended to be. The new package includes: all-white gatefold artwork, original design, a new lyric booklet with liner notes from Duncan, a bag and of course two heavyweight 12" vinyls, repressed for maximum sound quality. Limited to just 1000 copies (500 white vinyl, 500 black).
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one of my favorite groups of the 70's:
Ronnie Montrose ~ 1947-2012
this direct from Montrose's website:
"A few months ago, we held a surprise party for Ronnie Montrose's 64th birthday. He gave an impromptu speech, and told us that after a long life, filled with joy and hardship, he didn't take any of our love for granted.
He passed today. He'd battled cancer, and staved off old age for long enough. And true to form, he chose his own exit the way he chose his own life. We miss him already, but we're glad to have shared with him while we could."
Guitar virtuoso Ronnie Montrose launched his brilliant career with Irish rocker Van Morrison. Montrose played on the albums Tupelo Honey and Saint Dominic’s Preview. And Ronnie’s guitar riff on Morrison’s huge hit “Wild Night” will forever be cemented as one of the most memorable in classic rock history.
Montrose left Van Morrison to join The Edgar Winter Group and enjoyed commercial success with the release of They Only Come Out at Night. The album climbed up to Number 3 on the Billboard charts and spawned the enormous Top 40 hits “Frankenstein” (# 1 hit) and “Free Ride.” (# 14 hit)
In 1973 Ronnie felt the desire to orchestrate his own band and so he formed the hard rock group that bears his own signature MONTROSE. The combination of Ronnie Montrose on Les Paul and Sammy Hagar on vocals created a hard driving rock and roll machine that churned out monster releases Montrose and Paper Money and Hard Rock Classics like “Hard Candy,” “Bad Motor Scooter,” “Space Station No 5,” “I Got the Fire” and “Rock the Nation.”
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this from the great state of iowa and waterloorecords.com
Top Sellers for the week ending February, 25th 2012
Top Selling Vinyl
1. Dr. Dog
2. Black Keys
3. Grimes
4. Heartless Bastards TX
5. Sleigh Bells
6. Leonard Cohen
7. Mumford & Sons
8. Radiohead
9. Frankie Rose
10. Islands
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here are the Top Ten Sellers at our friends at www.relapse.com
1. Death - Individual Thought Patterns (3CD Deluxe Reissue)
2. Repulsion - Horrified
3. Toxic Holocaust/Midnight - Japanese Benefit 7
4. Death - Human (3CD Deluxe Reissue)
5. Neurosis - Enemy Of The Sun - Deluxe 2xLP 180 Gram (Red/Black Marble)
6. Neurosis - Souls at Zero - Deluxe 2xLP 180 Gram (Grey Marble)
7. Spawn of Possession - Incurso CD
8. Death - The Sound Of Perseverance (3CD Deluxe Reissue)
9. Death - Vivus! 2xCD
10. Brutal Truth - End Time (Limited Deluxe CD)
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and in music history for march 4th:
In 1877, the Tchaikovsky's ballet "Swan Lake" debuted.
In 1955, jazz great Charlie Bird Parker played at Birdland in what would be his last public performance.
In 1959, the winners of the first Grammy Awards were announced. Domenico Modugno's 'Volare' was Record of the Year; Henry Mancini's 'Peter Gunn' was Album of the Year and The Champs 'Tequila' won best R&B performance.
In 1963, the Beach Boys released "Surfin' USA." The song was a note-for-note copy of Chuck Berry's "Sweet Little Sixteen" with new lyrics. After Berry sued, he was granted royalties, and all further issues of the song gave him writing credit. The "Surfin' USA" single, backed with "Shut Down," was released under Capitol Records in the United States in March 1963. The song peaked on the Billboard pop chart at number three, the band's first top ten hit therein. The B-side charted at number 23. The song was re-issued in the U.S. as a single in July 1974 backed with "The Warmth of the Sun". That single also hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart, peaking at 36.
In 1966, in London, the Evening Standard newspaper published an article titled "How Does a Beatle Live? John Lennon Lives Like This." In one small part of the story, Lennon was quoted as saying, "Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. I needn't argue that. I'm right and will be proved right. We're more popular than Jesus right now. I don't know which will go first, rock 'n' roll or Christianity. Jesus was alright, but his disciples were thick and ordinary." The English public didn't raise an eyebrow over his remarks, but they caused controversy and protest in America when they were reprinted later in the U.S. teen magagine DATEbook. Thousands of Beatles records were smashed at mass rallies and some radio stations quit playing their songs altogether in protest. Lennon later apologized, explaining that what he meant was "the way some people carry on, (screaming at their concerts) you'd think we were more popular than Jesus Christ."
In 1967, the Rolling Stones went to #1 on the US singles chart with "Ruby Tuesday," the group's fourth US #1 single. "Lets Spend The Night Together" was the original A side but after radio stations banned the song 'Tuesday' became the A side.
In 1970, Janis Joplin was fined $200 for using obscene language onstage in Tampa, FL.
In 1973, Pink Floyd played the first night on a 19 date North American tour at the Dane County Memorial Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin.
In1973, Elvis Presley released "Steamroller Blues."
In 1976, Hall & Oates recorded "Rich Girl."
In 1977, CBS released the Clash's self- titled first album in the UK. CBS in the U.S. refused to release it until 1979. Americans bought over 100,000 imported copies of the record making it one of the biggest- selling import records of all time.
In 1977, at the El Mocambo Tavern in Toronto and advertised only as a performance by the opening act April Wine, the Rolling Stones recorded four tracks for their "Love You Live" album.
In 1978, the Bee Gees achieved a rare feat on the Billboard Hot 100, with four of the top five songs performed by the Brothers (Stayin' Alive at #2, Night Fever at #5) or written by them (Samantha Sang's Emotion at #4, kid brother Andy Gibb's (Love Is) Thicker Than Water at #1). Dan Hill's "Sometimes When We Touch" was #3.
Also in 1978, the US internal Revenue Service carried out a dawn raid at the home of Jerry Lee Lewis and removed cars worth over £100,000 ($170,000) to pay off his tax debts.
In 1986, songwriter Howard Greenfield died of a brain tumour aged 50. Working out of the famous Brill Building with Neil Sedaka he co-wrote many hits including 'Calendar Girl', 'Breaking Up Is Hard To Do', and 'Crying In The Rain' with Carole King. Also wrote TV theme songs including the theme to 'Bewitched.'
In 1986, after just completing a two set show with The Band in Winter Park, Florida, 41 year old Richard Manuel of The Band hung himself from a shower curtain rod in a hotel room in Florida. His band mate, Robbie Robertson honored his friend with the song, 'Fallen Angel' in 1987.
In 1989, Debbie Gibson started a three week run at #1 on the US singles chart with "Lost In Your Eyes," her second US #1, a #34 hit in the UK.
In 1994, Kurt Cobain was rushed to hospital after overdosing on alcohol and drugs in a Rome hotel during a Nirvana European tour. Cobain had taken 50-60 pills of Rohypnol mixed with champagne; rumours on the internet claimed that Kurt was dead.
In 1996, country music entertainer Minnie Pearl died after a stroke at the age of 83.
In 1997, R&B singer Raymond Edwards of the Silhouettes died at the age of 74.
In 2001, Village People singer Glenn Hughes died of lung cancer aged 50 in his Manhattan apartment in New York. He was the original "Biker" character in the disco group who scored the 1978 UK #1 & US #2 single "Y.M.C.A."
In 2001, Shaggy featuring Rikrok went to #1 on the UK singles chart with 'It Wasn't Me'. It became the best-selling single of 2001, and was also a #1 in the US.
In 2002, Doreen Waddell, singer with Soul II Soul was killed after attempting to run across the A27 in Brighton, England after being caught shoplifting.
In 2003, a noisy neighbour was banned from playing her music and had her stereo system impounded, after she had played Cliff Richard music too loudly. 23 year-old Sian Davies was fined £1,000 ($1,700) plus court costs after environmental protection officers raided her flat in Porth, Rhondda, Wales and seized 15 amplifiers and speakers, plus 135 CDs and cassette tapes. The disc found in her CD player was the Cliff Richard single, 'Peace in Our Time'. A spokesman for the Cliff Richard Organization said he was delighted to hear of somebody in their early 20s owning one of his many recordings. He added, Cliff would not want anyone to play his music so that it caused a nuisance.
In 2006, Jaheim was at #1 on the US album chart with 'Ghetto Classics' the American R&B singer's third album release.
In 2007, Kaiser Chiefs started a two week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with their second album 'Yours Truly Angry Mob'.
In 2009, in New Orleans, Britney Spears began a world tour, her first concert tour in five years. The show featured jugglers, acrobats, martial arts dancers and Spears dressed as a ringmaster.
In 2010, singer/guitarist Lolly Vegas, lead vocalist of the band Redbone, died of lung cancer at the age of 70.
In 2011, singer Johnny Preston died of heart failure at 71.
birthdays today include (among others): Bobby Womack (1944), Chris Squire - Yes (1948), Jason Newsted - Metallica (1963) and
Evan Dando - Lemonheads (1967)
