The longest and poshest name in music – Brian Peter George St. John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno – is often just abbreviated to just ‘Eno’, and belongs to a man with an incredible record of innovation as a musician. A multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, composer, music theorist and producer, he has been involved in the best work of several prominent artists, as well as pioneering ambient music with his own solo work.
One of our favorite records of all time is getting another reissue, this time on vinyl! November marked the 40th anniversary of George Harrison’s seminal album All Things Must Pass. EMI/Capital just reissued the record in a limited edition, numbered, 180-gram vinyl set in its original 3LP configuration on November 26 and is available exclusively through Birdland and other independent record stores in the US . You won’t find this one at FYE!
All Things Must Pass was just newly remastered at Abby Road Studios from the original analog master tapes, and this limited edition set will include all replicated original monochromic album art, poster and lift-top box packaging! Needless to say we are really really excited to hear this one!
Wreckorder is the debut solo album from Fran Healy, lead singer and main songwriter of acclaimed Scottish rock band Travis. The album is the work of a quintessential pop songwriter. Artists such as Chris Martin (Coldplay) and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) have cited Healy’s sophisticated and atmospheric arrangements as a major influence on their own sound. The 10 tracks that make up WRECKORDER are as exceptionally literate as they are emotionally challenging. The collection of songs include a duet with Neko Case, Paul McCartney on bass for “As It Comes” and the guitar-rich first single, “Buttercups”.
Los Angeles, CA Black Dub, a powerful new group led by celebrated guitarist and producer Daniel Lanois, will release their debut Jive album on November 2. Black Dub is a distinctive, rock-edged album featuring an outstanding level of musicianship and a soulful, symphonic commentary informed by Jamaican dub culture. The band features Lanois on guitar, New Orleans virtuoso Brian Blade, who has performed with such jazz titans as Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, on drums, the impassioned vocals of Belgian born Trixie Whitley, the beautiful 22-year-old daughter of the late, great Texas bluesman, Chris Whitley and rounding out the quartet is famed Louisiana bass player Daryl Johnson.
As both a solo act and as the de-facto leader of rock band Utopia, Todd Rundgren has had a successful career as a performing musician. But he’s equally well known for his work ‘behind the glass,’ giving shape to sound and extracting the best from the artists he works with.
Named for one of his first solo recordings, A Wizard, A True Star focuses primarily on Rundgren’s work as a producer of such disparate acts as Hall And Oates, Patti Smith, The New York Dolls, and the team behind one of the most successful albums of all time – songwriter Jim Steinman and unlikely rock star Meat Loaf. It’s definitely not a biography – author Paul Myers includes just enough background material to paint an outline of the man, but we learn little about his inner thoughts and feelings. Instead, Myers takes an episodic, project-by-project look at Rundgren’s work, combining technical detail (though thankfully not too much of that) with typical tales of in-the-studio escapades. It’s not without flaws, but the book, as a whole, provides some interesting glimpses into the way music is – or rather, was – made during rock’s ‘golden years,’ while remaining a pleasurable read. Read full review
PBS’s American Masters LENNONYC is a new film that takes an intimate look at the time Lennon, Yoko Ono and their son, Sean, spent living in New York City during the 1970s.
“New York became a part of who John and I were,” said Ms. Ono. “We couldn’t have existed the same way anywhere else. We had a very special relationship with the city, which is why I continue to make this my home, and I think this film captures what that time was like for us very movingly.”
Cowpunk, alt-country, Americana, whatever label you want to hang on them, Southern Culture on the Skids has been bringing a visceral, garage-rock punch to American roots music since the ’80s. The Kudzu Ranch is dominated by original material, though the band does tackle Neil Young’s “Are You Ready For the Country” and Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett-era Lucifer Sam
Today’s first family of jazz, the Marsalises, don’t often get together, at least on stage. But when the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C. (now the DC Jazz Festival), gave its 2009 lifetime achievement award to family father Ellis Marsalis — a great pianist and legendary educator — all four of his music-playing sons (Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason) joined him on stage. Ellis Marsalis III also recited an original poem for his father, frequent collaborators Herlin Riley and Eric Revis played, Dr. Billy Taylor joined in the fun, and family friend Harry Connick Jr. took a few guest spots, too.
By day, John Stirratt and Pat Sansone are members of rock standard-bearers Wilco, but for over a decade the pair have fronted passion project The Autumn Defense. Once Around is the group’s fourth full length album and finds the band’s steady, creative ease percolating directly into its music. The album’s tracks are plaintive but don’t pander and their melodies unfurl effortlessly while also unmistakably setting the hook, not to be easily shaken. Stirratt and Sansone mine 70s AM gold and drape it in their decidedly modern sensibilities, resulting in an album that is fresh yet decidedly familiar. A bit of musical deja vu, Once Around is the thinking man’s easy listening.
Besides selling 40 million albums and winning 9 Grammys in less than 10 years, over the years Norah Jones has collaborated with dozens and dozens of artists from across the spectrum of music. This album collects Norah’s favorite collaborations from 2001-2010 into one amazing collection: legends like Ray Charles, Willie Nelson and Herbie Hancock, rock artists ranging from Foo Fighters to Ryan Adams to Belle and Sebastian, hip hop luminaries OutKast, Q-Tip and Talib Kweli. No matter the genre however, Norah’s enchanting voice is the common denominator and while the partners are varied, she ends up owning every song and this album is a wonderful collection that holds together brilliantly. The album is a testament to Norah’s status as one of the most in-demand and tasteful musical connectors in music.
Howler-America Give Up
Craig Finn-Clear Heart Full Eyes
Kathleen Edwards, Voyageur
Nada Surf,The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy
First Aid Kit, The Lion’s Roar
Snow Patrol Track-By-Track Video: ‘Fallen Empires’
