Spinner http://www.spinner.com Spinner http://www.spinner.com/media/feedlogo.gif Spinner http://www.spinner.com en-us Copyright 2013 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/ Arcade Fire Baby: Régine Chassagne and Win Butler Have Baby Boy http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/arcade-fire-baby-regine-chassagne-win-butler/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/arcade-fire-baby-regine-chassagne-win-butler/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/arcade-fire-baby-regine-chassagne-win-butler/#comments Filed under: , ,


Regine Chassagne Win Butler Arcade FireAlberto E. Rodriguez, Getty

One of rock's royal families has just gotten a bit bigger.

Régine Chassagne and Win Butler, the power couple behind Arcade Fire, have welcomed a brand new seven-pound baby boy into the world.

Chassange gave birth to the boy on Sunday, April 21. News of which came, perhaps appropriately, via a holy man. Barry Mack, the pastor at Montreal's St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Saint-Lambert, gave the good news to Le Journal de Montréal.

"C'était un mariage à leur image," said Mack of the couple. "C'est bien de voir qu'ils sont toujours ensemble et qu'ils ont aujourd'hui un bébé. C'est un peu rare dans l'industrie du divertissement."

Which, in english, is roughly, "It's good to see that they are still together and they now have a baby. It's a bit rare in the entertainment industry." ]]> Arcade fireArcade Fire babyArcadeFireArcadeFireBabyRegine ChassagneRegine Chassagne babyRegine Chassagne baby boyRegine Chassagne pregnantRegineChassagneRegineChassagneBabyRegineChassagneBabyBoyRegineChassagnePregnantWin ButlerWin Butler babyWin Butler baby boyWinButlerWinButlerBabyWinButlerBabyBoy Aaron Brophy 2013-04-26T15:00:00 00:00 Feist Hologram Performs Simultaneously in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver for Samsung http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/feist-hologram-samsung/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/feist-hologram-samsung/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/feist-hologram-samsung/#comments Filed under: ,


Feist hologramFeist hologram

There are some cultures in the world that have in the past -- and still today -- believe that photographing a person can steal their soul.

While the shamans and mystics have yet to rule on the effects of holograms, one thing is for certain -- if you use the power of digital holography to raise the dead it will result in a curse on your business. Just ask bankrupt Tupac hologram maker, Digital Domain.

Nevertheless, Samsung took a risk by transforming Leslie Feist -- also a once-upon-a-time punk rocker with Canadian act Placebo, ex-bassist for drum circle hippies By Divine Right and occasional raunch-rap sidekick to Peaches -- into a hologram for a Samsung Galaxy S4 for launch party last night. ]]> FeistFeist hologramFeist SamsungFeistHologramFeistSamsunghologramLeslie FeistLeslieFeistmusical hologramsMusicalHologramsSamsungSamsung Galaxy S4SamsungGalaxyS4 Aaron Brophy 2013-04-26T13:30:00 00:00 R.E.M. 'Murmur' 30th Anniversary: 15 Studio Albums Ranked From Ass to Awesome http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/r-e-m-murmur-best-worst-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/r-e-m-murmur-best-worst-albums/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/r-e-m-murmur-best-worst-albums/#comments Filed under: , ,


R.E.M.Sandra-Lee Phipps, REM HQ

It was this week some 30 years ago that Athens, GA band R.E.M. released their first proper studio album Murmur, kickstarting a career that would yield dozens of worldwide hits, 15 studio albums and James Mercer's eternal ire because he knows The Shins will never be as good as them.

Murmur is an exceptional album with brilliant catalog tracks "Talk About the Passion" and "Radio Free Europe." Robert Christgau gave it an A-, Rolling Stone a 4/5 and, more recently, Pitchfork drooled a 10/10 all over the deluxe reissue.

The thing is, the noise from former campus radio DJs and ex-indie record store owners about this album and other early R.E.M. records can get mighty cloying after a certain amount of time. After all, if you listen objectively, a lot of those early songs are pretty much nonsense. ]]> Bill BerryBillBerryMichael StipeMichaelStipeMike MillsMikeMillsPeter BuckPeterBuckR.e.m.R.E.M. fables of the reconstructionR.E.M. lifes rich pageantR.E.M. ReckoningR.E.M. accelerateR.e.m. albumsR.E.M. around the sunR.E.M. automatic for the peopleR.E.M. collapse into nowR.E.M. DocumentR.E.M. greenR.E.M. monsterR.E.M. MurmurR.E.M. new adventures in hi-fiR.E.M. out of timeR.E.M. revealR.E.M. upR.e.m.AccelerateR.e.m.AlbumsR.e.m.AroundTheSunR.e.m.AutomaticForThePeopleR.e.m.CollapseIntoNowR.e.m.DocumentR.e.m.FablesOfTheReconstructionR.e.m.GreenR.e.m.LifesRichPageantR.e.m.MonsterR.e.m.MurmurR.e.m.NewAdventuresInHi-fiR.e.m.OutOfTimeR.e.m.ReckoningR.e.m.RevealR.e.m.UpREM Aaron Brophy 2013-04-11T17:10:00 00:00 Kurt Cobain Died 19 Years Ago Today, So Here's a Live Nirvana Concert Video http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/kurt-cobain-nirvana-toronto-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/kurt-cobain-nirvana-toronto-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/kurt-cobain-nirvana-toronto-video/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Kurt Cobain NirvanaFrank Micelotta, Getty

It was 19 years ago today that Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain was found dead in his Seattle home from an apparent self-inflicted shotgun blast to the head (or was it murder?).

Modern rock radio is full of tributes to Cobain today. As is social media.

One such tribute came from Broken Social Scene/Eight and a Half member Justin Peroff, who tweeted about having seen Nirvana at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in 1993.

"Wore plaid flannel, chipped a tooth and got a bloody nose moshing at this show. Grateful of my 1990's teen 'hood," he wrote. ]]> Broken Social SceneBrokenSocialSceneKurt CobainKurt Cobain deadKurt Cobain deathkurt cobain death anniversarykurt cobain murderkurt cobain suicideKurtCobainKurtCobainDeadKurtCobainDeathKurtCobainDeathAnniversaryKurtCobainMurderKurtCobainSuicideNirvanaNirvana 1993Nirvana TorontoNirvana videoNirvana1993NirvanaTorontoNirvanaVideo Aaron Brophy 2013-04-05T15:30:00 00:00 The Black Angels, 'Indigo Meadow' -- 47 Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/02/the-black-angels-indigo-meadow-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/02/the-black-angels-indigo-meadow-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/02/the-black-angels-indigo-meadow-album-review/#comments Filed under:


Black Angels Indigo MeadowBlue Horizon

Having made their name anachronistically singing songs about the Vietnam War, Austin-via-Altamont band the Black Angels continue to show little inclination to acknowledge music made after 1973 on fourth album Indigo Meadow. Much of the band's wall of noise bombast has been swapped out for shorter organ-led bursts this time around, but amphetamine-edgy reimaginings of the Poppy Family's "Where Evil Grows" persist on "Black Isn't Black" and "Evil Things."

Indeed, Black Angels continue to skirt the darker fringes of psychedelia on the uncomfortably possessive "You're Mine" and in-the-pocket morality tales like "Don't Play With Guns" and "Broken Soldier." Firmly in character, even album highlight and seeming love song "Holland" turns bleak rather quickly. All told, it's not the makings of a good trip. ]]> black angelsblack angels album reviewsBlack Angels albumsblack angels indigo meadowblack angels musicBlackAngelsBlackAngelsAlbumReviewsBlackAngelsAlbumsBlackAngelsIndigoMeadowBlackAngelsMusicthe black angelsthe black angels indigo meadowTheBlackAngelsTheBlackAngelsIndigoMeadow Aaron Brophy 2013-04-02T17:00:00 00:00 Crime & the City Solution 'American Twilight' -- 47 Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/27/crime-and-the-city-solution-american-twilight-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/27/crime-and-the-city-solution-american-twilight-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/27/crime-and-the-city-solution-american-twilight-album-review/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Crime & the City SolutionMute

That the bristling gloom-rock of Crime & the City Solution sounds like Nick Cave in both relentless musical push and lyrical intensity is no accident. The often-dormant Australian band can boast direct lineal connections to the Birthday Party and new album American Twilight, the band's first in 13 years, fairly matches Cave's fire-and-brimstone bluster. It doesn't hurt that Crime & the City Solution's central figure Simon Bonney has filled out this band incarnation with a cast that includes players with deadly serious resumes like Jim White (The Dirty Three), David Eugene Edwards (16 Horsepower/Wovenhand) and Troy Gregory (The Dirtbombs/Swans/Spiritualized).

A dense eight song set, American Twilight feels like a randomly shifting series of soundtrack moments for all of HBO's period piece shows. "Carnivale's" dust bowl spirituals, "Deadwood's" cold menace, even "Game of Throne'"s dangerous magic ... it's just a matter of time before film students are YouTubing supercuts honoring these shows to songs like "Beyond Good and Evil," "My Love Takes Me There" and the epic choral spaghetti western, "Domina."

The Bottom Line: If you're the sort of person who watches "No Country For Old Men" for fun, American Twilight will fit perfectly in your life. ]]> Birthday PartyBirthdayPartyCrime and the city solutioncrime and the city solution american twilightCrimeAndTheCitySolutionCrimeAndTheCitySolutionAmericanTwilightJim WhiteJimWhiteNick CaveNickCaveSimon BonneySimonBonneyWovenhand Aaron Brophy 2013-03-27T14:45:00 00:00 Pink Floyd's Rap Flirtation: Producer Bob Ezrin Suggested Band Experiment With Genre in '80s http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/19/pink-floyd-bob-ezrin-rap/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/19/pink-floyd-bob-ezrin-rap/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/19/pink-floyd-bob-ezrin-rap/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Pink Floyd 1988Patrick Hertzog, AFP

Imagine for a moment you're in 1987 and listening to your favorite FM rock radio station. It's playing Pink Floyd's "Learning to Fly," the band's post-Roger Waters #1 comeback hit. As the hypnotic song coasts along, capturing its intended feeling of soaring through the air, suddenly at the 3:50 mark where David Gilmour's memorable guitar solo is supposed to start, suddenly a beat drops and Gilmour instead throws down a rapid-fire verse about flying high. Pink Floyd... rapping.

It could have happened.

But it didn't, despite super-producer Bob Ezrin's efforts to introduce Pink Floyd to new sounds. At the time Ezrin, a co-writer of "Learning to Fly" and co-producer of the Floyd album A Momentary Lapse of Reason along with the band's Gilmour, was deeply into this new form of music called rap. He even approached Gilmour about including some rap-like elements on the album. ]]> A Momentary Lapse of ReasonAfrika BambaataaAfrikaBambaataaAMomentaryLapseOfReasonBob EzrinBob Ezrin Pink FloydBob Ezrin rapBobEzrinBobEzrinPinkFloydBobEzrinRapCanadian music weekCanadianMusicWeekcmwCMW 2013Cmw2013david gilmourDavidGilmourJay-ZKnaanLearning to FlyLearningToFlyPink FloydPink Floyd rapPinkFloydPinkFloydRap Aaron Brophy 2013-03-19T15:00:00 00:00 How Heart's 'Stairway to Heaven' Performance Made Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant Cry http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/heart-stairway-to-heaven-robert-plant-led-zeppelin/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/heart-stairway-to-heaven-robert-plant-led-zeppelin/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/heart-stairway-to-heaven-robert-plant-led-zeppelin/#comments Filed under: , , ,


HeartAndrew H. Walker, Getty

Veteran rock band Heart have achieved many things over their 30+ year career: an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a place at the vanguard for women in rock, a trio of all-time classic songs ("Crazy on You," "Magic Man," "Barracuda"), but one of the band's greatest moments may have had less to do what sisters/band leaders Ann and Nancy Wilson have done themselves as much as what they did to someone else -- they made legendary Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant cry.

Heart had been enlisted to perform Zeppelin's epic "Stairway to Heaven," the anchor track from the band's world-beating 1971 album IV, at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony last Dec. 2 when President Barack Obama honored Led Zep alongside Buddy Guy, David Letterman and Dustin Hoffman.

The band's rendition of the song, complete with orchestra and gospel choir visibly moved Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, the three surviving members of Zeppelin. ]]> Ann WilsonAnnWilsonHeartHeart KennedyHeart Led ZeppelinHeart Robert PlantHeart Stairway to heavenheart stairway to heaven videoHeartKennedyHeartLedZeppelinHeartRobertPlantHeartStairwayToHeavenHeartStairwayToHeavenVideoNancy WilsonNancyWilsonRobert PlantRobertPlant Aaron Brophy 2013-03-18T16:45:00 00:00 Jason Molina Dead: Magnolia Electric Co. Singer Dies of Organ Failure http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/jason-molina-dead/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/jason-molina-dead/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/18/jason-molina-dead/#comments Filed under: ,


Jason Molina, who died on March 16Andy Sheppard, Redferns

Jason Molina, the man behind Magnolia Electric Co and Songs: Ohia, passed away Saturday, March 16 in Indianapolis, Indiana due to what his record company Secretly Canadian called "natural causes." He was 39.

Molina had been out of the spotlight since late 2009 when he ceased touring due to health problems brought on by severe alcoholism. It's believed that complications from his addiction factored in his death from organ failure. ]]> jason molinajason molina deadjason molina diedjason molina diesjason molina obituaryJason Molina Songs OhiaJasonMolinaJasonMolinaDeadJasonMolinaDiedJasonMolinaDiesJasonMolinaObituaryJasonMolinaSongsOhiaMagnolia Electric CoMagnolia Electric Co Jason MolinaMagnoliaElectricCoMagnoliaElectricCoJasonMolinaRIP jason molinaRipJasonMolinaSongs OhiaSongs: OhiaSongs:OhiaSongsOhia Aaron Brophy 2013-03-18T12:59:00 00:00 Stompin' Tom Connors Was More Punk Than You: A Memorial http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/07/stompin-tom-connors-dies-punk/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/07/stompin-tom-connors-dies-punk/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/07/stompin-tom-connors-dies-punk/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Stompin' Tom Connors stampCanada Post

Stompin' Tom Connors was pointing at the various things in and around his famous-slash-infamous rec room and its horseshoe-shaped bar.

The tray of sandwiches on the pool table. The old jukebox that was filled almost exclusively with records by Hank Williams or Connors himself. A hand twirled casually towards couches around the house. And even -- if I can recall correctly through the fog -- a pointed stab directed under the pool table. The implication being it would be good place to crash if needed.

Most importantly, though, was the beer. Moosehead. Green bottles stacked in those dull brown unbranded distributor cases that bars and restaurants receive their bulk orders in. ]]> Stompin TomStompin Tom CanadaStompin Tom ConnorsStompin Tom Connors CanadaStompin Tom Connors deadStompin Tom Connors diedStompin Tom Connors punkStompin Tom deadStompinTomStompinTomCanadaStompinTomConnorsStompinTomConnorsCanadaStompinTomConnorsDeadStompinTomConnorsDiedStompinTomConnorsPunkStompinTomDead Aaron Brophy 2013-03-07T11:05:00 00:00 How to Destroy Angels, 'Welcome Oblivion' -- 47-Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/05/how-to-destroy-angels-welcome-oblivion-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/05/how-to-destroy-angels-welcome-oblivion-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/05/how-to-destroy-angels-welcome-oblivion-album-review/#comments Filed under:


How to Destroy Angels Welcome OblivionSony

It's not until "On the Wing," the sixth song on How to Destroy Angels' debut album Welcome Oblivion, that it becomes clear what's so darn uncomfortable about the whole thing. As Mariqueen Maandig and husband/Nine Inch Nails overlord Trent Reznor coo over a deliberate thumping beat, the melody line that shines through is Johnny Nash's feel good reggae-pop hit "I Can See Clearly Now."

That's when it hits: This isn't Trent Reznor fucking us like animals, or marching with the pigs or giving up or whatever. This is Reznor experiencing a bright sunshiny day. Or at least whatever equals a bright sunshiny day in his world.

Though "The Wakeup," "And the Sky Began to Scream" and the title track all feature signature Reznor-style clomp, it's clear Mariqueen's presence salves much of the hate contained in his machines. ]]> album reviewsAlbumReviewsHow to Destroy Angelshow to destroy angels welcome oblivionHowToDestroyAngelsHowToDestroyAngelsWelcomeOblivionMariqueen MaandigMariqueenMaandignine inch nailsNineInchNailstrent reznorTrentReznor Aaron Brophy 2013-03-05T15:38:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: Feb. 24 - March 2 -- Keith Richards Busted, Ray Charles Strangled http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/28/this-week-in-music-history-february-24-march-2-springsteen/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/28/this-week-in-music-history-february-24-march-2-springsteen/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/28/this-week-in-music-history-february-24-march-2-springsteen/#comments Filed under: , ,


Bruce SpringsteenHulton Archive

Did you know that Neil Young has only ever won two Grammy Awards?

In 2009 he scored Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package for that Neil Young Archives Vol. I (1963-1972) box set, then a year later he won Best Rock Song for "Angry World."

We'll let that sink in a bit.

At least the awards powers-that-be have been kinder to another jean jacket rock hero who only had to wait 12 years or so to get official recognition.

To find out who I'm talking about and to remember the times Keith Richards got busted and Ray Charles got strangled just click to launch the gallery below: ]]> BeatlesBruce SpringsteenBruceSpringsteenCameron CroweCameronCroweDanger MouseDangerMouseDusty SpringfieldDustySpringfieldgrey albumGreyAlbumJazy-zJeff HealeyJeffHealeyJim MorrisonJimMorrisonKeith RichardsKeithRichardsoliver stoneOliverStonePearl JamPearlJamRay charlesRayCharlesSinglesthe doorsTheDoorsthis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistory Aaron Brophy 2013-02-28T15:30:00 00:00 Johnny Marr 'The Messenger' -- 47 Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/26/johnny-marr-the-messenger-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/26/johnny-marr-the-messenger-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/26/johnny-marr-the-messenger-album-review/#comments Filed under:


Johnny MarrAmazon

The Smiths are never reuniting. Deal with it. Morrissey plays a half-dozen Smiths songs at every show, so really, what difference does it make what the name on the marquee says anyway?

And besides, Johnny Marr, the musical mastermind of that band, clearly moved on 25 years ago and has the resume to prove it (Paul McCartney, Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, the Cribs, etc.). ]]> album review johnny marr the messengerAlbumReviewJohnnyMarrTheMessengerJohnny Marrjohnny marr reviewjohnny marr solojohnny marr the messengerjohnny marr the messenger albumjohnny marr the messenger album reviewjohnny marr the messenger reviewJohnnyMarrjohnnymarrreviewJohnnyMarrSoloJohnnyMarrTheMessengerJohnnyMarrTheMessengerAlbumJohnnyMarrTheMessengerAlbumReviewjohnnymarrthemessengerreviewModest MouseModestMouseMorrisseyNew OrderNewOrderPaul McCartneyPaulMccartneyPretendersSmithsThe Messengerthe messenger johnny marrTheMessengerTheMessengerJohnnyMarr Aaron Brophy 2013-02-26T15:25:00 00:00 Tiger Bell, 'Slaughter's Daughter' -- Video Premiere http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/25/tiger-bell-slaughters-daughter-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/25/tiger-bell-slaughters-daughter-video-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/25/tiger-bell-slaughters-daughter-video-premiere/#comments Filed under: ,


Tiger BellPer Kristiansen

In the spirit of garage-punks like the Hives and Millencolin, Swedish gal punks Tiger Bell are throwing down the jams -- both in a rock 'n' roll and in a roller derby sense.

The band's new video for "Slaughter's Daughter" is a spiky rock number perfect for throwing elbows around the roller derby track. Which was no accident.

"Well, the birth of 'Slaughter's Daughter' came basically through the discovery of a local roller derby team with this name," the band told Spinner in an email. "Three-quarters of our band are from a small Swedish town, Luleå, close to the Arctic circle (which for you passes through like northern Alaska or something?), so naturally we got really excited to find cool girls playing this rough and still very delicate sport over here. ]]> roller derbyroller derby musicRollerDerbyRollerDerbyMusicTiger BellTiger Bell musicTiger Bell punkTiger Bell videoTigerBellTigerBellMusicTigerBellPunkTigerBellVideo Aaron Brophy 2013-02-25T17:35:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: February 10 - 16 -- RIP J Dilla, 'Who is Arcade Fire?' http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/this-week-in-music-history-february-10-16-arcade-fire/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/this-week-in-music-history-february-10-16-arcade-fire/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/13/this-week-in-music-history-february-10-16-arcade-fire/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Who the fuck is Arcade Fire?whoisarcadefire.tumblr.com

Does anyone actually know how to use Tumblr? Like really know how to use Tumblr?

Because even though we're well and capable of identifying the best things about it, it still remains kinda baffling.

Except where the Arcade Fire are concerned, that is. See, we know exactly who they are, so that means we actually know something that's on Tumblr. Which might mean we might know something about this thing after all...

Anyway, before this Tumblr self-evaluation devolves any further, let's skip to this week in music history, where this Arcade Fire ramble will make sense. ]]> Arcade FireArcade Fire GrammysArcadeFireArcadeFireGrammysArethan FranklinArethanFranklinBeatlesCassette tape piracyCassetteTapePiracyGino VannelliGinoVannelliIke TurnerIkeTurnerJ DillaJDillaJerry Lee LewisJerryLeeLewisKeith RichardsKeithRichardsmusic piracyMusicPiracyOl Dirty BastardOlDirtyBastardRebecca BlackRebeccaBlackRolling StonesRollingStonesSoul TrainSoulTrainthis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistoryWhitney HoustonWhitneyHoustonwho is Arcade FireWhoIsArcadeFire Aaron Brophy 2013-02-13T16:40:00 00:00 Foals, 'Holy Fire' -- 47 Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/foals-holy-fire-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/foals-holy-fire-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/foals-holy-fire-album-review/#comments Filed under:


foals holy fire album reviewAmazon

British band Foals' third album Holy Fire starts off on a bad note. First song "Prelude" flips from gauzy atmospherics to an ill-advised funk-rock vibe that continues through the first three minutes of second song "Inhaler."

If nothing else, these B-side-level experiments serve to clearly focus what the Oxford band is best at: The relentless, almost-icy dance rock they executed perfectly on last album Total Life Forever. When the band shed the Parliament imitations for comfort zone songs like "My Number," "Everytime" and "Providence" all is right in the universe. ]]> Foalsfoals album reviewfoals holy firefoals holy fire album reviewfoals holy fire reviewFoalsAlbumReviewFoalsHolyFireFoalsHolyFireAlbumReviewfoalsholyfirereviewholy fireholy fire foalsholyfireholyfirefoals Aaron Brophy 2013-02-12T16:00:00 00:00 Cuff the Duke, 'Union' -- 47 Second Album Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/cuff-the-duke-union-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/cuff-the-duke-union-album-review/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/12/cuff-the-duke-union-album-review/#comments Filed under:


cuff the duke unionAmazon

Cuff the Duke have always suffered from a bit of a Rodney Dangerfield complex in the Canadian music hierarchy. They don't have enough hockey-related songs to be as populist as the Tragically Hip, frontman Wayne Petti can't match Joel Plaskett for aw-shucks hoser charm, and the CBC will never love them as much as the Weakerthans, no matter how much they romanticize Oshawa, Ontario.

They forge on, though, and we're probably better for it. The band's sixth album Union breaks no ground that hasn't been long broken before, but nonetheless fits comfortably in a universe bounded by Wilco and the Jayhawks on one end, and Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen on the other. ]]> Bruce SpringsteenBruceSpringsteenCuff the Dukecuff the duke union album reviewCuffTheDukeCuffTheDukeUnionAlbumReviewJayhawksMy Morning JacketMyMorningJacketTom PettyTomPettyTragically HipTragicallyHipWeakerthansWilco Aaron Brophy 2013-02-12T14:40:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: February 3 - 9 -- Beatles vs. Apple & U.S. Government http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/07/this-week-in-music-history-february-3-9-beatles-vs-apple/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/07/this-week-in-music-history-february-3-9-beatles-vs-apple/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/02/07/this-week-in-music-history-february-3-9-beatles-vs-apple/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Beatles Ed Sullivan ShowCBS

There's a reason why the Beatles are arguably the biggest musical act in the history of ever.

Sure, part of that's the dozens of internationally recognized hit songs they recorded, but there's another side, too -- their cultural impact.

This week in musical history is a perfect example of that impact as it features the Fab Four (or their lawyers) fighting big computer companies, fighting the government, and basically changing the game via television.

To find out what we're talking about click to launch the gallery below: ]]> Apple computersapple recordsAppleComputersAppleRecordsAxl RoseAxlRosebig bopperBigBopperBill HaleyBillHaleyBob MarleyBobMarleyBritney SpearsBritneySpearsBuddy HollyBuddyHollydon mcleanDonMcleanGuns n rosesGunsNRosesJohn EntwistleJohn LennonJohnEntwistleJohnLennonpete townshendPeteTownshendRick AstleyRickAstleyritchie valensRitchieValensRoger DaltreyRogerDaltreythe whoTheWhothis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistory Aaron Brophy 2013-02-07T16:30:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: January 27 - February 2 -- Roofie Beatles, Jacko on Fire http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/31/this-week-in-music-history-january-27-february-2-beatles-o/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/31/this-week-in-music-history-january-27-february-2-beatles-o/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/31/this-week-in-music-history-january-27-february-2-beatles-o/#comments Filed under: , ,


Beatles rooftopApple Films

One of the great questions about this week in music history isn't actually about this week in music history.

Rather, it's about that special period in late-May and early June which seems to be particularly good for making babies who turn into important musical figures.

Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), Gillian Gilbert (New Order), Mike Patton (Faith No More), Rakim, DJ Muggs (Cypress Hill), Sarah McLachlan, Joey Fatone, Nick Carter (Backstreet Boys), Phil Collins, Rick James, Lisa Marie Presley and Big Boi (Outkast) will all celebrate birthdays this week. All because of that restless spring-summer period.

It's almost enough to overshadow actual historical musical happenings like rooftop concerts, fiery hairballs or all-star benefit album get-togethers. ]]> 45 single45SingleBeatlesBeatles rooftopBeatlesRooftopBoomtown RatsBoomtownRatsBrenda SpencerBrendaSpencerGrammy AwardsGrammyAwardsI dont like mondaysIDontLikeMondaysJack WhiteJackWhiteKingsmenKISSLeonard CohenLeonardCohenLouie LouieLouieLouieMeg WhiteMegWhiteMichael JacksonMichaelJacksonmusic historyMusicHistoryNelly YoungNellyYoungPhil SpectorPhilSpectorRCASex PistolsSexPistolsSid ViciousSidViciousThe BeatlesTheBeatlesthis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistoryUSA for AfricaUsaForAfricaWe are the worldWeAreTheWorldWhite StripesWhiteStripes Aaron Brophy 2013-01-31T16:00:00 00:00 This Week in Music History: January 20 - 26 -- Elvis Jumpsuits, David Bowie's Sexuality http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/25/this-week-in-music-history-january-20-26-elvis-jumpsuit/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/25/this-week-in-music-history-january-20-26-elvis-jumpsuit/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/25/this-week-in-music-history-january-20-26-elvis-jumpsuit/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Elvis PresleyEverett Collection

There are lots and lots of good musicians.

Go to any local pub on a Friday night and there's a decent chance you'll be able to see a halfway entertaining singer. The difference between that guy at the pub and the legends known around world are many. There's the hit songs, mainly, but there's also the bizarre, ridiculous and fascinating things that help myth-make an artist and elevate them beyond average Joe singer dude.

This myth-making could involve biting heads off animals, wearing one-piece jumpsuits, or confusing the world about your sexuality.

To find out what we're talking about, and to also learn why Joy Division and Aerosmith made music history this week just click to launch the gallery below. ]]> AerosmithDavid BowieDavid Bowie bisexualDavid Bowie gayDavid Bowie sexualityDavidBowieDavidBowieBisexualDavidBowieGayDavidBowieSexualityElvisElvis PresleyElvis presley jumpsuitElvisPresleyElvisPresleyJumpsuitJoy DivisionJoyDivisionled zeppelinLedZeppelinOzzyozzy osbourneOzzy Osbourne batOzzyOsbourneOzzyOsbourneBatpatsy clinePatsyClineStairway to HeavenStairwayToHeavenSteven TylerStevenTylerthis week in music historyThisWeekInMusicHistory Aaron Brophy 2013-01-25T11:25:00 00:00