4waystop

Finally, they are Close to Fine...Indigo Girls Launch own imprint and abandon major league record labels

I have always liked the sexually ambiguous Indigo Girls, who hail from the (US) state of Georgia.  Growing up, I had the opportunity to see them in both clubs and in coffee houses with crowds ranging in size from 5 to 500.  But these chicks never gave up and in 1989 published what I consider to be a seminal folk rock album that included the hit single "Closer I am to Fine" and "Are you on Fire, with backing vocals with Michael Stipe."  it was one sweet record.  Anyhow, according to paste.com, the Indigo Girls have broken the shackles of Corporate Rock and have become independent rockers once again.

Courtesy of Paste.com:  The article follows

After 10 albums with major labels (nine with Epic, one on Hollywood), the Indigo Girls will launch their own imprint, called IG Recordings, through Vanguard Records. The launch of the imprint coincides with the release of their next full-length, Poseidon And The Bitter Bug, on March 24.

"I feel a great sense of freedom in finally being rid of the major-label world," Amy Ray said in a statement. "I am overwhelmingly excited to be independent because it really is where the heart of music sits for me. I don't have many regrets about the major-label life of the band because we certainly got a lot out of it. We were lucky enough to be on Epic when Pearl Jam and Rage Against The Machine were our label-mates and the company was developing bands with the intent of creating catalog artists... Beyond that, it never fed my soul the way an independent career can."

The new album was recorded in Atlanta and features something new for the Indigo Girls, a second, acoustic CD. The second disc includes acoustic versions of all the songs, plus a bonus track, "Salty South."

"It's basically like two perspectives of the same song," Ray told Billboard. "It gives everybody both sides of the equation."

Keep an eye out for the group's Spring/Summer tour.

Related links:
News: New Indigo Girls record set for early 2009 release
Feature: Catching Up With... Amy Ray
News: Indigo Girl Amy Ray readies Kinder album

Have you heard about the Rockin Band in Gay Paris

Paris, France based Ultrazeen is celebrating the release of a new maxi single in a genre that they dub "Rock-Folk".  The 4 piece band of brothers has been playing together since 2002 and has mastered the sound that "The Clash" left behind in the early 1980's and list influences as varied from Johnny Cash and John Lee Hooker to Frank Sinatra and Iggy and the Stooges.

Ultrazeen sees themselves as the heirs to the Who, the Stooges and the John Spencer Blues Explosion and play shows that truly buzz with electricity.  They believe that after six years of hard work taking their place as the dark princes of gallic rock and roll.

These guys really deserve a listen and the purchase of a ticket if they come to your area. And the promise always holds, if you do go see them and you think they suck...mail us your concert ticket and we will send you a 4waystop ticket compliments of the folks at Dixie Cream Sugar Biscuits.

To read more about and listen to Ultrazeen: 

  http://www.myspace.com/ultrazeen 

BODEANS NEW CD "STILL"

Roots-rock group the BoDeans will be releasing their eighth studio album, "Still," on March 4th via their record label He & He LP, with distribution through Koch. The disc was produced by T-Bone Burnett and features 12 new tracks full of the heartfelt lyrics, passionate harmonies, and ringing guitars they have become known for. To support the album, a nationwide tour is being planned for spring.
Since their inception in 1983, the BoDeans have had eight albums in the Billboard Top 200 and multiple singles in the Top 40. They were named "Best New Band" by Rolling Stone magazine in 1987, and also gained national exposure by touring with U2 that same year.

Tom Woodward

Since releasing his debut album at the National Folk Festival in Australia, in April 2007, Canberran folk singer songwriter Tom Woodward has not stopped touring.  While receiving much critical acclaim for Blue Day Requiem (the 11 song LP he has been busy promoting), Woodward has somehow found time to sit down and start work on a follow-up album. Due for release in mid 2008, Broken Heart Hustle (working title) will take Woodward down a similar path to that of his finger picking bluegrass heroes; the rustic twang of Jerry Garcia and the archaic vocal of Tim Hardin.  Desire, the first single from the album, and its B-side The Third Wheel, takes a departure from the doom-laden melancholy of Blue Day Requiem. Both songs feature Woodward's previously unutilized finger-picking skills and present a less pessimistic outlook on life than his previous work. 
Below is the video for Desire and if you'd like to hear more, visit his MySpace page.
*On a side note, I really like this guy and it's a pleasure for me to get new music that I actually enjoy.  

R.E.M. TO "ACCELERATE" TOWARDS NEW RELEASE

Hey R.E.M. fans, I know you have been waiting a long time (just about as long as G&R fans, only with more hope) but, fear not, there is new music on its way from the the Athens, GA band.

The release date of the new CD titled "Accelerate" is April 1, 2008. The guitar driven music  was tested out during a summer run in Dublin.
"I feel like there's a confidence in the material, and a communication between the three of us that hasn't been there for some time," front man Michael Stipe told Uncut. "We didn't talk to each other for a couple of records -- as friends or as band mates. And we reached a point before this LP where we just sat down at a table and hashed it out."
I must say I'm looking forward to hearing some hard driving R.E.M. reminiscent of Murmer (1983) and Reckoning (1984). Lets hope they have regained the old spirit that made them great.

ANN WILSON SOCIAL STATEMENT

Ann Wilson has recorded her first-ever solo effort 'Hope & Glory,' due September 11th . The arresting vocalist branches out with a socially conscious and thought-provoking album of songs she selected to inspire the appropriately titled 'Hope & Glory. Produced by Ben Mink (k.d. lang, Feist), Hope & Glory features guest appearances from iconic artists Elton John, Gretchen Wilson, Alison Krauss, Rufus Wainwright, Ann’s sister Nancy Wilson and others on unique renditions of songs made famous by Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Neil Young and more.
For More Information

NEW VIDEO FROM LIMBECK

Here is a new video "Big Drag" from one of our favorite bands Limbeck. It is definitely worth watching.
View

NEW MXPX ALBUM TO BE RELEASED JULY 17

MXPX delivering high energy on their new album to be released July 17. Listen
Catch them on the Warped tour July 28 - August 3rd

TIME TO LISTEN

BAND: GOODBYE THE BAND
SOUND LIKE: The music can be said to be influenced by the production and general
aesthetics of Stereolab, Magnetic Fields, Fiery Furnaces, Of Montreal and the melodic attributes of Talking Heads, Stereolab (again) and They Might Be Giants.
LISTEN: http://www.goodbyetheband.com/sounds/
WHERE:
7/14/2007 Raggs of Harlem, NY, NY 8 PM
7/15/2007 Wicked Willy's, NY, NY 8:30 PM
7/20/2007 The Blue Room, Secaucus, NJ 8:30 PM

MAGNOLIA ELECTRIC CO. BOX SET TOUR

Magnolia Electric co. is going out on the road to promote  its upcoming box set, Sojourner to be released August 7. The  box set includes Nashville Moon (recorded with Steve Albini), The Black Ram (recorded by David Lowery), the Sun Session EP (recorded in Memphis, of course) and Shohola, an album Jason Molina whipped together by himself at home. Mark your calendars and go see the band.