http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Wed, 1 Feb 2006 08:37:59 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/02/01/083759.php ThrasherLast week the concert film Neil Young: Heart of Gold premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It received a standing ovation at the conclusion and the consensus reaction thus far is that it is "a lasting, sensational film that makes you feel like you're sitting in a concert." Actor Robert Redford, the Sundance Festival director, attended the premiere along with many other celebrities. The film is directed by Jonathan Demme and was shot in Nashville, TN last August. Demme introduced the film along with Neil Young, wife Pegi and son Ben who attended. From Sundance Movie Reviews: "Being at the world premiere of Neil Young: Heart of Gold was almost like attending one of the concerts in the movie. The audience clapped and cheered riotously after every song, paying homage to Young, who was in attendance with his family and members of his band."From the Los Angeles Times: "Director Jonathan Demme says he visualized 'Heart of Gold,' which includes such Young classics as 'I Am a Child,' 'Old Man' and 'Harvest Moon,' as 'a dream, an ongoing dream of country music. This concert is going on in Neil Young's head, it's his dream of his favorite places and songs.'"From The Hollywood Reporter: "This smart, aesthetically understated concert film from Jonathan Demme will transport Young's legions of baby boomer fans back to the future, as 1969 re-invents itself in 2005 for Young."Eric D. Snider's Blog » Sundance Diary: Day 5: "Turns out it's a pretty fantastic film. Demme's style is unobtrusive: He lets Young and his band do their thing, and he stays out of the way. There are no tricky camera angles or cool editing tricks. It's mostly long, unbroken takes and plenty of close-ups. The movie lets Young's songs speak for themselves. And what songs they are! How have I not paid attention to this before? Some of the songs are angry; some are sad; some are wistful; one is even about an old hound dog he used to have. But he sings all of them with conviction and heart. The lyrics are often poetic but rarely pretentious. The musical performances are world-class but not showy."The film is scheduled to open on February 10. More on the filming of "Prairie Wind", the film's namesake song "Heart of Gold" and other Neil Young movies. Music43014@blogcritics.org Wed, 1 Feb 2006 08:37:59 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/12/29/133947.php ThrasherAs 2005 draws to close, it's time for that insufferable ritual -- Top 10's. Why do we do it? To justify re-reviewing our insufferable reviews? Or to see whose list contains the most obscure albums? Whatever the reason, without further adieu, here are some favorites and the Top 10 CDs from Thrasher's Blog:1. "Z" - My Morning Jacket MMJ's "Z" is definitely not causing Zzzzzz's. While Jim James doesn't like to be compared to Neil Young, we still like him because he reminds us of Neil.2. Back To Me - Kathleen Edwards "Much of the disc stomps along like Tom Petty touched by some of Neil Young's ragged glory, but Edwards is often at her best when she's at her most subdued."3. "Okemah & The Melody of Riot" - Son Volt Jay Farrar seems to be channeling Woody Guthrie's spirit. 4. "Kicking Television" - Wilco Another example of why live music is better. 5. "Countryman "- Willie Nelson OK, so Willie doing reggae is not Bob Marley, but it's still fun to try.6. "Live at the Fillmore" - Lucinda Williams Influenced by Neil Young's Live Rust with minimal talking and excellent live recording fidelity. 7. "Cold Roses" - Ryan Adams & The Cardinals"The results suggest what Whiskeytown might have sounded like if its brand of alt-country had absorbed the influences of Neil Young and the Grateful Dead and had replaced its fiddle with steel guitar." 8. "Forgotten Arm" - Aimee Mann A concept album in the best of traditions, from music, vocals, down to art design. Sort of like Greendale on the dark side of town.9. "Howl" - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club A big departure from previous work. And that's a good thing. Totally uncategorizable music. Johnny Cash meets Jesus & Mary Chain. Acoustic, rockabilly, feedback, goth American rock. I don't know what it is, but I like it. 10. "Devils & Dust" - Bruce Springsteen [The song] " 'All I'm Thinking About", seems to be either a homage to or parody of Neil Young. It features a rough approximation of Young's wobbly falsetto and lyrical references to his doomy 1970s track 'Don't Let It Bring You Down', allied to the sort of carefree Chuck Berry chug that the perennially troubled Young couldn't muster if you put a gun to his head." "Prairie Wind" - Neil Young And for #11? A Neil Young album -- just because I happen to enjoy his music.Also, see The Top 10 Concerts of 2005 from Thrasher's Blog and Neil Young in 2005: A Look Back at the Year of The Neil. Music41579@blogcritics.org Thu, 29 Dec 2005 13:39:47 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/25/123859.php ThrasherWilco's Jeff Tweedy compiles his list of essential live albums and puts Neil Young's "Live Rust" as #1 in the December issue of HARP Magazine.Tweedy says of Neil Young's "Live Rust": "There's not that much Neil Young that I'm not into. But "Powderfinger" on this -- he's on fire. The film was pretty miserable, but, man, the music is in its own place. I just saw him at Farm Aid. He did "Southern Man" with the Fisk University gospel choir. It was a fucking perfect performance of a classic song, and maybe my favorite moment ever of seeing live music. There was a lot of shit going on, things that seemed to fuel his anger. And an angry Neil Young, that's pretty unbeatable. That's kind of what that "Powderfinger" sounds like to me. He's invested himself in some of the fury of it."More on Neil Young's Rust Never Sleeps tour.Also, see Wilco and Neil Young at Farm Aid 2005 - concert review and photos.And more on the song "Powderfinger"'s lyrics and "Southern Man".Here's Tweedy's full list:1. Neil Young - Live Rust 2. Allman Brothers Band - Live at the Fillmore East 3. MC5 - Kick Out the Jams 4. Albert Ayler - The Complete Live in Greenwich Village 5. Richard Pryor - Wanted: Richard Pryor Live in Concert 6. Miles Davis Quintet - The Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel 7. Johnny Cash - At Folsom Prison 8. James Brown - Live at the Apollo Vol. II 9. Pink Floyd - Ummagumma 10. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. IV: The Royal Albert Hall ConcertMore on Neil Young on Harp Magazine Cover - December 2005. Music40057@blogcritics.org Fri, 25 Nov 2005 12:38:59 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/21/115930.php ThrasherIt's always extremely gratifying whenever someone follows their heart, dreams and visions.Author Kevin Chong's new book Neil Young Nation is a dream come true of a Neil Young fan's personal journey . Specifically the book's sub-title: "A Quest, an Obsession (and a True Story)" captures Chong's adventure to discover what it really means to be a Neil Young fan. And here's his story.Kevin writes in Neil Young Nation on Neil's music: "He bristles against expectations; he chooses spontaneity over precision, passion over perfection. This was exactly what I wanted in my life, in my art. What Young called reckless abandon." Crisscrossing the continent, he follows the route that led Young to become a music legend. He visits Winnipeg, where Young formed his first band, the Squires; Omeemee, Young`s childhood home; Los Angeles, where Young became a rock star; and many more of Young`s former haunts. He meets rabid Neil fans, talks to people who knew Young as a kid, and puzzles over Young`s strange, sometimes contradictory pronouncements.From The Toronto Star review by Patricia Robertson: "It's a terrific account of one writer's wavering self-confidence, resurrected creativity and enduring passion. Neil Young Nation confirms Chong's instinctive decision to embrace Neil Young's example and head out on the open road - instead of simply assuming the fetal position in his Vancouver apartment." From a highly coveted New York Times Book Review By GARY KAMIYA: "Hero worship is kind of embarrassing. We've all groveled before various idols, and if we're lucky we never entirely lose whatever was real in our goo-gooing. But we usually don't talk about it in public once we grow up. The Beatle fan magazines, the posters of Joe Montana or Diana Rigg, the volumes of Ayn Rand - these things don't age well in the cask. Being starry-eyed is suitable for sonnet writers and teenagers, but at some point most of us either transform our infatuation into something deeper - like scholarship or obsession - or kiss it goodbye.Kevin Chong, the author of "Neil Young Nation," falls somewhere between adolescent awe and mature appreciation. He's a modest and savvy enough guy that one suspects he doesn't really think that driving all over North America retracing the steps of a mythical Neil Young road trip is going to yield some kind of epiphany. But he does it anyway. The result is like watching an endless home movie in which a not very close friend visits all the houses he grew up in." In a review in Las Vegas City LifeBY TOD GOLDBERG: "Rust never sleeps, Neil Young sang, and in the case of Chong's book, that's never more apparent. Chong's narrative invariably slips into the ether of road song sentimentality -- visions of long, twisting highways and Neil Young on heavy rotation would do that to any writer -- yet his engaging voice, casual humor and fine ability to conjure character from the people he meets along the way (everyone from Young family friends, to wheelchair-bound tribute band drummers, to a woman who made the original hearse trip from Canada to America with Young himself) manages to pull Neil Young Nation from a point of obvious reverence to something close to understanding both of the book's subject and the author himself. When Chong finally encounters Young -- albeit on stage at Farm Aid -- the author finally is able to make the connection, that to be forever young is possible in song, but not always in life. ... Neil Young Nation is love letter from a fan to his idol, and in the end that truth, that realization, carries the book beyond its sentimentality and makes it an endearing look at two artists." From a review in the Calgary Herald by Chris Ewart (19 November 2005): "Neil Young Nation serves as a lesson in having a good time, and also finishing what one starts. The affable Chong found following Young's road map to youthfulness a cathartic experience."There's this great little quote from Scott Young (Neil's father and a writer) that's in the book. What Neil learned from Scott was to 'lay yourself bare' and keep things simple. To choose passion over precision. That's a very important lesson."Chong is currently working on a second novel, and wants to write another book involving a road trip so he can take his friends along again. Let's hope Young figures in somehow, as Chong proves the man is far too important to leave by the side of the highway."Neil Young saved me from being an accountant or lawyer, so in a way, he saved my life." More on Kevin Chong Launches "Neil Young Nation" in Winnipeg, other books about Neil Young and music. Books39850@blogcritics.org Mon, 21 Nov 2005 11:59:30 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/11/12/010707.php ThrasherAs hard as it might be to believe, the guy who sang "you can't be 20 on Sugar Mountain", will turn 60 this Saturday, November 12.And what a year for Neil. There were some definite highs and frightening lows. Most importantly, Neil is still here and making music.During 2005, Neil had quite a few memorable moments:- Neil suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent successful surgery,- Neil lost his father Scott Young, renowned Canadian journalist,- inducted The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,- concluded the telecast for the Live 8 Benefit to "Make Poverty History"- recorded and performed "Prairie Wind" in Nashville for the upcoming Jonathan Demme film,- performed on "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" and MTV's React Now telethons to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims, - musical guest for entire week on the Conan O'Brien TV Show, and- hosted and performed to benefit Farm Aid and the Bridge School .So another busy year.So if you want to celebrate with other Neil fans, here's a few happenings:- London Celebration Fest,- Neil Young Day in Rome, Italy,- Japan Neil Fest Special - Osaka- The Rust Never Sleeps Tribute Band in Brookline, New Hampshire, and- radio stations around the world plan broadcast tributes (see comments), including Rust Radio, which will be playing a mix of Bridge School Benefit 18 (all artists), 19 (Neil's set) and Farm Aid 2005.Long May You Run, Neil!Drop Neil Young a birthday wish. Music39431@blogcritics.org Sat, 12 Nov 2005 01:07:07 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/09/27/120420.php ThrasherWith all that has happened to Neil over the past year or so, it is no wonder that critics are zeroing on these incidents as way of explaining the motivations and intentions of "Prairie Wind". Whether it was the passing of the mother of Neil's first son (Carrie Snodgress), the death of Buffalo Springfield bass player (Bruce Palmer), the loss of his father (Scott Young), or surgery for a brain aneurysm, needless to say, the man has stared death in the face.And Neil's response? Listening to "Prairie Wind", we hear a man who has lived a thousand lives and yet seems ready to live another thousand.Reviews have been rolling in for Neil Young's newest album "Prairie Wind" and mostly positive. In addition, the CD is doing very well in the sales department -- currently ranked as the #1 top seller on Amazon.com after fluctuating around #2, #3, #4 over past several days behind Paul McCartney and Barbra Streisand, no less?! While much of the album has been politely characterized as "Neil-lite", undoubtably there are songs destined to have legs that will carry them many years forward. The most obvious song to nominate to the pantheon is the CD's final song: "When God Made Me". Without putting too fine a point on it, how can a man asking 10 questions provoke so much discussion?Well, only Neil Young.And so we bring you a few critic's comments. From the Edmonton Sun review by ANGELA PACIENZA: "Prairie Wind is a throwback to Young's country-tinged Harvest and Harvest Moon days, which should please a significant contingent of his fan base.The sound gives the weighty songs a gentleness entirely appropriate for an album where Young tenderly recalls his upbringing - the Prairie landscape creeps into at least four of the 10 tracks, including the current radio single The Painter. Vivid memories of the farmhouse where he was raised and the ukulele given to him one Christmas by his father shine through on Far From Home." From Music OMH review by Tony Heywood: "Fighting fit he may now be, but the gentle tapping of the Grim Reaper's scythe echoes throughout Prairie Wind.From the opening finger picked guitar that ushers in "Painter" it's clear that Young is in a reflective state of mind. When he hits the beautiful high notes singing "it's a long road behind me, it's a long road ahead" and the harmonies unfurl around an aching pedal steel it's enough to melt you heart. The pedal steel guitar playing on the whole record is breath taking. It surfaces again on Here For You and the broken lament of Falling off The Face of the Earth. The texture, the pure ache, adds a timeless feel to the material. It dips them in sliver plated melancholia and wraps them tightly in a warm embrace.The heavy trademark guitars that Young does so well arrive on the corrosive No Wonder. He has the talent of King Midas in reverse; taking golden melodies and then tarnishing them in thick charcoal angst. This is a complement. Few have the balls to wreck a melody the way Neil Young does. It starts so gently, a fragile guitar figure, fresh as a spring morning flickers softly through the verse, then down swoops the power chords, spinning blasts of noise across the song. The added bite is unleashed through the dual pronged attack of acoustic and electric guitars. The solo at the end sounds like the gates of heaven swinging on rusty hinges. The lyric centres on the refrain "tick-tock, the clock on the wall, no wonder we're losing time". The changing instrumentation reflects this, its equal measures regret and anger.The ghost of the late great Jack Nitzsche is evoked on It's A Dream. The string-drenched ennui and plaintive piano recall the arrangements that he scored for Young on the classics After The Gold Rush and Harvest. The strings slowly climb, never overpowering the vocals, the melody spun like a spider web in the rain, its delicate nature glistening on each successive listen." Billboard's review by Ben French is rather unkind but manages to end positively: "The similarities to the former ["Harvest Moon"] are numerous here in chord and lyric. The strumming of "This Old Guitar" exactly matches that of the "Harvest Moon" title track, while the pensive sentiment of "Falling Off the Face of the Earth" calls to mind the syrupy, slightly repentant tone of "One of These Days." Even his Elvis homage, "He Was the King," has its antecedent in his deceased-pet tribute, "Old King," both lowlights of their respective albums. Still, Young's shaky voice remains endearing, particularly on pleasant opener "The Painter." Familiar, yes, but not unwelcome." In a review and interview in the U.K.'s Independent Neil Young: Gifted and Back" by Edward Helmore: "Whether you prefer your Neil Young rocking out with Crazy Horse in the style of Ragged Glory, in the drug-soaked utopian nihilism of On The Beach, as the country rocker of After the Gold Rush or, as here, as the singer-songwriter balladeer, Prairie Wind stands in good company with two of his acoustic-centred stand-outs, Harvest and Harvest Moon. The songs, he says, "are about my family, my family history, life in general, what's going at the moment". From a review on The Music Box by John Metzger: "What binds the pieces of Prairie Wind together, however, are Young's strikingly emotional lyrics, which arguably are the most revealing and intimate that he has penned since Tonight's the Night. Indeed, throughout the set, he links together the past, the present, and the future by invoking many of the images and themes that long have surfaced within his work, but what's different from many of his other outings is that, this time, the songs take on a greater resonance simply because of the context from which they sprang. Although there is a world-weary air of death, sadness, and mourning that hangs over the affair, there also are beacons of light that reflect within the hazy darkness of his fragmented memories." More Prairie Wind Nashville Memories From A Fan and Commentary on Nashville Ryman Concerts and "Prairie Wind" CD. Also, more Neil Young album reviews. Music36903@blogcritics.org Tue, 27 Sep 2005 12:04:20 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/07/21/155720.php ThrasherJay Farrar seems to be channeling Woody Guthrie's spirit on Son Volt's latest CD Okemah and the Melody of Riot. Much as Jeff Tweedy & Billy Bragg channeled Woody Guthrie on Mermaid Ave. in 1998, Okemah contains the spirit of folk legend Guthrie. Okemah, Oklahoma was the birthplace of Woody Guthrie, author of one the "most scathing American ballads ever written 'This Land Is Your Land' ".Okemah and the Melody of Riot is on DualDisc with a documentary Break Through The Lens on the flip side. The DVD has studio footage, an interview with Jay Farrar and a live performances of "Afterglow 61", "Atmosphere", "Medication" & "Joe Citizen Blues".From a Pitchfork Review by Stephen M. Deusner (via DiatribeR): "Okemah proves to be not just 13 protest songs, but 13 songs about protest songs. Farrar believes unquestioningly in music's ability to affect tremendous social change, soothe a nation, or stop an "endless war with no moral face." That idea still sounds as attractive and optimistic now as it was 70 years ago when Guthrie sang about the Dust Bowl, and although he doesn't seem to consider that perhaps reverent hindsight grants protest music most of its power, Farrar wants to resurrect that musical populism as a weapon against the current administration."Over on SOUND THE SIRENS in a review by Luke Daniel Rush who is a little less fond of protest songs: "Farrar spends a fair amount of time grinding his rusty ax against that great immovable object known as the United States government, but after seven years on the sidelines and two contentious elections by the boards, you'd expect that he might have a missive or two tucked away in the coffers. It might have been a more noble artistic motion had not Farrar drawn such a high number at the Protest Song deli counter. Simply put, it ain't as fresh a topic as it used to be. For each pertinent lyric like "Piecemeal solutions will only leave scars / Bandages for nosebleeds," there's a simple, unveiled screed like "His daddy has a job in Washington / Wants to raise a Harvard son / Junior liked to let his hair down / Only trouble is, word gets around..." Fortunately, it becomes easy to revel in the power chords on "Jet Pilot" even as Farrar invokes silly lines like "everyone needs a hunting pal" and the well-worn "the revolution will be televised." Jay Farrar and Son Volt pick up on the resurgence of the good old fashioned American protest song similar to Green Day's "American Idiot" and Steve Earle's "The Revolution Starts Now!"And in review on EARVOLUTION by Morgan Clendaniel, he takes on the ghost of the legendary Uncle Tupelo and the spell it has cast on the "no depression" sounds' progenitors: "It's really not fair, at this point, to continue using Uncle Tupelo as a barometer of either Farrar or Jeff Tweedy's solo success. Let's just say this: Farrar has made an album with as much volume, and as much anger, as any Tupelo record. There are no snippets of "found sound" or studio tricks here. But, let's also note that Son Volt and Wilco are a lot closer in attitude and style than either Farrar or Tweedy would like to admit. But maybe now it's time for Farrar's music to get a closer look, after a near-decade of Wilco-madness. And with Okemah and the Melody of Riot, Son Volt should reclaim some of the spotlight that unjustly dwindled in recent years." More on Jay Farrar and Son Volt, Wilco, and Uncle Tupelo. Music32939@blogcritics.org Thu, 21 Jul 2005 15:57:20 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/06/27/173808.php ThrasherA beautiful summer evening on the historic Philadelphia waterfront, with two great bands - Wilco and My Morning Jacket and a bunch of music loving friends. It doesn't get much better.It was my first time seeing Wilco at an outdoor venue. Compared to the previous times I've seen Wilco at clubs like the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, the huge crowd and wonderful weather seemed to feed Wilco's energy. As a lovely mellow sun set directly behind the stage, Wilco opened with a surprising acoustic version of Woodie Guthrie's "Airline to Heaven" and just kept cranking. Everyone in the band was their usual tight self playing off one another's riffs and harmonies.Nels Cline's frenetic guitar playing on "Handshake Drugs," "At Least That's What You Said," and "I'm the Man Who Loves You" were simply phenomenal.The big surprise of the night was a sublime and semi-rare "Sunken Treasure" with a very different arrangement from the album. When Tweedy sang the lyrics, "I was maimed by rock & roll. I got my name from rock n roll", it seemed to touch everyone and be acknowledged by a loving crowd roar. Superb version. (Setlist below.)Here's what BigFox2 posted -- somewhat hyperbolically -- on Via Chicago: "I've seen McCartney from 5 feet away, Dylan from 20 feet, Sonic Youth from 5 feet, The Who twice, the list goes on and on, but without a doubt, last night's performance by Wilco was the greatest rock show I have ever been a part of. And while they played so many songs that I never thought I'd see them play live (like Sunken Treasure, Airline to Heaven, Monday, and Outtasite) and they were all so, so good, it was the synergy between the crowd and the band that made last night the tops for me...the crowd was so into it - every song. Last night, they were on in every way imaginable...they were funny, they were angry, they were soft, they were loud, but most of all, they were rockin', and it wasn't just them, the whole place was rockin' because of such a great crowd and such a great show! Thank you Wilco!" Jeff Tweedy was pretty funny when he realized that he could hear the bass thumps from Rock Lobster -- a dance club -- on the next pier over from Penn's Landing Festival Pier on the Delaware River.Tweedy comments: "It sounds like a shoe in a dryer!".Later, just before "Kingpin", Tweedy cracks about the next door dance club's sounding drifting over to their stage: "This is what we're gonna do and you all are gonna help me out... we're gonna fuck up their dance party. They're probably all high on designer drugs and all of that crap.. they won't notice." Jeff was in a really good mood throughout the night, but did go into rant mode about: "runaway brides and terry schiavo distracting us from real issues. So when I say 'how can I', I want you all to scream. The loudest, most profane scream you can scream. And I want you all to give the ugliest face you can... the face you make in the throes of your deepest orgasm. I'm gonna turn away because I don't want to see all of yours. And I don't want you all seeing mine." Wilco then blasted "Kingpin" out of the park.Other random notes included over 30 plus "Nothing"'s on "Misunderstood". Not vocal cord blowout "Nothing"'s. More just shouted. Nice mike twirl during "Hummingbird". And the asshole near us who requested "Kidsmoke" between every song. Please.As the band left the stage, Jeff said: "Thank you Philadelphia - you really know how to treat a band".My Morning Jacket opened for Wilco and really got things started. I guess the big surprise was that lead guitarist Jim James got a haircut. Last year when we saw My Morning Jacket at the 9:30 Club, James' hair was below his shoulders. This time, above the shoulders. So when Jim would crank and whip his head, rather than the ensuing hair windstorm obscuring everything, we could actually see his face and hands!MMJ played a great set, in particular, "Golden" was a fantastic jam. As the sun sank behind the stage, the entire band seemed to appreciate the big crowd for the opening act as they waved and walked off. Concert photos and setlist for Wilco & My Morning Jacket: Penn's Landing, Philadelphia, PA - June 23, 2005 Music31667@blogcritics.org Mon, 27 Jun 2005 17:38:08 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/05/03/175117.php ThrasherThirty five years ago, on May 4, 1970, an anti-war student demonstration at Kent State University, Ohio left four students dead, one paralyzed, and eight others wounded. The demonstration ended when the National Guard fired into the crowd of students. The shootings ended the lives of four students: Jeffrey Miller, Allison Krause, William Schroeder, and Sandra Scheuer. Shortly thereafter, Neil Young wrote what would become an anthem of a generation -- the song "Ohio" in memory of the "Four dead in Ohio". Recorded within days of the tragic killings with Crosby, Stills & Nash, the song has demonstrated staying power and is universally recognized in conjunction with anniversaries.Never before had a song gone so quickly from an event, to the radio, to becoming a soundtrack for the Vietnam War generation. When asked about releasing the song "Ohio", Graham Nash responded: "Four young men and women had their lives taken from them while lawfully protesting this outrageous government action. We are going back to keep awareness alive in the minds of all students, not only in America, but worldwide...to be vigilant and ready to stand and be counted... and to make sure that the powers of the politicians do not take precedent over the right of lawful protest." Jimmy McDonough writes in the Neil Young Biography "Shakey" about the lyrics and music of "Ohio": "In ten lines, Young captured the fear, frustration and anger felt by the youth across the country and set it to a lumbering D-modal death march that hammered home the dread." The events in Ohio seemed to mark the end of the Woodstock nation. From Song Facts: "Crosby once said that Young calling Nixon's name out in the lyrics was 'the bravest thing I ever heard.' Crosby noted that at the time, it seemed like those who stood up to Nixon, like those at Kent State, were shot. Neil Young did not seemed scared at all." For more on the song, the historic aftermath of its release, and a photo chronology, see Lyrics Analysis of Neil Young's song "Ohio".Also, see Blogcritics' Eric Olsen's Kent State, May 4 1970: Why We Will Not See a Draft. Music28899@blogcritics.org Tue, 3 May 2005 17:51:17 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/03/31/183157.php ThrasherAll Canadian music lovers' ears will turn towards Winnipeg this weekend for the upcoming Juno Awards on Sunday, April 3. The event has not been without controversary after the snubbing of hometown musical hero Randy Bachman. Fortunately, Bachman is back onboard and the weekend promises to be one to remember for Winnipeg music fans.So why is the music scene in Winnipeg hot? How have artists connected to Manitoba, Canada sold more than 100 million records world-wide?According to Randy Bachman, it is the cold weather itself which helped to create a hot Winnipeg music scene. In an interview in Macleans by STEVE LAMBERT, Bachman says: "Because of the climate . . . you're kind of six months underground in your basement. [The community clubs made it] pretty much like a little Liverpool. There must have been 150 bands from '62-'69 with hundreds of places to play - community centres, church halls. A big dance was the school gymnasium." Canadian music historian John Einarson, regarding the Winnipeg scene which spawned Neil Young, Randy Bachman, and Burton Cummings of The Guess Who, among others, said: "Winnipeg is regarded as having a very unique and special contribution to Canadian music." When Young was in Winnipeg in 1992, for his father Scott's induction into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame, biographer Jimmy McDonough writes in Shakey (via Winnipeg Free Press): "As we drove outside the city one day, across the endless prairie, I heard the lonesome clanking of Young's Harvest in my head. I felt a lot of Winnipeg in Neil." From a CTV report covering the Junos of an interview with longtime Neil Young fan Bill Laing on Young's Winnipeg hometown: " "I'm a huge fan to the point of what my wife considers obsessive," said Laing, who lives in Gimli, Man., and is a contributor to the fan website Thrasher's Wheat.He's keeping an ear to the ground in the hopes Young, who's career has spanned 40 years, might make a surprise stop at one of the local bars on Saturday night, but isn't holding his breath."If you know Neil's background you know he's evasive and elusive," said Laing, who purchased tickets to the Junos to ensure he'd get to see his idol in the flesh." Also included on the upcoming Juno Awards program are:- Tragically Hip - Randy Bachman - Simple Plan - Sum 41 - k.d. lang - Matt Dusk - Kalan Porter - Feist - k-os - Billy Talent - The Wailin' Jennys - Burton Cummings - Neil YoungTopping the 34th annual JUNO Award nominations with five nods is singer/songwriter Avril Lavigne. Canada's Queen of jazz, Diana Krall, earned the second most nominations with a total of four. Tied at three nominations each are Billy Talent, Celine Dion, Feist, k-os, Simple Plan, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Shania Twain. The list of artists receiving two nominations each includes: Bryan Adams, Keshia Chant�, Fefe Dobson, James Ehnes, Great Big Sea, Marc Jordan, Matt Mays, Bob Rock, Ron Sexsmith, Sum 41, Marielaine Thibert, Thornley and The Tragically Hip (who are also this year's Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductees. Canadian radio entrepreneur Allan Slaight will be honoured with the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award.More updates on the 2005 Juno Awards and the Winnipeg music scene. Music27561@blogcritics.org Thu, 31 Mar 2005 18:31:57 EST