Category Archives: music news

Lost Grand Ole Party Album Gets Surprise Release

Before their sudden breakup, Grand Ole Party were one of San Diego’s most promising bands. And though the group’s members have gone on to make interesting music via acts like Dum Dum Girls and The Hot Moon, it’s hard not to miss the Party days.

But now, those of us who have worn out our copies of Humanimals have cause to rejoice: Grand Ole Party will release their sophomore album, Under Our Skin, on August 30. The record was recorded in 2009 just before the band’s breakup and, until now, has gone unheard. The announcement of next week’s posthumous release comes out of the blue, but the surprise sure is a welcome one.

You can download the opening song “All Night” from Grand Ole Party’s website, and we have the entire track list below. Continue reading…

Cass McCombs Made a New Album Already

Photo credit: Paul Valencia Pl

MP3: Cass McCombs – “The Same Thing”

Cass McCombs’ last album, WIT’S END, was released only 4 months ago, but he already has a new one ready. On November 8, the songwriter will release Humor Risk on Domino Records. Those who were turned off by the stillborn, Rhodes-heavy WIT’S END have cause for optimism:

Humor Risk is an attempt at laughter instead of confusion, chaos instead of morality, or, as fellow Northern Californian Jack London said, “I would rather be ashes than dust!”. Musically, it is more rhythm-based, tempos swifter to nearly rocking, than the sparse WIT’S END.

In another possible indicator that Humor Risk will be more lighthearted than its predecessor, the last track is billed as a sketch, so we can only assume that McCombs is planning to get his Outkast on. You can pre-order the album here, and we’ve got the cover art and tracklist below. Continue reading…

Video: Nas Talks “Illmatic”

Not much needs to be said about Nas’ 1994 debut, except that it’s one of the greatest hip hop records ever made. Illmatic is so good, in fact, that even the Queens wordsmith himself has struggled to replicate its sublimity.

That’s why it’s welcome news that Nas — along with AZ, Pete Rock, and Illmatic collaborator DJ Premier — will perform the album in its entirety at this weekend’s Rock the Bells Festival kickoff in Los Angeles. In the above video, Nasty Nas takes a moment to talk about the album and, in general, life in Queens.

In addition to Nas, The Rock The Bells Festival Series will feature up-and-coming hip hop artists as well as other seminal artists performing their classic albums, including Ms. Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and Common. Dates are below…

Video Premiere: The Silent Comedy – “Purple Heart”

The Silent Comedy have just created a video for their rare song, “Purple Heart,” and they were kind enough to give us the first look. The live session was shot during the band’s recent Summer Sweat tour at the Penner-Ash Wine Cellars in Newberg, OR, and the winery’s expansive acoustics lend the perfect backdrop to the song’s quiet power. Continue reading…