Thanks to Stereogum, we’ve got the title track from Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues (out 5/3 via Sub Pop). And I’ve got to tell you… it’s soaring, majestic, and wonderful. At one point, singer Robin Pecknold asserts: “And I know you will keep me on the shelf…”
Not a chance. Come have a listen, and grab your own copy!
Continue reading “First Listen: Fleet Foxes – “Helplessness Blues””
On August 4th, during his opening set for Joanna Newsom at Seattle’s Moore Theater, Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) performed three new songs. And thanks to the hard work of the fine folks over at We All Want Someone to Shout For, and Stereogum, I’m very pleased to bring them to you.
Continue reading “Robin Pecknold Performs Three New Songs in Seattle”
Many of the sites I’ve featured in the “Other Stuff You Might Like” series have a common thread: excellent, impromptu concerts by established and upcoming musicians. We’ve looked at Luxury Wafers, Black Cab Sessions, They Shoot Music – Don’t They, and NPR Music. (And I’m sure to get around to Daytrotter before too long…) Now, from France, we’ve got the excellent blog La Blogotheque, and its excellent Take-Away Shows (or, if you prefer, Les Concerts à Emporter). The site’s catalog of artists is truly amazing, as are the performances, and so I invite you to come have a look…
Continue reading “Other Stuff You Might Like: La Blogotheque”
Hey, everyone! Lots of stuff for you, this week. As you might have noticed, I’m steadily working my way through the mailbag. There’s lots more great stuff in there, which I hope you’ll see in the next few days. The really good, slightly-longer-term news is that my dissertation now has a planned submission date. So, one day – in the not-too-distant future – I’ll be able to spend lots more time developing some of these tidbits into articles. But until that day comes, I leave you with the best of this week’s bookmarks…
It’s easy, sometimes, to think of radio as a dead medium. The sort of thing that can get you through a visit to the dentist, or an elevator ride, but not much else. In a post-Buggles world, what good can radio really bring us? Well, of course, there’s rather a lot of good to be had out there. I’ve looked at, and featured, NPR’s excellent All Songs Considered on this site before. But there’s so much more to be found in local stations across America (and the globe) – perhaps none so striking as Seattle’s KEXP. The site features an enormous amount of live, in-studio recordings and interviews, as well as news and video (they’ve even got a nifty iPhone app). As someone who lost faith in radio during the ClearChannel consolidation years, I find it very reassuring to know that stations like this have managed to survive.
You really should take some time to rummage around their site. After the cut, I’ll highlight some of my favorite live recordings, and give you a few tips from their upcoming performances list. Hint: Jónsi tomorrow!
Continue reading “Other Stuff You Might Like: Live Performances from KEXP”