Lampshade Music Blog

Don't Stop Believing: Legendary Rock Band Finds New Singer on YouTube

Some of you may already know of Arnel Pineda, the forty-one-year-old Filipino singer-songwriter who was discovered on YouTube by Journey’s lead guitarist, Neal Schon.  When Schon initially contacted Pineda offering to fly him to San Francisco to audition with his band, Pineda thought he was the recipient of a mean-spirited prank call.  Today, a year-and-a-half after their fateful conversation, Pineda stands as Journey’s apt but unlikely front man.  On June 3, 2008 Journey, with Pineda on lead vocals, released a two-disc album that featured both new songs and rerecorded classics.  The alum performed commercially and debuted at number five on the Billboard Top 200.  Fans of the “new Journey” praise the latest lead vocalist’s musical gusto and applaud the band’s multi-national composition, while critics cynically joust that Journey has become its own cover band, complete with a front man incapable of holding a candle to the vocal stylings of Steve Perry.  Take a look at the two music videos and decide for yourself:  Is Pineda’s voice a viable facsimile or does Steve Perry take the proverbial cake?

Decision 08' - The Music

If you haven’t been paying attention the last 18 months, the election season is upon us once again. And with all of the interest in the two candidates this time around, seemingly everything about them and their campaigns ends up under the microscope, including their campaign music.

The Republicans have always had a tougher time with this, as it’s no secret that the music industry tends to swing more liberal when it comes to the issues and candidates they support. In 1984, Ronald Reagan’s use of Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the USA” during his re-election campaign landed him a cease and desist from The Boss himself. Not to be outdone, George W. Bush’s campaign met a similar fate from Tom Petty in 2000 for using the classic “I Won’t Back Down,” a song which Petty played for Vice President Gore the night he conceded to Bush. 

As for the Democrats, their relationship with the music community has been a lot cozier. In 1992, Bill Clinton not only used Fleetwood Mac’s 1977 classic “Don’t Stop” throughout his presidential campaign, he also managed to reunite them to play it live at his 1993 inaugural ball. In 2004, Senator John Kerry took it a step further with the Vote For Change Tour.  Taking place in the last two months before the general election, the Vote For Change Tour enlisted such A-List talent as the Dave Matthews Band, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., and Pearl Jam to criss-cross swing states like Ohio, Florida and Michigan, playing to packed arenas and raising millions of dollars for the Presidential Campaign. And although Kerry’s presidential bid ultimately failed, the tour forever changed the way music and politics worked together.

This year’s campaign has proven to be no different, with an eclectic lineup of artists lining up to support Senator Obama’s campaign with star-studded private events (i.e., Barbara Streisand) and massive public concerts (i.e., Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Jay-Z, The Dead and the Allman Brothers).  In addition, the Black Eyed Peas will i. am created a music video on youtube that became an instant phenomenon, clocking in at over ten million hits online.

While Senator McCain has been received a little cooler reception from the artists he uses on the campaign trail (i.e., Heart, Jackson Browne) he does have the support of John Rich (of Big and Rich fame), who not only supports his candidacy, he even wrote his campaign song and played it at the Republican National Convention.

Regardless of who wins this coming election, we know we can always count on our candidates to use songs, images and music videos to connect with their supporters…whether the artists like it or not.

Barack Obama
Ben Harper – Better Way
Bruce Springsteen – The Rising
Stevie Wonder – Signed, Sealed, Delivered

John McCain
Heart – Barracuda (Gov. Palin’s theme song)
Abba – Take A Chance On Me
John Mellencamp – Pink Houses

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

The Evolution of The Killers

2004 was a pretty good year if you were a fan of indie rock. While Franz Ferdinand and Interpol each carved out a healthy hipster fanbase with their critically acclaimed albums, The Killers seemingly came out of nowhere with their stunning debut, entitled Hot Fuss. With a glammed-out mix of 80’s synth pop, and Las Vegas attitude, Hot Fuss scored four big singles and catapulted the band from a small club opening act to arena rock superstars in less than a year.

On their sophomore effort, 2006’s Sam’s Town, singer Brandon Flowers channeled his inner-Bono and Springsteen to create an album that was every bit as over the top as the city they came from…it was even recorded in the studio at the Palms Casino, which was no doubt a great source of inspiration when they weren’t recording. While many critics panned the album and some of their diehard fans cried foul, it was apparent from the opening drum roll of the title track that there was no Mr. Brightside Part Deux on this record.

Regardless, the band triumphed, selling out stadiums all over the world and headlining some of the biggest festivals on the planet, including 2007’s Glastonbury.   

So with their third proper release (entitled Day And Age) due in time for the holiday season, we can only imagine what the Killers have in store for us next. Check out their upcoming tour dates here, and the evolution of their sound below:

Hot Fuss (2004)

The Killers - All These Things That I've Done
The Killers - On Top

Sam's Town (2006)

The Killers - Sam's Town
The Killers - My List

Day and Age (2008)

The Killers - Human

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

CMJ 2008

Its almost that time of year, the CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival, the East Coast equivalent to Austin, Texas’ South by Southwest, begins October 21^st in New York City and goes until the 25^th. Last year over 100,000 fans, artists, filmmakers, and industry professionals crammed into some of New York’s tiniest clubs in the hopes of being among the first to hear the best emerging artists before they become household names.

Besides the live music showcases, CMJ’s Music Marathon and Film Festival includes parties, film premieres, panels on the music industry, mentoring sessions, and other special events. CSS and the Cold War Kids were catapulted into the mainstream shortly after their buzz-gigs in 2006, while in 2007, artists like MGMT, and the New Young Pony Club performed to packed crowds while the latter ended up scoring the coveted iPod campaign soon after with their song “Ice Cream.” For a full lineup of this years buzz bands, click here.

A Place To Bury Strangers - Ocean
Kid Sister - Pro Nails (Remix feat Kanye West)
The Dears - Ticket To Immortality
The Whip - Trash

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

Thievery Corporation

 

With their down tempo rhythms and world flavored beats, Thievery Corporation has been at the forefront of the electronic music scene for well over a dozen years.  In the last few years however, Thievery has become synonymous with the rare-groove sound that has made its way to the mainstream through various high-profile compilations and films, such as Zack Braff’s coming-of-age classic Garden State in 2004. These days, wherever there is an upscale lounge or dimly-lit dorm room, there is Thievery Corporation.

Luckily, the music hasn’t suffered.

On their new album, entitled Radio Retaliation (out September 23 on ESL Records), Thievery expands their sound as they pull from a more varied global landscape featuring new collaborators such as Nigeria’s Femi Kuti, Brazil’s Seu Jorge, India’s Anushka Shankar, and Slovakia’s Jana Andevska, among others.

Recorded in their hometown of Washington DC, the album is, according to Rob Garza, “a more overt political statement”. This is hardly surprising as the Thievery Corporation have a reputation for being socially conscious through their support of such causes like Doctors Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and Oxfam America. Earlier this summer, the group curated the Outernational Music Tour, which included the presence of representatives of the United Nations World Food Programme to educate the audience about the global food crisis.

For those of you who live to see the music you love live, the band will embark on an international tour with a 15 member live band kicking off October 10^th in Greece, but in the meantime here’s a sample of some of their classics.

Thievery Corporation - All That We Perceive
Thievery Corporation - The Hearts A Lonely Hunter
Thievery Corporation - The State Of The Union (Rewound)

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

Next Stop, London

   

Now that the final medals have been awarded and the smoke has cleared from the Closing Ceremonies of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing China, it’s time to look forward to the next Summer Olympic games in 2012.

The host city for the next big event has long been famous for its fashion, deep love/obsession with the Royal Family and of course, the lovable spy Austin Powers. But what's even more important to many is the rich musical history that can be traced back to the UK over the past five decades and how it has affected the rest of the world. The Rolling Stones, Beatles and The Who all became household names before jetting across the pond to super stardom, while the likes of Americans Jimi Hendrix and modern-day icons The Killers conquered the UK long before anyone in the U.S. even knew their names. And while we won’t know for another four years whether Michael Phelps can make it nine gold medals at the next Olympic Games, we can celebrate some of the legendary artists of yesterday and today the UK has brought us. God Save The Queen!

Coldplay - Lost (live)
Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen
Massive Attack - Hymn of The Big Wheel
Rolling Stones - You Don't Have To Mean It
The Libertines - Music When The Lights Go Out
Queen - Bicycle Race
The Clash - Spanish Bombs

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

Same As It Ever Was

For the first time in 27 years, former Talking Heads leader David Byrne has tapped long-time friend and producer Brian Eno (U2, Coldplay) to collaborate with him on his latest effort, entitled Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. Eno, fresh from the success of his collaboration with Coldplay, brings Byrne back to more of a commercial friendly sound with tracks like “Life Is Long” and “Strange Overtones.” Although the album has yet to receive a traditional release, it is available for download and physical pre-sale exclusively here.

As you may remember, Brian Eno was the driving force behind such Talking Heads albums as More Songs About Buildings And Food and Fear of Music before reaching the creative peak of their collaboration with 1981’s classic Remain in Light.Contrary to earlier reports, Eno will not be joining David Byrne on tour this fall, however you can check out the live show this fall which kicks off in Bethlehem, PA on September 16. Check the upcoming tour dates here for your city along with a pair of classic Talking Heads tracks from the Eno era and the new single from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today.

Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Talking Heads - Life During Wartime (Live)
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones

Purchase on: Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

Live Picks of The Week

Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors (MTV Session, 7-16-07)
Kings of Leon - Slow Night So Long (from Berlin, 7-1-07)
Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger (Acoustic from the BBC)
Dire Straits - Romeo and Juliet (from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, 8-5-85)
Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent (Live from MPR, 5-8-07)
Live - The Beauty of Gray (from MTV Unplugged, 2-15-95)
10,000 Maniacs - Like The Weather (from Los Angeles, CA, 6-3-93) 
The Zutons - Remember Me (Live at KCRW, 2004)

Zip: Live Gems

Eclectic Covers

Yep...it's true. All of these artists once started out in a garage somewhere belting out some of their favorite tunes like these guys above. Only they sound so much better now...

Adele - Last Night (Strokes cover)
Counting Crows - Caravan (Van Morrison cover)
Chris Cornell - Peace, Love & Understanding (Elvis Costello cover)
Lily Allen - Naive (Kooks cover)
Mick Jagger ft. Lenny Kravitz - Use Me (Bill Withers cover)
The Killers - Can't Take My Eyes Off You (Franki Valli cover)
Pearl Jam - The Kids Are Alright (The Who cover)
Sean Costello - Simple Twist Of Fate (Bob Dylan cover)

Zip: Cover Tunes

Sunday Funday Playlist # 1

         

Here's a great set of tunes that are perfect for Sunday Funday...so turn off your cell phone and enjoy. 

Billy Bragg - Waiting For The Great Leap Forward
Buchanan - The Sun Burns My Eyes
Coldplay - Strawberry Swing
Jack Johnson - Badfish Boss DJ
John Mayer - My Stupid Mouth (acoustic)
Pixies - Here Comes Your Man (acoustic)
Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (acoustic)
Weezer - No One Else (acoustic)

Zip: Sunday Funday!

The Black Ghosts

The Black Ghosts from the UK just dropped their self titled debut album this month, which is a welcome addition to the electronic music genre with the likes of The Presets, Cut Copy and Crystal Castles.  Formed in 2006, Theo Keating and Simon Lord had previously been in the bands The Wiseguys and Simian, respectively. The two met each other over the Internet and had only physically met after they had worked on a significant amount of material together. The guys describe their music as "perverse, personal pop,   a tendency that has its roots in both of the members early childhood. Keating was encouraged by his mother to watch horror movies at a young age; Lord's grandmother was considered psychic.

Here are a couple of the best tracks of this stunning debut: 

  The Black Ghosts - Anyway You Choose To Give It 
  The Black Ghosts - Until It Comes Again

Purchase on:  Amazon • Emusic • iTunes

Adele: The Next Amy Winehouse?

Having already been hailed by multiple critics as the "new Amy Winehouse," it is clear that soul singer/songwriter Adele (formally known as Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) has a lot of praise to look forward to in the near future. 

At just 19 years old, the London native has already received critical acclaim, becoming the very first recipient of the Critics Choice prize at this year's Brit Awards, which is an award given to the musical artist who is "most likely to make it big in 2008."

Adele - "Chasing Pavements"

Unlike many teenage singers in the spotlight today, Adele stands out in her refusal to collude with the media's unrealistic ideal of beauty.  "I’ve always been a size 14-16, and been fine with it," Adele told The Times. "I would only lose weight if it affected my health or sex life, which it doesn’t."

Adele - Tired
Adele - Right As Rain

Purchase on:  Amazon • Emusic • iTunes