Rarebird's Rock and Roll Nest

In case you haven’t heard, the Irish alternative band My Bloody Valentine have self-released their long-awaited third album , titled m b v , earlier this month. They are selling it through their official site , using a Radiohead-like distribution model. This comes a full 22 years after their startlingly unique 1991 album Loveless , which is rightfully regarded as a classic of the alternative genre. The best way to describe that album is as baroque pop distorted through a Sonic Youth-like lens. It’s a creative and fascinating work. The new m b v is very similar in style, except that it usually sounds gentler, smoother, and less chaotic. One song, “New You”, is stylistically closer to the 1988 album Isn’t Anything . It’s great to actually, finally, have another My Bloody Valentine album to savor, especially one of respectable quality. However, it is slightly disappointing to hear this album covering the same basic territory as its 22-year-old predecessor, without breaking much new groun...

I read the news today, oh boy...the times are a-changin', and Rarebird isn't digging the changes. I know this post will make me sound like a whiny old dinosaur, but I feel a need to vent right now. I suppose this first item is not surprising, but to me, it's a bit saddening. Blockbuster Video is closing 300 more of its brick-and-mortar video stores, bringing the remaining total to about 500 nationwide. They aren't saying which stores will close as of this writing. But I have a bad feeling that the store near my home which has remained standing all this time will be gone soon, if not immediately. That entire company is evidently on borrowed time. I did a store search on the Blockbuster website to see if any others remained in my area, and there are only 3 other locations within 10 miles. They used to be everywhere! 1/26/13 Update: I've learned that the Blockbuster store in my neighborhood is indeed closing its doors. Thanks for the memories! Of course, I am...

I've taken care of one New Year's resolution: I've finally added a new Spotlight Album Review to my web site. The subject is Elliott Murphy's Aquashow album from 1973. This was the promising debut album from a Dylanesque singer-songwriter who was never able to achieve mainstream recognition, but who continues to record and perform 40 years later. Here is the page: http://rarebird9.net/aquashow.html

Radiohead's Thom Yorke recently provided Dazed & Confused magazine with 25 exclusive minutes' worth of unreleased solo material and remixes. The nine tracks have the type of hypnotic electronic and ambient sounds that we have come to expect from Mr. Yorke, definitely worth a listen for fans. Check it out on SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/dazedandconfused/exclusive-thom-yorke-mix/s-fj76Y Track Listing: 1. Cycles mk 3 -- Thom Yorke 2. You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry (unfinished rmx) -- Atoms For Peace 3. Mali: Kono, the Sacred BirdÃ≈ -- Mali Musicians 4. Proud Evolution (Thom Yorke 500quid rmx) -- Liars 5. I Don't Need An Excuse (unfinished) -- Thom Yorke 6. Bloom (treatments) -- Radiohead 7. Morning Shiver Down the Black Wood River -- Anstam 8. Give Up The Ghost (Thom Yorke rmx) -- Radiohead 9. The Grind ( Average Joe ) vs Unless ( Atoms For Peace )

Last week I received the fourteenth set of exclusive vinyl items offered to platinum members of Third Man Records’ Vault service. For those who are unaware, Third Man Records is the label owned by Jack White, who is the leader of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, and is now a solo artist as well. The Vault service promises to deliver exclusive vinyl-only records (one full-length album and one 7” single) to its platinum members every three months. According to the postal service, my package was sent on December 13th. I received it on the 17th. This fourteenth set of items contains a live double-LP by Jack White, and a 7-inch single containing three demos of songs which turned up in finished form on White’s 2012 solo debut Blunderbuss , which reached the #1 spot on the Billboard album chart and on some critics’ year-end lists. The third item in this package is a picture book by Alison Mosshart, singer from the Dead Weather and the Kills, titled Shark Infested S...

The day before this post was written was 12/12/12, the day a major all-star benefit concert was held at New York's Madison Square Garden to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Sandy. It was an amazing night. The Rolling Stones performed! The Who performed! Eric Clapton performed! Billy Joel came out of retirement! (Not that he ever really retired from performing). Baby boomer icons performed alongside heroes of Generation X. Bruce Springsteen sang two duets with Jon Bon Jovi. Roger Waters shared the stage with Eddie Vedder. And, most unpredictably of all, Paul McCartney stood in for the late Kurt Cobain as part of a Nirvana reunion! There was one unexpected pairing of Generation X and Y, when REM's Michael Stipe joined Coldplay's Chris Martin on stage for a performance of "Losing My Religion". And, unfortunately, there was also an overlong set from the egomaniacal Kanye West, who stuck out like a sore thumb. The big news was the Nirvana reunion. Nirvana surviv...

By now, you’ve probably heard plenty about how George Lucas has sold LucasFilm (and subsequently Star Wars ) to Disney, and that Disney now plans to make three new Star Wars movies. Do we hope or do we fear? Many fans are making dire predictions about what Disney will do to the series, but the new trilogy might just turn out fine. George Lucas will not be making them, but he has developed the storyline, and will serve as a consultant. The trilogy might be better off with scripts that are not written by Lucas (who is not known for being a good writer of dialogue), and the movies could be made well by different directors (for example, Irvin Kershner did an excellent job of directing The Empire Strikes Back in 1980). But there is also speculation that Disney has other Star Wars -related plans as well, including a TV series. (Disney also owns ABC). Now that may not be a good thing. Why do I say that? Because this idea brings back memories of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special f...

Last week I received the thirteenth set of exclusive vinyl items offered to platinum members of Third Man Records’ Vault service. For those who are unaware, Third Man Records is the label owned by Jack White, who is the leader of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, and is now a solo artist as well. The Vault service promises to deliver exclusive vinyl-only records (one full-length album and one 7” single) to its platinum members every three months. According to the postmark, my package was sent on September 26th. I received it on the 28th. This thirteenth set of items documents the very first public appearances by the White Stripes in 1997. The 7” single contains three songs which the duo performed at an open mic night that year, while the 12” LP contains their first full concert set from later that year. The three songs on the single, which is pressed in red vinyl, were recorded on July 14th, 1997 at an open mic night at the now-defunct Gold Dollar in Detroit...