2012-13 Music Thread

[StrangeSox]

I passed on seeing QOTSA play a small venue in Birmingham where they were going to strictly play songs from their first album.

 

Fail.

 

Why did you do this thing?

[MEANS]

Why did you do this thing?

 

 

yes that tour was very good. S/T is just a classic. Still sounds good to this day.

[SoxFan1]

Pretty awesome...

 

[StrangeSox]

Blasting the latest Sleigh Bells while setting up my new PC build

[Cali]

In love with the new Dr. Dog.

 

Digging the new Punch Brothers and Andrew Bird albums (first time I've ever listened to either)

[JPN366]

I find him to be absolutely hilarious.

 

 

SMH

[JPN366]

Why did you do this thing?

 

I realize the error.

[JPN366]

No vinyl release planned for the new Mars Volta album as of right now.

 

Fail.

 

Nevermind, vinyl's due out at the end of May.

[iamshack]

Alabama Shakes, anyone?

 

This is what I was hoping for when I originally heard the hype over The Black Keys and Kings of Leon...

[farmteam]

Alabama Shakes, anyone?

 

This is what I was hoping for when I originally heard the hype over The Black Keys and Kings of Leon...

 

I love that woman's voice. They're a little more soul than Black Keys, though.

 

Kings of Leon had a decent song or two, but I do like the Black Keys quite a bit. This album was way cleaner sounding (especially the bass) and more poppy. But their first first albums are straight up blues, there's some RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough covers on the first record.

[southsider2k5]

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/04/12/...l-hall-of-fame/

 

The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Guns N’ Roses Fans and Whom It May Concern,

 

When the nominations for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame were first announced I had mixed emotions but, in an effort to be positive, wanting to make the most of things for the fans and with their enthusiasm, I was honored, excited and hoped that somehow this would be a good thing. Of course I realized as things stood, if Guns N’ Roses were to be inducted it’d be somewhat of a complicated or awkward situation.

 

Since then we’ve listened to fans, talked with members of the board of the Hall Of Fame, communicated with and read various public comments and jabs from former members of Guns N’ Roses, had discussions with the president of the Hall Of Fame, read various press (some legit, some contrived) and read other artists’ comments weighing in publicly on Guns and the Hall with their thoughts.

 

Under the circumstances I feel we’ve been polite, courteous, and open to an amicable solution in our efforts to work something out. Taking into consideration the history of Guns N’ Roses, those who plan to attend along with those the Hall for reasons of their own, have chosen to include in “our” induction (that for the record are decisions I don’t agree with, support or feel the Hall has any right to make), and how (albeit no easy task) those involved with the Hall have handled things… no offense meant to anyone but the Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony doesn’t appear to be somewhere I’m actually wanted or respected.

 

For the record, I would not begrudge anyone from Guns their accomplishments or recognition for such. Neither I or anyone in my camp has made any requests or demands of the Hall Of Fame. It’s their show not mine.

 

That said, I won’t be attending The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction 2012 Ceremony and I respectfully decline my induction as a member of Guns N’ Roses to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

 

I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf. Neither former members, label representatives nor the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame should imply whether directly, indirectly or by omission that I am included in any purported induction of “Guns N’ Roses”.

 

This decision is personal. This letter is to help clarify things from my and my camp’s perspective. Neither is meant to offend, attack or condemn. Though unfortunately I’m sure there will be those who take offense (God knows how long I’ll have to contend with the fallout), I certainly don’t intend to disappoint anyone, especially the fans, with this decision. Since the announcement of the nomination we’ve actively sought out a solution to what, with all things considered, appears to be a no win, at least for me, “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” scenario all the way around.

 

In regard to a reunion of any kind of either the Appetite or Illusion lineups, I’ve publicly made myself more than clear. Nothing’s changed.

 

The only reason, at this point, under the circumstances, in my opinion whether under the guise of “for the fans” or whatever justification of the moment, for anyone to continue to ask, suggest or demand a reunion are misguided attempts to distract from our efforts with our current lineup of myself, Dizzy Reed, Tommy Stinson, Frank Ferrer, Richard Fortus, Chris Pitman, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and DJ Ashba.

 

Izzy came out with us a few times back in ’06 and I invited him to join us at our LA Forum show last year. Steven was at our show at the Hard Rock, later in ’06 in Las Vegas, where I invited him to our after-party and was rewarded with his subsequent interviews filled with reunion lies. Lesson learned. Duff joined us in 2010 and again in ’11 along with his band, Loaded, opening in Seattle and Vancouver. For me, with the exception of Izzy or Duff joining us on stage if they were so inclined somewhere in the future for a song or two, that’s enough.

 

There’s a seemingly endless amount of revisionism and fantasies out there for the sake of self-promotion and business opportunities masking the actual realities. Until every single one of those generating from or originating with the earlier lineups has been brought out in the light, there isn’t room to consider a conversation let alone a reunion.

 

Maybe if it were you it’d be different. Maybe you’d do it for this reason or that. Peace, whatever. I love our band now. We’re there for each other when the going get’s rough. We love our fans and work to give them every ounce of energy and heart we can.

 

So let sleeping dogs lie or lying dogs sleep or whatever. Time to move on. People get divorced. Life doesn’t owe you your own personal happy ending especially at another’s, or in this case several others’, expense.

 

But hey if ya gotta then maybe we can get the “no show, grandstanding, publicity stunt, disrespectful, he doesn’t care about the fans” crap out of the way as quickly as we can and let’s move on. No one’s taking the ball and going home. Don’t get it twisted. For more than a decade and a half we’ve endured the double standards, the greed of this industry and the ever present seemingly limitless supply of wannabes and unscrupulous, irresponsible media types. Not to imply anything in this particular circumstance, but from my perspective in regard to both the Hall and a reunion, the ball’s never been in our court.

 

In closing, regardless of this decision and as hard to believe or as ironic as it may seem, I’d like to sincerely thank the board for their nomination and their votes for Guns’ induction. More importantly I’d like to thank the fans for being there over the years, making any success we’ve had possible and for enjoying and supporting Guns N’ Roses music.

 

I wish the Hall a great show, congratulations to all the other artists being inducted and to our fans we look forward to seeing you on tour!!

 

Sincerely,

 

Axl Rose

 

P.S. RIP Armand, Long Live ABC III

[StrangeSox]

I love that woman's voice. They're a little more soul than Black Keys, though.

 

Kings of Leon had a decent song or two, but I do like the Black Keys quite a bit. This album was way cleaner sounding (especially the bass) and more poppy. But their first first albums are straight up blues, there's some RL Burnside and Junior Kimbrough covers on the first record.

 

The first three Kings of Leon albums were fun if not exactly ground-breaking music. The last two were incredibly boring.

[Steve9347]

I wish Blunderbuss would leak already.

[kjshoe04]

I wish Blunderbuss would leak already.

You and me both.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/04/12/...l-hall-of-fame/

 

I certainly wasn't expecting this to end any differently, and I can see it from his point of view, but it's pretty unfortunate for fans and former members of the band. As good as some of his new material is, it won't ever see the success that Appetite and the Illusions saw. He's insecure about having to share the spotlight with Slash.

[Steve9347]

I wish Blunderbuss would leak already.

LEAK ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steve9347]

New Soundgarden single "Live to Rise" is available free on iTunes. It's ok.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

New Soundgarden single "Live to Rise" is available free on iTunes. It's ok.

 

Hope Soundgarden doesn't interfere with Matt Cameron's Pearl Jam stuff. Both are on the verge of releasing new material.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Swingandalongonetoleft

[JPN366]

All those locker sites getting shut down has cut into my music accumulation.

Edited April 17, 2012 by JPN366

[Steve9347]

All those locker sites getting shut down has cut into my music accumulation.

kat.ph

[JPN366]

kat.ph

 

I avoid torrents.

[kjshoe04]

LEAK ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you. It's excellent.

[Steve9347]

Thank you. It's excellent.

Agreed. I've been listening to it non-stop at work.

[kjshoe04]

Agreed. I've been listening to it non-stop at work.

I've listened to it at least 10 times now.

[Swingandalongonetoleft]

Randy rocks Chicago again: Merlin conjures up new alternative

 

Posted in Robert Feder | Chicago Media blog by

Robert Feder on Apr 24, 2012 at 8:00pm

 

Nine months after Merlin Media turned legendary alternative rocker Q101 into FM News

 

101.1, it’s bringing back the format on a smaller station at the far, far end of the dial.

 

Effective this Monday, sources said, low-power WLFM-LP (87.7) will jettison the smooth jazz music it has featured since 2009 as Chicago’s Smooth 87.7 and become an alternative rock station with a revival of the call letters WKQX.

 

The new format is expected to originate from the same Merchandise Mart studios occupied by Merlin Media’s two Chicago stations, all-news WIQI-FM (101.1) and classic rock WLUP-FM (97.9). Headed by Randy Michaels, the former Tribune Co. CEO, Merlin Media acquired the two stations from Emmis Communications (along with a third one in New York) and launched the new company last summer.

 

Under a local marketing agreement announced Tuesday, Merlin Media will assume full control over programming, sales and operations of 87.7 FM, although current owner Venture Technologies Group LLC, will retain its license.

 

There’s still a possibility smooth jazz might show up on one of Merlin’s HD digital channels. But for all practical purposes, the maneuver takes smooth jazz off terrestrial radio in Chicago for the second time in three years. Smooth 87.7 was launched in the wake of Clear Channel’s decision to pull the plug on smooth jazz after 22 years on WNUA-FM (95.5), which switched to a Spanish-language music format in 2009.

 

Despite the challenges of an obscure signal at the end of the dial and little promotion, Smooth 87.7 drew more respectable ratings than many other well-established stations in the market. In the latest Arbitron quarterly survey, it attracted a cumulative weekly audience of nearly 500,000, and ranked 26th with a 1.2 percent share of adults between 25 and 54.

 

What made the station vulnerable was the unusual nature of its signal and the uncertain status of its license. All along, in fact, it was a low-power television station masquerading as a radio station. Without assurances from the Federal Communications Commission that it can continue to operate after 2015, its current ownership group opted to cash out.

 

"The business dedication was made in large part by the regulatory uncertainty of the analog TV Channel 6/87.7FM dial position in the long term," said Paul Koplin, CEO of Venture Technologies Group. "The success of 87.7 to this point is validated by the fact that Merlin Media, led by Randy Michaels, wants to partner with us."

 

Terms of the local marketing agreement were not disclosed, nor was it clear under what circumstances Merlin Media might assume ownership of the station.

 

The decision to revive alternative rock — the very same format Merlin Media abandoned when it dumped Q101 — is intended to attract younger listeners who presumably are more willing to seek out a station at the end of the dial than “older people who have no clue that it’s there,” an insider said. The key to profitability will be to sell advertising on the new WKQX in combination with The Loop, which has been enjoying higher ratings than it did under Emmis Communications ownership.

 

The company continues to struggle with its flagship property, FM News 101.1, which still languishes near rock bottom after more than nine months on air. Within hours of Tuesday’s announcement, Merlin Media began airing one-minute newscasts on 87.7 twice each hour, provided by FM News 101.1.

 

The impending demise of Smooth 87.7 prompted a gracious message of thanks to listeners from WLFM program director and midday personality Rick O’Dell, Chicago’s longtime ambassador of smooth jazz.

 

“I speak for everyone at 87.7 when I say it was a wonderful, exciting three years as Chicago’s smooth choice,” O’Dell wrote on the station’s website. “We are grateful to have had your support. Everyone on the WLFM staff will miss the incredible relationship we've had with you. There's been nothing like it in my career — I can tell you that. . . . And who knows what might be down the road? I like to be an optimist in these kinds of situations.”