I have embarrassingly few friends. Thanks, Tumblrz.
I have embarrassingly few friends. Thanks, Tumblrz.
I have embarrassingly few friends. Thanks, Tumblrz.
Punch Brothers - Movement and Location
Indie bluegrass phenoms, the Punch Brothers, dropped their third album last week on Nonesuch. It’s heavy on progressive song structures and Appalachian staples: fiddle, banjo, guitar, and of course Chris Thile’s virtuosic mandolin.
You can download this track for free from punchbrothers.com.

25 plays
Adele’s MIA moment. The singer gave the one-finger salute to “the suits” after she was cut off during her acceptance speech for Best Album at the 2012 Brit Awards. [the sun]
PLEASE don’t apologize for this, Adele.
Mark Lanegan Band - The Gravedigger’s Song
I never really got Queens of the Stone Age. A ton of my music-y friends love them and went crazy when they played SXSW last year, but I couldn’t get into it. Former frontman Mark Lanegan just released a new solo album called Blues Funeral, which I like more. Jack Irons (of RHCP, Eleven and PJ fame) plays drums while Greg Dulli and Josh Homme guest. Lanegan’s voice is trademark, but the instrumentation shows more range here than in past projects. This is the opening track.
42 plays
“I have a senior executive who calls him an ‘equal-opportunity fucker.’ He fucks everybody equally.”
Irving Azoff on Bob Lefsetz. Wired: Who the Hell Is Bob Lefsetz.
For the record, I love Lefsetz.
First Aid Kit - Emmylou
Kicking off a beautiful Sunday morning with First Aid Kit’s shimmering love letter to country music.
I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
And you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too.
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me.
27,871 plays
Marc Ribot & My Brightest Diamond - Bird On A Wire (Leonard Cohen cover)
We saw My Brightest Diamond at The Troubadour last night. What a treat. As Rebecca observed on our way out, “you love a performance” - and I do! I see a lot of shows, so sometimes the figures standing on stage, earnestly strumming guitars, blend together. Shara Worden, on the other hand, is remarkable. She took the stage in a mask and homemade costume, danced, told stories, played guitar, keys, autoharp, ukelele and… an instrument I don’t know. And of course she sang. Shara Worden’s voice is one of my favorite in music and she was just smashing last night.
Because it’s Friday, here’s a cover of My Brightest Diamond and NY-based guitar wizard Marc Ribot playing Leonard Cohen. This is another from MOJO’s great Leonard Cohen Covered tribute.
Previously:
Bill Callahan - So Long Marianne (Leonard Cohen cover)
My Brightest Diamond - Feeling Good (Nina Simone cover)
90 plays
Michael Kiwanuka - I’m Getting Ready
Honey sweet funk-soul from the UK. Michael Kiwanuka’s debut LP is due March 12. These tracks sound like they were made in 1950, but Kiwanuka says:
They’re not old songs. They’re written right now and it’s a young dude singing them. I don’t intentionally go in to make them sound old.
Whatever he’s doing, intentionally or not, I love it.

48,163 plays
Mira Stroika - Where Did My Love Go?
New York-based cabaret singer Mira Stroika dropped this little treat in honor of Valentine’s Day. If you’re thinking “this would be amazing to see live,” you’re right — and you’re in luck. She’s performing at The Triad Theater on March 7. Get yer tickets here.
That’s Mira on piano and Gabriel Lit on clarinet. Happy belated Valentine’s Day!
149 plays
Fiona Apple is playing Pitchfork’s SXSW showcase at Austin’s Central Presbyterian Church on March 15.
(via pitchfork)
Crosby Stills Nash & Young - Teach Your Children
Did you know that Jerry Garcia plays the slide guitar on CSNY’s Teach Your Children? I didn’t! Until I read the jacket on my brand new (to me) Deja Vu LP. Thanks Rebecca! Happy Valentine’s Day to me.
57 plays
White Denim - Keys (from the Hear Ya Live Sessions)
We saw White Denim at The Satellite on Saturday night and they KILLED. The boys from Austin are musicians’ musicians. Austin Jenkins rips on guitar and Steven Terebecki’s bass lines are ridiculous. Jenkins and James Petralli both played gorgeous hollow body Gibson electrics and Terebecki rocked an insane Rickenbacker. They sounded terrific and the place was packed. This band’s come a long way since I first saw them a few years ago. True craftsmen.
75 plays
This Mortal Coil - Song To The Siren (Tim Buckley cover)
Time for another mini rock history lesson, kids! This Mortal Coil was a super group of 4AD artists masterminded by 4AD co-founder Ivo Watts-Russell. The band’s roster included, at various times, members of Cocteau Twins, Pixies, Throwing Muses and Dead Can Dance. They covered songs by Tim Buckley, Big Star and Roy Harper.
In 1986, David Lynch attempted to license this “Song To The Siren” recording for Blue Velvet, but was foiled by a rights issue. The list of collaborators and friends swept up in This Mortal Coil’s orbit was effectively the all-star team of 80s dream pop.
This track was recorded in 1983 by Elizabeth Fraser and Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. See also this video of Tim Buckley performing his song in 1968. Hat tip MOJO Magazine for a great article on TMC last month.
84 plays
