Today's essential listening is a guy I'll probably take some heat for liking so much: Jason Mraz is some American dude from somewhere in that great nation, singing songs and reminding me of what would happen if Kevin Max(dc Talk), John Mayer and Jack Johnson got into a brawl and the winner got to make an album. And he's on Elektra Records, making him labelmates of Blindside. The album is called Waiting For My Rocket To Come, and I like it.
Some news from Blood & Ink Records, Virginia's finest: the debut from TenThirtyThree, Emergency! Emergency!, hits stores this week(RIGHT AS YOU READ THIS GO GO GO!); look for a song from said album on this month's Amp magazine sampler wherever you pick up magazines. And check out B&I's website; it's dope.
In some other dc Talk news, another of their triad, Michael Tait, has been invited by none other than Carlos Santana to head out on a European tour. That's nuts. [Relevant]
Due out May 11th, the new Shrek 2 soundtrack features stuff from Dashboard Confessional(that still blows me away, how big that guy and his guitar and stool got), Tom Waits, and a new song by Counting Crows called 'Accidentally In Love'. I wanna hear the new Crows!
Essential listening Part Two today is Sick of Change's last album, These Shattered Lives, which I finally got back from my boy Ryan over the weekend. In the vein of Rufio and early Slick Shoes, but with an out-and-out lyrical focus on God, this band is no more, but I love them still.
No mention of this show to date, but here you be: Every Time I Die are gonna destroy Babylon(317 Bank St.) May 15th alongside Evergreen Terrace and two other bands I can't remember offhand. It'll be a fun show, but I'm more stoked on Unearth wrecking the place June 7th. Yesh yesh y'all.
It's about friggin' time: Dillinger Escape Plan have begun recording their new album in forever, Miss Machine. It's due out in June, and guitarist Ben Ol' Boy has this to say about it: "Miss Machine encompasses everything that we are about, everything we have been through as a band and everything that is important to us. We have enjoyed touring these past couple of years, but it is now time for new Dillinger music to surface." Word. [hxc]
In anticipation of Flynn's upcoming solo album In Like Flynn(obviously), check out some music from the L.A. Symphony ringleader. Booooyaaaaaah. And something else from the same source: Feed magazine, one of hiphop's finest underground mags, is set to drop a new issue soon after their hiatus. Welcome back, say we.
Project 86, among their other upcoming endeavours, have a new website, designed by the folks at Asterik Studios, those artistic geniuses. We here at the ol' D have an interview with Asterik/Demon Hunter dude Don Clark coming up; watch for it. [buzzgrinder]
Perhaps my favourite song from Failure On, 'Death To Traitors' is getting the video treatment from Beloved. You'll know when it's online, because we'll tell you. [theprp]
Two guys who used to be in Further Seems Forever, vocalist Jason Gleason and touring guitarist Brandon Swanson, are putting together songs as we speak. Their band doesn't have a name yet though. So really, what we're saying is just heads up, not that they're amazing or anything. Whatever. [thescout]
Interesting bit here about a band call 911; they're from Medellin, Colombia, and their label, Two Many Records, hosted Calgary punks Belvedere when they rolled through. If the concept of a band from north American rolling through Colombia sounds a bit odd, believe it: Belvedere were the first. How 'bout that? CA-NA-DA! CA-NA-DA! Really, this newsbyte was about Belvedere, not 911. I bet 911 are a good band though. [punknews]
This band from Saskatchewan, Despistado, is getting a ton of press in the last couple weeks surrounding their debut album's release; check out a song called 'A Stirstick's Prediction' and hear for yourself.
1340mag has some new interviews and stuff up. This occurs about once a month or so, so this is an occasion to be sure. Articles include Decahedron and...Dexter Freebish? Holy CRAP! I remember my friend Caroline in Montreal raving about Dexter Freebish like YEARS ago! How 'bout that.
Posted by mike at April 26, 2004 01:44 PM