Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Cool Music Stuff on the Internet-The National/Arcade Fire, Fleet Foxes, Beastie Boys, The Low Anthem, Jack White

This is really cool and amazing and what live music is all about - Arcade Fire's Win Butler sings with The National (via Consqeuence of Sound) HERE

Fleet Foxes new album in entirety 'Helplessness Blues' streaming on NPR HERE

Beastie Boys are streaming new album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two HERE

Funny/cool/nostalgic list of the best summer songs (DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, anyone?)
EW's100 Greatest Summer Songs:
Part 1 HERE
Part 2 HERE

The Low Anthem perform (via twentyfourbit) HERE

The White Stripes perform. Live. Bob Dylan songs. Yeah. HERE  (via twentyfourbit)

Tuesday's new releases via (New Music Tipsheet) HERE

Friday, April 22, 2011

Cool Music Stuff on the Internet - Beastie Boys, Modest Mouse, Ryan Adams, Damien Rice, Fleet Foxes, Death Cab

Holy CRAP there's a lot of good stuff on the internet today! Good thing I am here to sift through it all for you! Enjoy!

Another new Beastie Boys track HERE

There's a web series called "Don't Move Here" and the current episode features Isaac Brock, lead singer of Modest Mouse.  The episode is about 10min long, but there's a gem of a song inside of it. Watch the ep here (Paste handily points out that you can skip ahead to 7:56 for the song). Or, more like a tease.

Ryan Adams performs live in LA HERE

omgomgomgomgomgomg....be still my beating heart..a Damien Rice performance! Of a new song! HERE 

Fleet Foxes. Download. Stream. Maida Valle Sessions for the BBC. HERE

Another track from the upcoming Death Cab for Cutie album.  Streaming "Some Boys" HERE

Any other cool stuff out there?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Cool Music Stuff on the Internet- Coachella Videos, Airborne Toxic Event, Dodos, Yuck, Explosions in the Sky

I just got back from a lil vacay (sorry, holiday) in London and Ireland and apparently, Coachella happened while (sorry, whilst) I was away.  Thankfully, there is a handy Coachella youtube channel up, featuring some of the performance highlights with good audio and production value (no shaky handhelds here!).  Features videos of Mumford & Sons, Wiz Khalifa, Two Door Cinema Club and more. Check it out HERE

Aside from Coachella, there's been lots (sorry, loads) of great music stuff out there that I am still trying to get caught up on, but here's a taste:

New Airborne Toxic Event song, HERE

New Yuck song HERE

I also discovered a new Dodos song.  Muzzle Of Bees  reviewed the album complete with an MP3 of one of the singles, HERE

There's a new Explosions in the Sky album out this week featuring songs such as THIS and THIS. You may think you aren't familiar with them, but if you have ever seen an episode of Friday Night Lights, you are.

Any other cool stuff out there?

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Cool Music Stuff on the Internet- Foo Fighters and Paul Simon

Foo Fighters and Paul Simon album streams! Not together...but ya know..separately. (Although I would pay money to see that collabo!)

Foo Fighters' new album comes out next week, but till then you can listen to it HERE in full for freeeee!

Paul Simon new album (which Rolling Stone is calling his 'best album in 20 years') is streaming on NPR Music HERE 

Also, I saw this cool listing today from Pitchfork of upcoming album releases. Lots of good music coming our way this spring!!!

Any other cool stuff out there?

Even Better Than The Real Thing

Covers are an interesting beast of music...sometimes, they are so amazing and so unexpected they knock your socks off.  Aaaand sometimes...they just plain suck.

Every notice how there doesn't seem to be a middle ground with covers?  The other thing with covers is the sheer abundance of them.  But seeing as there are so many great ones, I thought it would be cool to take a look at a few.

Behold!! Covers That Are Awesome, Covers That I Had No Idea Were Even Covers, and Say What?

File Under: Covers That Are Awesome


Perhaps part of the allure is that the Counting Crows version is just so damn hard to find. It's not on any of their albums, in fact, it mainly appears randomly on the Clueless soundtrack. Love the original, but a slower tempo and Adam Duritz's voice makes for more melancholy on the remake. And here at imnotsleeping, we like melancholy. Side note: also remade by Sugar Ray.


    Poignant. Heart wrenching. Soulful sadness. If you've never seen the video, it's a must watch. Grab a tissue..






    I may catch some flack for this one, but I really do think The Sundays' cover is amazing. It's so haunting and different from the original that I had to give it props.


    • With a Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker (original: The Beatles)


    Now THIS is a cover.  Joe Cocker makes you feel like you literally cannot get by without a little help from your friends.  The original sounds like pure pop compared to this souled- up version.  Just look at the freeze frame of Joe Cocker in this video- the man is sweating and singing his heart out.  Or maybe I just like it 'cause I grew up on the Wonder Years.

    • Hallelujah- Jeff Buckley (original: Leonard Cohen)
    THE COVER OF ALL COVERS! No explanation needed. Most people don't even realize this is a cover. I actually think this may be one of the most covered songs out there (as evidenced HERE!)


    Another great version is the one by Rufus Wainright:

    And the original:


    File Under.....Covers That I Had No Idea Were Even Covers
    • All Along the Watchtower- Jimi Hendrix (original: Bob Dylan)
    Hey, I'm just a fan, I'm no expert, but I had zero idea that this was NOT the original.




    Wait, you mean the As Seen on TV talking bass fish didn't sing it first? Nope, and in fact, neither did the Talking Heads.


    • I Hung My Head- Johnny Cash (original: Sting)




    Both great, however I prefer the Johnny Cash version.  He makes it a deceptively beautiful and upbeat song that actually makes you feel uplifted by the tone, yet it is about murder.


    • Hard to Handle- Black Crowes (original: Otis Reading)




    Also found this little gem:



    File Under.....Say What?
    Nothing tickles my musical fancy more than an unexpected combination. Like these covers.
    Yes, you absolutely read that right. I about fell out of my chair the first time I heard this cover. This is a pleasantly unexpected cover. In fact, this one wins the "Say What?" Award.

    Side note, having seen John Mayer in concert, I can vouch for his cover ability. I can't find a recording, but if a guy can handle "Little Red Corvette" on acoustic, trust me on this Kid A thing...just...trust me...



    • The Scientist- Aimee Mann (original: Coldplay)

    Just because....who knew? Me neither. 

    • King of Pain- Alanis Morissette (original: The Police)

     The original voice of female angst singing a song called "King of Pain". This is what covers are all about!


    So, that's a short start to a long list of amazing covers out there. What's your favorite cover song?