Wilco's "A Ghost is Born"

From chromewaves.net a preview look at the new Wilco CD cover "A Ghost is Born". Rumor is that W I L C O World will have available as a stream.

You can listen to a MP3 of 'At Least That's What You Said' on NPR's
All Songs Considered Spring Release Preview 2004 program. While you're there, you might want to check out samples of Lou Reed's latest CD Animal Serenade and the song "The Raven". Very Poe-ish. Also, Patti Smith's CD Trampin' and the song "Jubilee".

Facing the music

A wide ranging article in Chicago's Sun Times on March 28, 2004 by JIM DEROGATIS. Derogatis interviewed 20 music industry players from radio stations, labels, music stores and concert promoters on the sorry state of music's future. Besides the demise of the CD, the future may not be so bleak.

Says Michael Yerke of House of Blues, the head talent buyer for Chicago's House of Blues maintains that the live music scene is stronger today than ever.

'We don't do arena shows, and there is a lot more risk at the arena level, but at our level, it's thriving,' Yerke said.

'People are spending more and more time with video games and on
the Internet, but you can't match that concert experience unless you are there. There is no way to duplicate being at a live show. No matter what you have on your computer or DVD, it's not the same, so I am optimistic about live music up to the theater [size] level.'"

Josh Rouse covers Neil's 'For the Turnstile's'

From Americana UK , a Live Review of Josh Rouse at Bush Hall, London, March 1st 2004 by Andy Riggs:

"Josh Rouse returned to London for two nights at the end of a tour promoting his excellent album from last year '1972'. After playing '1972' Josh raided his back catalogue and to complete the show he announced he was going to play a country song by Neil Young, and what a choice 'For the Turnstile's' from 'On the Beach'. An excellent night, at a great venue with one of today's best songwriters."

Cat Power's "You Are Free" - Sensitive sensibility not unlike Young

From musicangle.com on those complaining about the sorry state of today's music scene by Michael Fremer:

"I asked that guy at the party if he liked Neil Young's Harvest. 'Of course,' he relied, testily. 'Well then, ' I told him, 'do yourself a favor and pick up Cat Power's latest, You Are Free. The analogy was very rough, but Chan (pronounced 'Shawn') Marshall's (A/K/A 'Cat Power) introspective, sensitive sensibility is not unlike Neil Young's (or more to the point, Joni Mitchell's), then and probably now. On this, her latest album, and her first since 1998's Moon Pix (Matador Ole-286-1) to include original songs, Marshall exhibits a finely hewn folk/traditional sensibility but thoroughly modernized for contemporary ears. And if a few of the 14 songs don't quite make it, enough here is worthy of your attention. "

Thanks Bob!

Wilco Announces Tour Dates

photo by Zoran Orlic

From Americana UK News via Billboard:

Wilco's first 2004 show will be 21 in Columbia, Mo. Beyond previously announced appearances at the Superfly During Jazzfest series and the Coachella and Bonnaroo festivals, Wilco will also play late April shows in Austin, Texas, Santa Fe, N.M., and Flagstaff and Tucson, Ariz., with support from Giant Sand's Howe Gelb. The lone international date at present will come May 28 at the Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona.

Wilco's next studio album, 'A Ghost Is Born,' is due June 8. With Leroy Bach's departure, Wilco has two new members: Pat Sansone, on keyboards and guitar and Nels Cline on guitar.

2004 Greendale Concert Reviews

Reviews of Neil Young and Crazy Horse concerts continue to rolll in. Check out reviews for Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Milwaukee, Chicago, Moline, Detroit and Radio City Music Hall, New York City on Greendale Concert Reviews in 2004 page.

Also, see Greendale photos page.

Record industry losing grip

From Chicago Tribune by Greg Kot an article on the continuing demise of the traditional record industry:

"Josh Bernoff, a Forrester Research analyst, told music and technology executives at the MidemNet conference last week in Cannes, France, that music downloads will make CDs obsolete in the next five years, and predicts that half the companies selling digital songs online will fail this year. Companies such as Wal-Mart, AT&T and Coca-Cola, which introduced an online download service in Great Britain a few weeks ago, are rushing to sell digital tracks that can be played on computers, cell phones and other portable devices. The mantra in the music business has become "dirt-cheap storage and the ability to access and play any type of music anytime, anywhere," in the words of Mike Dreese, the CEO and founder of Newbury Comics, a New England record-store chain.

That's why some industry insiders see a much longer shelf life for compact discs than Forrester's Bernoff predicts. Flanders notes that Columbia House was still selling $5 million a week last year in physical music product. Apple's much-touted iTunes store, which allows consumers to download songs for 99 cents, made $30 million for the entire year. What's more, CDs are morphing into something more substantial and consumer-friendly. Performers such as Neil Young and Metallica are beginning to stock their CDs with bonus material -- DVDs, access to songs and videos at Web sites, documentary footage -- in an effort to entice fans to buy the physical disc instead of downloading the songs."

Guess it's just a matter of time...

Jesse Malin covers Young's "Helpless"

From Americana UK , a Live Review of Jesse Malin and Duplex Gage at the Camden Barfly, London, 28th February 2004 by Patrick Wilkins:

"This show was basically Jesse preaching to the converted before the big push. There was also a spirited cover of Neil Young's 'Helpless' which suited Jesse's voice perfectly."

My Morning Jacket: Neil Influences

photo by Rachel Zahumensky

From BostonHerald.com article (a little old but still good) by Larry Katz :

"Critics hear elements of the Flaming Lips, Radiohead, Wilco, Mercury Rev, the Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even a touch of Glen Campbell in My Morning Jacket. They call the band's music alt-country, psychedelic pop and Southern rock - and that was before My Morning Jacket added a dash of Memphis soul by using horn players recorded at Willie Mitchell's legendary Royal studio on two tracks on 'It Still Moves.'

But, mostly, My Morning Jacket, with its deliberate tempos, emotionally direct guitars, and especially James' yearning high voice, gets compared to the eternally cool Neil Young. Not that that pleases James.

'I don't really think I sound like Neil Young,' he protests. 'It's almost like slapping me in the face. I mean, I love Neil Young. He's one of the greatest artists to ever walk the face of the earth. But at the same time I work very hard at my music. I put all my heart and soul into it. Whether you like it or not doesn't matter. Eventually people will (expletive) stop saying I sound like Neil Young and acknowledge the fact that I sound like myself.'

'It Still Moves' has a lot more going on besides Neil Young moments. The opener, 'Mageetah,' could pass for a baroque '60s pop gem produced by Brian Wilson during his LSD phase. 'Dancefloor' recalls the Band. 'Golden' rides a 'Gentle On My Mind' groove while waxing poetic about rock life on the road. But along with showing plenty of range, My Morning Jacket's songs exude a touching vulnerability that makes critics reference Neil Young and makes James think of watching the Muppets. "

See MMJ 9:30 Club, Washington, DC concert review for more. Also, see more on Neil Young's music and sound.