PRINCE passed away 8 years ago today, due to an accidental overdose of painkiller fentany (50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine).
Chuck D (Public Enemy) watching Prince at work: “It looked like he was making
a salad. He threw tape around like a chef. He knew every aspect of that studio.”
Two timeless and imperishable classics to remember a musical genius.
Today 45 years ago, on 21 April 1979, British funk-punk mavericks THE POP GROUP released their startling debut LP Y that still sounds spooky, anarchistic, and gloriously
out of the ordinary today.
Single ‘She’s Beyond Good And Evil
ALBUM
Exactly 1 year ago today the band’s charismatic frontman and
renowned dub artist Mark Stewart passed away, aged only 62.
I had the great pleasure of meeting Mark twice and interviewing
him once. He was not only an influencing artist but also a warm-hearted
and down-to-earth person.
Famous Denver songsmith NATHANIEL RATELIFF and his band are gearing up for
a new album, their 4th, named South Of Here. It’ll see the light of day on 28 June.
More info here.
Here’s the first single HEARTLESS with Rateliff‘s
grand vox as the hero, as always, in the middle.
Last February a tribute album, titled Everyone’s Getting Involved: A Tribute
To Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense was announced featuring BADBADNOTGOOD, Blondshell, the Cavemen, Chicano Batman feat. Money Mark, DJ Tunez, El Mató a un Policía Motorizado, girl in red, Jean Dawson, Kevin Abstract, the Linda Lindas, Lorde, Miley Cyrus,
the National, Teezo Touchdown, and Toro y Moi.
And now TH’s mastermind David Byrne returned the favor with his cover of Paramore‘s 2017 monster hit Hard Times (more than 400 million streams on Spotify).
After about a million spins, that magical guitar line that comes on around
the 2-minute mark and sparkles until the end, still sounds so magnificently
crystal clear.
I had seven faces
Thought I knew which one to wear
I’m sick of spending these lonely nights
Training myself not to care
The subway is a porno
The pavements they are a mess
I know you’ve supported me for a long time
Somehow I’m not impressed
But New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
Subway she is a porno
And the pavements they are a mess
I know you’ve supported me for a long time
Somehow I’m not impressed
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
New York cares (got to be some more change in my life)
It’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
(Got to be some more change in my life)
Oh, it’s up to me now turn on the bright lights
(Got to be some more change in my life)
Maybe 76-year-old singer-songwriter/producer T BONE BURNETT, born Joseph Henry “T Bone” Burnett III, wasn’t the glamorous mega star as many
of his contemporary musicians were, like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Leonard
Cohen and Neil Young, to name just a few but his résumé is stuffed with great
musical achievements.
As a solo artist, he recorded/released several LPs. As a producer, he worked with Los Lobos, Elvis Costello, Brandi Carlile, and Robert Plant & Alison Krauss and so many
more. He toured with Bob Dylan and other famous friends and he won a bunch of Grammys.
AllMusic says: “The Other Side is one of T-Bone Burnett’s warmest and most emotionally resonant works, and if it’s less ambitious than the Invisible Light albums, it’s a powerful example of what he does best as a songwriter, a vocalist, and a producer.” Score: 4/5.
TUTV: The Other Side is a concept record about a “mysterious couple” having adventures
in an otherworldly America. Burnett translate their mixed emotions experiences in lovey dovey lullabies, heartfelt musings and melancholic ballads.
This is the perfect record for daydreaming and relaxation. Soft, mellow and tender.
His slightly hoarse Americana voice enchants and entices all through this sepia-coloured album. 12 bittersweet serenades for the midnight hours, away from our hyperbenthic reality. Pure compassionate romanticism. Pure songmith.
IGGY POP was born James Newell Osterberg was born
on 21 April 1947 in Muskegon, Michigan. Happy 77 to
the authentic Godfather of Punk.
Wake up people,
and have some
lust for life.
Here comes Johnny Yen again
With the liquor and drugs
And a flesh machine
He’s gonna do another striptease
Hey man, where’d you get that lotion?
I’ve been hurting since I bought the gimmick
About something called love
Yeah, something called love
Well, that’s like hypnotizing chickens
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in the ear before
Been on a lust for life
‘Cause of a lust for life
I’m worth a million in prizes
With my torture film
Drive a G.T.O.
Wear a uniform
All on a government loan
I’m worth a million in prizes
Yeah, I’m through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With the liquor and drugs
With the liquor and drugs
Well, I’m just a modern guy
Of course, I’ve had it in my ear before
‘Cause of a lust for life (lust for life)
‘Cause of a lust for life (ooh)
I’ve got a lust for life (ooh)
Got a lust for life (ooh)
TUTV: These schizo noiseniks take you once again on a brain-breaking
roller coaster. HIIT is a maddening mindfucker that will trash and slash your
speakers about halfway when these four Belgian horsemen of the Apocalypse go
in overdrive and aim for a kick-ass knockout.
The ferocious vocalist screams his 4 lungs out again. He’s your next favorite exorcist.
Now, all you psychos out there, get out of your straitjackets, escape from the asylum
and jump up and down on your way home like a kangaroo on dope. Helter skelter.
The charismatic British singer/songwriter/guitarist/frontman STEVE MARRIOTT
of the Small Faces (1965-1969, 1975-1978) and Humble Pie (1969–1975, 1979–1983), featuring Peter Frampton, died in a fire at his home in Essex, UK this day in 1991, only aged 44. R.I.P.
