Shearwater, Live on The Current, 6-25-2008

Shearwater played these three intense songs for Minnesota Public Radio's The Current last week.

Listen to the performance with interview here.

Rook (mp3)
Leviathan, Bound (mp3)
North Col (mp3)

Also, check out more of Shearwater in Minnesota here & here.

Order Shearwater's Rook by clicking on the album cover to the right under "The Smudge Recommends."

Music by The Kills. Body by GISELE BÜNDCHEN.

Order the Kills' album by clicking on the album cover over there to the right, under "The Smudge Recommends."

R.E.M. Live on Austin City Limits 5-24-2008 - The rest of the show.

Here's the remainder of the show I posted half of yesterday.

Living Well Is The Best Revenge (mp3)
Man-Sized Wreath (mp3)
Drive
Accelerate (mp3)
Hollow Man (mp3)
Electrolite
Houston (mp3)
Supernatural Superserious
Bad Day
Losing My Religion (mp3)
I'm Gonna DJ
Horse To Water (mp3)
Until The Day Is Done (mp3)
Man On The Moon

R.E.M. Austin City Limits (PBS) 5-24-2008 Highlights

R.E.M.'s Austin City Limits performance aired on PBS a month ago. They sounded fantastic as usual, coming through the TV wire.

Here are a few highlights from the set:

Living Well Is The Best Revenge
Man-Sized Wreath
Drive (mp3)
Accelerate
Hollow Man
Electrolite (mp3)
Houston
Supernatural Superserious (mp3)
Bad Day (mp3)
Losing My Religion
I'm Gonna DJ (mp3)
Horse To Water
Until The Day Is Done
Man On The Moon (mp3)

Natalia Clavier's Sweet Nectar

If you're into the electro-bossa/electro-folk of Bebel Gilberto, Cibelle, and Juana Molina, and if you, like me, love to pop in some Federico Aubele to slow down a frantic day, then you'll be thrilled with Natalia Clavier's Nectar, which oozes sophistocated sensuality. All of the songs are winners, electronic-accented grooves grounded with just the right guitar & piano chords, sexy rhythms, and a voice with a smooth purity that you just don't hear any more. She goes from angelic to devious, from passionate to playful, just like that, and you're blissfully lost before you realize what she's done to you. It's like listening to Astrud, if she were recording today in Washington, D.C. with Thievery Corporation's Eric Hilton.

But here's a mystery: Why does her name come up empty on The Hype Machine?? Is it because she's filed under Jazz? Are we guilty of monoculture, are we staying in our lanes too much, and are the lanes getting smaller? I don't know. Like I said, it's a mystery.

Cross the lines with Natalia:

Natalia Clavier - El Arbol (mp3)
Natalia Clavier - Azul (mp3)

Death Cab For Cutie - Live KCRW 6-23-2008

I forgot to record this. I've been slacking. Here's the video, anyway.

Martha Wainwright, Live on Morning Becomes Eclectic, 6-20-2008

Shearwater, Live at the Black Cat DC, 6-15-2008

The blood in Shearwater's live songs flows hotter and quicker than that in the studio versions. Here are the first four songs from their Black Cat performance this week, as broadcast by NPR for Live In Concert. Listen to the entire performance from NPR, with an interview with the band at the end, while it's still up, here (mp3).

Shearwater - Live @ the Black Cat, 6-15-2008 (mp3s):

Nibelungen (Nico cover)
Red Sea, Black Sea
Leviathan, Bound
Rooks

Shearwater's latest release is Rook.

U2 - Boy, October, & War Remastered Deluxe Edition Details

BOY OCTOBER WAR WITH FULL TRACKLIST

U2's first three albums have been re-mastered and will be released by Universal on July 22nd.

Following the re-mastered release of The Joshua Tree last year, Edge has overseen a similar re-mastering of Boy (1980), October (1981) and War (1983), all of which have been re-mastered from the original audio tapes.

Each album will be released in physical and digital formats; as a standard single disc, a deluxe double version including a disc of b-sides, live tracks and rarities, and an LP version pressed on 180gm virgin vinyl

The packaging on all three titles has been restored and expanded, with new liner notes for each record, previously unseen photos and full lyrics.

The full tracklistings and format information is as listed;


BOY

Standard format:

A single CD with re-mastered audio and restored packaging.
Includes a 16 page booklet featuring previously unseen photos, full lyrics and new liner notes by Paul Morley

Tracklisting:
1. I Will Follow 2. Twilight 3. An Cat Dubh 4. Into The Heart 5. Out Of Control 6. Stories For Boys 7. The Ocean 8. A Day Without Me 9. Another Time, Another Place 10. The Electric Co. 11. Shadows And Tall Trees.

Deluxe format:

A standard CD (as above) and a bonus CD.
Bonus CD includes b-sides, live tracks and rarities.
Also includes a 32 page booklet with previously unseen photos, full lyrics, new liner notes by Paul Morley, and explanatory notes on the bonus material by The Edge.

Tracklisting:
1. I Will Follow (Previously Unreleased Mix) 2. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock 3. Touch 4. Speed Of Life (Previously Unreleased Track) 5. Saturday Night (Previously Unreleased Track) 6. Things To Make And Do 7. Out Of Control 8. Boy-Girl 9. Stories For Boys 10. Another Day 11. Twilight 12. Boy-Girl (Live at The Marquee, London) 13. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Live at The Marquee, London - Previously Unreleased Version) 14. Cartoon World (Live at The National Stadium, Dublin - Previously Unreleased Track)


Vinyl format:

A single album re-mastered version on 180gram vinyl with restored packaging.

Tracklisting:
Side One 1. I Will Follow 2. Twilight 3. An Cat Dubh 4. Into The Heart 5. Out Of Control
Side Two 1. Stories For Boys 2. The Ocean 3. A Day Without Me 4. Another Time, Another Place 5. The Electric Co. 6. Shadows And Tall Trees.


OCTOBER

Standard format:

A single CD with re-mastered audio and restored packaging.
Includes a 16 page booklet featuring previously unseen photos, full lyrics and new liner notes by Neil McCormick.

Tracklisting:
1. Gloria 2. I Fall Down 3. I Threw A Brick Through A Window 4. Rejoice 5. Fire 6. Tomorrow 7. October 8. With A Shout 9. Stranger In A Strange Land 10. Scarlet 11. Is That All

Deluxe format:

A standard CD (as above) and a bonus CD.
Bonus CD includes b-sides, live tracks and rarities.
Also includes a 32 page booklet with previously unseen photos, full lyrics, new liner notes by Neil McCormick, and explanatory notes on the bonus material by The Edge.

Tracklisting:
1. Gloria (Live at Hammersmith Palais, London) 2. I Fall Down (Live at Hammersmith Palais, London) 3. I Threw A Brick Through A Window (Live at Hammersmith Palais, London) 4. Fire (Live at Hammersmith Palais, London) 5. October (Live at Hammersmith Palais, London) 6. With A Shout (Richard Skinner BBC Session) 7. Scarlet (Richard Skinner BBC Session) 8. I Threw A Brick Through A Window (Richard Skinner BBC Session) 9. A Celebration 10. J. Swallo 11. Trash, Trampoline And The Party Girl 12. I Will Follow (Live at Paradise Theatre, Boston) 13. The Ocean (Live at Paradise Theatre, Boston) 14. The Cry/Electric Co. (Live at Paradise Theatre, Boston) 15. 11 O'Clock Tick Tock (Live at Paradise Theatre, Boston) 16. I Will Follow (Live From Hattem, Netherlands) 17. Tomorrow (Bono & Adam Clayton, Common Ground Remix)

Vinyl format:

A single album re-mastered version on 180gram vinyl with restored packaging.

Tracklisting:
Side One 1. Gloria 2. I Fall Down 3. I Threw A Brick Through A Window 4. Rejoice 5. Fire
Side Two 1. Tomorrow 2. October 3. With A Shout 4. Stranger In A Strange Land 5. Scarlet 6. Is That All?


WAR

Standard format:

A single CD with re-mastered audio and restored packaging.
Includes a 16 page booklet featuring previously unseen photos, full lyrics and new liner notes by Niall Stokes.

Tracklisting:
1. Sunday Bloody Sunday 2. Seconds 3. New Year's Day 4. Like A Song 5. Drowning Man 6. The Refugee 7. Two Hearts Beat As One 8. Red Light 9. Surrender 10. "40"


Deluxe format:

A standard CD (as above) and a bonus CD.
Bonus CD includes b-sides, live tracks and rarities.
Also includes a 32 page booklet with previously unseen photos, full lyrics, new liner notes by Niall Stokes, and explanatory notes on the bonus material by The Edge.

Tracklisting:
1. Endless Deep 2. Angels Too Tied To The Ground (Previously Unreleased Track) 3. New Year's Day (7" single edit) 4. New Year's Day (USA Remix) 5. New Year's Day (Ferry Corsten Extended Vocal Mix) 6. New Year's Day (Ferry Corsten Vocal Radio Mix) 7. Two Hearts Beat As One (Long Mix) 8. Two Hearts Beat As One (USA Remix) 9. Two Hearts Beat As One (Club Version) 10. Treasure (Whatever Happened to Pete The Chop)


Vinyl format:

A single album re-mastered version on 180gram vinyl with restored packaging.

Tracklisting:
Side One 1. Sunday Bloody Sunday 2. Seconds 3. New Year's Day 4. Like A Song... 5. Drowning Man
Side Two 1. The Refugee 2. Two Hearts Beat As One 3. Red Light 4. Surrender 5. "40"

A Capella On Daptone

We knew Daptone Records was bold, leading a lively soul resurgence with invigorating bands like Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. Now Daptone is also daring, taking an admirable risk in releasing Como Now, a record of live a capella gospel performances recorded in Mt. Mariah Church in Como, Mississippi, on July 22, 2006. I love it for the sound, the soul, and the audacity. The first song here, Send Me, I'll Go, captures that independent spirit perfectly.

The Voices of Como - Send Me, I'll Go (mp3)
The Voices of Como - It's Alright (mp3)

Eccentric Soul: Tragar & Note Labels

Numero strikes with another staggeringly excellent compilation of rare soul, funk, and disco funk, with their 2-disc Eccentric Soul: The Tragar & Note Labels. Each of their collections is filled with little soul discoveries, and this one holds up as well as the rest.

Eula Cooper - Shake Daddy Shake (mp3)
Nathan Wilkes - Strange Feeling (mp3)

The Verve's new album drops August 19th.

Yes, that The Verve, formerly Verve, with Richard Ashcroft et al. You've been wondering about the release date, and that's all the details I have.

Sophie & Eisenheim

This is the music that accompanied the love scene between Eisenheim and Sophie, before she rides back to the castle to meet a seemingly grim fate.

Philip Glass - Sophie (mp3), from The Illusionist

The Visual Album Review #1, Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista

Figure in static.

mp3s from Paavoharju's Laulu Laakson Kukista (highly recommended):

Kevätrumpu
Tyttö tanssii

Iron & Wine, Live on The Current, 6-11-2008

..."Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, and said,

"Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

- Job 1:18-21 (King James Version)

Iron & Wine - Live on Minnesota Public Radio's The Current, 6-11-2008 (mp3s):

Peace Beneath The City
Naked As We Came
He Lays In The Rain

Listen to the performance properly, with interview, here.

Also:


Buy The Shepherd's Dog.
(Naked As We Came is from Our Endless Numbered Days, and is also on the In Good Company soundtrack.)

Miles in Winter

Miles Davis Quintet (Stadhalle, Karlsruhe, Germany)- I Fall In Love Too Easily (mp3)

It was 97 degrees Fahrenheit today. This song was recorded in Germany in the winter of 1967. Doesn't get much cooler.

From Miles Davis Quintet: Winter In Europe 1967

Take The Farm

Two albums I'm dying to hear NOW: Beck's Modern Guilt (whenever it comes out), and after hearing the single below, The War On Drugs' forthcoming album, Wagonwheel Blues. out next Tuesday from Secretly Canadian. The guitar voice in this song is wholly original - nothing technically groundbreaking - just a novel personality, and it's been a long time since I've felt this refreshed by the six-string electric.

The War On Drugs - Taking The Farm (mp3)

The New World Government.

What better way to get your mystical world-consciousness on and display your sense of universal convergence than through screaming guitar psychedelia circa the Beatles on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Apollo Sunshine make this noise, somewhere in the grand scheme of things:

Apollo Sunshine - 666 - The Coming Of The New World Government (mp3)

Shall Noise Upon is out August 5th.

Joan As Police Woman, live on WNYC's Soundcheck, 6-2-2008

The woman and her piano in studio, arresting the masses.

Joan As Police Woman - Live on WNYC, 6-2-2008 (mp3s):

To Be Loved
To Survive

Listen to the entire performance with interview.

Also:
To Be Loved (album version)(mp3)

To Survive is out June 10th.

REM - Let Me In - Albany, NY U.S. - June 20, 1995

I remember seeing another performance of this tragic carnival of a song, R.E.M.'s exploration of self-isolation, with a video of something like a rolling fireball on a giant screen as a backdrop, and Kurt Cobain's Jag-Stang in the unlikely hands of Mike Mills, seemingly playing all by itself, as Stipe sings "I can't see all the birds look down and laugh at me, clumsy, crawling out of my skin."



...and an mp3 of Let Me In from an FM broadcast:

R.E.M. - Let Me In (Live, National Bowl, Milton Keynes, UK 7-30-1995) (mp3)

R.E.M. - Fall On Me (Live, National Bowl, Milton Keynes, UK 7-30-1995) (mp3)

The Cure - Just Like Heaven, Live on the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards

Classic performance. I remember being blown away by this the day it was broadcast.

Rachel Haught

If you like Bjork and have fond memories of Kate Bush, check out NYC's Rachel Haught. She has that unsettling innocence, and delivers electronically spiced dark lullabies like a playful deviant. She pushes the boundaries and explores the edges, driving her music away from the comfortable places we're used to. There are only a few songs to listen to, all on her myspace, and they left me yearning for more.

Rachel Haught - The Stars (mp3)
Rachel Haught - To Shanghai (mp3)

Death Cab For Cutie, Live In-Studio for MPR's The Current

As announced yesterday, Death Cab For Cutie performed for Minnesota Public Radio's The Current today. Listen to the entire impeccable performance with interview here.

Death Cab For Cutie - Live on The Current (mp3s):

Phone Booth
Talking Bird
I Will Possess Your Heart

Get Narrow Stairs.

The Raconteurs at the 9:30, 27 May 2008

This is so Zep. If you haven't listened to the show yet, do (stream it here). The guitars wail like Cerberus unleashed whilst on a starvation diet. The licks are hot wet tongues that wrap around you and pull you toward the gaping mouth of swallowed tormented souls. It's like that - I lie not. Here are two songs from the show.

The Raconteurs - Live at the 9:30 Club, 5-27-2008 (mp3s):

Consoler of the Lonely
Keep It Clean (Charlie Jordan)

hobogirl923 captured video of Keep It Clean when the tall person in front of her wasn't in her way:



We highly recommend Consolers Of The Lonely.

Death Cab For Cutie, Live In-Studio on The Current, Tomorrow

From The Current's myspace:

Death Cab For Cutie will be in the studio with Mary Lucia this Monday at 5pm on 89.

3 The Current! They're stopping by to play us some tunes and for an interview before their show at the Orpheum over in Minneapolis!

If you miss the instudio... you can always catch up online at thecurrent. org!

May the Death Cab be with you.

Never Doubt My Commitment To Sparkle Motion.

This is where I went to high school.

Our pep rallies weren't like this.