AlterPolitics New Post

Music: The Cribs Perform ‘Men’s Needs’ (video)

by on Monday, January 21, 2013 at 5:25 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

The Cribs 'Men's Needs'I am ashamed to confess that I am a Johnny-come-lately to this group. In fact, I only discovered them a few days ago through a Tweet by Edwyn Collins. And so seven years after its initial release, the song finally enjoys heavy rotation in my crib.

This English trio — formed in Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 2002 — consists of three brothers, two of which are twins. To date, the group has released five albums, most of which enjoyed critical acclaim. As if being completely ignorant of their existence wasn’t bad enough, I then went on to discover that one of my favorite guitarists, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, had become a member of the group between 2008 and 2011.

For those who too may have drifted out of the ‘in’ and into the ‘out’ with regards to the new music scene, you will be in for a pleasant surprise here. ‘Men’s Needs’ is The Cribs’ biggest hit to date. It is hands down excellent.

The video was directed by Diane Martel and shot in Hollywood. It is brilliant in its simplicity — much like the promotional music videos that came out of the UK in the late 70s and early 80s. It simply consists of the band performing in front of a yellow backdrop, but with a naked young woman playing the mischievous saboteur and doing a pret-ty good job of poaching their spotlight.

ENJOY!

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCNTYi9fHuo[/youtube]

Music VIDEO: Jessie Baylin Performs ‘Hurry Hurry’ Live In The Studio on KCRW

by on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at 3:57 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

Nashville-based Jessie Baylin melds Pop, Jazz, Blues, and Western in a way that evokes the sounds of Burt Bacharach & Dionne Warwick with hints of KD Lang and Camera Obscura’s Tracyanne Campbell. And yet, she still has her own unique sound.

Beautiful music, resonant voice, … I love it!

The single, “Hurry Hurry,” is from the new album, Little Spark — released by her own label, Blonde Rat Records. If you’d also like to hear the studio version of this track, you can check out the official video, HERE, directed by her pal Scarlett Johansson.

ENJOY!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiU1U5ek3tE[/youtube]

MUSIC: Ziggy Marley, Chuck D, And Linda Perry Release Catchy Occupy-Inspired Reggae Tune

by on Sunday, September 9, 2012 at 7:09 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music, Occupy Wall Street, Politics

Inspired by the Occupy movement, Ziggy Marley, 4 Non-Blondes’ Linda Perry, and Public Enemy’s Chuck D recently collaborated in the studio, producing a very catchy reggae song, entitled “Can You Feel It?” 

Inspirational political songs, these days, seem few and far between. Too often the lyrics come off as preachy and amateurish, and fail to provoke any passion or soul. Marley, Perry, and Chuck D managed to pull it off with this track. The political verses work, and the soulful Perry-led chorus will leave you humming the song long after it ends.

“Can You Feel It?” was released in June as a download to “enjoy, and share around the world freely.” You can visit Marley’s site for the FREE DOWNLOAD, or you can just listen to it here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWzKDGs3xxw[/youtube]

In the latest issue of SubMerge Magazine, James Barone interviews Marley, asking him about writing “Can You Feel It?” and what inspired him about the Occupy movement?:

Marley: … I was just happy to see people standing up for something at that level where it’s not about a student or religious thing, or even a politic per se, it was just a people thing … and how the economic structure of America seems to have been manipulated by those who have this inside knowledge or inside track. The common people don’t have that inside thing …

I want to see more of that. What I knew America for was that, really, people standing up in the streets and protesting things, and changing things… During the Gulf War and even after that, I was wondering how so many things were being put over on the American people. How are all these things being done, and the American people seem to not be involved in it?

I was just happy to see the people up and about and giving the system a run for its money. That song was a part of that.

The interview is only a couple pages long and delves further into Marley’s impressions of the Occupy movement and his opinions on the American political system. For those interested, the interview can be read in full here.

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Music VIDEO: Ian Brown – F.E.A.R.

by on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 12:36 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

I adored the Stone Roses when they released their self-titled album on Silvertone Records in the late 80s, and was fortunate enough to finally see them perform live, in support of their second album, Second Coming, at Webster Hall in NYC (May 22, 1995). The Roses split shortly after that tour, and lead singer Ian Brown set out, solo, […]

R.I.P. Adam Yauch (1964 – 2012) Of The Beastie Boys

by on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 3:37 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

From the website of Beastie Boys’ publicist, Nasty Little Man: It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam “MCA” Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in […]

VIDEO: John Lennon – How?

by on Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 1:19 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

A great song by one of the world’s best songwriters:  How? [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQU84QlukP4[/youtube]

VIDEO: Lily Allen And Keane Perform ‘Everybody’s Changing’ Live At War Child

by on Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 12:20 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

In 2007, Lily Allen and Keane performed a few songs together at a benefit concert for War Child. I had never heard “Everybody’s Changing” until last night, when I stumbled across this video, and instantly fell in love with it. (h/t to Kelly Canfield at firedoglake for the discovery) Enjoy: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3uOfpW5kds[/youtube]

VIDEO: The Kinks – Waterloo Sunset

by on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:47 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

One of my all-time favorite Kinks songs. And what amazing video quality for such early footage!  [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M8hrmGQOHk[/youtube]

R.I.P. Mick Karn – Bass Player of Japan (July 24, 1958 – Jan. 4, 2011)

by on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12:07 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

I was sad to hear that Mick Karn, artist and bass player of the band, Japan, lost his battle with cancer yesterday. Fronted by lead singer David Sylvian, Japan formed in 1974 in South London, and had a distinctive sound vaguely reminiscent of Bowie or Roxy Music.  Karn played a fretless bass guitar, and his […]

WATCH: Colorama’s New Single, ‘Candy Street’

by on Friday, December 17, 2010 at 8:26 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

The Independent revealed today that Edwyn Collins, a longtime favorite of mine, picked British band Colorama’s ‘Box’ as his favorite album of 2010. Having never heard of the band before, I clicked over to YouTube and found this single ‘Candy Street’ from the aforementioned album.  I absolutely love it — it’s very catchy. Now, keep […]