Magnet Magazine
Arms And Sleepers is a four-year-old New England-based duo whose latest LP is Matador (Fake Chapter). The album features guest appearances by Tom Brosseau, Shelley Short and members of Uzi And Ari, Caspian and Travels. Matador‘s first single is “The Architekt,” and its video was directed by Ben Andrews and shot in Luxembourg. We are proud to premiere the clip today on magnetmagazine.com.
Ever wonder what will happen during the last five minutes of late-night TV talk shows? Here are tonight’s notable performers:
The Late Show With David Letterman (CBS): The Specials
This legendary English ska band hasn’t had a new album since 2001.
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno (NBC): Robert Cray
Rerun from July 28. Robert Cray performed “Chicken In The Kitchen” off latest LP This Time.
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC): Titus Andronicus
Rerun from August 8. Titus Andronicus performed “A More Perfect Union.”
Last Call With Carson Daly (NBC): The Raveonettes
Rerun from May 6. The Danish duo performed “Last Dance.”
When Margo Timmins strolled up to the microphone in her low-cut black cocktail dress, wrapped in a scarlet shawl, with a rusty shock of hair draped over one eye a la Veronica Lake, even if you’d never seen Cowboy Junkies before, there was no mistaking her star power at the Villa Montalvo’s Garden Theatre in the summer of ’09. Timmins and two of her brothers, Michael on guitar and Peter on drums, along with bassist Alan Anton, have been doing the slow boil as Cowboy Junkies since 1985. As its name implies, the Toronto-based quartet specializes in quiet, ultra-slow tunes that might sound comforting to strung-out cowpokes hunkered down around a campfire after a long day rounding up stray dogies. Cowboy Junkies will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with Margo.
Peter Timmins: I have spent countless hours between load-in and soundcheck searching out independent record stores across North America. Here are two of my top four:
Soundscapes, Toronto
Located conveniently down the street from my house. The store owned and operated by Greg Davis has the inventory of a great record collection. You don’t have to sift through the Nicklebacks to find Nick Cave. There is no crap or clutter, just the best collection of CDs, DVDs, books and vinyl.
The Sound Garden, Syracuse, N.Y.
This store, which I discoverd recently, is full of crap and clutter with many hidden gems at incredible prices. A large store with generic blackened walls, this is a cross between a head shop and Newbury Comics.
Video after the jump.
It was just the other night that we were thinking about Los Angeles and longing for its wide boulevards, lined with palm trees, tile-roofed homes and In-N-Outs. Sure the traffic sucks, but smog aside, it’s a city that breathes. There’s a part at about two minutes into L.A. resident Pete Yorn‘s new single, “Precious Stone,” where the drums drop out and Yorn lets his guitar breathe as he “ooh”s over a delightfully amateur solo. “Precious Stone” feels like one of those let’s-make-moves-before-age-catches-us songs, with Yorn sweetly talking down a girl who “talks with such sincerity.” It’s a great song for September and the kids who go back to school feeling like they left a lot of business unfinished this summer. Yorn’s self-titled, Frank Black-produced fifth album is out September 27 via Vagrant Records.
“Precious Stone” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/PreciousStone.mp3
The Goodnight Loving has been making listeners wonder what year it is throughout its short-yet-prolific career, masterfully incorporating classic sounds and genres into each release. With its fourth album, the Milwaukee quartet takes on a musical time warp to beachy ‘60s garage pop, with twangy guitar riffs, psychedelic organs and vocal harmonies. We’re really not surprised to see lots of rock ‘n’ roll classics on this mix tape the guys made for MAGNET. The Goodnight Loving Supper Club is available now on Dirtnap Records.
“Doesn’t Shake Me” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/DoesntShakeMe.mp3
“The Pan” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/ThePan.mp3
Reigning Sound “The Bells”
This is from their newest album, which has very slowly become my favorite Reigning Sound record. The songwriting is as always top notch, but for me the interesting thing is the no-nonesense production. Most new music seems to be full of studio bullshit that hides the songs in delay and reverb, but I like how the vocals are right out front in this one. It’s very refreshing and kind of a brave thing to do this day and age. Video
Linda Ronstadt And The Stone Ponies “Different Drum”
A song written by Mike Nesmith, but I’ve always loved Linda Ronstadt’s version. I like the sunny combination of baroque pop and Linda’s country-style singing. Video
Thin Lizzy “Whiskey In The Jar”
Phil’s got a voice that can make you cry. When you combine that with harmonizing lead guitars, it sort of makes your chest open up. We didn’t have any Thin Lizzy on our last tour, which was a big mistake. Whenever the chips are down and you need to buck up morale, this’ll do the trick. Video
Thomas Function “Filthy Flowers”
A favorite current band that writes really great songs that are personal, funny, sad, etc., but they are also a really great rock ‘n’ roll band of the unique sort that makes comparison descriptions kind of useless. Video
Head On Electric “Unknown Song”
A live video from a Milwaukee band. They are belligerently out of control and heavy, but they mix it with a sort of folk sensibility and, at times, pretty melodies. Video
Beatles “Bad To Me”
This is the demo of a song that John Lennon gave to Billy Kramer. It is probably lacking a verse, as it’s a demo, but even at only 1:26, it is perfect. The intimate lo-fi atmosphere somehow makes this potentially vapid song touching. Video
Bruce Springsteen “No Surrender”
I’m sure Springsteen, and especially the Born In The U.S.A. record, is a deal breaker for many people. These people are terrorists. Video
Creedence Clearwater Revival “Effigy”
An overlooked and raw b-sider from a band that doesn’t need anything more written about them. This song is kind of meandering but menacing at the same time, like a drunk guy staggering around looking for trouble. Video
Gene Pitney “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence”
This song was written for the John Wayne movie of the same name. It was on a tape that my dad had and we would listen to in the family car, and it would just hypnotize me. I know now it is sort of a novelty-genre song, but that doesn’t soften its impact on me. Video
Link Wray “Hidden Charms”
Link Wray recorded his own music, sang with one lung and played the wildest guitar of all time. R.I.P. Video