W♥M (Archive)

Going for Gold 8

YES, Going for Gold is in its eighth installment.

Read More Goldfrapp I also picked up a few new CDs, including Goldfrapp's Seventh Tree, primarily for a decently priced ($17) deluxe package (includes extra DVD, handwritten lyric books, poster, postcards, etc).

GOLDFRAPP
www.goldfrapp.com

I've gone on record in the past, saying that I am a fan of Goldfrapp. I love them, even though I don't have their new album, I did pick up Seventh Tree.

So, their new release, The Singles, which comes out February 7th, 2012, via Astralwerks Records, is perfect for me - it collects all their big hits throughout the years. For hardcore fans, you'll want to pick this up because it also comes with two new songs, especially written and meant for this collection: "Yellow Halo" and "Melancholy Sky". The video for the former is available now on youtube.com. Tip: their videos have always been amazing, so do yourself a favor and watch it.

Anyway, watch out for the greatest hits/singles album to be out in February, below is the track listing:

1. Ooh La La
2. Number 1
3. Strict Machine (Single Mix)
4. Lovely Head
5. Utopia (Genetically Enriched)
6. A&E
7. Happiness (Single Version)
8. Train
9. Ride A White Horse (Single Version)
10. Rocket
11. Believer
12. Black Cherry
13. Yellow Halo
14. Melancholy Sky

GOLDEN CALVES
www.woodsist.com

Originally released in 1996, Golden Calves' Money Band LP and Century Band 12" are being re-issued on January 31st, 2012, as double LP from Woodsist Records. The record is limited to 1,000 copies, the digital version is infinite!

I've never heard of Golden Calves (or Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice), so I can't really understand the minimalist album cover approach. As a fan of cover artwork, I have to say, I don't like the white boring album artwork. Before you mention The Beatles' "White Album", I don't like that either - despite owning two different versions of that album.

I'll leave it to songwriter, James Jackson Toth, to explain his album (and his 'naïve art'):

"It was really all about The Godz, Jandek, The Shadow Ring, Strapping Fieldhands, Swell Maps and Tower Recordings. Beyond these, I had only heard the 'classic' and most available free jazz, krautrock and noise albums. I was a long way from, say, the second Comus album or Charles Gayle. But this music changed my life. It was a record store owner named Eric McCarthy and a man who needs no introduction to anyone reading these notes, Matt Valentine, who taught me that there was a world beyond Dischord, Vermiform and Ebullition. I went to college, met hip people, and got a job at both the local record store and the college radio station. I was taking drugs. I bought a four track and began emulating my heroes. I called the project Golden Calves. I was eighteen years old....

In hindsight, I like to think that the noise scene liked us and responded so positively to us because, in our own naïve way, we were subverting a very rigid paradigm. Touring with noise bands and moving in experimental circles but playing proper 'songs' is what made us weird. It was an exciting, unforgettable time.

These are not perfect records. Perhaps worse than so-called 'naïve art' is 'only-marginally-informed art' and that's what this is. I should have let my talents marinate for a while before rushing out records that now sound to me like thinly-veiled love letters to Siltbreeze. But f**k it, man. I was hopelessly arrogant then and remain so today. Why else would I greenlight this f**king thing?"

DIGGS DUKE
diggsduke.bandcamp.com

Diggs Duke tells me that his new release, Black Gold is available now via Bandcamp at any price (this means you can put in $0.00 and it will still let you download the EP).

There is a disclaimer on the website, which I'll change to lowercase, because it felt like he's screaming at you with the ALL CAPS.

*** When you purchase this EP, you aren't paying for the artist to buy a yacht. You really arn't even paying for the music herein. What you're doing is making a donation to support this artist's future musical endeavors. So, be assured that whever you donate is helping to revive quality music. If you want to hear more, give more.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M

Music documentaries appearing in early 2012

Been spending a lot of time watching television, here's what to look forward to in 2012:

>>>
EVERYDAY SUNSHINE: THE STORY OF FISHBONE
fishbonedocumentary.com

I'll be completely honest here and will tell you that I've often mistaken these two bands: Phish and Fishbone. One is a jam band and the other is an alt-rock-ska fusion band.

You may or may not remember Fishbone's big hit song, "Everyday Sunshine", which obviously the title of the documentary is taken from. National (US) broadcast of the film will premiere on Monday, January 22, 2012 on American Public Television (APT).

"Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone" is part of a series of AfroPoP documentaries, produced by the National Black Programming Consortium. Can we expect a documentary on a similiar band, Living Colour, in the near future? Who knows.

Can't see it live or would rather own the film? It will be out February 1st on iTunes, and also DVD on February 22nd, 2012, just in time for Black History Month.

Also, check it out: Larry Fishburne (his screen name on Nightmare on Elm Street 3) narrates the film!

EVERYDAY SUNSHINE is a documentary about the band Fishbone, musical pioneers who have been rocking on the margins of pop culture for the past 25 years. From the streets of South-Central Los Angeles and the competitive Hollywood music scene of the 1980's, the band rose to prominence, only to fall apart when on the verge of "making it."

Laurence Fishburne narrates EVERYDAY SUNSHINE, an entertaining cinematic journey into the personal lives of this unique Black rock band, an untold story of fiercely individual artists in their quest to reclaim their musical legacy while debunking the myths of young Black men from urban America. Highlighting the parallel journeys of a band and their city, EVERYDAY SUNSHINE explores the personal and cultural forces that gave rise to California's legendary Black punk sons that continue to defy categories and expectations.

At the heart of the film's story is lead singer Angelo Moore and bassist Norwood Fisher who show how they keep the band rolling, out of pride, desperation and love for their art. To overcome money woes, family strife, and the strain of being aging Punk rockers on the road, Norwood and Angelo are challenged to re-invent themselves in the face of dysfunction and ghosts from a painful past.

AMERICAN MASTERS
pbs.org

This PBS biography series, American Masters, is on its 26th season (hint: it beats The Simpsons) and to start things off will be its look at folk & protest singer/songwriter Phil Ochs and jazz legend Cab Calloway. Calloway was said to introduced/inspired Michael Jackson's "moonwalk" after Jackson saw Calloway performing a similiar backstep dance move. I hope the documentary mention and show this to let viewers decide on their own!

American Masters Phil Ochs: There But for Fortune
NY metro area premiere Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 7:30-9pm on THIRTEEN
Premieres nationally Monday, January 23, 2012 from 10-11:30pm on PBS (check local listings)

Explore the iconic 1960s folk-protest music hero's troubled life through his songs and interviews with Joan Baez, Tom Hayden, Sean Penn, Pete Seeger, Christopher Hitchens, Michael Ochs, and others. Inspired by both Woody Guthrie and Elvis Presley, Phil Ochs was one of the most politically active singer-songwriter's of his generation and his music is as relevant today as it was then - "I Ain't Marching Anymore," "Power and the Glory," "The War Is Over," and "There But for Fortune." Unyielding in his political principles and unbending in his artistic vision, Ochs tirelessly fought for peace and justice throughout his short life, which ended in suicide at the age of 35. His music continues to influence and inspire topical songwriters around the world, including Pearl Jam, Ani DiFranco, Billy Bragg, and They Might Be Giants, who have all covered Ochs songs.

American Masters Cab Calloway: Sketches
Premieres Monday, February 27, 2012 from 10-11pm on PBS (check local listings) in honor of Black History Month

A singer, dancer and band leader, Cab Calloway was an exceptional figure in the history of jazz, charming audiences with his bravado and showmanship."Minnie the Moocher," with its popular refrain "Hi de hi de hi de ho," was his signature song and Harlem's famous Cotton Club was his home stage. His back-glide dance step inspired Michael Jackson's moonwalk, and his scatting lyrics find their legacy in today's hip-hop and rap. At the top of his game in the jazz and swing eras of the 30s and 40s, Calloway was one of the first black musicians to tour the segregationist South (as early as 1932), and he forever put his personal stamp on "It Ain't Necessarily So" as Sportin' Life in Porgy and Bess. His career flagged in the late 40s, but he was rediscovered in 1980's The Blues Brothers and on Sesame Street, becoming a new cult hero of sorts.

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS
bbc.co.uk

Not exactly a documentary, but I couldn't pass this up.

Who can forget the wonderful Pet Shop Boys theme song or Eddy and Patsy's drinking misadventures? So the girls are getting back together in THREE BRAND NEW EPISODES to premiere on BBC America starting this month, January 2012.

Absolutely Fabulous 20th Anniversary Specials premieres Sunday, January 8, 10:00pm ET/PT on BBC America and Logo. Further details about the two subsequent specials will be announced at a later date.

Some extra details:

Twenty years ago the world was introduced to Edina (aka Eddy), Patsy (aka Pats) and Saffron (aka Saffy). It has never been quite the same. Eddy PR'd things. She was into every new fad and fashion imaginable and was often to be found at the bottom of a champagne glass, actually more likely a bottle. Not much has changed. Her best friend Patsy worked in magazines and lived the high life. She still does. Eddy’s daughter Saffy was hard-working, all but ignored by her mother and hated by Patsy. Eddy’s mother was and is, well, her mother.

In the first of three episodes, there’s a homecoming for one of them who’s been ‘away’ for quite some time. She arrives at the Edina Monsoon’s household with a new - slightly scary - best friend. Her presence could be either a blessing or a disaster, raising questions of identity that could even involve a certain person owning up to her real age... if she can remember it. Warning: A Royal Wedding is re-enacted by Bubble.

PS: Look for Grammy award-winner La Roux to make an appearance on the new Ab Fab 20th shows. In other La Roux news, Elly & Ben are currently in the studios recording their sophomore album, look for it in 2012.

vu () ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ podcast.weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com/weheartmusic ♥ +W♥M