Wednesday, August 27, 2014

PRINCE: ART OFFICIAL AGE


Prince & 3rdeyegirl
The Purple One is set to release two albums on the same day. Mark your calendars—September 30th! Prince might be aiming for total domination and he's more than capable of pulling it off. ART OFFICIAL AGE is a solo album aided by Joshua Welton. The second offering will be titled PLECTRUMELECTRUM, and will feature 3RDEYEGRIL. The latter will be the debut recording from Prince and the all-female band. His Purpleness was quoted as saying, "No one can play like this band... People are going to try, but they won't be able to." If you're interested in pre-ordering either of these releases, click here. In all, there will be 25 tracks, with "FUNKNROLL" being the only song to appear on both. Rumors are swirling about a potential tour. Please come back to The Bay.

Prince | "Breakfast Can Wait" | ART OFFICIAL AGE



eightychoices.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Biophilia | Björk

In 2013, Björk embarked upon an audio/visual tour which gathered its inspiration from nature, and the result was otherworldly. Filmed by Nick Fenton and Peter Strickland, the two directors captured this imaginative mosaic that stands alone as a true work of art—multimedia doesn't begin to describe it. Björk has always been at the precipice of forward-thinking when it pertains to her music, fashion, and overall artistic influence. For those of us who didn't make it to a live show, Björk thankfully decided to release this groundbreaking performance as a touring film. The Roxie in San Francisco will host the Bay Area premier October 10th through the 12th. There will be a total of 10 showings over the course of those three days. For a complete list of where and when Biophilia Live will be, click here.

Björk | Biophilia Live | 2013



eightychoices.

Friday, August 15, 2014

Built to Spill

Doug Martsch | Guitar Hero & Poet
Doug Martsch and his bandmates play the Uptown Theatre tonight in Napa. I'm guessing that their rocking reverb will rattle the renovated walls of this intimate theatre (capacity 863). Built to Spill was (and is) a go-to band for me. They were a fixture during those formative high school years, helping me develop a sense of what was cool. There's Nothing Wrong With Love is an all-time great album and one that I listened to heavily in my teens. For over two decades and counting, Built to Spill has been (by far) one of the best American rock outfits. Powerful energy was woven around brilliant lyricism when they unleashed Perfect Form Now On, their major label debut from 1997. Following that album they continued to wow with Keep It Like a Secret. Those two records need to be heard; they only demand that you play them uninterrupted. Rarely does a recording artist tackle such monumental ground on two consecutive albums (Dylan, Stevie Wonder, and Radiohead come to mind). To date, they've released eight full-length records. I know it may be the day-of, but if you have the extra time and money, tonight's show will be worth it. I have yet to attend an Uptown Theatre show. It looks beautiful, so my excitement is two-fold. Even though I've seen Built to Spill many times, Doug's canon of songs are sure to strike a chord with me. It's been too long since the last time. See you there.

Built to Spill | "The Plan" | Keep It Like a Secret



eightychoices.

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Third Man Records | Vault #21

Third Man Records | Vault #21
Next up in the pipe-line of Third Man Records are choice cuts from The White Stripes. The Vault is a yearlong gift that keeps me eagerly waiting for each quarter's treasure. Vault #21 is titled, Live Under the Lights of the Rising Sun. This double LP will tell the story of The Stripes' first-ever overseas journey. Not only will there be 31 stunning tracks from two complete live shows, but a collection of photos from the performances that have gone unseen for nearly 14 years will accompany the vinyl. An additional treat in the form of a 7" record will be our first exposure to new songs from Dead Weather. And just in case Mr. White hasn't given Vault members enough, there will be a Third Man Records flag added for good measure. Thanks be to Nashville—long live Third Man Records. Below is a small sample.



eightychoices.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

First Aid Kit

This folk duo from Sweden will repair your wounds with their angelic voices. First Aid Kit has matured in sound and acclaim since their emergence on YouTube in 2008. The two sisters have honed their craft with unique elegance, separating their music from the other noise. In 2012, the single "Emmylou" proved to be a coming-out of sorts in regards to their song-smithing. Since then, Johanna and Klara have moved into the consciousness of their peers. They have recorded with Jack White, Conor Oberst, and fellow Swede, Lykke Li. On November 13th they'll grace the Fox Theater in Oakland. Here's to the Söderberg sisters' willingness to tackle a Jack White song in their own vernacular.

First Aid Kit | Covering: Love Interruption (Jack White)



eightychoices.