music
Jónsi Soars and Crashes (in a Good Way) on Shiver: Review
The Lowdown: On Shiver, his first solo album in 10 years, Icelandic artist Jónsi presents atmospheric electronic art-pop, which balances uplift with glitchy dread. With band Sigur Rós on indefinite hiatus, and after separating from his longtime partner/collaborator, the singer-songwriter-composer now lives in LA and had his first visual-art exhibition last fall. Those themes of the uncomfortable freedom of dislocation and transition are reflected on the songs of Shiver, which soar, short-out, crash and re-boot. [embedded content] The Good: While Jónsi’s mystical countertenor voice has often been associated with glacial fjords and forests thick with elves, Shiver evokes dark landscapes that are more industrial and interior. The 45-year-old multi-instrumentalist teamed up with en vogue young...
Lana Del Rey Criticized for Wearing Mesh Face Mask
Lana Del Rey is drawing criticism for her choice of face wear during a recent indoor book signing. Earlier this week, Del Rey appeared at a Los Angeles Barnes and Noble to sign copies of her new poetry book, Violet Bent Backwards Over the Grass. As photos and videos posted to Del Rey’s own Instagram show, the singer opted to wear a mesh face mask. With hundreds of tiny little holes, the covering offered Del Rey little in the way of protection during the COVID-19 pandemic, but at least it was sparkly! Not surprisingly, Del Rey was immediately hammered on social media. “Lana Del Rey wearing a face mask // a random Karen wearing a face mask,” read one comment posted to her Instagram. Another read, “What is wrong with Lana del Rey like she’s literally not okay why is she wearing a fishnet mask...
BLACKPINK’s The Album Delivers Everything Fans Love About Them: Review
The Lowdown: It’s pretty rare to be pop icons before your first album even drops, but BLACKPINK are an exception to the rule. Coachella, an arena tour, and one million album pre-orders: all with less than 20 songs to their name. The group released their first single in 2016 and, until this point, have put out a string of increasingly similar-sounding title tracks with the occasional B-sides. It’s easy to see why the album, appropriately titled The Album, was so highly anticipated by dedicated fans and casual listeners alike. The group deliver on everything fans love about them — like glossy production, addicting beats, distinctive vocals, and captivating performances — while managing to show off some new sides of BLACKPINK as well. [embedded content] The Good: The Album opens by kicking do...
Motörhead’s Röad Crew Craft Beer Comes to America for Ace of Spades 40th Anniversary
Motörhead and beer are two things that go together. For the 40th anniversary of the band’s classic album Ace of Spades, the Motörhead-branded Röad Crew beer is being brewed and widely distributed in America for the first time. The original Röad Crew beer was first brewed by Camerons Brewery in the United Kingdom back in 2015. For the new release, Madison, Wisconsin brewery Ale Asylum was tapped for the first-ever American edition of the beer, putting their own spin on the beverage. The resulting brew is a newly crafted American pale ale “packed with hoppy citrus aromas.” Ale Asylum’s Otto Dilba told The Post Crescent, it took “two seconds” for him to accept the offer to work with Motörhead. Apparently, the band’s camp was intrigued by another beer the brewery released earlier this year cal...
Paul McCartney to Reissue His Rupert Bear Short Film and Soundtrack
The iconic British comic strip character Rupert Bear is celebrating his 100th birthday this year, and one of his most famous fans, Paul McCartney, is marking the occasion in a big way. On November 6th, The Beatles rocker will reissue Rupert and The Frog Song, a 1984 short film he dedicated to the yellow-scarfed little bear, as well as its original song “We All Stand Together”. Written and produced by McCartney, alongside director Geoff Dunbar, Rupert and The Frog Song follows Rupert as he embarks on a merry walk throughout the hills. The friendly bear ends up witnessing a rare ritual called The Frog Song, which is of course “We All Stand Together”, or simply “The Frog Song” as its more colloquially known. It’s a kids film, obviously, but it’s quite cute and was a total hit that even earned...
The Story Behind Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar”
Pink Floyd’s “Have a Cigar” is a scathing critique of the music industry. The third track off of 1975’s Wish You Were Here is sung from the perspective of a record company executive, who cynically implores the band to “ride the gravy train” by following the proven formula of their prior blockbuster, 1973’s Dark Side of the Moon. “Which one’s Pink?” the song asks. It’s a standout line that resonates in this particular recording all the more because neither David Gilmour nor Roger Waters sings it. In fact, no one in the band sings it. Roy Harper does. Who is Roy Harper? He’s an English artist raised on Romantic poets like Shelley and Keats and later inspired by the performances of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. He’s a revered figure among singer-songwriters and musicians across the world — s...
Bon Iver Pays Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg with New Song “Your Honor”: Watch
Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon (photo by Ben Kaye) and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (photo via WikiCommons) Ever the political advocator, Justin Vernon recently launched For Wisconsin, a get-out-the-vote initiative in his home state. As part of the registration drive, the Bon Iver frontman is hosting “A Visit with Vernon”, in which fans nominate a friend who is undecided about voting to have a conversation with Vernon. Video of the first visit has been revealed, and it includes the debut a new Bon Iver song dedicated to Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Entitled “Your Honor”, the song came about shortly after RBG’s passing two weeks ago. Though Vernon said writing new music is something “I never do anymore,” he was compelled to recognize the late Supreme Court Justice’s legacy. “Times getting sho...
Tekashi 6ix9ine Hospitalized After Overdosing on Weight Loss Pills and Caffeine
Tekashi 6ix9ine recently spent two days in the hospital after overdosing on diet pills and caffeine. In an interview with The Shade Room, the TattleTales rapper said the combination of Hydroxycut and McDonald’s coffee caused him to experience an “overdose reaction.” 6ix9ine began taking Hydroxycut, a weight loss supplement, following his release from prison earlier this year. Though he’s already down 25 pounds, 6ix9ine admitted to taking double the recommended amount. According to The Shade Room, Tekashi has since been discharged from the hospital and is “doing fine.” Despite the adverse effects, he intends to continue taking Hydroxycut until he reaches his pre-prison weight of 150 pounds, at which point he plans to rejoin Instagram. In February 2019, 6ix9ine was sentenced to 24 month...
Kali Uchis Shares Spanish-Language Single “La Luz”: Stream
Over the summer, Kali Uchis shared the Rico Nasty collaboration “Aquí Yo Mando”. The track found Uchis singing mostly in Spanish for the first time, and it looks like we can expect a lot more bilingual lyrics from the Colombian-American artist. She’s today shared “La Luz”, the second single from her forthcoming sophomore full-length, which is said to be “her first Spanish language project.” “La Luz” — which translates simply to “the light” — features a guest verse from Puerto Rico singer-songwriter Jhay Cortez alongside production from Tainy. The Latin vibes are strong with this one, bouncing slowly on a sweaty beach groove. Like “Aquí Yo Mando” before it, the track finds Uchis making it very clear who’s in control. “You or if it’s not me/ We’re going to turn the lights off/ And we’re goin...
Joni Mitchell Shares the First Original Demo of Her Career, “Day After Day”: Stream
Joni Mitchell has shared a rare piece of folk history today: the first-ever demo from he illustrious career. The track is titled “Day After Day” and it comes from Mitchell’s forthcoming collection Joni Mitchell Archives Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967), which is due out October 30th. Stream it below. “It was my firstborn,” said Mitchell of the track. “I didn’t know whether it was a good song or a bad song. It was just the first one that came out.” “Day After Day” was recorded as a demo for Elektra records co-founder Jac Holzman back on August 24th, 1965. While it’s not her earliest-known recording — that title goes to her cover of “House of the Rising Sun” from 1963, which is also included in the upcoming collection — it is her first original demo and one that was previously unavailable...
Sego Break Down Their New EP Life of Pam Track by Track: Stream
With our Track by Track feature, musicians lead fans by the ear through each song on their latest effort. Today, Sego introduce us to their Life of Pam EP. Sego have shared a new EP called Life with Pam in a unique fashion: as a single uncut 17-minute music video. Watch the visual to hear the whole thing below. The former Artist of the Month chose to release Life with Pam as a continuous block of music as opposed to broken into tracks to capture the “seamless, deliberate” structure of their live shows. The songs contained within this 17 minute track intentionally sit on adjacent lines to each other thematically, sonically, and in energy,” explained frontman Spencer Petersen. “Obviously, I hope people find connection with the individual parts, but like our shows, the collective sum cre...
This Is Spinal Tap Cast to Reunite for Pennsylvania Democrats Benefit
The trend of nostalgic virtual reunions is being cranked up to 11, as the cast of This Is Spinal Tap is set to reunite for a benefit livestream supporting the Pennsylvania Democrats. Set to take place October 14th, the event will see Spinal Tap themselves — Christopher Guest (Nigel Tufnel), Michael McKean (David St. Hubbins), and Harry Shearer (Derek Smalls) — coming together with Rob Reiner (Marty DiBergi). Comedian Patton Oswalt will serve as the evening’s moderator. The event is being put on by the same folks behind the recent Princess Bride table read, which also featured Reiner and Oswalt. That partial reunion (Cary Elwes, Robin Wright, Carol Kane, and Billy Crystal also took part) raised $4.25 million for Wisconsin Democrats. The Spinal Tap gang will hope to hit similar numbers for t...
