With cymbals crashing and string basses moaning, composer Angelo Badalamenti narrates a bawdy, bizarre and horrific story on “Woodcutters From Fiery Ships,” a track off his upcoming collaborative album with filmmaker David Lynch. The pair recorded the LP, Thought Gang, in spurts throughout the early Nineties, and though Lynch has …
Read More »Emmylou Harris on 'Sally Rose' Reissue, Influence of Springsteen's 'Nebraska'
The annual AmericanaFest, now underway in Nashville, celebrates the best in roots music through dozens of showcases, special events and the Americana Honors & Awards ceremony at the Ryman Auditorium. While the origins of the Americana movement can be traced back several decades, it would be impossible to overstate the …
Read More »Hear John Prine Update His 'Song of Personal Confrontation' 'How Lucky'
John Prine‘s wistful yet wise “How Lucky,” first recorded for his 1979 LP Pink Cadillac and produced by Sam Phillips in Memphis, gets a Bluff City update from Grammy-winning Memphis-based producer Matt Ross-Spang for Amazon Music’s “Produced By” series. Listen to the song here. Rather than celebrating the nostalgia of …
Read More »Jim James Unveils Two New Songs From 'Uniform Distortion' Companion Album
Just three months after releasing his solo album Uniform Distortion – which we called“dirtbag classic rock” – James has announced a follow-up album. Uniform Clarity, out October 5th,features acoustic versions of the songs from Uniform Distortion. The new version of “You Get To Rome,” turns the riff-heavy stomper into a …
Read More »Hear Ben Folds Satirize Trump, Denounce Bullying on New Song 'Mister Peepers'
Ben Folds documents a House Judiciary Committee showdown as a metaphor for bullying and human resolve on his new song “Mister Peepers.” The political satire, which the songwriter recorded in conjunction with The Washington Post Magazine, references the heated June Capitol Hill exchange between U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein …
Read More »Elton John Dazzles at Farewell Tour Launch
Elton John was about two-thirds of the way though his set on the opening night of his farewell tour at Allentown, Pennsylvania’s PPL Center when he paused the tell the audience why he’s calling it quits. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you’ve …
Read More »Lenny Kravitz Sings About Johnny Cash, June Carter in New Song 'Johnny Cash'
Lenny Kravitz‘s poignant moment with Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash after the 1995 death of the rock star’s mother inspired a new song on Kravitz’s latest album Raise Vibration. In an interview with the BBC, Kravitz recalls how he was staying with producer Rick Rubin in Los Angeles, where …
Read More »Norah Jones, Graham Nash, Chaka Khan Lead Joni Mitchell 75th Birthday Concerts
Norah Jones, Graham Nash, Chaka Khan and Kris Kristofferson are among the artists that will pay tribute to Joni Mitchell at Joni 75: A Birthday Celebration, an all-star two-day concert marking the legendary singer-songwriter’s 75th birthday. Emmylou Harris, Glen Hansard, Seal, Los Lobos, Diana Krall and Rufus Wainwright will also …
Read More »Dolly Parton Named 2019 MusiCares Person of the Year
Dolly Parton will become the first country-music artist to be named the MusiCares Person of the Year in the honor’s 29-year history. The Recording Academy will salute the Tennessee native, who rose from poverty in the Smoky Mountains to become a global superstar, at a February 8th, 2019, ceremony in …
Read More »Police-Involved Shooting Occurs Prior to Ice Cube Concert at California Racetrack
Police shot a man outside a California racetrack prior to an Ice Cube concert, an incident that occurred within earshot of a televised horse race. According to the Los Angeles Times, the man pulled a gun and fired several shots after being informed that the Ice Cube concert, scheduled to …
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