Archive for the 'Music' Category
June 22nd, 2015 by Gerard Iribe
‘Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued’ is a film by director Sam Jones that accompanies the album ‘Lost On The River’ released by Harvest Records in November 2014. The project focuses on sixteen sets of lyrics that were written by Bob Dylan during the legendary ‘The Basement Tapes’ sessions in 1967 but only recently rediscovered. Under the auspices of producer T-Bone Burnett and with the approval of Bob Dylan an extraordinary collective of musicians was brought together to set the lyrics to music: Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens, Taylor Goldsmith, Jim James and Marcus Mumford. The film presents an exclusive and intimate look at the making of the ‘Lost On The River’ album set against the important and historical cultural backdrop of Bob Dylan and The Band’s original ‘The Basement Tapes’. Continue reading ‘Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued (Blu-ray Review)’
February 6th, 2015 by Gregg Senko
Over half a decade ago, Irish singer Liz Madden made her Why So Blu debut, discussing her then new album Going Home. Liz has since built on her successful resume’ of releases, with 2015 being the launch pad for her latest album, Legacy. With each new release, Madden always finds ways to subtly separate the feel of each work from the last. Legacy proves no different.
Continue reading ‘Liz Madden Returns with a ‘Legacy’’
January 16th, 2015 by Aaron Neuwirth
With the Oscars still on my mind, it was nice to see so much love for Richard Linklater’s Boyhood in the form of 6 nominations, which we at Why So Blu were also big fans of (Check out our reviews HERE and HERE). Now, Family of the Year’s hit song “Hero” has been cut to footage of the film, making for a nice little music video. Continue on to check it out for yourself!
k
l
Continue reading ‘BOYHOOD Cut To “Hero” Song For a Music Video’
January 10th, 2015 by Blu-ray Brian
Here’s something I stumbled across and read today. I could not contain my excitement over it and I just had to get the good news out to all our readers here. Horror sensation Rob Zombie is going to release a new live album, Spookshow International Live. Hell yeah! It was previously announced on his Facebook page where Rob goes on record saying: “It’s been 8 years since our last live album so we figured it was time for another. Actually we weren’t planning on it, but we recorded a few shows and they sounded really great so we thought “f#*k it” let’s get it out there.” The T-Boy Records album will feature 19 tracks, including fan favorites such as “Thunderkiss ’65,” “Dragula” and “Living Dead Girl” as well as live renditions of tracks from Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor and a cover of The Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop. Check out the track listing below as well as the front and back covers of the February 24th release, and of course, pre-order now! Continue reading ‘Rob Zombie To Release New Live Album: ‘Spookshow International Live’’
December 30th, 2014 by Blu-ray Brian
I really wanted to get a post in this year reviewing Machine Head’s 2014 effort, Bloodstone & Diamonds, but quite honestly time escaped me in the real world and I wasn’t able to quickly gather my thoughts and pull something together. I know. I suck. I often imagine what it would be like if I had kids and still had to work the lifestyle I do. I don’t think I could hack it. I’d probably self combust, but I digress because nevertheless we are here to briefly talk about one of my favorite metal bands, Machine Head, most notably their new music video for the album opener, “Now We Die.” For anyone that’s interested, they also have new tour dates on their website www.machinehead1.com here. So what do you say we let the symphony strings and Rob Flynn’s vocals take it away from here? Hell yeah! Kumbaya! Continue reading ‘Watch Machine Head’s Music Video For “Now We Die”’
December 30th, 2014 by Blu-ray Brian
“House on a Hill” finally gets a long overdue music video and I’m a bit late in getting this up, but if you didn’t know about it before this post, then this is news to you! So here it is. I have been waiting almost a year for a music video to be made from this Pretty Reckless song, “House on a Hill,” which I consider one of the best tunes released this year by any band, period. However, that’s just my belief. So here it is. An “official” music video sanctioning the beautiful, haunting track has been “officially” released for all to see. While it does not meet my high expectations, nor jive with the visuals I had for Taylor Momsen’s lyrics (although it’s still powerful in its own right), it’s great to at least have something out there because that means more and more people are now hearing this masterpiece everyday. Enjoy! Continue reading ‘The Pretty Reckless’ “House on a Hill” Gets a Music Video!’
December 29th, 2014 by Blu-ray Brian
Because of I’m such a big Lana Del Rey fan as of late and jonesing to see the Weinstein Company’s Big Eyes, I thought I would share this latest press release I received today. While Big Eyes is playing everywhere nationwide now, Lana Del Rey’s “Big Eyes” has been nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Song. Here’s hoping that she wins. In the meantime I wanted to do a trifecta for you by providing you below a quick synopsis of the film, the interview I speak of here in this paragraph and also the music video for Del Rey’s “Big Eyes.” In addition to that I’m also able to up the ante with a link here to Aaron Neuwirth’s theatrical review of Big Eyes. It doesn’t get any better than this! Enjoy! Continue reading ‘Lana Del Rey ‘Big Eyes’ Interview’
December 9th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Jeff Beck is undeniably one of the world s greatest guitar players. Technically brilliant, he is renowned for pushing musical boundaries and has excelled across many different genres from rock and jazz to pop and blues. Live In Tokyo was filmed at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Japan on April 9th this year. These Japanese dates were the first to feature Jeff Beck s new backing band of Jonathan Joseph (drums), Nicolas Meier (guitars) and Rhonda Smith (bass) and the setlist includes some material from his new, as yet unreleased, studio album. In contrast to Beck s previous visual releases, both filmed in small clubs, Live In Tokyo is filmed in a major concert arena and has a very different, more expansive feel. Jeff Beck is a true guitar legend and this show captures him at his very best. Continue reading ‘Jeff Beck: Live in Tokyo (Blu-ray Review)’
November 22nd, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
From The Vault is a new series of live concerts from The Rolling Stones archive which are getting their first official release. ‘Hampton Coliseum Live In 1981’ is the first title in this series. The Rolling Stones American Tour in 1981 was the most successful tour of that year taking a then record $50 million dollars in ticket sales. The tour was in support of the critically and commercially successful ‘Tattoo You’ album. There were fifty dates on the tour which ran from Philadelphia at the end of September through to Hampton, Virginia on the 18th and 19th of December. The show on December 18th, which was also Keith Richards birthday, was the first ever music concert to be broadcast on television as a pay-per-view event. The footage has now been carefully restored and the sound has been newly mixed by Bob Clearmountain for this first official release of the show. Continue reading ‘The Rolling Stones: From the Vault – Hampton Coliseum (Blu-ray Review)’
October 27th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
This Special Edition of Songs From Tsongas contains two different concerts from Yes 35th Anniversary Tour in 2004, the last tour by the band to feature the classic line-up of Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. Part One contains the whole of the concert from the Tsongas Arena in Lowell, Massachusetts. This epic show features a brand new stage set by legendary designer and Yes collaborator Roger Dean and the setlist features tracks from across the band s career including an extensive acoustic section (tracks 11 18) and some tracks that have rarely been performed live. Part Two contains 70 minutes of highlights from a very different concert on the same tour filmed at Estival in Lugano, Switzerland. This outdoor concert sees a stripped down stage and full on rock versions of the acoustic tracks from Tsongas whilst the crowd wield a multitude of umbrellas against the pouring rain, which is clearly not preventing them having a great time! Continue reading ‘Yes: Songs From Tsongas – 35th Anniversary Concert (Blu-ray Review)’
September 27th, 2014 by Brian White
Back in April, I penned a “pretty” extensive review of an album that dropped this past March, Going To Hell, which is still one of my favorites of the year. Coincidentally, that review can be found its glorious entirety here. Since then I have been keeping a close eye on Taylor Momsen from her authoring of critical reviews on each episode of the final season of HBO’s True Blood on popcrush.com to her beach, tie-dye infused music video for the tune “Messed Up World (F’d Up World)” that lacks that now infamous anchored cross that adorns her body (and points down to her you know what) in the video for “Heaven Knows,” gunfire and cigarettes, but on the plus side it does have one helluva classic hot rod red Mustang convertible in it. I don’t know about you, but that’s sexy enough for me. And quite honestly, no opening paragraph on a story about Taylor’s band, The Pretty Reckless, would ever be complete without mentioning my never-ending love and affinity for track number four, the haunting “House on a Hill.” I swear I can workout and write non-stop to that track on a continuous loop, but I digress. Continue reading ‘The Pretty Reckless Live at Emo’s Austin (Concert Review)’
September 27th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
1974 was a year of high achievement for Queen. They had their first two hit singles, ‘Seven Seas OfRhye’ and ‘Killer Queen,’ released two albums, ‘Queen II’ and ‘Sheer Heart Attack,’ and completed major tours across the UK, America and Europe. In the UK, they performed three sold-out shows at the legendary Rainbow Theatre in London’s Finsbury Park, one in March on the ‘Queen II’ tour and two in November following the release of ‘Sheer Heart Attack’. To mark the 40th Anniversary of these shows, fans can finally enjoy Queen ‘Live At The Rainbow 74’, lovingly restored, re-edited, mixed and digitally mastered and including much previously unseen footage. The main show is from November with, as a bonus, the only surviving footage from the March show. This is Queen dazzling their audience with an unforgettable show delivered with a skill and confidence which belied their youth. Continue reading ‘Queen: Live at the Rainbow ’74 (Blu-ray Review)’
September 17th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Eagle Rock Entertainment are about to deliver a double dose of Rolling Stones this November, with the debut of the new series of live concerts: From The Vault. From The Vault will unveil live concert films from the
Rolling Stones archive, now receiving their first official release. The footage from these concerts have been carefully restored, and the sound has been newly mixed by Bob Clearmountain.
From The Vault – Hampton Coliseum – Live In 1981 will be released simultaneously on SD Blu-ray, DVD/2CD, DVD/3LP, DVD, and Digital Formats on
November 4, 2014 [Pre-book Order Date October 10, MSRP $17.98 SD Blu-ray, $29.98 DVD/2CD, $44.98 DVD/3LP, and $TBA DVD].
From The Vault – L.A. Forum – Live In 1975 will be released on DVD, DVD/2CD, DVD/3LP, and Digital Video on
November 18, 2014 [Pre-book Order Date October 24, MSRP $TBA DVD, $29.98 DVD/2CD, $TBA DVD/3LP].
Continue reading ‘The Rolling Stones ‘From the Vaults’ Series Unveiled this November!’
September 17th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Fans of THE DOORS will savor the news about the November 11 street date of a never-before-released documentary film produced by the band. Titled Feast of Friends, the intimate and rare look at the explosive rock band is, after 45 years, finally being released. Shelved due to lead singer Jim Morrison’s legal issues, the uncompleted film was only ever seen at a few film festivals and was never completed. Eagle Rock Entertainment and Doors Property, LLC have painstakingly remastered the audio and video and compiled bonus footage as well as an historic British documentary called The Doors Are Open. Continue reading ‘The Doors: ‘Feast of Friends’ on Blu-ray & DVD November 11th!’
August 25th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Jethro Tull’s famous concept album ‘Thick As A Brick’ was originally released in 1972 and featured one continuous track spread across two sides of an LP telling the story of a young boy called Gerald Bostock. 40 years later in 2012, Jethro Tull’s founder and leader Ian Anderson created ‘Thick As A Brick’ 2: Whatever Happened To Gerald Bostock? . Following this release Ian Anderson took both albums on the road to perform the complete story of Gerald Bostock and this concert from the tour was filmed in Iceland. The show combines music, video screens and mime to bring Gerald s tale to life as never before and create the definitive presentation of ‘Thick As A Brick’. Continue reading ‘Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson: Thick As A Brick – Live In Iceland (Blu-ray Review)’
July 29th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
With an unchanged line-up stretching back to 1969 and global album sales in excess of 50 million, ZZ Top continue to delight fans around the world with brilliant live concerts and great music. The band has made a number of visits to Montreux over the years, and this concert from the 2013 Festival is undoubtedly one of their finest live performances. The set list blends tracks from early seventies albums such as ‘Tres Hombre’ and ‘Fandango’ through their eighties blockbuster period with Eliminator and Afterburner and up to their most recent release and return to their blues roots with ‘La Futura’. The middle section of the concert features a jazz-blues tribute to the late Montreux Festival founder Claude Nobs with guest appearances by Mike Flanigin on Hammond Organ and Van Wilks on guitar. ZZ Top, the ‘lil’ ol’ band from Texas , are rocking the blues as strongly as ever!
Continue reading ‘ZZ Top: Live At Montreux 2013 (Blu-ray Review)’
July 28th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
A celebration of both the unifying power of music and pursuit of the American dream, Made in America is an all-access backstage pass to the one-of-a-kind festival created by rap superstar Jay Z, and directed by Academy Award® winner Ron Howard. Featuring remarkable performances and fascinating backstage interviews with many of todays biggest music stars, Made in America shows how one giant celebration of music can change peoples lives.
Continue reading ‘Made in America (Blu-ray Review)’
June 17th, 2014 by Gerard Iribe
Sunday March 31, 1974 is a landmark date in the history of rock music. It is now celebrated in the multi format release of a rare recording made at legendary London venue The Rainbow, of a concert by a then up-and-coming band called Queen. Few who turned up for that iconic performance could have predicted they would go on to become arguably the world’s best and most successful rock group, although many more may have suspected it after this stunning show. Among the unique material contained in this release are over a dozen tracks never previously released on any official Queen live album. The release will come in CD, Vinyl and standard DVD or SD Blu-Ray formats available as standard releases or special limited edition sets as well as digital formats. Continue reading ‘‘Queen: Live at The Rainbow ’74 ‘ on Blu-ray & DVD September 9th!’
