Broken Social Scene

New Additions:

Future Rock - Live in Wicker Park CD - Recorded in their hometown of Chicago during the Summer of 2009, Live in Wicker Park captures the raw energy of a live -electronic performance that packed the fair streets of their city, turning rooftops into dance floors and fans into maniacs hanging out of open windows. The atmosphere and the songs - six of which have never been released- are the best representation of Future Rock. Live In Wicker Park also features live remixes of Black Moth Super Rainbow and Death From Above 1979, that are sweeping proof of Future Rock's remarkable remix skills. $14

Ifdakar - On the Edge CD - Ifdakar's pursuit of musical growth and experimental improvisation create an experience not to be forgotten. Hailing from Appleton, Wisconsin, this six-piece band has garnered recognition from their live performances where the band channels elements of psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, and electronica.

From songs that are tragic, to songs that transcend, Ifdakar showcases an array of improvisational jamming and elaborately structured pieces that are steeped in influences such as Phish, Lotus, Pink Floyd, STS9, and others. This spectrum allows for dense musical freedom, to tension-and-release madness. $9.99

Zac Brown Band - Live from Bonnaroo - On the opening night of the 2009 Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Zac Brown Band electrified a tent full of thousands with their biggest hits and brand new Southern Rock jams. This CD of highlights from the set, includes their current chart topping hit "Toes" and their live staple tribute to Charlie Daniels "Devil Went Down To Georgia!" RARE Collectible! $7.98

Pass the Jar - Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta 2 CD+DVD - The Zac Brown Band's DVD/2-CD release 'Pass the Jar - Zac Brown Band and Friends Live from the Fabulous Fox Theatre In Atlanta' is now available! Filmed at Atlanta's Fox Theatre, 'Pass the Jar...' is a live concert package with performances from the October 2009 show benefiting the fund to rebuild Athens historic Georgia Theatre.

The 'Pass the Jar...' DVD features eighteen of the evening's performances with guests including: Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Joey + Rory, Shawn Mullins, Angie Aparo and Aslyn, who joined Zac Brown Band onstage for songs from their platinum album 'The Foundation,' their favorite covers, and new unreleased material. Shot in HD and directed by Darren Doane (who also shot the band's "Toes" and "Highway 20 Ride" video), the DVD is essential viewing for Zac Brown Band fans.

The 2 disc companion includes audio from the DVD as well as performances of: Let It Go, Where The Boat Leaves From, Blackbird, Whiskey's Gone, I Shall Be Released, and Bar (feat. Sonia Leigh and guests). $22.98

Broken Social Scene - Forgivness Rock Record CD - With the new album, the first Broken Social Scene record following the acclaimed Broken Social Scene Presents... series, the band decided it was time to try something new. As a core six-piece who had spent most of 2007 and 2008 on the road, Drew, Canning, Spearin, Whiteman, Goldberg and Peroff spent early 2009 working on new material in Toronto. The pairing down of the band's massive personnel list for the first time proved extremely fruitful; they created spacious songs written as a band by a band, resulting in more cohesive, melody-driven compositions than previous BSS output. Recording both in Toronto and Chicago, and working with producer John McEntire - a musical hero for many of the band's members - they found a fresh perspective on their own sound; this continued to fuel the creative process, resulting in nearly 40 songs written in and out of the studio, a number of which were put together as the first new Broken Social Scene record in five years. The album features guest turns by BSS alumni: Leslie Feist, Amy Millan and Evan Cranley of Stars, Emily Haines and Jimmy Shaw of Metric, Jason Collett, Ohad Benchetrit of Do Make Say Think and Years, John Crossingham, Marty Kinack, Leon Kingstone and Julie Penner. Uniquely, the song "Sentimental X's" features Leslie Feist, Emily Haines and Amy Millan singing together for the first time on the same song. $15.98

Coming Soon:

May 11 - Marco Benevento - Between Needles & Nightfall CD
30db - One Man Show - featuring Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey's McGee) & Jeff Austin (YMSB)

May 18 - Future Rock - Live in Wicker Park CD (now shipping!)

May 25 - Widespread Panic - Dirty Side Down CD
Keller Williams & the Keels - Thief CD
Skerik's Syncopated Taint Septet - Live at the Triple Door CD
Rev Payton's Big Damn Band - The Wages CD

Last Week:

The New Deal - Live: Toronto, 7.16.2009 CD - With over 700 shows and 9 records under their belt, the NEW DEAL understands the concept of evolving both as a group and as musicians. Their new album, Live: Toronto, 7.16.2009, proves that the band's improvisation-based show model continues to be a perfect platform for the development of their unique sound. The New Deal's ten-year career has spawned countless Live-Electro bands, garnered numerous award nods and continues to inspire an ever-growing audience that flocks to their sold-out concerts. The release of Live: Toronto marks a time in the NEW DEAL s career where their sound and showmanship have been taken to a totally new level. From North America to Asia, their concerts are drawing ever-increasing audiences filled with new faces, proving that grassroots popularity can be a truly satisfying progression upward. $15.98

Mushroom - Naked, Stoned & Stabbed CD- Mushroom, a musicians' collective based in the San Francisco Bay area, return with their first album in three years. A new phase for Mushroom, the project was conceived as a cross-continental Cinema Verite travelogue of time and space. Acoustic, ambient and blending eastern and western hemispheres, its music floats on an ethereal blanket of sitar, violin, pump organ, celesta, vibraharp, dulcimer and flutophone, while African, Latin and Indian percussion replace a conventional drum set. Enigmatic song titles include 'Celebration At Big Sur (The Sound Of The Gulls Outside Of Room 124),' 'Though You're Where You Want To Be, You're Not Where You Belong,' 'Tariq Ali' and the only outside composition, a remake of the Syd Barrett/Kevin Ayers' collaboration, 'Singing A Song In The Morning.'

Recorded over a weekend at The Wally Sound in Oakland, CA, the sessions were both planned and spontaneous with producer and percussionist Pat Thomas often adding and subtracting instrumentalists on the fly. Configurations range from a duo to a trio to an octet, and thus give each song a varied approach. At the time of the recording, the band had just come off a multi-night run of performances interpreting Pete Townshend's 1971 rock opera Lifehouse. The vulnerable and dynamic music of that experience provided a catalyst that resulted in the album's final 13 tracks. Mushroom also cite influences like Sandy Bull, Alice Coltrane, Davy Graham, Brian Eno and Fela Kuti as having played a roll in the sounds found on Naked, Stoned, & Stabbed. $13.98

American Aquarium - Small Town Hymns CD - Hailing from Raleigh, NC, American Aquarium's southern musical perspective is a blend of honest songwriting, an unwavering work ethic, and a genuine love of rock & roll. Whether you call it alt-country, Americana, or roots rock, one thing is for certain: Their music is a fresh voice that borrows from many forms of the American songbook. With 5 years, 5 albums, and over 600 shows under their belts, American Aquarium is the continuance of the road warrior meets studio craftsman ethic that has long been a part of the rock & roll and country music cultures. They are a band and crew that spend their lives between a van with no air-conditioning and stages all across the country. Their collaboration forms a wholly new and polished version of what Americana might start to look like in the years to come. $12

Spiral Up Kids CD - Spiral Up Kids is one of the most exciting new family bands to enter the scene in quite a while. Their fun-loving, interactive performances have hip kids and cool parents all over the Hudson Valley buzzing. Spiral Up Kids took the nouveau country rock of Son Volt, the jamband ensemble of Phish, the earthy funk of the Band, and the sweet harmonies of CSN to create their groovy and uplifting self-titled debut CD. Highlights include the jamband groove of "Friends", the New Orleans shuffle of "Sugar", and the electric, bluegrass of "In The Fiddle Is A Song", a tune based on a children's book written by author and illustrator Durga Bernhard. The album's sleeve boasts that it contains "kiddie tunes the whole family can groove to..." and it certainly delivers on its promise!

Spiral Up Kids spent 2009 spreading their free-range organic music throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City as well as creating their first music video for "Friends". In addition, the band played several benefit shows to help local schools, libraries and organizations raise money for worthy causes such as new playground equipment, books for less fortunate children, and arts in education. The future of Spiral Up Kids couldn't be brighter for 2010! Watch out for New Videos... New Songs... More Shows! $9.99

Upcoming Events:

May 14-16 - The Hangout Beach, Music & Arts Festival - Gulf Shores, AL

May 21-23 - Smilefest Reunion - Pinnacle, NC
Orange Blossom Jamboree - Brooksville, FL

May 28-30 - StrangeCreek - Greenfield, MA

June 3-6 - GroverFest - Davidson, NC
Wakarusa - Ozark, AR
Outrageous Universe Revival - Sherman, NY

Video of the Week:

Future Rock - Blink music video

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!
Lee Crumpton