Dave Martin, Natural Selection

By Chelsea Spear

In the ’80s and ’90s, Dave Martin cut his teeth as a member of the beloved Boston rock band O Positive. His role as a sort of band factotum—in which he played numerous instruments and worked on the band’s onstage sound—filled out the quintet’s angular, shimmering, new wave arrangements. Since O Pos disbanded in 1995, Martin has put forth a prolific solo career, recording a trio of solid, folk rock-influenced solo records. His most recent album, Natural Selection, mines the contemplative vein of his previous albums, and also finds him introducing some new sounds and arrangements.
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Catching Up With The Chain Gang Of 1974

By Less Lee Moore

Photo © Taylor Boylston

Wayward Fire is the latest album from The Chain Gang of 1974, which is the brainchild of singer/songwriter/musician Kamtin Mohager. It’s an eclectic, intriguing, and downright addictive mix of influences and styles with some of the catchiest songs you’re likely to hear this year. (Read our review here.) I caught up with Kamtin when he was en route from the West to the East coast for the band’s upcoming tour dates with The Naked and Famous.
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Oscars 2011: Who Should Win (even if I didn’t see all the movies)

By Jesse Roth

I like to think of the movie awards season like American politics: Millions all over the country offering up their baseless, uneducated opinions on various candidates and platforms, supporting them for all the wrong reasons and then bitching about the outcome, even when their candidate is declared the winner. As a dedicated fan of the moving picture, I figured it was time to throw my hat into the ring, writing my own pointless article regarding the upcoming Oscars. Throughout the year, I’ve had the chance to see many (but not all) of the nominated films and performances, and base my picks on a myriad of criteria, ranging from the educated to the downright irrational. Then again, I’m only following some of the same rationale used by those who are actually mailed official Academy ballots.

*Movies I have seen are denoted with an asterisk.
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Don’t Quit Your Day Job: Super Bowl “Singers” Please Take Note

By Laura L.

Ah, football. (That would be American football for most of the world.) What do you think of when you think of football? Touchdowns? Sure. Tailgating? Perhaps. Rap? Are you serious? Sadly, I am afraid I am. And YouTube has reminded me of this dark moment in not just National Football League history, but rap history as well. And with the 2011 Super Bowl upon us, what better time is there to open that vault?

It all started back in 1985. The Chicago Bears, under the leadership of legendary coach Mike Ditka, were having an incredible run, losing only once in the regular season. They would eventually win the Super Bowl that season. But that legacy may not be completely untainted. Three words: Super Bowl Shuffle.
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Cthulhupalooza II: Son of Cthulhupalooza

By Less Lee Moore

If you’re in Vancouver, BC on February 18, you must check out Cthulhupalooza II: Son of Cthulhupalooza!

Celebrate your enthusiasm for forbidden tomes, ancient space gods and eldritch cake by joining us on Feb 18. Prizes for the Miskatonic Middleschool Bake Sale competition are provided by our generous sponsors, entrants should contact us to register at info@secondlevelwizards.com and for rules and regulations. Roaring ’20s period costume welcome. It’s tentacular!
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American Hardcore: A Tribal History, By Steven Blush

By Danny R. Phillips

Over the five plus decades that rock & roll has been a force in American youth culture, many books have been written, most with futility, in an attempt to explain its history, its debauchery, its value, and the ebb & flow of the trends sprouting in all directions from its fruitful loins.

Steven Blush’s American Hardcore: A Tribal History not only explains a big part of the punk rock subculture but comes out swinging like a bloody knuckled little brother with something to prove.
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Mind Your Manners & Your MNDR: New Single, Free Download, and Tour Dates

By Less Lee Moore

“Cut Me Out,” MNDR‘s first single of 2011 is up now on Green Label Sound. Download it, share it, enjoy it!

Says MNDR, “We shot the music video yesterday with Tim Saccenti and it will be hitting your screens soon.”

Today marks the start of the Risky Business Tour with Chromeo, MNDR and The Suzan 2011.
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Shaking With Anticipation: PJ Harvey Album Now Available To Pre-Order From iTunes

By Less Lee Moore

Although PJ Harvey‘s long-awaited new album, Let England Shake, won’t be out until February 15, the iTunes pre-order has begun.

The pre-order features an instant download of “Written On The Forehead” plus an exclusive track, “The Big Guns Called Me Back Again.”

PJ Harvey will also be playing Coachella on Sunday April 17.

Check out the video for the first single, “The Words That Maketh Murder.”

Getting Up Early In The Morning With James Vincent McMorrow

By Less Lee Moore

Early in the Morning, the debut album from singer/songwriter James Vincent McMorrow, was self-released in Ireland in 2010 and hailed as “one of the first truly great albums of the decade” by The Dubliner. The album will be available for the first time in the US on January 25 from Vagrant.

But you don’t have to wait to hear it. My Old Kentucky Blog is streaming the album in its entirety.

You can also download “If I Had a Boat,” the album’s first single.

Check out McMorrow’s video press kit here.

Introducing James Vincent McMorrow (EPK) from Vagrant Records on Vimeo.

Meligrove Band BUS FAIL $$$ RELIEF Party

By Less Lee Moore

From the Meligrove Band‘s Facebook page:

Friends! Our US tour in December hurt us real bad. We had to get our transmission rebuilt, stuck in the worst part of Orlando for five nights, missing the last half of our tour, and having to pay $4500! Our bank account is in ruins. Help us pay by partying with us and our friends!

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