Madison Square Garden (Leonard Cohen)

(photo taken by Caro)

A religious experience, a band of monks, the darkest whisper...

First We Take Manhattan (Leonard Cohen)

Leonard Cohen is performing in New York City tonight. Where? Madison Square Garden! His last stop at Radio City Music Hall got sensational reviews and the tour so far, has become a marvelous success. I just went on Ticketmaster, searching for a modest priced ticket, only to find he sold out most of the Garden! There are $300 tickets left, and some back row $50 tickets. Amazing for a 75 year old ex-junkie. I still want to go, as this may really be the last time he performs in New York. Obviously, he's not the amphetamine popping, rambling folk singer he used to be, but any true Cohen fan loves his later work as well. I've heard some radio broadcasts from this recent tour, and it's closer to the "I'm your man" period, which is perfectly fine with me.

Living Colour: The Chair in the Doorway

I used to love this band in High School. I remember learning Vernon Reid licks and how bad-ass they were to take Bad Brains on tour at the height of their fame. Now, they've completely lost it. Vernon Reid seems to innovate as always, but there's no chemistry between the band as songwriters. Sounds like Will Calhoun is still on his Black Metal kick, Corey Glover is confused melodically between Pop and Rap trends, and whoever it is on bass (Muzz or Wimbish? who cares..) isn't adding much. It's obvious they are trying to capture the sound they made with- "Stain", but with all of Glover's off-Broadway musical experience since their last break-up, it just doesn't come together smoothly. I would think they reunited for the money, but it doesn't look like they're making any, judging the clubs they're playing these days. I guess they genuinely like what they're doing. I wonder if anyone else does.

Leonard Cohen: Isle of Wight 1970

Today is the official release of the Leonard Cohen Isle of Wight show! Keep an eye out for it downloaders, or buy it like me.

Music Hall of Williamsburg (Built to Spill)

(photo taken by Sarah Tew)

Webster Hall (Built to Spill)

(photo taken by Adam Broitman)

I caught the second Built to Spill Webster Hall show. The last time I'd seen them, was 1998 at the Middle East in Boston. They were a trio then, and more of a punk band with unlimited guitar effects. Now it's ten years later, and they have certainly changed. Doug Martsh has replaced his experimental noisy guitar solos, with jam bandy blues licks, while two new rhythm guitarists have been added to fill in the sound. It was very much like a Hippy jam-band, as opposed to the riot-guy Grunge act they once were. I guess, we all gotta grow old sometime.

Live 1973-2007, 11-disc Box Set (Genesis)

Rhino Records is releasing an 11-disc set (eight CDs, three DVDs) of the group’s live performances called Genesis Live 1973-2007, hitting stores Tuesday, that captures the band’s sound throughout its many incarnations.

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http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002GU5V24/ref=nosim/bvlhb-20

Roseland (Happy Mondays)

(photo taken by Mick Marsh)

Shaun Ryder is either a genius, a shithead, or a little bit of both. He hired one hell of a fantastic back up band! Also adding to the mix, is a newer female vocalist, replacing Rowetta, who I think is in rehab now. She was great, the show was great, I was pleasantly surprised... I'd like to see them again, preferably on their own, without the Psychedelic Furs. It's good to know the Manchester group's still a force to be reckoned with.

Tonight at Roseland (Happy Mondays, Psychedelic Furs)

What's Shaun Ryder up to these days? I don't think brother Paul or Bez are still in the band. I have no idea what to expect.

new album? >

http://www.nme.com/news/happy-mondays/23803

A brief reunion (Temple of the Dog)

Mission of Burma: The sound, the speed, the light

This record is AWESOME. Trust me.

Reunited Mission of Burma will release their third post-breakup album, The Sound the Speed the Light November 3rd via Matador Records. The album was recorded in March of 2009 at Squid Hell Studios in Jamaica Plain, Boston Massachusetts.

Bob Dylan: Christmas in the Heart

Dylan, who opens a fall U.S. tour October 4th in Seattle, recently completed a video for “Must Be Santa” and is hoping Christmas in the Heart will be a gift that keeps on giving. He has pledged all of his American royalties from the record, now and forever, to Feeding America, a program that provides meals for the hungry. Proceeds from overseas sales will go to international charities.

The Northwest Top Ten

NORTHWESTTOP TEN

Compiled from figures at Sonic Boom (Capitol Hill, Ballard, and Fremont) and Easy Street (Queen Anne and West Seattle).

1. NEKO CASE
   Middle Cyclone (Anti-)
2. PEARL JAM
   Backspacer (Monkeywrench)
3. THE MOONDOGGIES
   Don’t Be a Stranger(Sony Legacy)
4. VINCE MIRA
   Vince Mira (Lucky Rebel)
5. VIVA VOCE
   Rose City (Barsuk)
6. SHABAZZ PALACES
   Of Light (self-released)
7. THE THERMALS
   Now We Can See (Kill Rock Stars)
8. THE DECEMBERISTS
   The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
9. SHABAZZ PALACES
   Shabazz Palaces (self-released)
10. THE HELIO SEQUENCE
    Keep Your Eyes Ahead (Sub Pop)

Jennifer (Faust)

Pitchfork's Top 20 Albums of the Decade

01. Radiohead - Kid A
02. Arcade Fire - Funeral
03. Daft Punk - Discovery
04. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
05. Jay-Z - The Blueprint
06. Modest Mouse - The Moon & Antarctica
07. The Strokes - Is This It
08. Sigur Rós - Ágætis Byrjun
09. Panda Bear - Person Pitch
10. The Avalanches - Since I Left You
11. Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
12. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
13. OutKast - Stankonia
14. Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion
15. The Knife - Silent Shout
16. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
17. LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
18. Kanye West - Late Registration
19. Spoon - Kill the Moonlight
20. Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights