Starlight Girls New Song Intriguue

Starlight girls share their new track "Intrigue" from their album Fantasm. The PR describes them as hauntingly Gothic, but I don't hear any of that on this particular song. It sounds like an 80s synth throwback, and that's not a bad thing. I'm interested to see what else they have to offer. Starlight Girls self released album Fantasm will be available October 13.

The Cure Meets The Commodores

The Cure and The Commodores Make it "Easy" to feel "Just Like Heaven." It covers all of your summer sunset easy listening smooth needs! Posted on youtube by Nathan Yates as mixed by Brat Productions.

The Criterion Collection to Release My Own Private Idaho

One of my favorite films My Own Private Idaho by Gus Van Sant will see release via The Criterion Collection October 6. 'Idaho" stars Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix and features a funny tragic gorgeously filmed tale about two hustlers , belonging, being on the margin of "normal" society and unrequited love. It also features a performance by Udo Kier that absolutely cracks me up every time I see it. This new director approved edition, a must for collectors, features:

• New, restored 4K digital transfer, approved by director Gus Van Sant and director of photography Eric Alan Edwards, with 2.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Alternate 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
• Illustrated 2005 audio conversation between Van Sant and filmmaker Todd Haynes
• The Making of “My Own Private Idaho,” a 2005 documentary featuring cast and crew
• Kings of the Road, a 2005 interview with film scholar Paul Arthur on Van Sant’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry IV and Orson Welles’s Chimes at Midnight
• Conversation from 2005 between producer Laurie Parker and actor River Phoenix’s sister Rain
• Audio conversation from 2005 between writer JT LeRoy and filmmaker Jonathan Caouette
• Deleted scenes
• Trailer
• PLUS: A book featuring essays by film critic Amy Taubin and LeRoy; a 1991 article by Lance Loud; and reprinted interviews with Van Sant, Phoenix, and actor Keanu Reeves
  
  New cover by Marc English

A Million Miles Away by Jennifer Reeder

 A Million Miles Away, a short film by Jennifer Reeder.

 Shorts sometimes get lost in the shuffle of effects laden blockbusters and great feature length films, and sometimes evolve to become great feature length films. Let's hope that's the case with director Jennifer Reeder's entertaining short A Million Miles Away.

Please don't mistake this as a pretentious piece to dismiss the value of a good old fashioned summer blockbuster, because after all they do a good job of entertaining the masses. Nor am I dismissing the value of eye candy when you want to see something featuring people with ridiculously unattainable good looks. Sometimes though, like you and your favorite taqueria, the palette gets a hankering for something just a little bit different. That's where directors like Jennifer Reeder come to your rescue.

Reeder's short reminds you (in case you forgot) that film is art. And art is subjective. Perhaps it doesn't all work for you, or perhaps it hits you differently one day than another, or effects different people or different sexes in different ways. The latter may be the case for this film. The director and all of the actors (and singers) are female. The story climaxes with a female teenage choir singing an interesting version of a Judas Priest classic metal hit. And it delivers a message to women in the languages of different ages and different stages in life in coded and non coded ways.  On a personal level it hit me in the gut in the way Miranda July sometimes does successfully.  When I first saw the short there were rumblings that a full length was underway in Chicago. Well, after a long hiatus on my part it appears the rumors have come to fruition. If that sounds interesting to you here's a teaser:

A MILLION MILES AWAY - teaser from Jennifer Reeder on Vimeo.


I'm assuming the title is a reference to The Plimsouls amazing 80s anthem of the same name.

A Million Miles Away
27:50 - HD
2014
An adult woman (the conductor) on the edge of failing and a pack of teenage girls (the choir) simultaneously experience a supernatural version of coming-of-age. The transformation is equal parts tense and tender. It unravels patiently to the infectious beat of an 80s era heavy metal anthem rearranged as a lamentation.
Writer/Director: Jennifer Reeder
Producer: Steven Hudosh
Director of Photography: Chris Rejano
Editor: Mike Olenick
B Camera Operator: Herman Asph
Sound Recording: Paul Dickinson
Boom Operator: Cameron Gibson
Key Grip: Ed Dignan
Digital Transfer: Matt Shaw
Music arrangement/Conductor: Jenne Lennon
Additional music: Sunn O))), Ulrich Schauss, Brian McBride, Arms and Sleepers, Haki
Featuring:
The Conductor:
Jennifer Estlin
The Choir:
Amaya Lorick
Crystal Staley
Grace Davies
Grace Etzkorn
Isabella Ciampa
Kara Ryan
Kasey Busiel
Kasia Wilson
Kelsey Ashby-Middleton
Kristyn Zoe Wilkerson
Kyrie Courter
Margaret O'Connell
Marissa Castillo
Morgan S. Reesh
Reilly Golden
Rubey Mendoza
Sydney L. Cusic
Talie Leeb
Emma Seslowsky
Ultra-Violet Archer

Fruitbats Announce Tour Dates

 Portland's Fruit Bats who reformed earlier this year and announced dates supporting My Morning Jacket have announced some headlining shows.

TOUR DATES:

9/8 -  Chapel, NC - Local 506

9/9 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

9/10 -  Nashville, TN - Hi Watt

9/11 -  Asheville, NC - Mothlight

9/12 -  Savannah, GA - Revival Fest

10/9 - Sonoma, CA - Redwood Barn at Gundlach Bundschu

10/11 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl *

10/13 -  Los Angeles, CA - Shrine *

10/15 -  San Francisco, CA - Masonic *

10/16 -  San Francisco, CA - Masonic *

10/17 -  San Francisco, CA - Masonic *

10/19 -  San Diego, CA - OAT*

10/20 -  Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theater *

10/22 -  Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall *

10/23 -  Austin, TX - Austin Music Hall *

10/24 -  Dallas, TX -Verizon *

10/25 -  Norman, OK - Opolis

 10/27 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House

10/28 - Rock Island, IL - Rozz

10/30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club

10/31 -  Chicago, IL - Schubas

 

* =  With My Morning Jacket

Additionally, Fruit Bats' frontman Eric D. Johnson has created a "Summer Sounds" Countryfied Folk mellow kinda thang playlist which I am currently enjoying via Easy Sound's Spotify.

Faerground Accidents Offer Free Download

Faerground Accidents slay me with another single.

Ok so this is one of those times where I'm reporting about a band because I think they're fucking amazing. So instead of writing any of the usual pr nonsense I'm cutting right to it. Faerground Accidents rock. They are offering free music, and being a discerning listener - you should have it in your collection, because I said so. They;re one of the few exciting bands worthy of your time. While you're at it head over to itunes to support the band by downloading the singles "We Hate the Same Thngs / Back In Town" and "She Makes Me Want to Die."
https://faergroundaccidents.bandcamp.com/

Faerground Accidents

Faerground Accidents how do I love thee, let me count the ways, or maybe I'll just blog about your music. Some days you read a ton of emails from PR people about music you're supposed to pretend to like, and other days you intend to do that, but get sidetracked by much more interesting things like decoupaging ocelots to trucker hats. And some days you stumble across music that makes you remember why you spent your life writing about and being excited about music.

Black Knights Produced by John Frusciante

Black Knights new album The Almighty,  produced by the always amazing John Frusciante,  will be released tomorrow June 16 by Record Collection.

Duran Duran Announce Tour Dates and Discuss New Album Paper Gods

The Timex Watch of bands Duran Duran have announced tour dates in support of their upcoming album Paper Gods.

On Tour:
June 20: Sonar by Night Festival, Barcelona
June 27: Night At The Park, The Hague, Netherlands
June 28: Killarney Festival, Kerry, Ireland
Aug. 5: FreakOut! Festival, Riverhead, N.Y.
Aug. 6: Musikfest, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Bethlehem, Penn.
Sept. 1: Heart at the Ibiza Gran Hotel, Ibiza
Sept. 5: Gibraltar Music Festival @ Victoria Stadium, Gibraltar
Sept. 11: Bestival @ Robin Hill Park, Isle of Wight, U.K.
Sept. 20: Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, Colo. (with Chic)
Sept. 23: Washington State Fair, Puyallup, Wash. (with Chic)
Sept. 25: Grand Theatre, Grand Sierra Resort & Casino, Reno, Nev.
Sept. 26: Life Is Beautiful Festival, Las Vegas
Sept. 27: Cal Coast Union Open Air Theatre, San Diego
Oct. 1: Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles (with Chic)
Oct. 2: The Greek Theatre, Berkeley, Calif. (with Chic)
Oct. 3: The Show, Agua Caliente Casino, Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Nov. 27: Manchester Arena, Manchester, U.K.
Nov. 28: First Direct Arena, Leeds, U.K.
Nov. 30: Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, U.K.
Dec. 2: Brighton Centre, Brighton, U.K.
Dec. 4: Genting Arena, Birmingham, U.K.
Dec. 5: Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, U.K.
Dec. 6: The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Dec. 8: The O2, London, U.K.
Dec. 9: Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth, U.K.
Dec. 11: Capital FM Arena, Nottingham, U.K.
Dec. 12: Echo Arena, Liverpool, U.K.

The first single will be "Pressure Off" featuring the extremely talented guitarist John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers and amazing eclectic solo work) and Janelle Monae. Paper Gods also includes collaborations with Mark Ronson old friend and former producer - musical legend  Nile Rodgers (Chic). And in the stunt casting bad idea of the year - the album also apparently features Lindsay Lohan.

Discussing tour plans on Duran's website, singer Simon Le Bon said “I’ve loved making the album, but I still feel most at home on stage.” Nick Rhodes (keyboards) added, “Simon gets a bit funny if he’s not in front of a crowd for too long. The new songs feel like they should go down very well when we play them live.”

In a press statement John Taylor (bass) said “It really goes back to that strange early Duran mix: the hard-edged pop, coexisting with this dark, weird, experimental side.” Nick Rhodes (keyboards) added, “That’s something that’s essential to all of us. It’s great to be able to lift people’s spirits—and your own—with a strong shot of pure pop, but the world we live in isn’t all just made of that stuff, so it seems natural to me that we have kept one foot in the darker, more Gothic side of life.”

Well, they're no Bauhaus, but here's hoping the band will include some of the elements they've explored via the side project Arcadia as well as on singles such as "Out of My Mind."