03
Feb
2004
· I've always said that if I make it to the pearly gates, I'd like to hear Jimmy Martin's voice or the hillbilly boogie of the Delmore Brothers in the heavenly house band. One of founding pioneers of bluegrass is graced with a fascinating DVD documentary this week from Straight Six Films.
Aptly titled King of Bluegrass: The Life and Times of Jimmy Martin, the film visits with the spry 77-year-old. Seemingly ostracized by Nashville's Grand Ole Opry Hall of Fame, he's disgruntled but overall is as happy as the dogs he raises and hunts with on his own deep piney woods. I understand director George Goehl's draw to Martin's charm, when he hits the stage and cottons no fools, a hard boss but utterly consumed with the joy of the music. A rebel and a maverick all his life, Martin calls it like he sees it, and those burned bridges lead to a dead end on the road to the hallowed Opry, much like Pete Rose pacing the parking lot of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Martin's legacy is the stuff of legend, from grabbing his clothes and joining Bill Monroe's band on the spot, to his own Sunny Mountain Boys and their reign over the Louisiana Hayride and Wheeling Jamboree in the glory days of AM radio. The next time I'm in Nashville, I'm going to hunt down Martin's towering, polished headstone highlighting his accomplishments. Yes, the rascal's alive and kicking; he's just trying to control the destiny of his own remembrance.
· Two more music-documentary DVDs arrive in stores this coming Tuesday. (Inside) Out: Keep Me Inside Your Heart is an expanded version of the VH1 special on Warren Zevon's struggle to finish The Wind, his final album, with an extra hour of material. Also on the Artemis Records imprint is Just an American Boy, a DVD companion to Steve Earle's latest album of the same name.
· Rare footage of Elvis Presley is featured in two new DVDs, one highlighting his favorite gift, and another of a rare duet with Ol' Blue Eyes. Image Entertainment has just released 200 Cadillacs, a touching portrait of Presley's generosity to his family and friends as told by those who knew him best - band members, longtime girlfriend Linda Thompson, his karate instructor, his personal nurse, and, well, two very prosperous Cadillac salesmen. More rare Presley is found on Music Video Distributors' Welcome Home Elvis, documenting his appearance on The Frank Sinatra Show in 1960, shortly after his release from the Army. The pair performs a duet medley of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft," and the Timex-sponsored variety series also features Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank and Joey Bishop.
· And talk about a captive audience. This week Music Video Distributors is releasing the infamous 1978 concert by The Cramps at the Napa State Mental Hospital in California, now on DVD in all its surreal glory, blurring the line between who's a patient and who's in the band.
· Next Tuesday Einsturzende Neubauten releases the second in a two-part series that takes fan participation to the next level. Entitled Perpetual Mobile, the CD was recorded live with online direction from fans via the Web. After signing up and paying a participation fee, fans logged on to an exclusive live stream and e-mailed the band suggestions in real time. Those sessions became a CD pressed exclusively for the online participants, and this Mute Records release furthers arrangements conceived in those sessions.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lyle Lovett on Thursday, Annie Lennox on Friday, and Norah Jones on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman displays Fountains of Wayne on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O' Brien hosts Harry Connick Jr. on Thursday overnight and The Walkmen on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Five for Fighting on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live shows the love for Missy Elliott on Thursday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Clay Aiken.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 10:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
1208 - Turn of the Screw (Epitaph) fronted by Alex Flynn, who grew up in the bloodline shared by SST's Greg Ginn and poster art pioneer Raymond Pettibon
The Ataris - Live at the Metro (Columbia) featuring seven acoustic tracks including a cover of Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love, & Understanding"
JC Chasez - Schizophrenic (Jive) solo debut from the *NSYNC member with guest Dirt McGirt
The Clumsy Lovers - After the Flood (Nettwerk) describing themselves as "raging Celtic bluegrass country"
The Coral - Magic & Medicine (Columbia) featuring a bonus CD EP in the first pressing
Damageplan - New Found Power (Elektra) new from Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, with guests Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Zakk Wylde
Greg Davis - Curling Pond Woods (Carpark) second album of new "laptop folk," intertwining acoustic guitar and electronics, with covers of Brian Wilson's "At My Window" and the Incredible String Band's "Air"
Descendents - 'Merican (Fat Wreck) four-track CD EP with two songs that won't be on the group's upcoming Cool to Be You album
Evening - Other Victories (Lookout) richly fabricated art rock that energetically somersaults between Pink Floyd and Radiohead
Goapele - Even Closer (Skyblaze/Columbia)
Goldfrapp - "Twist" (Mute) 12-inch single featuring re-mixes from Mantronik and Jacques Lu Cont
HorrorPops - Hell Yeah! (Hellcat/Epitaph) over-the-top Danish glamour punk grafted from members of Peanut Pump Gun and Strawberry Slaughterhouse
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home (Blue Note) with guests Dolly Parton, and Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band, this new album features a cover of "The Long Way Home" by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Junkie XL - Radio JKL: A Broadcast From the Computer Hell Cabin (Koch) two-CD set with guests Terry Hall of The Specials, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, Robert Smith of The Cure, and Chuck D of Public Enemy
The Lazy Cowgirls - "You" (Gearhead) seven-inch single
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (Virgin) with songs co-written with Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes
Robert Miles & Trilok Gurtu - Miles Gurtu (Shakti) electronica meets Indian percussion with guests John Thorne of Lamb
Kylie Minogue - American Body Language (Capitol)
Keb Mo - Keep It Simple (Epic) with guests Robert Cray and Robben Ford
No Motiv - Daylight Breaking (Vagrant) melodic punk that reminds me of emo meets Boston
Probot - Probot (Southern Lord) Dave Grohl's new screaming-metal side project, with guest vocalists Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, King Diamond, Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity, Lee Dorian of Napalm Death, Kurt Brecht of DRI, and more
Say Hi to Your Mom - Numbers & Mumbles (Euphobia) humble, pensive indie pop featuring take on The Beatles' "I'm So Tired"
John Squire - Marshall's House (North Country) new from the Stone Roses founder
Subhumans - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck) featuring a comic book with cartoons, lyrics, and a massive band-member family tree
Sun Ra & His Arkestra - The Cry of Jazz (Atavistic/Music Video Dist.) DVD release of Edward O. Bland's film from 1959 forecasting "the death of jazz"
Tantric - After We Go (Maverick) featuring a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"
Taste Experience - Beyond the Horizon (Neurodisc Records) world-beat electronica
Carl Thomas - Let's Talk About It (Bad Boy) with guest LL Cool J
Valley of the Giants - Valley of the Giants (Arts & Crafts)
The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart (Sire) produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads
Wax Poetic - Nublu Sessions (Ultra) with guests Norah Jones, U-Roy, and N'Dea Davenport
· Two more music-documentary DVDs arrive in stores this coming Tuesday. (Inside) Out: Keep Me Inside Your Heart is an expanded version of the VH1 special on Warren Zevon's struggle to finish The Wind, his final album, with an extra hour of material. Also on the Artemis Records imprint is Just an American Boy, a DVD companion to Steve Earle's latest album of the same name.
· Rare footage of Elvis Presley is featured in two new DVDs, one highlighting his favorite gift, and another of a rare duet with Ol' Blue Eyes. Image Entertainment has just released 200 Cadillacs, a touching portrait of Presley's generosity to his family and friends as told by those who knew him best - band members, longtime girlfriend Linda Thompson, his karate instructor, his personal nurse, and, well, two very prosperous Cadillac salesmen. More rare Presley is found on Music Video Distributors' Welcome Home Elvis, documenting his appearance on The Frank Sinatra Show in 1960, shortly after his release from the Army. The pair performs a duet medley of "Love Me Tender" and "Witchcraft," and the Timex-sponsored variety series also features Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank and Joey Bishop.
· And talk about a captive audience. This week Music Video Distributors is releasing the infamous 1978 concert by The Cramps at the Napa State Mental Hospital in California, now on DVD in all its surreal glory, blurring the line between who's a patient and who's in the band.
· Next Tuesday Einsturzende Neubauten releases the second in a two-part series that takes fan participation to the next level. Entitled Perpetual Mobile, the CD was recorded live with online direction from fans via the Web. After signing up and paying a participation fee, fans logged on to an exclusive live stream and e-mailed the band suggestions in real time. Those sessions became a CD pressed exclusively for the online participants, and this Mute Records release furthers arrangements conceived in those sessions.
Television Alert:
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno welcomes Lyle Lovett on Thursday, Annie Lennox on Friday, and Norah Jones on Tuesday; The Late Show with David Letterman displays Fountains of Wayne on Thursday; Late Night with Conan O' Brien hosts Harry Connick Jr. on Thursday overnight and The Walkmen on Friday overnight; The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn features Five for Fighting on Friday overnight; Jimmy Kimmel Live shows the love for Missy Elliott on Thursday overnight; and Saturday Night Live's musical guest this weekend is Clay Aiken.
New Releases Coming Tuesday, February 10:
... and like the winds, young grasshopper, are subject to change
1208 - Turn of the Screw (Epitaph) fronted by Alex Flynn, who grew up in the bloodline shared by SST's Greg Ginn and poster art pioneer Raymond Pettibon
The Ataris - Live at the Metro (Columbia) featuring seven acoustic tracks including a cover of Elvis Costello's "(What's So Funny About) Peace, Love, & Understanding"
JC Chasez - Schizophrenic (Jive) solo debut from the *NSYNC member with guest Dirt McGirt
The Clumsy Lovers - After the Flood (Nettwerk) describing themselves as "raging Celtic bluegrass country"
The Coral - Magic & Medicine (Columbia) featuring a bonus CD EP in the first pressing
Damageplan - New Found Power (Elektra) new from Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, with guests Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Zakk Wylde
Greg Davis - Curling Pond Woods (Carpark) second album of new "laptop folk," intertwining acoustic guitar and electronics, with covers of Brian Wilson's "At My Window" and the Incredible String Band's "Air"
Descendents - 'Merican (Fat Wreck) four-track CD EP with two songs that won't be on the group's upcoming Cool to Be You album
Evening - Other Victories (Lookout) richly fabricated art rock that energetically somersaults between Pink Floyd and Radiohead
Goapele - Even Closer (Skyblaze/Columbia)
Goldfrapp - "Twist" (Mute) 12-inch single featuring re-mixes from Mantronik and Jacques Lu Cont
HorrorPops - Hell Yeah! (Hellcat/Epitaph) over-the-top Danish glamour punk grafted from members of Peanut Pump Gun and Strawberry Slaughterhouse
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home (Blue Note) with guests Dolly Parton, and Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band, this new album features a cover of "The Long Way Home" by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan
Junkie XL - Radio JKL: A Broadcast From the Computer Hell Cabin (Koch) two-CD set with guests Terry Hall of The Specials, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode, Robert Smith of The Cure, and Chuck D of Public Enemy
The Lazy Cowgirls - "You" (Gearhead) seven-inch single
Courtney Love - America's Sweetheart (Virgin) with songs co-written with Linda Perry of 4 Non Blondes
Robert Miles & Trilok Gurtu - Miles Gurtu (Shakti) electronica meets Indian percussion with guests John Thorne of Lamb
Kylie Minogue - American Body Language (Capitol)
Keb Mo - Keep It Simple (Epic) with guests Robert Cray and Robben Ford
No Motiv - Daylight Breaking (Vagrant) melodic punk that reminds me of emo meets Boston
Probot - Probot (Southern Lord) Dave Grohl's new screaming-metal side project, with guest vocalists Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, King Diamond, Mike Dean of Corrosion of Conformity, Lee Dorian of Napalm Death, Kurt Brecht of DRI, and more
Say Hi to Your Mom - Numbers & Mumbles (Euphobia) humble, pensive indie pop featuring take on The Beatles' "I'm So Tired"
John Squire - Marshall's House (North Country) new from the Stone Roses founder
Subhumans - Live in a Dive (Fat Wreck) featuring a comic book with cartoons, lyrics, and a massive band-member family tree
Sun Ra & His Arkestra - The Cry of Jazz (Atavistic/Music Video Dist.) DVD release of Edward O. Bland's film from 1959 forecasting "the death of jazz"
Tantric - After We Go (Maverick) featuring a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain"
Taste Experience - Beyond the Horizon (Neurodisc Records) world-beat electronica
Carl Thomas - Let's Talk About It (Bad Boy) with guest LL Cool J
Valley of the Giants - Valley of the Giants (Arts & Crafts)
The Von Bondies - Pawn Shoppe Heart (Sire) produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads
Wax Poetic - Nublu Sessions (Ultra) with guests Norah Jones, U-Roy, and N'Dea Davenport
