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30 Jan 2009 13:40

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Music: Bruce apologizes for that whole Wal-Mart exclusive thing

  • It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be.
  • Bruce Springsteen • on the release of a $10 greatest hits record exclusively through Wal-Mart. Fans criticized the move, as it appeared to go against much of what his music stands for. Springsteen’s pretty busy right now; he just released a new album and will sing at the Super Bowl on Sunday. • source

29 Jan 2009 17:53

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Music: Obama’s top-secret access to a killer record collection

  • Presidents have great vinyl Back in the 1970s, the RIAA decided that the presidential library needed some records. Back in the late ’70s, they decided they needed some cool records. So, during the Carter administration, the music industry gave the president some pretty awesome 33⅓ rpm platters. But in the Reagan years, they were confined to the basement (along with some old reels of Bedtime for Bonzo, we’re sure). source
  • Presidents have great vinyl Back in the 1970s, the RIAA decided that the presidential library needed some records. Back in the late ’70s, they decided they needed some cool records. So, during the Carter administration, the music industry gave the president some pretty awesome 33⅓ rpm platters. But in the Reagan years, they were confined to the basement (along with some old reels of Bedtime for Bonzo, we’re sure).
  • What’s in the collection? From classics by Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones to cult-classic platters by Captain Beefheart and Talking Heads, it’s a pretty darn cool record collection marked with a presidential seal. Most of the albums are fairly pristine and have just been sitting around untouched for 30 years. No word on whether any of the albums are worth pilfering by DJ Shadow, or if there’s any no wave in there, but we hear there’s lots of punk. source

29 Jan 2009 10:10

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Music: Lynyrd Skynyrd keyboardist Billy Powell, 1952-2009

Powell (second from left) survived a devestating plane crash and kept Skynyrd alive. source

26 Jan 2009 10:55

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Music: Lil Wayne just wants to rock

The “milli”-selling rapper plans to make his next album a rock album. Really. source

22 Jan 2009 14:08

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Music: The new U2 single = Spoon + Of Montreal + Bloc Party

  • How it’s like Spoon First thought when listening to “Get On Your Boots”: Well-placed handclaps, anyone? Yeah, that’s totally Spoon’s territory, as is the random fleeting sound. And the verse totally sounds like Spoon’s “Finer Feelings.” Yeah. Spoon is totally the biggest influence on rock music right now. source
  • How it’s like Spoon First thought when listening to “Get On Your Boots”: Well-placed handclaps, anyone? Yeah, that’s totally Spoon’s territory, as is the random fleeting sound. And the verse totally sounds like Spoon’s “Finer Feelings.” Yeah. Spoon is totally the biggest influence on rock music right now.
  • How it’s like Of Montreal That whole paisley chorus/bridge-going-paisley thing is such a staple of Of Montreal, and they did that whole twelve-songs-at-once thing on last year’s Skeletal Lamping, which was easily 2008’s strangest indie-rock album. U2 wants a piece of that uber-hip Elephant 6 pie. source
  • How it’s like Spoon First thought when listening to “Get On Your Boots”: Well-placed handclaps, anyone? Yeah, that’s totally Spoon’s territory, as is the random fleeting sound. And the verse totally sounds like Spoon’s “Finer Feelings.” Yeah. Spoon is totally the biggest influence on rock music right now.
  • How it’s like Of Montreal That whole paisley chorus/bridge-going-paisley thing is such a staple of Of Montreal, and they did that whole twelve-songs-at-once thing on last year’s Skeletal Lamping, which was easily 2008’s strangest indie-rock album. U2 wants a piece of that uber-hip Elephant 6 pie.
  • How it’s like Bloc Party Bloc Party is the most U2-like band of the naughts, so it’s inevitable that it sounds like a driving Bloc Party song to some degree. But this doesn’t sound like U2. No, this sounds like U2 playing Bloc Party playing U2. Which is weird. Bono, be yourself again! Get your edge back, Edge! source

21 Jan 2009 12:25

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Music: Matt & Kim: Two tunesmiths to watch out for in 2009

The synthy, youthful sound of Matt & Kim is best experienced with “Daylight.” source

17 Jan 2009 10:03

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Music: Sonic Youth, finally working with “a label that loves songs”

  • We’re super inspired to make a fresh start. We’re glad to be dealing with a label that loves songs.
  • Thurston Moore • Sonic Youth guitarist, on the band’s recent move from major label Geffen, their label for nearly two decades, to indie Matador. The band will release a new album this summer. • source
 

09 Jan 2009 14:36

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Music: Instant gratification or big reward? Jay Reatard weighs in

  • A single is really quick, man. You can get it out, and in two months have it on your merch table. And albums can take a really long time. But when you get done with an album, it’s a lot more fulfilling.
  • Jay Reatard • in an interview with The Onion A.V. Club about the value of doing albums over singles; the punk rocker is known for doing both really well. • source