The Manhattan Project

New Releases:

Ziggy Marley - Wild & Free CD - The overall theme of the album is a powerful one, as it propels Marley to challenge social injustice along with the political weapons of ignorance and fear. Wild and Free (Tuff Gong Worldwide), his fourth solo album, may be Ziggy's most political and personal to date. Wild and Free was produced with friend and collaborator Don Was at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, CA as well as Marley's own studio.

Coming Soon:

Seun Anikulapo Kuti & Egypt 80 - From Africa with Fury: Rise CD - With the mighty new From Africa With Fury: Rise, Seun Anikulapo Kuti heads up Egypt 80, the extraordinary combo first fronted by his renowned father. The album follows Kuti's critically praised debut, 2008's Many Things, which was unanimously hailed for continuing Fela's musical legacy. From Africa With Fury: Rise sees Kuti finding his own idiosyncratic voice as songwriter, singer, and band leader, its songs and sonic approach marked by provocative edge and mature self-assurance.

Co-Produced by Brian Eno, John Reynolds, and Kuti, with additional production by Godwin Logie, and mixed by John Reynolds and Tim Oliver, the album captures Seun and Egypt 80 s extraordinary power, fraught with the scorching rhythms and kinetic funk energy that has earned the band as ever, under the leadership of alto saxophonist Lekan Animashaun worldwide acclaim as one of today's most incendiary live acts. With Kuti's booming vocal stylings at the forefront, songs like 'African Soldiers' and 'Mr. Big Thief' are fueled by call-and-response hooks, breakneck tempos, and combative, topical lyricism which firmly sets the classic Egypt 80 sound in the modern era.

'I wanted to do something completely different,' Kuti says. 'Not different by trying to be American or European with my sound, just trying to make a very different album from my last album. My last album, it was my first time in control, I was not as confident as in saying what I wanted. This time, I said, Okay, I can be more confident in how I express myself, I can say what I want, be as complex as I want. '

Rubblebucket - Omega La La CD - On Omega La La, Rubblebucket takes a dramatic step forward with their sound, grafting their afrobeat rhythms with a creative take on dancey indie pop. Listening to the crystal-clear, minimalist production of the album, DFA veteran Eric Broucek's influence is apparent. The album opens with 'Down in the Yards,' a track that builds off the ebb and flow of a droning, two-note guitar riff, only to explode into a triumphant chorus anchored by the band's horn section. That track is followed up by the bouncy, Afro-Cuban-inspired rhythms of 'L homme,' a buoyant psych-pop gem. 'Silly Fathers'and a reworked version of 'Came Out of a Lady' show off the band's penchant for creating pop songs that stick in your head.

Last Week:

Tea Leaf Green - Radio Tragedy! CD - More than a year in the making, Radio Tragedy! is a declaration of triumph and redemption in the face of adversity. After confronting hard times in recent years and adding new bass player Reed Mathis and 2nd drummer Cochrane McMillan, Tea Leaf Green was at a crossroads and in search of their identity. What emerged are 11 tracks showcasing the band's instrumental prowess and exceptional songwriting. With the release of Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green deliver their finest collaboration to date.

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Heritage CD - Armed with banjos, fiddles, guitars, jugs, kazoos, spoons and various other percussive "instruments," in this album, the Carolina Chocolate Drops revisit the jug-band and Black string-band music of the '20s and '30s with the zest of the most energetic hip-hoppers and the acumen of old-time music pioneers. Although they remain faithful to the tradition, they have an atypical way of articulating their own artistic feelings.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator CD - Recorded in Derek and Susan's own Swamp Raga Studios in Jacksonville, co-produced by Derek with producer/engineer Jim Scott (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco), Revelator is a confident yet unforced triumph offering a cohesive vision: an idyllic, musical world in which the echoes of so many great traditions -- Delta blues and Memphis soul, Sixties rock and Seventies funk -- flow together naturally, blending with an entirely original, modern sensibility.

"This album is an evolution of what we've all been doing before," says Trucks. "With this album, everything's been thought out a little deeper, figuring out the music and what the tunes mean--more time given to the whole process."

"These songs are all life-adventure stuff," adds Tedeschi, who co-wrote most of the album with her husband. "Whether soul-searching or love-searching, looking for shelter, or hope, or just a break...Revelator is about storytelling through songs--songs with nice musical structures, with beginnings, middles and ends, a lot of content that people can really dig into."

Upcoming Events:

June 15-18 - IfdaKamp - Kiel, WI

June 24-25 - Farm Party III - Reidsville, NC

June 30-July 3 - High Sierra Music Festival - Quincy, CA

July 1-3 - Super Ball IX - Watkins Glen, NY

July 14-17 - All Good - Masontown, WV

July 21-24 Gathering Of The Vibes - Bridgeport, CT

July 21-24 Northwest String Summit Music Festival - North Plains, OR

July 28-30 The Big Up 2011 - Ghent NY

*July 28-31 Floyd Fest - Floyd VA

*Look for the Home Grown Music Booth at this event!

Video of the Week:

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

New Releases:

Tea Leaf Green - Radio Tragedy! CD - More than a year in the making, Radio Tragedy! is a declaration of triumph and redemption in the face of adversity. After confronting hard times in recent years and adding new bass player Reed Mathis and 2nd drummer Cochrane McMillan, Tea Leaf Green was at a crossroads and in search of their identity. What emerged are 11 tracks showcasing the band's instrumental prowess and exceptional songwriting. With the release of Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green deliver their finest collaboration to date.

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Heritage CD - Armed with banjos, fiddles, guitars, jugs, kazoos, spoons and various other percussive "instruments," in this album, the Carolina Chocolate Drops revisit the jug-band and Black string-band music of the '20s and '30s with the zest of the most energetic hip-hoppers and the acumen of old-time music pioneers. Although they remain faithful to the tradition, they have an atypical way of articulating their own artistic feelings.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator CD - Recorded in Derek and Susan's own Swamp Raga Studios in Jacksonville, co-produced by Derek with producer/engineer Jim Scott (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco), Revelator is a confident yet unforced triumph offering a cohesive vision: an idyllic, musical world in which the echoes of so many great traditions -- Delta blues and Memphis soul, Sixties rock and Seventies funk -- flow together naturally, blending with an entirely original, modern sensibility.

"This album is an evolution of what we've all been doing before," says Trucks. "With this album, everything's been thought out a little deeper, figuring out the music and what the tunes mean--more time given to the whole process."

"These songs are all life-adventure stuff," adds Tedeschi, who co-wrote most of the album with her husband. "Whether soul-searching or love-searching, looking for shelter, or hope, or just a break...Revelator is about storytelling through songs--songs with nice musical structures, with beginnings, middles and ends, a lot of content that people can really dig into."

Coming Soon:

Ziggy Marley - Wild & Free CD - The overall theme of the album is a powerful one, as it propels Marley to challenge social injustice along with the political weapons of ignorance and fear. Wild and Free (Tuff Gong Worldwide), his fourth solo album, may be Ziggy's most political and personal to date. Wild and Free was produced with friend and collaborator Don Was at Ocean Way Studios in Hollywood, CA as well as Marley's own studio.

Blast From the Past:

Bomb Squad - Sophistafunk CD - The Bomb Squad, interestingly enough, was formed on the stage at NYC's Irving Plaza in March 2001. Ian McHugh (lead guitar), was offered the opening spot through a friend of his that was in the headlining band. "I accepted the gig but wasn't sure who I was going to play with, I knew the venue would be packed, so I had to act quickly because the gig was the following night." McHugh recruited star vocalist Jen Durkin (former Deep Banana Blackout, and Bernie Worrell vocalist) to sing, and nailed down the rhythm section and horn players from his own band EMCQ. "Over the phone we hashed out a set list featuring some EMCQ originals, and a couple funk classics from James Brown and Tower of Power." The gig went over amazingly in front of the sell out crowd and the Bomb Squad was born.

The band later went on to win the prestegious New Music Award at the 2003 American Music Awards. Given the nod by Dick Clark, the band received the honors and performed directly after Metallica on national TV at the awards in 2003. Jen Durkin still performs with Deep Banana Blackout and the Rhythm Devils - catch them if you can!

This CD marked down to $9.99 for a limited time. Get one and get funky!

Last Week:

My Morning Jacket - Circuital CD - "The new record, Circuital, is named after the title song," explains Jim James, of My Morning Jacket's sixth studio album. "On that song I sing about ending up in the same place where you started out. And that makes a lot of sense for this album... I hate the phrase 'going back to our roots', but for this record we came home and made it in Kentucky. And it just felt a lot like it did when we were first starting out..."

Circuital was recorded in Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN, and was co-produced by frontman Jim James and Tucker Martine (R.E.M., Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists). The result is yet another reinvention of their sound that both forges new ground and maintains the distinct spirit of MMJ s previous work.

The Manhattan Project - Atomic Bomb Party Vol. 2 CD - The Manhattan Project has been blowing up dance floors everywhere over the last year with their original sonic boomtronic sound. Their new EP 'Atomic Bomb Party vol. 2' brings the live experience into the studio and delivers 5 powerful tracks that blend House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Dub, Lounge and Trance styles into one serious dance party! Released in 2011 to rave reviews, the EP has earned The Manhattan Project respect from members of The Disco Biscuits, Future Rock, and BioDiesel, as well as DJ and live music fans alike. Sophisticated compositions and dance floor beats combine with analogue and digital sounds to produce electronic music for the masses.

Upcoming Events:

June 9-12 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

June 15-18 - IfdaKamp - Kiel, WI

June 24-25 - Farm Party III - Reidsville, NC

June 30-July 3 - High Sierra Music Festival - Quincy, CA

July 1-3 - Super Ball IX - Watkins Glen, NY

July 14-17 - All Good - Masontown, WV

July 21-24 Gathering Of The Vibes - Bridgeport, CT

July 21-24 Northwest String Summit Music Festival - North Plains, OR

July 28-30 The Big Up 2011 - Ghent NY

*July 28-31 Floyd Fest - Floyd VA

*Look for the Home Grown Music Booth at this event!

Video of the Week:

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

New Releases:

My Morning Jacket - Circuital CD - "The new record, Circuital, is named after the title song," explains Jim James, of My Morning Jacket's sixth studio album. "On that song I sing about ending up in the same place where you started out. And that makes a lot of sense for this album... I hate the phrase 'going back to our roots', but for this record we came home and made it in Kentucky. And it just felt a lot like it did when we were first starting out..."

Circuital was recorded in Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN, and was co-produced by frontman Jim James and Tucker Martine (R.E.M., Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists). The result is yet another reinvention of their sound that both forges new ground and maintains the distinct spirit of MMJ s previous work.

The Manhattan Project - Atomic Bomb Party Vol. 2 CD - The Manhattan Project has been blowing up dance floors everywhere over the last year with their original sonic boomtronic sound. Their new EP 'Atomic Bomb Party vol. 2' brings the live experience into the studio and delivers 5 powerful tracks that blend House, Techno, Drum & Bass, Dub, Lounge and Trance styles into one serious dance party! Released in 2011 to rave reviews, the EP has earned The Manhattan Project respect from members of The Disco Biscuits, Future Rock, and BioDiesel, as well as DJ and live music fans alike. Sophisticated compositions and dance floor beats combine with analogue and digital sounds to produce electronic music for the masses.

Coming Soon:

Tea Leaf Green - Radio Tragedy! CD - More than a year in the making, Radio Tragedy! is a declaration of triumph and redemption in the face of adversity. After confronting hard times in recent years and adding new bass player Reed Mathis and 2nd drummer Cochrane McMillan, Tea Leaf Green was at a crossroads and in search of their identity. What emerged are 11 tracks showcasing the band's instrumental prowess and exceptional songwriting. With the release of Radio Tragedy!, Tea Leaf Green deliver their finest collaboration to date.

Carolina Chocolate Drops - Heritage CD - Armed with banjos, fiddles, guitars, jugs, kazoos, spoons and various other percussive "instruments," in this album, the Carolina Chocolate Drops revisit the jug-band and Black string-band music of the '20s and '30s with the zest of the most energetic hip-hoppers and the acumen of old-time music pioneers. Although they remain faithful to the tradition, they have an atypical way of articulating their own artistic feelings.

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Revelator CD - Recorded in Derek and Susan's own Swamp Raga Studios in Jacksonville, co-produced by Derek with producer/engineer Jim Scott (Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wilco), Revelator is a confident yet unforced triumph offering a cohesive vision: an idyllic, musical world in which the echoes of so many great traditions -- Delta blues and Memphis soul, Sixties rock and Seventies funk -- flow together naturally, blending with an entirely original, modern sensibility.

"This album is an evolution of what we've all been doing before," says Trucks. "With this album, everything's been thought out a little deeper, figuring out the music and what the tunes mean--more time given to the whole process."

"These songs are all life-adventure stuff," adds Tedeschi, who co-wrote most of the album with her husband. "Whether soul-searching or love-searching, looking for shelter, or hope, or just a break...Revelator is about storytelling through songs--songs with nice musical structures, with beginnings, middles and ends, a lot of content that people can really dig into."

Blast From the Past:

Leftover Salmon & Cracker - O' Cracker Where Art Thou CD -This CD is just as unreal as it's premise indicates! Worlds collide on this release, which features the pop-soul songs of Cracker being re-interpreted with the music supplied by Leftover Salmon. All your early 90s faves are here..."Low", "Get Off This", "Eurotrash Girl"...but they've had their DNA altered by the slamgrass crazies in LOS! Backwoods alternative! Originally released in 2003, went out of print a few years later. But we were able to score a stash for cheap and you can pick one up for just $6 while suppies last!

Last Week:

Bela Fleck & the Flecktones - Rocket Science CD - Groundbreaking banjoist/composer/bandleader Bela Fleck has reconvened the original Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, the extraordinary initial line-up of his incredible combo. Rocket Science marks the first recording by the first fab four Flecktones in almost two decades, with pianist/harmonica player Howard Levy back in the fold alongside Fleck, bassist Victor Wooten, and percussionist/ Drumitarist Roy 'Futureman' Wooten. Far from being a wistful trip back in time, the album sees the Grammy Award-winning quartet creating some of the most forward thinking music of their long, storied career.

Warren Haynes - Man in Motion CD - Warren Haynes continues to be one of the most lauded straight-ahead rock lead guitarists performing today. But with his latest album his superior vocals are also at the forefront. Haynes' bold and emotive delivery, shimmering with his smoky vibrato is not to be missed. The album features Ivan Neville on organ and background vocals, Ian McLagan on piano, Ruthie Foster on background vocals, George Porter Jr. on bass and Ron Holloway on saxophone. The album was recorded live in studio to capture all of the emotion, passion and spontaneity at Willie Nelson's Pedernales Studios on two-inch tape with vintage tube microphones. Beyond his solo work, Warren Haynes is also known as the front-man for GOV'T MULE and vocalist and guitarist for THE ALLMAN BROTHERS and THE DEAD.

Phish - Live in Utica (2 DVD/2CD) - The Utica box set features the complete October 20, 2010 performance on 2 DVDs and 2 CDs. The box set presents three hours of crucial Phish in an intimate venue with an inspired audience that returned the energy at every turn.

The nearly three hours of music on the Utica box set was recorded with 60 channels of digital multi-track and beautifully mixed and mastered, appearing on the DVD's in 5.1 Dolby surround and full-resolution, uncompressed PCM stereo. The video was shot with 8 cameras (16:9 widescreen), recorded and post-edited in High Definition. Combining a stellar performance with gorgeous improvisation and a healthy sense of adventure, Utica makes it clear that the band is back and playing for keeps.

Venice Gas House Trolley - Burst Open CD - Cerebral Groovalicious Existential Sacred Fusion Rock from Venice Gas House Trolley featuring electric guitar and percussion! A morning-gold explosion of multi-colored sparks!

This full length (over 54 minutes of music) CD is VGHT's most fully realized, funky, jammin' and agressively rockin' album to date. Tracks range from the Flowpoetry inspired title track Burst Open (Dance) to the political heaviness of Bomb Drop and Busted And Wasted to the roots reggae rubba dub of Layin' Low. Add in some skanky blues, psychedelic rock and roll, and some of VHGT's unique take on the Amerian West and you have an album that will move your body and your mind. Recorded in Madison, WI at The Blast House Studios and officially released Spring 2011.

Levon Helm - Ramble at the Ryman CD or DVD - On September 17, 2008, the legendary Levon Helm took his beloved Midnight Ramble on the road to one of America's treasured music venues, Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium. Accompanied by such stellar players like Buddy Miller, John Hiatt, Sheryl Crow, George Receli, Sam Bush and Billy Bob Thornton, the Levon Helm Band created an unforgettable night of stage magic.

The collections features the Levon Helm Band in a musical tour through the American songbook, performing classics from Helm's time with The Band, as well as song's from his Grammy winning release Dirt Farmer and tunes from other artists such as Chuck Berry, the Carter Family and more.

Upcoming Events:

June 3-5 - Smilefest Reunion - Pinnacle, NC *

June 9-12 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN

June 15-18 - IfdaKamp - Kiel, WI

June 24-25 - Farm Party III - Reidsville, NC

June 30-July 3 - High Sierra Music Festival - Quincy, CA

July 1-3 - Super Ball IX - Watkins Glen, NY

July 14-17 - All Good - Masontown, WV

*Look for the Home Grown Music Booth at this event!

Video of the Week:

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