Matisyahu

New Releases:

Zach Deputy's House Party DVD - House Party is a live ZD show filmed at a great house in New Hampshire this past Summer. It's a guy's house, but he is a pro video guru-- he has done the videography and DVDs of some big tours, like Dave Matthews Band and The Pixies world tour-- and it shows in this DVD! His house is no normal house-- he has tons of lights and pro audio and camera mounts built into his big, beautiful living room. This party was crazy fun, with loads of people packed into the living room, on the porches, in the yard and dancing all around me while I played. So, here it is-- my House Party DVD!
~ Love, Zach

Live Phish: 8/6/10, 8/7/10, 8/13/10 - From Phish's acclaimed 2010 summer tour. 3-CD sets. They chose the best of the summer, fully-remastered them and are making them available for the first time to retail in a limited series of 500.

North Mississippi Allstars - Keys to the Kingdom CD - The new album, Keys to the Kingdom, is a celebratory declaration of life in the face of death. In the beginning, a father passed away and a child was born. Luther and Cody Dickinson lost their father, Memphis music legend Jim Dickinson, only months before Luther became one. Jim had always told them, "You need to be playing music together. You are better together than you will ever be apart." Coincidentally, the Dickinson brothers were not together when Jim passed. At that moment, they were both off on their own, Luther with The Black Crowes and Cody with Hill Country Revue. So in the spring of 2010, the North Mississippi Allstars went into the studio to create a record that could help them cope with the loss, and, at the same time, rejoice in his honor. The first line of Jim's self-written eulogy was, "I refuse to celebrate death." Luther, Cody and Chris Chew took heed and aimed to celebrate life instead; and the songs for the new record, Keys to the Kingdom, came pouring out of their souls.

"In the end," Luther says, "We recorded our best country blues and Mississippi rock 'n roll record yet -- as if our lives depended on it." Ten years after the release of their debut album, Shake Hands with Shorty, Chew sums it up: "This is grown folks music." On Keys to the Kingdom, some children are born and others become adults; naive idealism gets squashed by stark realism, yet there is no choice but to move on, and so they do -- the quest for joy, celebration and truth palpable in every note of the mighty NMA sound.

Matisyahu - Live at Stubbs Vol II CD / DVD - On a hot August night in Austin, TX, this past summer, Matisyahu took the stage at the famed music venue Stubb's with his band, Brooklyn's The Dub Trio, for an unforgettable live music experience. Showcasing his incredible artistic evolution, Matisyahu unveiled brand new song 'Open The Gates' and performed songs that span his lauded catalogue. Inviting the intimate crowd to join him in documenting the extraordinary energy in the room that evening, he and his audience created the musical time capsule that is now Live at Stubb's Vol. II. These songs are infused with a vibrancy that can only be created during a Matisyahu performance, beautifully displaying the one-of-a kind voice and distinctive sound that has brought him to the forefront of today's music landscape. With a re-discovered love for roots reggae and improvisation at the core of his live show, Matisyahu brilliantly re-vamped the vocal and instrumental arrangements, elevating each song to new heights. From 'Kodesh' to tracks such as 'Mist Rising,' 'Youth,' 'Darkness Into Light' and 'One Day,' Live at Stubb's Vol. II is a raw and inspiring musical journey that is sure to become a treasured part of Matisyahu s acclaimed catalogue. With prolific lyrics, anthemic choruses and his signature fusion of reggae, pop-rock, hip-hop, ska-inflected new wave and acoustic folk, Matisyahu has broken boundaries through his music and has unified millions of fans with his music and message of peace, hope and understanding.

The Bridge - National Bohemian CD - The members of The Bridge have traveled on enormous distance to get where they are; all the way from living off-the-grid on a remote Hawaiian farm in Kenny Liner's case and chafing in the button-down corporate world in Cris Jacob's to making a formidable album that's fed by hometown roots and laced with wanderlust. It's called National Bohemian, a nod to both the Baltimore-based sextet s beloved local brew and their creatively rewarding but often unglamorous hard-touring lifestyle. From the eleven new, original tracks, this much is cleat: The Bridge have come into their own, covering unbounded musical territory with no shortage of verve and striking a rare balance between high-quality songs and sharp instrumental interplay. They have the tools to see their expansive musical vision through, starting with the unorthodox nature of their lineup: string band elements powered by a plugged - in R&B and roots rock-ready rhythm section, heated by keyboard and horn and, here and there, seasoned with syncopated beatboxing.

Nathan Moore - Dear Puppeteer CD - Dear Puppeteer is a letter in 12 songs from Nathan Moore to fear, mortality, the righteous, the jailor, lost love and lost time or more simply stated, the puppet masters. 'Gonna write a letter, dear puppeteer, I don t want to play here, I don't wanna stay here,' he sings in the title track's refrain. From this opening plea it's apparent that a restless spirit is at work.

Nathan s warm fingerpicked acoustic guitar, ghostly harmonica gales, ancient ukulele meditations and tobacco-stained, world-weary vocals are inhabited by a poet seeking something more, while giving song to humanity in all its beauty and sadness. Dear Puppeteer is a crowning achievement from the Staunton, VA singer and songwriter. The recording was split between Nathan s Shenandoah Valley home with producer, engineer and guitarist Bryan Elijah Smith, as well as out West at his old Santa Fe, New Mexico stomping grounds Frogville Studios. The album, his ninth to date, follows 2009 s well-received EP, Folk Singer. Moore, who first came to national attention with ThaMuseMeant, is also currently a member of the revered American rock band Surprise Me Mr. Davis.

Coming Soon:

February 8:

JazzChronic - Groovathon CD - "Groovathon" offers 80 minutes of tight arrangements, intricate horns, and excellent compositions.

JazzChronic, a quintet from Athens, Georgia, utilizes keyboards, guitar, and saxophone to make a sonically appealing mix of tracks.This album is epic in scope, with pleasing twists and turns, while excellent horns, keys, and guitar add excellent body to these jams. The tracks present an intriguing mix of funk sensibilities and jazz fusion jams, and illustrate pleasing new directions for the band.

Last Week:

Telepath - Crush CD -"Since its inception, Telepath has been a continuously evolving musical organism, and no more so is this fact manifested than on the new album "Crush". For his 3rd studio release, producer/multi-instrumentalist Michael Christie recruited singers from around the world to craft songs that are vocally-based and hook-laden, while still retaining Telepath's trademark "reworld" sound. Along with its featured vocalists (who hail from India, Jamaica, West Africa, and the U.S.), "Crush" also features over a dozen guest instrumentalists -- further adding to the album's "global collective" aesthetic. A work that is at once accessible and unclassifiable, "Crush" represents a pinnacle achievement in Michael's career, and a new peak in the evolution of the Telepath sound.
Read our review.

Thievery Corporation - It Takes a Thief CD -Dynamic DJ duo Thievery Corporation release their first best of album, It Takes A Thief. The album is a collection of tracks specially selected by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton for longtime fans and for music lovers who have heard of Thievery Corporation but may have never listened to the band.

It Take A Thief features Lebanese Blonde, the beautiful song used on the Grammy award-winning Garden State Soundtrack, as well as Sound the Alarm, the funk infused track that has become a staple opening track for the band s live shows. We've always been a little hesitant of putting together a retrospective cd, Rob Garza said. But looking back and realizing it s been almost 15 years since we started, we figured maybe now is the time. These tracks are some of our favorite moments.

The New Deal - Portland, ME and Ontario, Canada (2 CD combo) - Recorded live in Portland, ME 12/17/99 and Guelph, Ontario Canada 4/5/00.
The Guelph CD cover is autographed by drummer Darren Shearer! LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE and not available in stores.

Upcoming Events:

Check out the growing list of fetivals already announced for 2011

Video of the Week:

Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
Lee Crumpton

New Releases:

Telepath - Crush CD -"Since its inception, Telepath has been a continuously evolving musical organism, and no more so is this fact manifested than on the new album "Crush". For his 3rd studio release, producer/multi-instrumentalist Michael Christie recruited singers from around the world to craft songs that are vocally-based and hook-laden, while still retaining Telepath's trademark "reworld" sound. Along with its featured vocalists (who hail from India, Jamaica, West Africa, and the U.S.), "Crush" also features over a dozen guest instrumentalists -- further adding to the album's "global collective" aesthetic. A work that is at once accessible and unclassifiable, "Crush" represents a pinnacle achievement in Michael's career, and a new peak in the evolution of the Telepath sound.
Read our review.

Thievery Corporation - It Takes a Thief CD -Dynamic DJ duo Thievery Corporation release their first best of album, It Takes A Thief. The album is a collection of tracks specially selected by Rob Garza and Eric Hilton for longtime fans and for music lovers who have heard of Thievery Corporation but may have never listened to the band.

It Take A Thief features Lebanese Blonde, the beautiful song used on the Grammy award-winning Garden State Soundtrack, as well as Sound the Alarm, the funk infused track that has become a staple opening track for the band s live shows. We've always been a little hesitant of putting together a retrospective cd, Rob Garza said. But looking back and realizing it s been almost 15 years since we started, we figured maybe now is the time. These tracks are some of our favorite moments.

The New Deal - Portland, ME and Ontario, Canada (2 CD combo) - Recorded live in Portland, ME 12/17/99 and Guelph, Ontario Canada 4/5/00.
The Guelph CD cover is autographed by drummer Darren Shearer! LIMITED QUANTITIES AVAILABLE and not available in stores.

Coming Soon:

February 1:

Live Phish: 8/6/10, 8/7/10, 8/13/10 - From Phish's acclaimed 2010 summer tour. 3-CD sets. They chose the best of the summer, fully-remastered them and are making them available for the first time to retail in a limited series of 500.

North Mississippi Allstars - Keys to the Kingdom CD - The new album, Keys to the Kingdom, is a celebratory declaration of life in the face of death. In the beginning, a father passed away and a child was born. Luther and Cody Dickinson lost their father, Memphis music legend Jim Dickinson, only months before Luther became one. Jim had always told them, "You need to be playing music together. You are better together than you will ever be apart." Coincidentally, the Dickinson brothers were not together when Jim passed. At that moment, they were both off on their own, Luther with The Black Crowes and Cody with Hill Country Revue. So in the spring of 2010, the North Mississippi Allstars went into the studio to create a record that could help them cope with the loss, and, at the same time, rejoice in his honor. The first line of Jim's self-written eulogy was, "I refuse to celebrate death." Luther, Cody and Chris Chew took heed and aimed to celebrate life instead; and the songs for the new record, Keys to the Kingdom, came pouring out of their souls.

"In the end," Luther says, "We recorded our best country blues and Mississippi rock 'n roll record yet -- as if our lives depended on it." Ten years after the release of their debut album, Shake Hands with Shorty, Chew sums it up: "This is grown folks music." On Keys to the Kingdom, some children are born and others become adults; naive idealism gets squashed by stark realism, yet there is no choice but to move on, and so they do -- the quest for joy, celebration and truth palpable in every note of the mighty NMA sound.

Matisyahu - Live at Stubbs Vol II CD / DVD - On a hot August night in Austin, TX, this past summer, Matisyahu took the stage at the famed music venue Stubb's with his band, Brooklyn's The Dub Trio, for an unforgettable live music experience. Showcasing his incredible artistic evolution, Matisyahu unveiled brand new song 'Open The Gates' and performed songs that span his lauded catalogue. Inviting the intimate crowd to join him in documenting the extraordinary energy in the room that evening, he and his audience created the musical time capsule that is now Live at Stubb's Vol. II. These songs are infused with a vibrancy that can only be created during a Matisyahu performance, beautifully displaying the one-of-a kind voice and distinctive sound that has brought him to the forefront of today's music landscape. With a re-discovered love for roots reggae and improvisation at the core of his live show, Matisyahu brilliantly re-vamped the vocal and instrumental arrangements, elevating each song to new heights. From 'Kodesh' to tracks such as 'Mist Rising,' 'Youth,' 'Darkness Into Light' and 'One Day,' Live at Stubb's Vol. II is a raw and inspiring musical journey that is sure to become a treasured part of Matisyahu s acclaimed catalogue. With prolific lyrics, anthemic choruses and his signature fusion of reggae, pop-rock, hip-hop, ska-inflected new wave and acoustic folk, Matisyahu has broken boundaries through his music and has unified millions of fans with his music and message of peace, hope and understanding.

The Bridge - National Bohemian CD - The members of The Bridge have traveled on enormous distance to get where they are; all the way from living off-the-grid on a remote Hawaiian farm in Kenny Liner's case and chafing in the button-down corporate world in Cris Jacob's to making a formidable album that's fed by hometown roots and laced with wanderlust. It's called National Bohemian, a nod to both the Baltimore-based sextet s beloved local brew and their creatively rewarding but often unglamorous hard-touring lifestyle. From the eleven new, original tracks, this much is cleat: The Bridge have come into their own, covering unbounded musical territory with no shortage of verve and striking a rare balance between high-quality songs and sharp instrumental interplay. They have the tools to see their expansive musical vision through, starting with the unorthodox nature of their lineup: string band elements powered by a plugged - in R&B and roots rock-ready rhythm section, heated by keyboard and horn and, here and there, seasoned with syncopated beatboxing.

Nathan Moore - Dear Puppeteer CD - Dear Puppeteer is a letter in 12 songs from Nathan Moore to fear, mortality, the righteous, the jailor, lost love and lost time or more simply stated, the puppet masters. 'Gonna write a letter, dear puppeteer, I don t want to play here, I don't wanna stay here,' he sings in the title track's refrain. From this opening plea it's apparent that a restless spirit is at work.

Nathan s warm fingerpicked acoustic guitar, ghostly harmonica gales, ancient ukulele meditations and tobacco-stained, world-weary vocals are inhabited by a poet seeking something more, while giving song to humanity in all its beauty and sadness. Dear Puppeteer is a crowning achievement from the Staunton, VA singer and songwriter. The recording was split between Nathan s Shenandoah Valley home with producer, engineer and guitarist Bryan Elijah Smith, as well as out West at his old Santa Fe, New Mexico stomping grounds Frogville Studios. The album, his ninth to date, follows 2009 s well-received EP, Folk Singer. Moore, who first came to national attention with ThaMuseMeant, is also currently a member of the revered American rock band Surprise Me Mr. Davis.

Last Week:

SOJA - Everything Changes (maxi-single CD) - 3 versions of SOJA's new single "Everything Changes" to kick of 2011. The band just completed tours of Europe and South America and are set to tour all of the USA this Spring, kicking things off in Hawaii on January 21.

Live Phish: 6/27/10, 7/3/10, 7/4/10 - From Phish's acclaimed 2010 summer tour. 3-CD sets. They chose the best of the summer, fully-remastered them and are making them available for the first time to retail in a limited series of 500.

Tommy Guerrero - From the Soil to the Soul CD -The CD pulses with Tommy's distinctive organic, atmospheric sound, yet this time with a heavier resonance. Beasties-infused stripped down funk is layered with Americana, heavy psych, lo-fi fuzz and Latin rhythms, all with a breezy, laid-back San Francisco vibe. Recorded primarily in his home studio Guerrero wrote, arranged and played nearly all the instruments on the album, including bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion and kalimba. Renowned street artist Barry McGee, aka Twist, designed the cover art and Tommy called on friends Lyrics Born, Curumin and Bing Ji Ling for guest vocals. Guerrero's resume reads like a dream: he was a member of the Bones Brigade skate team in the 80's, made movie appearances, co-founded Real Skateboards and 40's Clothing, directed art for Krooked Skateboarding and is a prolific recording artist - from the "Fat Jazzy Grooves" and "Another Late Night" compilations, to albums for Mo'Wax, Galaxia, Function 8, Quannum, Rush [Japan] and now his own venture Too Good.

NEW TAPESTRIES:

Upcoming Events:

Check out the growing list of fetivals already announced for 2011

Video of the Week:

Thanks for reading! Treat yourself to some good music this week.
Lee Crumpton