Dinosaur Jr.: Crumble

© Beowulf Sheehan / Retna

Dinosaur Jr.
Crumble
added: 11 Sep 2007 // release date: 20 Aug 2007 // label: Play It Again Sam
reviewer: Jane Hawkes

Although never really conquering the mainstream, J Mascis and his crew have been around for what seems like forever and with latest release ‘Crumble’ it seems they still have no intention of relinquishing their crown as indie rock gods.

Mixing hard line retro vibes and groove addled riffs to create yet another wonderfully impressive tune, ‘Crumble’ is most worthy of a place in your cd collection.

Original Post on Music-News.com

How Andrew Bird Saved Christmas

©Anna G. Dickson/Retna

How Andrew Bird Saved Christmas
By Ashley Patrick

It was April 14, 2007, drizzly and gray, gray, gray. I had the genius idea of celebrating my friendship with two people who were very special to me at the time by having a Timmy and Beth Appreciation Day. I planned a short trip from Cincinnati to Columbus to spend some money at the Appalachian gem, Gabriel Brothers, and to catch Andrew Bird on his tour for his most recent studio release, Armchair Apochrypha, at my most beloved venue, Southgate House, just across the river in Cincitucky. It was a fool-proof plan.

The night felt good, but the day got worse. There were some intra-relationship issues that didn’t matter all that much until the three of us were trapped in close quarters on a typically-Ohio monotonous stretch of highway. I realized that I was the most mentally stable person in the car at that time, which made me very nervous indeed. After Beth had a bizarre dissolution, wherein her wildly fluctuating emotions were scattered to the humid air, it was revealed that she had not been taking her mood-stabilizing medications properly. Adding that to my general irritation with her carelessness, my specific irritation at Timmy’s driving, and Timmy’s exasperation with Beth and me both for our “female chauvinistic attitudes”, no one was speaking by the time we finally reached Newport, KY.

The House was crammed full of regular-looking whatever people, some of whom I overheard saying they had been an Andrew Bird fan for just over a week, another had never heard the man’s music. I didn’t think it was fair and here I was pressed against the backs of the sort of giant, tall people who seem only to manifest at crowded events to block the way of and induce panic in small, claustrophobic people like myself. I had ditched my traveling companions in an effort to cool out and not bitch-smack anyone. We had already missed the opening act, Courtey Tidwell. I hate missing the openers at good shows. They’re such an excellent resource for discovering amazing artists you might otherwise not hear. But this was the state of things.

Andrew Bird began to play, and something spectacular happened. I found tiny clearing by the balcony railing where I could observe Bird’s multi-instrumental, multi-channel, looping, string-burning virtuosity- all done in his socks. My friends washed ashore on the little island I’d claimed and by the second or third song, all the tension between us had disappeared No one pushed anyone else over the railing and everyone left happy.

The other day, I was cleaning my new apartment. I was about to lose it, the place was so messy. I kept tripping on things and knocking stuff over. I put on some music, but everything that shuffled into existence on my Ipod was proving more an annoyance than a pleasant distraction. That is, until “Masterfade” from Andrew Bird & The Mysterious Production Of Eggs met my ear. It was then I remembered back to that cold April evening and the unifying power Bird’s music exerted over us. Andrew Bird, it seems, “hath charms to soothe the savage breast, to soften rocks or bend a knotted oak”. His effortless vocals, the theremin-like quality of his enviable whistle, the complexity and clarity of his compositions, coalesce in such a way as to divert my over-worked mind refocus my addled energies to a path of constructive activity. I can’t claim it will work for you, but it’s worth a shot. I mean, it’s healthier than picking a fight with a brick wall or guzzling a bottle of So-Co, or whatever effed-up way you deal with your own stresses.

Check out Andrew Bird’s upcoming show dates and feel the magic for your very own self.

KRS – ONE, Lady Bug Mecca, and BLITZ @ Prospect Park

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KRS – ONE, Lady Bug Mecca, and BLITZ @ Prospect Park
By Bobby K. Sehgal

Last Friday evening hip hop found its way back into Prospect Park as Celebrate Brooklyn and The Lyricist Lounge combined to present an amazing show.

I entered the park to the sound of Ghana native, BLITZ. I’ve heard of the emcee, however never heard any of his material. Needless to say, I was quite fond of his sound within minutes. His stage presence was remarkable. He seemed to know exactly whom he was playing for as he constantly referred to New York as the “home of hip hop.”
He had a sense of humbleness, yet never lost his emcee swagger. He was quite personable from a fan standpoint.

As Blitz wrapped up, the sun began to set. I was nearly half of the way through my five-dollar glass of wine and my buzz was setting in. Lady bug hits the stage with all the ferocity of any male emcee. Her message, just as serious and just as meaningful, as any rapper I’ve ever heard. To say I was taken aback is an understatement. She continues to go through Digable Planet classics as well as her solo catalogue. She takes a break for DJ Supreme to murder a set, ending it all by doing a juggle routine while literally juggling a record.

After two great sets, by two great performers, the crowd is excitedly awaiting the arrival of KRS-ONE. He hit the stage with a massive amount of energy. Performing track after track of classic material while preaching positive, “you can do anything you put your mind to” messages, between songs. At one point he stops the show to bring up a group of nearly thirty teenage b-boys and b-girls to break for the crowd. He keeps them on stage for three tracks including, “Sound of the police.” The intensity in Prospect Park was at an unbelievable height. He then has his DJ totally drop the beat out as he performs, “Wanna get away with murder? Kill a rapper.”

Now he had the crowd in his hand through his music, lyrics and positive vibe. In between songs he continued to urge the crowd to keep after their dreams as he confesses, “Twenty years ago I was homeless, sleeping in this park, dreaming of one day rocking a show here.”

I have attended hip-hop shows before, but this show’s vibe was incredible. KRS literally made me remember why I love hip-hop in the first place. And that is seriously saying something.

Blonde Redhead at McCarren Pool

©Eric Lubrick/Retnamusicblog.com

Blonde Redhead At McCarren Pool
Interview by Bobby K. Sehgal

Comprised of twin brothers and a woman they met at a restaurant in New York almost twenty years ago, Blonde Redhead has formed a bond and created some of the most interesting and compelling musical sounds today. Not to be lumped into a genre, this soft, yet intense trio attributes their musical success to simply being who they are and putting out what they take in around them. Although influenced by other bands, they stay honed into their personal craft. Making music, while touring and always staying creative. We sat down before their performance at McCarren Pool in Brooklyn to talk about what makes Blonde Redhead work.

The New Album 23 is amazing, what are your personal favorite tracks?

Kazu – “23”

Amadeo – “Publisher”

Simone – “Silently”

What influences you? What music do you listen to?

Kazu – “There are amazing things out. It doesn’t matter the genre, it doesn’t matter who. I just am listening to it and think ‘oh, they are like one of us’

You are constantly touring and recording, do you prefer one to the other?

Amadeo “I like both in a ways. I think you need them both. I think you wouldn’t be satisfied doing just one.“

Simone “But there’s a lot of that [studio] aspect that you do also when you are away on tour. You keep kind of doing music, trying to perfect it, we keep recording new parts or fix things.

You are constantly in close quarters when you’re touring. How do you handle that considering that two of you are twins and you two [Kazu and Amadeo] are married?

All three – “That seems to be the rumor going around, but it’s just a rumor.” (Laughing)

I’m totally firing my fact checker.

Laughing

Well, how do you three cope with living on the road together?

Amadeo “It’s not bad, you have to learn how to do it. It’s not easy”

Simone “Its harder to learn how to get used to the motion of the bus than how to live with each other”

After the informal interview, I grabbed a few free drinks and found a place to catch the show. The band on stage was a group of nearly thirty people. They reminded me of the Wu Tang Clan turned hipster rock band. I loved their vibe, incorporating the crowd, throwing confetti, and bouncing beach balls flying everywhere. The band was called I’m from Barcelona and you can check them out on their website.

After a quick break Blonde Redhead takes the stage. Amazingly, I was immediately blown away by the band’s ability to put a whole pool full of people into their hands’. In an era where live shows often are lackluster, it was awfully refreshing to hear this avant guard band create their tracks live on stage with passion. I often find myself at shows listening to songs as if I were listening to my ipod. This show was certainly not the case. A mix of spontaneity and a crock-pot of creativity and artistic ability filled McCarren pool for a group of 1000’s.

Catch Blonde Redhead on tour this summer and beyond. Their newest album, “23” is currently in stores.

Also check out shows coming up at McCarren Pool.

Kanye West, Ja Rule, Juelz Santana Jump Onstage For Lil Wayne’s First-Ever NYC Solo Show

© Robb D. Cohen / Retna LTD

Kanye West, Ja Rule, Juelz Santana Jump Onstage For Lil Wayne’s First-Ever NYC Solo Show
Rapper tells MTV News before post-show arrest that his next gig in NYC ‘might have to be in Times Square.’
By Shaheem Reid

NEW YORK — Lil Wayne has been a part of multiplatinum albums, made a ton of c.r.e.a.m. and helped sell out big venues (much bigger than the dressing-room-less Beacon Theatre in Manhattan, mind you). But a large portion of his success has come from working with the Cash Money Millionaires in the late ’90s and early 2Ks.

On Sunday night in New York, however, he was the one. Weezy’s show sold out quickly, despite having been promoted for only a few weeks, and some tickets were going over the $100 mark (that’s New Edition, Jay-Z or Bon Jovi prices!). Given the excitement level, the gig definitely deserved to be called “a money show.” Sunday night was a wear-your-best-sneakers-and-don’t-care-if-they-get-scuffed atmosphere.

There was absolutely no doubt that the MC who evolved a couple of years ago into one of rap’s most talented mic fiends had the city on lock. This is a rapper who dishes out so much nourishing mixtape material and guest appearances that, despite his next solo album not being due until next year (that’s the word from him), he gets treated by fans as if he just sold a million LPs in a week. The respect level from his peers — such as the Diplomats, Fat Joe, Young Jeezy, Timbaland and Kanye West — is impeccable.

Wayne has shown that he’s a star, and Sunday night was another chance for him to prove that he can live up to his loftier self-proclaimed title: “Best Rapper Alive.” The New York crowd was very familiar with how he tears it up on MP3s, but could he do it for his first NYC solo headlining gig? Well, he almost didn’t get a chance to, thanks to the NYPD.

Directly across from the Beacon on West 75th Street, Diplomats Jim Jones, Juelz Santana and various members of their crew held court chillin’, while Ja Rule sat in his parked Mayback and Irv Gotti stood still a few feet away from the Harlem power unit. The cops, however, wanted everyone to move. The street had been blocked off for just the artists and media, but since none of Wayne’s guests had wristbands guaranteeing entrance into the Beacon, they weren’t allowed in — nor to congregate outside while they waited for the promoter to give them their proper credentials, the NYPD warned.

Jones and others told authorities they were there to perform, and clearly the coppers knew who they were: Several officers said Jones’ name during side conversations, and one even asked for Lil Wayne’s manager to talk to him. “Somebody tell Jim Jones he’s not getting in under any circumstances,” one of the policeman said.

The cops, who even pulled out horses, nudged the crew down the block to the cross-street of Broadway, where fans were waiting to get in. Finally, Jim decided to leave, and Juelz was going to follow, yelling at officers who he felt were harassing him along the way. However, while Santana waited for one of his vehicles at the parking garage, Wayne called him on the cell phone and persuaded him to stay. Wayne himself almost didn’t enter the Beacon. The security was giving Cash Money CEO Baby a hard time getting in, and Wayne threatened to leave.

After everyone finally got in — well, at least those who were going to get in — the tension seemed to ease. A still-stone-faced Wayne gave Kanye a great big hug, and Juelz told Mr. West that he loved his record “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” and even said he would be open to getting on a remix of the song.

Once he got onstage, Wayne’s reception was nothing short of regal: so loud, so endearing. He told the crowd that it better enjoy the show, because he wasn’t sure if he would be performing in New York again. The police and security treated him so poorly, they soured him somewhat. “I just went through the worst f—-in’ feelin ever with y’all police,” he said. “This may be one of the only times you see me because of how they treated me.”

Then, as if somebody had flipped his switch back on, Wayne — wearing a throwback Run-DMC T-shirt — yelled, “Hit me!,” signaling the start of “Hustler Muzik.” You could tell immediately it would be one of those shows, one in which the fans were so into it that they knew every syllable of each word he was rapping and weren’t afraid to recite them.

The love gave Wayne even more reason to set the roof on fire and stimulated him to dance during “I’m a Dboy” by doing a long, James Brown-esque, one-legged slide. Pieces of records followed — Chris Brown’s “Gimme That” and Fat Joe’s “Make It Rain” — after which he freestyled. He did two more freestyles later in the show. “I pop early like firecrackers in the last week of June,” he rapped. “Scarface with diamond teeth.”

About halfway through the show, just when you thought Weezy might finally slow down, he took the show even higher. His mixtape freestyle “Sky’s the Limit” was revered and sung aloud by the crowd as if it were a top 40 hit. “When I was 5, my favorite movie was ‘The Gremlins.’ Ain’t got sh— to this, but I just thought that I should mention [it],” he rapped with the audience. “You know that I’mma ride with my muthaf—in’ n—as, most likely I’mma die with my finger on the trigger.”

Ja Rule continued the momentum when he came out for his collaboration with Wayne, “Uh Oh,” and his very own “New York.”

Later, Wayne said he wanted to leave NYC with a lasting impression, so he brought out another top-notch guest: Kanye, who kept it short and sweet with “Can’t Tell Me Nothing.” Baby finally made his way to the stage for his and Wayne’s recent hits “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy” and “Leather So Soft,” and for the latter song, Birdman Jr. actually sat down on a chair and played the guitar. Even Juelz Santana made it out for a little to support his partner in crime.

And although the crowd stayed on its feet for the duration of the concert, the undeniable highlights were the remix to “It’s Me Snitches” and “Prostitute Flang,” in which he sings about a lady of the night who he has fallen for. “Stay true to me and never lie to me,” he sang with his raspy voice… I’m trying to share the rest of my whole life with you…”

The finale was DJ Khaled’s “We Takin’ Over,” and Wayne and Baby ended the show with the song’s two closing verses. “Feed me rappers/ Or feed me beats,” Wayne frantically rapped to applause.

“Wow, man that was crazy,” Wayne told MTV News moments after he left the stage, drenched in sweat. “It was a relief, but it was crazy at the time. It felt good.”

Wayne also joked that he may need a bigger venue to perform in next time he hits NYC.

“It might have to be in Times Square or someplace,” he laughed. “Nah, I appreciate that love [from the people]. They could hold [the concert] at the corner store, I’m gonna be there. They showed me a different side to them, and I won’t forget that. Believe that.”

After the post-performance bliss wore off, though, Wayne had more run-ins with the authorities. He was arrested on a gun charge around 11:30 p.m. after police searched his tour bus and found a .40 caliber pistol. The cops also arrested another man who was traveling with Wayne and charged him with possession of marijuana.

Ja Rule himself found in trouble with the law as well — he was arrested about an hour before Wayne on New York’s Upper West Side after police found a .40 pistol in his Mayback, and he has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon. Two other men, Dennis Cherry, 36, and Mohamed Gamal, 38 were also arrested on gun charges.

Original Post on MTV.com