Flaming Lips to Release 20th Anniversary Edition of Clouds Taste Metallic (jambands.com)

The Flaming Lips are planning to release Heady Nuggs: 20 Years After Clouds Taste Metallic 1994-1997 this November 27th.

The collection will mark the 20th anniversary of the Flaming Lips’ 1995 album and the release will include a reissue of the original record along with compilation albums...

Read more @ jambands.com

40 Years Ago: Electric Light Orchestra Unveil a New Lineup on ‘Face the Music’ (UCR)

For their fifth album, Face the Music, which came out in September 1975, Electric Light Orchestra changed things up quite a bit. Band members were replaced, a new recording studio was chosen and, most importantly, the focus was put squarely on the songs as opposed to being a symphonic concept piece like its predecessor, 1974’s Eldorado.

Read More of Michael Christopher's article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: 40 Years Ago: Electric Light Orchestra Unveil a New Lineup on 'Face the Music' 

Ryan Adams and Taylor Swift Talk 1989, Reveal They've Worked Together in Beats 1 Interview (Pitchfork)

Last week, Ryan Adams released his full-album cover of Taylor Swift's 1989. Today, Adams and La Sera guitarist Todd Wisenbaker (who contributed to the record) appeared on Zane Lowe's Beats 1 radio show to talk about the new record and how it came together. Midway through their chat, Swift herself called in to offer her thoughts...

Read more of Zoe Camp's article and listen to the interview @ Pitchfork

On the turntable this Sunday...Breakfast In America

Breakfast in America is the sixth album by progressive rock band Supertramp, released on 29 March 1979 by A&M Records.

Breakfast in America was recorded in 1978 at The Village Recorder in Los Angeles. It featured four U.S. Billboard hit singles: "The Logical Song" (No. 6), "Goodbye Stranger" (No. 15), "Take the Long Way Home" (No. 10), and "Breakfast in America" (No. 62). In the UK, "The Logical Song" and the title track were both top 10 hits, the only two the group had in their native country.^[4] Breakfast in America won two Grammy Awards in 1980, and holds an RIAA certification of quadruple platinum.
In France, the album is the biggest-selling English-language album of all time, and the third biggest seller overall.

Breakfast In America became Supertramp's biggest-selling album with more than 6 million copies sold in the US alone and was No. 1 on Billboard's Pop Albums Chart for six weeks in the spring and summer of 1979. The album also hit No. 1 in Norway, Austria, Canada and Australia. It was also their biggest album in the UK, reaching No. 3 (for five consecutive weeks) and remaining on the charts for exactly a year.

As with Even in the Quietest Moments..., Rick Davies and Roger Hodgson wrote most of their songs separately but conceived the theme for the album jointly. Their original concept was for an album of songs about the relationship and conflicting ideals between Davies and Hodgson themselves, to be titled Hello Stranger. Hodgson explained: "We realized that a few of the songs really lent themselves to two people talking to each other and at each other. I could be putting down his way of thinking and he could be challenging my way of seeing life [...] Our ways of life are so different, but I love him. That contrast is what makes the world go 'round and what makes Supertramp go 'round. His beliefs are a challenge to mine and my beliefs are a challenge to his."

This idea was eventually scrapped in favour of an album of "fun" songs, and though Davies initially wanted to keep the title Hello Stranger, he was convinced by Hodgson to change it to Breakfast in America. Hodgson commented later: "We chose the title because it was a fun title. It suited the fun feeling of the album." Due to the title and the explicit satirising of American culture in the cover and three of the songs ("Gone Hollywood", "Breakfast in America", and "Child of Vision"), many listeners interpreted the album as a satire of the US. Supertramp's members have all insisted that the repeated references to US culture are purely coincidental and that no such thematic satire was intended. Hodgson has described the misconception as a parallel to how Crime of the Century is often misinterpreted as being a concept album.

"Gone Hollywood" is the opening track of Breakfast in America. Written by Rick Davies, the song tells about a person who moves to Los Angeles in hopes of becoming a movie star, but finds it far more difficult than he imagined—struggling and frustrated, until he ultimately gets his break and becomes "the talk of the Boulevard." The lyrics were originally more bleak, but under pressure from the other band members, Davies rewrote them to be more optimistic and commercial.

"Child of Vision" is the closing track. Much like "The Logical Song", it uses a Wurlitzer electric piano as the main instrument. After the lyrical part, the song goes into a long grand piano solo alongside the original Wurlitzer electric piano melody. The track fades out with a short saxophone solo by John Helliwell. Roger Hodgson has said that the song was written to be an equivalent to "Gone Hollywood", looking at how Americans live, though he confessed that he had only a limited familiarity with US culture at the time of writing. He also said there is a slight possibility that he subconsciously had Rick Davies in mind while writing the lyrics.

Since all of Supertramp's songs are contractually credited to both Davies and Hodgson, it is difficult to determine who wrote what. Roger Hodgson's management has described "The Logical Song", "Breakfast in America", "Take the Long Way Home", "Lord Is It Mine" and "Child of Vision" as "Roger's songs";^[10] however, this apparently does not mean he necessarily wrote them by himself, as Hodgson has credited Davies with writing the vocal harmony on "The Logical Song". Davies has referred to "The five songs that I did on Breakfast", but does not specify which ones.

Yes Singer Jon Davison and Foo Fighters Cover Rush's 'Tom Sawyer (UCR)'

You never know what you’re going to get at a Foo Fighters show these days, and at the band’s Sept. 19 stop in Anaheim, fans were treated to a truly unusual spectacle: Yes singer Jon Davison coming up onstage to join them for a cover of the Rush classic “Tom Sawyer.”

Read More @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Watch Yes Singer Jon Davison Cover Rush's 'Tom Sawyer' With Foo Fighters 

The Arcs to Tour in 2015

Dan Auerbach will plan to tour with The Arcs that will see his side-project tour in Europe and then return to the States in December.

This week in New York, the band will hit the stage at Bowery Ballroom for a show on Saturday, September 26. Be sure to check out Yahoo Music as the show will be streamed live.

For more information and to purchase tickets please follow the link to the band's website. 


The Arcs-2015 Tour Dates:

September 26 New York, NY—Bowery Ballroom
November 5 Cologne, Germany—Katine
November 6 Berlin, Germany—Postbahnhof
November 8 Zurich, Switzerland—X-TRA
November 9 Brussels, Belgium—Ancienne Belgique
November 11 London, England—The Forum
November 12 Amsterdam, Netherlands—Melkweg Max
November 13 Paris, France—Le Trianon
November 16 Milan, Italy—Alcatraz
December 1 Minneapolis, MN—First Avenue
December 2 Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre
December 3 Chicago, IL—Vic Theatre
December 4 Columbus, OH—LC Pavilion
December 6 Detroit, MI—Fillmore
December 8 Akron, OH—Civic Theatre
December 9 New York, NY—Terminal 5
December 10 Toronto, Ontario—Massey Hall
December 12 Boston, MA—Orpheum theatre
December 14 Washington, DC—9:30 Club
December 16 Philadelphia, PA—Fillmore
December 19 Charlotte, NC—Armos’ Southend
December 20 Nashville, TN—Ryman Auditorium 

12 Best Things We Saw at Atlanta's Music Midtown (Rolling Stone)

With Atlanta's midtown skyline in the background and the greenery of the city's Piedmont Park underfoot, the annual Music Midtown Festival provided one of the best environments of all the nation's summertime festivals. Not to mention a killer lineup that included Drake, Elton John, Van Halen, Run the Jewels and Sam Smith. After spending two days in the park, here are the moments that most struck us, from Run the Jewels' politically charged homecoming to Eddie Van Halen's onstage bonding with his bass-playing son.

Read more @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/12-best-things-we-saw-at-atlantas-music-midtown-20150921#ixzz3mTX5anAc

Stream Widespread Panic's 'Street Dogs'

Widespread Panic will release their latest album Street Dogs this Friday, September 25 but the band has made the record available to stream now at Garden & Gun. 

This release marks Panic’s first album in five years and was recorded in Asheville, NC at the Echo Mountain Studio. 

David Gilmour, 'Rattle That Lock' : Album Review (UCR)

If Pink Floyd‘s mostly instrumental and ambient 2014 album The Endless River left you wishing for more classic elements — like, say, David Gilmour‘s husky vocals and stinging guitar — his fourth solo album, Rattle That Lock, should fit the bill.

Read Micahel Galluchi's Review @ Ultimate Classic Rock: David Gilmour, 'Rattle That Lock': Album Review | 

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart Lead 'Stand Up for Heroes' 2015 Lineup (Rolling Stone)

Bruce Springsteen, Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Seth Meyers, Ray Romano and Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti lead the lineup for the ninth annual Stand Up for Heroes, scheduled for November 10th at Madison Square Garden in New York City...

Read more of Ryan Reed's article @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/bruce-springsteen-jon-stewart-lead-stand-up-for-heroes-2015-lineup-20150915#ixzz3lqQcY5TN

On the turntable this Sunday...Rift

Rift is the fourth official studio album by the American rock band Phish. It is the band's second concept album, the first being The Man Who Stepped into Yesterday in 1987, which has never been officially released. Rift's songs convey the experience of a man dreaming about the rift in his relationship with his girlfriend. Recorded in September and October 1992 and produced by Muscle Shoals music veteran Barry Beckett, the album was released by Elektra Records on February 2, 1993.
All songs were written by Trey Anastasio and Phish lyricist Tom Marshall except "Mound" and "Weigh" by bass guitarist Mike Gordon and "Lengthwise" by drummer Jon Fishman.

The instrumental, "All Things Reconsidered", is an intentional variation on the theme to the National Public Radio news show All Things Considered, and has been featured on the show itself several times.  An orchestral version of the song appears on Trey Anastasio's 2004 solo album Seis De Mayo.

The cover art was created by New York-based painter David Welker, who worked closely with the band during winter 1993 in order to visually depict each of the album's tracks in a single image, with the notable exception of "The Horse". (For this reason, a horse intentionally appears on the cover of Phish's next album, Hoist). Relix magazine listed Rift as one of the most iconic album covers of all time in 2007.

Rift' was certified gold by the RIAA on October 15, 1997.

Read more @ Wikipedia

Wilco to Release Limited Edition Vinyl (jambands.com)

Wilco will release a limited edition 7” single vinyl of their Star Wars track “Random Name Generator” on October 2.

The single will be pressed on marbled green vinyl and will feature a B-side live acoustic recording of “Bull Black Nova” from this past June’s Solid Sound Festival.

Read more @ jambands.com 

Mike Gordon and Kenny Chesney Sit In with Grace Potter at Grand Point North Fest (jambands.com)

Over the weekend kicked off Grace Potter’s Vermont festival Grand Point North, and she closed out the night with a set that featured Phish’s Mike Gordon and country star Kenny Chesney.

Read more @ jambands.com

Foo Fighters' Sonic Highways Wins Two Emmy Awards

The Foo Fighters’ HBO series Sonic Highways took home two Emmy Awards at the 67th Emmy Awards over the weekend.

The band won for Outstanding Sound Editing for Nonfiction Programming as well as Outstanding Sound Mixing for Nonfiction Programming.  The popular HBO series chronicled the making of the band’s latest album while profiling the musical histories of cities they recorded in: Chicago, New York, Seattle, Austin, Washington DC and more.

While this marks their first Emmy victory, the Foo Fighters have been awarded 11 Grammy Awards over the course of their career as a band. 

40 Years Ago: Pink Floyd Pay Tribute to Syd Barrett on 'Wish You Were Here' (Ultimate Classic Rock)

Following up a hit record is no mean feat for any band, and even under the best of circumstances, Pink Floyd might have found it all but impossible to come back from the massive success of Dark Side of the Moon...


Read More of Jeff Giles' article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: 40 Years Ago: Pink Floyd Pay Tribute to Syd Barrett on 'Wish You Were Here'

Sharon Jones Reveals Cancer Return-Promises To Keep Fighting (Rolling Stone)

Sharon Jones was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2013, but the soul/funk singer beat the disease through invasive surgery and grueling chemotherapy, uniting with her band, the Dap-Kings, to record a new album — 2014's Give the People What They Want — and star in a documentary about her ordeal (Barbara Kopple's Miss Sharon Jones!). But during that doc's September 11th premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Jones announced that her cancer has returned. "I start chemo on Wednesday. But I'm gonna keep fighting. We got a long way to go," she said from the stage, Indiewire reports.


Read more of Ryan Reed's article @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/sharon-jones-reveals-cancer-return-promises-to-keep-fighting-20150914#ixzz3ljsNqomj

Radiohead Are Back in the Studio

As reported by NME, Radiohead drummer Philip Selway has confirmed his earlier statement that the band would be in the studio starting in September to work on the recording of their follow-up to 2011’s King of Limbs.

Read more @ jambands.com

On the turntable this Sunday...Yours, Dreamily

Yours, Dreamily, is the debut album by The Arcs, a side-project by Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The album was released on September 4, 2015.

The album originated as an Auerbach solo project but morphed into a collaborative effort, with musicians Leon Michels, Richard Swift, Homer Steinweiss, and Nick Movshon. All members of the band share songwriting credit for the album. It was recorded over two weeks at the Sound Factory in Los Angeles, Electric Lady Studios in New York, Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound in Nashville, and the Sound Mine in New York. Auerbach and Michels co-produced the album, and Tchad Blake mixed it.  The New York-based all-female mariachi band Mariachi Flor de Toloache perform backing vocals on several album tracks and the lead vocals on "Chains of Love".

The first track released from the album was "Stay in My Corner", a song inspired by the May 2015 Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao boxing match.  "Stay in My Corner" was released as a special 7" vinyl record for the Mayweather-Pacquiao match and backed with the non-album track "Tomato Can".

On June 9, 2015, the album was announced and "Stay in My Corner" was made available for download with pre-orders of the album via iTunes and the band's website.  One month later, on July 10, 2015, the track "Outta My Mind" was released for download as the second single from the album, and with the non-album track "My Mind" on 7" vinyl record. A video for the song "Put a Flower in Your Pocket" was released in mid-August 2015.

Read more @ Wikipedia

Bruce Dickinson Once Wanted to Punch Axl Rose (Ultimate Classic Rock)

The story of the opening act and headliner not getting along is an age-old tale, especially when Guns N’ Roses are involved in one way or another. Bruce Dickinson recently said that he was once so furious at Axl Rose that the Iron Maiden singer wanted to get in the proverbial ring with him.

Read More of Dave Lifton's article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Bruce Dickinson Once Wanted to Punch Axl Rose 

Prince Releases New Album 'HitNRun Phase One' (Rolling Stone)

As promised, Prince released his new album, now titled HitNRun Phase One, exclusively through Jay Z's Tidal on Sunday night. Tidal users can listen to the album now at the streaming service, while non-subscribers can stream the LP by signing up for a free 30-day trial.


Read more of Daniel Kreps' article @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/prince-releases-new-album-hitnrun-phase-one-20150907#ixzz3l9tuFYFs

Black Sabbath Announce Final Tour (Ultimate Classic Rock)

A few months ago, Black Sabbath teased something that was referred to as their “final show.” That concert, originally scheduled for Nov. 21-22 at Makuhari Messe near Tokyo was eventually canceled. But now it looks like they’re ready to go out on the road for one last tour.

Read More of Michael Galluchi's article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Black Sabbath Announce Final Tour 

Phish Bring Tour to a Close with Encore for the Ages (jambands.com)

After not spelling anything on the opening night of their Dick’s Sporting Goods Park run like they have in past stints at the Colorado venue, Phish saved it for the finale as they delivered an encore for the ages to close out their summer tour...

Read more @ jambands.com 

Phish-Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, CO

Set I: The Landlady, Free > The Moma Dance > Seven Below > Prince Caspian > Backwards Down the Number Line, The Line, Scent of a Mule*, Saw It Again, Halfway to the Moon, The Birdwatcher, Frankenstein^
Set II: Wilson > Down with Disease^^ > Carini > Steam > Piper > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Tweezer > The Horse > Silent in the Morning > Slave to the Traffic Light
Enc: Tweezer Reprise, Harpua% > After Midnight > NO2* > Keyboard Army > Your Pet Cat%%, Once in a Lifetime > United We Stand$
Notes: *Fish on Marimba Lumina.
^Page on keytar.
^^Unfinished.
%Unfinished. Narration included Jimmy being a guy from the east coast coming west and needing an oxygen tank. Trey sucked from an oxygen tank.
%%Included narration from Mike about eating Poster Nutbag.
$Phish debut.

Source: Phish.net

Iron Maiden ‘The Book of Souls’: Ultimate Classic Rock Album Review

Classic rock bands, in particular those of Iron Maiden‘s fame and vintage, tend to become static, unchanging figures – reliable nouns among the furious verbs emanating from the music of younger bands. The engagingly creative The Book of Souls, though probably longer than it needs to be, puts Iron Maiden back in the conversation...

Read More of Nick DeRiso's review @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Iron Maiden, 'The Book of Souls': Album Review 

New Music That You Need To Hear

• Thundercat

  The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam

The songs here are airy, and often provisional-feeling, while Thundercat's lyrics reliably invoke death, mourning, and vulnerability. The mini-album opens with an ethereal, vocal-led invocation entitled "Hard Times", and follows this up with a track called "Song for the Dead",which labors under some muffled-sounding percussion for most of its running time before stumbling into a clearer sonic field, near its conclusion.

Beach House-Depression Cherry

Over four alluring albums, Beach House have managed the rare trick of evoking bliss and loss in equal strength. Guitarist Alex Scally's extravagant melodies bloom slowly over grooves that pulse like waves; singer Victoria Legrand's vocals echo Fleetwood Mac's lush folk rock, Cocteau Twins' surreal dreams and Nico's spooky drama. Read More @ Rolling Stone 

Foals-What Went Down

Their fourth and best album plays up a dark, bracing urgency, especially on the explosive title track, where Yannis Philippakis hollers over low-slung, fuzzed-out riffing and high-octane drum pummel.

Read more @ Rolling Stone

On the turntable this Sunday...The Book of Souls

The Book of Souls is the sixteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Iron Maiden, and was released on 4 September 2015. It is the band's first studio double album, and therefore also their longest to date, with a total length of 92 minutes. It also marks the longest gap between studio releases in the group's career at five years, following 2010's The Final Frontier. The album's launch and its supporting tour were delayed to allow vocalist Bruce Dickinson time to recover from treatment which he received in early 2015 to remove a cancerous tumor.

The album was produced by long-time Iron Maiden collaborator Kevin Shirley and recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris from September to December 2014, which they had previously used for 2000's Brave New World. The band wrote and immediately recorded many tracks in the studio, resulting in a spontaneous live feel. The first song to be released from the album, "Speed of Light", was issued as a music video on 14 August, while simultaneously made available as a digital download and CD single exclusive to Best Buy. In addition to being their longest studio record, it also contains the band's longest song, "Empire of the Clouds", at 18 minutes in length. While not a concept album, references to the soul and mortality are prominent, realized in the Maya-themed cover artwork, created by Mark Wilkinson.

The band's intention to record a sixteenth studio album was first revealed by vocalist Bruce Dickinson in September 2013, who expected a possible release in 2015. The album was recorded at Guillaume Tell Studios, Paris with producer Kevin Shirley from September to December 2014,with the finishing touches added in early 2015. They had previously used the studios for 2000's Brave New World, with Dickinson stating "the studio holds special memories for all of us. We were delighted to discover the same magical vibe is still alive and very much kicking there!" The band originally intended to release the record earlier in 2015, but it was pushed back to 4 September while Dickinson received treatment for a cancerous tumor.
The album's title, artwork and track listing were revealed on 18 June 2015. Released by Parlophone, this is the band's first original studio album not to be issued by EMI, after both companies were acquired by Warner Music Group in 2013.

Harris states that many of the songs were written and immediately recorded in the studio, adding to the record's "live feel". Guitarist Janick Gers explains that this involved abandoning their previous approach of spending several weeks writing and rehearsing, which meant that they "went into the studio with only outlines and finished writing the songs in the studio - so we were actually learning them, rehearsing them, and putting them down all at once". According to guitarist Adrian Smith, the pressure this created was positive "because it snaps you into action". Gers states that each member brought in approximately an hour of original music to the sessions, even though they "might only want to use 15 minutes of it", the result being "a really broad spectrum of musical ideas".  As with all of their studio collaborations with Shirley, most of the album was recorded live with lots of first takes used for added spontaneity.

"Shadows of the Valley", "Death or Glory", "Speed of Light" and "If Eternity Should Fail" were the first songs written for the album, the last of which was originally written by Dickinson for a potential solo album. Smith states that "Speed of Light" and "Death or Glory" were two of a small minority of tracks completed prior to the recording sessions, and mark the first collaboration between Smith and Dickinson (without Harris) since both members rejoined Iron Maiden in 1999. With both tracks, Smith and Dickinson deliberately wrote shorter songs in an attempt to hark back to previous singles "2 Minutes to Midnight" (1984) and "Can I Play with Madness" (1988).  According to Dickinson, "Death or Glory" is about First World War triplanes.

Read more @ Wikipedia

Mike Gordon Talks Magnaball, “Fluffhead” and More on Twitter (Relix)

Mike Gordon is the only member of Phish who is personally active on Twitter (at least the only one whose page isn't strictly a continuous Bernie Sanders stump speech) and occasionally, particularly during time off the road, will offer up some nuggets of wisdom as it relates to Phish tour and otherwise...

Read more of Rob Slater's artcile @ Relix

Happy Birthday, 'Highway 61': Dylan's Weirdest, Funniest Album Turns 50 (Rolling Stone)

Happy 50th birthday to Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan's strangest, funniest, most baffling and most perfect album. Released on August 30th, 1965, it arrived just five months after his previous masterpiece, Bringing It All Back Home, but this was a different guy making a different album, a folk rogue embracing the weirdness and spook of electric rock & roll...

Read more of Rob Sheffield's article @ Rolling Stone: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/happy-birthday-highway-61-dylans-weirdest-funniest-album-turns-50-20150827#ixzz3kOri6civ

Listen: Dan Auerbach’s New Album on NPR The Arcs-Yours Dreamily

Set for release this Friday, September 4th, The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach has made his new album with The Arcs, Yours, Dreamily  available to stream via NPR.

Phish to Webcast Dick's Run on Labor Day Weekend

Phish will mark the end of their scorching summer tour with three shows at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO, this Labor Day weekend (9/4, 9/5, 9/6.) 

Those not able to attend or those on "couch tour" will be able to watch all three shows via LivePhish throughout the weekend.

Phish have a history during their runs at Dick’s, as the band has offered up a special themes throughout the years on the opening night, including the famed “S” show from 2011 as well as the infamous “F**k Your Face” set and 2014's “Lushington” show. 

Alice Cooper and Slash Pay Tribute to Wes Craven (Ultimate Classic Rock)

News of horror filmmaker Wes Craven‘s death has prompted an outpouring of social media tributes, including some from the world of classic rock.

Craven, who died at age 76 on Aug. 30 after being diagnosed with brain cancer, was responsible for some of the most successful and influential horror films of the ’80s and ’90s, most notably the Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream franchises


Read More of Jeff Giles' article @ Ultimate Classic Rock: Alice Cooper and Slash Pay Tribute to Wes Craven