Covering the crossroads of music and film.
TALK
TALK: Mr. Lif
By Jim Shearer on 04/21/2009
Filed under: TALK
Today marks the release date of Mr. Lif's third full-length album, I Heard It Today, which he considers to be the true follow up to his debut, I Phantom (2002), rather than the actual follow up, Mo' Mega (2006). Although, Mr. Lif claims all is well with his record label home, Def Jux, the politically-minded, laser-lipped MC's latest album is being put out via his newly created Bloodbot Tactical Enterprises. MORE »
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VIDEO BLOG: The Morning Benders
By Jim Shearer on 02/26/2009
Filed under: TALK, VIDEO BLOG
I recently had the opportunity to chat it up with Bay-area, indie-pop-rockers, The Morning Benders. (And we actually got to sit down outside on a rare winter day in NYC that didn't call for a scarf and gloves.) MORE »
TALK: Material Girl Vs. Scientists of Sound
By Jim Shearer on 10/06/2008
Filed under: HODGEPODGE, TALKToday my friend Peter is in town, and he will be taking me to my first ever Madonna concert. (left: Peter and Jim go at it in a no holds barred, Madonna/B-Boy battle.) Over the years Peter has amazed me with his vast knowledge of the Material Girl. His excitement and passion for all things Madonna reminds me of, well, my excitement and passion for the Beastie Boys. Because it would be nearly impossible to determine if I am a bigger Beastie Boys buff than Peter is a Madonna fan, we decided to school each other on our respective... MORE »
TALK: Michael Azerrad
By Jim Shearer on 09/18/2008
Filed under: TALKA few months ago I had the opportunity to interview music author and journalist, Michael Azerrad, about the Kurt Cobain documentary he helped to create, About A Son (which was released on DVD earlier this year). The film centers around the audio recordings of the series of interviews Azerrad shared with Cobain in the early 90's, which produced the first--and same say the best--Nirvana biography, Come As You Are. Because Azerrad is usually on the other end of the tape recorder, he couldn't resist teaching me some tricks of the trade during our encounter. While sitting in a Greenwich... MORE »
TALK: Glen Campbell
By Jim Shearer on 09/15/2008
Filed under: TALKAfter blurring the lines of country and pop, selling over 45 million albums worldwide, hosting a variety show on network television, having sung some of the most played hits of the last millennium ("Wichita Lineman," "Rhinestone Cowboy"), acting in a movie with John Wayne, touring with the Beach Boys, and being a member of the Wrecking Crew--one of the most revered session groups of all-time, responsible for playing on hit records for The Monkees, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bobby Darin to name a few--where do you go from there? Well, if you're Glen Campbell (the man... MORE »
TALK: MSTRKRFT
By Jim Shearer on 08/25/2008
Filed under: TALKLast time I crossed paths with Jesse Keeler, he was playing bass in the indie-punk duo, Death From Above 1979. Since then he has pulled the plug on the band that made him a household name in various indie circles and teamed up with fellow electronic music enthusiast, Al-P, to form MSTRKRFT, a group that may have already eclipsed the popularity of Keeler's previous band. While we were walking to the site of our interview, Keeler--either feeling obliged or knowing it was too obvious a question for me to pass up--discussed how Death From Above 1979 became no more.... MORE »
TALK: Murs
By Jim Shearer on 07/09/2008
Filed under: TALKMurs Carter's resume reads as such: Underground West Coast rapper, Current TV (Al Gore's channel) host, and now, Presidential hopeful. (left: Mr. Carter, what's your stance on national health care?) Besides his unique rhyme flow and traffic-stopping hairdo, Murs is also known for his blunt honesty and hilarious sense of humor (which sometimes doesn't go over well in the macho world of hip-hop). This year he will be parlaying his upcoming album Murs For President into an actual presidential campaign. Besides talking about his bid for the White House, Murs also speaks freely about steroids in baseball, bravado in... MORE »
TALK: Matt & Kim
By Jim Shearer on 06/30/2008
Filed under: TALKThe one-two punch known as, Matt & Kim (a couple on and off stage), may just be the happiest band on the planet. In concert or out, I've never seen them without their seemingly permanent smiles plastered across their cheek-pinchable mugs. Despite crafting an infectiously fun debut album and creating a significant buzz in indie rock's underworld, Matt & Kim find themselves without a record label to release their sophomore effort--an ambitious, beat-heavy, hip-hop meets pop-punk album recorded in Matt's childhood bedroom in Vermont: (above: See? I told you, Matt & Kim are always smiling.)... MORE »
TALK: The Raveonettes
By Jim Shearer on 06/02/2008
Filed under: TALKThe Danish throwback rock duo, the Raveonettes are currently touring in support of their latest release, Lust Lust Lust. Sharin Foo recently announced that she had to drop off the tour because she is pregnant. Filling in for Foo is Foo's sister, Louise Foo. For anyone planning on catching a Raveonettes show anytime soon, rest assured that you will not have a Foo-less experience. Not too long ago, I caught up with, Sune Rose Wagner, the mastermind of the group as he took us through the Raveonettes' long-distance method of recording an album: (left: Sune Rose Wagner)... MORE »
TALK: Donnie Iris
By Jim Shearer on 05/27/2008
Filed under: TALKIt's a well-known fact that people from Pittsburgh love telling people they're from Pittsburgh (I know, cause I've done it myself). Not only that, but when a Pittsburgh sports team reaches the championship game/series, as the Penguins have done recently by advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals, Pittsburghers will not only boast about their hometown sports team, but will simultaneously tell you why they put French fries on their sandwiches, why they liked their ham "chipped," and declare, without hesitation, that Donnie Iris is the greatest rock and roll performer that ever lived. (left: The Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of... MORE »
TALK: Money Mark
By Jim Shearer on 05/19/2008
Filed under: TALKThe world of Beastie has been knee-deep in the film game recently. It was just a few weeks ago that Adam Yauch premiered his brand new basketball documentary, Gunnin' For That #1 Spot, at New York City's Tribeca Film Festival (which is set to hit theaters on June 27). Meanwhile, earlier this year, the Beastie Boys long-time keyboardist Money Mark was at SXSW, promoting the soundtrack work he did for the film Beautiful Losers. (left: Money Mark welcomes you into the world of...Money Mark). A short time ago, I tracked down Money Mark and we chatted about his work... MORE »
TALK: My Morning Jacket
By Jim Shearer on 05/08/2008
Filed under: TALKExperimental-deep-fried-southern rockers, My Morning Jacket, are on the verge of one of their most important years as a band. Following up their critically acclaimed album, Z, the band will be releasing their brand new album, Evil Urges, on June 10. Besides gracing the recent cover of SPIN Magazine, My Morning Jacket can also be found playing Saturday Night Live this weekend, May 10, as well as playing a sold-out show at Radio City Music Hall and a marquee spot at this year's Bonnaroo Festival next month. (above: My Morning Jacket at this year's SXSW in Austin, TX. Look at... MORE »
TALK: Tim Fite
By Jim Shearer on 04/28/2008
Filed under: TALKNext week, alternative-hip-hop-country twanger Tim Fite will release his brand new album, Fair Ain't Fair (Anti-). Over the last couple years Fite has been wowing critics with both his full-length debut album, Gone Ain't Gone, and his free-to-the-public, hip-hop album, Over The Counter Culture--which was chock full of thoughtful wit and social commentary. (left: The hilarious, is-he-being-serious, is-he-not-being serious Tim Fite.) Fite has developed a Pee Wee Herman-like talent for disguising his messages behind scribbled artwork and childlike behavior. Once you figure out what the big kid is up to, you realize he isn't so childish after all.... MORE »
TALK: The Presidents of the U.S.A.
By Jim Shearer on 04/21/2008
Filed under: TALKIn the 90's, most bands originating from the Pacific Northwest were known for their somber sound and style. That changed when The Presidents of the United States of America arrived on the scene. Their hilarious songs and music videos proved that Seattle, indeed, had a sense of humor. Following their self-proclaimed "Led Zeppelin years," the Presidents briefly broke up, although by the time they got back together a few years later, their break up seemed more like an abbreviated hiatus. (left to right: Newest President, Andrew McKeag, and incumbent, Jason Finn) Last month, The Presidents of the United States... MORE »
TALK: Jim Noir
By Jim Shearer on 04/14/2008
Filed under: TALKLast week the fun-loving Jim Noir released his eponymous sophomore album, Jim Noir. At this point in time, most Americans are probably more familiar with the commercials (Target, Adidas) his songs have appeared in, than the actual songs themselves. Noir's catchy hooks are radio-friendly, easy-to-digest, pop goodies that will get stuck in your head after just one listen. (left: Jim Noir talkin' about the new album, Jim Noir) Teaming up with Barsuk Records--the same label that brought us the indie goodness of Death Cab For Cutie and Nada Surf--Noir is hoping to make a big splash stateside with his... MORE »
TALK: Tapes 'N Tapes
By Jim Shearer on 04/09/2008
Filed under: TALKWhen people discuss the "blog band" phenomenon, one of the first groups included in that conversation are Minneapolis' Tapes 'N Tapes. Their debut album, The Loon, gained great notoriety from various internet blog postings--and furthermore--a favorable review from Pitchfork Media (which is now talked about like a Babe Ruth homerun) garnered the group even more positive attention. This week Tapes N' Tapes released their brand new sophomore album, Walk It Off (XL Recordings). Will the hot lights of the blogosphere shine brighter on the band? Or will bloogers and message-board-posters wordwide turn a critical eye (as they've been known... MORE »
TALK: Saul Williams
By Jim Shearer on 04/07/2008
Filed under: TALKLate last year in a move that surprised many, Saul Williams released his brand new Trent Reznor-produced album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, as a free download on his website. Why was this such a surprise? Well, with the proper hype, the album could have been spun into a marketing blockbuster, considering it was pieced together by Saul Williams, one of underground hip-hop's most gifted lyricists, and Trent Reznor, producer extraordinaire for Nine Inch Nails. Besides Reznor's increase in productivity over the last few years, what's also amazing is that Williams (who many critics believe can... MORE »
TALK: Vampire Weekend
By Jim Shearer on 03/24/2008
Filed under: TALKIn an internet second, Vampire Weekend went from playing college house parties to being heralded by SPIN magazine as "The Year's Best New Band...Already." Pretty amazing stuff, considering the band posed for the publication's cover before their debut album was even released. In the last three months alone, the recent college grads have played a string of sold-out shows, performed on Saturday Night Live, and had to turn people away at their "filled-to-capacity" showcase at this year's SXSW. How did it happen so quickly for Vampire Weekend? Are they just that good? Or did the internet bloggers of the... MORE »
TALK: Strike Anywhere
By Jim Shearer on 03/10/2008
Filed under: TALKFor anyone who has ever seen hip-hop legend KRS-One in concert, you know one of his famous boasts is: "The real hip-hop is over here!" If a similar boast was made in the punk rock world, it would seem very appropriate to say it in the vicinity of Strike Anywhere, a fiercely political punk band originally hailing from Richmond, VA. I met up with their frontman, Thomas Barnett (pictured left), on the opening night of their current East Coast tour, and was very relieved to find out that there are still some wonderful souls out there carrying the punk... MORE »
TALK: Georgie James
By Jim Shearer on 03/03/2008
Filed under: TALKI'm sure there are still some Dischord-loving D.C. kids who are bummed that their favorite band, Q and Not U, is no more. It's hard to stay sad for long, considering that one of their members, John Davis, has teamed up with another multi-talented singer-songwriter, Laura Burhenn, to form the feel-good indie-pop of Georgie James (Saddle Creek). We shared some small talk about Davis' former boss, Ian McKaye, who he calls "a good guy with a great sense of humor" and about sharing the same name as the frontman of Korn. Though it's highly unlikely the two will ever... MORE »
TALK: Against Me!
By Jim Shearer on 02/25/2008
Filed under: TALKLast year, socially conscious folk-punk-rockers Against Me! released their major label debut, New Wave (Sire). Their efforts were applauded by various music critics (the album found its way on many year-end top-ten lists), while being simultaneously protested by many of the band's early (live-and-die-by-punk-rock-ethos) followers. The band has not stopped touring since the album's release, and will continue to stay out on the road (including playing this summer's Warped Tour) until the end of the year. We caught up with them on their most recent gig--opening up for the Foo Fighters on their current U.S. Tour: Jim Shearer: Last... MORE »
TALK: My Brightest Diamond
By Jim Shearer on 02/19/2008
Filed under: TALKYou may recognize her as the captain of Sufjan Stevens' cheerleading squad, but roundoffs, cartwheels, and pom-poms aside, My Brightest Diamond (Shara Worden) is a lo-fi loving, classically trained vocalist who will make Portishead, PJ Harvey, and Bjork fans stand up and cheer. We met up in Union Square (New York City), months before the release of her highly anticipated album A Thousand Shark's Teeth (Asthmatic Kitty Records) and weeks before her performance at SXSW: Jim: You grew up singing along to Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey albums. When did you get into the heavier stuff, so to speak, like... MORE »
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