am/fm

By Ed Condran
Special to amNewYork
• Janet Jackson Madison Square Garden. Nov. 1, 8pm; $44.80, $99.75, $154.75, $300.
• Tickets for the October 16 show, which was postponed, will be honored.

Janet Jackson’s "Rock Witchu" tour isn’t a greatest hits jaunt but nostalgic fans will certainly be pleased by the veteran pop singer’s set list, which is filled with familiar cuts.

"Control," "What Have You Done For Me Lately," "Miss You Much," "Escapade" and "Rhythm Nation" are just some of the favorites Jackson will render when she performs her rescheduled show November 1 at Madison Square Garden.

"This show is for the fans so it was really put together for them,” Jackson said during a recent teleconference. “Fans tell me what they would like to see.”

More after the jump.

By eh

So the other day I mentioned that MTV launched their online video streaming website. What I did not realize then is that their back catalog includes "Pop-Up Video!"

Yep. Now you can get your music and inane music trivia in one tasty package. More here.

By eh

It was a disgusting night last night, but a good crowd made it out to Union Hall for the show. Though it did seem like much of the audience knew the bands personally.

The Shys were up first. They were pleasant. They have kind of a good ole boy, country feel, tempered by an L.A. slickness. They're good singers and they have some nice harmonies.

I don't know why I'm noticing this kind of thing so much lately, but The Shys drummer totally wailed on the skins. He's really energetic and loud.

Overall, their set was diverting. At one point, one of their songs had a riff that sounded a lot like "Can You Picture That?" Over the course of their set, the band's sound migrated from country-tinged to angry pop. I like the less angry songs better.

The lead singer is cute in a wholesome way, and he sings with real passion.

More after the jump.

By eh

Italian blog Stereogram found this video of Built to Spill performing M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes." For a second before I hit play, I wondered how Doug Martsch and co. would replicate that sample that she uses, before I remembered that the sample is from "Straight to Hell" by the Clash, a rock and roll band, and that Built to Spill is also a rock and roll band with the instruments to replicate that sound. The machine gun sounds, however, they were on their own for.

By eh

Beck - Gamma Ray

Beck premiered his new video for "Gamma Ray" on MySpace Music yesterday. It stars a painted up Chloe Sevigny shaking it for all she's worth. Thus, your enjoyment of the video hinges on how much you can tolerate like Sevigny. It's still a good song, though. And typically Beck, if there can be such a thing.

By eh

A tipster (it was my dad) dropped me a line about Ms. Devon Sproule, a Charlottesville guitarist, with a homespun-but-funky style. I like her. Her singing voice is clear and unadorned, and all she really needs for accompaniment is the stinging staccato of her guitar. She's already released four albums and been endorsed by everyone from Jools Holland (from whence the above clip, he's a big deal on the U.K. music scene) to Bob Edwards. Also, NPR has an interview/performance with her up here. So listen, already.

She kind of reminds me of the retro-cool of acts like She & Him and Clare Muldaur. Which I also like a lot.

But, anyway, if you like what your hear — Sproule-wise — she's coming to Union Hall Dec. 15.

(L-R) Danny Wood, Donnie Whalberg, Joey McIntyre, Jordan Knight and Jonathan Knight of New Kids On The Block at Madison Square Garden on October 27, 2008 in New York City. (Getty Images)

By Lauren Johnston

In the realm of boy bands, it has to be said, the New Kids on the Block are geezers, and a reunion tour could easily equal a pathetic disaster. Donnie Wahlberg and Jon Knight are both pushing 40, and it’s been nearly 20 years since the group’s concert heyday.

But apparently, no one told the fans – still swooning after all these years. Or lead crooner Jordan Knight, whose wailing falsetto at last night’s MSG show was circa 1987.

I saw New Kids on the Block in concert for the first time at the York County Fair (read, rural Pennsylvania) when I was 10. I had the crazed strain of NKOTB fever, like every other girl I knew. My parents bought my sister and me concert t-shirts, which we put on immediately and decorated with pancake-sized fan buttons.

Then we continued the debate we’d raged over for weeks: Who was cutest? “Duh, Joey!” (her) “No WAY! Jordan.” (me)

We were so psyched to hear “The Right Stuff” live that we barely noticed our seats were in the next-to-last-row. When the lights blinked out, the thousands of pre-teen girls in the crowd launched into a shrill, unified scream that lasted until the final number, and we barely heard a word as the toothpick-sized band members bounced in and out of choreographed poses on the distant stage.

And that was pretty much my experience last night at the New Kids reunion tour show – 20 years later – again with my sister, though minus the shirts. And we had a new debate: “It might be lame and sad.” (me) “No WAY! It’ll be awesome!” (her)

The crowd sided with her. (see video below):

By eh

• MTV has launched MTV Music (which, uninitialed, is Music television music), a Hulu-like service for music videos. Awesome! One whole day for play, indeed!

• BWE found this video which sets this old cartoon to a new TV on the Radio tune. It is oddly beautiful.

• NPR is streaming the Elephant 6 orchestra holiday concert.

• For the past few years, collaborators Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett have made beautiful music together as Gorillaz. They recently worked together again on a Chinese opera called "Monkey: Journey To The West." It is profoundly weird. Now Stereogum has a video "single" from the project.

By Hal Bienstock
Special to amNewYork
• Matthew Sweet plays Webster Hall tomorrow night. 7 p.m., $25, 125 E 11th St.

Matthew Sweet was one of the more unlikely success stories of the grunge era. While his music had loud guitars, hits like “Sick of Myself” and “Girlfriend” were more power-pop than hard rock, with Beatle-esque harmonies and hook-filled choruses. As he got older Sweet seemed to settle down, joining folk-rock group The Thorns, recording an acoustic album on his own and making an album of ‘60s covers with Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles. His latest album, Sunshine Lies, is a return to form, with many songs featuring the three-guitar attack of his early ‘90s heyday.

More after the jump.

By eh

Last night, on random, my iPod played the following songs in this order. Listen, and tell me you don't hear a narrative.

• Bob Mould, Missing You

• The Rentals, "Last Romantic Day"

• Georgia Anne Muldrow, "Simply a Joy"

• Yo La Tengo, "Our Way to Fall"

I hope those crazy kids can work it out this time. And that microwave is graceful enough to step out of their way...

By eh

I just stumbled on this blog. Earlier this year, he cataloged his top 200 favorite songs, complete with MP3 downloads. He has some pretty good stuff on there. Check out part one here and part two here.

By eh

Thursday was a long, exciting night.

We started out at The Dears at Hiro Ballroom. They were not so much exciting (their music is pretty damn mellow), but intense and moody as usual. There set was solid, and I love seeing the lead singer live — he gets so passionate. For the encore, the band came back out and the lead singer rocked a keytar, so it was all good there.

More after the jump.

By eh

Caught up in CMJ, I almost missed it, but the song that put little Miss Spears on the map came out 10 years ago Thursday.

(Thanks to the Fug Girls for keeping me informed.)

Of course, the song wouldn't be what it was if it were also not the most covered (generally in an ironic way) song ever — until "Crazy," of course. Even my friend Dave's band covered it in college.

Who else, after the jump.

CMJ Music Marathon is on. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of bands playing, we’re highlighting a band per day that’s worth checking out.

Dri
Hometown: “ Lawrence, Kansas”

Describe your sound: “Lately I’ve been calling it psychedelic stoner dance music.”

Why we should see you: “Come see us if you want to get your groove on.”

Who else are you going to see at CMJ? “ Just the bands that we’re playing with, because I don’t know how much extra time we’re going to have.”

Dri plays The Studio at Webster Hall Friday at 8pm, 125 E 11th St. She’s at Red Bull Space Saturday at 8pm, 40 Thompson St.

By eh

Go here to watch.

The story: Ben, Darren and Robert recently reunited in a one-shot deal to perform the whole of "The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner." I was jealous when I heard about it, but the video makes up for not being there a little bit. Also, the interviews are an added bonus.

By eh

A Big Yes and a small no. They go on in ten minutes and there is no way I'm getting out of the office in time. :(

I'll have to settle for listening to their album stream on MySpace (linked above.)

By eh

Hotel Lights, "A.M. Slow Golden Hit"

Shannon McNally ... there's not much to say. I wasn't very impressed. The group — which seemed to suffer from the law of diminishing returns in terms of people on statge — was complacently retro in an unfashionable way.

But, Hotel Lights, which followed them, was pretty neat. It's a project fronted by Darren Jessee, of Ben Folds Five fame. And there is a vestigial BFF sound to the group, especially when Jessee plays the piano. But there's also a dash of melancholy country in the mix. Truthfully, the set was a little slow, but I could see listening to this record while moping around the house on a rainy day or something.

One funny thing I've noticed as I'm getting older is that when I go out to see music, I need it to freaking ROCK! or I get kind of bored. Which is better than the alternative I guess, but cuts out a wide swath of live experience. Fortunately for me, the last part of the Hotel Lights set picked up a little more on that end. They also played "Amelia Bright," which the BFF dorks in the house will recognize.

Get dorky after the jump.

By eh

Radio Luxembourg - "Os Chi'n Lladd Cindy"

When Virgin Passages took the stage, they were immediately swarmed by 5 or 6 photographers. The rest of the (not substantial) crowd hung pretty far back, creating a weird split in the vibe of the club.

They played a kind of ambient, shoegaze rock, with vocals that were alternately hypnotic and jarring — an effect that reminded me of The Doors' "The End." It's a sound I liked a lot better when I'm not actually paying attention. When I did focus on the music, I noticed things like that the back up girls don't actually sing that well together. (How do you get two piccolos to play in tune? Shoot one. — Yes, I just made a band joke.)

This band actually had the unique property of growing off me — the more I listen, the more I actively hate it. Ugh.

Fortunately, Radio Luxembourg is awesome! It's a quartet of Welsh cuties with a British Invasion sound. They started their set with little fanfare, letting the soundcheck fade into a song as the house music came down. Their jaunty '60s pop is matched by a sunny sweet attitude.

The lead singer is very good looking in an androgynous way, and he's also the bassist!

More after the jump.

By eh

My friend used to sing with these guys, and they're pretty good.

Here's their cover of Bowie's "Changes." You can hear more on their MySpace page, but their live show is really where it's at. Their sound is pretty funky retro cool, and it's a ton of fun in person. Why am I talking up the live show? Because they're playing as part of the "Such and Such Management" CMJ Showcase tonight at The Mean Fiddler, 266 W 47 St, between Broadway and Eighth Ave. Go!

CMJ Music Marathon is on. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of bands playing, we’re highlighting a band per day that’s worth checking out.

Rahim
Hometown: “ Phil and Michael live in Brooklyn, though Phil is moving to Philadelphia. Chris and Christian live in East Hampton, on Long Island. We all grew up together on Long Island, in the Hamptons.”

Describe your sound: “Incorporating the guitar-minimalism and rhythmic playfulness of ’80s New Wave as well as the pop-song deconstructions of the ’90s underground, Rahim’s music walks a line between familiarity and discomfort. Within the record, and often within a single song, there are simultaneous expressions of apprehension and contemplation. 'Laughter' transmits the sort of feeling that might be found in the quiet after a storm or a disaster — both calm and unsettling. Lyrically, themes of mechanization, devolution and urban chaos interweave with stories of the lives of ordinary people in a strange, imploding world.”

Why we should see you: “ 1. Because Rahim write pretty songs and play them pretty hard. 2. Because Rahim have read all the great books. 3. Because Rahim’s new drummer doesn’t expose himself. 4. Because Rahim are articulate, punctual and play well with others.”

Who else are you going to see at CMJ? “ The End of the World, The Subjects, Parts & Labor, old friends, a lot of industry types.”

Rahim plays Saturday at 10:10pm, at Lit Lounge. 93 Second Ave at E. 5th St

CMJ has made some last-minute additions to its music lineup with many acts at Rockwood Music Hall on Friday.

Among those playing at the end of the week is local folk artist Alec Gross. Never mind his offensively red hair, his music transfers you to the Deep South and lulls you beyond the New York City's materialistic bustle.

— Emily Ngo

By eh

The Ettes, "Marathon"

I had kind of a lackluster start to my CMJ. I don't know whether it was poor planning on my part, skipping dinner (which also falls under poor planning) or my burgeoning cold, but I wasn't very excited about anything last night.

I started my night at the Bowery to see Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. His style is hard to pin down, mostly because he's not only a stylistic chameleon, but vocally he sounds like someone different on each song. He's got kind of a country gospelly thing going on with the mournful delivery of Neil Young. This is not me saying that his music is like Neil Young's, though, just that he whines like him. I wasn't particularly engaged by his performance.

More after the jump.

CMJ Music Marathon is on. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of bands playing, we’re highlighting a band per day that’s worth checking out.

This is Radio Freedom

Hometown: “Cardiff and London. We’re in between at the moment ...”

Describe your sound: “Punkfilthelectrodiscorocknroll. There. That was one big word. ”

Why we should see you: “Because the show’s cooking. The material we’ve just finished recording has come alive on the stage and we’re all buzzing to be playing in our favourite city. New York suggests nothing but good times to us, and with the feedback that we’ve had from U.S. publishers and labels, everyone in our camp has a good feeling about it.”

Who else are you going to see at CMJ? “2manydjs, Late of the Pier, Jungle Brothers, Crystal Castles, Eugene Francis Jr, Stetsasonic, The Whip... God, loads of stuff. Good times.”

This is Radio Freedom plays National Underground Friday, at 10pm. 159 Houston St at Allen St.

By Melissa Giannini

All summer I kept hearing about how great this Baltimore band was, and I had several opportunities to see them, seeing as how they've played more of our city's all-ages spaces, and at a greater frequency, than most of the locals.

But it wasn't until last night at the band's CMJ showcase at Music Hall of Williamsburg that I finally stopped stalking them on MySpace and experienced their punk-spazz-whiplash in the flesh. And lucky for me, they were the meat between the bread that apparently most of the sold-out crowd was there to see (secret guests Shearwater and Jens Lekman, who, according to comments on Brooklyn Vegan, performed an "awkward" singing DJ set at 11 p.m. — I am old and was asleep by then), so I easily got a sweet spot right up front for Ponytail's 9:30 p.m. set.

Picking up breadcrumbs along the tribal-ecstatic-electric track of late '90s/early '00s Providence noise, The Greatest City in America (best motto ever!) has been graduating its own class of the art-school-town sound for some time now. And this four-piece (2 guitars + 1 drums + 1 wickedly possessed voice) quickly seized the attention of pretty much everyone in the packed room. Especially those with a fondness for the heavy hum and cascading rhythmic quality of several helicopters lifting off at once, layered and looped over a steady, tribal beat. And when you're blessed with a rebel wail like little Molly Siegel's, I can't imagine a better career path than joining a band. Near the end of the set, when she crawled and rolled around grasping the edge of the stage like a rabid mongoose, I was sold.

No worries if you missed it, though. Like I said earlier, they're always here: Next up in our parts are two shows on Friday — Levi's Fader Fort (169 Bowery) at 4:30 with Crystal Antlers and the Todd P/Ground Control Part at Market Hotel (1142 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn) and then on Halloween, they're playing Todd P's NYC Big Halloween Bash with DMBQ, The Homosexuals and AIDS Wolf at Danbro Studios Warehouse (268 Meserole St., Brooklyn).

By eh

• Ed Westwick is in a band! They're called the Filthy Youth. (via)

• The first single from Chinese Democracy has leaked to radio this morning. Listen to it here.

CMJ Music Marathon starts today. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of bands playing, we’re highlighting a band per day that’s worth checking out.

Wild Sweet Orange

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

Describe your sound: “ I think we might sound like the Cure playing the Band. Or Aimee Mann playing a Julee Cruise song. Or maybe we sound like a pop Pink Floyd. I know we for sure sound like a bunch of kids who love songwriting and just can’t help but turning them into rock songs that are fun for the whole family.”

Why we should see you: “You should come see Wild Sweet Orange if you like entertaining original pop music, as in if you like a rock show with choruses you will remember. If you like performers who are trying their hardest to be honest, then seeing us will be like a glass of lemonade.”

Who else are you going to see at CMJ? “Duquette Johnston, Beach House and The Broken West.”

Wild Sweet Orange plays today, 11-midnight, Rehab, 25 Avenue B at E 2nd St (F, J, M, Z to Delancey-Essex sts) and tomorrow, 11-midnight, Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey St at Bowery (J, M to Bowery; B, D to Grand St) 212-533-2111

By Pete Catapano

The week-long CMJ music marathon kicked off this morning. Besides all the great bands you can see, CMJ also has a variety of panels from anything from the music biz and politics. In fact, amNY is hosting a panel about the election on Friday morning.

This morning, I moderated a panel about merchandising for bands with Jonathan O’Brien of Astralwerks, Joyce Williams of Zazzle merchandizing and Colin Whittle of the band Semi Precious Weapons. Here’s a list of other panels coming up at the festival.

CMJ Music Marathon starts tomorrow. To help you navigate the overwhelming number of bands playing, we’re highlighting a band per day that’s worth checking out.

Army Navy
Hometown: Seattle/Los Angeles/Portland.
Describe your sound: “Vocal lines that you can take home with you; a toe-tapping rhythm section; melodic, fuzzed-out guitars; and lyrics that will make you smile while reaching for your handkerchief. If Johnny Marr and Nick Lowe teamed up with Teenage Fanclub, it would probably sound something like what we do.”
Why we should see you: “Because we are the only band at CMJ that doesn’t have the word ‘crystal’ in its name. I think that sets us apart.”
Who else are you going to see at CMJ? “I want to see that little Lykke Li. She dances like a spastic Stevie Nicks and wears massive cardigans with really big shoulder pads. And that is always a good thing in my book. I hear good things about LoveLikeFire as well.”

Army Navy plays tomorrow, 10-10:40pm. Union Pool, 484 Union Ave at Skillman Ave, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (L to Lorimer St-Metropolitan Ave; G to Metropolitan Ave-Lorimer St)

Before we get into this year's festival, let's take a look back at the bands amNewYork got to know last year.

• Tom Schraeder and His Ego: I haven't heard anything from these guys all year, but a quick perusal of their MySpace page shows they've been actively touring, they were at SXSW this year and will be back at CMJ this year.

• Unique Chique: Just released a new album independently. Seem big on their hometown Chicago scene.

• iLIKETRAINS: Currently touring the UK.

• The Dead Trees: I really liked these guys when I saw them last year. They're hitting up Mercury Lounge and Maxwell's Nov. 13 and 14, respectively. Their new album comes out tomorrow.

More after the jump.

The soulful Chris Bathgate plays Wednesday at Union Pool.

From the Emily who doesn't edit Music, here's a discriminatory list of CMJ recommendations consisting of who I know from school, who I think is dreamy and who I caught by accident last year. But fret not, these acts are impressive even to the trained ear:

Tuesday at Angels & Kings: Team Goldie
The "team" is actually just one guy who lived across the street from me at Syracuse University. Matt DiStefano (unofficially billed) appears shy and slight, but he'll shock you with his energetic rapping and even more energetic writhe-dancing.

Wednesday at Union Pool: Chris Bathgate
Now, Bathgate and I will never be; the Ann Arbor native is all "my tortured soul mourns the frivolity of American consumerism" and I'm all "did you buy those boots at Saks?" But just try, try not to fall in love with Bathgate's ballads — folksy songs about familiar feelings. His artfulness is amplified by skillful looping and a guitar he'll always love more than you.

According to an interview TV on the Radio's Adebimpe did with The Onion's A.V. Club, he's working on a project with prolific chameleon Mike Patton!

AVC: Adam Drucker [mastermind of Oakland band Subtle] recently mentioned that something may be brewing between the two of you and Mike Patton. What can you say about that?

TA: What I can say is that the three of us are indeed working on a project that I'm thinking will congeal toward the end of the year. It came from an idea that Adam had, to have the three of us basically mess around vocally and see what comes of it. That's as much as I can say, but I'm psyched about it. It's going to be so fun.

Exciting!

—eh

"Mercury," Bloc Party

"Venus in Furs," The Velvet Underground

"Planet Earth," Duran Duran

"I Don't Want to Live on the Moon," Ernie

The rest, after the jump ...

I caught these guys playing at Union Station a few months ago (without knowing who they are), and then again this weekend. At least, I think it was them. They were selling HBE CDs, anyway. And how many street performing 8- or 9-piece brass ensembles are there out there these days?

They are awesome! Lively brass with a jazzy feel. They're like the coolest college marching band you've ever heard, but without the marching, and more coolness.

There's precious little current info out there on the internet about these guys. They have a MySpace with streaming tracks (which sound alright, but the live experience is where they shine), an abandoned blog, a sporadically updated official site, a sketchy Wikipedia entry (not their fault) and a 2006 New York Times profile.

But that may be by design. According to a video that accompanies the Times piece, "We try to make ourselves very hard to catch up with, so when you see us it's a treat."

And they really are a treat. They made my days, the two times I caught them in the subway. They're really exciting to hear, even over the rattling of trains. Keep an ear out for them.

—eh

I had been thinking of doing a Music of the Depression post, and this morning, Gawker beat me to it. Kind of. Their news is that old timey-sounding ensemble Max Raabe and his orchestra are touring. You can hear samples of their work on their website (which is in German, but music is a universal language). Most of what they play is period stuff, but they do indulge in a few covers, including Britney Spears' "Oops, I did it Again" and Tom Jones' "Sex Bomb," below, which is a little less authentic sounding, but still fun.

For more faux-Depression fun, the L.I.C.-based Two Man Gentlemen Band can't be beat. Listen to their oeuvre on their MySpace.

More after the jump.

Eric Wareheim (of Tim & Eric) is on a music video-making kick. He and Tim directed the deliciously weird Ben Folds "You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)"

The above vid was a solo Eric effort for MGMT's "The Youth." It reminds me of nothing so much as, "Sometimes I doubt your commitment to Sparkle Motion." Also, I'd imagine it's one of very few videos where the phrase, "Let's go again, but this time, kids, can we be more dead in the eyes?" might have been uttered on set.

—eh

In case you missed the premiere Friday on 20/20 (yeah), here's Britney Spears' video for "Womanizer," the first single off her latest album, expected to drop Nov. 30. It's not too bad, for a Spears video. She writhes around nearly naked, exacting public, fictional revenge on those men who've done her wrong in the past year (one has to assume). But she looks healthy and with-it (which is SUCH a weird criticism to be in a position to offer), and her dancing is back on par.

On a less invasive note, just about everyone has had a crack at remixing the tune. Check out Doctor Rosen Rosen (film noirish take), The Teenagers (indie rock), Loose Shus ('80s style synth rock). This guy has a pretty comprehensive list of all the remixes floating around out there.

—eh

• Best Week Ever dug up the above hilarious interpretation of A-Ha's "Take On Me." It's basically a narration of the action in the video, which underscores just how weird the video actually is.

• Britney Spears will be premiering her new video for "Womanizer" this Friday on ... 20/20. It's true.

• Pitchfork is streaming Andrew Bird's new single. His new album drops in January.

• Islands' Nick T. has yet another side project, Reefer. Hear a preview of this hip-hop influenced album, which will be out next week, here.

—eh

For those of you long time readers (mom, and the publicists I work with), you may have noticed there are a few topics (obsessions) I pay the most attention to on this blog: Kanye, Britney Spears (who, BTW, whenever I mention her, I get a sharp spike in traffic, I just noticed), Rube Goldberg machines and ukuleles. I just love those baby guitars.

So I was delighted to see this post on Gawker, about the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performing the Theme to Shaft. The comments also hold a few cool videos; I urge you to check them out.

And I bring you "Life on Mars," below.

—eh

Hair dye product Touch of Gray — a dye that promises to enhance your silver foxiness — has a commercial out that uses Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" in the background (click the above link to see the commercial).

Man, rock and roll has never been so ... banal. The commercial's context kind of suggests the title, "Sunset of Your Relevance." At least they didn't go the super literal route. They must figure that Deadheads don't uses hair dye.

Anyway, here's the Clapton and Co. original.

—eh

(Scott A. Rosenberg)

Though I'm not thrilled about the new album and I kind of hate Terminal 5, I jumped at the chance to go see my Benny perform. And he did not disappoint.

The bulk of the show was given over to the new stuff. He played both the real and the fake songs^[1], which everyone already knew the words to^[2].

For "You Don't Know Me," one of my favorites off the new album, Ben brought out Missy Higgins, their opener, to sing Regina Spektor's part. She was good, but the song was missing Regina's clipped delivery. On "The Frown Song," his band put on some big Wal-Mart-style frowny faces, which was funny. Though I think I figured out what bothers me about the album during their performance of this song: I hate it when Ben tries to do social commentary. I do agree with his message — usually he's just railing against consumerism — but he tends to get too preachy.

But he nails those crumbling-relationship songs. I also think I figured out why I think "Normal" is such an angry record. I recently learned, from online bastion of truth Wikipedia, that Ben has been married four times, and I think I just applied knowledge of that biographical fact to my listening to this album. But that's kind of been a theme of his since the beginning^[3]. (Greatest lyric: He said, "Well I hate that it's come to this/But baby I was doing fine. How do you think/That I survived the other 25 before you?," from "The Last Polka" off "Whatever and Ever, Amen").

He threw in a few of his older solo songs, which were much appreciated. At encore time, he let us know that the band was leaving the stage but would be coming back soon. We went through the perfunctory cheering and surprise when the band did, in fact, reemerge.

The second set, for that's what it was, included a lot more old stuff, including songs he did with the Five. For "Army," the crowd knew what to do without any prompting, and we trumpeded and saxophoned our little lungs out.

They wrapped it up with a fake version of "The Frown Song." I said to Scott that they can't really be ending on that note, because both the real and the fake versions of that song are pretty crappy, and sure enough, they came out for a second encore. They played some songs I loved, but I didn't write them down, so I have no memory of what they were. I think he wrapped it up with "Not the Same."

In all awesome show.

—eh^[4]

^[1]
So the story is that one night, Ben and the gang recorded a bunch of "fake songs" from the titles of the real songs on "Way to Normal" and then threw the fakes up online to thwart any potential album leakers. But now he plays both versions in concert and they are available for download if you're even a little bit computer savvy. And they're not terrible songs; in some cases I enjoy them better than the real ones, though the lyrics are definitely lacking that BF punch. So what's so fake about them? My coworker Scott Rosenberg talked to Folds earlier this week, and he had this to say:

Everybody knows their album is going to be leaked at some point, so we just thought it would be funny if people got the album and it wasn’t the right album and they were trying to figure it out. At the same time, we wanted to make it good. We wrote shit lyrics on purpose and then went into the studio. We wrote and recorded the songs and they were released to the Internet in about 6 days. Less than a week after they were conceived, they were on the Internet. That was sort of the idea. Let’s make this as quick as possible and there is definitely energy in that.

^[2]
I love Ben Folds fans. And not just because they love what I love (I love "Gossip Girl," too, but I wouldn't watch the show with a bunch of teenagers), but they're generally a truly enthusiastic bunch. They're really all about the music, and they're not too cool to show it.

^[3]
If he ever needs wife number five, I'm still available.

^[4]
Can you guess what new HTML trick I learned today?

NME is reporting that Sex Pistol John "Johnny Rotton" Lydon has been hired to star in a commercial to promote Country Life butter.

That's a far, far cry from his origins. Unless, of course, he eats an entire stick of butter and spits it out at the camera. That'd be kinda punk rock.

—eh

Jack White and Alicia Keys' theme to the forthcoming Bond movie, "Another Way to Die" is out now. As far as a Bond song goes, it definitely fits in the cannon. Recent songs have been either forgettable or downright awful (Madonna anyone), so it's good to see the franchise getting back to the overblown diva style of songwriting.

Does it stand on its own as a song? Thanks to the arrangement, it's hard to hear this without thinking James Bond, so I'm not sure. But is that a bad thing?

Anyway, for comparison purposes, I've rounded up the Bond songs so you can here them all in one place. I've tried to find the original titles where I could, but some of the videos are artist performances instead. But they are presented in chronological order. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Enjoy, after the jump.

So the Jack White/Alicia Keys Bond theme song has hit the web today, and in the course of preparing a blog post on it (forthcoming), I found these guys playing "Live and Let Die" on the ukulele. It's a much better arrangement than the one I played in pep band all those many years ago.

—eh

ETA:

Radiohead cover's Carly Simon's "Nobody Does it Better"