Alternative Music News
Matt Berninger Sets Release Date For Debut Solo Album, Shares “Serpentine Prison”: Stream
Matt Berninger and Booker T. Jones, photo via Chris Sgroi It was more than six months ago that The National’s Matt Berninger first announced the release of his debut solo album, Serpentine Prison. Now, he’s finally ready for all to hear it. Berninger has set an October 2nd release through Book Records, a new imprint he created with the album’s producer, Booker T. Jones. Berninger and Jones first collaborated on Jones’ 2013 song “Representing Memphis”. Later, when Berninger set out to make his own solo record, The National frontman identified Jones as the perfect producer. As Berninger told The New York Times last year, he “wanted someone who could corral nearly 20 guest musicians, and someone who could provide the late-night, timeless atmosphere” of Willie Nelson’s Stardust,...
Billy Corgan Gives Quarantine Performance of “Hard Times” on Fallon: Watch
Despite his fondness for far-right, anti-government figures like Alex Jones, Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan seems to be abiding by stay-at-home orders. He’s even grown himself a quarantine beard (!) — which he proudly showed off during an in-home performance for Monday’s episode of The Tonight Show. Supporting his 2019 solo album, Cotillions, served up a delicate rendition of his song “Hard Times”. Watch below. Corgan’s Pumpkins were supposed to go on tour with Guns N’ Roses this summer, but obviously that’s no longer happening. On the plus side, it gives Corgan ample time to finish up those two new studio albums he’s been promising. [embedded content] You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you ...
Bono Names Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead” as a Song That “Saved My Life”
For his 60th birthday, U2 frontman Bono curated a list of “60 Songs That Saved My Life”. As part of the project, he penned individual letters to each of the artists behind his songs of choice. Among those receiving the a handwritten note from Bono was Kanye West, whose Yeezus cut “Black Skinhead” sounded like nothing [Bono had] ever heard before.” Bono was actually in the SNL house the night “Black Skinhead” debuted in 2013. “I was a hundred feet away from your feet,” the letter begins. “Your eyes were shut so as not to be distracted from the words you had just written around the corner.” The letter quotes some favorite lyrics, and suggests that with this performance, “It felt like hip hop wanted the black leather jacket back from rock ‘n roll…. and the rock ‘n roll sil...
Over 700 Independent Musicians Sign Open Letter Asking Congress for COVID-19 Relief
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, over 700 musicians have signed an open letter asking the US Congress to increase relief measures for artists. A wide range of acts have signed the petition so far, including Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto, Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, Deafheaven, Julia Holter, Charly Bliss, and Jeff Rosenstock. The newly formed Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) penned the letter as a way to ask their government representatives — especially Speaker Pelosi, Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, and leaders of the Congressional Arts Caucus — to consider more helpful COVID-19 relief measures for artists. To make contacting representatives easier, the union has created a special phone number to connect callers to the aforementioned offices, the prompts of which ar...
Iggy Pop Reads a Bedtime Story About His Beloved His Dog
Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s”Bedtime Stories” is a new initiative for NYC’s The New Museum in which musicians and other creators reading short tales in a soothing voice. The inaugural edition features Iggy Pop and his beloved dog Tromba. This is not your typical bedtime story, and should probably not be played for small children. While it begins with Iggy Pop falling in love with a stray “across the divided highway,” the story climaxes with Tromba’s death some time later after being hit by a car. But even so, the punk icon’s affection for the dog is never in doubt, and he peppers the story with moments of humor. “I picked you up and put you on my lap and thought about keeping you,” he said, “and in less than a minute I was covered in fleas.” He ends the tale with a touching message for ...
Tame Impala Zone Out on 18-Minute-Long Remix of “One More Year”: Stream
Earlier this month, London-based online radio station NTS Radio hosted a star-studded 24-hour livestream that featured Tame Impala, among dozens of others. It seems like Kevin Parker had a good time on the show then because he’s partnering with NTS Radio once more, this time to release a dazzling 18-minute-long (!) remix of “One More Year”. The Slow Rush opener clocks in just over five minutes on the band’s new album. But here, in Parker’s hands, it gets a self-described “balearic house reimagining.” A deep bass drum beat thuds in the background while Parker’s vocal track fades in and out of focus, echoing like it’s being broadcast in a massive warehouse. The synths twist slowly by comparison, creating an overall effect that feels like you’re running in a sprint but your vision is blurry. ...
DEVO Selling Energy Dome Face Shields
Regardless of what MAGA Nation says, wearing a face mask during a pandemic does not make you a communist. And as the weeks pass by, said face covers are becoming more and more fashion forward. Case in point: DEVO have just unveiled custom face shields made in the style of their iconic Energy Domes (via BrooklynVegan). Not only will you be protecting yourself from airborne particles, but you’ll also be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the DEVO’s world-famous head gear. In a note included alongside the PPE kit’s web store listing, DEVO’s Gerard Casale reflected on the significance of their Energy Domes. It’s the 40th anniversary of DEVO’s Energy Dome – a DEVO icon that is often as misunderstood as the band itself. Although they have been mistaken for flower pots, dog bowls, car urina...
David Bowie’s Rare LiveAndWell.com Album Released Wide for First Time: Stream
Today, artists using the Internet to surprise release music, make listeners jump through digital hoops to get new songs, or otherwise connect with fans is commonplace. But back in the early aughts, David Bowie was at the forefront of the interconnected age with his very own dial-up Internet service provider, BowieNet. In 1999, subscribing to the ISP was the only way to get your hands on Bowie’s live album LiveAndWell.com. Fast forward to now, and the rare collection is being released commercially for the very first time. Stream it below via Apple Music and Spotify. In addition to the original 10 songs, the commercial edition of LiveAndWell.com includes a pair of bonus tracks: “Pallas Athena” and “V-2 Schneider”, the latter of which is named after Kraftwerk’s Florian Schneider, who passed a...
Livestream Built to Spill’s Career-Spanning Set at Pickathon Music Festival
This week, Consequence of Sound is once again teaming up with Pickathon Music Festival to stream past festival performances. This week, we’ll be sharing sets from Built to Spill, Warpaint, and Joseph. Today, you can revisit the 2018 set from indie rock godfathers Built to Spill. It’s streaming live on our Facebook page beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET. On Saturday, we’ll be streaming Warpaint’s 2014 performance at Pickathon. On Sunday, you can catch Joseph’s 2015 performance. All the performances can be viewed on our Facebook page. Proceeds from Pickathon’s “A Concert A Day” livestreaming series benefit MusiCares’ COVD-19 Relief Fund. Viewers can donate to the fund directly on Facebook. Built to Spill Setlist:Get a LifeIn the MorningKicked It in the SunThe PlanSome Other SongVirgin...
Alanis Morissette to Host Cast and Crew of Jagged Little Pill for Livestream Benefit
Right before the lockdown started, I was lucky enough to take in performance of the truly phenomenal Jagged Little Pill. With Broadway remaining closed through at least Labor Day, it’ll be some time before people get to witness the stage show again. Thankfully, Alanis Morissette will bring a piece of the production into your home when she hosts the cast and crew for a benefit livestream on Tuesday, May 19th. Dubbed “You Live, You Learn: A Night with Alanis Morissette and Jagged Little Pill” and taking place from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. EDT on the Jagged Little Pill Facebook and YouTube pages, the event will benefit the Actors Fund’s COVID-19 relief efforts. As Rolling Stone reports, Morissette will perform and co-host the livestream with SafePlace International founder Justin Hilton The event wi...
James Blake Covers Joni Mitchell’s “A Case of You” on Corden from Quarantine: Watch
James Blake has been spending his time in quarantine perfecting the art of the cover song. In March, the UK crooner took to Instagram Live to perform countless originals by Radiohead, Billie Eilish, and Frank Ocean. He also tackled the Joni Mitchell track “A Case of You”, which he released on his own Enough Thunder EP from 2011. For his remote appearance on the Late Late Show with James Corden on Tuesday, Blake again dusted off that Mitchell cover. Cozied up to a piano in his own sunlit living space, the Grammy winner delicately, softly sang his way through the 1971 single. Elsewhere in last night’s episode, Blake spoke to Corden about his upcoming projects. He said his newest single, “Too Precious”, would likely end up on his next album, though “the rest of the stuff is quite di...
Rivers Cuomo Covers Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box”: Watch
Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo has kept busy during quarantine by hosting a semi-regular Zoom webinar for fans, during which he’s answered questions, offered play-throughs, and even performed some songs. During a recent installment, as Stereogum points out, Cuomo did his best Post Malone impersonation and covered Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box”. His version was played on piano, next to a giant plant and a bottle of hand sanitizer. Watch below. In related news, over the weekend Weezer made their Simpsons debut on an episode called “The Hateful Eight Year Olds”. They also recently debuted a new track called “Hero”, from their upcoming, but currently-delayed new studio album, Van Weezer. [embedded content]
