Arlington, Texas-based Spyderpop Records, the home of Lannie Flowers, Danny Wilkerson, The Pengwins, and Bill Lloyd announced a new partnership with California label Big Stir Records. It makes good sense to help spread more good music through Big Stir’s distribution. To celebrate the event, on the new Lannie Flowers page, they are offering up a SpyderPop Records Starter Kit (4 vinyl 45s, 5 CDs, and more) and plenty of downloadable music. Now that’s a great deal.
The Raconteurs’ Brendan Benson has teased his forthcoming album (set for 2018 release) with a new single, “Half A Boy (And Half A Man)”
Pugwash is back with a new album “Silverlake” due for release in November.
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OLD MEDIA NEWS: Rolling Stone is being sold by the ever-shrinking media empire of Jann Wenner. Like virtually all of print media, Rolling Stone magazine has struggled to stay alive with more and more eyeballs focused on the web. As a music critic, Rolling Stone was considered the zenith of cultural influence and an invaluable affirmation of your credibility. It was so important for an artist to “make the cover of Rolling Stone,” that it counted as having attained rock stardom (as Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show sang below).
But as the years wore on its influenced diminished. It started focusing more on politics, less on music and the reviews were relegated to fewer pages. It did outlast many competitors, but its days as a trusted brand in music criticism are numbered.
If you are near Massapequa Long Island tomorrow, there is a big music expo going on at American Legion Massapequa NY Post 1066 at 66 Veterans Blvd, Massapequa, New York 11758. I will be selling a big pile of my music collection. This stuff has been accumulating for over 10 years now and I’m ready to give it to you for pennies on the dollar. Many CDs will be $2 each and some $4 each. I will also be selling a few very rare items, like my Squeeze Box Set and Cheap Trick Box Set.
And many other vendors will be there, lot of records and other goodies will be for sale. So come on down!
Coming up next month….
The Posies 8th album “Solid States” is due out May 2o – its been 6 years since we’ve reviewed “Blood Candy.”
The Seattle-rooted outfit, led by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow, have one of the most compelling catalogues in modern pop, and have been inducted into the first class of The Power Pop Hall of Fame. But there have been a lot of changes in the Posies world. “We’ve had two bandmates die, a divorce and remarriage, a transoceanic move … There’s been good things and difficult things, but nothing is in the same place for us. So it makes sense that this record would sound different from its predecessors.” said Auer.
It has been hinted at that the artists will grow their sound to include “laptop elements” and even though the Posies retain their legendary melodic abilities, the band feels it’s their duty to take risks and explore. Listen to this FREE advance track “Squirrel vs. Snake”
The Honeydogs are back in the studio and if you’re an old fan of the band then you’ve come to expect great music with each release over their 20 year career. Adam Levy’s solo debut was a rare non-power pop LP that I added to my top 25 for 2015 list. The band is funding the new LP on Pledgemusic, and I encourage you to support this great band.
The biggest anticipated release has to be Emitt Rhodes first new full-length release since 1973. Producer Chris Price has assembled a village of power pop superstars to assist: Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Jason Falkner, Taylor Locke, Fernando Perdomo, and guest appearances from Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, Jon Brion, Nels Cline & Pat Sansone (Wilco), Bleu, Probyn Gregory & Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson Band). Omnivore Records has set the release date of February 26, 2016. Visit Emitt’s Pledgemusic page here.
Also in the works: Sonic Executive Sessions sophomore album and a new Vegas With Randolph album. And after he’s finished with Emitt Rhodes big re-introduction, producer Chris Price will follow up his debut album. Right now we only have this one song, “Uncle John” he made with Fernando Perdomo. Stay Tuned!