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    December 28, 2011

    Photos: January Concert Guide - redeyechicago.com

    Milano January 6 at Beat Kitchen

    ( HANDOUT )

    January 2012 Concert Guide in photos thanks to RedEye Chicago.

    Posted at 11:28 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    December 26, 2011

    Will 2012 be the year Spotify advances on iTunes?

    What is Spotify? A new online music service that might or might not revolutionize your life. Though it's been popular in Europe for several years (with more than 10 million registered users), the site just launched in the U.S. on Thursday, after months of speculation.

    How is it different from all the other music services? It's still a little unclear. With Pandora's soaring IPO and the recent launch of Turntable.fm — a site that allows you to play songs for others as if you were a DJ — it's hard to keep track of the competition. But Spotify is different from those in at least one important respect: It has secured contracts with all the major record labels, along with some independent ones. That means you can listen to just about any well-known song past or present whenever you want, without being beholden to the tastes of either your friends or Pandora's customized artist algorithm. Instead of typing in the Rolling Stones and getting Creedence Clearwater Revival, you'll just get the Stones.

    So should I be using this? It definitely sounds good. Spotify empowers its users with lots of options — in addition to streaming songs, you can import the ones you already own and share playlists. And unlike Rhapsody, a similar on-demand music-listening service, it's totally free. (There are also paid options that get rid of the ads.) But there are still plenty of restrictions: Users will be capped at 20 hours of listening per month, and you can only play a single song so many times. That means it might make a nice preview of a new album you heard about, but no, it will never replace your vinyl edition of Exile on Main St. (Will anything?)

    Are you using Spotify? Has it surpassed iTunes or Pandora as your source for new music?

    Posted at 07:30 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    December 19, 2011

    The Decemberists: Foregone (Download)

    Check out Today's Top Tune on KCRW -- "Foregone" by The Decemberists. A smooth, twangy mellow jam from a new EP that features b-sides from one of my favorite albums of the year, The King Is Dead. 

    Posted at 10:29 PM in New Music, Song of the Day | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    December 15, 2011

    Listeners Pick Their Favorite Albums Of 2011 : NPR

    This summer, when All Songs Considered asked listeners to vote for their favorite albums of the year so far, there were a handful of shoo-ins. Instantly beloved releases by Bon Iver, Adele, Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists and others all made a predictably strong showing.

    via www.npr.org

    Top albums of 2011 according to All Songs Considered listeners. What are your favorites on this list? What did All Songs listeners miss? I can think of a dozen or so albums on my list that don't show up here (of course, my 2011 list is long). If I had to add one, it would be the dynamic release by Garland Jeffreys, "The King of In Between."

    Posted at 02:44 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    Daytrotter Best Songs of 2011 Reader's Choice

    Daytrotter Best Songs of 2011 Reader's Choice

    Great season for "best of" music lists. Looks like there are more than ever this year. Daytrotter continues to be one of my favorite destinations to find new music. The Trotters were busier than ever in 2011 shining the light on new and upcoming artists and providing the DT touch to some established performers like Rodney Crowell. Now Daytrotter is asking its listeners to share their best songs of 2011.

    Posted at 02:32 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    November 18, 2011

    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:

    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.

     

    Posted at 10:10 PM in Jazz, Music, New Music | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    November 15, 2011

    SXSW 2012: Second Round of Bands Announced

    Just announced, the second round of bands playing at SXSW 2012:

    Alabama Shakes (Athens AL)
    Asking Alexandria (York UK-ENGLAND)
    Atlantic/Pacific (Brooklyn NY)
    Bad Weather California (Denver CO)
    Belligerence (Portsmouth UK-ENGLAND)
    Ben Howard (Devon UK-ENGLAND)
    Blouse (Portland OR)
    Capsula (Bilbao SPAIN)
    Choir of Young Believers (Copenhagen DENMARK)
    Dikes of Holland (Austin TX)
    Duran (Bogotá COLOMBIA)
    Edison Chair (Austin TX)
    Electric Eel Shock (Tokyo JAPAN)
    Electric Wire Hustle (Wellington NEW ZEALAND)
    Elias Haslanger (Austin TX)
    Extrawelt (Hamburg GERMANY)
    Fallulah (Copenhagen DENMARK)
    Films of Colour (London UK-ENGLAND)
    Go Back To The Zoo (Amsterdam THE NETHERLANDS)
    Hunters (Brooklyn NY)
    Idiot Glee (Lexington KY)
    J.R. Patton (Dallas TX)
    Juan Cirerol (Mexicali MEXICO)
    Lanie Lane (Sydney NSW)
    Led Er Est (New York NY)
    Lilly Wood and the Prick (Paris FRANCE)
    Lonsdale Boys Club (London UK-ENGLAND)
    Lucero (Memphis TN)
    Miles Zuniga (Austin TX)
    New Look (Hamilton AB)
    Nick Jaina (Portland OR)
    Nive Nielsen & The Deer Children (Nuuk GREENLAND)
    Oh Mercy (Melbourne VIC)
    Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders (Los Angeles CA)
    Polarsets (Newcastle UK-ENGLAND)
    PUJOL (Nashville TN)
    Psychic Ills (New York NY)
    Radiation City (Portland OR)
    Schmillion (Austin TX)
    Teengirl Fantasy (New York NY)
    The Abramson Singers (Vancouver BC)
    The Record Summer (New York NY)
    Turbo Fruits (Nashville TN)
    Wheelchair Sports Camp (Denver CO)
    You Can't Win, Charlie Brown (Lisbon PORTUGAL)
    Zulu Winter (London UK-ENGLAND)

    Posted at 09:22 PM in SXSW | | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)

    Cheap Trick plans eatery, museum in Chicago - Yahoo! News

     

    Can't wait to see the menu.

    Posted at 09:12 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    November 12, 2011

    SXSW 2012: First Round of Bands Announced

    First Round of Bands | sxsw.com.

    Posted at 10:32 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

    Austin Itinerary: Stevie Ray Vaughn Statue

    Trip to the Steve Ray Vaughan statue is definitely on my 2012 Austin itinerary.

    Gone 20 years, Stevie Ray Vaughan stands forever tall in Austin.
    Gone 20 years, Stevie Ray Vaughan stands forever tall in Austin

    Posted at 10:15 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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