Feb
John K. Samson (Weakerthans) Performs New Song(s) for Exclaim! TV–Expanded
in Music
As mentioned earlier, John K. Samson, leader of one of our all-time faves–The Weakerthans, just released a phenomenal new solo album, Provincial, on Epitaph-Anti Records. Samson showed up recently at Exclaim! TV to perform one of the most affecting songs off the album, Letter in Icelandic from the Ninette San. Though nearly indecipherable without Master’s degrees in Icelandic and Canadian history, Epitaph tells us that the song “is set in a tuberculosis sanatorium which existed in the small town of Ninette, Manitoba from 1915 to 1973. The…lyrics are sung as a letter written by a fictional Icelandic immigrant patient residing in the San[atorium], to his brother back home in Riverton, Manitoba, sometime in the 1940s.” Huh. All we hear is desolation and shatterdom. On the plus side, Samson’s perfect, world-weary vocals and delivery leave us comparing plights and counting blessings. Samson never fails to move us. Check it out below.
Update: Exclaim! TV has now released the companion song to Ninette San, When I Write My Masters Thesis. Check it out after.
Feb
Preview of Wilco at the Arlington Theater This Friday–Wilco on Austin City Limits
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Wilco was the featured band on Austin City Limits last weekend. For a sneak peak of what you’re in for at the Arlington Theater this Friday in Santa Barbara, check out the entire Austin City Limits episode below (with Nick Lowe on one song).
Watch Wilco on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.
Feb
New Shins Song “September”
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The Shins have released another song, September, off of their impending new album, Port of Morrow, this time via website Record Store Day. September is a lovely month and song, evidently written for James Mercer’s wife (Marisa Kula) and scheduled for release as a B-Side on, you guessed it, Valentines Day. Chocolate and roses weren’t enough, eh James? One-upped again.
The Shins: “September” (b-side of “Simple Song” 7”) from Record Store Day on Vimeo.
Feb
St. Vincent Performs “Cheerleader” on 4AD
in Music
We’re still making the effort to find a pulse behind the Replicant mannerisms of St. Vincent. This new 4AD Session video doesn’t necessarily help her cause, but it has helped drill her song Cheerleader further into our crania. And there’s no doubt: it can play guitar. Check Cheerleader out below along with the remainder of the full 4AD Session after.
Feb
OK Go–That’s Video Entertainment
in Music
OK Go has been delivering supremely entertaining videos over the last few years (we won’t comment on the music other than to say: “we don’t hate it”). Comes now a brand new video (for their song Needing/Getting) for your post-Super Bowl, post-Madonna-gets-sucked-to-hell-at-the-end blues this Monday. We’re not sure about the truth and veracity of the recorded “sounds” versus the depicted sound-making, but there’s no doubt it is entertaining. Check it.
Feb
Bon Iver on SNL
in Music
The bonny Bon Iver showed up on Saturday Night Live last night to perform one of the best songs of 2011, Holocene, and one of the worst-produced songs by an otherwise great artist, Beth/Rest. Check ’em out below and let us know what you think.
Holocene:
Beth/Rest:
Feb
Seth Avett Sings Waits While We Wait
in Music
The Avett Brothers are working on a new album produced, like their monstrous last album, by Rick Rubin. In the meantime, here’s a nice cover of Tom Wait’s Fish & Bird by Seth Avett. Harkens back to a simpler time.
Feb
Ry Cooder–Jesus On the Mainline
in Music
We never grow tired of Ry Cooder, and in particular his 70s’ masterpieces. We’ve got a more elaborate post in the works, but in the meantime, check out two performances of Jesus On the Mainline (off of Paradise & Lunch). The first is Cooder, David Lindley and all-star cast performing live at the NOLA Jazzfest. The second is a 1977 performance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebj_e4VagcA&feature=related
Feb
Woody Guthrie Gets His Due Again, This Time From Jim James and Cohorts
in Music
Legendary folk-troubadour, Woody Guthrie, has received deserved accolades and admiration from the general public and fellow musicians alike over the years. Over a decade ago, Woody’s daughter, Nora Guthrie, sought help from Billy Bragg and Wilco to put music to Woody’s lyrics that she had unearthed. The result was two Mermaid Avenue albums, which helped to bring Woody’s music to a new set of listeners (for anyone who hasn’t heard the song California Stars by Wilco, you are missing out–check out a great singalong with California kids HERE).
Comes now a supergroup comprised of My Morning Jacket’s Jim James (billed as Yim Yames), Son Volt’s Jay Farrar, Centro-Matic’s Will Johnson, and Varnaline’s Anders Parker, who have teamed up and dreamed up music for more Woody Guthrie lyrics. The result is a new album entitled New Multitudes, which comes out Feb. 28.
As will be heard, this ain’t your great-grandaddy’s folk music. New Multitudes ladles on electric guitar and psychedelic pop sounds to the LA-centric lyrics for a whole new Guthrie vantage. You can hear it below in the first song released from the album, Old L.A. Makes us want to take a drive down the 101 to that “pretty fair place to be.”
Feb
Kathleen Edwards Performs Great New Song and Anne Murray’s “Snowbird”
in Music
Continuing their treasure trove of releases from Kathleen Edwards‘ recent performance at Studio 211, CBC Radio today released Edwards’ performance of House Full of Empty Rooms from her new album Voyageur. Edwards is joined by perfect vocal foil, Sarah Harmer, on this song that is more representative of Edwards’ earlier work. A beauty. After, check out Edwards and Bahamas (taking a page, vocally, out of Jesse Winchester’s book) perform ye old Anne Murray chestnut, Songbird. Them’s good singin’.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff4vglsHg94&feature=uploademail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPdnxWygcjc&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
