radio barz

Where do you find new music?

This week, my son Jonathan asked, "Dad, where do you find new music?" Well, son, here are the top 3 places I go to discover new tunes:

1. Daytrotter. Just launched its paid membership -- $2 a month for a priceless collection of exclusive sessions, hot streams and ultra cool illustrations and editorial. What are you waiting for? Pay the man and start listening. Latest Daytrotter find -- Lateef the Truthspeaker's smooth, groovy, jazz rap. 
2. NPR's All Songs Considered podcast, blog and 24/7 music channel. In Bob Boilen, the godfather of All Songs, I trust. Same said for his All Song's compatriot Robin Hilton. They routinely turn me on to music I might have missed. All Song's intimate Tiny Desk Concerts are addictive. Special editions showcase electronic, metal and latin music. All Song's also presents great theme shows (when did you "break up" with your favorite band?), guest DJ sets and extensive SXSW coverage, including bleary-eyed, conversational SXSW recaps -- often recorded way past the midnight hour.
3. KCRW. Just about any place you turn your ear on this station, you’ll find new, engaging and intriguing music. Many of my discovers have come from listening to shows hosted by Anne Litt, Garth Trinidad and Aaron Byrd. Also love the station's Eclectic 24 music stream.

Other places I turn to hear new tunes:

• RCRD LBL - Fun remixes and wild variety. Where else can you find The Antlers cover The xx song "VCR" and Rev. Lonnie Farris' soulful "Peace in the Valley." 
• No Depression 
• KEXP Song of the Day
• WWOZ - Bringing New Orleans music to the world.
• For fans of Turntable, Blip may seem a little underwhelming, but it's fast, accessible and a great way to connect with DJs around the world and discover what's in their ear.
• RIP (and hopefully rise again) WOXY. 
• If I was only in town, Everybody's Records in Cincinnati.
• When I'm downtown Chicago, Reckless Records. Pick your location.
• When I'm at SXSW, Waterloo Records. 

I’m also experiencing an emerging obsession this week with Tom Sharpling’s newly launched musician interview podcast, Low Times. The first ep featured Wild Flag drummer Janet Weiss, Owen Ashworth of Advance Base, and bassist Catherine Popper, who's played with Ryan Adams, Willie Nelson and -- don't take my word for it, listen yourself -- Chevy Chase. Low Times is freaking awesome. Thanks, Tom, Maggie and Daniel. I eagerly await episode 2. 

Jonathan, I hope I answered your question. 

Where do you go to find new music? Let me know and I'll post the resources you share.

 

LexGo's best of 2010 includes Eaglesmith, Los Lobos, Costello

Nice list of top 2010 releases from Walter Tunis, contributing music columnist for LexGo. Reminds me to spend more time with Elvis Costello's "National Ransom," and Los Lobos' "Tin Can Trust." And it's great to see Fred Eaglesmith's "Cha Cha Cha" get recognition. Check out Walter's complete list. 

 

 

 

Favorite albums of 2010 (so far)

Already know I'll be adding a few titles, but here are my favorite releases of 2010 (so far):

• The Black Keys-Brothers
• Fred Eaglesmith-Cha Cha Cha
• Bobby Bare Jr.-A Storm, A Tree, My Mother’s Head
• Stephanie Finch And the Company Men-Cry Tomorrow
• Black Dub-Black Dub
• Steve Poltz-Dream House
• Hoodoo Gurus-Purity Of Essence
• Jon Dee Graham-It’s Not As Bad As It Looks
• Neil Young-Le Noise
• Jon Langford-Old Devils

 

 

Not at Bonnaroo? Me either. But you can still listen in.

NPR and NPR member stations are doing an amazing job of covering Bonnaroo this weekend with live broadcasts and Webcasts. NPR is also offering a free sampler with songs from 11 bands playing the festival. Just like getting your own Bonnaroo mix tape.

Here are some places to listen in on Bonnaroo 2010. Don't forget your sunscreen!

• NPR Music live from Bonnaroo (lots of live Webcasts all weekend plus an archive).
• Great discussion on NPR's All Songs Considered Bonnaroo preview. Gives you a sense of the bands, the songs and the Bonnaroo experience. 
• WFUV's cool, eclectic Bonnaroo coverage. 
• Austin, TX comes to Bonnaroo courtesy of KUT.

And if that's not enough, get a who slew of Bonnaroo news here, including the story of Conan O'Brien's Bonnaroo set. (Rolling Stone)

Additional links:

• Bonnaroo Web site
• Flaming Lips, Kings of Leon ingnite Bonnaroo (Rollling Stone).
• Bonnaroo 2010: The Flaming Lips Play Pink Floyd (The Wall Street Journal Speakeasy blog)

It's Saturday. Let's Rock. Here are the Vivian Girls.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your Saturday rock and roll listening enjoyment, we present three by the Vivian Girls: 

Tears On My Pillow: All Songs Valentine Break-Up Song Mix

We can't play this game anymore, but can we still be friends? 

  

If Valentine's Day makes us all gushy with thoughts of true love, flowers and heart-felt songs, there's also a darker side: The break-up song.

NPR's All Songs Considered serves up a powerful mix of bitter-sweet (often more bitter than sweet) goodbyes from Beck, Split Enz, Vic Chesnutt, The Replacements, and Roy Orbison, among others.

Grab your Kleenex and have a listen.

Them Crooked Vultures on SNL this Week

Check out these promos for this week's Saturday Night Live featuring musical guests Them Crooked Vultures. And watch John Paul Jones get "fired." 

Videos of the Week and Song of the Day

Here are some of the songs and videos that have been in heavy rotation in the Radio Barz universe this weekend.

I've been on a major Neil Young binge, particularly around the song "Cowgirl in the Sand." Brings back those lazy summer afternoons in the 1970s when time crawled and possibilities were endless. Good to see that Neil can still bring it in all his ragged glory in this October 2008 concert in Calgary. Also a great live version now available on the Neil Young Archives, Volume I, from a 1970 performance at the Fillmore East. 

Still laugh when I watch Will Ferrell's rendition of "Freebird" from the last episode of the Tonight Show with Conan. 

But my song of the day is by Charlotte Gainsbourg's from her entrancing new album, IRM, "Trick Pony" as performed on the 1-22-10 episode of Late Night with David Letterman. Good funky stuff. Turn up shose drums.

What's on heavy rotation in your world?

Have a rockin' good week!

I like this album cover: Pylon, "Chomp More"

Don't know what I like more the name of the band, Pylon; the name of the album, "Chomp More;" or the album cover itself. Let's face it, giant T-Rex heads rule! So the album cover wins this contest. Check out Pylon and remember to "Chomp More" (sounds like a New Year's resolution to me).

 

Adventureland Soundtrack: Loaded with 1980s College Rock Goodness

Holidays are the time for catching up on movies I missed during the year. This afternoon, it was Adventureland. Enjoyable, especially for someone like me who spent his 20s in the 80s. 

The soundtrack plays an integral part in the film, as it does in recent youth romantic comedies like Nick & Nora's Infinite Playlist, Juno and 500 Days of Summer. What's great about Adventureland is the reliance on so many wonderful college radio and alt-rock songs from the 70s and 80s that I've forgotten to listen to for too long -- like a newly found mix tape. 

My favorite cuts include the dreamy, sad Pale Blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground, Satellite Of Love by Lou Reed, Unatisfied by The Replacements, and Big Stars' I'm In Love With A Girl. The only clunker to my ears is Falco's Rock Me Amadeus. But the tune is used to such comic effect in the movie I suppose it had to be included.