Bon Jovi, Don Was, and Andy Madadian Team Up For Iranian Solidarity Song

Even though I get skeptical when famous folks get together to do a song for this or that cause, I have to say that I am impressed with this teaming of Jon Bon Jovi and Iranian singer Andy Madadian.

I am impressed with these comments by producer Don Was

"It is not for sale," Was says. "It wasn't intended to be on the Billboard charts, wasn't meant to be a hit record or even pressed on a CD. It's intended to be downloaded and shared by the Iranian people. The whole idea was to get it into Iran and tell them...to carry on, that the world is watching and we're with you."

Read the whole story here

What Does the word Alternative Rock Mean?

An online acquaintance asked me the following question:

Define the term "Alternative Rock"?

I wondered about this for a moment and replied:

That depends on how you define the term Rock.

Define the word Rock.

Now whatever that definition isn't, is what you call Alternative Rock.

Robert Kinsler reviews Carbon Leaf - Nothing Rhymes With Woman / Music Worth Buying 06/24/09

Artist: Carbon Leaf

Album: Nothing Rhymes With Woman (Amazon Exclusive release)

Worth Buying: Yes

You will be interested in this album if you are a fan of: Toad the Wet Sprocket, R.E.M., Gomez, the Young Dubliners.

Tell Me More: Because I ranked Carbon Leaf’s 2006 epic “Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat” as my best album of 2006, I had high hopes for the band’s 2009 follow-up, “Nothing Rhymes With Woman.”

After listening to “Nothing Rhymes With Woman” for much of the last few weeks, I admit that the Richmond, Virginia-based quintet’s 2009 effort is just every bit as good as “Love, Loss, Hope, Repeat.”

In addition to lead singer-lyricist Barry Privett (who also plays penny whistle, acoustic guitar and bagpipes), the band’s lineup currently includes Terry Clark (guitar, vocals), Carter Gravatt (guitar, mandolin, vocals), Jason Neal (drums) and Jon Markel (bass).

Songs such as the soaring “Lake of Silver Bells,” blues-minded “Another Man’s Woman,” introspective “Miss Hollywood” and Celtic rocker “Pink” showcase a band that clearly has established a unique place for itself in the musical universe.

Fans of Toad the Wet Sprocket, early R.E.M. and the Young Dubliners will all find something to admire in a troupe that blends folk-rock, Americana, power-pop and modern indie rock together effortlessly.

There is a real depth across “Nothing Rhymes With Woman,” with the band using a bona fide Irish rock approach (think Young Dubliners) on “Pink,” a song whose lyrics effectively chronicle a young woman’s brave battle against disease.

“X-Ray” transports the listener back in time and artfully captures the exuberance of youth, of those fleeting days before life gets too complicated.

The bonus tracks on the album are worth getting with the melodic folk-rock of “Tip Toe” and haunting acoustic performance of “Lake of Silver Bells” providing an even richer glimpse of this group’s wide-ranging sonic gifts.

Just a quick note that Carbon Leaf is currently on tour in support of the quintet’s excellent 2009 album “Nothing Rhymes With Woman” and will headline on a strong bill that also includes a rare solo appearance by Joie Calio (of Dada fame) and singer-songwriter Trevor Hall at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on June 24.

What about the packaging? I recommend the Amazon exclusive edition, which includes the full-length album, as well as two additional tracks not available on the standard release.

Get The Exclusive Amazon Edition on CD here.

Get Exclusive Amazon Edition in MP3 Format Here

What if I am not ready to buy the whole album? Try Miss Hollywood ,Lake of Silver Bells, or X-Ray

TJR picks out the Music Worth Getting for Free 06/23/09

I have just listened to a whole bunch of  free (authorized by the artists) tracks from Amazon. I’ve listened and picked the ones that I think are worth your time

Click on the highlighted parts of my description to be transported the Amazon page where you can download the song for free.....And remember, free tracks don’t always stay free forever. Get em’ while they are still free.

Hey Fella, Ya Fell
by Other Girls
From the Album Perfect Cities

Somewhere between Garage pop and U2 lies Hey Fella, Ya Fell by the Other Girls

déjà vu
by Strange Attractors
From the Album Sleep And You Will See


This is very cool bit of 60's psychedelic meets Alt Rock song



The Proposition
by The Budos Band
From the Album The Budos Band EP

Some tasty Latin tinged Jazz instrumental mojo
Waiting Around To Die
by The Lemonheads
From the Album Waiting Around To Die

The opening guitar made me think this song was going to be a remake of XTC's "Dear God", but the song quickly moves into it's own, and becomes this great bit of lonesome Americana This song wont be free for long get it now





City & The Streets
by Rubik
From the Album Bad Conscience Patrol

This song is Some great modern Alt Pop/Rock ear candy
There Is Love
by Brian Olive
From the Album Brian Olive

I enjoyed this cool bit of 60's style Dream rock
There Goes The Night
by The Novaks
From the Album Things Fall Apart

These guys are going to get compared to Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers a lot

REMEBER: Musicians have bills to pay too. Enjoy these free authorized tracks but if you like these artist and want their albums, pay for them legally and show your support. We are not all rich and not all of us can afford to tour.

Thank You

TJR 07/23/09

Why Having A Great Live Show is Critical To Your Success

Today I was forwarded a link to an article entitled:

Chris Blackwell on Why Having a Great Live Show is Critical to Your Success.

For some reason I couldn't access the article.

But the title got me thinking just the same, and I felt compelled to write the following post:

 

    PRESENTING..................

TJR on Why Having a Great Live Show is Critical to Your Success:

.............Because without a great live show, you will suck!

     Uhhh....badiya, bidiya, bidiya, buhhh....THAT'S ALL FOLKS! (Cue Looney Tunes Music)    ;)

 

TJR reviews: Colonia by A Camp / Music Worth Buying 06/15/09

Artist: A Camp

Album: Colonia

Worth Buying: Yes every song

You will be interested in this album if you are fan of: The Cardigans, The Carpenters, The Bird And The Bee, Abba, Alt Pop

Tell Me More: You know that you are doing something right when you can win me over with just 30 seconds.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that more a person can hear a track the more likely they are to buy it. I love shopping for music at the Amazon Mp3 store more than itunes because of all the Superior deals that they give. But just like itunes, Amazon is saddled with only being able to offer 30 second clips. This is because copyright laws (which for the most part are a good thing) require sites like Amazon and itunes to only offer no more than a 30 second clip. Anything more than that becomes a broadcast that could require a royalty payment. The music industry certainly needs to work out an exemption with the sites that sell their music legally and compensates the artists.

So with that said, I will say again that you know you are doing something right when you can win me over with just 30 seconds. Because that is what A Camp did with their current album Colonia.

I let all the 30 second samples on their amazom page stream from my computer and I immeadiatly started thinking....wow this sounds really good.

I streamed it one more time and thought "Yes!" and bought the album.

Then I listened to the songs in their entirety and smiled. Each song is like biting into a bliss full piece of confection.

You just gotta love band that includes a line like: "We're gonna party like it's 1699", in their lyrics.

Colonia is actually the 2nd album from Cardigan's singer Nina Persson (This would be her side project) who says that they album borrows a lot of inspiration from girl-pop from the 60's, 80's punk and David Bowie.

Indeed. Many of the songs fall just under the 3 minute mark. This used to be the norm for pop songs, and is a lot more rare today, but it's this kind of economy that I think helped forged some of the best pop songs of all time and I think it serves this album quite well too.

Lyrical the album drips with with beautiful dreamlike imagery that is offset by hard cold irony. This album was a real surprise for me, and I am enjoying it more and more with each listen.

Listen to samples and buy Colonia in mp3 format here

CD Format

What if I am not ready to buy the whole album? Try The Crowning

TJR Reviews K-OS Atlantis Hymns for Disco - Music Worth Buying 06/01/09

Artistt: K-OS

Album: Atlantis Hymns for Disco

Worth Buying: Every song 

You will be interested in this album if you enjoy: Artist that are undefinable and original 

Tell me more: This album was released 3 years ago and I have only just now discovered it. But upon discovering it, I am now a fan of of this Canadian Rapper/Musician/Singer/Songwriter

For me listening to Kevin Bereton (going under the handle of K-OS) for the first time was a lot like the first time I listened to Beck. Not because the two sound anything alike (because they don't) but because they both sounded so completely original.

On this, his latest CD, K-OS blends (but is not limited to) Rap, Funk, Rock, Reggae and early Motown R&B.

Sometimes Rapping, sometimes singing and sometimes playing guitar and keyboards he defies all  conventions of Hip Hop. In fact I would say that calling K-OS Hip Hop is like calling Led Zeppelin Heavy Metal (both are much more than that). 

The second thing that impresses me about K-OS is his ability to sing/rap about powerful spiritual feelings (not messages) without ever sounding preachy (no small feat). but most of all this album is fun. It is fun to listen to. The songs are just so amazingly catchy. This is music that gets more enjoyable with each listen. 

As I finish this, I have discovered that K-OS has released a new album last month....But doesn't appear to be available here in the US except as an mp3 version....I like to get CDs whenever possible...so we'll see.   

What about the packaging? Standard Jewel Case. Nice colors on the disc and really nice looking booklet, but too many of the fonts used in the booklet are absolutely unreadable (That's the only negative) but booklet art is great to look at. 

 Listen to samples and buy in mp3 format here

Buy in CD Format Here

What if I am not ready to buy the whole album: Try getting The Rain

Music Worth Buying For Free - 06/02/09

Another week and more free (authorized by the artists) tracks from Amazon. I've listened and picked the ones that I think are worth your time

Remember free tracks don’t always stay free forever. Get em’ while they are free. 

 

1959 - Jazz's Greatest Year

You just can go wrong with this little mini sample of 3 free tracks featuring Charles Mingus,Miles Davis and Gil Evans,and the Dave Brubeck quartet. Get them here

 

 



Born On A Day The Sun Didn't Rise
by Black Moth Super Rainbow
From the Album Eating Us

This is a very cool bit of synth driven Rock Psychedlia that is both modern and retro: Get it here

 

No Nations (Album Version)
by Jets Overhead
From the Album No Nations

This song borrows a bit from U2, and I really like it. Get it for free here

This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both of Us
by Lucky Boys Confusion
From the Album Closing Arguments

This song is a cool bit of guitar driven Roots Americana Rock  Check it out for free

 

Through The Wind [Explicit]
by Nicolay & Kay
From the Album Time:Line (Extended Edition) [Explicit]

Here is a cool breezy bit of R&B/Hip Hop You can get it here

 

REMEBER: Musicians have bills to pay too. Enjoy these free authorized tracks but if you like these artist and want their albums, pay for them legally and show your support. We are not all rich and not all of us can afford to tour. 

Thank You 

The Lost Johnny Cash Album

 

 

 

 

I had so much fun writing my last music related dream post that I thought I would share this recent music dream I had over the weekend.

Unlike the last dream about Bono that was quite funny, this is a much more serious dream about Johnny Cash

I dreamed that I discovered a lost Johnny Cash album. One that he had never been released. It was on reel to reel tape and recorded back in the late 60's. The album featured a series of dark haunting songs with minimal band arrangements. All the songs had Cash singing very dark and cryptic lyrics. Each song was strung together by strange musical and sound montages as each song faded out or ended these strange trippy sound montages would fade in and lead into the next song before fading out again.

The best way to describe these interinking montages would be to think of the Revolution # 9 from the Beatles White album.

The montages where a mixture of music, sound effects and Cash reading cryptic verse ala' Jim Morrison. At the end of one of these montages Cash yelled out the words: 

"MY SPIRIT"  ! 

There was a huge reverb on this voice and the sound was so loud that it made the reel to reel player and the house shake. 

Then I woke up. 

Got any music related dreams that you would like to share with me?