Liz Fraser returns to play with Massive Attack

I can barely even imagine the thrill of seeing Massive Attack live, let alone seeing them with Elizabeth Fraser on vocals. "Teardrop" live? Get outta town!

The Paramount seemed not a theater at all, but a dark shamanistic cave.

Massive Attack in Seattle

What the f*ck was I thinking?

Discovering new artists from Myspace? What is the world coming to, eh? Well it's true. I'd never heard of Jenny Owen Youngs until I stumbled across her picture there and said "what's this?" You can listen to four of her tunes on her Myspace and download the song "Fuck Was I" either here or for free on her official website. I'm not sure how old she is, but I think she's fairly new to the music biz- which hopefully means even bigger and better things in the future. From the looks of her blog and website, she's certainly looking to take on the world in a big way. Another great new prospect in the world of talented female singer-songwriters.

Jenny Owen Youngs Official Website

Myspace page

Jenny Owen Youngs- Fuck Was I

If I was a booger, would you blow your nose?

(now 66% less Lemony)

I know, I know- it's been a while since I've posted but blogger was giving me the business so I'm only partially to blame. Got it?

Mike Skinner of the Streets is slowing things down for the second single from The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living and releasing "Never Went To Church." I'm guessing it'll be another hit in the UK- now get your arse over this side of the pond, Mikee!

NME story


Manic Street Preachers have a song on the new June Brides tribute album Still Unravished. You can listen to it on Manics' Myspace- it's a pretty decent tune.

Evan Dando is "reuniting the Lemonheads" and recording a new album that's due to be released next spring. Those quotes mean "Evan's the only original member of the Lemonheads and there's two guys from the Descendents playing with him." I'm thinking it's still a good thing though- hopefully Evan will kick it a bit harder than on his solo record Baby I'm Bored, which was good overall but still not up to par with the Lemonheads stuff.

Pitchfork story

I still can't get enough of the new Primal Scream single "Country Girl." Sounds like classic scream and check out that mandolin in there! Definitely a catchy hook and hopefully it's a good indication of the rest of Riot City Blues. You can download the tune at the Daily Growl.

Primal Scream- Country Girl


Take That are reuniting for a tour and according to the group, Robbie will be joining them on a few dates of the tour. They're even apparently using a Robbie hologram on stage- what's up with that? Robbie apparently says they're Tripping. Don't do it Robbie- keep what little self-respect you have!

Yes, I like Robbie Williams- now hush.

NME story


Now here's some Spacemen 3 goodness I've been digging on of late...

Spacemen 3- Come Down Easy (demo)

Spacemen 3- Walking With Jesus (demo)

So much time got lost in my mind...

Part of the reason I love Beth Orton is the way she combines folky, acoustic music with more modern electronic beats and rhythms. The first I ever heard of her was her work with William Orbit on the dance track "Water From A Vine Leaf." At times her voice reminds me a lot of Edie Brickell's- it seems to just lazily circle around the room, lilting at just the perfect times to accentuate a word or phrase. Definitely check out "Concrete Sky" and if you like it, go straight to Amazon and check out her first two albums, Trailer Park and Central Reservation. "This One's Gonna Bruise" is much more melancholy.

Official Website

Beth Orton- Worms

Beth Orton- Shopping Trolley

Beth Orton- Concrete Sky

Beth Orton- This One's Gonna Bruise

For some odd reason today...

The words "sickle cell anemia" got stuck in my head and it wasn't until I scoped out the new Primal Scream interview on NME that I realized what it was. What a strange coincidence. I liked XTRMNTR (and saw them live in Chicago that tour) but never quite as much as my favourite Scream album Vanishing Point or Screamadelica. It will be interesting to hear their new album as they've always been a band that can shift musical styles and succeed pretty well. Naysayers will point out give out but don't give up a misstep but I still think it's a pretty solid album of tunes with a few exceptions. Here's a handful of tunes as a teaser for the upcoming album June 5th and single "Country Girl" on May 22nd. Those are UK dates, peedles.

Primal Scream- Velocity Girl

Primal Scream- Movin' On Up

Primal Scream- Come Together>

Primal Scream- Jailbird

Primal Scream- Kowalski

NME Article

Doin' the wrong thing...

Thanks to Buzz and Wee for some of the tunes...

XC-NN- Wrong Thing

Belle & Sebastian- The Boy Done Wrong Again (live at the Barbican)

Frausdots- Dead Wrong

Morphine- All Wrong

Cracker- Mr. Wrong

The Clash- Wrong 'Em Boyo

Jesus & Mary Chain- Something's Wrong