Joanna Newsom and Robin Pecknold performed last night at the Moore. This year Newsom released her third album, Have One on Me on Drag City (the Milk-Eyed Mender andYs came out in 2004 and 2006, respectively). Fleet Foxes‘ Pecknold appeared in a solo performance that was almost as anticipated as Newsom’s headlining show. Enjoy some fantastic photos from Seattle photographer Josh Bis:
Joanna Newsom
Robin Pecknold – all photos by Josh Bis
City Arts put on a special Bumbershoot edition of the Song Show at the Triple Door on July 28th featuring David Bazan, THEESatisfaction and Loch Lomond. Now, for your Bumbershoot attention: THEESatisfaction plays the EMP Sky Church on September 6th, Loch Lomond is also at Bumbershoot on September 6th and David Bazan makes an appearance on September 5th. Executive Editor of City Arts, Mark Baumgarten was on hand for the evening, as was photographer Alex Crick, who got some gorgeous shots of all bands:
David Bazan
THEESatisfaction
Loch Lomond
Mark Baumgarten
Squeeze is here on Tuesday night – that’s August 3rd, and they’ll play a headlining show at Showbox Market. The British band released one of my favorite songs ever, “Cool for Cats” on 1979’s Cool for Cats. Their influence is heard in so many bands and they still have such a distinctive and groundbreaking sound. There are a lot of great elements in their music from funk to jazz to disco to their lyric delivery, which comes out nearly as rap in many songs. I have the feeling that bands who draw from them might not even realize where they’re getting their sound. They’re probably best known in the States for “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell),” “Tempted,” and “Black Coffee in Bed” but check out some other awesome songs you can hope to hear (plus many appear on the CD featuring new recordings due out on August 3rd, Spot the Difference).
Squeeze – photo by Danny Clifford
Get tix here.
Yes, this isn’t something that I would normally review. But I will be honest, I have a bit of a soft spot for Sarah McLachlan. It all started when I was a freshman in High School (1997) and Surfacing came out. I was big into the Alternative/Grunge scene (as well as Hip-Hop) so I mostly stuck to that kind of music – till I heard “Building a Mystery” and it changed my view on music. Then came the ASPCA ads that featured “Angel”. I’m a big animal activist and it hit me so hard when those commercials played that I actually support ASPCA each month. To this day, those ads still make me cry (poor kitties and puppies). Hell I even loved the the mix she did with Canadian electronic artist Delirium.
Now she releases her first album in seven years, Laws of Illusion. The first track of the album, Love Come at times sounds like a Kings of Leon song. My favorite track off this album has to be “Forgiveness” – it really hits you like a tidal wave. Other stand out tracks include “Awakenings” and “Illusions of Bliss”. Also at times it feels the record has elements of Counting Crows and Band of Horses.
However, the rest of the album is lacking as it sounds very repetitive and bland. Most of the time it sounds like she’s trying way too hard to be like Dido and in some cases . . . Enya. It makes me wonder what happened to her folksy/alternative sound she had during the late 90’s that made her popular. Overall rating: 2 ½ /5
By: Xander Deccio
So a friend of mine from the UK sent me a copy of this album as it was released for free with the Daily Mirror. It hasn’t been released in the US and to be honest, with the way Prince is acting these days I doubt it will be any time soon.
I’ll be honest, I’m a HUGE Prince fan. Ever since I was a kid, Purple Rain was one of my favorite records growing up. I had it on cassette and on vinyl, and carried the cassette tape with me where ever I went, just to get my parents to play it on car trips. When I got my first CD player, the first CD I got was Prince: The Hits. Yes, when I say I’m a huge Prince fan, it goes back to my childhood.
But with his latest release 20Ten, I’m starting to think he’s lost his damn mind! (Oh wait, HE HAS LOST HIS DAMN MIND!!!) 20Ten starts out with “Compassion,” a funk influenced rock song that makes you want to jam out at a house party with your friends. The next track “Beginning Endlessly” goes back to his old school roots like “1999” and some of his stuff he did with New Power Generation back in the 90’s.
But after those 2 tracks that’s where things go from great to horrible. Every other song on this record sounds exactly the same. Most of the time it’s repetitive and boring and makes you wonder what the hell happened to Prince. This isn’t the Prince I grew up with. What happened to the days of “When Doves Cry” and “Thieves in the Temple”? I understand Prince is now a Jehovah’s Witness, but that shouldn’t interfere with him making awesome records like he did during the Revolution days. Maybe Prince should hold a meeting and try to get the band back together, because this new crap isn’t working
Overall rating: 2 out of 5
By: Xander Deccio