Almost 30 years after they formed, The Cult are still at it. Vocalist Ian Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy are the only original members, but that’s been the case for a very long time. In fact, this is the first time The Cult has released two albums back to back with the same line-up. Does that signal a band settling in to a comfortable middle-age? Well, yes and no.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
“Travelling Shoes” is the first single from the forthcoming Lawrence Arabia album – “The Sparrow” out July 6 on Spunk Records.
It’s a song about departure, about feeling out of place and out of time and wanting “to be anywhere but here.”
Stylistically it’s a nod to the sound of the Lawrence Arabia of “Chant Darling,” but it hints at the darker, more orchestral feel of this new album and perhaps acts as something of a link between the two, if you’re into making those kind of connections. A handover ceremony of sorts.
Click here to go to the download page and get Lawrence Arabia tour info.
Click here to listen to Travelling Shoes from The Sparrow:
Filed under Press Release
Steven Tyler has been taking time out from his duties on American Idol to record a new album with his band mates in Aerosmith. The band has just released the first fruits from those efforts…Legendary Child is now available on iTunes. Tyler and the band had a parting of ways a while ago, but have patched things up and are heading out on the road. The new album, Music From Another Dimension, produced by Jack Douglas, is due on August 31st. Aerosmith hit the road starting June 16th.
Click here to listen to Legendary Child from Music From Another Dimension:
Filed under Streaming audio
If there were any complaints about the noise at The Vector Arena from the neighbours tonight, don’t blame Florence + The Machine. It was the audience that made the biggest sound. Their demand for an encore at the end of the band’s 12-song set was the loudest I have ever heard at The Vector. Such was the outright devotion on display for Florence Welsh.
Great North are a distinctly lyrical alt.country, Americana band based in Auckland. They’ve been around for a few years now…they released their first album, Newfoundland, two years ago. While the line-up of the band has remained constant over that time, the chemistry has changed a bit. Songwriter and vocalist Hayden Donnell has married bass player Rachel Harrison.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
Australian band The Temper Trap has just released the follow-up to their very successful 2009 debut album Conditions. Between then and now the band has added a new member, keyboard player Joseph Greer, who hails from Auckland. Joseph is not completely new to Temper Trap fans, he played on the first album and has been touring with them over the past three years. Now, with the release of their self-titled second album, Greer is a full-fledged member of the band. The 13th Floor caught up with Joseph Greer just as the new album was about to be released.
Click here to listen to Joseph Greer of The Temper Trap here:
Click here to listen to This Isn’t Happiness from The Temper Trap:
Filed under Interview
Ladyhawke’s award-winning debut album landed in 2008, and Anxiety is her first follow-up. This diverse album, which resonates with the themes of isolation, lost love, losing control and living in your head, retains Ladyhawke’s trademark 80s pop appeal but also edges into the sunnier, grungier 90s.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
This can be looked at as something of a companion piece to the recent Early Takes release by George Harrison in which stripped down demo versions of songs that were never meant to be released have been compiled to give a unique, behind the scenes look (or listen) into some of the rock era’s most enduring tunes.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the album.
Jennifer Zea celebrated the release of her album, The Latin Soul, with a performance at Auckland’s Nathan Club. On hand to help with the festivities were percussionist Miguel Fuentes, pianist and co-composer Kevin Field and producer Nathan Haines. Jennifer and the band really raised the temperature in the club with their sizzling performance. Click here to watch Jennifer Zea and The Antipodean Collective rock the house:
Filed under Live performance, Uncategorized
Who is Cory Branan, you may ask? He’s a native of Mississippi, a former participant in the Memphis underground music scene who is now a resident of Nashville. Although he once fronted a death-metal band, Branan’s 2002’s debut, The Hell You Say, drew comparisons to Ryan Adams and John Prine. He’s a storyteller who claims to “never play a song the same way twice”. Newly signed to the Bloodshot label, he describes his music as “American Gumbo”.
Click here to read the entire review and listen to a track from the new album.
Discover the Latin Soul of Jennifer Zea as she tells The 13th Floor how she moved from Venezuela to New Zealand to make music.
After the 2008 financial meltdown Hollywood seems to have produced as many corporate thrillers as political thrillers, substituting assets for bullets. Margin Call is being touted as the best of the bunch, having garnered accolades at last year’s Sundance Festival and having its screenplay nominated for an Oscar this past January.
Click here to read the entire review and watch the trailer for Margin Call.
Paul McLaney plays DJ for The 13th Floor
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 Flying Nun's Roger Shepherd Plays His 30 Fave Nun-Songs L |
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 The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spins a few favourites. |
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 Caitlin Smith shares some of her most-loved tunes. |
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 Miriam Clancy spins a few tunes. |
May is NZ Music Month
Big Daddy Wilson
May 9 – Tauranga – Omokoroa Boat Club
May 10 – Auckland – Juice Bar
May 11 – KeriKeri – Kerikeri RSA
May 12 – Mangawhai – Mangawhai Tavern
May 13 – Auckland – The Riverhead
Annabel Fay & Bulletproof and Jamie McDell
May 9 – Auckland – The Whiskey Bar
Kaiser Chiefs
May 10 – Auckland - Powerstation
Opshop & Jonny Love
May 10 – Auckland – The Whiskey Bar
People Of Paris & Sons Of Vegas & Black White Dynamite
May 11 – Auckland – The Whiskey Bar
Hello Sailor & Coast
May 12 – Auckland – The Whiskey Bar
Tommy Ill Album Release Party
May 12 – Auckland – Kings Arms
Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls
May 15 – Auckland – Kings Arms
The Revolution – NZ Music Celebration
May 17 – Auckland – 1885 Britomart
Thomas Oliver Band
May 18 – Auckland – Kings Arms
Goodshirt
May 19 – Leigh – Leigh Sawmill
 Carole KingThe Legendary Demos Iconic songwriter releases embryonic versions of classic songs. |
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 Cory BrananMutt Mississippi songwriter tells some tall tales. |
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 GossipA Joyful Noise Beth Ditto and friends hit the dance floor. |
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 Richard HawleyStanding At The Sky's Edge Sheffield's favourite son gets cosmic. |
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 Beach House Bloom Baltimore duo delivers highly anticipated sophomore effort. |
 GarbageShirley Manson explains why her band is back.
Zowie Loudon talks about his family, his songwriting and his new album, Older Than My Old Man Now. |
 Alec PalaoMusic archivist for Ace and Rhino may have the best job on the planet. |
 Frank TurnerPunk poet lives for England and rock & roll. |
 Electric Light Orchestra40th Anniversary Edition ELO's 1971 debut reissued with 1973 Quad mix and bonus tracks. |
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 Fender: The Golden Age1950-1970 Ace Records shows off the Fender guitar with tracks featuring everyone from Ike Turner to Jeff Beck. |
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 Memphis Boys: The Story Of American StudiosAce compilation of the best from Chips Moman's American Studios...Dusty Springfield, Joe Tex, Wilson Pickett, The Box Tops. |
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 John Cale Conflict & Catalysis This collection focuses on Cale's production work from Nico to Patti to The Stooges and more.
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