Instant Lennon

I'm an older music fan (50 this last birthday) and I still like
going to the cd store and buying stuff. I end up keeping most
of it but sometimes I just download what I like and trade the
cd at a local place that sells used music.

If you're interested in getting the new "Instant Karma
Save Darfur" collection I would recommend sampling the
songs on I-Tunes or whatever first. There are 23 cuts and
while some are great others just seem kinda lame. You
might want to go the download route on this one. Of
course, it's raising cash for a good cause so maybe
getting your money's worth is really besides the point.

I really like U2's version of "Instant Karma" and REM doing
"#9 Dream". Los Lonely Boys do a nice, loose take on "Whatever
Gets You Through the Night", Corinne Bailey Rae kills on a
live version of "I'm Losing You", The Flaming Lips bring
their own special sound to "(Just Like) Starting Over" and
Snow Patrol does a very strong version of "Isolation". And
Green Day's cover of "Working Class Hero" is excellent. I
heard it on the radio about a month ago and that's what
got me interested in this tribute cd.

I also thought it was very cool that Jakob Dylan and Dhani
Harrison collaborated on a powerful version of "Gimme Some
Truth". Nice to see the next generation joining the battle.

On the other end of the scale we have Avril Lavigne singing
"Imagine" which sounds all right but I guess I like my
philosophers a tad more world-weary. Youssou N'Dour mumbles
through "Jealous Guy" and do I really need to hear Big & Rich
do "Nobody Told Me"?

Note to Nashville country artists: you are not cool
enough to dabble in rock music. Wearing a headphone
microphone isn't enough to give you rockstar cred.

M.I.A. in the U.S.A.

Everyone's favorite Sri Lankan hip-hopper, M.I.A. has announced a few more dates for a US tour. Sadly, she will not be hitting the Omaha area. The new album, Kala, has been pushed back to August 21. Here are the dates so far:

07-21 Brooklyn, NY - Coney Island (Siren Festival)
07-25 Brooklyn, NY - Studio B
07-28 San Francisco, CA - Rickshaw Stop
08-03 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
08-04 Chicago, IL - House of Blues *
08-05 Baltimore, MD - Virgin Festival
09-14 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)
09-15 San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island Festival
10-26-28 New Orleans, LA - Voodoo Music Experience

Here's a small behind-the-scenes video of the making of M.I.A.'s new video "Boyz."

KISSology Vol. 2 DVD Out August 14

(Reuters) Kiss will follow up its wildly successful 2006 DVD box set, "Kissology: Volume One, 1974-1977," on August 14 with a second volume chronicling 1978-1991.

"It's fantastic that 'Volume One' of 'Kissology' has done huge numbers, but does it surprise me? No, not at all," Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer tells Billboard.com. "This is Kiss in its early raw form, four guys with the hunger and fire, aspiring to take on the world. All this great footage is finally available and it's exciting."

"Volume Two," to be distributed via VH1 Classic Records, will be comprised of three DVDs and a fourth disc that will vary by retailer. The first disc will feature a news special on the band from 1978 and an infamous 1979 interview with Tom Snyder, with other elements still pending, according to Kiss' Web site.

The second disc shows Kiss in transition, as it features the last promo video to with original drummer Peter Criss ("Shandi"). His replacement, Eric Carr, is behind the kit for a complete November 1980 concert at Australia's Sydney Showground. Also included are the only live renditions of material from the strangest studio album to bear the Kiss logo, "(Music From) The Elder," taped on the late-night show "Fridays" in 1982.

Disc three chronicles Kiss' comeback via a mammoth outdoor gig in Rio de Janeiro from June 1983, one of its last in makeup. Also included is Kiss' infamous "unmasking" on MTV from later that year, a handful of performances from the Lick It Up and Crazy Nights tours and a full 1990 show from Detroit.

Asked why "Volume 2" doesn't include any complete shows from the Lick It Up or Asylum tours, Thayer explains, "We chose the best songs from those concerts. Remember, the 'Volume Two' DVD is over seven hours long and from tour to tour, many of the same songs are played, so you have to pick the choice songs and moments without being too repetitive. When you create a DVD package there are time considerations -- you can only physically put so much on a DVD disc, and each volume of 'Kissology' is designed in advance to be a three-disc set."

Spice Girls Announce a Reunion - The World Says "Who Cares"

Yep. They're back.

One reunion that I can stomach...

When Jane's Addiction reunited, I have to admit, I was cautious at best in my optimism. If Soundgarden reunites - I can imagine nothing but diminishing returns. Ditto for the Smashing Pumpkins.

BUT... I do have to admit - the premise of The Verve reuniting - WITH a new album - just...just might turn out to be a move that won't tarnish their stellar career. Here's hoping for maybe not another Urban Hymns-quality album, but one at least on par with A Northern Soul.

New Bright Eyes Video - "Hot Knives"

Pretty much a straight performance video for the second single from Cassadega.

Relish The Mess

Obviously, I am not a huge patron of "the arts." Well, not paintings and sculpture and whatnot. But occasionally I do like to broaden my horizons a little and look at some art. I would like to briefly point out a gallery show happening this weekend in Omaha.

The artist's name is Chris Meeks and his work will be on display June 22nd - June 24th at Paparzzzi By Appointment (4871 Northwest Radial Hwy). The show is entitled "Relish The Mess." There is an opening reception Friday night from 7 - 10 PM. For the other two days, the gallery will be open 12 - 5.

Honestly, I do not know anything about Chris Meeks, though I am sure he is a talented fellow. I am friends with the people who own Paparazzi. They have a great space there, and it should be a cool show. It will end in time for you to get to either Sarah Benck at Waiting Room or Bear Country at Sokol.

Frank Black 93-03 Is Out Now!

Legendary Pixies frontman Frank Black is releasing his first-ever compilation of his solo material called Frank Black 93-03. The disc is chronologically arranged and features his stuff from all of the labels he worked with in that time frame.

Personally, I think Frank Black's solo material is underrated. His first two solo album were especially good and seemed to continue where the Pixies left off. To get a tiny taste of the man's music, I am offering a 100% free and legal download of the song "Robert Onion" for your enjoyment. Click on the link below for more information on the album.

Download "Robert Onion" (mp3)
from "93-03"
by Frank Black
Cooking Vinyl

More On This Album

New Order Calls It Quits

New Order is officially broken up. Why? "It's personal."

TiVo Alert: Bright Eyes on Letterman

In case you missed it a few weeks ago, Bright Eyes' appearance on Letterman is being repeated tonight. Conor and Co. played a 7-night stand in NYC and appeared on Letterman and Craig Ferguson during that week. Don't know if the Ferguson one will repeat (he played "Classic Cars"), but since I missed Letterman last time, it will be nice to see.

Motley Crue Sues For $20 Million Because People Think Tommy Lee Is Lame

Get this. Motley Crue is suing their manager for $20 million. The reason? Their manager's "insistence" that drummer Tommy Lee participate in lame TV shows like Tommy Lee Goes To College and Rock Star Supernova. Those shows, according to the suit, "diminished the public's interest in Lee and their overall perception of his musical talents." Hmmm. Has anyone heard Tommy Lee's solo albums? I think that destroyed any perception of his musical talent. The suit also claims that Lee was so busy with these other projects that Motley's 2007 plans for a new album had to be shelved. There are probably at least 15 people pissed about that!

UPDATE: The manager responds to the law suit.

Jazz Legend Ornette Coleman Collapses On Stage

Ornette Coleman was hospitalized following his performance at the Bonnaroo Festival yesterday.

Watch This Video Again and Again

I'm really excited about the upcoming new album from M.I.A. Her music is not at all the type of stuff I ordinarily listen to. It's a mix of hip-hop, dance, world music, and political sloganeering. I find it absolutely infectious. Maya (M.I.A.) is originally from Sri Lanka, but she grew up in London. This seems to give her something of an otherwordly sound. It is some of the most unique sounding music I've ever heard. A bunch of new M.I.A. songs have been leaking over the internet, and she has made videos for two of them. Here is the video for "Bird Flu." I cannot stop listening to this song!

Wanna Be in the New Cursive Video?

From Saddle-Creek.com:

If you're in the Omaha area, Cursive is requesting extras for their video shoot this Saturday, From 10 to 5 at 32nd and Harney. The place is Called "A Merry Occasion Wedding Chapel". Everyone should dress in white as if they are going to church.

The Faint's Two-Night Stand Begins TONIGHT

The Faint usually begins or ends all of their tours with a hometown show here in Omaha. They are playing tonight (Thurs) and tomorrow night at Sokol Auditorium. Tonight's show is already sold out, and tomorrow's will likely sell out, too. Personally, I am more interested in the Friday show due to one of the openers. Eagle*Seagull is opening on Friday, and they are always great. I've never seen them in such a large room, so that will be exciting.

Get whatever tickets are left for Friday's show by clicking here. They are $15.

I'm Liking This New Feature!

Blogger is testing out a new feature that will allow you upload video directly from your computer and post it on your site. The feature is in "draft mode." It is sort of like YouTube except that you don't have to go to an outside site. Google hosts the videos. To test it out, I decided to try a clip from The Replacements from 1989's International Rock Awards. They play "Talent Show," and when the audio drops out, that was intentional. Censors in 1989 wouldn't allow the line, "Feeling good from the pills we took." I transferred this video from an old VHS tape that I had in a box that I had not seen since the early 90s!

Bright Eyes and Lou Reed?!

The video is quite shaky, but it is worth it to see Lou Reed on stage with Bright Eyes doing Velvet Underground songs. This is from a show from last week.

Anyone catch the "secret" Bright Eyes gig here in Omaha at Slowdown last night? Omahype was there and has pictures.

Gene Simmons Gets a Third Season on A&E

A&E has said yes to a third season of "Gene Simmons: Family Jewels," upping its order to 24 half-hour episodes from last season's 20 installments.

According to Variety, the decision was an easy one: "Jewels" is A&E's second-highest-rated series ever in the 18-to-49 and 25-to-54 adult demographics, behind only "Dog the Bounty Hunter." "Jewels" did even better in its second season than in its first, leaping by 15 percent in total viewers to a 1.5 million average and climbing by 11 percent in adults 18 to 49 and by 8 percent in adults 25 to 54.

A&E's relationship with Mr. Simmons started with a one-shot "Biography" hour of the rock legend and Kiss frontman. That "Biography" episode scored so well in the Nielsens that A&E negotiated with Mr. Simmons and "Jewels' " executive producer Leslie Grief to create a 13-episode weekly half-hour series that would delve into the rock star's life with his common-law partner, former Playboy Playmate Shannon Tweed, and their teenage son and daughter. (read more)