Archive: 2008

When I first saw Kimya Dawson several years ago opening for They Might Be Giants, there was nothing that made me think that her music would eventually be the soundtrack to a successful movie. Don't get me wrong, I liked her…a lot. She can't sing, she can't play, her songs are simple, yet she has an undeniable charm that comes from a bizarre off-color and childlike innocence. As such, she is perhaps the perfect person to make the music for Juno, a film with characters whose innocence isn't candy-coated.

In keeping with its pre-release announcement, The North Mississippi Allstars new studio album Hernando gets off to an extremely powerful start. It’s to the credit of the self produced trio (in collaboration with Cody and Luther’s famous father Jim Dickinson) that the variety included on Hernando ultimately emphasizes the band’s forte.

Previously only available to US residents online digitally, the CD and digital formats of Dizzee Rascal’s MATHS + ENGLISH, the 2007 Mercury Music Prize nominated album will be swimming stateside with added tracks and other bonus materials this April 29th on hip hop stalwart Definitive Jux Records. UK rap Superstar Dizzee Rascal changes up his […]

One of our loyal readers sent in this video and message, and because we’re in full Jessie Spano On Caffeine Pills Mode (there’s never any time!), we thought we’d just copy off his paper. So take it away Frank: “This video brought me great joy and thought I’d share. It makes me want to stand […]

Take it from famed New York Metropolitan Ed Kranepool and watch this short video as to the true origin of the band’s moniker. Our confidential informant Jesse Jarnow passed that clip along to us with the footnote: “What’s more amazing, is that the video was shot on the softball field in Hoboken, right by the […]

It’s been a good long while since we’ve gone rummaging through the Internet’s greatest bargain bin: the SugarMegs archives. So while my plate remains full with tasks related my daytime salaried position (read: piss off, freeloaders!), hopefully I can trust you fine folks to play quietly in the corner until things subside. The five gems […]

Your actual, personal experience at the modern music and/or arts festival rarely centers around the headliners. But when you look at an initial artist announcement, it’s difficult to draw your attention to anyone but the biggest names on the page. Keeping that in view, Coachella‘s lineup at first glance looks somewhat suspect, with only three […]

Jack Johnson and former Pink Floyd principal Roger Waters will headline the 2008 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, to be held April 25-27 at Empire Polo Field in Indio, Calif. Also near the top of the bill are the Verve, Kraftwerk, Death Cab For Cutie, My Morning Jacket, Spiritualized, Cafe Tacuba and the Raconteurs. […]

Robert Plant labelled Radiohead “crap” while out drinking in north London at the weekend, according to The Sun’s Buzarre column. According to the paper, Plant was drinking with a woman and demanded that the music playing in the pub was changed. Apparently Plant described Radiohead as “rhyming crap”, and also rubbished Red Hot Chili Peppers […]

Legendary singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen may be hitting the road this summer if a posting on a fan forum at his web site is legit. The message, posted January 13, reads, "The following advance notice is posted with Leonard’s permission.  "Leonard Cohen will be touring with his band in Canada and US in May and in […]

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 […]