Airborne Toxic Event - "Neda"

Last year the world watched as a young Iranian non-violent protester took to the streets of Tehran and spoke out against her unjust government. Her name was Neda, the world watched as she was shot dead and captured to be put on Youtube for the world to see the birth of a new Iran. A year later, LA band Airborne Toxic Event remembers Neda with this powerful song and video. Take a look.

Quick Spins

Gaslight Anthem – American Slang
More Gaslight, less anthem. The New Jersey punks return with their third album, clearly their most polished to date and finds the band stepping out of the shadows of the acts that have inspired them; Springsteen, Social Distortion, Bouncing Souls, Woody Guthry and The Clash and into a light of their own. American Slang runs just about a half hour and not as long as its predecessor, The ’59 Sound. Musically it is solid and Brian Fallon is still a master songwriter and like his contemporary Craig Finn, have a way of telling your life story through their words. New listeners will eat this album up, but devotees to the band, such as myself, will enjoy it immensely but still leaves you a bit hungry. American Slang is a must listen for anyone of any age who is still searching in the great yonder for something more.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Band of Horses – Infinite Arms
I never paid much attention to Band of Horses, or I should say, I never paid them the amount of attention they deserve. After witnessing one of the most beautiful live performances of the year when the band opened for Pearl Jam at Madison Square Garden, I was instantly hooked. Infinite Arms is one of the most beautiful and lush records of the year and of the most striking pieces of modern musical work I have ever herd. It is a alt-country with ambient and indie thrown in, basically it something for everybody.
FINAL GRADE: A-

Black Keys – Brothers
The modern Blues Brothers are back! Indie rocks favorite duo returns with a disc of old tricks but new ways to shell them out. After working with Danger Mouse on their last record, the Black Keys decided to record Brothers on their own and took the lessons from Mouse and adapted them into their own style. A great groovy blues rock record and one to indulge in.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Nas and Damien Marley – Distant Relatives
This was a record that I was most curious about this year. For me Nas is still a great rapper, though he has not put out his best material since 2002’s Nasir Jones, but that doesn’t mean he forgot how to raise hell. Combining his lyrical delivery and attack with Bob Marley’s son Damien, Distant Relatives is a must listen for any hip-hop fan.
FINAL GRADE: B+

Reflection Eternal – Revolutions Per Minute
Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek are back! 10 long years since their debut, Train of Thought, the DJ/Emcee duo return with an album as classic as their debut. Both acts have been very successful on their own and a full reunion record was what fans have always wanted. Though, they gave us a great mixtape in 2003, The RE:Union, it still was not satisfying enough. Revolutions Per Minute quenches the thirst we all longed for from these two. Now if only Talib and Mos Def can get back together to do Black Star.
FINAL GRAD: B+

How to Destroy Angels – EP
Six songs from Trent Reznor’s new band is enough to give you a taste of what is to come. Think of it in terms of entering a dark chamber of the unknown, with his wife, Mariqueen Maandig on vocals. Think of it as Beth Gibbons of Portishead fronting Downward Spiral-era Nine Inch Nails.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Stephen Egerton – The Seven Degrees of Steven Egerton
Descendents and ALL guitarist does a punk Santana and enlists some friends and heavy hitters for solo debut. Stephen Egerton’s guitar work has been extremely influential in the punk scene since the 1980’s, and finding just a bit of downtime with both of his bands of hiatus and encouraged by his wife, Stephen’s solo debut is what you would expect from the axeman. Calling on Tim McIlrath from Rise Against, Milo Aukerman of Descendents, Chris DeMakes from Less Than Jake, Mike Herrera of MxPx, Scott Reynolds and Chad Price of All, Joey Cape from Lagwagon to contribute lyrics and vocals. Seven Degrees of Steven Egerton is a must listen for any punk fan.
FINAL GRADE: B-

Live Review - The National @ Radio City

Three years ago a band with a stark sound and style took the stage at United Palace Theater and opened for Arcade Fire. I had no idea who they were, contributing writer Bill Reese and I got last minute tickets to see our favorite Canadian band in action and we could care less who opened for them. As this band played, we got hooked and engaged and so surprised on how good they were, the singer before belting out into their final song said "Hi, we are The National, thanks for listening." We got the name and that was it - instant fans.

Since then I have covered that band from their triumphant opening of Terminal 5 to opening for REM and Modest Mouse to Lollapalooza 2008. Seeing them in every size crowd, venue and audience one could in a handful of years. Radio City was the one venue, since seeing them at United Palace, I felt would really represent them once they struck it big. Low and behold after non-stop touring and recording, the Ohio via Brooklyn boys did it - and sold out the place too!

As they arrived on stage, the five members of The National accompanied by two brass players and backing keyboardist/violinist, you could only see these tall, stick figure like silhouettes walk across the stage to take their places as they were backlit by a bright red screen. Opening with "Mistaken for Strangers," The National seemed very nervous, tense, excited and above all overzealous to be playing the legendary New York venue.

With their latest album, High Violet, debuting in the top 10 of the Billboard charts, a few years ago no one know would have though a band with such dark sound and stark style would really get this far. After all, they are not radio singles or listener friendly bands, like a fine wine an acquired taste. However, defining all logic, they did it and broke down every barrier to sound not only perfect but put on one hell of a show. As the pounding drums to "Bloodbuzz Ohio" came on, singer Matt Berninger jumped into the crowd and literally lifted people out of their seats, a telling sign of what was to come. With a setlist that included a nice mix of songs from their last three records; Alligator, Boxer and High Violet, The National broke out many surprises through the night. Backed on many songs by a small chamber orchestra and having longtime friends of the band Sufjan Stevens and St. Vincent herself Annie Clark guest on a few songs, the momentum of the night kept getting higher and higher. As Berninger would wonder around stage as if he was lost in his own party, the sets of brothers Dessner and Devendorf showed off their musical ambitions and skills to the excited crowd. The night was capped off when during the show stopping "Mr. November," Berninger would take, what must have been a 500ft XLR cable on his mic, across the sides of Radio City and walk up to the second floor mezzanine and walk across to come back down again and sing/scream into the crowd. As they closed with "Terrible Love," The National just raised the benchmark of themselves in New York City.

Opening the night was Brooklyn indie favorites, The Antlers. A band I had the opportunity to speak with earlier this year and see when they came around to open for Editors at Terminal 5. This time, things were much more different, more people know about The Antlers and most of all this was Radio City. This was not the same three piece band I saw in February, this was a band that hired other musicians to help carry out their sound and fill the room. Not only did they achieve it in such high standards, they excelled out of this orbit. Simply stunning and amazing arraignments of their songs from their debut Hospice, The Antlers even squeezed in a new song into their 45 minute set. As what happened to The National that night at United Palace some years ago, I believe the torch has been handed over to The Antlers and this is a band to not keep an eye out for, but to watch as they grow into something very big.

The National 6/16/10 Radio City Music Hall Setlist:
Mistaken for Strangers
Anyone's Ghost
Bloodbuzz Ohio
Brainy
Secret Meeting
Slow Show
Squalor Victoria
Vanderlye Crybaby Geeks
Afraid of Everyone
Little Faith
Available
Conversation 16
Apartment Story
Abel
Daughters of the Soho Riots
England
Fake Empire
Encore
Runaway
Lemonworld
Mr. November
Terrible Love

Gaslight Anthem on Fallon!

Gaslight Anthem brought the fire and the fury to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon last night! Take a look at the band performing "Boxer," off their latest American Slang and the Pearl Jam favorite, "State of Love and Trust!"

Klaxons Cover & Tracklisting

UK's favorite art rockers The Klaxons are back! releasing Surfing the Void in August, the band has shown what the cover and track listing to the forthcoming and highly anticipated follow up to their 2007 Mercury Prize winning, Myths of the Near Future.

01 Echoes
02 The Same Space
03 Surfing the Void
04 Valley of the Calm Trees
05 Venusia
06 Extra Astronomical
07 Twin Flames
08 Flashover
09 Future Memories
10 Cypherspeed

Devo on Letterman!

After releasing their first new album in 20 years, Devo celebrated (and kicked ass) on Letterman! Take a look, they still got and are still weird!

EXCLUSIVE! Ebony Bones INTV!

There are people who have talent inside them and need to work hard to get it out and express it. Then there are others who are naturally gifted and it is given to them. For Ebony Thomas aka Ebony Bones, the British singer songwriter has been crafting her own music for years without ever picking up a guide book or getting a lesson. She feels it and expresses it. One of the most talked about new artists of 2009, Ebony Bones has gone from catching the attention of BBC DJ Zane Lowe to performing at Glastonbury and selling out clubs around the world. Combining Off-Broadway theatrics with Brazilian flair and African drums and straight British attitude, Ebony Bones is one musician that is serious about what she does but knows how to have fun with it. I had the chance to speak with Ebony and we discussed her influences, rise and personality. Take a look at my interview with Ebony Bones below.

Your style is so unique and fruitful. You combine so many different genres, who are some of your biggest influences?

London has always been a melting pot of cultures and eccentricities, rainy days and grey skies all of which I am heavily influenced by ..

Theater has always played a major role in your live sets and music. Why is this?

I like imagination -- and the way I think things could be, had been, or should be , better than reality. Imagination can transform all sorts of personal insanity into elements of self-invention.

You combine punk DIY aesthetics and Glam all at the same time. Interesting combination that you make work so well, how did you decide to blend the two together?

I come from the home-grown punk ethic, where it doesn't matter if you can't play a note, it's how you communicate. I was never interested in making pretty music or looking cute, I dreamt of something greater.

Describe your sound for someone who has never herd you before?

Tastes like chicken..

You have been a buzz artist for a while, being played on heavy rotation on Zane Lowe’s show in UK to selling out shows in the US before even having a record, to opening for the Slits and playing Glastonbury. How do you respond to the overwhelming attention?

Its been such a train ride of option and interaction. Doors have been opened and experiences I will never forget. From performing live to 60,000 in Japan, singing on stage with Damon Albarn, to French Vogue photo shoots, so much opportunity. I’ve learned so much as a human being, a creative person, a business person and a spirit.

In your press release I saw this statement you made and I laughed, “I am Cleopatra reincarnated, in search of a KFC.” What exactly does this mean?

Its a cheap joke, Im full of them

Hailing from South London, the area is known to be a bit dodgy, has that neighborhood had an influence on your music?

Smooth seas dont make skillful sailors

What does the title, “Bone of my Bones,” suggest?

Bone Of My Bones is taken from Genesis - (the book not the band). This debut like the book, marks my beginning. The track itself on the album is an instrumental, after all God gave us all music so we might pray without words..

Some of your song titles, "In G.O.D We Trust (Gold, Oil & Drugs)", “Story Of St.Ockwell" and “W.A.R.R.I.O.R.” have political connotations to them. What do you think of politicians and do you think they will ever listen to their people?

Just like poetry, my music does not state anything.. It merely suggests.

I ask this question to many British acts, is it still a big deal for a singer or band from the UK to make it in America?

Its important for an artist to have their music heard by as many humans as possible. But its a far greater achievement for an artist to have a career - in a time when many are only promised a moment.

Ebony Bones performing in Miami 2009, covering The Stooges "I Wanna Be Your Dog."

Coldplay the Slashers...

While Ash were on tour supporting Coldplay in 2002, the Northern Irish electro-rock band decided to make a slaher film with their friends in Coldplay. For years there have been rumors that the film was never shot or that it will never be released. Eight years later, Ash have decided to unearth some of the clips for their latest music video "Binary." Take a look at the video with Coldplay below..

The World Awaits!

For those that have been tracking the site since its conception, it started off as a mix of music, film and soccer. It was not until two years ago when it became a full on music site, however, with the greatest event on the planet arriving this weekend - I could not resist posting this. A nice video mix of past Cups to the music of K'Naan's Summer 2010 jam "Wavin Flag."



Be sure to keep checking my World Cup correspondence to the website www.takeoverthegame.com!

Quick News

Sad news to report over the weekend, the body of former Stereophonics drummer Stuart Cable was found dead at his home in Wales. According to officials, it could take weeks before the cause of death will be know. Cable was a founding member of 'Phonics and played with the band until 2003. He will be missed, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and former band mates.

Longtime U2 producer and musician Daniel Lanois is in intensive care after being involved in a major motorcycle accident in Los Angeles. No further details have emerged about his condition, which was announced on Monday. This comes just weeks after Bono has been recovering from spinal surgery.

This is amazing news! Rage Against the Machine have told NME magazine that they might record a new record. When asked about new material, front man Zach De La Rocha said "It is a genuine possibility." The band recently played a free concert in London to thank the UK fans for making their track "Killing in the Name Of" a #1 smash this past Christmas and beating Simon Cowell's X-Factor winner to the top of the charts. The song was orchestrated by a Facebook user in the UK who did not want to see another winner of the Cowell produced show succeed to the top of the charts. Along side RATM were Gogol Bordello, Gallows and Roots Manuevia who also performed at the event.

Richard Ashcroft's United Nations of Sound have announced the track listing to their debut record. The self titled project from the former Verve front man was supposed to be released this month but is now being pushed to July. Take a look a the track listing below:

'Are You Ready?'
'Born Again'
'America'
'This Thing Called Life'
'Beatitudes'
'Good Loving'
'How Deep Is Your Man'
'She Brings Me The Music'
'Royal Highness'
'Glory'
'Life Can Be So Beautiful'
'Let My Soul Rest'