Archive: 2008

David N. Meyer has such colorful characters to work with in his eloquent exhaustive biography of Gram Parsons, Twenty Thousand Roads becomes an uncanny reflection of his subject.

After back-to-back accomplished albums with the Benevento/Russo Duo—Best Reason to Buy the Sun (2005) and Play Pause Stop (2006)—Marco Benevento strikes out on his own with Invisible Baby. While once again roaming across genres, Benevento still maintains firm jazz roots, producing an updated organ trio sound injected with darker, post-rock elements.

A coldblooded killer and a coldblooded tycoon led the Oscar nominations Tuesday, with a lawyer suffering from an ethical crisis also earning a strong showing. Daniel Day-Lewis’ performance in "There Will Be Blood" has earned raves. "No Country for Old Men," the Coen brothers’ film about a brutal killer and laconic sheriff pursuing a man […]

Actor Heath Ledger is dead, the New York Police Department said Tuesday. Heath Ledger was found dead in his Manhattan apartment. The Academy Award nominated actor was 28. Ledger’s housekeeper found him dead in his Manhattan apartment, New York police said. He died at 3:26 p.m., they said. The New York Fire Department received a […]

XL Recordings is proud to announce the release of Tapes ‘n Tapes incredible sophomore record. Entitled “Walk It Off,” it will be released on April 8th, 2008 and was produced by renowned producer Dave Fridmann (Flaming Lips, Sleater Kinney, Weezer).  “Walk It Off” is the Minneapolis-based band’s first record since 2006’s widely lauded “The Loon,” which established the band – Josh Grier […]

Day One of this year’s Austin City Limits festival brought me to the WaMu tent for about a half-hour of the first Belizean band to every play the event. I’d never heard of Andy Palacio & the Garifuna Collective before that day, but I left the tent with a profound respect for this musician, his […]

With all the talk about Goldenvoice’s foray into the NYC area festival market, it’s easy to forget that their Coachella Festival is just three short months away. The lineup for this year’s festival in the desert should be announced later today, with the usually reliable URB confirming that Portishead will headline Saturday’s festivities. URB also […]

On April 8th, Kill Rock Stars will release Colin Meloy Sings Live! –  a 14-song set documenting The Decemberists’ lead singer/songwriter’s 2006 solo tour. Meloy’s two-week trek across the U.S. coincided with the release of Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins, his six-song EP paying homage to the revered British folksinger. While the latter collection (and […]

Widespread Panic has joined the effort to rebuild post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans by sponsoring a house in the Lower 9th Ward of the city through the Make It Right foundation’s The Pink Project.  Spearheaded by Brad Pitt, the organization is helping to create a safe and healthy neighborhood in New Orleans 9th, with an emphasis […]

Thurston Moore is lending his talents to score an adult film. ‘Extra Action (And Extra Hardcore)’ is due out in the US on March 18 in DVD format. It was directed by photographer/filmmaker Richard Kern, who has also directed several Sonic Youth videos. A description of the movie says that it "documents 60 amateur women […]