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/ Charles Bradley Finds the Light After Years in the 'Darkness' With 'Victim of Love' http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/charles-bradley-victim-of-love/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/charles-bradley-victim-of-love/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/26/charles-bradley-victim-of-love/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Gino DePinto, AOL

"The first album was the darkness and now this is bringing the light out of me."

That's how 64-year-old Charles Bradley, the Screaming Eagle of Soul, sums up his recently released second album, Victim of Love. If you don't know Charles' backstory, you're missing out on one of the most heartwarming, inspiring stories in music.

After years moving around the country, finding a cooking job here and there, sometimes living on the streets or in subway cars, Bradley moved to Brooklyn to live with his estranged family. He nearly died from an illness, and suffered through the murder of his brother, who was shot just down the street from their home. ]]> Charles BradleyCharlesBradleyJames BrownJamesBrown Dan Reilly 2013-04-26T13:01:00 00:00 Steven Van Zandt Q&A: Reuniting the Rascals, Mourning the Big Man & Praising Springsteen's Balls http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/25/steven-van-zandt-rascals-broadway/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/25/steven-van-zandt-rascals-broadway/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/25/steven-van-zandt-rascals-broadway/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Hartman Group

As rock 'n' roll's preeminent purist, it makes perfect sense that Stevie Van Zandt would be the one to reunite the Rascals. The soul-rock pioneers hold a special place in Little Steven's heart, as they were the first big-time band he saw perform, inspiring him and fellow attendee Bruce Springsteen to pursue their musical destinies. In 1997, he donned the group's signature '60s attire to induct them into the Rock Hall of Fame, and "Sopranos" creator David Chase was so floored by the hilarious speech that he gave the E Street guitarist a role on the show, despite his lack of acting experience. And now Van Zandt is returning the favors by directing Once Upon a Dream, a Broadway show mixing performances by the band, archival footage and actors recreating pivotal moment's from the Rascals' history.

Reuniting the group was no easy task, Van Zandt explained to Spinner in a recent chat. He's been trying to get them back together for over 30 years, and he finally somehow managed to get them past the "stupid bullshit" and agree to do the show. In the Q&A below, Stevie discusses the show's inception, the Rascals' impact and the reinvention of the E Street Band following the death of saxophonist Clarence Clemons.

I was really interested in how the whole idea for this came about.

For me, they're one of the greatest bands of all time, and when you see the show you'll know why. I know that, which is why I wanted to do 28 songs and make it very clear the depth of their musicality, first of all. But when it came time for the reunion after 40 years, a concert just doesn't seem like enough. You want to tell people the story as well. That was the impetus. ]]> Bruce SpringsteenBruceSpringsteenClarence ClemonsClarenceClemonsRascalsSteven Van ZandtStevenVanZandtStevie Van ZandtStevieVanZandtthe RascalsTheRascals Dan Reilly 2013-04-25T14:00:00 00:00 The National Documentary Q&A: Matt and Tom Berninger's 'Brotherly Love Movie' http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/national-documentary-mistaken-strangers/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/national-documentary-mistaken-strangers/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/24/national-documentary-mistaken-strangers/#comments Filed under: , ,


The National Matt Berninger Tom BerningerTribeca Film

The National's lead singer Matt Berninger has always been somewhat of an outsider in his own band. Guitarists Bryce and Aaron Dessner are twins, while bassist Scott Devendorf and drummer Bryan Devendorf are brothers. Part of that isolation is why Matt invited his sibling Tom, who's nine years younger and pictured above on the right, to join the band's tour following their 2010 album High Violet. An aspiring filmmaker, Tom decided to shoot the whole thing, even after he got fired by the band for being a terrible assistant tour manager.

Some of his misfires included botching the guest list while the cast of "Lost" waited outside a show, filming celebrities after Matt begged him not to, and partying in a bar while the tour bus left without him. The resulting documentary, "Mistaken for Strangers," shows all of this in its hilarious, warts-and-all glory. It recently opened up the Tribeca Film Festival and Spinner had the chance to sit down in a roundtable chat with Matt, Tom, and Matt's wife Carin Besser, who co-edited the movie. In the Q&A below, we discuss the brothers' evolving relationship, how Tom got Bryan Devendorf to do an interview while taking a shower, and the new song "I Should Live in Salt," which Matt wrote about Tom during this process.

How's today going so far?

Tom: It's been fun.

Matt: Fun, yeah. We were kind of out late last night. It was Aaron and Bryce, who are in the movie and the band, they're twins and it was their birthday so we had a surprise party for them. Bryce was coming in from L.A. and his flight was delayed by three hours and we were all waiting in the dark, waiting for him to come in the door for three hours. ]]> carin besserCarinBessermatt berningerMattBerningermistaken for strangersMistakenForStrangersNationalThe Nationalthe national documentarythe national mistaken for strangersThe National moviethe national new albumthe national trouble will find meTheNationalTheNationalDocumentaryTheNationalMistakenForStrangersTheNationalMovieTheNationalNewAlbumTheNationalTroubleWillFindMetom berningerTomBerninger Dan Reilly 2013-04-24T18:45:00 00:00 Andrew W.K. and Marky Ramone's Pizza Talk: The Best in NYC and How to Order It http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-pizza/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-pizza/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/22/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-pizza/#comments Filed under: , ,


Andrew W.K. and Marky RamoneGino DePinto, AOL

At last, our saga with Andrew W.K. and Marky Ramone comes to an end. After they talked drumming, G.G. Allin, pasta and Playtex wipes, we're wrapping up our interview series with an important topic, especially for New Yorkers: Pizza.

Marky starts off the conversation by revealing why he couldn't stand living in Manhattan and returned to his native Brooklyn, before Andrew asks how many pizza he could eat in one sitting. Then, the pair discuss the best pizza places in New York, offer tips on how to properly order a slice -- whether it's at Grimaldi's or some $1 joint -- and why garlic is the most effective topping. ]]> andrew w.k.andrew wkAndrewW.k.AndrewWkmarky ramoneMarkyRamoneramonesthe ramonesTheRamones Dan Reilly 2013-04-22T14:30:00 00:00 Record Store Day Instagram Contest -- Find the Dumbest Album Covers and Win $50 http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/19/record-store-day-instagram-contest/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/19/record-store-day-instagram-contest/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/19/record-store-day-instagram-contest/#comments

record store dayRecord Store Day

Hey fans. For Record Store Day this year, we're giving away a $50 gift certificate to Insound.com, but you'll have to do a little digging.

While you're out shopping, take a photo of the dumbest album cover you happen to come across and upload it to Instagram and tag it with both @SpinnerPics and the hashtag #SpinnerRSD. We'll pick a selection of favorites, and then it's up to our fans (and probably your friends) to vote on who wins the prize. You'll have to enter by 12:01AM Pacific Time on Sunday, April 21, and we'll contact the winner later in the week.

So, there you have it. Get out there, get some records, find some bad covers and have a great Record Store Day! ALSO: If you're in New York, stop by our Record Store Day hangout for some great tunes, cheap drinks and the chance to win other prizes. It'll be a stone groove. ]]> Record Store DayRecord Store Day 2013RecordStoreDayRecordStoreDay2013 Dan Reilly 2013-04-19T16:55:00 00:00 Marky Ramone's Pasta Sauce Story -- A Video Chat With Andrew W.K. http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/marky-ramone-pasta-sauce-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/marky-ramone-pasta-sauce-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/marky-ramone-pasta-sauce-video/#comments Filed under: , ,


Gino DePinto, AOL

Marky Ramone has one of those old-school Brooklyn accents you just don't hear among younger people in the city anymore. Just listen to the way he pronounces the word "pasta" -- it's definitely not "pah-stah."

The reason we know this is because of Andrew W.K. brought up the fact that Marky has his own pasta sauce, Marky Ramone's Brooklyn's Own Marinara Pasta Sauce, when the pair stopped by to chat about their upcoming tour. The Ramones drummer explained that he got the recipe from his grandfather, a chef at the Copa and the 21 Club, and it came in handy when he got kicked out of his house at 18, broke and in need of cheap food. ]]> Andrew W.K.andrew wkAndrewW.k.AndrewWkMarky RamoneMarkyRamoneRamones Dan Reilly 2013-04-18T16:30:00 00:00 The National 'Mistaken for Strangers' Premiere and Concert -- Review http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/national-documentary-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/national-documentary-premiere/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/18/national-documentary-premiere/#comments Filed under: , ,


the national documentary premiereTaylor Hill/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

What a night for the National. The Brooklyn rockers kicked off the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival with the premiere of their documentary "Mistaken for Strangers" and followed it with a stunning performance at New York City's Highline ballroom.

With introductions by Richard Belzer and the festival's founders, Robert DeNiro and Jane Rosenthal, the documentary's director Tom Berninger -- brother of National singer Matt Berninger -- took the stage for a short pre-film speech. Short and stocky where Matt is tall and thin, the brothers do share a baritone voice with a Midwestern lilt, and as the film shows, that's where the similarities pretty much end. ]]> Nationalthe nationalthe national concertthe national documentarythe national filmthe national mistaken for strangersthe national moviethe national tribecaTheNationalTheNationalConcertTheNationalDocumentaryTheNationalFilmTheNationalMistakenForStrangersTheNationalMovieTheNationalTribeca Dan Reilly 2013-04-18T12:10:00 00:00 'New York Loves Boston': The Story Behind the Inspiring BAM Photos http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/new-york-loves-boston-photos-BAM/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/new-york-loves-boston-photos-BAM/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/new-york-loves-boston-photos-BAM/#comments Filed under: ,


New York Loves BostonLucky Tran

About six hours after the bombs went off at the end of the Boston Marathon, killing three and wounding over 180 others, a handful of pictures spread all over the Internet, carrying a message of peace and community in response to the tragedy.

Taken at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the images showed a series of projections on the building's side. One came from a Martin Luther King quote, another said, "Brooklyn Loves Boston," and another featured a logo, NY♥B: The first three symbols were taken from the iconic I♥NY shirts, while the B came from the Boston Red Sox.

The intense, profound projections were the work of The Illuminator, an offshoot of Occupy Wall Street best known for the giant images displayed above the Brooklyn Bridge during OWS' massive 2011 protest. Less than 24 hours later, two of the members -- molecular biologist Lucky Tran and MFA student/media professor Grayson Earle -- are still overwhelmed by the viral response to their message. ]]> BAMBoston Marathonboston marathon bombboston marathon bombingboston marathon explosionsBostonMarathonBostonMarathonBombBostonMarathonBombingBostonMarathonExplosionsbrooklyn academy of musicBrooklynAcademyOfMusicilluminatornew york loves bostonnew york loves boston symbolnew york message to bostonNewYorkLovesBostonnewyorklovesbostonsymbolnewyorkmessagetobostonny boston logony loves bny loves bostonnybostonlogonylovesbnylovesbostonOccupy Wall StreetOccupyWallStreetthe illuminatorTheIlluminator Dan Reilly 2013-04-16T18:42:00 00:00 Vampire Weekend Get Awkward With Steve Buscemi -- Exclusive Video From 'Amex Unstaged' http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/vampire-weekend-buscemi-amex-unstaged/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/vampire-weekend-buscemi-amex-unstaged/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/16/vampire-weekend-buscemi-amex-unstaged/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Alex John Beck

Vampire Weekend and Steve Buscemi have teamed up for the latest American Express Unstaged concert in which the actor will direct a live stream of the quartet's upcoming New York City gig. Taking place from Roseland Ballroom on Sunday, April 28, the show will close out the Tribeca Film Festival at 9PM ET.

Of course, it'd make sense that the band and Steve should meet ahead of time to discuss their gameplan, and Spinner is proud to present the video of their first encounter. In it, we learn that Buscemi and bassist Chris Baio are (extremely) distant relatives, and that the actor just happens to be an AOL e-mail user (yeah, it's still a thing!). ]]> steve buscemiSteveBuscemivampire weekendVampireWeekend Dan Reilly 2013-04-16T11:00:00 00:00 Coachella 2013 Photos Day Three: Chili Peppers, Jessie Ware, Nick Cave & More http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/15/coachella-2013-photos-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/15/coachella-2013-photos-pictures/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/15/coachella-2013-photos-pictures/#comments Filed under: , ,


Lindsey Best for AOL

Well, it's over. The first weekend of Coachella has come and gone, and photographer Lindsey Best was there to capture it all. In the gallery below, check out pictures of headliners the Red Hot Chili Peppers, as well as Nick Cave, Father John Misty, OMD, Jessie Ware, Grimes, Jeff the Brotherhood, Social Distortion, Thee Oh Sees, Tame Impala, La Roux and Dinosaur Jr. ]]> Coachellacoachella 2013coachella photoscoachella picturescoachella wrapupCoachella2013CoachellaPhotosCoachellaPicturesCoachellaWrapupDinosaur Jr.DinosaurJr.Father John MistyFatherJohnMistyGrimesJeff the BrotherhoodJeffTheBrotherhoodJessie WareJessieWareLa RouxLaRouxNick CaveNickCaveOMDRed Hot Chili PeppersRedHotChiliPeppersSocial DistortionSocialDistortionTame ImpalaTameImpalaThee Oh SeesTheeOhSees Dan Reilly 2013-04-15T11:05:00 00:00 Andrew W.K. Interviews Marky Ramone: G.G. Allin, Fights & More (VIDEO) http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/11/andrew-wk-marky-ramone-interview/#comments Filed under: , ,


Gino DePinto, AOL

When Marky Ramone and Andrew W.K. stopped by our New York office to discuss their upcoming Blitzkrieg tour, we had an idea: What if Andrew conducted the interview instead of us? After thinking our request over for a second or two, Mr. W.K. decided he loved the idea. Marky did too, and now you can see the results below.

Andrew asked the hard questions like "Do you like drumming?" and "Did you ever order chick peas at Max's Kansas City?" And what started as a discussion of their tour, which will feature them performing 34 Ramones classics, turned into a talk about why Marky got kicked out of school and G.G. Allin's penchant for throwing feces around.

Check out the hilarious video below and catch Andrew and Marky performing around the world in 2013. ]]> Andrew W.K.andrew wkAndrewW.k.AndrewWkG.G. AllinG.g.AllinMarky RamoneMarkyRamoneramones Dan Reilly 2013-04-11T13:05:00 00:00 Andrew W.K. Talks Playtex Wipes With Marky Ramone -- Exclusive Video http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/andrew-wk-playtex-marky-ramone/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/andrew-wk-playtex-marky-ramone/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/andrew-wk-playtex-marky-ramone/#comments Filed under: , , ,


Gino DePinto, AOL

In case you haven't heard, Andrew W.K. is joining Marky Ramone's Blitzkrieg for a world tour that will see them performing over 30 of the Ramones' greatest hits. Mr. W.K. is also the new face of Playtex Fresh and Sexy wipes, which are designed specifically for cleaning up before and after intimate occasions.

Both Andrew and Marky were kind enough to stop by our New York office to chat about the tour, New York City, G.G. Allin and more, but first, we're debuting this chat in which they discuss the wipes. Enjoy, and check back for more of Andrew and Marky soon! ]]> Andrew W.K.andrew wkAndrewW.k.AndrewWkMarky RamoneMarkyRamoneRamones Dan Reilly 2013-04-05T14:20:00 00:00 James Brown Performs 'I Feel Good,' Keeps the Peace at Boston Garden in '68 -- VIDEO http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/james-brown-boston-garden-martin-luther-king/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/james-brown-boston-garden-martin-luther-king/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/05/james-brown-boston-garden-martin-luther-king/#comments Filed under: , ,


Getty Images

Forty five years ago today, officials in Boston readied for a second straight night of rioting following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. With the violence mainly taking place in the black areas of the city, mayor Kevin White worried that a James Brown concert at the Boston Garden would bring more unrest downtown.

Then came city councilman Tom Atkins, an African-American politician who convinced the mayor to not only allow the show to go on, but to broadcast it free on public station WGBH. The idea? Keep Bostonians at home, off the streets, watching Brown do his thing. ]]> James BrownJamesBrown Dan Reilly 2013-04-05T10:41:00 00:00 Frank Turner's Top 10 Xtra Mile Albums + Free 'Good Hangs Sampler' Mixtape http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/04/frank-turner-xtra-mile-mixtape/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/04/frank-turner-xtra-mile-mixtape/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/04/04/frank-turner-xtra-mile-mixtape/#comments Filed under: ,


Tara Novak

London-based independent label Xtra Mile Recordings is heading to North America after a decade in business, bringing an excellent roster of rock acts to our shores. To commemorate this milestone, folk/punk rocker and Xtra Mile artist Frank Turner has graciously written about his favorite 10 albums from the label (which happens to be run by his manager, Charlie Caplowe). To sweeten the pot, Xtra Mile is offering a free download of the "Good Hangs Sampler," a mixtape of songs from the label featuring tracks by Frank, Future of the Left, Dave Hause, Tim Barry and more. Check out Frank's words below and pick up his fifth album, Tape Deck Heart, out April 22 via Xtra Mile and Interscope.


Frank Turner's Favorite Xtra Mile Albums:
1. Reuben -- Racecar Is Racecar Backwards
This is kind of the foundation document of the label for me though it wasn't the first release. Reuben were an incredible band, one of the great lost acts of the 2000s. They were friends and I crewed for them on tour here and there. This record is a classic. ]]> Dave HauseDaveHauseFrank TurnerFrankTurnerFuture of the LeftFutureOfTheLeftTim BarryTimBarry Dan Reilly 2013-04-04T14:00:00 00:00 Hard Rock's 'Gone Too Soon' Photos: Artifacts From Music's Dearly Departed http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/hard-rock-gone-too-soon-exhibit/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/hard-rock-gone-too-soon-exhibit/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/hard-rock-gone-too-soon-exhibit/#comments Filed under: ,


Hard Rock International

When the plane carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens crashed in 1959, the police sifting through the wreckage thought there was another victim on board: Holly's bassist Tommy Allsup. As it turns out, Allsup lost the coin toss with Valens for the last seat on the aircraft, and somehow his wallet ended up on that tragic flight, only to be left among the debris in that frigid Iowa field.

Allsup's wallet and everything it contained -- pictures of family, a handwritten receipt for a $70 Fender bass, King Curtis' business card, and much more -- is part of Hard Rock International's new exhibit "Gone Too Soon," which collects artifacts from some of the most influential musicians to die before they got old.

Featuring clothing, instruments, letters, lyrics and contracts from John Lennon, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and many more, it reminds fans of the humanity of the late artists, and makes one consider why we're so fascinated with their legacies.

"The allure of eternal youth is a part of it," Jeff Nelson, Hard Rock Music and Memorabilia Historian, tells Spinner. "These artists are forever in their prime. They never had a chance to screw up their legacy or make bad records. As twisted as it sounds, there's an undeniable sense of romance associated with these people. It's like watching a shooting star -- or a train wreck." ]]> Amy WinehouseAmyWinehouseBig BopperBigBopperBob MarleyBobMarleyBuddy HollyBuddyHollyDimebag DarrelDimebag DarrellDimebagDarrelDimebagDarrellJanis JoplinJanisJoplinJim MorrisonJimi HendrixJimiHendrixJimMorrisonJohn LennonJohnLennonKeith MoonKeithMoonKurt CobainKurtCobainLisa Left Eye LopesLisaLeftEyeLopesMichael JacksonMichaelJacksonRitchie ValensRitchieValensStevie Ray VaughanStevieRayVaughanTommy AllsupTommyAllsupWhitney HoustonWhitneyHouston Dan Reilly 2013-03-28T15:30:00 00:00 Stevie Nicks Remakes 'Secret Love' -- Exclusive Video From 'In Your Dreams' Documentary http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/stevie-nicks-in-your-dreams-documentary/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/stevie-nicks-in-your-dreams-documentary/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/28/stevie-nicks-in-your-dreams-documentary/#comments Filed under: ,


Stevie Nicks' Weapons of Mass Entertainment

It's easy to forget that even the most legendary musicians grapple with self-doubt. Stevie Nicks reminds us of that in a new documentary, "In Your Dreams," which chronicles the making of her album of the same name.

In the exclusive clip below, Nicks discusses the recording of "Secret Love," a song she wrote for Fleetwood Mac's Rumours but never properly recorded for over 30 years. Oddly enough, a demo from those sessions found its way to YouTube, leaving Nicks with some mixed emotions. ]]> dave stewartDaveStewartFleetwood MacFleetwoodMacStevie Nicksstevie nicks in your dreamsStevieNicksStevieNicksInYourDreams Dan Reilly 2013-03-28T11:00:00 00:00 The Beatles Song Charts: Every Track Broken Down by Instrument (INFOGRAPHIC) http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/beatles-song-charts/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/beatles-song-charts/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/beatles-song-charts/#comments Filed under:


Beatles Song Chart printPop Chart Lab

We here at Spinner enjoy doing some deep research on projects, but going through every Beatles song and figuring out which member played what instrument? That just seems nuts.

Luckily, the people ate Pop Chart Lab have the right amount of drive, patience and insanity, as they did just that, mapping out the "helter skelter details" in a box set of infographics. The Beatles Song Charts comes in three prints and can be purchased here from Pop Chart Lab. Click on the images here to see the high-resolution versions, and say "Hello, Goodbye" to the rest of your day's productivity. ]]> Beatlesbeatles song chartbeatlessongchartgeorge harrisonGeorgeHarrisonjohn lennonjohnlennonpaul mccartneyPaulMccartneyringo starrRingoStarrthe beatlesTheBeatles Dan Reilly 2013-03-25T14:40:00 00:00 25 Albums You Need to Own on Vinyl Part 2 http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/25-albums-you-need-to-own-on-vinyl-part-2/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/25-albums-you-need-to-own-on-vinyl-part-2/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/25-albums-you-need-to-own-on-vinyl-part-2/#comments

Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes' self-titled debut, released in 2008, was an instant classic and phenomenal start for the 22-year-old Robin Pecknold. The vocal harmonies and stellar songwriting make this folk rock/baroque pop newcomer seem like an artist wise beyond his years. The album plays beautifully and flows naturally, like the perfect Sunday afternoon record. Fleet Foxes features a full-size bonus LP featuring the Sun Giant EP in its entirety, a welcome surprise for anyone who purchases this first album on vinyl. It also features cover art detailing "Netherlandish Proverbs," a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

Joanna Newsom, Have One on Me - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Joanna Newsom - Have One On Me

Every collection needs some artistic diversity, and Joanna Newsom will give you a lot of it in one bundle. Her box-set vinyl release for Have One on Me is her third full-length LP, ringing in at over two hours of music that expertly showcases her harp skills and unquestionably brilliant songwriting ability. There is a reason artists like Fleet Foxes, M. Ward, and the Decemberists readily cover her music -- her songwriting ability is in another league and one that any focused listener can appreciate.

Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

There's a lot to say about Kanye West without even grazing the surface of a discussion about his music. Truth is, whether you particularly care for the guy or not, his dedication in the studio is among the top in the business, the result being a bevy of successful albums for himself and other artists. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is one of the most highly praised albums of the last several years and is certainly the most artistic of his catalog. Released as one package of three LPs with bonus art, you will surely be holding on to a classic album in the future if you get your hands on a copy of this today.

Kid Koala, 12 bit Blues - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Kid Koala - 12 bit Blues

12 bit Blues is an epic blues-based album showcasing the talented DJ/turntablist/musician Kid Koala. Eric San used an E-mu SP-1200 sampler to create the tracks for this album over the span of three days without the use of modern day sequencing software. The result is 12 bit Blues, an album of re-invented blues music that will have you shaking your head in amazement of his technique. To be brief, the longest sample on the entire album is only 10 seconds long, which means no splice of any individual track would play longer than 10 seconds without San queuing the next part manually to keep the track alive (that's a lot of work and a lot of samples to make an entire album sound this fluid). As a bonus for buying on vinyl, the LP is packaged with a cardboard, hand-powered turntable kit that actually works, the perfect way to teach any doubter how to really appreciate analog music.

Kings of Leon, The Early Vinyl - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Kings of Leon - The Early Vinyl (box set)

So much can be said about what Kings of Leon used to be versus what they are today. No matter your position on the topic, this box set of the first three KoL albums is a treasure. Youth & Young Manhood, Aha-Shake Heartbreak, and Because of the Times capture KoL at their earliest musical roots when they were touring the country in dive bars and working their way up to the successes they enjoy today. Original cover art for all three albums (which are difficult to find elsewhere) plus an entire LP of handpicked rarities from the band make this worth the investment. This is a well-packaged set of albums for your growing record collection, because few things rock harder than early KoL.

Miles Davis, Kind of Blue - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Miles Davis - Kind of Blue

If your plan was to purchase only one jazz album on vinyl, first I would tell you what a horrible decision that is. Jazz is one of the best sounding genres on the format, with original Blue Note recordings fetching hundreds and even thousands of dollars at auction. However, if you persisted in your foolishness I would tell you to pick up Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. The best-selling jazz album of all time brought together a stunningly talented crew - John Coltrane, Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, Bill Evans, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb, and of course Davis himself. The musicians were given the basic outlines of the songs, but little else, as Davis wanted to capture the spontaneity he knew was at the real heart of jazz. It worked perfectly and when played on vinyl you start to understand why great jazz is something you feel more than you hear.

Neil Young, Harvest - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Neil Young - Harvest

James Taylor, Graham Nash, Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, David Crosby -- what could easily be the lineup for a music hall of fame concert is actually the list of vocal contributors on Neil Young's fourth studio album. Including songs like "Old Man" and "Heart of Gold," Harvest checks in as Rolling Stone's 78th greatest album of all time (at least until they redo their list in a few years). The original vinyl release featured a beautiful lyric sheet and soft jacket that added to the hand-crafted feel of Young's music. If you can get your hands on the original LP, good for you, but if not there are several re-pressings that have garnered praise from critical fans in recent years. Whichever pressing you end up with you can be satisfied in knowing that you possess an album that helped define Americana. Ironically, it required a Canadian-born musician to do so.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

There are legendary albums, then there are albums full of legend. The second and final release by the Jeff Mangum-led indie rock band Neutral Milk Hotel belongs to an exceptionally rare breed of album that confidently straddles both. The dreamy turn-of-the century sound (organ, accordion, brass, pipes) and accompanying album art alone provide fertile breeding grounds for a certain mystique, but the hazy connections to Anne Frank, whose diaries reportedly served as an emotional catalyst for Mangum, help push it into cult-like status. Considered by many to be one of the greatest indie rock albums of all-time, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea continues to rank among the top sellers on vinyl year after year, despite being released over 14 years ago. One might be tempted to shrug it off as indie nostalgia -- don't. The music is lo-fi indie perfection, the album artwork grandiose and lovely, but most importantly there's an intangible weight and force to this album that makes it a must-have piece of rock history for any true fan of music.

Panda Bear, Tomboy - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Panda Bear - Tomboy

One of the most accessible Animal Collective albums released to date, Panda Bear (aka Noah Lennox) created Tomboy shortly after the widespread appreciation of Merriweather Post Pavilion as a solo follow-up to his highly praised album Person Pitch. Although it is a significantly different sound than most fans might have expected upon release, to this day it is one of the most listenable albums to come from the unconventional group of artists. The limited edition vinyl release of Tomboy is a four-LP set, including the entire album on two discs with the Tomboy single mixes and several unreleased instrumentals, a cappellas, as well as the single "The Preakness" and a 16-page art book. And, just to make you feel like a philanthropist, all proceeds of the limited edition LP go to the American Cancer Society!

Radiohead, In Rainbows - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Radiohead- In Rainbows

When Radiohead released In Rainbows in 2007 as a pay-what-you-want model, nobody was sure if that was going to reflect the quality of the release compared to their traditionally released masterpieces from before. Fortunately, it exceeded most fan expectations. They won several awards for their work and challenged the long-standing models of music access. As a bonus, they won a Grammy for Best Special Limited Edition Package for the vinyl release. Although you probably won't find that Grammy-winning package very cheaply today, that doesn't change the quality of the music contained on the album nor the enjoyment of the standard vinyl LP commonly available today.

Radiohead, In Rainbows - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Sufjan Stevens - Illinois

Sufjan Steven's fifth album, Illinois, is his second state-based theme record, containing people, places and events relative to the title. The songs are not about the state explicitly; they just make a reference to the state in one way or another. It's not just beautiful music, it's an exercise in listening intently for the genius references while still making an album of incredible songs. This deep and active listening is what the vinyl format helps champion and with Sufjan, it's a very rewarding exercise.

Van Morrison, Moondance - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Van Morrison - Moondance

Written and recorded after a move to rural New York with his wife, Moondance is the album that put the Northern Irish singer-songwriter on the map. Blending jazz, soul, rock, and blues, the album contains a nostalgia that is easier to feel than describe. Much like Miles Davis's Kind of Blue, Van Morrison brought into the studio little more than a basic outline of the songs, allowing the album to come together in a more creative and spontaneous manner. The highly subjective it-just-sounds-better-on-vinyl argument comes into play here with many fans describing fuller mids and lows on the LP in contrast to its CD/MP3 counterpart. Regardless, one really can't go wrong adding such a classic from one of the century's most_thumbnail.gifted artists.

White Stripes, Elephant - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

The White Stripes - Elephant

If listening to music on vinyl is a mild rebellion against the digital age, then Elephant, the fourth studio album by the White Stripes, is the French Revolution. Jack and Meg White chose to intentionally avoid modern recording technology or computers in the production process, using an eight-track tape machine and decades-old gear while laying down the album in just two weeks. The fifth-best album of thedecade according to Rolling Stone, Elephant contains the well-known "Seven Nation Army" in addition to a pulverizing cover of Burt Bacharach's, "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself." The combination of old analog production equipment paired with the White's characteristically distortion-rich shredding helps produce a rock album born for the turntable and a must-have for any true fan of the genre.

Wilco, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

The story of Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the classic tale of the artist triumphing over an increasingly bureaucratic and money-hungry record label. After a grueling year in the studio, Wilco handed the album over to Reprise Records only to have them refuse to release it without major changes. The Chicago-based band didn't budge, trusting their artistic instincts over the judgment of the suits at Warner. This put the label in an awkward -- and soon very public -- position that eventually led to the album rights being transferred back to Wilco, who were then free to take it elsewhere. Finally released in April of 2002, the album was met with high praise from fans and critics alike who viewed it as the group's most ambitious work to date and one of the best albums of the decade. This is an album to own not just because of its musical beauty and integrity, but because of what it represents -- artistic conviction in an era too often marked by compromise and apathy.

William Basinski, The Disintegration Loops - 25 Albums You Should Own on Vinyl

William Basinski - The Disintegration Loops

Most people would call this ambient music, but not the kind where you just leave your clock radio on when you're working in the kitchen. The Disintegration Loops is a collection of tracks of modern historic value. In brief, William Basinski was converting 20-year-old music loops from tape to digital in the summer of 2001 when, during conversion, he noticed that the decay of the tapes caused them to fleck and break apart in the conversion process. The result is hours of beautifully deconstructed sounds that take place slowly and gradually. It's a musical experience like few others and I encourage you to read up on the story further, all the way to the part about how he finished them on the morning of September 11th, 2001. In fact, the music is being inducted into the 9/11 Memorial Museum for its significance. Very limited, very beautiful.

]]> Dan Reilly 2013-03-25T13:23:00 00:00 Penn Badgley (as Jeff Buckley) Performs 'Once I Was' in 'Greetings From Tim Buckley' -- Exclusive Video http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/penn-badgely-jeff-buckley-once-i-was/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/penn-badgely-jeff-buckley-once-i-was/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/25/penn-badgely-jeff-buckley-once-i-was/#comments Filed under: , ,


Tribeca Film

Portraying a music legend is no easy task for an actor, and Penn Badgley certain had his work cut out for him when he accepted the role of Jeff Buckley. The actor, best known for his stint on "Gossip Girl," is taking on the challenge in the upcoming film "Greetings From Tim Buckley," and he's doing all his own singing.

The movie tells the story of the younger Buckley's first public performance -- at a tribute concert to his dad, Tim, who died of a drug overdose before Jeff was only 8. While troubled by his father's legacy and his desire to make a name for himself, the 1991 performance was the breakout moment in Jeff's career, thanks in part to his beautiful rendition of "Once I Was." ]]> greeting from tim buckleygreetingfromtimbuckleygreetings from tim buckleyGreetingsFromTimBuckleyJeff BuckleyJeffBuckleyonce i was penn badgleyonceiwaspennbadgleyPenn BadgleyPennBadgley Dan Reilly 2013-03-25T11:00:00 00:00 The 41 Hottest Women in Indie Rock: A Listicle for Everyone! http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/22/hottest-women-in-indie-rock/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/22/hottest-women-in-indie-rock/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/03/22/hottest-women-in-indie-rock/#comments Filed under: ,


Spinner

There are so many beautiful women in indie. Way more than 41, actually. And plenty of attractive guys, too. Too many, in fact, to list in one highly subjective article written by someone like us, who has no business writing about such things in the first place.

When it comes to judging musicians by their art and/or looks, you have your favorites. We have our favorites. When it comes to listicles, we're going to run some that we try to make humorous and/or informative, because they're fun to produce and people seem to like them (stay tuned for our one on vinyl shopping). I, Spinner editor Dan Reilly, won't troll you with some sexist garbage just to get traffic. So let's agree on those points and move along to our last one:

It's almost the weekend. Instead of reading some piece that'll only make you furious, put on your favorite playlist, get out and watch some bands play live, or maybe go record shopping. You have the off button when it comes to raging against the choices of others.

You'll be happier in the end. Trust us. ]]> Dan Reilly 2013-03-22T15:41:00 00:00