Marissa Nadler Posts Covers of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and Clinic from Forthcoming "Covers Volume II" CD

The River (featuring Faces on Film and Red Heroine) by marissanadler Farewell Angelina (featuring Red Heroine) by marissanadler Distortions featuring Red Heroine and Faces On Film by marissanadlerBoston-based dream-folk artist Marissa Nadler has announced the release of her Covers Volume II available on November 8 as handmade CDs at her Etsy shop. As a special Halloween treat Marissa has shared three tracks: covers of Clinic's "Distortions,"...

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Yes - "Live On Air" CD Review (XXL Media)

Yes - Live on Air documents the band on the last stop of the 90125 tour and this show was recorded at Estadio C. A. Velez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires, Argentina on February 1, 1985.Ignore all the track lists for this disc that are posted on the internet as they list the complete set list for the 2+ hour show and this disc runs exactly 60 minutes. Sadly, even the track list on the package is wrong. Here is what is on this disc:- "Leave It" (4:18)-...

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The Hive Dwellers: Stream Forthcoming Single "Lynch the Swan" from Calvin Johnson's Latest Project

The Hive Dwellers by BrooklynRocks Pretty cool stuff from K Records main man Calvin Johnson...The brand new Hive Dwellers 7” (“Lynch the Swan” b/w Selector Dub Narcotic - “Dub the Swan”) comes out on November 15th and features a brand new creepy town USA, Hive Dwellers original on one side, and then a remix of that same song (done by Calvin Johnson himself) on the other side. Also, The Hive Dwellers have a couple of Portland shows (all ages) coming up! PORTLAND DATESDec. 10 // Project Grow at Port City8:00 PM - ALL AGESDec. 11 // Studio 1996BREAKFAST...

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Neil Young - "Live on Air / The Lost Tapes Vol. 2" CD Review (XXL Media)

This second volume of Live on Air / The Lost Tapes captures an electric performance by Neil Young and Crazy Horse at Rock in Rio III. The show took place on January 20, 2001 and was simulcast in digital stereo so the sound on this disc is near perfect. This 65 minute / six track disc captures the second half of Neil's 11 song performance and, as this was Neil's first performance in Brazil, the crowd responds enthusiastically as Neil plays extended...

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Hurricane Bells - "Tides and Tales" CD Review (Invisible Brigades)

The Ghost Of Her by Hurricane BellsOn October 25th, Steve Schiltz is releasing Hurricane Bells' second disc, Tides and Tales, on his imprint Invisible Brigades. This 12-track / 40 minute disc builds on the melancholy late-night vibe of 2009's Tonight is the Ghost but, this time out, Schiltz utilized a full band during the recording process which leaves this disc sounding more cohesive than its predecessor. Contributing to this disc are: Ashen Keilyn...

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Pikachunes & The Golden Awesome - NZ@CMJ, Le Poisson Rouge, NYC 10-18-11

The Golden Awesome - Astronomy by AwesomeFeelingFive I'm not a fan of the craziness that goes on around CMJ as that seems to be the one week out of the year where the clubs are jam-packed full of drunks and photographers. I've skipped the Festival the last couple years but broke down this year as I wanted to see New Zealand shoe-gazers The Golden Awesome.Le Poisson Rouge hosted a New Zealand @ CMJ party on the first night of the Festival which...

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Andy Warhol's Bad - DVD Review (Warhol's last theatrical release)

Andy Warhol's last theatrical release Bad (1977) was recently re-released on DVD by the label Cheezy Flicks. The movie is classic, black-humored film noir that is set in the urban war zone of late 70's New York and this film may have set the stage for later films like Natural Born Killers and Serial Mom.The film centers around Queens housewife Hazel Aiken who runs an electrolysis service out of her house but makes extra money by providing ruthless...

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Nirvana - "Nevermind" 2CD Deluxe Edition CD Review

If the deluxe edition of Nirvana's seminal 1991 disc Nevermind had come out prior to 2004's With the Lights Out box set, it would have broken new ground. Unfortunately, the bonus material on this new 2CD set is an anti-climactic snooze-fest that will likely be of interest only to Nirvana completists. Jumping in - Disc One contains a remastered version of the original 13 tracks from Nevermind along with the b-sides from the "Smells Like Teen Spirit",...

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Bugs in the Dark - "Hang It On The Wall" CD EP Review

Grand Avenue by Bugs in the DarkBrooklyn's Bugs in the Dark continue to make major leaps forward with each release. The band's new EP, "Hang It On The Wall", shows them moving almost completely away from slashing, dissonant guitars and tribal drum sounds of their earlier releases to take their new songs in a direction that is comparable to PJ Harvey and/or Sonic Youth. The four track on "Hang It On The Wall" run just shy of 20 minutes and the overall...

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Paper Thick Walls: Chicago Indie-Folk band Plays Let's Get Messy's Free Day Party on Saturday, Oct. 22nd at Arlene's Grocery

Old Weathered Wooden Dock by paperthickwallsPaper Thick Walls presents an elegant mix of deep, reflective, and at times haunting music, which captures elements of sound similar to acts like Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens. The almost orchestral arrangement of piano, upright bass, guitars, drums, fiddle, mandolin, and other various instruments has a fascinating way of complimenting the profound fictional story lines that Paper Thick Walls portray through...

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The Soundtrack Series Continues at (Le) Poisson Rouge on November 2nd (Free)

DOWNLOAD: Bridget O'Neill - Stigmata / MinistryThe Soundtrack Series is a monthly dose of stories fueled by songs which has been a "Critic’s Pick" in Time Out New York, listed by Gothamist as a "Gothamist Event of the Week" and included among the “Best Events and Things to Do in NYC” by CBS News New York. Five guest storytellers get on the mic to tell the hilarious or heart wrenching stories and memories they forever associate with a song from their...

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The Mayor of Bad News Plays Trash Bar on Monday, Oct. 24th

Don't Paint Your Kitchen Red by The Mayor of Bad News The Mayor of Bad News, a gleefully off-kilter Brooklyn lo-fi duo, is playing The Trash Bar this Monday, Oct. 24. I can't find a bio or website for the band (though, there are some free downloads on Bandcamp and Soundcloud) so here is the write-up on the band from a show at the beginning of the year at Pete's Candy Store: "The Mayor of Bad News consists of brothers Max and Sam Seeger: Max...

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"Trick or Treat" - Nitehawk Cinema Screens Rare 35mm Print of Classic Heavy Metal Film on Oct. 21 & 22

Prepare to get caught in a 35mm mosh pit as Wild Eye Releasing presents The Heavy Metal Horror Show! Appearing at Brooklyn's own Nitehawk Cinema for two nights only, Friday, October 21st & Saturday, October 22nd, starting at Midnight. Headlining the bill is the 1986 headbanging horror classic Trick or Treat directed by Charles Martin Smith. Experience the mysterious death and backwards record-induced return of Rock N' Roll superstar Sammi Curr...

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Hull Plays CMJ Tee Pee Showcase at Union Pool on Friday, Oct. 21st

DOWNLOAD: Hull - "Beyond the Lightless Sky" (hosted on Pitchfork.com)Brooklyn three-guitar led sludge rock collective Hull will play the Tee Pee Records CMJ showcase this Friday, October 21 at Union Pool in Brooklyn. Also appearing on the show will be Naam, The Fucking Wrath, ELKS, Mirror Queen and Unstoppable Death Machines. Tickets are $8. Hull will kick off a long-awaited, near month-long U.S. tour on Wednesday in support of their monolithic Beyond...

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Sick of It All Releases New Version of "Built to Last" From Forthcoming Disc "Nonstop"

"In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we will be releasing NONSTOP, an album of re-recorded classics. The album will be available on November 1st through Century Media and we have teamed up with Lambgoat.com to premiere one of the tracks. We had a great time re-recording some of our favorite songs, done the old school way, 20 songs recorded and mixed in 4 days! What better way to kick it off than with the new, rawer, heavier version of Built To Last? Hope you like it. Let the trash talking begin!"- from SickofItAll.comOk...I'll start the trash...

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Backwords: Brooklyn Psych-Folk Band Announces CMJ Shows at Bowery Electric and Bruar Falls

And Then Sigh by backwordsmusicBrooklyn psyche-folk-pop band Backwords just announced that they have set up one of the last ever CMJ showcases at Bruar Falls on Thursday 10/20, under the umbrella of their basement diy recording studio "Campers' Rule Records".Campers' Rule Records Presents a FREE daytime CMJ show:Where: Bruar Falls, 245 Grand St., Brooklyn NYNoon-1:00pm - FREE BBQ in Bruar Falls Backyard$3 - Brooklyn Lagers!1:30PM - Moonmen on the...

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Lissie Announces an EP of Covers, "Covered Up With Flowers", Due out Nov. 1st (Fat Possum)

Lissie will release a new EP, "Covered Up With Flowers", on November 8th, 2011 via Fat Possum. The EP is a collection of five cover songs, featuring her fan-favorite versions of Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance", Kid Cudi's "Pursuit Of Happiness", and Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" - live videos of which have garnered more than five million combined views on YouTube. Highlighting both her artistic versatility and the range of her extraordinary, sun-and-whiskey-soaked...

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First Aid Kit Post Title Track From Their Sophomore Release "The Lion's Roar" / Show at Mercury Lounge on November 16th

First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar by Wichita Recordings First Aid Kit premiered the title track off their upcoming sophomore full-length album The Lion’s Roar yesterday on NPR’s All Songs Considered Blog. Described as “more than just a pretty song…a piercing ballad about the pain and frustration of lost love”. A single of “The Lion’s Roar” will be available digitally and as a 7-inch at the band’s shows beginning November 8th. The 7-inch will...

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Tyler Ramsey (Band of Horses) - Photos & Live Review, Joe's Pub, NYC 10-10-11

DOWNLOAD: Tyler Ramsey - "All Through the Night" (from Fuel/Friends Chapel Session)Tyler Ramsey played a solo headlining show at Joe's Pub this past Monday, touring behind his recently released third solo disc The Valley Wind (Fat Possum). It was an intimate evening as Tyler's plaintive vocals established the atmosphere and he alternated between acoustic and electric guitar, occasionally utilizing some reverb and taped backing instrumentation. ...

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The Grates Play Seven CMJ Shows Next Week

Borrowed Skin by The GratesI guess I've been out of touch with what The Grates have been doing as I didn't realize that the Brisbane, Australia trio is now a duo and had relocated to Brooklyn. I got a kick out of the band's new bio (snippet below) where they talk about how they expected NYC to give them immediate inspiration for their third disc, Secret Rituals (which came out this past June). "They rode their bikes through New York blizzards, ate...

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French Horn Rebellion and AVAN LAVA Play MOSCOT's Unofficial CMJ Party on Oct. 19th

Lemons by AVAN LAVAMOSCOT Music is presenting an unofficial CMJ Party on Wednesday, October 19th with French Horn Rebellion and Avan Lava. This is a free show that starts at 7PM.French Horn Rebellion (Robert and David Perlick-Molinari) kicked off 2011 by announcing the US self-release of their debut album, The Infinite Music of French Horn Rebellion. Written, produced and mixed by Robert and David, the album warps together the fabric of dance,...

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Spread Eagle - "Spread Eagle" CD Review (MVD/Lovember Records)

To give a bit of context for this review, Spread Eagle's self-titled debut was originally released in 1990 (on MCA). This disc is a solid slab of rumbling gutter metal with all the kick of a Skid Row or Gun N' Roses disc but, unfortunately, both the disc and the band got "lost" due to lack of label support and the rise of grunge. The disc was out of print for years until Lovember Records remastered and reissued the disc in 2006 and MVD just signed...

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L.A. Guns - "Acoustic Gypsy Live" CD Review (Favored Nations Entertainment) / Show at Rebel on Nov. 5th

I don't know who thought it would be a good idea for the first release from the Tracii Guns led lineup of L.A. Guns to be an acoustic release. This "rehash" of Tesla's 5 Man Acoustical Jam is 20+ years past its stale date.Jumping in - this fourteen track disc runs close to 70 minutes and contains one new song "Little Soldier", covers of Otis Redding's "These Arms of Mine" and Boudleaux Bryant's "Love Hurts" and ten assorted L.A. Guns cuts. The...

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Van Halen - "Live on Air" CD Review (Southworld)

This disc came out last year but I only recently became aware of the "copyright gap" in the UK where previously unheard-of British labels are releasing live radio broadcasts under the premise that the broadcasts are public domain in the US which would make these shows public domain in the UK.The good news is that this disc marks the first 'official' release of Van Halen's headlining set at the US Festival, which took place on May 29, 1983. This...

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Misfits - "Devil's Rain" CD Review (Misfit Records) / Halloween Show at B.B. King's

The good news is that Devil's Rain isn't as bad as I feared, given that Jerry Only is the only original member. It is also infinitely better than that Project 1950, which seemed to be a "The Groovy Ghoulies" [the cartoon, not the band] take on doo-wop songs. The bad news is that this new disc has more in common with Project 1950 than either the Graves or Danzig eras and it also sags in the middle as the songwriting doesn't hold up to the disc's...

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Dex Romweber Duo Are Playing Le Poisson Rouge on Nov. 4th along with the Meat Puppets

DOWNLOAD: Dex Romweber Duo: "The Death of Me"DOWNLOAD: Dex Romweber Duo - "Jungle Drums" (posted on Under the Radar magazine)"Dex Romweber was and is a huge influence on my music. I owned all of his records as a teenager, and was thrilled at the fact that we were able to play together recently on tour. His attitude towards music is remarkable. His songwriting, along with his love of classic American music from the south, be it rockabilly, country...

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