Singer-songwriter Jessica Lea Mayfield and Dan Auerbach, who produced her first two records, recorded an impressive version of my favorite Brian Jonestown Massacre cut. Check it out here.
Video: James Iha “To Who Knows Where” Preview
James Iha’s sophomore LP, Look to the Sky, arrives this month in Japan with the rest of the world seeing release later in the year, but now we finally have a studio taste of what the former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist has in store for the follow-up to 1998’s Let It Come Down. Turns out Iha still has the old SP muse in his tunes with a bit of influence from the Cure worn on his sleeve, if this official video teaser for “To Who Knows Where” is any indication. Inspired by the 1976 David Bowie-starring science fiction film The Man Who Fell to Earth, director Adam Neustadter filmed Iha in the desert of Joshua Tree, California for the clip — complete with a scene in a tunnel referencing Blade Runner.
As a fan of his debut, anticipation was already running high, but now I can’t wait to hear this set (and song) in full. Check out half of “To Who Knows Where” below:
Neil Young & Crazy Horse Announce Americana Album
The first of a pair of forthcoming LPs from Neil Young and the reformed Crazy Horse lineup was revealed tonight in the form of a folk covers collection dubbed simply Americana, due out on June 5th. Don’t assume its “songs we all know from kindergarten” description or children’s choir accompaniment mean Neil, Billy Talbot, Ralph Molina, and Frank “Poncho” Sampedro have re-imagined their legendary rock show for kids, however. Per the press release (via Rolling Stone), there’s political and cultural relevance to the set below the surface:
What ties these songs together is the fact that while they may represent an America that may no longer exist. The emotions and scenarios behind these songs still resonate with what’s going on in the country today with equal, if not greater impact nearly 200 years later. The lyrics reflect the same concerns and are still remarkably meaningful to a society going through economic and cultural upheaval, especially during an election year. They are just as poignant and powerful today as the day they were written.
Produced by Neil Young, John Hanlon, and Mark Humphreys, more surprising cuts include “Gallows Pole,” ’50s doo-wop hit “Get A Job,” and “God Save The Queen,” which was unspecified as either a cover of the Sex Pistols’ punk anthem or the British monarchical anthem. Check out the cover above and tracklist below:
Americana Tracklist
01. “Oh Susannah”
02. “Clementine”
03. “Tom Dooley”
04. “Gallows Pole”
05. “Get A Job”
06. “Travel On”
07. “High Flyin’ Bird”
08. “She’ll Be Comin ’Round The Mountain”
09. “This Land Is Your Land”
10. “Wayfarin’ Stranger”
11. “God Save The Queen”