popwreckoning updates

Posted: 08 Jan 2009 08:45 AM CST

The band Timber Timbre hails from the northern border country of Canada and is releasing their new self-titled album on January 13.

The front man of this band, Taylor Kirk, creates a haunting version of rockabilly blues on the album. The entire album is made up of eerie songs that are influenced very much so by early blues players. In the song “Lay Down in the Tall Grass”, the combination of the choppy organ and the vocals resemble such early blues songs as “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. On the third track, “Until the Night is Over”, it is clear Kirk was influenced by the legendary Animals and their song “House of the Rising Sun”.

Timber Timbre is an interesting and entertaining listen. Who ever said Canadians could not sing the blues? It’s just not true, in fact, they take it to a whole other level. Check them out.

“Lay Down in the Tall Grass” (download)

Tracklisting:
01. Demon Host
02. Lay Down in the Tall Grass (download)
03. until the Night Is Over
04. Magic Arrow
05. Will Find Out
06. I Get Low
07. Trouble Comes Knocking
08. No Bold Villain

Timber Timbre: website | myspace

Written by: Kyle Thurin

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This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Under Cover: New Order (for a New Year) — Part 2

Posted: 07 Jan 2009 07:22 PM CST

Welcome back! So, last week we rang in the New Year with an Under Cover: New Order (for a New Year) Edition promising it would be a two-parter. Let’s face it, kids. When it comes to goodass music, it’s always best to super-size it! And when dealing with such a great band, sometimes one post isn’t nearly enough. While ”Bizarre Love Triangle,” “Ceremony” and “Blue Monday” are incredible tracks, they only represent some of New Order’s best musical offerings. And there’s more… much, much more!
–

“Regret” by New Order (1993):
My earliest memory of falling in love with this song was back in the early 90s, specifically the first time I heard/saw the video for it at like 3am on VH1 or something. The pictorials were beautiful, the visuals were bright and stunning, the flashes of light and color completely captivated me, and the lyrics and music were so incredible… it was unlike anything I had ever heard before and completely woke me from my zombie-like state, leaving me preoccupied to find out where I could hear more. This was the pre-internet days, so researching music was much harder. A pre-pubescent, self-professed music guru, I already knew who New Order was, but their catalogue is so diverse that I wouldn’t have automatically recognized them, considering most of their tunes around then were on the electronica tip and not nearly as guitar-driven as this. But I figured it out and a life-long love affair began.

“Regret” is incredible from start to finish, whether it’s the flash of synth coupled with the plaintive guitar riff in the intro, the earnest lyrics, lead singer Bernard Sumner’s catharctic vocals, or the lush musical outro. And I couldn’t possibly narrow down my favorite lyric or chorus (they alternate, but each is poetic), but the closing “Just wait ’til tomorrow / I guess that’s what they all say / Right before they fall apart” always kills me. And for those who enjoy fun facts– not only was this one of New Order’s biggest hits, but it simultaneously topped Modern Rock Charts as well as Hot Dance Music charts, a rare feat for rock n’ roll songs. Yeah.

website | under cover, pt. i

–

The Get Up Kids cover (2001):
Mama always said “Beware of kids who don’t like the Get Up Kids.” Okay fine, she didn’t really say that, but I’ve learned that anyone who loves the GUK as much is usually a person worth knowing (and loving). Apart from soundtracking my entire college career, their seminal emo-meets-indie sound borrows heavily from 80s downer pioneers and front runners, such as New Order. Paying homage on their compilation record Eudora (get this, it rocks), the GUK put out their own version complete with their signature style: knob-twisting, whiny vocals and background yelps, keyboards, ambitious guitar, and they close out their track with this upbeat synth I can’t get enough of. This track is a must for your collection if you dig the GUK, New Order, covers, or just great music.

website | myspace | 2008 reunion show

–

Marsheaux cover (2006):
Okay, I admit this track may single-handedly make me lose any kind of music cred I actually have or purported to have, but I found this “interesting” cover track by accident and thought I’d share it for some of our readers who don’t dig guitar-driven shit as much as myself. Once you get past the point of wanting to kill yourself after facing the inevitable music identity crisis that will likely surface if you legitimately enjoy this cover, it’s not all bad. Greek synthpop duo Marsheaux clearly have a jones for electronica since they covered “Regret” on their album called (are you ready for this?) Peekaboo. While this song (even if it were an original) doesn’t exactly make me want to break plates on the floor and scream “Opa!” it’s a relaxing tune for elevator music for hipper companies with good taste in music (i.e.- no Kenny G allowed). If you dig this, they actually cover When In Rome’s “The Promise” on their album, too. I’m actually kinda curious to hear how that one turned out? (j/k! Well, not really. Or am I? Ugh, kill me.)

website | myspace

–

“Age Of Consent” by New Order (1983):
Sometimes a song is so great that I don’t want to write wh it is, I’d much rather make my readers turn it on and figure out their own reason why they love it, or don’t love it (inconceivable!). If it helps, one night my best friend Shaun and I were driving home after an indie show and this was the only song we could agree to listen to (3 times, I believe) on his iPod. We were so excited and happy that we also spent a considerable amount of time discussing which points of the song we both love (**). The guitar loop is so pretty, the lyrics are touching, the vocals pull you in as if you, too, are going through the same thing and singing a song about how you’re feeling is your only salvation. Maybe doctors should bypass the meds and prescribe listening to “Age Of Consent” to their manic-depressive patients since it makes you want to laugh, cry, be high, be low, and celebrate life all at once. And by song’s end, all the emotions kinda/sorta cancel each other out and everything turns out fine.

Grant-Lee Phillips cover (2006):
It was only a matter of time I featured a worthy acoustic cover, so why not start with Grant-Lee Phillips? If you’re a big fan of Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) or even Neil Young, you’ll probably brake for this version since Phillips would probably be their musical love child if they ever mated. All three singers share that same vocal sincerity, huskiness, and drawl. This cover differs greatly from the original in tempo, style, genre, vocal delivery, yet keeps the same beautiful sadness in tone. If you love this, check out the rest of his 80s covers on his album nineteeneighties. Selecting some of my favorite tracks from bands like the Psychedelic Furs, The Church, Nick Cave, and The Cure, Phillips compiled a pretty amazing acoustic cover collection for any 80s downer music enthusiast.

website | myspace

Honorable mentions “Age Of Consent” I highly recommend:
-The Arcade Fire’s live cover. They replace the synth with violins!
-The Envy Corps live cover. Standard cover, done well.

–
** For those who are curious/equally geeky, those favorite parts of “Age Of Consent” are: the “ooh ooh” at 3:22, the “I’ve lost you” (x 5) lyric whispered three times, the sweet whimpering at 3:50, and guitar splices at 4:14. Oh, and the entire song too.

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Soundcheck: All-American Rejects

Posted: 07 Jan 2009 03:28 PM CST

Check out this clip from the All American Rejects' performance and interview on Soundcheck. AAR performs tracks from their new album When the World Comes Down as well as some fan favorites from albums past. See the performance and interview in full on Soundcheck. Check out a snippet here:

All American Rejects arrive at Soundcheck

Set List:
01. Dirty Little Secret
02. Gives You Hell
03. It Ends Tonight
04. Mona Lisa (When the World Comes Down)
05. Move Along

Other Soundcheck artists include Gym Class Heroes, Paramore, Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Good Charlotte, Fall Out Boy, The Foo Fighters and more.

The All-American Rejects: website | myspace | When The World Comes Down review | soundcheck

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Totally Fit with Mel B

Posted: 07 Jan 2009 01:33 PM CST

Two babies, “Dancing With The Stars” and a reunion world tour later, Spice Girl Mel B has never been in better shape, which is why Rhino Entertainment is happy to present Totally Fit, Mel's first-ever workout video on February 3rd! Who better to get workout tips from than one of the world’s most recognizable pop stars and lingerie model? Exactly.

Mel’s presentation is fun, inspirational, motivating (she is a Spice Girl!) and presents the secrets to her success to anyone who wants to change both their lives and bodies, including all kinds of lifestyles and fitness levels.Totally Fit breaks down Mel’s straightforward approach to staying in shape into a simple 28-day plan.

The first disc contains a 60-minute fitness class split into 30-minute sessions. The first session is an aerobic workout set to pumping dance tracks that is the ideal route to burning fat, driving up heart rates and promoting overall fitness. The second session includes an up-tempo resistance workout, using everyday objects to help tone and trim the body, workouts that Mel still does week in week out.

The second disc includes additional bonus routines that target problem areas and promote overall lifestyle change. The disc features four 10-minute workouts that focus on the areas all women struggle with bums, tums, legs and arms. There’s also a “Chill Out” stretch session designed to help women relax after a stressful day or as a well-deserved, post-workout reward.

For anyone with jubbily bits, I’m going to tighten you up, make you laugh and enjoy your work out no matter what level of fitness you are. - Mel B

The three-DVD set features fitness workouts and nutrition tips and is available now exclusively on www.Totallyfit.com and at retail nationwide on February 3rd!

Totally Fit: website | pre-order
Mel B: website | myspace | forum