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/ Mountain Goats Q&A: John Darnielle on His Son's Love of 'Scarface' & Not Being Prolific http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/mountain-goats-transcendental-youth-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/mountain-goats-transcendental-youth-interview/ http://www.spinner.com/2013/01/02/mountain-goats-transcendental-youth-interview/#comments Filed under: ,


The Mountain GoatsMountain-Goats.com

John Darnielle released the excellent Transcendental Youth last October, all the more astonishing because it's his 14th album with the Mountain Goats, a solo project that he willed into a band over years of growing a fan base primarily obsessed with his incredibly far-ranging narratives. But he runs such a gamut of tones and subjects that his declarative style could sound uplifting when the characters are despairing, a bright tone when the words are gray, and it's easy to get lots in the shoots and ladders game of his many characters, which he swear he doesn't mean to bring up again and again-it just happens. He spoke to Spinner on his new son's strange affinity for "Scarface," his opinions of his own songs and the importance of throwing things away.

Would you say Transcendental Youth is one of the more positive, uplifting Mountain Goats albums?

Uh, well, I don't know. No, I wouldn't say so ... I guess this is where I'm looking at it from but "Until I Am Whole" is not particularly bright in tone and neither is "Lakeside View Apartment Suite." But I guess it's bookended by affirmative stuff, yeah.

]]> john darnielleJohnDarnielleMountain GoatsMountainGoats Dan Weiss 2013-01-02T15:15:00 00:00 Rolling Stones Rock New Jersey With Mick Taylor and John Mayer http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/14/rolling-stones-newark/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/14/rolling-stones-newark/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/12/14/rolling-stones-newark/#comments Filed under: ,


Dave Allocca, AP

Fifty years. That's five times as long as the Beatles' career, and quite a bit longer than most other bands (or marriages). Rock 'n' roll was meant to explode and fall apart, so how humanoids like Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and company have survived the ringer this long remains a mystery. Nevertheless, better the world's greatest rock band make it to 50 years than someone else.

For the first New Jersey stop on this very-limited, very-pricey victory lap of a tour, the Rolling Stones not only didn't disappoint, they outclassed 50 years of successors, including rightful ones. Frills were few: John Mayer hopped on early to roast his axe on "Respectable," and Mick's mysteriously quick costume changes from sparkly to sparklier jackets barely distracted from the well-aged thunderous canon (more like canyon) of hits. Only the Stones could toss off Richter-scale levelers like "Gimme Shelter" and "Paint It Black" in the first few numbers. ]]> John MayerjohnmayerMick JaggerMick TaylormickjaggermicktaylorRolling Stonesrolling stones 50 and countingrolling stones mick taylorrolling stones new jerseyrolling stones newarkrollingstones Dan Weiss 2012-12-14T12:30:00 00:00 Bob Mould Q&A: 'Copper Blue,' Husker Du Reunions and Frank Ocean's Sexuality http://www.spinner.com/2012/09/18/bob-mould-silver-age/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/09/18/bob-mould-silver-age/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/09/18/bob-mould-silver-age/#comments Filed under: , , , ,


Peter Ellenby

Bob Mould will be pretty upfront with you. The former Hüsker Dü and Sugar frontman has said it all before, even memorialized it forever now in his autobiography, See a Little Light. And from leading distortion-reinventing power trios to DJing IDM and even scripting pro wrestling for a spell, he's done it all too. Yet he's currently celebrating a 20th anniversary when he put everything else aside to make simple rock 'n' roll again, and was rewarded with an alternative rock ("for lack of a better term," groans the one-time auteur of "I Hate Alternative Rock") classic and his commercial peak, Sugar's Copper Blue, though the follow-ups Beaster and File Under: Easy Listening were just as great if not greater. All of those were reissued last month on Merge, and Mould has a new solo album out on the label as well, Silver Age. If it bears quite a resemblance to Sugar sonically, well, that's just a coincidence.

The process described to produce both Sugar albums sounded so painstaking, all those constant takes and do-overs to get right. Was that a conscious reaction to the first-take, lo-fi feel of most of the records you made with Hüsker Dü?

Hmm. No, I think it was just a natural growth pattern from the Hüskers' records, which were very loose and very live-feeling. I think when I made that jump was probably -- to the more exact recording nature -- working with [drummer] Anton Grier on the two solo records. Black Sheets of Rain, that's when we brought the click track in, at Anton's request. He's very diligent, very specific as to what kind of feel and the structures of the songs. So I learned a lot from Anton in that sense, and then going in to work with Lou [Giodarno, Copper Blue producer], we made a very conscious decision upfront to use click tracks and be very, very precise with the arrangements. I'd done a lot of demos at home that were really, really tight, really specific. When Lou heard them he was like, "If we want to make a record like this, we've gotta be really tight with everything." It wasn't a reaction to anything, it just became the way that I made records at that point: A lot of homework and a lot of attention to detail all the way through the recording. ]]> Bob Mouldbob mould copper bluebob mould copper blue tourbob mould frank oceanBob Mould gaybob mould interviewbob mould sexualityBob Mould Silver Agebob mould sugarfrank ocean bob mouldfrankoceanHüsker DüHuskerDusilver ageSugar Dan Weiss 2012-09-18T16:00:00 00:00 Gregg Allman Q&A: His New Wife, Not Liking the Grateful Dead and Dickey Betts http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/01/gregg-allman-memoir/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/01/gregg-allman-memoir/ http://www.spinner.com/2012/08/01/gregg-allman-memoir/#comments Filed under: , ,


Danny Clinch

With a new memoir out (the entertaining My Cross to Bear, co-written with Alan Light) and a surprising new engagement (to 24-year-old girlfriend Shannon Williams, which will be his seventh marriage), legendary Allman Brothers Band singer/keyboardist Gregg Allman, 64, is in the spotlight again. The book is surprisingly candid early on about the problems with now-departed Allmans guitarist Dickey Betts and not being a fan of the Grateful Dead, with whom his band shares a large jam-band/classic rock fanbase, as well as insight about his six former marriages. But he doesn't see what the big deal is; the man just wants to play music. Calling from Jacksonville Beach, the perpetually earnest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee spoke to Spinner about summing his extravagant life up in a book that he didn't even know was a book.

I know you're getting asked about your engagement left and right, but after reading the book, it seems like the big difference with your previous marriages is that you're sober now.

That's true.

Do you think that's a big part of why you want to give marriage another try?

That's not the reason, no. She's actually like my first wife.

In the book, you're not shy about criticizing Dickey's destructiveness from the start. Did it never occur to fire him for so long because you felt responsible for so many of the band's troubles?

You're asking and answering the question at the same time. Is it because of what? ]]> Allman Brothers BandAllmanBrothersAllmanBrothersBandCherdickeybettsGregg Allmangregg allman bookgregg allman cocainegregg allman drugsgregg allman engagedgregg allman memoirgregg allman my cross to bearGreggAllman Dan Weiss 2012-08-01T13:45:00 00:00 Death Cab for Cutie to Debut 'Tourist' Video Live While It's Filmed http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/29/death-cab-for-cutie-you-are-a-tourist-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/29/death-cab-for-cutie-you-are-a-tourist-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/29/death-cab-for-cutie-you-are-a-tourist-video/#comments Filed under: ,


Tim Mosenfelder, Getty Images

Since their unlikely ascent to major-label stardom, which culminated in the No. 1 hit 'Narrow Stairs,' Death Cab for Cutie have been trying to break the humble-guys-in-a-band mold. 'Narrow Stairs''s first single, 'I Will Possess Your Heart,' was one kind of experiment, a bass- and drum-heavy eight-minute epic where they attempted dark psychedelia.

Their upcoming album, 'Codes and Keys,' out May 31, has been bravely touted by the band as a keyboard-heavy homage to Brian Eno's experimental classic 'Another Green World.' On Monday, the record's richly-textured first single 'You Are a Tourist' debuted on SoundCloud. ]]> Death Cab for CutieDeathCabForCutie Dan Weiss 2011-03-29T14:33:00 00:00 Nirvana's 'Hormoaning' EP Getting Rereleased on Record Store Day http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/23/nirvanas-hormoaning/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/23/nirvanas-hormoaning/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/23/nirvanas-hormoaning/#comments Filed under: ,


NirvanaGeffen Records

Nirvana's limited-edition EP 'Hormoaning' was insanely sought after in its heyday back when 'Nevermind' was merely just a cause celebré.

One can only imagine just how much its worth and ownership of it has risen in stature since Kurt Cobain's death and quick ascension to the Lennon/Hendrix echelons of rock 'n' roll fame and mystique.

Yet on April 16, otherwise known to rock geeks as Record Store Day, 'Hormoaning' will be rereleased for the first time since its initial limited, offshore run -- and domestic release for the first time ever -- for just 6,000 lucky new owners. ]]> Dave GrohlDaveGrohlkurt cobainkurtcobainnirvana Dan Weiss 2011-03-23T16:10:00 00:00 Thom Yorke, Four Tet and Burial Collaborate on Single http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/15/thom-yorke-four-tet-burial-collaborate/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/15/thom-yorke-four-tet-burial-collaborate/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/15/thom-yorke-four-tet-burial-collaborate/#comments Filed under: ,


Getty Images | Redferns, Getty Images

Radiohead's Thom Yorke is one of the few iconic artists who consistently makes fans' fantasy team-ups come true (see his collaborations with equally well-regarded peers like Bjork and PJ Harvey).

Last year, he even lent his voice to one of the many soundscapes on Flying Lotus' highly acclaimed 'Cosmogramma.' On the heels of Radiohead's terse, drum-heavy new album 'The King of Limbs,' it should come as no surprise that he's recorded a single with folktronica pioneer Four Tet and shadowy dubstep luminary Burial, two of the most lauded electronic artists in the world currently.

Burial and Four Tet have previously collaborated on the 2009 single 'Moth/Wolf' Cub,' which managed the remarkable feat of sounding exactly like both artists. ]]> burialFour TetFourTetRadioheadThom YorkeThomYorke Dan Weiss 2011-03-15T17:40:00 00:00 Jack White Debuting Third Man Rolling Record Store at SXSW http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/09/jack-white-mobile-third-man-store/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/09/jack-white-mobile-third-man-store/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/03/09/jack-white-mobile-third-man-store/#comments Filed under: ,


Jack WhiteGino DePinto for AOL

Consummate multi-tasker Jack White has a new project that will debut at SXSW, but it's not a band as you might expect. The man who recently broke up his most famous act, the White Stripes, has unveiled a vehicle for his Nashville-based Third Man record label that has been customized into a fully functional shop called the Third Man Rolling Record Store.

The bright-yellow truck has been equipped with a microphone and turntables for guest DJs to spin records inside the store, and a state-of-the-art sound system for bands to hook up, plug into and rock outside. Then there's the merch itself, a mix of limited-edition Third Man vinyl releases, Rolling Record Store t-shirts, tote bags and drinking accessories. At SXSW, the store is expected to host musical performances (including some surprise appearances), guest DJs and a slew of exclusive vinyl, such as four different tri-color releases. Following that, the store goes "on tour" to other upcoming festivals and concerts. ]]> jackwhiteSXSWsxsw2011 Dan Weiss 2011-03-09T15:00:00 00:00 'Portlandia' Star Carrie Brownstein Promises New Music in Season Two http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/25/portlandia-IFC/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/25/portlandia-IFC/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/25/portlandia-IFC/#comments Filed under: , ,


Fred Armisen and Carrie BrownsteinIFC

It's a wonder that Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen started a sketch comedy duo instead of a band. Their IFC show 'Portlandia' is crowded with musicians such as Aimee Mann, James Mercer, Colin Meloy, Sarah McLachlan and Brownstein's former Sleater-Kinney bandmate Corin Tucker. On top of that, Brownstein and Armisen, who has played drums in a few bands, have been making some music of their own.

"[Fred and I] do a lot of the incidental music for the show," Brownstein tells Spinner. "We recorded a song for the episode with Kyle MacLachlan [as the mayor of Portland], and we recorded our theme song. We'll do the same thing for the second season. So yeah, we get in the studio sometimes. We have too much going on to really play, but when we get a chance we'd want to make music." ]]> Carrie BrownsteincarriebrownsteinFred Armisenfredarmisenportlandia Dan Weiss 2011-02-25T12:00:00 00:00 Green Day Release Live Video for 'Cigarettes and Valentines' http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/23/green-day-cigarettes-and-valentines-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/23/green-day-cigarettes-and-valentines-video/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/23/green-day-cigarettes-and-valentines-video/#comments Filed under: , ,


Green Day's Billie Joe ArmstrongNoel Vasquez, Getty Images

Green Day's upcoming live CD/DVD release 'Awesome as F---' documents the band's '21 Century Breakdown' tour from 2009-2010 and includes a special treat for longtime fans: the unreleased song 'Cigarettes and Valentines.' And after months of fan-recorded clips hitting the Web, the band has released the official video of it from the DVD.

'Cigarettes' dates back to sessions from before 2004's award-winning, worldwide hit, 'American Idiot.' The tune was originally slated to be the title track on Green Day's next album, but the master recordings were stolen and the LP was scrapped in favor of 'Idiot.' The unreleased sessions and songs went unheard until the band debuted 'Cigarettes' in concert in 2010. ]]> Green Daygreenday Dan Weiss 2011-02-23T16:00:00 00:00 'Portlandia' Renewal Makes Carrie Brownstein Go 'Looting' -- Brand New Clip http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/16/portlandia-IFC-second-season/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/16/portlandia-IFC-second-season/ http://www.spinner.com/2011/02/16/portlandia-IFC-second-season/#comments Filed under: , ,


'Portlandia' stars Carrie Brownstein and Fred ArmisenIFC

When 'Saturday Night Live' cast member Fred Armisen and former Sleater-Kinney guitarist Carrie Brownstein's IFC sketch comedy show 'Portlandia' premiered on Jan. 21, real-life Portland mayor Sam Adams officially declared it "Portlandia Day" in the city. This week, it was announced that the show has been been picked up for a second season, so Brownstein has a second chance to celebrate the holiday next year.

"I feel like I didn't really take advantage of it," Brownstein tells Spinner. "I should take a raincheck or something, go into the city and do some looting. I think I was actually out of town. Maybe there was a parade. I have [Adams'] proclamation on my fridge -- that's about as far as I went. It's not even framed, but it is currently being held up by my favorite magnet." ]]> Carrie BrownsteincarriebrownsteinColin MeloycolinmeloyCorin TuckercorintuckerDecemberistsfredarmisenJames MercerjamesmercerportlandiaShinsSleater-Kinneysleaterkinney Dan Weiss 2011-02-16T14:00:00 00:00