R.E.M. Live at the Olympia

R.E.M. will release a brand-new double live album, entitled R.E.M. Live At The Olympia on October 27th, 2009 via Warner Bros. Records. The two-CD set, produced by Jacknife Lee, features 39 songs that capture the best moments from the band’s 2007 “working rehearsals” at Dublin’s fabled Olympia club where singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, and bassist Mike Mills tested out new songs for R.E.M.’s 2008 studio album Accelerate.

The material was tested were five nights before fired-up, capacity crowds comprised of fan-club members, friends, family, and fans from all over the world who were privy to R.E.M.’s so-called “experiment in terror,” as guitarist Peter Buck puts it. “We were just trying to do something we hadn’t done before,” Buck says, “which meant there was no relaxing during the set. Every second we were playing something we didn’t know all that well. Which was kind of good — there were all kinds of terror elements going on during that show.”

This release gives fans a chance to hear different incarnations of the songs before they were recorded in their final Accelerate versions, including “Man-Sized Wreath” and an early version of “Supernatural Superserious” under its original title “Disguised.” The band has included two bonus songs; “On The Fly” and “Staring Down The Barrel Of The Middle Distance,” that were not included on Accelerate. In addition, the package features many early R.E.M. favorites from the albums Murmur, Reckoning, Fables of the Reconstruction, and Life’s Rich Pageant.

Live At The Olympia will be released in several configurations including the double-CD, featuring 39 tracks, as well as a CD + DVD, which includes concert and backstage footage shot by noted French filmmakers Vincent Moon and Jeremiah who shot all the footage that R.E.M. posted on its various websites connected to Accelerate last year.

R.E.M.Dublin

NIRVANA’S PLATINUM DEBUT ALBUM BLEACH TURNS 20

SUB POP RE-ISSUES RE-MASTERED BLEACH WITH ADDED UNRELEASED LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM 1990

Seattle, WA - Marking the 20th Anniversary of Nirvana’s debut album, Sub Pop will re-issue the Platinum Certified Bleach on November 3, 2009. This expanded CD/double-LP will include a never-before-released live performance, special packaging and the first run of the double-LP will be on 180g white vinyl (the first run of the original LP was also on white vinyl). Both formats will be available for pre-order at subpop.com leading up to this edition’s release.

Originally recorded over three sessions with producer Jack Endino at Seattle’s Reciprocal Recording Studios in December 1988 and January 1989, Bleach was released in June of ’89 and remains unequivocally/unsurprisingly Sub Pop’s very favorite Nirvana full-length. The album initially sold 40,000 copies, but was brought into the international spotlight following the release and worldwide success of their 1991sophomore effort, Nevermind. Subsequently Bleach went on to sell 1.7 million copies in the US alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan. This 20th Anniversary Edition has been re-mastered from the original tapes at Sterling Sound in a session overseen by producer Jack Endino.
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Ask Aunt Wendi: Chapter One

Hello, Dear Ones!

Are you miserable and searching for answers? Well it’s a good thing you ran into me because I can fix you FREE OF CHARGE! I’m not a licensed therapist, but who is? I bought a self-help book once; and like most minor celebrities, I’m a big know-it-all. Think of me as your beloved aunt: the glamorous one that only comes around at Christmas because she’s too busy traveling the world and buying cool presents for you, but your parents don’t like her because she’s free spirited and “flaky” and tells you to do things like follow your dreams and date musicians. Your beloved aunt might also take mood stabilizers and is no stranger to dizziness and dry mouth. It’s called functioning, and it’s a great way to live!

Whaddya say we get this tough love party started?

Dear Aunt Wendi,

I have a bad track record when it comes to love and I need some help. I’m a 45 (48) year old woman with good morals and values. I have a good job, a nice townhouse near the beach, and I’m very active in my mother’s senior group at the Jewish Community Center. She’s 78 and has bad feet, so I go with her on her excursions so she has someone to yell at and collect the bingo winnings. I’m a really good cook and a good housekeeper. Everyone tells me my ex-husband was a fool to leave me for a fat dental hygienist who has the morals and values of an alley cat. I’m a good catch, but the only guys that like me are nerds. Why?

Last week I had coffee with a sales rep from work who is really cute! I think it could turn into something because we have so much in common: we love Italian food (not too spicy!), Z Gallery, Desperate Housewives, Bradley Cooper, and Color Me Mine. He seems to have good morals and values like me, but I don’t know how to take it to the next level. Yesterday I put on my guy-gettin’ cardigan (the red one!) and presented him with one of my world famous Frito pies, but nothing happened. He barely said thank you. What do you think that means, and what should I do next?

Morally yours,

Xxxxxxxxxxx, Sunset Beach, CA

Dear Xxxxxxx,

My darling lady (woman) of questionable age, the reason you attract nerds is that you yourself are a nerd. Before you run crying to your mother, re-read your letter. Would you date someone like you? You started off by telling me that you have good morals and values, which leads me to think that you’re tragic looking. I hope I’m wrong about that, but you really need to rethink the way you describe yourself. You can’t possibly be that boring, and even if you are…well, you can’t possibly be.

Let me cut to the chase, because the idea of a Frito pie is now giving me phantom indigestion. My advice is to accept yourself the way you are and dive head first into the nerd pond! Nerds are my favorite thing in the world. I’ve dated many bad boys, but I’ve only fallen in love with nerds. I’m blissfully married to a nerd right now. So stop hanging out with your mama and go cruise your local bookstore. And forget about the guy at work, although maybe you two can become shopping buddies.
Got a question for Aunt Wendi? Mail it to auntwendi at poprockcandymountain dot com.

The PRCM Show with Josh Fadem

To know Josh Fadem is to love, adore and want to adopt Josh Fadem. He is quirky, sweet and remarkably funny. He is also a generous comedian with impeccable timing and intuition. He is without question, one of the most talented comedians working today. He’s an old Jewish man trapped in the body of a 29 year old.

All Points West NYC Festival Photos and Coverage

By Lauren Mooney
Photos by Nicole Wasilewicz
Pop- Rock Candy Mountain

To see all photos and column click on “Read the Story”.

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We told you so.

We happened upon Shawn Fogel, brilliant artist/songwriter back in August of 2008, about a year ago, and announced to the world, “World. This is Shawn Fogel. He Rocks.”

Now Spin magazine has decided to agree with us. Whoopity Doo!

Just kidding. Kudos to SPIN for giving Golden Bloom the expose they deserve. And ROCK ON Shawn!

Back in January, we featured Golden Bloom as part of our popular Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen series, and loved their Summerteeth-era Wilco vibe. Now, we’ve got an exclusive taste of the band’s forthcoming debut album — download the song “If You Believe” below!

Though the band features other members in live shows, Golden Bloom is primarily the brainchild Shawn Fogel, who plays every instrument on Fan the Flames, due August 18. “Every instrument” doesn’t just mean guitar/bass/drums either — Fogel unleashes some top-notch synthesizer and tenor sax as well.

Both are featured on “If You Believe,” a sunny slice of Americana-tinged rock’n'roll — kissed with flourishes of horns and xylophone. And it’s not just an upbeat sounding song: “You never know where you’re going to find love,” Fogel sings. “Strange places where you never thought you’d find it before.”

“I like to describe the overall tone of Fan the Flames as frustrated optimism or optimistic frustration,” Fogel says. “I think ‘If You Believe’ plays a very important role in elevating the level of hope amidst some of the darker lyrical content.”

Fogel also is hopeful that an unusual online promotion strategy will help get his music to a wider audience: Each of the album’s tracks is premiering on a different website as a free download! (Catch up on the songs you missed here.)

But could this track-at-a-time approach mean people only end up hearing one or two songs? Fogel isn’t worried. “I know that if I hear a song I really like by an artist who is new to me, I’m very inclined to want to hear their whole album,” he tells us. “I’m hoping that people who are just now discovering Golden Bloom will have the same reaction.”

Check out “If You Believe” above, then head over to Pop Wreckoning next week for track number eight! -Spin Magazine