Archive
Shedding Light on New Sufjan Stevens LP
From Exclaim.ca…
The National’s Bryce Dessner Sheds Light on New Sufjan Stevens LP
6/10/2010 By Ian Gormely
Sufjan Stevens’s Axl Rose-like recording pace is enough to get even casual fans wondering if the guy’s got another record in him following the triumph of 2005’s Illinois. In the five year’s since its release, he’s managed to produce an outtakes disc, an album of Christmas tunes and even a tribute to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. But he also admitted his 50 State project was just a promotional gimmick. And despite sneaking some new tracks into set lists last fall, in November he told Exclaim! that “I don’t really have as much faith in my work as I used to,” leaving a proper follow-up looking ever more doubtful.
Well, good news, kids: according to The National’s Bryce Dessner, Stevens is indeed hard at work on a new album and is currently recording in the band’s Brooklyn studio.
“We’ve played on some of the tracks and been listening to some of the stuff as he’s been working on it,” Dessner told Exclaim! in a recent interview.
Dessner, who described Stevens as “very solitary in what he does” and “one of my closest friends” didn’t want to reveal too much about the new as-yet-untitled Stevens album. But when asked if the new material sounded like Stevens’s older records, Dessner offered a resounding “no.”
“It’s going to be incredible,” he adds. “It’s going to probably blow people’s minds.”
I consider this to be most excellent news… any new Sufie on the horizon is a-OK with me.
~Dan – np: John Lennon – Acoustic 
Derek Webb – Democracy Vol 1 #5
One a month in 2010…
Derek Webb‘s Democracy Vol 1 is rolling along… This month, it’s “Chicago” by Sufjan Stevens. Not as lush as the original instrumentation, but fantastic nonetheless. Thanks, Derek!!
For those not in the know, Democracy Vol 1 was part of the Stockholm Syndrome pre-order package, but you can still join in over at the DW store. My plea for Derek to cover Tori Amos’ “Crucify” is likely not gonna happen. Oh well… I like the first five months’ output regardless.
- January: The Beatles – While My Guitar Gently Weeps
- February: Coldplay – Fix You
- March: Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’
- April: Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
- May: Sufjan Stevens – Chicago
If you missed the Derek & Jennifer Knapp tour, check out my review and photos from the Portland Oregon show at the Aladdin Theater on April 27th.
~Dan – np: Isis – Wavering Radiant
Democracy Vol. 1 is the first in a series of subscription based albums of cover songs that Derek will be recording annually, starting January 2010. Those who participate will not only receive the exclusive album, but will democratically decide what songs Derek will record.
Ever wished you could hear Derek cover your favorite Beatles song? Or Backstreet Boys song? Or even re-record your favorite old Caedmon’s Call song? Here’s your chance. Songs will be nominated and voted down to 12. Derek will record them (demo quality) and deliver them digitally (320kbps MP3s), one song per month for 12 months. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique collaborative project with Derek Webb!
Clogs w/ Sufjan & Shara
I got a chance to see Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) and her singing debut with Clogs back in April 2007 at MusicNOW Fest in Cincinnati. I’m stoked that this album is finally hitting the shelves with Sufjan Stevens and OSSO, too…
When he’s not crafting epic indie rock in The National, Bryce Dessner teams up with Australian composer Padma Newsome to record hushed, intimate chamber-folk in the ensemble Clogs.
On March 2, Clogs will release their fifth album, the Newsome-composed song cycle The Creatures in the Garden of Lady Walton, via Brassland. My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Worden sings on six of the album’s 10 songs, and Sufjan Stevens and National singer Matt Berninger contribute one guest vocal each. The Sufjan-affiliated string quartet Osso also contribute.
Read the rest on Pitchfork
Clogs – “On the Edge” [ft. Shara Worden]
~Dan – np: Mostly Other People Do the Killing – Forty Fort
Sufjan Steven’s “States a gimmick”
I think deep down, we all knew this was the case… here’s Sufjan Stevens from a recent Guardian article…
“I have no qualms about admitting [the Fifty States project]
was a promotional gimmick.”
Oh well… I’ve heard some of his new stuff, and it’s delightful. So, regardless of statehood, I’m looking forward to more Sufjan.
~Dan – np: Peter Mulvey – Letters from a Flying Machine
Music for Insomnia
I mentioned the Asthmatic Kitty Records‘ Library Catalog Music Series back here (yeah, buried amongst 8 other music stories). Anyway, 900X’s will likely not be my only multiple-spinnable one (sidenote: I just got the 900X album on vinyl… yay!).
Coming out in December are three more in the all-instrumental series…
- Lowell Brams: Music for Insomnia
- Yuuki Matthews: Music for Savage Tropical Imagery
- Roberto Carlos Lange: Music for Memory
Bryce Dessner (of The National) and Sufjan Stevens are all over the Lowell Brams: Music for Insomnia release. Find out more on the AK webpage.
PS– Aimee Mann at Portland’s Aladdin Theater tonight. Yay! Look for a review (and hopefully photos) later this week.
~Dan – np: Finger Eleven – Greyest of Blue Skies
New Sufjan Song / Swell Season Tour
I Guess I’m Floating have a new live-captured Sufjan Stevens song “There’s Too Much Love.” Snag the free mp3 here:
Sufjan Stevens – There’s Too Much Love {external link mp3}
Or watch the video here:
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The Swell Season, comprised of Glen Hansard from The Frames and Marketa Irglova, is releasing their new album, Strict Joy, on 9/29. They’ve got a U.S. Tour on the map. I got my Portland tickets in the mail the other day…
November 2009
1 – Milwaukee, Wisc. @ The Pabst
2 – Indianapolis, Ind. @ Clowes Memorial Hall
3 – Toronto, Ontario @ Massey Hall
4 – Montreal, Quebec @ L’Olympia de Montreal
6 – Boston, Mass. @ Berklee College of Music Performance Center
7 – Providence, R.I. @ Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
8 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Merriam Theater
9 – Washington, D.C. @ 9:30 Club
12 – New Orleans, La. @ House of Blues
13 – Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live
14 – Dallas, Texas @ Palladium
15 – Austin, Texas @ Paramount Theatre
17 – Mesa, Ariz. @ Mesa Arts Center
18 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ The Wiltern
20 – San Francisco, Calif. @ The Paramount
22 – Seattle, Wash. @ The Paramount
24 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
25 – Vancouver, B.C. @ Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
27 – Boise, Idaho @ Egyptian Theatre
28 – Salt Lake City, Utah @ Jeanne Wagner Theatre
29 – Denver, Colo. @ Ogden Theatre
30 – Kansas City, Mo. @ Uptown Theater
December 2009
3 – Chicago, Ill. @ Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University
4 – St. Louis, Mo. @ The Pageant
5 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ State Theatre
~Dan – np: Failure – Fantastic Planet
Sufjan’s The BQE
So… I’ve heard the new CD from Sufjan Stevens, called The BQE. (Thanks Asthmatic Kitty for the pre-release download.) Wow. No vocals, but very much a Sufjan album, though. The instrumentation borders on classic Sufjan instrumentals from Illinoise and Michigan (specifically the flute trills) mixed with more conservative chamber music (piano, strings, horns, tympani, et al). It also jumps into a very Enjoy Your Rabbit moment with “Movement IV – Traffic Shock.”
AK DOWNLOAD: Sufjan Stevens – Movement VI–Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges (FREE MP3)
The BQE tracklist
- Prelude on the Esplanade (2:56)
- Introductory Fanfare for the Hooper Heroes (1:07)
- Movement I–In the Countenance of Kings (5:19)
- Movement II–Sleeping Invader (4:34)
- Interlude I–Dream Sequence in Subi Circumnavigation (3:33)
- Movement III–Linear Tableau with Intersecting Surprise (4:09)
- Movement IV–Traffic Shock (3:24)
- Movement V–Self-Organizing Emergent Patterns (3:45)
- Interlude II–Subi Power Waltz (0:28)
- Interlude III–Invisible Accidents (0:54)
- Movement VI–Isorhythmic Night Dance with Interchanges (3:17)
- Movement VII (Finale)–The Emperor of Centrifuge (3:51)
- Postlude–Critical Mass (2:59)
I think it fits very well within Sufjan’s oeuvre. A fan of his instrumental tunes interspersed within his State’s records should truly enjoy The BQE. The limited edition, which is on order for me, has presumably a lush packaging with a full-color booklet accompanying the vinyl. I can’t wait to crack it open…
It’s available for pre-order from Amazon and Asthmatic Kitty (and other eTailers):
Amazon CD/DVD ~ LINK
Amazon limited edition vinyl ~ LINK
AKitty CD/DVD ~ LINK
AKitty limited edition vinyl ~ LINK
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And a complete side-note, Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt is planning releasing a Nick Drake-ish acoustic solo album (Blabbermouth link). Man, I love music. Seriously. Frank was right. It’s the best.
~Dan – np: Sufjan Stevens – The BQE
no free downloads or torrents here
bike ride tours, any speed vinyl, the bqe, a van & streaming ‘deth
5 music news stories… Peter Mulvey, Holy Fuck, Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan/Pedro the Lion and Megadeth…
So, Peter Mulvey has toured all over the world. A few years back, he started also doing some bike tours within his own state. Well, he just embarked on his “Long Haul” Tour in support of his new, fantastic record Letters from a Flying Machine.
He’s riding 1,100 miles from Grand Rapids, MI to Northampton, MA on The Long Haul Tour, September 9 – 26. His friend, and presumably co-rider, Kathy Wittman will be blogging about it as it goes on. The daily blog will be HERE. Here’s his tour path, created via the Google based on his gigs along the route:
(click for larger)
He’ll be in Oregon (Portland and Eugene) in early November. Not part of the bike tour, but I’ll be glad to see him nonetheless. In fact, he might be less worn out from riding so much. Getting to see him twice in one weekend is gonna be fantastic… PS- go to PeterMulvey.com for info on the new record. Seriously, it’s good, folks!
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Next up… a vinyl you can play at either 33 1/3 or 45 rpm…
This one from Off the International Radar including a remix by fellow Toronto’ans Holy Fuck. I don’t know about the rest of the songs on “Hot Lips,” but the Holy Fuck collaboration features “Holy Radar” – which is a reworking of OTIR’s “E bowl of Iris.” Holy Fuck sped up the original recording on a record player in studio and then played along and added their own layers. So, at 33 1/3, you’ll hear OTIR with a slowed down HF; and on 45 rpm, you’ll hear HF with a sped-up OTIR. You can listen to the “as normally played” version of the song on OITR‘s MySpace page. There is also ordering links there as well.
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Sufjan Stevens‘ The BQE (as reported here) is coming out in limited edition vinyl (in addition to the CD/DVD combo). It’s now up for pre-order at the Asthmatic Kitty store and over at Amazon. Also, in the news, Sufjan will be playing his 2004 album Seven Swans in its entirety at ATP NYC this weekend. ATP = All Tomorrow’s Parties (festival).
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Help (Pedro the Lion) David Bazan buy a tour van… click the picture for more info…
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And to round it out with some metal… Megadeth‘s latest record, Endgame, is out next week (9/15/09). It’s streaming in its entirety on the MySpaces…
~Dan – np: The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band {mono}
no torrents or free downloads here
Sufjan Stevens – The BQE (Oct 20th)
Well, ask and ye shall receive…
The BQE – out 10/20/2009
Sufjan Stevens‘ has a new project coming out, The BQE. Nope, not a state… it’s a a cinematic suite inspired by the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the hula hoop. It’s due out on October 20, 2009, and will be available as a CD/DVD combo, a double gatefold vinyl with large scale booklet & black-and-white comic book, and a sold-separately color version of the comic book.
The assumed cover art (at top of blog) has a dreadful, tangled mass of a font… much like what I imagine driving on the BQE is like. :)
Sufjan performing the BQE suite at the Howard Gilman
Opera House in Brooklyn, 11/1/07 (theanimalshow)
View the cinematic trailer to the release here:
http://vimeo.com/5682252Read TONS more about The BQE over on the Asthmatic Kitty webpage:
http://asthmatickitty.com/the-bqe
I’ll post pre-order information on The BQE once it’s announced.
~Dan – np: Dave Douglas & Han Bennink – Serpentine
no free download or torrents available here
upcoming David Bazan & a Sufjan senior project
Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan is finally releasing his full-length debut. It’s not his first release under his own name. He had an EP out in 2006 (Fewer Moving Parts) and has released a few iTunes EPs/singles and some 7″ vinyl releases since Pedro the Lion’s last “band” record, Achilles Heel (in 2004). David’s album comes out September 1st (on Barsuk Records CD/LP/mp3)… it’s called Curse Your Branches…
1. Hard To Be
2. Bless This Mess
3. Please, Baby, Please
4. Curse Your Branches
5. Harmless Sparks
6. When We Fell
7. Lost My Shape
8. Bearing Witness
9. Heavy Breath
10. In Stitches
Keep your peepers here or on davidbazan.com for info as it shows up.
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Also, as reported on All Good Naysayers, student Jax de León did a senior graphic design project on Sufjan Stevens‘ 2005 album, Come On Feel the Illinoise, called Illinois: Visualizing Music.
Check out more about Illinois: Visualizing Music (link).
Speaking of Sufjan, Asthmatic Kitty is trying to call Osso’s upcoming album a Sufjan Stevens’ release. Ha!!! We’re on to you guys… come on, when is Suffie’s real next album coming out!? :)
OK, I know… Osso’s Run Rabbit Run album is a “real” album… and it’s gonna be rad as hell… but you know what I meant.
~Dan – np: Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy – On Stage: 6/18/09 (early set)
Osso::Rabbit
So, back in 2007, I had the pleasure of seeing the just-named Osso String Quartet‘s worldwide premiere of Sufjan Stevens‘ electronic album Enjoy Your Rabbit songs arranged for strings. That show at the MusicNow Festival 2007 (full festival review) was utterly fantastic. Since that time, the band has been busy, including being the backing band for My Brightest Diamond‘s wonderful A Thousand Shark’s Teeth album.
Two and a half years will have passed since the worldwide stringed Rabbit debut to finally see the release of Osso’s full length debut… Run Rabbit Run, out October 6th:
- Year of the Ox (arr. Michael Atkinson)
- Enjoy Your Rabbit (arr. Michael Atkinson)
- Year of the Monkey (arr. Michael Atkinson)
- Year of the Tiger (arr. Rob Moose)
- Year of the Dragon (arr. Nico Muhly)
- Year of the Snake (arr. Olivier Manchon)
- Year of the Horse (arr. Rob Moose)
- Year of the Sheep (arr. Maxim Moston)
- Year of the Rat (arr. Olivier Manchon)
- Year of the Rooster (arr. Gabriel Kahane)
- Year of the Dog (arr. Rob Moose)
- Year of the Boar (arr. Michael Atkinson)
- Year of Our Lord (arr. Michael Atkinson)
Pre-order not available, yet. More info here: http://asthmatickitty.com/run-rabbit-run
~Dan – np: Dengue Fever – Escape from Dragon House
PS- Sigur Ros’s Jonsi & Alex’s Riceboy Sleeps debut has the deluxe edition officially on pre-order on their webpage (see here for more info).
No free download or torrents available here.
tons of news
Nine Stories!
In this episode: The new Masada Quintet with special guest Joe Lovano, the Jenny Owen Youngs‘ video that I somehow missed, Nellie McKay‘s Election musical, Fanfarlo for $1, the deaths of JazzTimes & Jeff Hanson, the resurrection of Futurama, a new Wussy video, and Asthmatic Kitty’s most excellent Library Catalog Music Series…
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The new Masada Quintet with special guest Joe Lovano just came out for June on Tzadik Records. It’s the original Masada Quartet (John Zorn on alto sax, Dave Douglas on trumpet, Greg Cohen on bass & Joey Baron on drums) plus pianist Uri Caine… plus special guest tenor sax Joe Lovano. Holy cow!!! It’s the first official studio release from the Masada Quartet since 1999’s י [Yod] (or 2005 if you count the unreleased/rarities compilation Sanhedrin). This album is bound to be at the top of my “best of” list for 2009.
This video from Jenny Owen Youngs came out in September 2007. How did I miss it? It’s a brilliant singer-songwriter cover of rapper Nelly‘s “Hot in Herre” (so take off all your clothes). I bought the iTunes single… great stuff:
Nellie McKay is writing a musical based on the book/movie Election. Read more about it over on Brooklyn Vegan blog.
Fanfarlo just put on their debut album, Reservoir, for $1. Fanfarlo is a London-based band founded by Swedish musician Simon Balthazar. Nice textured indie pop… think Sigur Rós meets Sufjan Stevens. The album, in full, is available for only $1.00 until July 4th, 2009 at http://www.fanfarlo.com/.
The economy took another print-media victim. This time it’s the death (or “temporary suspension”) of JazzTimes magazine. The 38 year old magazine couldn’t maintain readership in the new era of online content. It’s a sad day, as it was a great magazine. I hope it’s able to come back later in some form or another under new ownership, as mentioned in the Howard Mandel article.
Whispy singer-songwriter Jeff Hanson died last Saturday (6/5) after an accidental fall on his cement-floored apartment in St. Paul, MN. Jeff was known for his feminine vocal style and songwriting/sound similar to late indie rocker Elliott Smith (who also died young). He had three great albums out on Kill Rock Stars. I hate to sound selfish, but I’m bummed I missed him when he recently came through Portland. We lost another one, far too young…
In “Oh Sweet, Futurama’s On” News, the resurrection of Futurama is eminent. Much like Family Guy, the popularity soared even after being originally canceled. Futurama had some straight-to-DVD movies recently, and it will return with new 26 episodes on Comedy Central in the winter 2010.
A favorite band of mine from Cincinnati, Wussy, has a new “acoustic from an RV” video of “Maglite.” They recently put out their 3rd full length album, and it lives up to the quality and momentum in their prior two albums (plus 1 EP). Check out the video and then check out the album at Shake It Records:
Asthmatic Kitty’s most excellent Library Catalog Music Series just came out. The naming of the series sounds… boring. However, it’s really great instrumental music. There are three issues thus far: 900X: Music for Lubbock 1980, Law of the Least Effort: Music for Measurements, and Casey Foubert/James McAlister: Music for Drums. My favorite is the 900X one. Really, really good electronic, post-rockiness. If you liked a more “sane” version of Sufjan Steven’s Enjoy Your Rabbit, I bet you’d like the LCMS. Check it out at Asthmatic Kitty Records.
~Dan – np: Fanfarlo – Reservoir
Sufjan’s Sofia’s Song / Strong Bad Game
Unrelated…
Sufjan Stevens has posted a new essay and song, “Sofia’s Song,” to the sidebar blog on Asthmatic Kitty. Read it HERE. The song can be downloaded from HERE.
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And Telltale Games has just announced pre-order for the DVD of their previously download-only game Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People. You can read more about the pre-order combo pack specials HERE.
~Dan – np: Pissuk Rachav – Eretz Hakodesh
Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage
OK, so before the main thrust of this post, here’s a short word from Jack Black…
With that being said, I think “piracy” might only relate to something that’s supposed to be sold and someone steals it? I dunno… regardless… since 2001, indie quirky folkster Sufjan Stevens has made “Songs for Christmas” EPs and distributed them to friends and family. In the fall of 2006, his record label Asthmatic Kitty released the first five volumes in a kick ass EP boxset (for a really great price – – 5 EPs for $14.99):
Since then, he’s done three more volumes… for friends and family. Well, Volumes 6 & 7 haven’t made their way onto the internets, yet*… but Songs for Christmas, Volume VIII: Astral Inter Planet Space Captain Christmas Infinity Voyage has been made available by one of Sufjan’s friends and/or family. So… I guess we’re all included in his friend’s list this year. Click the picture/tracklist below to go to another blogger’s post who has download links at the ready:
01. Angels We Have Heard On High*– By “yet,” I mean… if you find Vol 6 or 7, tell me, yo! :)
And, kids… just like when Volumes 1-3 got leaked in early 2006… when the official product comes out, you gotta support the artists (with your wallet, not your mouse button)! I know I’ll buy it if it comes out… but until then, enjoy it as a Christmas present from Sufjan’s friend and/or family who likes to re-gift.
Happy Festivus tomorrow!
~Dan – np: Medeski Martin & Wood play John Zorn‘s Masada Book Two: Zaebos
REVIEW: My Brightest Diamond @ W.O.W. Hall (Eugene, OR – – 11/21/08)
FYI… my PHOTOS of the SHOW are at the BOTTOM
Yay… I’ve been waiting for this show for a few months. I last saw Shara Worden (aka My Brightest Diamond) in April 2007 at the MusicNOW Fest in Cincinnati. It was at that show where she debuted many songs that ended up on A Thousand Shark’s Teeth. I was going to drive up to Portland on Thursday for the show, then they announced a Eugene show (yay!). It was sparsely attended, though not as sparse as a Glen Phillips’ WOW Hall show earlier this year. I don’t know… WOW Hall shows seem so hit or miss. Maybe the Blues Traveler show at McDonald Theatre on Friday hurt MBD’s crowd? Anyway, the artists were in good spirits and put on a great show nonetheless.
Openers, Clare and the Reasons, went on around 9pm and played 40 minutes of very cinematic-tinged, indie-pop fare. The band was made up of singer/guitarist Clare Muldaur Manchon, multi-instrumentalist Olivier Manchon, and string-players Hiroko Taguchi & Maria Jeffers – – all four dressed in all red costumes. (The MBD & Clare touring collaboration was also an efficient one, as Olivier, Hiroko & Maria were MBD’s backing band as well.) After their set, buying their studio CD The Movie for $10 seemed like a steal. I look forward to hearing it, as it’s littered with guest artists / studio collaborators such as Van Dyke Parks (!!!!!) and Sufjan Stevens.
(click for larger)
Clare & the Reasons’ Setlist:
- Pluto – a fave of the set, nice pizzicatto strings
- Better Without You
- Pluton / Rodi – a fave of the set, nice saw work, 1st song done in the dark with flashing lights
- Nowhere
- Can Your Car Do That? (I Don’t Think So)
- Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
- Cook for You
Next up was My Brightest Diamond, who has gotten a lot of dedication here on this blog – – for which I do not apologize. In fact, she’s been the most prolific (or at least most little web goodies) of the Asthmatic Kitty artists lately. I mean, come on, Sufjan! You’re overdue. :) Anyway, back to MBD…
(click for larger)
MBD’s performance was excellent, as usual. As mentioned above, Olivier Manchon, Hiroko Taguchi, and Maria Jeffers were her backing band as well – – this time dressed in black & white costumes. They played around an hour, which included a magic show, a shadow & puppet show, twirling & whistling hoses, and much storytelling.
MBD’s Setlist:
- Golden Star – a fave of mine
- If I Were Queen
- Apples – a fave of mine
- To Pluto’s Moon
- Olivier’s Magic Show
- Disappear – a fave of mine
- Dragonfly – a fave of mine
- From the Top of the World – started Shara’s At the Back of the North Wind storytime
- Black & Costaud – a fave, started with Olivier’s storytime
- The Ice & The Storm
- Inside a Boy – a fave of mine
- Je n’en connais pas la fin / Hymne à l’amour – with an excellent shadow and puppet show
- Encore: The Gentlest Gentleman – with Shara on mandolin
Check MBD‘s music out on iTunes, Amazon, or your local record shop…
My Brightest Diamond’s CDs:
(plus she’s got a ton of remixes and b-side whatnot on iTunes)
The Appropriate Linkage:
- http://www.myspace.com/mybrightestdiamond
- http://www.mybrightestdiamond.com/
- http://www.asthmatickitty.com/
- http://www.myspace.com/claremuldaur
- http://www.wowhall.org/
- Seattle’s Triple Door show (11/19/08) is Archived at Synclive.com
- MBD on Uncensored Interviews
The Next Tour Stops:
Nov 22 2008 – Swedish American Hall, San Francisco, CA
Nov 24 2008 – Rio Theatre, Santa Cruz, CA
Nov 25 2008 – Casbah, San Diego, CA
Nov 26 2008 – Hotel Café, Los Angeles, CA
Nov 29 2008 – Solar Culture, Tucson, AZ
Nov 30 2008 – The Cooperage, Albuquerque, NM
Dec 3 2008 – Granada Theater, Dallas, TX
Dec 4 2008 – Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack, Little Rock, AR
Dec 5 2008 – The Bottletree, Birmingham, AL
Dec 6 2008 – Square Room, Knoxville, TN
Dec 7 2008 – The Earl, Altanta, GA
Dec 9 2008 – Orange Peel, Asheville, NC
Dec 10 2008 – Gravity Lounge, Charlottesville, VA
Dec 11 2008 – Rock n Roll Hotel, Washington, DC
Dec 12 2008 – First Unitarian Church, Philadelphia, PA
Dec 13 2008 – (Le) Poisson Rouge, New York, NY
OK, that’s all for now from me…
~Dan – np: Mostly Other People Do the Killing – This is Our Moosic
CLARE & the REASONS -and- MY BRIGHTEST DIAMOND CONCERT PHOTOS
all pictures (cc) 2008 Daniel Temmesfeld,
you may use freely under a creative commons attribution
My Brightest Diamond doesn’t look down…
Well, actually she does look down…
First off, it may seem like I’m blogging like a fool the past few days… well, I apologize to fill your RSS feeder with so much blog kibble, but there’s a lot going on in the world of my favorite musics.
This blog goes specifically back to my second favorite Asthmatic Kitty artist My Brightest Diamond (Sufjan Stevens being my first favorite, but only by a banjo neck). Shara Worden (the brightest diamond) plays on top of a rooftop with her string quartet OSSO. It’s part of Pitchfork TV‘s Don’t Look Down series:
(Part 1 – click pic above)
Golden Star
Apples
(Part 2 – click pic above)
From the Top of the World
Black & Costaud
4 weeks until I get the chance to see MBD at WOW Hall in Eugene… woot!
~Dan – np: Fujiya & Miyagi on Seattle’s KEXP Live podcast
From the Top of the World
A Reminder
My Brightest Diamond‘s From the Top of the World -EP- is out today on iTunes. It’s the single for the title track plus 3 French songs. Here’s my original post about this release with all of the INFO…
$2.97 if you only want the new songs. But if you don’t have A Thousand Shark’s Teeth, you might as well get that one, too. You know you want to…
~Dan – np: My Brightest Diamond – From the Top of the World
Even More Brightest Diamond
UPDATE (9/1/08): She’s playing 11/21 @ WOW Hall in Eugene. Yay!
Though not listed on her tourdates page (yet), yesterday’s email from the Doug Fir Lounge (in Portland, OR) mentioned… Thursday 11/20, My Brightest Diamond (Shara Worden). Yay! \ 0 / I’m still holding out hope that she’ll play The Shedd (in Eugene), as it’d be a great venue for her. But a PDX gig ain’t a bad option.
Oh, and Portland, Maine… you know what you can do? You can go to… see her on October 30th.
This will be the first time seeing her out on her own. My last few times seeing her were as an opener for Sufjan Stevens, with Sufjan’s band, or as part of a music fest with Sufjan. I guess I’ll miss Sufjan, but Shara’s got her own good thing going on. String quartet OSSO will be My Brightest Diamond’s backing band on this tour. I saw them play chamber arrangements for Sufjan’s Enjoy Your Rabbit electronic album (as mentioned in the music fest review link above). Clare & The Reasons are the openers.
Also, here’s the new, minty fresh video from “From the Top of the World” from her latest album, A Thousand Shark’s Teeth:
She performs “Padam Padam” and “The Gentlest Gentleman” here:
More of her tour dates (from Pollstar, as her tour dates page is not in an easily copy-n-paste format – all dates subject to change)
Mon 09/15/08 London, UK Soho Arts Theatre
Fri 09/19/08 Isla Cristina, ESP Auditorio del Parque
Sun 09/21/08 Amsterdam, NET Melkweg
Mon 09/22/08 Hamburg, GER Molotow
Tue 09/23/08 Berlin, GER Lido
Wed 09/24/08 Schorndorf, GER Manufaktur
Fri 09/26/08 Vienna, AUT B72
Sat 10/04/08 Groningen, NET De Oosterpoort
Mon 10/27/08 Hamden, CT The Space
Tue 10/28/08 Northampton, MA Iron Horse Music Hall
Thu 10/30/08 Portland, ME SPACE
Fri 10/31/08 Fall River, MA Narrows Center For The Arts
Sun 11/02/08 Buffalo, NY Big Orbit Soundlab Space
Mon 11/03/08 Oberlin, OH Oberlin College
Wed 11/05/08 Grand Rapids, MI Calvin College
Thu 11/06/08 Danville, IN Royal Theatre
Fri 11/07/08 Chicago, IL Schubas Tavern
Sat 11/15/08 Salt Lake City, UT The Paladium
Wed 11/19/08 Seattle, WA The Triple Door
Thu 11/20/08 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Fri 11/21/08 Eugene, OR W.O.W. Hall update
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http://www.mybrightestdiamond.com/
http://www.mybrightestdiamond.com/tourdates/
http://www.myspace.com/mybrightestdiamond
http://www.myspace.com/ossonyc
http://www.myspace.com/claremuldaur
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In rumor mill squashing, Shara didn’t help Barack Obama choose Joe Biden as his VP running mate.
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~Dan – np: Medeski Martin & Wood play John Zorn’s Masada Book Two – Zaebos
More Brightest Diamond
I saw this on the Asthmatic Kitty website…
I don’t know if it’s a new CD, new vinyl, new iTunes, or new multi-platform release… regardless, it’s Shara / My Brightest Diamond -and- MORE SONGS. :)
The info…
While Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond retains a French vocabulary more comparable to that of an African Grey Parrot than to Victor Hugo, oh how she does love to sing French songs from the 1930s. Borrowed melodies from Worden’s favorite French sparrow, the inimitable Edith Piaf, “Adieu mon Coeur,” and “Hymne A L’Amour” have become standard concert repertoire for My Brightest Diamond in recent years.
After having fled Germany to escape the Nazi’s in 1933, composer Kurt Weill penned the music for “Youkali:Tango Habenera”. Years later, Roger Fernay added lyrics describing a vagabond trip to an island of bliss called Youkali, whereupon landing a fairy would act as one’s personal tour guide. Youkali is a land of happiness and fulfilled desire, a place where all the stars shine brighter. But the dreamy mists dissipate in the second verse of Fernay’s piece, as life progresses only tediously while poor human souls seek to escape to the mysterious utopia in vain.
With the help of co-producer / ear candy man Zac Rae, a longstanding Diamond collaborator, these recordings take new flight with his host of reversed pianos, paint can snares, and warbling theramins.
1. From the Top of the World
2. Youkali: Tango Habanera
3. Hymne Á L’Amour
4. Adieu Mon Coeur
My Brightest Diamond’s From the Top of the World is out Sept 23rd, y’all.
~Dan – np: Orange Tulip Conspiracy – Orange Tulip Conspiracy
-Eyvind Kang
-Frank Zappa
Amazon.com mp3 downloads
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