Archive
Favorite Albums & Concerts of 2016
- Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial (lo-fi indie rock) fave song: “Drunk Drivers/Killer Whales” (#6)
- Glen Phillips (of Toad the Wet Sprocket) – Swallowed by the New (singer-songwriter) fave song: “Criminal Career” (#3)
- Sia – This Is Acting (pop) fave song: “Alive” (#2)
- Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool (rock) fave song: “Ful Stop” (#5)
- Wussy – Forever Sounds (lo-fi indie rock) fave song: “Dropping Houses” (#1)
- Holy Fuck – CONGRATS (groove electronic) fave song: “Tom Tom” (#2)
- Elliott Smith – Heaven Adores You (indie rock) fave song: “Plainclothes Man” (#6)
- Steve Taylor & the Danielson Foil – WOW to the Deadness -EP- coffin (indie rock) fave song: “Wow to the Deadness” (#1)
- Circle of Dust – Machines of Our Disgrace (hard industrial) fave song: “Machines of Our Disgrace” (#2)
- Lily & Madeleine – Keep It Together (singer-songwriter duo) fave song: “For the Weak” (#2)
- Charlie Hunter, Bobby Previte, and more – Everybody Has a Plan Until They Get Punched in the Mouth (jazz) fave song: “No Money, No Honey” (#7)
- Allison Miller’s Boom Tic Boom – Otis Was a Polar Bear (jazz) fave song: “Fuster” (#1)
- David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion) – Blanco (indie rock) fave song: “Little Landslide” (#7)
- Anna Tivel – Heroes Waking Up (singer-songwriter) fave song: “Black Balloon” (#2)
- The Jelly Jam –
ProphetProfit (prog rock) fave song: “Care” (#1) - Dave Douglas’ High Risk – Dark Territory (jazz with electronics) fave song: “Celine” (#1)
- Amendola vs. Blades – Greatest Hits (jazz) fave song: “Lima Bean” (#1)
- Damien Jurado – Visions of Us on the Land (indie rock) fave song: “Exit 353” (#11)
- Greydon Square – Omniverse : Type 3 : Aum Niverse (rap/hip hop) fave song: “Defiant” (#5)
- Elysian Fields – Ghosts of No (sultry indie rock) fave song: “Shadows of the Living Light” (#11)
- Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree) – 4 ½ -EP- (prog rock) fave song: “My Book of Regrets” (#1)
- Opeth – Sorceress (prog metal) fave song: “Will o’ the Wisp” (#4)
- Scandroid – Scandroid (keyboard electronic) fave song: “Aphelion” (#3)
- The Claypool-Lennon Delirium – Monolith of Phobos (weird rock) fave song: “Cricket and the Genie, Movement I: The Delirium” (#2)
- Kaada & Patton – Bacteria Cult (ambient experimental) fave song: “Immodium” (#7)
- {8 Apr} Peter Mulvey w/ Anna Tivel :: Alberta Rose Theatre :: Portland, OR
- {22 Apr} Sufjan Stevens, BØRNS, Parov Stelar, LCD Soundsystem & more :: Coachella 2016 :: Indio, CA
- {23 Apr} CHVRCHES, Guns N’ Roses, Gary Clark Jr., Ice Cube, GoGo Penguin & more :: Coachella 2016 :: Indio, CA
- {24 Apr} Sia, Kamasi Washington, Wolf Alice, Joywave & more :: Coachella 2016 :: Indio, CA
- {16 Jun} Holy Fuck :: Doug Fir Lounge :: Portland, OR
- {25 Jun} Flight of the Conchords with Eugene Mirman :: Keller Auditorium :: Portland, OR
- {28 Jul} Ozomatli :: HiFi Music Hall :: Eugene, OR
- {29 Jul} Weird Al Yankovic :: Cuthbert Amphitheater :: Eugene, OR
- {13 Aug} Buster Keaton’s The General film with live score by Mark Orton, Carla Kihlstedt, Matthias Bossi, Todd Sickafoose :: Bohemia Park :: Cottage Grove, OR
- {29 Oct} Failure presents Fantastic Planet’s 20th Anniversary :: Star Theater :: Portland, OR
- {9 Nov} Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket :: Alberta Rose Theatre :: Portland, OR
- {17 Nov} Car Seat Headrest :: The WOW Hall :: Eugene, OR
ha’fway 2015
Happy 239th birthday, United States!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
I don’t blog much. Not much time. I haven’t even put out my Favorites from 2013 or 2014… well, here goes for my Top 10 of 2015 so far…
Artist – Album (style)
- Failure – The Heart is a Monster (rock)
- Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell (indie rock)
- Faith No More – Sol Invictus (hard rock)
- Steve Taylor & the Perfect Foil – Goliath (rock)
- Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree) – Hand. Cannot. Erase. (progressive rock)
- Daniel Johns (of Silverchair) – TALK (pop, dance, rock)
- John Zorn’s The Dreamers with Mike Patton, Sofia Rei & Jesse Harris – The Song Project Live at Le Poisson Rouge (jazz, avant garde, pop)
- Dave Douglas – High Risk (jazz with electronics)
- Nellie McKay – My Weekly Reader (cheeky 70s rock tribute)
- DRKWAV (Skerik, Medeski & Deitch) – The Purge (doom, jazz, electronic, all over)
What’s still to come in 2015…
Ben Folds with yMusic, Holy Fuck (no release date, but they recorded it in late 2014), John Zorn (about every month), Puscifer (teaser on their Instagram?), TOOL (music done, lyrics nearing completion?), Charlie Hunter, and based on kickstarters/pledgemusic that I’ve supported: Chali 2Na of Jurassic 5 has a couple more EPs due, Dweezil Zappa, Jeremy Enigk of Sunny Day Real Estate, Jude Christodal, Dylan Carlson of Earth, and Fleming & John.
Will I continue with blogs in the future? I don’t know. :P
Dan – np: Critters Buggin – Stampede
Storm Corrosion “Drag Ropes” (video)
From the self-titled debut album by Storm Corrosion featuring Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt and Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson hits record stores on May 8th, and their animated video for the epic 9+ minute “Drag Ropes” is here:
You can pre-order the physical CD or mp3 version NOW.
~Dan – np: Storm Corrosion – Storm Corrosion
STORM CORROSION from Steve Wilson (Porcupine Tree) & Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth)
STORM CORROSION, the hugely-anticipated new project from Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt and Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson, is releasing their debut album on May 7th. The self-titled album, which comprises six compositions, is available now for pre-order…
The first option includes a double LP set of the self-titled album with exclusive artwork, etched into 180g black virgin vinyl in gatefold jacket. You’ll also get a digital download of high quality FLAC files of the album and a tasty 24″ x 36″ fold-out poster of exclusive artwork.
They also have a DVD/Blu-ray version… things take a step up with this package. You get all the contents of the Collector’s Edition Double-LP Set (above), plus a digital download of the album the day BEFORE release, 5.1 audio mix of the album, two exclusive demo tracks and five instrumentals, and the full album on CD – all in a package containing over 2.5 hours of music!
The artwork…
You can click here to pre-order these packages now.
Click here to find Storm Corrosion on Facebook.
~Dan – np: John Zorn’s Moonchild trio + Marc Ribot – The Crucible
* Favorite Vocal Albums of 2011 *
I’ve been buying less music… or, at least a lot less mainstream (major label) music. This is also my fourth year now that I bought more instrumental CDs than vocal CDs. I think as I get older, I am drawn more towards jazz and other instrumental forms of expression. For that reason, the favorite vocal albums list goes first this go ’round. Hopefully my spilling out of music that I like finds interest with someone else. But if not, thanks for stopping by… check out the artists’ webpages, Facebox pages, yadda yadda yadda. A lot of these also made it on to my 2011 Mix CD (free streaming/download).
OK, now on to the best of what’s hit my ears this year…
Honorable Mentions: Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean, Tres Mts – Three Mountains, Pomplamoose – The Album You Bought At Our Show (Thanks for That), MC Frontalot – Solved and The Roots – Undun.
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 Björk – Biophilia :: It started with an iPhone / iPad app… I was skeptical, but it turned out to be a really cool app and a really cool album. I don’t think the actual music broke any new ground for Bjork, but her willingness to approach technology and manifest an album initially with a new format is what will keep her in the forefront for me.   |
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 Elysian Fields – Last Night on Earth :: Brooklyn-based sultry art rockers Elysian Fields don’t really tour outside of NYC often. Jennifer Charles and Oren Bloedow find their way to Europe on occasion, but most U.S. fans only really have their studio albums to sate their musical desires. This is their sixth full-length album in their near 16-year career. Well crafted, well produced, lush vocals and folk meets dusky jazz. |
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 Blackfield – Welcome to My DNA :: I was disappointed that I couldn’t make it out for this tour. The album is good, albeit a little disjointed compared to their other two albums (probably due to Aviv Geffen doing more of the writing versus Steven Wilson who was busy with his solo album – see #9 below). Nice orchestration and a solid offering from Blackfield. |
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 Dream Theater – A Dramatic Turn of Events :: I almost didn’t buy this album. I’m glad I did, but I’m still pretty pissed at the band for choosing to continue without founder/drummer Mike Portnoy after he expressed an interest in a short hiatus/breather. They picked up a drummer I like (Mike Mangini, who i saw play with Extreme in 1995), but a BIG piece of what I loved about DT (after Kevin Moore left in 1994) was Mike Portnoy’s energy. With his absence, I’m liking them less and less. The album is good, but it’s way more bitter than sweet to me. |
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 Foo Fighters – Wasting Light :: Dave Grohl is a modern rock genius. He rocks, he hooks, he continues to put out great music. |
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 Steven Bernstein’s Millennial Territory Orchestra – MTO Plays Sly :: A trumpet-led tribute to Sly and the Family Stone with guests vocalists. This superb collection is less funk, but still quite enjoyable. My favorite is the Antony-sung “Family Affair.” |
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 Florence + the Machine – Ceremonials :: Soulful baroque-rock chanteuse won me over with their first album Lungs, even though I didn’t pick it up this year. Her second album solidifies her as more than a fluke. The album is dancey and dark. Great for fans of Tori Amos & Kate Bush! |
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 Incubus – If Not Now, When? :: Incubus took some time off so guitarist Mike Einziger could work on his degree at Harvard and singer Brandon Boyd could put out some art as well as his solo album. They regrouped and put out an album that had a similar vibe to the ocean-groove Morning View. They aren’t breaking new ground, but they still have a solid position in my ears. |
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 The Jelly Jam – Shall We Descend :: The supergroup of Ty Tabor (King’s X), John Myung (Dream Theater) and Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs) finally found some time to hit the studio! The result is an excellent rock album… |
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 Chevelle – Hats Off to the Bull :: Chevelle are a sleeper in my collection. I almost write them off and then with each album, I think how stupid it’d be to write them off. Great hard rock with a vocalist that reminds me of Maynard (Tool, etc). I really need to see this band live – I’ve yet to have a the chance… |
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 My Brightest Diamond & Murat Eyuboglu – Letters to Distant Cities :: A short spoken word album, featuring the words of Mustafa Ziyalan. Words spoken by Shara Worden (My Brightest Diamond), backing music by Murat Eyubolu, with two songs sandwiching the poetry – one by MBD and one by Clare & the Reasons. A great arty piece.  |
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 Jason Ludwig – Tanglings :: Jason Ludwig returns to the Cincinnati music scene after his 2010 band break up (Noctaluca) with two full-length albums (Tanglings and Lost in Love). Tanglings is my favorite of the two, but they’re both quite excellent. Well-produced, well-arranged, creative singer-songwriter that reminds me of a cross between the pop of Glen Hansard (of the Swell Season and the Frames) and the creative of Daniel Johns (of Silverchair). If you don’t like these albums, I’d be surprised. |
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 Hotel Lights – Girl Graffiti :: Darren Jesse was the drummer for Ben Folds Five, and wrote one of my absolute favorite songs for them – “Magic” from The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner. He puts down the sticks and picks up the guitar and vocal duties for Hotel Lights. This is HL’s 3rd album, and he continues to impress me with his versatile skills. Poppy indie rock. |
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 Eisley – The Valley :: The long gap between The Valley and their last album was trying for the band. After many contract dispute with their former label (Warner), they were finally set free. Many bands don’t make it out of contract disputes alive – it’s easier to break up sometimes. Well, thankfully it’s difficult for Eisley to break-up, as they’d still see each other at holidays and family get-togethers (the band consists of 3 sisters, a brother, and a cousin). The Valley picks up where 2007’s Combinations left off. Alt-pop-rock goodness. Vocal duties traded off between sisters Sherri & Stacy… |
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 Tori Amos – Night of the Hunters :: This was Tori’s first album on classical label Deutsche Grammophon. I was skeptical at first, not because of the classical bent. I knew she could handle that… I was skeptical due to the first artwork that looked plastic (which sadly stayed) and her last studio album was a lackluster (IMO) holiday album (blech). Tori enlists her daughter Natashya on some vocals, and delivers one of my favorite Tori albums since 2002’s Scarlet’s Walk. |
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 David Bazan – Strange Negotiations :: Continuing in his solo expressions after the official ceasing of Pedro the Lion, David Bazan manifests wit, a sharp tongue, and a questioning mind into his DIY-indie rock. This year, he toured quite a bit, solo and with a band. An album last year (Curse Your Branches), an album this year, and another on the way. He’s slogging away, trekking all over the country, and making some great music on the way. |
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 Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning :: Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson is a hard worker. Whether he’s producing albums for others or making albums & touring with PT, Blackfield, No-Man, Storm Corrosion, or solo – he’s always busy each and every year. This year brought his second solo album and a small tour. The album is a bit more stripped down from his other projects. It is reminiscent of Pink Floyd in spots – specifically this song “Home in Negative.” He also rocks out a bit in the almost two hour double album… check out the video for “Track One” here (it’s a bit bleak then startling). Gorgeous work. |
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 Wussy – Strawberry :: Well, I was super happy when I found out that Wussy was putting out their fourth full-length studio album this year. They’re a fantastic rock quartet made up of Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker, Mark Messerly, and Joe Klug. They write catchy, poppy choruses and meld it perfectly with Midwest Americana-meets-indie-rock grit (or “Midwestern drone” as their press says). Vocal duties are traded off with Chuck (of Ass Ponys) and Lisa (of Magic Words). |
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 Radiohead – The King of Limbs :: I could probably put an “indie” icon next to Radiohead… I think technically they put TKOL out by themselves. But they’re a huge superpower of a band. I like this record, but I’ll admit that it’s still sinking in… I need to give it some more spins. This album spawned a seven 7″ vinyl remix set. The video for “Lotus Flower” also spawned a silly “Thom Yorke dancing” meme… one of my favorites being the tennis/fish and the “Single Ladies” editions. |
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 Jeffrey Foucault – Horse Latitudes :: Jeffrey Foucault is a favorite Americana artist that I got turned on to by singer-songwriter/storyteller Peter Mulvey. Jeffrey and Peter work together in the band Redbird (with David Goodrich and Jeffrey’s wife Kris Delmhorst). I didn’t pick up Jeffrey’s albums until the past year and a half. He’s definitely more on the cusp of country than I tend to traverse, but I dig his authenticity, poetic wit and charm. He’s a delight on stage and a fantastic John Prine-esque songwriter for the new generation. |
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 Opeth – Heritage :: Mikael Åkerfeldt hangs up the cookie monster vocals and “Swedish death metal” rattle and puts out a solid heavy metal album that is a tribute to his progressive metal ancestors. I’ll admit, I miss the heavier side, but it’s still good to see Mikael evolve. |
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 Over the Rhine – The Long Surrender :: For those that don’t know Over the Rhine, they started out as a four piece in Cincinnati in 1989 and put out their “post-nuclear, pseudo-alternative, folk-tinged art-pop” indie debut ‘Til We Have Faces in 1991. After about a decade as a four-piece, Ric Hordinski (guitars) & Brian Kelley (drums) left. Karin Bergquist (vocals) & Linford Detweiler (keys) carried on the Over the Rhine flame throughout the years… moving away from a rockier feel to a more folky-pop-Americana thing. What I like about Over the Rhine is they continually change and evolve into a different band with each album and each outing. I’ve seen them rock out, I’ve seen them jazz it up, I’ve seen them happy, I’ve seen them somber, I’ve seen them celebratory, and I’ve seen them tell stories that will make you laugh and cry. |
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 dredg – Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy :: I love this band. I hate the album title, but I love the band. Modern progressive rock, tons of talent, thoughtful lyrics, none of that “prog wankery” that is generally detestable. While it’s hard for them to follow-up the stunning The Pariah The Parrot The Delusion (from 2009), this new album does a hearty job of maintaining their quality rock standards. |
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 My Brightest Diamond – All Things Will Unwind :: Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) took some time off since her last album – 2008′s A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. She put out some stunning collaborations in the past three years (see #15 above) including her first kiddo; so the lapse in studio work was a-OK. On this album, Shara teams up with NYC-based ensemble yMusic to create a lush backdrop for her gorgeous voice. I can’t praise this album enough! |
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 Puscifer – Conditions of My Parole :: Tool / A Perfect Circle frontman Maynard James Keenan makes wine and makes other music in his time off from Tool and APC. I loved Puscifer’s debut and the subsequent EP, but this album tops it all. It’s a brilliant record, recorded in one of his wine cellars with his friends – featuring backing vocals from Carina Round. It’s self-released by Puscifer music with a small distribution partner (available in indie shops, primarily). The tour this year was great (I caught Seattle), and I’m glad they’re heading out in the spring again (I’ll be at Portland). |
Check out the 2011 Mix for some samples, click the Amazon buttons for other samples, and support the music if you like what you hear!
My Other Favorites of 2011 Recaps:
- Fave Concerts & Photos of ‘11 are recapped *HERE*
- Fave EPs/Vinyl/Live/DVDs/more of ‘11 are *HERE*
- Fave Instrumental Albums ‘11 are coming soon
- Old Years:
- 2010: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts,
- Best of the 2000s Decade (1-10, 11-20, 21-25)
- 2009: Instrumental, Vocal, EPs/etc, Concerts
- 2008: Instrumental, Vocal, EPS/etc, Concerts
- 2007: Vocal, Instrumental, Concerts
- 2006 & 2005
~Dan – np: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Steven Wilson “Remainder The Black Dog” (3rd video by Lasse Hoile)
And another new Lasse Hoile video from Steven Wilson’s impending 2nd solo album, Grace for Drowning. Behold, “Remainder the Black Dog”… another dark, visual mindf*ck from Lasse Hoile with a Dream Theater-esque fuzzy guitar and keyboard solo.
Grace for Drowning is out September 27th. Pre-order now on Amazon. Check out the video for “Index” over HERE and “Track One” over HERE.
~Dan – np: Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning
Steven Wilson “Index” (video by Lasse Hoile)
Steven Wilson “Index” video directed by Lasse Hoile from Steven’s upcoming 2nd solo album, Grace for Drowning. A tad dark and creepy…
Grace for Drowning is out September 27th. Pre-order now on Amazon. Check out the video for “Track One” over HERE.
~Dan – np: Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning
[video] Steven Wilson “Track One” (from Grace for Drowning)
Lasse Hoile’s new video for “Track One,” taken from Steven Wilson’s second solo album Grace for Drowning. Slow start, then some bombast… then returning… quite gorgeous.
lassehoile.com
Steven Wilson’s Grace for Drowning comes out September 26th. The mega deluxe & vinyl editions are available from gfd.com. The digipack CD is for pre-order on Amazon (only $11).
~Dan – np: Ty Tabor – Balance
Steven Wilson solo album cover art (video reveal)
I suppose so no one can easily steal the jpeg image? Anyway, here’s the “cover art video trailer reveal” for Steven Wilson’s upcoming Grace for Drowning album, due out in September.
For more about the album, I did a “here’s all the info we know thus far” recap a few weeks ago.
~Dan – np: Weird Al Yankovic – ALpocalypse
Steven Wilson – Grace for Drowning (2011)
Update 8/24: there’s a new video for the song “Track One” with the image below, as well as pre-order information at THIS BLOG.
After some news leaking slowly, Porcupine Tree/No-Man/Blackfield frontman Steven Wilson’s next solo album finally has a name… Grace For Drowning. It also has a trailer…
http://www.gracefordrowning.com/
Recapping the news from prior posts:
- it’ll be two 40-45 minute albums in the same package… due “Autumn 2011” (September-ish)
- album names: Deform to Form a Star and Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye
- pretty organic feel, mostly inspired by the darker end of vintage progressive music and some… movie soundtrack stuff (Morricone especially)
- the usual array of excellent SW options: double-vinyl release, 5.1 surround sound, hard back book edition, CD, digital…
- Update 7/19: free download… 9-minute full-track by signing up for the mailing list at http://www.gracefordrowning.com/
Stay up with his Facebook page and http://www.gracefordrowning.com/ for the scoop as it develops. Steven just finished up his tour with Blackfield, and also in the works… Storm Corrosion with Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt (likely a 2012 release).
~Dan – np: Remy Zero – Villa Elaine 
Steven Wilson’s upcoming double album
From Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson’s facebook page about his upcoming solo work…
The new solo album website will probably launch in early June now. The music is done, but we’re still working on film material and the deluxe edition. It’s presented as two 40-45 minute albums in the same package (which begs the question; when is a double album not a double album? When it’s 2 single albums issued together!) The album titles are Deform to Form a Star and Like Dust I Have Cleared From My Eye.
Good question…personally, I’d still call that a double album, but whatever… it’s just semantics.
~Dan – np: The Book of Knots – Traineater
Blackfield – Waving (music video – 2011)
The first single from Blackfield’s 3rd album Welcome To My DNA… “Waving”…
Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree / No-Man / etc) & Aviv Geffen are taking Blackfield on the road in North America this spring. The album is on-sale at Amazon…
~Dan – np: PfR – Them
Steven Wilson’s 2nd solo album (2/21 update)
More news to tack onto the original announcement (go here for that). This is also from Steven Wilson‘s facebook page:
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback regarding my new solo record! Sorry, but “Cut Ribbon” once again failed to make the cut – although the 12 tracks / 84 minutes of music I’ve selected for the main release is quite eclectic, it has in common a pretty organic feel, mostly inspired by the darker end of vintage progressive music and some… movie soundtrack stuff (Morricone especially). The sound palette is made up of things like strings, choir, woodwinds, mellotron, organ, piano, fender rhodes, jazz drums, and warmer guitar tones, so the shiny metal attack of Cut Ribbon just doesn’t fit. But the track is all mixed and finished and sounds good, so I’ll find somewhere to release it. Definitely the album will come out on double vinyl too. Love the new Radiohead album! Here’s another still from the work in progress films Lasse is working on to include on the blu-ray version of the album.
~Dan – np: Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light 1
Steven Wilson’s 2nd solo album
Steven Wilson of Porcupine Tree put out his first solo album, Insurgentes, in 2008. He followed it up with the concept album The Incident from his day gig (Porcupine Tree) in 2009, a live PT DVD (Anesthetize) and Insurgentes DVD in 2010… and now, 2011 will shower us with at least two SW-related records: Blackfield‘s third album, Welcome to My DNA (with a world tour), and his second solo album (based on this news on his facebook page):
My second solo album is nearing completion. It will be in the form of 2 separate 40 minute albums released in the same 2 CD set, and will also come as a blu-ray with surround mix, high definition stereo and a lot of visual material (Lasse [Hoile] is already working hard on films for many of the songs, attached is a still from one of these we shot a couple of weeks ago to a song called “Index”). We’re also planning a special Insurgentes style hard back book edition with a full length bonus CD of additional material. A year in the making, this is without doubt my biggest project to date, perhaps my most ambitious and personal music, and with some phenomenal musicians and performances on it (drummer Nic France in particular is going to blow a lot of people away). We hope a website will launch around April/May to start previewing material, with the album scheduled for September. More soon….
There’s also Storm Corrosion… his collaboration with Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth and Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater). TBD/TBA…
He’s a busy dude.
~Dan – np: Ozric Tentacles – Arborescence
Blackfield 2011 North American tour dates
Porcupine Tree‘s Steven Wilson likes to stay busy. One of better side projects is Blackfield with Israeli pop-singer Aviv Geffen. They’ve got a new website (http://www.blackfield.org/), a new album coming out (Welcome to My DNA), and a tour coming up…
Blackfield 2011 North American Tour
- 18th May Washington, DC, 9:30 Club USA
- 19th May Philadelphia, PA, Theater of the Living Arts USA
- 20th May New York, NY, Irving Plaza USA
- 21st May Boston, MA, Royale Boston USA
- 23rd May Montreal, QC, Le National CANADA
- 25th May Cleveland, OH, House of Blues USA
- 26th May Detroit, MA, St Andrew’s Hall USA
- 27th May Chicago, IL, Park West USA
- 31st May Seattle, WA, Studio Seven USA
- 1st June Portland, OR, Aladdin Theater USA
- 3rd June San Francisco, CA, Slim’s USA
- 4th June Los Angeles, CA, El Rey Theatre USA
- 6th June Mexico City, MEX, Metropolitan Theater MEXICO
Unrelated Sidenote: Over the Rhine‘s The Long Surrender comes out today. It’s a fantastic Americana, singer-songwriter, sultry pop album. Check it out (click album cover to the right for sound samples)… you can even download a song for free (for a limited time).
~Dan – np: Iron & Wine – Kiss Each Other Clean
Storm Corrosion (Steven Wilson & Mikael Akerfeldt)
Dec 2011 update: There’s an official FB page (other one now unlinked), and the album is expected on Roadrunner in April 2012. GO here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Storm-Corrosion/187831801312141
March 2012 update: The pre-order for the album is HERE.
For a while now, Porcupine Tree‘s Steven Wilson and Opeth‘s Mikael Akerfeldt have been talking about an official collaboration (outside of SW’s involvement in Opeth production, etc). Well, it now has a name…
STORM CORROSION
They have “churned out” about only 15 minutes of music so far, but the goal for the group is to do “something really, really special and really different” – whatever that means for these prog-metal gents.
Per Steven Wilson’s FB page, Storm Corrosion won’t occur until at least after September 2011 (when SW’s 2nd solo album comes out). Opeth also has a new one due in the Fall of 2011; so we shouldn’t expect any Storm Corrosion until 2012, most likely. Its naming is at least a good sign of things being “in the works.”
Mike Portnoy is also involved, but I think to a more limited extent compared to SW & MA… though, with Portnoy’s being ousted from Dream Theater and done on the road with Avenged Sevenfold – perhaps he’s more freed up.
For more news, I’d pay attention to these webpages:
http://swhq.co.uk/
http://opeth.com/
~Dan – np: Erik Friedlander plays Masada Book Two: Book of Angels, Volume 8 (Volac)
Steven Wilson’s TAPE EXPERIMENTS 1985-1986
Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson is always putting out something… this week, he announced he’s making available Tape Experiments 1985-1986 on vinyl via Tone Float.
It was originally intended as a pre-order bonus to his Insurgentes dvd movie release (but withdrawn in favor of a much more recent piece of music), Steven Wilson decided to make his two and four track tape experiments from 1985/1986 available via Soundcloud (free legal download link).
Those tracks are now being released as 180 gram black vinyl album, entitled Tape Experiments 1985/1986. In tie with the flaws of the original grimy cassettes they were taken from, the album is designed with the 70s vinyl bootleg records in mind (and in particular the legendary takrl label), complete with an insert cover. The release date is November 29, 2010, and the album is available exclusively from the Tonefloat store.
~Dan – np: Eisley – Combinations
Porcupine Tree – Bonnie the Cat (video)
Check out the new, Tool-esque video for Porcupine Tree‘s “Bonnie the Cat” from 2009’s The Incident…
click for video at Roadrunner.com
It’s weird… the song didn’t even make me think of Tool, but now watching the CGI/Adam Jones–y stop-animation video, the bass line comes through more and the song definitely reminds me of Tool. Hmmm… I’d expect a little more originality from Steven Wilson & Co… well, at least they’re copying a band for which I have a lot of respect.
~Dan – np: Susan Enan – Plainsong
Porcupine Tree’s Anesthetize DVD
Porcupine Tree‘s new live film is approaching completion and a special edition will be available in April, with a regular version to follow in May. Anesthetize was filmed live over 2 nights in Tilburg, The Netherlands in October 2008, at the end of the Fear of a Blank Planet tour. The 130 minute live film includes a complete performance of the Blank Planet album and 11 other tracks, and was directed and edited by Lasse Hoile on high definition cameras, with the soundtrack mixed into stereo and 5.1 sound.
The special edition will take the form of a cloth bound hard back 120 page book (as per The Incident and Insurgentes deluxe versions) featuring live photography of the band taken over the last 5 years. The book will house both a DVD and a much higher quality Blu-Ray disc version of the film, as well as 2 audio CDs of the soundtrack including one bonus track not featured in the film. The book and audio CDs will not be included with the standard retail versions of the Blu-Ray/DVD.
~Dan – np: I.E.M. – 1996-1999
Ty Tabor – Something’s Coming
King’s X guitarist Ty Tabor‘s next solo album, Something’s Coming, now has a release date and a song streaming over at tytabor.com and molkenmusic.com. It’s out on March 20, 2010 and is up for pre-order over at Molken.
Ty Tabor – Something’s Coming
Besides Ty’s usual fantastic guitarwork and vocals, it features Jimi Hazel and Rick Skatore from 24-7 Spyz, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal from Guns N’ Roses, and Wally Farkas of Galactic Cowboys and Xenuphobe.
Unrelated, the new boxset for Steven Wilson‘s Cover Versions showed up today. It’s fantastic!
Also, unrelated, Derek Webb (who I dig a bunch) just released his entire last album (Stockholm Syndrome) for free. It’s on Noise Trade for free until midnight on Thursday (2/25).
~Dan – np: Steven Wilson – Cover Versions VI
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
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