Category: News

Mix-Tape Monday: Springtime Mix (2011)

So, it’s going to be near 70F in Massachusetts on Friday.  Spring is finally coming to New England!  Never mind that it’s only going to hit 40F on Saturday!  Spring is here!   And since all of my thoughts are turning to Spring, I thought I’d share some of the tracks I’ve been listening to today.  They’re not meant to be trendsetting, or cutting edge, by any means.  So, please, no flak there.  Rather, they’re just the songs that my mind drifted to when I thought of the seasons changing.

And since I’m showing you mine… what about you?  What songs does your mind go to when you think of Spring (or seasons changing)?

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Mountain Goats Cover Minutemen, Billy Bragg for Wisconsin Unions

Recent events in Wisconsin have prompted two members of the Mountain Goats – John Darnielle and Peter Hughes – to produce covers of pro-union songs.  First up was John Darnielle’s cover of Billy Bragg’s “Power in an Union.”  On the vimeo page, John writes:

Everybody knows I don’t generally do the acoustic guitar guy rocking political jams deal but as a former member of SEIU 660 & the California Association of Psychiatric Technicians & a kid who benefited from great teachers I wanted to spend tonight saying WE ARE ON YOUR SIDE xo jd

In response, Peter Hughes recorded a cover of “Themselves” by The Minutemen.  In the blog post where the cover first appeared, Peter writes:

Not exactly a union song per se, but a call to arms and the song that’s been in my head on continuous repeat for about the last two years.

Great stuff, and hopefully motivational.  Check them both out below:

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First Listen: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart – Belong

After last year’s tantalizing releases, I’ve been looking forward to getting to hear all of Belong – the new album from The Pains of Being Pure At Heart.  And now, thanks to their website, we’ve all got the chance to do just that.  So, follow me, and get to hear the whole shimmering, 90s-inflected thing before its release on 3/29!

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R.E.M. Short-Film Round-up!

While they may not be touring in support of Collapse Into Now, R.E.M. sure have been keeping it interesting with a flurry of “short-film” releases for each track.  You can read the announcement on REMHQ, and find out more from Michael Stipe’s chat with NME.  In a nutshell, Michael has curated a collection of videos by noted filmmakers and artists, and each has put their own interpretive spin on the album’s tracks.  Almost half of the album’s tracks have videos associated with them, now, and the rest are on the way.  It’s an interesting project for a band that has shied away from videos in the past few years, and well worth having a look.  So, follow me, and get caught up on all the short films and in-studio clips!

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Free Robin Pecknold EP!

Robin Pecknold (Fleet Foxes) announced today, via twitter (@FleetFoxes), that he was giving away a new, three-song EP: “So, I recorded three acoustic songs a couple weeks ago in LA with my friend Noah. One is a duet with my friend Ed Droste from the amazing band Grizzly Bear, one is just a new solo jam, and one is a cover. Here’s a link to download them: [Link]”  It’s definitely an exciting set of recordings, and the duet – “I’m Losing Myself” – is poignant and gripping.  Hear it below, and then go grab your own:

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