Sunday, October 7, 2012

In Music News...


I have wanted to comment on the following for a while, but I'm never going to be able to give these items their due. So, here's a quick wrap on some artists you find regularly on this blog:

You can stream A.C. Newman's 'Shut Down the Streets' in its entirety from the widget above. Matador has had this up for a week already in anticipation of the official release on Tuesday. Preorder here.

Rolling Stone was the first place to officially post a song from Tracey Thorn's upcoming holiday album, 'Tinsel and Lights,' out Oct. 30 on Merge. I was searching Soundcloud for the widget when I came across another song from the album posted by buzzinfly.com. Thanks very much. I'm really getting excited about this one.



There is an official release date for the first three-song EP in Marshall Crenshaw's subscription series. "I Don't See You Laughing Now" comes out Nov. 23, and you can still get in on the action by filling out your info here.

After some down time, the Pains of Being Pure at Heart are back with a fun 7". It's due out at the end of the month, but it's already available for streaming. Does it sound familiar to you?



Congratulations to Reigning Sound. After a decade of reputation building, the old-timey garage greats have signed with Merge. Expect a new album soon. If you don't know these guys, give "Stick Up For Me" a listen. It's from their last album, 'Love and Curses.' Prior to that, the band backed Mary Weiss from the Shangri-Las on her first album in 30 years. I highly recommend her comeback from 2007, 'Dangerous Game.'

Reigning Sound - Stick Up For Me (mp3)

Finally, I was really sad when I read on Big Country's Web site Tony Butler was retiring from the band. I felt that, somehow, Mike Peter's involvement had really worked. I liked their 2011 single, "Another Country," and was looking forward to seeing what the band would come up with for a full-length album (to be produced by Steve Lillywhite). Seeing Big Country in Glasgow back in February has been my highlight of the year. In hindsight, maybe Butler wasn't as into it as I would have hoped. If he no longer enjoyed it, all I can do is thank him for a great 30 years. He will be missed. Big Country has already announced his replacement, original Simple Minds bassist Derek Forbes. So, it seems, the band will go on. With only Bruce and Mark left from the classic lineup, I wouldn't mind seeing them rename the band, to be brutally honest, but I wish them nothing but the best. Hey, if Roger and Pete can do it... Here's a B-side from the "Where the Rose Is Sown" 12" just for Tony.

Big Country - Bass Dance (mp3)

2 comments:

alvalmeida said...

This is sad news for Big Country fans. Tony Butler and Mark is what we called here in Brazil the perfect "cozinha" (kitchen) when bass and drums are really integrated and plays their instruments as easy as thought. Hope Derek can asct the same way. But, in my opinion, it will take some time.

Echorich said...

adding Forbes to the Big Country sound could be quite interesting. Interesting though that he left Simple Minds just as their star was rising in the US and their sound was expanding to area and stadium level while Big Country has always occupied a place in the Big Music category. He has a history of musical differences in his past. Wonder how long it will last.