The Fat Angel Sings

Over the long arc of Bob Dylan’s career, it becomes easier to discern underlying trends. The relatively recent experience of recording 50-odd standards between 2015 and 2017 — on “Shadows in the Night”, “Fallen Angels” and “Triplicate” – clearly provoked a wholesale reappraisal of his approach to singing, while the influence of the loose, fluid instrumental mesh developed on “Rough and Rowdy Ways” in 2020 could be heard in “Shadow Kingdom: The Early Songs of Bob Dylan”, the 50-minute show streamed by Veeps.com in July 2021.

Quite a few people felt cheated by the initial incarnation of “Shadow Kingdom“. Seeing that Veeps.com is a livestreaming platform, they made the reasonable assumption that they were buying tickets for a remote live screening of Dylan’s first public performance since the summer of 2019, taking place a couple of months after his 80th birthday.

When it turned out to be a pre-packaged film of a mimed performance to pre-recorded tracks, some were disinclined to admire the skill with which the director, Alma Har’el, created a fictitious Marseilles bar called the Bon Bon Club, populated by a variety of low-lifes filling the place with louche attitude and cigarette smoke, on a Santa Monica sound stage.

Fewer disputed the quality of the music. Dylan’s definition of his own “early songs” turned out to be more elastic than one might have expected, with nothing from his first four albums. But since even the most recent of the 13 selections was already more than 30 years old, their creator might well have been viewing them from a different perspective, while inventing new ways to present them.

The musicians who mimed along with the singer — Alex Burke, Buck Meek, Joshua Crumbly (guitars), Shahzad Ismaily (accordion) and Janie Cowan (upright bass) — were not those who had actually played on the tracks. Dylan had assembled a special group for these recordings, a small drummer-less ensemble of experienced individuals capable of settling into the desired synthesis of the many styles he’s explored over the years , each song carefully considered from a new angle, linked and postscripted by brief but elegantly devised instrumental passages.

Here “When I Paint My Masterpiece” has a lovely jug-band lurch, “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” loses its country lilt but sounds as if was always destined to be mated with the taut riff from Roy Head’s “Treat Her Right”, and “Queen Jane Approximately”, hung against a latticework of accordion and finger-picked guitars, is almost unbearably tender. “Tombstone Blues” and “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” bear the most obvious influence of “Rough and Rowdy Ways“, with slow swells of accordion, acoustic guitars and bowed string bass underlining the carefully articulated front-and-centre vocal.

“What Was It You Wanted”, the youngest of the songs (from 1989’s “Oh Mercy“), gets a similar reconsideration. As the loose weave of instruments adds a new depth to the words of a man reaching back into his life, groping for meaning in a series of questions addressed to his god, it becomes the set’s quiet show-stopper.

“Shadow Kingdom” find Bob Dylan revisiting Bob Dylan; revelatory 21st century versions of songs from his storied back catalogue. It’s absolutely stacked with moments, but It’s “All Over Now, Baby Blue” is one of 2023’s low key highlights already.

Personnel: Bob Dylan (vocals, harmonica) plus others including Jeff Taylor (accordion), Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar, mandolin), Tim Pierce, T-Bone Burnett, Ira Ingber (guitars), Don Was (upright bass)

Green Man No23 announced the day-by-day line-up & the resplendent bunch of acts joining us

We’re absolutely buzzing to reveal our final headliner, the sheer force of nature that is SELF ESTEEM! If you joined us at Green Man in 2021, you’ll surely recall her triumphant performance in the Far Out tent: a truly unforgettable show that soared straight into the festival history books. Self Esteem — aka Rebecca Lucy Taylor — is no stranger to our shores, also appearing on the Mountain Stage back in 2019, and before that with her previous band Slow Club. This year she returns as a triumphant headliner, ready to roar beneath the mountains, and her powerful pop spectacle is sure to pack a punch on Saturday night.

Joining her are a feast of genre and globe hopping acts, from Aussie rock and American folk to delightfully experimental concoctions from Cardiff, Peckham, Manchester, and beyond. So get digging, plotting and planning – the countdown is well and truly on!

The new additions to your GM23 line-up are: Self Esteem, Alice Boman, Aisha Vaughan, Aoife Nessa Frances, Ash Kenazi, Babymorocco, Bday Party, Belinduh Belinduh Belinduh, Brad Stank, Bricknasty, Dutty Disco, Eddie Chacon, Floodlights, Freak Slug, Jake Xerxes Fussell, Joanie, LOST MAP presents WEIRD WAVE, MADMADMAD, Mandy, Indiana, Mary in the Junkyard, Minor Conflict, Nuha Ruby Ra, Oscar Lang, Rogue Jones, Sam Akpro, Seb Lowe, Spank DJs, SUEP, The Social, 4am Kru

Neil Young continues his occasional ‘Official Release Series’ box sets with Volume 5. It features remastered editions of ‘Freedom’, ‘Ragged Glory’, ‘Weld’ and ‘Arc’. 9LP vinyl or 6CD, a stunning collection of four albums that begins with the exciting renaissance that came with the release of “Freedom” in 1989, and continues on the unequalled exploration of collections “Ragged Glory” (1990), “Weld” (1991) and “Arc” (1991). In many ways, it is a musical travelogue of how Young saw the future and opened up creative worlds for the use of sound and originality which had not been used before. Like all the reissues in this series, the albums are remastered from the best source available – original analog tape in most cases. For the four albums in the series, this is the first time they have been remastered. In addition on “Ragged Glory”, the 10-song original album is expanded for this re-issue with 4 rare tracks. “Interstate” and “Don’t Spook The Horse” were both B-sides to singles. “Box Car” and the 12 minute “Born To Run” are both previously unreleased versions.

Neil Young continues his occasional Official Release Series box sets with a new volume (No 5) which brings together four albums released as the 1980s turned into the 1990s.

The albums are 1989’s “Freedom”, “Ragged Glory” from 1990, the live album “Weld” and it’s experimental companion, “Arc” (both 1991). These are discs 22, 23+, 24 and 25 in the series.

The “Freedom” studio album relaunched Young’s career to a certain degree and features a mix of musicians and sessions. It includes the NY anthem ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’. “Ragged Glory” saw Neil reunited with his Crazy Horse band and was recorded a Young’s Broken Arrow Ranch in Northern California.

The Live album “Weld” comprises performances recorded on the tour to promote the “Ragged Glory” album. It was originally issued as a 3-disc set with “Arc”, an experimental 35-minute outburst of feedback, improvisation, guitar solos and vocal fragments.

There are two box sets. One is a 9LP offering (pressed on 180g black vinyl) with “Freedom” as a 2LP set, “Ragged Glory” and “Weld” as 3LP packages and “Arc” as a single vinyl record. All box sets are numbered. Like all the reissues in this series, the albums are remastered from the best source available, the original analogue tape in most cases. This is, in fact, the first time any of these four albums have been remastered.

The Original Release Series Volume 5  is available as a vinyl box set of the original four albums on 9 vinyl LPs and as a 4-CD set. Like all the reissues in this series, the albums are remastered from the best source available — original analog tape in the case of “Ragged Glory”. For the four albums in the series, this is the first time they have been remastered for vinyl. The CD of “Ragged Glory” has also been remastered.

The Original Release Series Volume 5 box will be released on 14th July 2023, via Warner Music. This Official Release Series box marks the album’s first release on vinyl.

Stripped down Bluesy album that formed part of the Crystal Ball reissue. First time on LP Vinyl. “The Truth” is widely regarded as one of Prince’s most underappreciated hidden gems. The 12 track album was originally released as an accompaniment to the 1998 triple album “Crystal Ball“, which marked the first time that Prince released an album totally independently “The Truth” was physically released on February 14th, 1997, as a CD single via mail-order through Prince’s fan club exclusively.. “The Truth” was also the first Prince album to be labelled “acoustic,” though it does contain electronic instruments and elements, and it gave listeners an unprecedented chance to hear his song writing and voice in a stripped-down presentation.

Described as an acoustic rock album and folk songs, Prince provides vocals which are reminiscent of Tracy Chapman’s works. Lyrically, the single portrays Prince responding to questions regarding “responsibility and honesty”, in addition to him announcing that “there is no more ‘truth'” left. Furthermore, he expresses themes of salvation, spirituality, and sexuality, and also reveals that anyone can be in “control over one’s own creativity”.

This release marks the first time “The Truth” is available on vinyl with gorgeous, foil-embossed artwork designed by Prince’s long-time art director Steve Parke.

“Live Evil”, the 1983 double album that followed Dio, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Vinny Appice as they toured in support of Sabbath albums “Mob Rules” and “Heaven and Hell” the year before, gets the super deluxe treatment on June 2nd. The 4CD or 4LP sets include the original album newly remastered by Andy Pearce, plus a remix of the same program by longtime band associate Wyn Davies. Both sets will come with a hardcover book including both new liner notes about the album and replicas of the “Mob Rules” tour program and poster.

While “Live At Last”, an official yet band-unsanctioned concert album, had hit stores in 1980, “Live Evil” was released with the full consent of Black Sabbath. And it came at a great time for everyone: a new publishing contract meant greater royalties from Dio singing songs from the group’s back catalogue. (Just months before “Live Evil” hit stores, former frontman Ozzy Osbourne took advantage of this new deal with 1982’s “Speak of the Devil”, a double live album that only featured Sabbath cuts.

Thus, newer tracks like “Neon Knights,” “Children of the Sea,” “Heaven and Hell” and “The Mob Rules” share disc space with classics like “Iron Man,” “Paranoid” and “War Pigs.” Culled from performances in Seattle, San Francisco and Dallas, the members of Sabbath all acknowledged the tour as one of their best. But Iommi and Butler reportedly squabbled with Dio during the mixing of the record, and the tension caused Dio to leave for his own celebrated solo career, taking Appice with him.

4LP boxset with new remixes by Wyn Davis and a 40th anniversary remaster of the original mix. Includes hardback book, replica tour brochure and poster. 

This new edition was remixed by Wyn Davis and remastered for the 40th anniversary and includes a 1982 “The Mob Rules” tour replica hardback concert book, a 40-page book with photos, artwork, and liner notes plus a 1982 “The Mob Rules” tour replica colour poster. It will be available as a 4CD and 4LP set.

Noel Gallagher performed a cover of Joy Division’s “Love Will Tear Us Apart” with the BBC Concert Orchestra during a visit to The Vernon Kay Show on Thursday morning.

The former Oasis guitarist was there with his band High Flying Birds in support of their upcoming new album, “Council Skies”, and joked how one “can’t get out of BBC without doing a cover.” He also shared how he’s done renditions of the iconic song in his home studio for years, but thought it would “be tricky” to do live under the pressure of also being from Manchester.

“You know what? I think I might be able to pull this off,” he said, before introducing the song as “‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ by the Divs.”

During Gallagher’s visit, he also performed his own tracks “AKA… What a Life!” and “Council Skies.” In addition, he sat down with Kay to talk about the 30th anniversary of Oasis’ seminal album “Definitely Maybe”.

“It’s a real privilege when these anniversaries come ’round and kids are still into it,” he said. “You know, it wasn’t thought out, we were the real deal, we were just a bunch of guys who created this noise and the songs are great and it’s still going.”

“Council Skies” is Gallagher’s fourth album with the High Flying Birds, due out June 2nd. It includes the previous single “Easy Now,”  Though it’s pretty clear Oasis won’t be reuniting, you can at least catch Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds who will be doing a hefty number of shows

BBC Radio 2 Piano Room AKA… What A Life! – 0:00 Council Skies – 4:15 Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division cover) – 8:57

I somehow missed that Ryan Adams released a 4 song EP live from Carnegie Hall. Appropriately titled “Return to Carnegie Hall“, the 4 songs were recorded from his May 14th, 2022 appearance at the venue.

In New York City on May 14th, 2022 Ryan Adams returned. He returned to Carnegie Hall. Alone on-stage with just his trusty acoustic guitars and a piano Ryan plays a stunning solo set to a capacity crowd in one of New York’s most iconic venues.

Recorded and mixed by the legendary producer Don Was “Return to Carnegie” hall showcases Ryan’s arsenal of songs at their intimate best. The EP features a lovely piano version of “Two” from his “Easy Tiger” album. I always found the original guitar driven version emotional but there’s something gut wrenching with the way Ryan sings and plays “Two” on piano.

“When the Stars Go Blue” will always have a spot in my heart. From his album “Gold“, this song is one of my favourite songs by Ryan and every version he’s ever done of the song is beautiful and this live version is no exception. Ryan’s vocals have matured since the song was first recorded and this version showcases that. There’s more heart and grit to Ryan’s vocals especially now that he’s sobre. He’s always been a talented vocalist.

From his album, “Chris“, his song “Chris” for his brother was already a heart breaking song, but Ryan states in the intro of the song that the last time he saw his brother was at Carnegie Hall and that makes the song even more heartbreaking. The stripped down version of him, his guitar, and a memory is strikingly wonderful and a beautiful ode to someone who obviously meant the world to him.

“Romeo & Juliet” from the album of the same name, is very similar to the recorded version. It’s just Ryan, his guitar, and the story of lovers and the live version still showcases that harrowing story of doomed love and doomed lovers.

Like most live recordings that Ryan has released, “Return to Carnegie Hall” once again captures the vulnerability of Ryan and also allows the listener to hear his self-deprecation, humour, and talent in a raw honesty that is humbling and beautiful.

There’s a deeper and visceral honesty to the song and Ryan’s vocals. More ache and heartache. More hurt and more healing. Listening to it, I found myself thinking that if Ryan played all his music on piano the whole world would cry rivers up rivers of tears.

The setlist on the night blended in fan favourites such as “Oh My Sweet Carolina”, New York, New York” & “Come Pick Me Up” and deeper cuts “Chris” & “Romeo & Juliet” alongside a cover of Black Sabbath’s “The Wizard”. Ryan’s unique wit, fan interaction and intimate monologues makes this a must have release for all of Ryan’s die hard “DRArmy” fans.

There is a four Lp boxset’s the artwork includes an exclusive monologue about the show written by Ryan himself as well as messages from fans who attended that very night. “Return to Carnegie Hall”.

Since 2013, Boston, Massachusetts band Horse Jumper of Love have been a comforting outlet for the heart-on-sleeve compositions of singer-guitarist Dimitri Giannopoulos. On their self-titled debut and follow-up “So Divine”, drummer Jamie Vadala-Doran and bassist John Margaris worked like an ocean tide, pulling you in with a tranquilizing steadiness before abruptly turning aggressive. The band’s latest release strips back its sound to meet a slack current. Recorded in the Catskills over five days in 2021, “Heartbreak Rules” is a mini-album that, save for a brief piano part in “Chariots” played by Margaris, separates Giannopoulos from his bandmates for the first time in a decade. Backed solely by co-producer Bradford Krieger, he returns with a muted collection that taps into the strengths of the band’s earliest material.

Giannopoulos and Krieger team up for eight new songs, plus two reimagined tracks from 2022’s “Natural Part” and one cover from the vault. Though not as loud or bold as their previous album, the new material on “Heartbreak Rules” still charms. Country guitar and cheery melodies expand the band’s slowcore palette, straying from their established brand of gloom. On the title track, Giannopoulos breaks out a looping fingerpicked riff that shimmers next to slide guitar; the combination suits his raspy, confessional voice, especially when he reaches for higher notes. It’s a glum take on alt-country that’s earned the admiration of Wednesday’s MJ Lenderman.

At the band’s live shows, audience members sway side-to-side, caught in a state of hypnosis; Horse Jumper of Love cast a similar ambiance here. On “Sugar in Your Shoes (Last Night Version),” an acoustic rendition of “Natural Part’s” “I Poured Sugar in Your Shoes,” Giannopoulos sounds like he’s perched at an open window, voice floating into the evening air. The light and unassuming presence of Krieger’s percussion suits the softer material, though there are moments when Vadala-Doran and Margaris’ absence is obvious, like the underpowered build-up in “Queenie’s Necklace” and the meandering tempo of “Act of No Substance.” The familiar tension of Horse Jumper of Love’s more characteristic material is not the goal here.

As a songwriter, Giannopoulos has always been drawn to mundane details, and the quieter scenes on “Heartbreak Rules” are especially intimate: a person talking to herself while looking through the fridge, a conversation in a closet muffled by clothes. In this setting, the Microphones comparisons that Horse Jumper of Love earned in their hushed early years come back into view. A lyric like “Pendulums swinging in the watch store all in discord/She tracks dirt in and leaves a mess wherever she stomps around” is sing-spoken like an old folk artist, with a slight strain on high notes, all of it delivered with an unhurried confidence. Here and on the bright, simple “Singing by the Sink,” he finds a sense of levity that’s rare in his music. This laid-back approach allows Giannopoulos’ cover of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “Luna,” a home recording from almost 10 years ago, to work as the closer. His reverb-soaked take on the “Siamese Dream” classic goes for a lonely, uneasy interpretation. Giannopoulos’ voice is audibly younger in this cover, recasting Billy Corgan’s serenade to a lover as a letter to his own future self. Holed away in the Catskills to revisit his roots years later, he sounds just as content with the pleasure of making quiet music in a quiet place.

All songs written by Dimitri Giannopoulos except for “Luna” written by The Smashing Pumpkins
Performed by Dimitri Giannopoulos & Bradford Krieger.
John Margaris laved piano on “Chariots”

released May 19th, 2023

See them live Bodega Social Thursday 21st September 2023

The Feast of Wire 20th Anniversary Edition is out today! Streaming for the first time ever is the addition of “Live at China Theatre Stockholm” — 10 tracks recorded live in Sweden on the 2004 Feast of Wire European tour.

In early 2003, Calexico released their seminal album “Feast of Wire”, the album that truly marked the duo’s critical and commercial breakthrough. Calexico first released their beloved ‚“Feast of Wire” album 20 years ago and today, to celebrate the anniversary, the band have announced a special deluxe reissue of the record due May 26th via City Slang. ‚”Feast of Wire‘ will be available on CD/LP/DSPs, and for the first time will include the studio recording of Calexico’s iconic version of Love’s “Alone Again Or“, released during the initial Feast campaign but never on vinyl. 

Beginning in June, the band will play a series of headline shows across the year performing the landmark “Feast of Wire” in full as well as a slew of beloved songs from the band’s full repertoire. In addition to the headline dates, the band will play a handful of festivals as well across Europe

We recently unearthed a VHS of the original electronic press kit from 2003. It’s been digitized and the full video is streaming now. As we’ve done in our past few newsletters, Joey wanted to share a memory from the time “Feast of Wire” was first released: 

Reflecting back on the making of “Feast of Wire‘, Joey says, „I’m reminded of how much time and space we had in the studio to try out all sorts of ideas. Most of the recordings started like they often do with John on drums and myself on guitar. And as we brought in the other band members it was like a river was flooding through our subconsciousness and we couldn’t get the ideas to analog tape fast enough.“

We played Austin SXSW quite a few times over the years. I’ll never forget seeing Johnny Cash walk out of Emo’s onto the street in 1994. His presence was massive. The true definition of larger than life. I wanted to say hello but it wasn’t the time or place. Fast-forward to September 12th, 2003 and Calexico is setting up for an outdoor concert at the Tucson Museum of Art and we hear the news of Cash passing away. I asked members of Mariachi Luz de Luna who were on the bill with us to join us for a version of “Ring of Fire”. It was an incredible version and reminded me of why I love touring so much. I love those spontaneous songs and collaborations on tour. It’s a big part of why I love traveling and playing music. It opens you up and introduces to so many people and experiences. 

The 20th Anniversary Edition of “Feast of Wire” drops this Friday! To celebrate, we’re sharing the 2003 EPK — capturing the genesis of the album, unearthed from an old VHS tape.

City Slang releases a re-mastered deluxe edition of the album including bonus track and a bonus live album.