This week, fans around the world will be celebrating John Lennon‘s 70th birthday. As a member of The Beatles (likely to rank at the top of our current countdown of KEXP listeners’ Favorite Artists of All Time) and as a solo artist, Lennon impacted popular music perhaps more than any other artist, and Capitol Records is marking the occasion of his birth with a deluxe 11 CD box set collecting digitally remastered editions of all his solo studio albums spanning the years 1971-84 plus a two-CD collection of rarities entitled Lennon Home Demos.
Tune in from 2-6PM to find out how you can win. Plus, it’s our Fall Membership Drive, so you can help support independent radio at the same time.
And without member support, we wouldn’t be able to bring you columns like Out This Week, where you can find free MP3′s and videos that will help you discover new music and in these tighter economic times make smart choices about the albums you buy.
Take, for instance, the new album by Fistful of Mercy, whose name might not ring any bells for you but whose members surely will: Joseph Arthur, Ben Harper and Dhani Harrison (son of the late George Harrison). The three gentlemen chose KEXP among only a very few stations and venues by which to introduce their project and perform live just over a month ago. Their debut release, As I Call You Down, is available today on Dhani Harrison’s own Hot Records. Here’s one of the songs from the album:
Also hitting record store shelves today is another great debut, this time by The Corin Tucker Band (Corin of Sleater-Kinney, that is), who will be live on KEXP this Saturday at 6PM. British Sea Power return with an EP to anticipate their forthcoming 2011 full-length, and the surgical mask wearing Liverpudlians Clinic are back with their sixth studio album, Bubblegum. More great British rock is available today from Tricky, whose new album, Mixed Race, comes out on Domino, and from Travis frontman Fran Healy. And speaking of frontmen releasing solo albums: Tim Kasher, of Omaha band Cursive and The Good Life, introduces his first solo album, The Game of Monogamy, on Saddle Creek Records.
You can find a full rundown of the week’s new releases on Largehearted Boy’s list and sample more songs here:
Allo Darlin’ - My Heart is a Drummer (MP3)
from Allo Darlin’ on Fortuna Pop
Apache Beat - Another Day (MP3)
from Last Chants on Babylon Records
Bonjay - Jamelia (Caribou Cover) (MP3)
from Broughtupsy on Mysteries of Trade
British Sea Power - Zeus (MP3)
from Zeus EP on Rough Trade Records
Clinic - I’m Aware
from Bubblegum on Domino
The Corin Tucker Band - Doubt (MP3)
from 1,000 Years on Kill Rock Stars
Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords - Our Love is a Mighty Fortress (MP3)
from Grant Cutler and the Gorgeous Lords (self-released)
Dark Dark Dark - Daydreaming (MP3)
from Wild Go on Supply and Demand
Fran Healy - Buttercups
from Wreckorder on Rykodisc
Alain Johannes - Return to You (MP3)
from Spark on Ipecac Recordings
Jupe Jupe - Something About Love (MP3)
from Invaders (self-released)
Tim Kasher - Cold Love
from The Game of Monogamy on Saddle Creek
Leland Sundries - Elegy (MP3)
from The Apothecary EP on L’echiquier Records
Metrofique - Chain That Ends (MP3)
from Swing for the Fences on For Music Kind
The Morning Benders - Outlaw Blues (Bob Dylan Cover) (MP3)
from Subterranean Homesick Blues: A Tribute to Bob Dylan’s Bringing It
from All Back Home on Reimagine
Olympus - Is Love an Emotion (MP3)
from Bold Mould on Soft Abuse
Pancake Breakfast - Little Bird (MP3)
from Pancake Breakfast on Noise Nest
Redstone Hall - Get Back Jack (MP3)
from ElePhant (self-released)
Liam Singer - Winter Weeds (MP3)
from Dislocatia on Hidden Shoal Recordings
Soars - Throw Yourself Apart (MP3)
from Soars on La Societe Expeditionnaire
Marnie Stern - For Ash (MP3)
from Marnie Stern on Kill Rock Stars
Tricky - Murder Weapon
from Mixed Race on Domino
Sharon Van Etten - Love More (MP3)
from epic on Ba Da Bing
Dustin Wong - Talking Walking Cloud (MP3)
from Infinite Love on Thrill Jockey
Tom Ze - Sincope Jaobim (MP3)
from Estudando a Bosso on Luaka Bop
VA - Ninja Tune XX Box
tracks selected By Grasscut:
One Comment
John Lennon’s 7oth birthday! Oh my, do I ever feel old! Thanks for the info on your Fall Membership Drive. I will pass it on and link to you. Mags @ Pet Sitting