Sir Paul McCartney was honored as the 2012 MusiCares Person of the Year in Los Angeles Friday night. The ceremony featured a number of live performances, including covers of “Jet” by Foo Fighters, “Blackbird” by Alicia Keys, “Hey Jude” by Katy Perry, “We Can Work It Out” by Coldplay, and “I Saw You Standing There” by Neil Young & Crazy Horse, which marked the reunited outfit’s first performance in eight years.

In addition, Sir Paul performed two tracks from his new LP Kisses on the Bottom, “My Valentine” and “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”, as well as past classics like “Junior’s Farm”, “Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five”, “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry the Weight”, and “The End”.

Check out a few highlights below (via The Telegraph).

You can’t sleep. You’ve managed to scrounge up enough money to afford a weekend in a nice, five-star hotel. Congratulations. You’ve earned it. You don’t wear a robe at home, but since the hotel was nice enough to provide you with one, you opt to wear it on your trek to the ice machine down the hall. No matter how nice the hotel room, there’s never enough ice. You fill up your ice bucket, careful not to get any on the tiled floor, and make your way back to your room. Maybe your significant other is waiting for you on the other end of the door, but it’s your imagination, so I’ll leave it up to you.

You reach into the pocket of your expensive robe for the keycard with one hand, while holding onto the bucket of ice with the other. You pop the key into the electronic lock, the light goes green, and just as you’re about to open the door, you hear music coming from the hotel lobby, located (of course) directly below the indoor balcony on your floor. There’s the twinkling notes of a piano, the unmistakable sounds of an upright bass, and, oh yeah, Sir Paul McCartney singing “I’m Gonna Sit Write Down and Write Myself a Letter”.

“What the what?” you rightfully ask, with no one but Macca and the desk clerk to hear you. It’s no big deal; they’ve been hearing it all night. “Paul McCartney? With Dianna Krall, a.k.a. Mrs. Elvis Costello, on piano? Playing pop standards? Not being terrible?”

“That’s right,” McCartney answers, adjusting his bow tie. “I’ve been here in this hotel playing songs from my new record, Kisses on the Bottom. I wanted to make an album filled with music I loved growing up, but didn’t want it compared to Rod Stewart’s Great American Songbook series, or even Ringo’s Sentimental Journey from 1970. I figured the best way to go about doing that was to get together with legendary producer Tommy LiPuma, who has worked with everyone from Barbara Streisand to George Benson.”

“LiPuma worked on Benson’s Breezin’ record, right?” you ask, though you already know you’re right. “‘Breezin’ and ‘Affirmation’ are stone cold jazz classics. Shit, cat-”

“Let’s not go down that road,” McCartney says. “Anyway, I was able to get the lovely Dianna Krall here to join in on the recording sessions, along with a couple of Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famers: Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder.”

“Tell me you guys remade ‘Ebony and Ivory’.”

McCartney looks disgusted, and brushes off your hopes and dreams.

“The album features two originals. Eric assisted me with his incomparable acoustic skills on ‘My Valentine’, while Stevie played a great harmonica solo on ‘Only Our Hearts’. Would you like to hear them?”

Fortunately, McCartney has a portable sound system with him. He’s kind enough to turn it on and play Kisses on the Bottom for you. It is different from the attempts that Stewart and others laid out. There is something very mellow, very laid back on McCartney’s version. There are orchestral flourishes here and there, but they never come across as overbearing, nor do they push the record into the dreaded territory known only as “schmaltz.” The classic “It’s Only a Paper Moon” is brightened by fiddle and acoustic guitar, whereas “More I Cannot Wish You” proves that Macca can still register as a tenor at the tender age of 69. His rendition of Irving Berlin’s “Always” features the album’s finest use of orchestra, with the strings entering the picture at the halfway mark. Again, very calm without any forced “sweeping” moments.

“Very good, Sir Paul,” you say in a pleasant tone. “Surprisingly so.”

“Well, wait. There are still a few more songs to go,” McCartney says, disappointed.

“Maybe it’s a little too long? I mean, did you have to include ‘Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive’? Haven’t we heard this song ad nauseum? The same could be said for ‘The Glory of Love’. Don’t tell me they’re all classics, I know that. But other classics haven’t been done to death. I guess that’s my chief complaint: it goes on too long.”

McCartney shrugs. “Not everyone’s going to like it. A lot of people gave up on the collection the moment they found out the album was titled Kisses on the Bottom. You know, it’s from ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter’: “I’m gonna write words oh so sweet/They’re gonna knock me off my feet/A lotta kisses on the bottom/I’ll be glad I got ‘em.”

You laugh, and can only reply, “Everyone’s a critic, Sir Paul. The Internet’s full of ‘em. But Kisses on the Bottom is a respectable collection from a pop mastermind; a group of songs you can fall in love to, or remember falling in love with. It’s nice to get away from the noise every once in a while, and this record does the trick.”

You bid him farewell and walk back to your room. You remembered the ice bucket, and on your way back you hear Paul sing his rendition of “Home (When Shadows Fall)”. A pleasant night’s sleep will no longer be an issue.

Essential Tracks: “Home (When Shadows Fall)”, “It’s Only a Paper Moon”, and “Always”

Feature artwork by Virginia McCarthy.

Tonight, Sir Paul McCartney will showcase tracks from his new LP, Kisses on the Bottom, during a live webcast from Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California. Watch at iTunes beginning 10:00pm ET/7:00pm PT.

Below, you can hear the album’s Eric Clapton-aided lead single, “My Valentine”.

Update: In a new video (via RollingStone.com), Young reveals that he has already finished one new Crazy Horse album, titled Americana, which features rearrangements of “songs we all know from kindergarten” with help from a children’s choir. A second album is currently in the works.

The Neil Young and Crazy Horse news just keeps galloping in (sorry, we had to do it). With plans in motion for one (maybe two) new album(s) and a 38-minute tease already kicking fans into a frenzy, word now comes that Young and his long-time backing band have scheduled their first joint live performance since March 2004.

As Rolling Stone reports, the performance will come as part of the GRAMMY Foundation’s MusiCares Person of the Year Gala in honor of Paul McCartney. Taking place February 10th at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the charity event will also feature Coldplay, Foo Fighters, James Taylor, Katy Perry, Alison Krauss & Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett, the cast of The Beatles’ Cirque du Soleil production LOVE, and of course Macca himself. Comedian Eddie Izzard will act as emcee.

Crazy Horse hasn’t joined Young in public since the ’03-’04 Greendale tour, making the eight-year gap the longest of their careers. Whether this will lead to a full-fledged tour is unknown, though a postponed Buffalo Springfield reunion trek was also intended for this year. Keep as many fingers (and toes?) crossed as you can, and we’ll keep you updated.

Sharon Van Etten returns with her third LP, Tramp, on February 7th via Jagjaguwar. Spanning 12 tracks, the album features contributions from Beirut’s Zach Condon, Julianna Barwick, Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, The Walkmen’s Matt Barrick, and Doveman’s Thomas Bartlett. Stream it now at NPR.org.

Also available for an early spin:

– Paul McCartney releases a new album of pop standards, Kisses on the Bottom, on February 7th via Hear Music/Concord. Stream it now at NPR.org.

– Heartless Bastards release their fourth LP, Arrow, on February 14th via Partisan. Stream it now at NPR.org.

In anticipation of his latest LP, the Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder-aided Kisses on the Bottom, Paul McCartney will take part in a special live webcast today at 11 a.m. ET on his website.. Streaming from London, the former Beatle will field questions from press all around the world, including one lucky fan. Currently, McCartney is accepting questions from fans everywhere, and will only choose one to ask the legend himself. Submissions can be sent via email.

P.S. If you’ve been wanting to chat with Paul about The Terminator, it’s been covered. So has the Yoko thing.

Kisses on the Bottom charms February 7th via Hear Music/Concord. Hear the lead single, “My Valentine”, below.

As previously reported, Paul McCartney returns on February 7th with a new studio album, this time comprised of his favorite childhood pop standards, as well as two original compositions. Titled Kisses on the Bottom, the new album features guest appearances by Eric Clapton and Stevie Wonder, with production by Grammy Award-winning producer Tommy LiPuma and Diana Krall and her band.

Check out the artwork above and the previously released, Clapton-guesting “My Valentine” below, in addition to the full tracklist. A deluxe edition of the album will be available on McCartney’s official site on February 14th, featuring two bonus tracks (“Baby’s Request”, “My One and Only Love”) in addition to longer liner notes and expanded packaging. More Paul to go around, if you will.

Finally, to answer the most important question on everyone’s mind, the album’s title is not a cheeky reference to the derriere. Rather, the phrase “Kisses On The Bottom” comes from the album’s opener “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter”. Originally made a hit by Fats Waller in 1935, the song opens with the lines “I’m gonna sit right down and write myself a letter and make believe it came from you/I’m gonna write words oh so sweet/They’re gonna knock me off of my feet/A lot of kisses on the bottom, I’ll be glad I got ‘em’.” The more you know.

Kisses on the Bottom charms February 7th via Hear Music/Concord.

Kisses on the Bottom Tracklist:
01. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
02. Home (When Shadows Fall)
03. It’s Only A Paper Moon
04. More I Cannot Wish You
05. The Glory Of Love
06. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)
07. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
08. My Valentine (feat. Eric Clapton)
09. Always
10. My Very Good Friend The Milkman
11. Bye Bye Blackbird
12. Get Yourself Another Fool (feat. Eric Clapton)
13. The Inch Worm
14. Only Our Hearts (feat. Stevie Wonder)

Here’s a revelation: the music industry never sleeps. One would think the holiday season would be a time of rest. “Only Santa works these hours,” your mother might have said ages ago. Not in the digital era. Not when Twitter enables artists to be their own publicist, label, and distributor. (We love you Patrick Stickles.) Consequently, yours truly spent Christmas afternoon stringing together the words “Merry eX-Mas and Suck My Dick.” Sorry, Mom!

Below you can find a recap of news coverage from the last two weeks. Among the major themes: Mixtapes, covers, and more money for Adele.

On a side note: We can’t wait to show you what’s in store for 2012. Buckle up.

– Van Halen is going on tour.

– Adele‘s 21 is the best-selling album since 2004.

– Hear the new ASAP Rocky track, “Pretty Flacko”.

– Check out a new song from Frank Ocean, “4 Tears”.

– Hear Destroyer cover New Order’s ”Leave Me Alone”.

– Listen to and/or watch the video for jj‘s new song, “VI”.

– Hear an unreleased Pearl Jam demo from 1991 entitled “Chinese”.

– Watch The Flaming Lips‘ extra trippy cover of “I Am the Walrus”.

– Watch footage of My Morning Jacket covering Gil-Scott Heron’s “The Bottle”.

– Listen to R.E.M. cover ABBA’s “Does You Mother Know?” during a concert in 1984.

– Watch Jónsi‘s video for “Gathering Stories”, from his soundtrack to We Bought a Zoo.

– Hear Lady Gaga‘s previously unreleased Born This Way outtake, “Stuck on Fuckin’ You”.

– Hear the new single from Paul McCartnery featuring Eric Clapton, “My Valentine”.

– Captain Beefhart‘s “lost” 1976 album Bat Chain Puller will finally be released in January.

– Memoryhouse kicked off their big 2012 with a cover of The Zombies’ ”This Will Be Our Year”.

– Cocteau Twins are reissuing their compilation album Stars and Topsoil: A Collection (1982-1990).

– Download the final installment of The Weeknd‘s mixtape trilogy, Echoes of Silence. Then read our review.

– Raekwon and T.I. dropped New Year’s mixtapes entitled Unexpected Victory and Fuck Da City Up, respectively.

– Watch Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles perform a non-ironic cover of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games”.

– That’s not the only “Video Games” cover we heard though; check out Silver Swans‘ wintery twist on the infamous track.

– Download Lykke Li‘s The Lost Sessions Vol. 1, featuring stripped-down versions of three songs from Wounded Rhymes.

– Kraftwerk, New Order, Justice, Tiësto, Fatboy Slim, Avicii, David Guetta, and M83 top the massive bill for Ultra Music Festival 2012.

– Watch the video for Cat Power‘s newly reworked version of ”King Rides By”. An mp3 of the song is also available in exchange for a charitable donation.

– Download the new mixtape from rising Brooklyn MC Mr. Muthafuckin’ eXquire, the wholesomely-titled Merry eX-Mas & Suck My Dick.

On February 7th, Paul McCartney will release a new studio album comprised of his favorite childhood pop standards, as well as two original compositions. The idea, according to a press release, is to “offer a glimpse into ‘the songs which inspired the songs.’” Our first taste is an original composition entitled “My Valentine”, which features Eric Clapton. Stream the track below.

Initial reports suggested that the album would also be titled My Valentine; however, the aforementioned press notes that the album is currently untitled. Recorded at the Capitol Studios in Los Angeles, New York, and London throughout 2011, the album was produced by Tommy LiPuma and features Diana Krall and her band. Along with Clapton, Stevie Wonder makes a guest appearance, contributing to a track titled “Only Our Hearts”.

The album hits stores February 7th via Hear Music/Concord Records.

One second. Sometimes that’s all a photographer gets – and hardly in ideal conditions. At worst (and most likely), a photographer may be squeezed between 15 others in the pit, mere feet away from pyrotechnics, finding support from stress-rattled knees, while focusing on a spastic frontman and sheltering oneself from a downpour, which may or may not involve a hailstorm. Truth: A great photographer handles the unenviable task of capturing that one moment everyone goes home thinking about. Half-truth: There’s probably a statistic somewhere that discusses what the job does to the heart. If not, there should be a study. Double-truth: It’s just a sweaty, life-threatening task.

Hi, I’m Michael Roffman, President and Editor-in-Chief of Consequence of Sound. You may know me from such stories as “Look Out! The Gaslight Anthem is Coming!” or “Scratch that… Brian Wilson is not returning to The Beach Boys.” This year, I sent out dozens of writers and photographers to hundreds of shows and just about every major music festival this side of the Atlantic (some even overseas). Without a doubt, our eyes were everywhere.

More specifically, our photographers’ multiple weighty lenses. In the past 12 months, we’ve published countless, fully-stocked galleries, featuring some of the most awe-inspiring shots on the ‘net, all thanks to our brave and inordinately talented photographers. Actually, that’s an understatement. These artists bleed talent – to get somewhat histrionic. Look, we value words, but as Fred R. Barnard so famously wrote, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Cliche, but you spend over four years putting these live and festival reviews together. You’ll quickly see how true that statement is. To date, I still feel like I’ve attended Bonnaroo.*

For our annual report, we put together our 100 favorite photos of the year. Lots of colors, lots of locales, and plenty of popular mugs to savor. So, throw on some tunes, grab a bag of chips, and enjoy the trip. You’ll go places, kiddo.

-Michael Roffman
President/Editor-in-Chief

* Would never happen. This guy in mud? Nah.

Weezer

Event: Weezer at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 1/7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Walkmen

Event: The Walkmen at Atlanta’s Variety Playhouse
Date: 1/13/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Girl Talk

Event: Girl Talk at Atlanta’s Tabernacle
Date: 1/21/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Sad Brad Smith

Event: Sad Brad Smith at Chicago’s Schubas Tavern
Date: 1/23/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Church

Event: The Church at Chicago’s Park West
Date: 2/11/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 2/14/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Dismemberment Plan

Event: The Dismemberment Plan at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 2/19/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Ben Kweller

Event: Ben Kweller at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 2/23/2011
Photographer: Joshua Mellin

Bright Eyes

Event: Bright Eyes at Miami’s The Fillmore
Date: 3/2/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Raphael Saadiq

Event: Raphael Saadiq at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Baby Headphones

Event: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Owen Pallett

Event: Owen Pallett at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Kills

Event: The Kills at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba!

Event: TV on the Radio w/ Yo Gabba Gabba! at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Matt & Kim

Event: Matt & Kim at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Odd Future

Event: Odd Future at SXSW 2011
Date: 3/16-20/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Hollerado

Event: Hollerado at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Astronautalis

Event: Astronautalis (& Four Fists) at Axis of Audio Showcase: SXSW 2011
Date: 3/19/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

P.O.S.

Event: P.O.S. at Paid Dues Festival 2011
Date: 4/2/2011
Photographer: Winston Robbins

The Mountain Goats

Event: The Mountain Goats at Chicago’s Vic Theatre
Date: 4/5/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Queens of the Stone Age

Event: Queens of the Stone Age at Oakland’s Fox Theatre
Date: 4/11/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

The Strokes

Event: The Strokes at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Coachella 2011
Date: 4/15-17/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

The National

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Arcade Fire

Event: The National, Arcade Fire at Chicago’s UIC Pavillion
Date: 4/24/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Battles

Event: Battles at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 4/30/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 5/10/2011
Photographer: Wallo Villacorta

Lykke Li

Event: Lykke Li at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 5/23/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

The Gorge

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Death From Above 1979

Event: Death From Above 1979 at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Robyn

Event: Robyn at Sasquatch 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Fitz and the Tantrums

Event: Fitz and the Tantrums at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Decemberists

Event: Sasquatch! 2011
Date: 5/27-30/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Melvins

Event: Melvins at Chicago’s Double Door
Date: 5/31/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Bonnaroo Fan

Event: Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Ben Kaye

Buffalo Springfield

Event: Buffalo Springfield at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Eminem

Event: Eminem at Bonnaroo 2011
Date: 6/9-12/2011
Photographer: Max Blau

Future Islands

Event: Future Islands at Chicago’s Subterranean
Date: 6/15/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Florence + the Machine

Event: Florence + the Machine at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 6/18/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Glastonbury

Event: Glastonbury 2011
Date: 6/22-26/2011
Photographer: Laura Page

Eddie Vedder w/ Glen Hansard

Event: Eddie Vedder at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 6/28/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Phish Heads

Event: Phish Super Ball IX
Date: 7/1-3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Fucked Up

Event: Fucked Up at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 7/2/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Cold Cave

Event: Cold Cave at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

OFF!

Event: OFF! at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti

Event: Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

tUnE-yArDs

Event: tUnE-yArDs at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Fleet Foxes

Event: Fleet Foxes at Pitchfork 2011
Date: 7/15-17/2011
Photographer: Meghan Brosnan

Soundgarden

Event: Soundgarden, Queens of the Stone Age, Mastodon at Washington’s Gorge Amphitheater
Date: 7/30/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

Paul McCartney

Event: Paul McCartney at Chicago’s Wrigley Field
Date: 7/31/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Lolla Chicago

Event: Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Le Butcherettes

Event: Le Butcherettes at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Crystal Castles

Event: Crystal Castles at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Coldplay

Event: Coldplay at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

The Chain Gang of 1974

Event: The Chain Gang of 1974 at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Ellie Goulding

Event: Ellie Goulding at Lollapalooza 2011
Date: 8/5-7/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foo Fighters

Event: Foo Fighters at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 8/6/2011
Photographer: Heather Kaplan

Foster the People

Event: Foster the People at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Muse

Event: Muse at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Arcade Fire

Event: Arcade Fire at Outside Lands 2011
Date: 8/12-14/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Bush

Event: Bush at Chicago’s Congress Theatre
Date: 8/18/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Rubblebucket

Event: Rubblebucket at North Coast 2011
Date: 9/2-4/2011
Photographer: Lillian Cai

Pearl Jam

Event: Pearl Jam at PJ20 at Alpine Valley
Date: 9/3-4/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Erykah Badu

Event: Erykah Badu at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

Lauryn Hill

Event: Lauryn Hill at New York’s Rock the Bells 2011
Date: 9/3/2011
Photographer: Jake Cohen

The Kills

Event: The Kills at Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom
Date: 9/5/2011
Photographer: Karina Halle

James Vincent McMorrow

Event: James Vincent McMorrow at Chicago’s Hideout
Date: 9/15/2011
Photographer: Matt Hyland

Delta Spirit

Event: Delta Spirit at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

My Morning Jacket

Event: My Morning Jacket at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Kanye West

Event: Kanye West at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Randy Newman

Event: Randy Newman at Austin City Limits 2011
Date: 9/16-18/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

Incubus

Event: Incubus at Miami’s Bayfront Park
Date: 9/20/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Blink-182

Event: Blink-182 at West Palm Beach’s Cruzan Amphitheatre
Date: 9/23/2011
Photographer: Lauren Guagno

Deerhoof

Event: Deerhoof at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge
Date: 9/25/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Radiohead

Event: Radiohead at New York City’s Roseland Ballroom
Date: 9/28/2011
Photographer: Nate Slevin

St. Vincent

Event: St. Vincent at Chicago’s Metro
Date: 10/5/2011
Photographer: Katie Schuering

Portishead

Event: Portishead at Chicago’s Aragon Theater
Date: 10/12/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Sims

Event: Doomtree at Minneapolis’ Fine Line Music Cafe
Date: 10/15/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

The Stepkids

Event: The Stepkids at CMJ 2011
Date: 10/18-22/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

Duran Duran

Event: Duran Duran at The Chicago Theatre
Date: 10/21/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Deadmau5

Event: deadmau5 at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom
Date: 10/22/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Moby

Event: Moby at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Childish Gambino

Event: Childish Gambino at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Suicide

Event: Suicide at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

The Flaming Lips

Event: The Flaming Lips at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Catherine Watkins

Mayer Hawthorne & County

Event: Mayer Hawthorne & County at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

M83

Event: M83 at Moogfest 2011
Date: 10/28-30/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Zola Jesus

Event: Zola Jesus at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/1/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

Feist

Event: Feist at Chicago’s The Riviera Theatre
Date: 11/4/2011
Photographer: Brad Bretz

The Raconteurs

Event: The Raconteurs at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

Pixies

Event: Pixies at Orlando Calling 2011
Date: 11/12-13/2011
Photographer: Cap Blackard

YACHT

Event: YACHT at San Francisco’s The Independent
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Summer Dunsmore

M83

Event: M83 at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
Date: 11/17/2011
Photographer: Jeremy D. Larson

The Cure

Event: The Cure at Los Angeles’ Pantages Theatre
Date: 11/23/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Tinariwen

Event: Tinariwen at Minneapolis’ Cedar Cultural Center
Date: 11/26/2011
Photographer: Harley Brown

Iggy Pop and the Stooges

Event: Iggy Pop and the Stooges at Hollywood’s Palladium
Date: 12/1/2011
Photographer: Debi Del Grande

Since 1985, Neil Young has hosted his annual Bridge School Benefit, bringing together an assortment of artists for a two-day festival that supports the Hillsborough, CA-based school, which assists children with severe speech and physical impairments. This year’s inclusion, set to take place this weekend at The Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 22-23rd, marks the event’s 25th anniversary, and to celebrate Young has tagged the likes of Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Eddie Vedder, and many more. However, unlike previous years, the organizers are ensuring millions witness the event.

To start, Saturday’s festivities will be webcast online for the first-time ever. Thanks to Facebook and YouTube, fans will be able to watch the surefire spectacle from the comfort of their own home. A special landing page has been designed by Facebook that allows users to interact while experiencing the event. In fact, those actually in attendance at the show will be able to upload content and messages to share amongst those watching from home. Visit the respective pages at Facebook or YouTube for more information, and peep the trailer for the event below. An exact webcast schedule is still to be announced.

Then, on October 24th, there’s the CD/DVD release of The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition. This collection digs deep into the benefit’s history, featuring appearances from Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, James Taylor, Simon & Garfunkel, The Who, Band of Horses, Thom Yorke,  Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson, and many, many more musical elite. You can pre-order the DVD set here and the CD set here. NPR Music is streaming the two-disc album portion in its entirety until next Tuesday.

And while your puny 32″ flat-screen and sub-par sound system may be enough to enjoy the all-star footage, the organizers are offering one better: on the day of the CD/DVD release (once again, 10/24), movie theaters across the nation will air the effort’s concert  film. Check out the entire listing of cities and locations below; all showings kick off at 7 p.m. For more information on tickets, head here. The trailer for the release is also available below.

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition Theater Locations:
Atlanta, GA @ Midtown
Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lakecreek
Boston, MA @ Kendall
Chicago, IL @ Century
Dallas, TX @ TBC
Denver, CO @ Mayan
Los Angeles, CA @ The Laemmle Santa Monica
Madison, WI @ Sundance
Milwaukee, WI @ Oriental
Minneapolis, MN @ Edina
New York City, NY @ Sunshine
Philadelphia, PA @ Ritz Bourse
Pleasantville, NY @ Jacob Burns
Portland, ME @ Nickelodeon
Portland, OR @ Hollywood Theatre
San Diego, CA @ Hillcrest
San Francisco, CA @ Embarcadero
Santa Cruz, CA @ Nickelodeon
Santa Rosa, CA @ Summerfield
Seattle, WA @ Harvard Exit
Silver Spring, MD @ AFI Silver Theatre
Washington, DC @ E Street

Photo by Heather Kaplan

Oh, behave, Sir Paul McCartney! Only mere hours after wedding Nancy Shevall, the former Beatle has already unveiled his honeymoon plans – with us, that is. Before the year ends, McCartney will cap things off with a short European jaunt, touching down in Bologna, Paris, Milan, Koln, Stockholm, and even Moscow. Though, here’s one gig for the cards: On December 20th, Macca returns home to Liverpool for one unique gig at Liverpool Echo Arena. Suffice it to say, the Brits will certainly enjoy the holiday season. Peep the full list of tour dates below. Tickets go on sale Thursday, October 13th at 9 a.m. BST. For a quick preview of what to expect, check out our past summer report on his stop here at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.

Also, don’t forget: Paul McCartney’s new orchestral album, Ocean’s Kindgom, is currently in stores.

Paul McCartney 2011 Tour Dates
11/26 – Bologna, IT @ Futureshow Station Arena
11/27 – Milan, IT @ Mediolanumforum
11/30 – Paris, FR @ Bercy Omnisport Arena
12/01 – Koln, DE @ Lanxess Arena
12/05 – London, UK @ O2 Arena
12/10 – Stockholm, SE @ The Globen
12/12 – Helsinki, SE @ Hartwall Arena
12/14 – Moscow, RU @ Olympiyski Arena
12/19 – Manchester, UK @ Evening News Arena
12/20 – Liverpool, UK @ Echo Arena

From the limp reviews the ballet itself has garnered you might expect a damp squib of an album. The plot may be a little leaky, a kind of watery Romeo & Juliet, yet the strikingly simple underwater city cover art promises a decent effort in a genre that hardly comes natural to songwriters used to three-minute pop constraints. Clocking a little over 50 minutes, it demonstrates how difficult it is for such symphonic music to hold aural attention without visuals. Yet while it’s not really great music, comparable to the masterful works of Tchaikovsky or Stravinsky, it has its day by the sea.

Arranged in four movements, the opening titular one builds steadily towards a simplistic yet boastful theme. It is quite repetitive but spidery strings and swelling bass notes nicely mimic the ebb and flow of the sea. Movement two, “Hall of Dance” opens with echoes of both the urban playground of Bernstein and Copland’s wild west until it gets hooked on Gershwin. It may approach pastiche but it’s the most successful and vivid of the entire piece, building to an agreeably discordant finale.

The last two movements, “Imprisonment” and “Moonrise”, rather meander by comparison and while each has its moments, they somehow lack the adventure of the opening two sections. A tale of the expected largely. A ballet by Paul McCartney may not tick the necessary groundbreaking boxes but then again hasn’t the maestro been writing dance music most of his days?

Essential Tracks: “Hall of Dance”

Each year, Neil Young opens up his Rolodex (and it’s a mighty impressive one) and calls on all his rock star friends to play his charity concert, the Bridge School Benefit. With the shindig celebrating its 25th anniversary this October, Young and the folks behind the event have compiled the concert’s best moments in three-DVD and two-CD sets aptly titled The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition. 

The DVD release includes performances from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Fleet Foxes, James Taylor, Simon and Garfunkel, Devendra Banhart, and a plethora of other big-name acts. The third disc also includes documentaries on the concert’s history along with a bonus feature on the Bridge School.

The two-CD set features even more classic performances from the concert’s past 25 years. Artists include Willie Nelson, Pearl Jam, Thom Yorke, Metallica, Band of Horses, R.E.M. featuring Young, and much, much more.

The two releases, which also benefit the Bridge School, are in stores on October 24th. Check out a video trailer for both sets below and pre-order the DVD set here and the CD set here.

This year’s Bridge School concert goes down October 22-23rd at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, CA. Acts scheduled to appear include Beck, Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, Mumford & Sons, Eddie Vedder, and many more. Tickets are available via LiveNation right now.

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition DVD Tracklsit:

DVD 1
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA
Patti Smith – People Have the Power
Pearl Jam – Better Man
David Bowie – Heroes
Ben Harper – There Will Be a Light
Bob Dylan – Girl From the North Country
R.E.M – Country Feedback
Emmylou Harris and Buddy Miller – Love Hurts
Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Devendra Banhart – At the Hope
Bonnie Raitt – The Road Is My Middle Name
Billy Idol – Rebel Yell

DVD 2
Brian Wilson – Surfin’ USA
Gillian Welch – The Way It Will Be
The Pretenders – Sense of Purpose
James Taylor – Fire and Rain
Simon and Garfunkel – America
Tom Petty – Shadow of a Doubt
Dave Matthews – Too Much
Neil Young – Crime in the City
Tom Waits – 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought Six
Elton John & Leon Russell – A Dream Come True
Paul McCartney – Get Back
Metallica – Disposable Heroes
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

DVD 3
Backstage at the Bridge School Benefit Concert
The Bridge School Story

The Bridge School Concerts 25th Anniversary Edition CD Tracklist:

CD 1
Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA
Dave Matthews – Too Much
No Doubt – Magic’s in the Makeup
Jack Johnson – Gone
Fleet Foxes – Blue Ridge Mountains
Neil Young & Crazy Horse – Love and Only Love
Sonic Youth – Rain on Tin
Pearl Jam – Better Man
Gillian Welch – The Way It Will Be
R.E.M & Neil Young – Country Feedback
Willie Nelson – The Great Divide
Nils Lofgrin – Cry Just a Little

CD 2
Sarah McLachlan – Elsewhere
Paul McCartney – Get Back
Elton John & Leon Russell – A Dream Come True
Band of Horses – Marry Song
Metallica – Disposable Heroes
Thom Yorke – After the Gold Rush
Sheryl Crow – The Difficult Kind
Tony Bennett – Maybe This Time
CSNY – Deja Vu
Norah Jones – Jesus – Etc.
Jonathan Richman – I Was Dancing in the Lesbian Bar
Brian Wilson – Surfin’ USA.
The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again

This October, HBO will air the Martin Scorsese-directed George Harrison biopic entitled George Harrison: Living In A Material World (the film also premieres at the New York Film Festival, which kicks off on September 30th). Now, that film’s first official trailer is available for viewing below. Painting a wide portrait of Harrison as both a man and an artist, the trailer features insight from Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison, longtime friend Eric Clapton, and Monty Python‘s Eric Idle.

George Harrison: Living In A Material World premieres on HBO in two parts on October 5th and 6th.

Photo by Heather Kaplan

Chew on this: The Beatles were once denied. Yes, some 50 years ago, Decca Records turned down The Fab Four. But you’ve probably heard this before; after all, some rank this tale as one of the stupidest business decisions in history, right alongside Mars Candy’s brilliant move to opt out of Steven Spielberg’s now iconic, E.T. - you know, the reason Reese’s Pieces are a popular alternative today? Sigh, you’ve got to love hindsight.

Apparently, Sir Paul McCartney does, but he’s rather forgiving, as he’s decided to give the label a second chance. According to Rolling Stone, the former Beatle has signed on to Decca, which will release his forthcoming ballet score, Ocean’s Kingdom, set for an October 3rd release in the UK. Update: McCartney will release Ocean’s Kingdom in the U.S. on October 4th via his imprint Hear Music. The actual premiere of the ballet will take place at NYCB’s Fall Gala on September 22nd.

Okay, so they don’t get A Hard Day’s Night, but it’s a start.

Ocean’s Kingdom Tracklist:
01. Movement 1 Ocean’s Kingdom (14:07)
02. Movement 2 Hall of Dance(16:19)
03. Movement 3 Imprisonment (13:36)
04. Movement 4 Moonrise (12:29)

And boy did he get the job done. Over 35+ songs, McCartney – or, Macca, if you don’t mind the brevity – razzled and dazzled a crowd ready to soak up classic rock ‘n’ roll. But, let’s be real, this isn’t standard rock ‘n’ roll. Now, it’s usually taboo for writers to parade around ultimatums, but here’s one most can agree on: Everyone knows The Beatles. Some might not recognize the (infamous) medley from Abbey Road, but it’s highly unlikely a tune like “Hey Jude” or “Yesterday” would whizz past them without ringing even one bell.

That’s what made Sunday night’s Wrigley gig so fascinating. What other band, or artist, holds this much weight in people’s hearts or minds? What other concert could you attend where every soul present could actually belt out the lyrics? Not many and especially not of this magnitude. As a result, you had an artist working with a rare energy, and McCartney knew this. Following a punchy opening of “Hello Goodbye” and “Junior’s Farm”, the former Beatle smiled in front of his rabid audience — one which held signs reading “Hug my wife so she’ll shut up” and “I’m a priest, let me do your wedding” — and stated amicably, “I’m getting a feeling we’re gonna have a good time tonight.”

Fact. Whether it was through enraged pyrotechnics (“Live and Let Die”) or odes to past friends (“Here Today”), McCartney put together the trademark qualities of a stellar arena rock show, and then some. Despite the lack of intimacy – c’mon, it’s a baseball stadium – he still managed to personalize things some. Through little anecdotes, McCartney let his fans into his world, digressing on recent stories (“I Will” and its connection to this year’s royal wedding) and tales of yesteryear (playing “Something” on the uke for George Harrison, which he then performed for us). One humbling moment surfaced early on, when McCartney revealed how lucky he felt to be playing at the historic ballpark, concluding, “Right now, I’m going to take a moment to drink in some of that Wrigley magic.”

But he added some magic of his own: Behind a multi-colored piano, seemingly borrowed from Elton John, McCartney crooned verse after verse of “Hey Jude”, climbing higher and higher with each turn. Sticky air permeated through thousands of swaying arms as everyone sang along. Then, the drop off arrived and the chorus ensued. That aforementioned, rare energy collated into one awe-inspiring melody, which rang loud and free. Call it an early estimate, but there’s no doubt those echoes will absorb in the very hallways and dugouts that harbor the ghosts of Harry Caray and Charlie Grimm. Perhaps some good vibrations to crack the curse. One would hope.

Photography by Heather Kaplan.

Setlist:
Hello Goodbye
Junior’s Farm
All My Loving
Jet
Drive My Car
Sing the Changes
The Night Before
Let Me Roll It
Paperback Writer
The Long and Winding Road
Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five
Let ‘Em In
Maybe I’m Amazed
I’ve Just Seen a Face
I Will
Blackbird
Here Today
Dance Tonight
Mrs. Vandebilt
Eleanor Rigby
Something
Band on the Run
Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
Back in the USSR
I’ve Got a Feeling
A Day in the Life/Give Peace a Chance
Let It Be
Live & Let Die
Hey Jude
Encore #1:
Lady Madonna
Daytripper
Get Back
Encore #2:
Yesterday
Helter Skelter
Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End
——

Gallery by Heather Kaplan

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Update: The contest is over! Congratulations to our winners, Jane Driver and Max W!

Our last Paul McCartney-related giveaway asked those with skills in the arts to express themselves to win a tiny piece of Macca. Realizing that perhaps the vast majority of his fans may not be the next Picasso, we here at CoS are more than happy to give everyone another shot at a huge McCartney prize. This time around, we have two pairs of tickets to his July 31st Chicago, IL’s Wrigley Field. While you won’t need your paint brush for this one, you’ll still need to do the following:

– Head on over to Facebook and like both the CoS page (which you should’ve done by now) and the page for BuyWithMe Chicago.

– Then, whilst on BuyWithMe’s FB page, be sure to post your favorite Paul McCartney song.

– CoS and BuyWithMe will then randomly pick two winners. Unless you picked “Band on the Run”, then you’re disqualified immediately.

Of course, for those not willing to leave a rendezvous with McCartney to fate, we’ve got your back as well. Head here before Friday, July 29th to cop a special deal where $109 will buy you an all-you-can-eat-and-drink rooftop ticket for either of the two Chi-Town shows. In all, that’s a savings of $167. Then feel free to get some much-needed art lessons with that extra dinero.

True story: At the time of the incident, the former Beatles songwriter/bassist was on a plane, which grounded following the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. The new film, called The Love We Make and directed by Albert Maysles (Salesman, Gimme Shelter), deals with this story as well as McCartney’s subsequent Concert for New York City.

It won’t be a concert film, though The Love We Make will include footage of Macca’s rehearsals for the concert, as well as several cameos. Appearing in backstage clips will be the likes of David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Leonardo DiCaprio, and the 42nd President, Bill Clinton, among others. The film, all in black and white, will also show McCartney’s man-on-the-street interactions with New Yorkers.

“There was so much suffering as a result of 9/11 it’s hard to imagine how one might bring relief to those who were impacted by the attacks, and honor those firefighters, police officers and rescue workers who lost their lives in their heroic attempt to help others,” said Maysles. “But Paul had the answer: music and a film that would tell the full story.”

It might be tough to tell the full story of 9/11 via a Showtime special, but we’re keeping our minds open. We’ll see, when The Love We Make broadcasts Saturday, September 10th, one day before the 10th anniversary.

After directing the Stones’ Shine a Light, Scorsese went to work last year on a George Harrison documentary. The end result of his efforts, titled George Harrison: Living In A Material World, is now set to debut in two parts on October 5th and 6th, 2011 on HBO. (Also, anyone saying Scorsese can’t pick both bands will undoubtedly get both legs broken by Joe Pesci.)

As previously reported, the documentary makes use of archival home movies, personal photos, and concert footage to tell the story of the iconic rocker, who along with his role in the Fab Four produced movies, dabbled in philanthropy, and was a spiritual seeker. Along with the material provided by Harrison’s widow Olivia Harrison, a number of Harrison’s famous friends and collaborators are interviewed over the course of the film, including Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, George Martin, Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Tom Petty, Phil Spector, Ringo Starr, and Jackie Stewart.

“Like so many millions of people, I first came to know George through the music, which was the soundtrack of our world,” Scorsese, who also directed No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, said in a press release. “So when I was offered the chance to make this picture, I jumped at it.  Spending time with Olivia, interviewing so many of George’s closest friends, reviewing all that footage, some of it never seen before, and listening to all of that magnificent music – it was a joy, and an experience I’ll always treasure.”

Abrams Books will also release Olivia Harrison’s accompanying archive George Harrison: Living in the Material World, which features photographs, letters, diaries, and memorabilia from her personal collection, in September.

Typically, summer belongs to the hearts and souls of every budding pair of romanticists. However, this summer belongs solely to Paul McCartney. In addition to a sizzling arena tour – which includes first-time stops at Yankee Stadium and Wrigley Field – Macca also re-issued his first two solo albums, McCartney & McCartney II. Chock full of rarities and what have you, the two re-issues find the man alone with his thoughts, churning out some of his best material ever. Who hasn’t confused “Maybe I’m Amazed” for a Beatles track? Or what about the icy glaze of “Waterfalls”? Just great stuff.

If you feel the same way, and you’re sort of inspired to create something out of those feelings, then, hey, we got something for you! In collaboration with Talenthouse, Consequence of Sound is hosting submissions for a Paul McCartney-endorsed graphic art contest. So, if you’re “into that sort of thing”, then you might want to spin those two re-issues and conjure up some Fab imagery based on ‘em. Because one artist will be chosen to receive global exposure by having their art featured not only on Macca’s website and social media channels, but exhibited in London’s incredibly fashionable Idea Generation Gallery. Oh, the former Beatle will sign a lithograph print, too. After all, he’ll be choosing the piece!

That’s not all, either. The winner will also receive:

– A deluxe set of McCartney and McCartney II albums

– A framed high quality lithograph of their winning entry signed by Paul McCartney

– A pair of tickets to an upcoming Paul McCartney concert of their choice (subject to availability and occurring within 12 months of winning announcement) and meet and greet (travel, accommodation and other costs at winner’s own expense)

– $1000 cash prize

– Adobe Creative Suite 5

But it doesn’t fall on just one person. There will also be second and third prize winners, and the six highest voted submissions will receive albums and a share of a $600 prize pool.

So, now are you interested?

Given his reputation as somewhat of an alcoholic, Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas was an appropriate choice to sing “Rave On” for the title alone. High-pitched and grungy guitars bolster his tragic falsetto for layers of texture, and the minor chords in the chorus tug at the listener’s heartstrings. Similarly, Cee Lo Green of “F-ck You” fame was an apt pick to sing the backhanded compliments on “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”. He brings out the song’s sweetness with a calypso beat, but his clear tenor elucidates how, frankly, insulting the lyrics can be: “I wonder why I love you, baby/I guess that’s just because you’re so square”. Karen Elson’s ensuing version of “Crying, Waiting, Hoping” conveys the original song’s insane optimism and desperation with galloping fiddles. Even though she ostensibly recorded this song before her celebrated divorce from Jack White, that fact adds irony that probably never crossed Holly’s aching heart.

His songs almost always address a girl he wants but can’t have; so whenever female vocalists sing Buddy Holly, their versions respond to him. Jenny O. challenges Holly’s futile quest for affection with her sugary “I’m Gonna Love You Too”. By changing the gender in the song—“After all, another girl took you up” instead of “guy”—she wonders if he truly, madly, deeply wants to be with her or if she’s just another song title. Florence and the Machine twists that same sentiment on “Not Fade Away”: Her sexy, borderline sinister voice coaxes, “I’m gonna tell you how it’s gonna be/You’re going to give your love to me.” Backed by tubas and mechanical drum taps, Florence’s version is meaty and compelling (I’m more inclined to listen to her telling me what to do than Buddy Holly). On the more innocent “Everyday”, Jon Brion and Fiona Apple sing the only duet on the album. Their complementary voices mitigate the longing behind the album’s boys versus girls theme. The xylophone and handclaps in the background give one of Holly’s most popular songs a new, almost nursery-rhyme quality.

And let’s not leave the male vocalists out. Kid Rock’s soulful vocals on “Well All Right”, backed by Motown-worthy horns and bass, reminds the listener why Buddy Holly’s music famously won over an all-black audience at the Apollo Theater in the 1950′s. My Morning Jacket’s Jim James trades his full-throated yowl for a sweet warble on “True Love Ways” and Graham Nash takes depression to new heights on “Raining In My Heart”. Both artists eschew contemporary instrumental arrangements for, respectively, romantic 1940’s violins and piano chords that belong in a Nora Ephron montage. All the musicians on Rave On Buddy Holly run such a gamut that it’s hard to dispute Buddy Holly’s continuously far-reaching influence in music. At the same time, if these songs weren’t on a covers album, it would be easy to mistake them for a Lou Reed original or an old Modest Mouse track. Whether that speaks more for Holly’s talent as a lasting songwriter or these artists’ ability to contemporize classic pop will remain unknown. Until the Lou Reed covers album, of course.

Despite the bad (or good, depending how you looked at it) timing, and even though McCartney produced many chart-topping all-time favorites, such as the timeless “Maybe I’m Amazed”, the album was universally panned by critics at the time. They found McCartney’s rock/pop effort to be lightweight, especially in comparison to John Lennon’s more “daring” solo project. Even Lennon and George Harrison didn’t have many kind words about it, Lennon especially noting the album’s “lack of quality.”  The public though, didn’t take long to warm up to it and 31 years later, McCartney, now a double-disc, will be winning over new fans with its sharp remastering and nostalgic journey through the many vibrant emotions on the album. McCartney started writing songs for it as early as 1969 and, though it doesn’t sound groundbreaking in this day and age, he ended up playing every single instrument on the album from the Mellotron to the “bow and arrow” (with backing vocals supplied by his wife Linda) and the entire LP was originally recorded in his house.

Mixed by the Abbey Road team who did the reissued Beatles catalog, and last year’s Band on the Run, the reissued McCartney probably sounds fresher than it did in 1970. All the favorites are still present but in a much sharper tone. The aforementioned and heartbreakingly sincere “Maybe I’m Amazed”, the bluesy rumble of “That Would Be Something” and the involving “Teddy Boy” are joined by a few new surprises. There are outtakes and demos like “Suicide” (a song he wrote when he was 14) and “Woman Kind”, an extra version of “Junk” that turns the song’s minimalism on its head by making it into a swaying instrumental version, “Don’t Cry” (another instrumental re-imagining, this one of “Oo You”), plus a range of live recordings done in Glasgow in 1979 .

McCartney might still sound “lightweight” to some, but it’s an album brimming with the emotional possibilities of love, the realism of depression, and the seductive cries of the unknown. McCartney was such a strong, driving part of The Beatles that it was impossible for his talent and progress to not come through on this album. Yes, the bonus tracks weren’t a necessary addition here, but there’s no denying that McCartney is a near-perfect presentation of the well-crafted rock/pop songs that he was (and still is) famous for, and the rare emotional sincerity that shines through. This album finally allowed McCartney to break free from the constraints that at least he felt was holding him back in the Beatles and gave him permission to explore his musical pathways. The result is retrospective and introspective at the same time. A look back – and a look into – the man he was.

On first listen, McCartney’s second outing sounds, well, odd. Save for “Coming Up”, which still feels like a Wings track (the dancehall-ready tune debuted originally in Wings’ setlists), the whole of the album meanders between funky Macca jingles or just downright weird experiments. At times, he’s channeling Country Joe McDonald, constructing hickory-smoked road jams like “Nobody Knows”, while other moments he’s pre-dating Jan Hammer, orchestrating mindfuck instrumental suites like “Front Parlour” or “Frozen Jap”. What’s great is that no matter how layered these tracks are – take, the strutting rockabilly of “Bogey Music”, for instance – it always feels like he’s alone. It’s bizarre.

The main problem that still dwells within the album is that some tracks don’t work at all. Nobody needs to hear a song like “Temporary Secretary”. Its needle-like electronic backbone draws up a fine pace, but the repetitive chorus, coupled with Macca’s nasally vocals, makes it one of the most annoying tunes in the legend’s iconic discography. The same goes for “Darkroom”, another quasi-instrumental, though this one sports some vocals, although they hardly do much but chant again … and again … and again. It’s an exercise in sanity, really.

But McCartney doesn’t keep the mad scientist act up. Before the record ends, he’s already hung up the labcoat, opting for an acoustic guitar and some reverb, instead. On closing track, “One Of These Days”, McCartney coos over some delicate strumming, “One of these days, when my feet are on the ground/I’m gonna look around and see,” perhaps alluding to the album’s personal construction. Incredibly intimate and rather comforting in nature, some might say it’s a loose Beatles track, but really it picks up where he left off on 1970′s McCartney.

For the 2011 re-issue, as part of the Paul McCartney Archive Collection, the original remastered record’s been packaged with an assortment of bonus tracks. “Check My Machine” should be noted as being the first track of these Scotland sessions; the banjo funk makes its way on-board, sounding a tad polished and feeling less like a demo and moreover a rough B-side. The previously unreleased entry “Blue Sway” features the Richard Niles Orchestration, and while it certainly never belonged on McCartney II, its sleek sheen does beg for a spin or two. The same goes for other unreleased track “Bogey Wobble”, though this one’s just entertaining to see how “far” Macca went. Who knew the Beatles’ bassist had a knack for writing Nintendo scores?

Outside of that, other material includes a live rendition of “Coming Up”, the holiday single “Wonderful Christmastime”, the Tangerine Dream-esque “Secret Friend” (clocking in at over 10 minutes, no less), and other previously unreleased tunes like “Mr H Atom/You Know I’ll Get You Baby” and “All You Horse Riders/Blue Sway”. They’re all good-to-have tracks if nothing else. But, really, you’ll also recognize why they were shelved for such a long time.

Over 30 years later, McCartney II continues to leave fans confused and bewildered. So much of it seems baffling – even after listening to material made years later under The Fireman, Macca’s eccentric collaboration with Youth. (The two have been dabbling on productions since 1993.) Perhaps it’s because McCartney put all of this together alone, at a time when he was still touring the globe with Wings. Granted, he was on the cusp of the ’80s, a time when synthesizers became everyday dalliances for musicians; however, his use of the machines here feel alien, at least to his style. That’s the real charm of McCartney II, though, it’s the notion that this is a solo album of the strictest means. It’s just a man and his mind. As we know, that mind is something quite unreal, even amidst a few hiccups.

Despite capping off his 15-month long “Up and Coming” tour just this past weekend in Las Vegas, Sir Paul McCartney is already plotting his next road trip. As previously reported, the former Beatle will kick off his “On the Run” tour with a pair of shows at Yankee Stadium on July 15th and 16th. Today, Macca announced three additional stadium shows taking place in the cities of Detroit, Chicago, and Cincinnati during the months of July and August.

Tickets for the Detroit and Cincinnati shows go on sale Friday, June 17th, while the Chicago show goes on sale Monday, June 20th. Also, tickets for McCartney’s two New York shows still seem to be available.

Update: According to the Montreal Gazette, McCartney will also perform at the Bell Centre in Montreal on July 26th. Tickets for this show will go on sale Monday, June 20th.

As we reported earlier today, McCartney is also rumored to be playing a second night in Chicago on August 1st, as well as a date at Target Field in Minneapolis on September 1st.

Paul McCartney 2011 Tour Dates:
07/15 – Bronx, NY @ Yankee Stadium
07/16 – Bronx, NY @ Yankee Stadium
07/24 – Detroit, MI @ Comerica Park
07/26 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre
07/31 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field
08/01 – Chicago, IL @ Wrigley Field *
08/04 – Cincinnati, OH @ The Great American Ball Park
09/01 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Field *

* = Date not yet official

Premieres:

Tera Melos  – “Kelley” – As the band plays, the undead pull their flesh off. But this is only part of it…those visuals all are seen on billboards around 1980′s New York (look for clips from Ghostbusters II).

Music Videos:

Paul McCartney – “Blue Sway” – Paul McCartney recruited surf filmmaker Jack McCoy to shoot the video for this B-side off the forthcoming reissue of McCartney II. After all these years, Macca still knows how to keep in touch with the youth.

Dredg  – “Upon Returning” – Four businessmen show synchronicity among absurdity.

Shorts:

The Fourth – An inspiration to relay participants everywhere.

Big Bang Big Boom – The Big Bang theory come to life! However, it’s come to life in the form of wall and sidewalk animation.

Don’t Forget…

– Want a constant stream of musical goodness? Check out our Channel, featuring over 30 music videos, several short films, and other nifty clips, all crammed together in one non-stop barrage of visual and aural stimulation.

- Social networking is a way of life, so follow us at @cluster1tv and on Facebook

Oh, and welcome back to the real world.

– Watch Yeasayer debut a brand new song live.

– Electric Daisy Carnival announced its 2011 lineup.

– Red Hot Chili Peppers revealed the tracklist for I’m With You.

– OFWGKTA’s Frank Ocean is hitting the studio with Kanye and Jay-Z.

– Jack White and Karen Elson ended their six-year marriage with a party.

– For your next family game night, pick up the Metallica version of Monopoly.

– Lil Wayne became just the second rapper ever to appear on MTV Unplugged.

– Check out a brand new song from The Rapture, via James Murphy’s turntable.

– Watch brand new videos from Neil Young, Bad Meets Evil, Belle & Sebastian, Bright Eyes, Best Coast, MellowHype, and Shine 2009.

– Get ready for new albums from Wu-Tang Clan, Beirut, Mates of State, Nick Lowe, The Jayhawks, Twin Sister, and Male Bonding.

– Paul McCartney is kicking off his 2011 tour with his first-ever gig at Yankee Stadium. Also, check out the CoS premiere of a remastered version of “Every Night”.

– Ra Roa caught up with The Flaming Lips’ Wayne Coyne to discuss the band’s gummy fetus amd stompbox, a possible Nick Cave collaobration and more.

– Finally, Clarence Clemons, the legendary saxaphonist of Bruce Springsteen & the Street Band suffered a stroke over the weekend. Our thought are with him and his family.

It’s a big year for Paul McCartney. After announcing an upcoming gig at New York’s Yankee Stadium – his first to date, if you could believe that – the former Beatle also plans to continue pumping out some classy reissues. So, if you enjoyed last year’s Band on the Run package, then get ready for remastered editions of 1970′s McCartney and 1980′s highly experimental McCartney II. But, we’ve already told you about that before.

However, if you’re looking for a taste of how these remasters sound, look no further. Consequence of Sound has the exclusive on McCartney cut “Every Night”, which you can listen to below. The ’70s nugget now has a little shine to it, especially the percussion, although altogether it still sounds as if it were recorded in a kitchen. Ah, who wouldn’t love a little Macca with their waffles? Actually, that sounds gross. But, you get the idea.

So, Paul, what’s up with Wrigley Field?

McCartney & McCartney II surface June 14th (via MPL and the Concord Music Group).

When Paul McCartney and New York City get together, awesomness usually ensues. The last time, he made Saturday Night Live watchable. And before that, he played three sold-out nights at the late Shea Stadium, which resulted in an epic live album and DVD. Plus, there was that whole 1965 thing. Now, the former Beatle is setting his sights on one of the city’s most historic iconic locations, Yankee Stadium, where he’ll perform for the first time ever on July 15th. Update: A second night has been added for July 16th. Tickets are now on sale.

Tickets for the show, which will likely be a three-plus hour affair featuring cuts from The Beatles, Wings, his own solo material, and The Fireman album Electric Arguments, will go on sale Monday, June 13th at 11:00 AM EDT.

According to an issued press release, the gig will serve as the kick-off to his new “On The Run Tour,” though no other dates have been announced.

The song’s a perfect fit for McCartney, who has performed it before, even at times with Holly’s original band, The Crickets. Dueling guitars and gritty vocals give the tune a vibe Holly might have only dreamed of when he first laid it down. While it’s true to that original, Sir McCartney wasn’t afraid to toy with it a bit. Take the two throaty rants near and at the end of the song: they certainly aren’t part of Holly’s version, but except for perhaps the death rattle at the end, they very well could’ve been. Check it out at RollingStone.com.

Rave On Buddy Holly is due for release June 28th via Fantasy Records/Concord Music Group.

Rave On Buddy Holly Tracklist:
01. The Black Keys – “Dearest”
02. Fiona Apple and Jon Brion – “Every Day”
03. Paul McCartney – “It’s So Easy”
04. Florence and the Machine – “Not Fade Away”
05. Cee-Lo – “(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care”
06. Karen Elson – “Crying, Waiting, Hoping”
07. Julian Casablancas – “Rave On”
08. Jenny O. – “I’m Gonna Love You Too”
09. Justin Townes Earle – “Maybe Baby”
10. She & Him – “Oh Boy”
11. Nick Lowe – “Changing All Those Changes”
12. Patti Smith – “Words of Love”
13. My Morning Jacket – “True Love Ways”
14. Modest Mouse – “That’ll Be the Day”
15. Kid Rock – “Well… All Right”
16. Detroit Cobras – “Heartbeat”
17. Lou Reed – “Peggy Sue”
18. John Doe – “Peggy Sue Got Married”
19. Graham Nash – “Raining in My Heart”