Category Rock

Mar 4 2013

Sound City: Real to Reel

Dave Grohl’s documentary Sound City about the history of Los Angeles recording studio Sound City Studios premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival January 18th. The recording studio founded in 1969, was located at what had previously been a showroom and recording studio of the British musical equipment manufacturer Vox, best known for its amplifiers. Until its commercial studio services were discontinued in May 2011, over a hundred certified gold and platinum albums were recorded there. 
Grohl was inspired to direct the documentary after purchasing several items from the studio when it closed in 2011, including the studio’s custom analog console, which he moved to his personal studio, Studio 606. He recorded the album Nevermind with Nirvana at Sound City Studios. Other legendary recordings include albums from Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Pat Benatar, Queens of the Stone Age, Metallica, and Triggerfinger’s All This Dancin’ Around.
The film captures the story of the studio throughout its existence and follows Dave as he incorporates the console at 606. It features interviews and performances from some of the famous musicians who made rock history at the studio, such as Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Lars Ulrich, Paul McCartney and Stevie Nicks.
To commemorate some of rock’s greatest albums, Grohl united an impressive line-up of artists to collaborate on a new album, recorded at Studio 606, using Sound City’s legendary console. The official soundtrack Sound City: Real to Reel is set to be released on March 12.
To get a feel of rock’s studio of fame, watch the trailer. One of three songs already streaming on YouTube is You Can’t Fix This, featuring Foo Fighters’ drummer Taylor Hawkins and keyboardist Rami Jaffee, with Stevie Nicks on vocal. She wrote the track when dealing with the death of her godson. Listen to it here, and watch a Live performance on Letterman’s Late Show.

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Feb 17 2013

Reckon with Foals

This week Foals, out of Oxford (UK), released their third album Holy Fire. The band released their debut album Antidotes back in 2008, and followed up that UK Top 3 by Total Life Forever, two years later. Their second album was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Prize.
The guys told BBC Radio 1 they want to deliver original material each time. And that they have. Finally their music seems to grab the attention of a much wider audience, and radio stations alike. The new album’s guitar-driven lead single Inhaler made it Top 30 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart. The current single My Number prompted this post. The funky rhythm and catchy chorus will have you hooked in not time. A real crowd pleaser. Foals are definitely a band to be reckoned with. Watch their latest video and a live performance of My Number here to get convinced.

Nov 6 2012

Triggerfinger presents Offline

Triggerfinger are by far Belgium’s loudest (and best) rock band. Every now and again, they strip down, which works just as well. Ruben(Block)’s warm, crackling voice has led them to the top of the charts with Soon, It Hasn’t Gone Away and I Follow Rivers. The band recently composed the score for a new film by Peter Monsaert, Offline. You can download the soundtrack for free by submitting your email address here. On Dirty Down Low, the guys sound their edgy self. Thumbs up!

Oct 21 2012

Music from Another Dimension!

Since May Aerosmith have been preparing the release of their upcoming 15th studio album Music from Another Dimension!, to be released on November 6th. May 23rd the band performed the album’s first single Legendary Child, released the day before, on the season finale of American Idol. The entire album has been premiered track-by-track, leading up to the album’s release. Rolling Stone was responsible for a major leak recently after uploading all of the songs to their media-player.
Music! will be the band’s first studio album since 2004’s Honkin’ on Bobo, predominately a blues cover album, and the first to feature all-new material since Just Push Play (2001). It will be the last album with Sony/Columbia Records. Production credits come courtesy of Jack Douglas, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry and Marti Frederiksen.
Lover Alot and What Could Have Been Love were released as singles simultaneously at the end of August. The album will include the 3 singles, the Diane Warren penned We All Fall Down, and a collaboration with Carrie Underwood, Can’t Stop Loving You.

Feb 13 2012

Return of the Mack

Out of 78 Awards to be handed out, Adele took home most at this year’s Grammys, winning six out of six nominations. Not the least, the categories in which she won: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best (Short Form) Music Video. Foo Fighters came in second scooping 5. Amy Winehouse was also awarded, winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, for her duet with Tony Bennett.
Performances came courtesy of Katy Perry, Jennifer Hudson, Bruno Mars, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna – solo and with Coldplay, David Guetta, Chris Brown, Sir Paul McCartney, the reunited Beach Boys – teaming up with Maroon 5 and Foster the People, Taylor Swift, Bruce ‘The Boss’ Springsteen, Foo Fighters, and Adele. Tension was running high as this was Adele’s return since her surgery. Initially she intended to save her come back performance for the BRIT Awards later this month. But after her performance at the Brits 2011, record sales and popularity reached incredible status. Thus Grammy night could not be skipped. The audience really digged the impeccable performance, showering everyone’s fave singer with a standing ovation.
Well done girlie!

Oct 8 2011

Re:generated

The first new Doors track of the 21st century may turn out to be an odd combination. The remaining members recorded a new song with popular DJ/producer Skrillex (Sonny Moore). The recording session and its music are part of a new documentary film, RE:GENERATION. The project brings together  five popular DJs/producers to work with artists from five different genres of music. Pretty Lights teamed up with country stars Leann Rimes and Ralph Stanley, The Crystal Method worked with Soul sensation Martha Reeves, DJ Premier produced a song for Nas and the Berklee School of Music Orchestra, and members of the Dap Kings got together with Mark Ronson, Erykah Badu and Trombone Shorty on a jazz song. Catch a glimpse of the results in the world premiere of the trailer.

Aug 5 2011

Triggerfinger

Belgian Rock trio Triggerfinger released four albums up to now: their 2004 self-titled debut, What Grabs Ya? (2008),a live album Faders Up (2007), and the most recent All This Dancin’ Around (november 2010), recorded in Los Angeles. The band is well known and loved for its spectacular live performances, often compared to acts like Queens of the Stone Age and Led Zeppelin. They played as opening act to Deep Purple in november 2009 in Amsterdam.
In March and April they toured Germany, followed by a couple of London gigs. This year they will go on playing Belgium, Netherlands, France, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Luxemburg, Poland, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Check this album teaser to get a feel of what the band has in store.

Jul 18 2011

Rain Dance Maggie

With their new guitarist Josh Klinghoffer, Red Hot Chili Peppers return with the long-awaited follow-up to 2006’s double disc Stadium Arcadium, scheduled for release August 30: I’m With You. The first single from the forthcoming album, The Adventure of Rain Dance Maggie, went into rotation today. Maggie supposedly symbolizes the universe. A number of other imaginary people turn up on the album. Damien Hirst signed for the album artwork. As yet there is no word on when the video clip for Rain Dance Maggie will premiere. Female rapper “Gucci Gucci” Kreayshawn would be directing the clip. Those who previewed the album claim other songs are far better suited to be promoted as singles. That can only mean the best is yet to come. Find the track listing below and see what you think of the first 45.

1. Monarchy of Roses
2. Factory of Faith
3. Brendan’s Death Song
4. Ethiopia
5. Annie Wants a Baby
6. Look Around
7. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie
8. Did I Let You Know
9. Goodbye Hooray
10. Happiness Loves Company
11. Police Station
12. Even You, Brutus?
13. Meet Me at the Corner
14. Dance, Dance, Dance