44 posts from June 2009

KCRW TOP 50 FOR WEEK OF 06/22/2009

  1 ZAP MAMA == Recreation >> [Heads Up]
  2 WILCO == Wilco >> [Nonesuch]
  3 LITTLE DRAGON == Machine Dreams >> [Peacefrog]
  4 QUANTIC & HIS COMBO BARBARO == Tradition In Transition >> [Tru Thoughts]
  5 MOS DEF == Ecstatic >> [Downtown]
  6 PHOENIX == Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix >> [Glassnote]
  7 MIIKE SNOW == Miike Snow >> [Downtown]
  8 GRIZZLY BEAR == Veckatimest >> [Warp Music]
  9 BAT FOR LASHES == Two Suns >> [Astralwerks]
10 CONTE, NICOLA == Rituals >> [Emarcy]
11 NOVALIMA == Coba Coba - Remixed >> [Cumbancha]
12 DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE == Dark Night Of The Soul >> [Unreleased]
13 HORRORS == Primary Colours >> [Xl]
14 BIBIO == Ambivalence Avenue >> [Warp Music]
15 BLACK MOTH SUPER RAINBOW == Eating Us >> [Graveface]
16 SHARPE, EDWARD & THE MAGNETIC ZEROS == Up From Below >> [Vagrant]
17 SPIRITUAL JAZZ COMPILATION == Spiritual Jazz >> [Now Again]
18 DZIHAN KAMIEN == Music Matters >> [Couch]
19 MOBY == Wait For Me >> [Little Idiot]
20 KUTI, FEMI == Day By Day >> [Mercer Street]
21 DATAROCK == Red >> [Nettwerk]
22 CROOKED SPOKE == Crooked Spoke >> [Advance]
23 NOISETTES == Wild Young Hearts >> [Vertigo]
24 THA BOOGIE == Long Time Know See >> [Velma]
25 WAXPLOITATION COMPILATION == Causes 2 >> [Waxploitation]
26 SONIC YOUTH == Eternal >> [Matador]
27 MERRIWEATHER, DANIEL == Love & War >> [J]
28 SPEKTOR, REGINA == Far >> [Sire]
29 HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE == Hypnotic Brass Ensemble >> [Honest Jons]
30 OCOTE SOUL SOUNDS & ADRIAN QUESADA == Coconut Rock >> [Esl]
31 TRUE BLOOD == Ost - Music By Lucinda Williams, Dr John >> [Elektra]
32 NOSAJ THING == Drift >> [Alpha Pup]
33 OM COMPILATION == Om Lounge - 15 Year >> [Om]
34 K'NAAN == Troubadour >> [A&m/octone]
35 BURAKA SOM SISTEMA == Black Diamond >> [Fabric]
36 RED HOT COMPILATION == Dark Was The Night >> [4ad]
37 A CAMP == Colonia >> [Nettwerk]
38 ANIMAL COLLECTIVE == Merriweather Post Pavilion >> [Domino]
39 SANGARE, OUMOU == Seya >> [World Circuit]
40 HAWTHORNE, MAYER == Advance >> [Stones Throw]
41 HARRISON, GEORGE == Let It Roll - Best Of >> [Capitol]
42 DORFMEISTER, RICHARD == Cafe Caprice Vol Two >> [Advance]
43 MOSCHELLA, NINO == Boomshadow >> [Ubiquity]
44 LINDSTROM & PRINS THOMAS == Ii >> [Eskimo]
45 NICKODEMUS == Sun People >> [Esl]
46 ROSE, JESSE == What Do You Do If You Don't >> [Made To Play]
47 JUAN MACLEAN == Future Will Come >> [Dfa]
48 COCKER, JARVIS == Further Complications >> [Rough Trade]
49 KASABIAN == West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum >> [Rca]
50 DJ VADIM == U Can't Lurn Imaginashun >> [Bbe]

Here are Jason’s favorite albums of the year so far, as spotlighted in our Summer Music Guide. See ALL our DJ’s picks and more.

Jason Bentley (host of Morning Becomes Eclectic and KCRW Music Director)

1) Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix  

2) The Horrors - Primary Colors

3) Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career   

4) Grizzly Bear - Veckatimist   

5) Jose James - The Dreamer  

6) Hockey - Mind Chaos  

7) Starsailor - All The Plans  

8) Amadou & Mariam - Welcome To Mali

9) Yeah Yeah Yeah's - It's Blitz   

10) Neko Case - Middle Cyclone   

RR

Upcoming Live Performances on MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC with host JASON BENTLEY

Tuesday, June 30, Brooklyn rockers Amazing Baby perform their epic songs echoing a T. Rex  vibe on Morning Becomes Eclectic live at 11:15am.

Thursday, July 2, Innovative producer William Orbit, who’s worked with everyone from Madonna to Beth Orton, performs for the very 1st time in the United States on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Friday, July 3, Yusuf better known as Cat Stevens joins Jason Bentley to talk about his life and share insights into his music. Joined by his band, they’ll perform signature songs and along with new tracks on Morning Becomes Eclectic in the 11 o’clock hour.

Monday, July 6, Reared in a music-loving household in North London, sibling trio Kitty Daisy & Lewis create original rockabilly, R&B and vintage country songs which they’ll share with Morning Becomes Eclectic listeners at 11:15am.

Tuesday, July 7, An Australian living in Nashville, Butterfly Boucher spent the last three years fighting to release her sophomore CD and we’re glad she did! We’ll hear her catchy toe-tapping melodies and pristine vocals live on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Wednesday, July 8, Musical revolutionaries Tortoise turned American indie rock upside down in the 90’s and they haven’t stopped since. Be prepared for a sonic treat when they perform new compositions on Morning Becomes Eclectic at 11:15am.

Friday, July 10, American troubadour Ray LaMontagne creates modern folk songs that are lush and earthy. Joined by his band, he’ll perform live songs on Morning Becomes Eclectic before heading out to headline KCRW’s World Festival at the Hollywood  Bowl.

KCRW PRESENTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Wednesday, July 1, EULOGIES AT THE ECHO.
Thurs, July 2, NICKODEMUS AT AFRO FUNKE’ AT ZANZIBAR.
Tues, July 7, VIEUX FARKA TOURE AT THE TROUBADOUR.Fri, July 10, ANDREW BIRD AT THE GREEK THEATRE.
Fri, July 10, SARA LOV AT THE MINT.
Fri, July 17, TORI AMOS AT THE GREEK THEATRE.
Wed, July 22, ELBOW AT THE WILTERN.
Fri, July 24, CURUMIN AT THE MERCURY LOUNGE IN GOLETA.
Sun, July 26, KCRW's WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL feat. GRACE JONES, OF MONTREAL, DENGUE FEVER at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
Thurs, July 30, HONEYHONEY, LAL MERI AND JULIETTE COMMAGERE AT THE ROXY.
Mon, August 3, GOMEZ WITH BLIND PILOT AT THE WILTERN.
Sat, August 8, HARD FESTIVAL features UNDERWORLD plus TIGA, A-TRAK, CHROMEO, CRYSTAL CASTLES, STEVE AOKI, DESTRUCTO, AND MORE AT THE FORUM.
Sun, August 9, KCRW's WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL: REGGAE NIGHT VIII feat. TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS, MICHAEL ROSE, GREGORY ISAACS at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
Wed, August 19, EMILIANA TORRINI AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Sun, August 23, FRIENDLY FIRES AT THE GLASS HOUSE IN POMONA.
Mon, August 24, FRIENDLY FIRES AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Thurs, August 27, CONOR OBERST AND THE MYSTIC VALLEY BAND AT THE ECHOPLEX.
Thurs, August 27, PETE YORN WITH ZEE AVI AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Sat, August 29, BAND OF HORSES with WILLOUGHBY AT THE FOX THEATRE IN POMONA.  
Mon, August 31, BAT FOR LASHES AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.
Sat, September 5, SEA WOLF with SARA LOV AT SPACELAND.
Fri, September 11, MAXIMO PARK AT THE AVALON.
Sun, September 20, KCRW's WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL: INDIA CALLING! feat. MALKIT SINGH, KAILASH KHER at THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL.
Fri, September 25, BON IVER AT THE WILTERN.
Fri, September 25, RODRIGO Y GABRIELA AT THE ORPHEUM.
Tues, September 29, SONIC YOUTH AT THE WILTERN.
Thurs, October 1, THE HORRORS AT THE EL REY THEATRE.
Fri, October 2, THE HORRORS AT THE GLASS HOUSE IN POMONA .
Sat, October 3, THE SECOND ANNUAL MANIMAL FESTIVAL FEATURING: BAT FOR LASHES, OTHER LIVES, CHAIRLIFT, EDWARD SHARPE AND THE MAGNETIC ZEROS AND OTHERS AT PAPPY & HARRIETS IN PIONEERTOWN.
Tues, October 6, ROBYN HITCHCOCK AT SPACELAND.
Wed, October 7, FEVER RAY AT THE MUSIC BOX AT THE HENRY FONDA.

Every single DJ here at the station is spinning tracks off Phoenix’s new album so there was a lot of anticipation about their performance here today. I was lucky enough to see them last night at the Wiltern, where I witnessed one of the most ecstatic music audiences I have ever seen in LA. LA music fans can be a quiet and still bunch, which isn’t exactly a thrill for a live rock show but the folks at last night’s gig couldn’t have been more animated and rowdy in the best way, with lots of hoots and hollers (the show was followed by a spontaneous dance party when Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” started playing over the PA.)

It was a special night and they maintained that energy for their performance this morning, which included favorite “Too Young” among a slew of new songs which are easily among their best work yet. It’s fair to say their new album “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” is taking the band to the next level and we’re so excited to have been with them along the way.

Check it out here

And here’s one from the archives

RR

MJ Tribute J Logic

Garth Trinidad hosted a spectacular tribute to Michael Jackson with special guests including DJ Jedi, J Logic and Rome. They took over the turntables for an evening of memories and music by late Michael Jackson.

Garth also appeared on the Newshour with Jim Lehrer to discuss MJ's legacy on Friday.

*studio photos courtesy of Kajon Cernak

RR

Raul and DJ Jedi

Etta James, who was scheduled to appear on the KCRW World Festival series at the Hollywood Bowl on June 28, 2009, has been forced to cancel due to illness. James is replaced by legendary music icon Chaka Khan. Janelle Monáe opens the show and Adele with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Strings headlines.

RR

Share your thoughts and remembrances on the life and music of Michael Jackson at KCRW.com.  Pay tribute, share a memory, tell us your favorite Michael Jackson song or album. Also, check out tribute shows from Michael Barnes (filling in for Garth Trinidad) and Raul Campos in the archives (under “recent shows” – June 25)

In addition, Music Director Jason Bentley drove out to Neverland Ranch last night and left a candle. Here him chat about it with Adele, who dropped by the studio, here.

RR

KCRW’s Summer Music Guide is the ultimate resource for what to listen to – both live and recorded – over the next few months. We’re proud to showcase the Top Ten Albums of Summer 2009 – the top albums of the year thus far as chosen by each of our DJs. Consider it a preview for our annual end of the year lists. Also, DJ Henry Rollins offers his musings on some of his favorite warm weather listens HERE.

Also, we preview some of the fantastic live music events happening across Southern California this summer.  

SUMMER MUSIC GUIDE

RR

Okkervil River is propelled by richly orchestrated music with stunning wordplay. Their explosive live performances have gained them a strong following outside of their hometown of Austin and we were thrilled to have them in studio today, before they open for Wilco later tonight. Singer Will Sheff delves deep into his songwriting process for the new album during his interview with Jason. His creativity seems to have no bounds when it comes to crafting songs. They played a bunch of tracks – old and new – including a rousing version of “Life is Not a Movie or Maybe.”

Check it out here

RR