Radiohead, My Morning Jacket Bring Home Grammy Nominations

Posted by chris on December 3rd, 2008 at 10:44:02 PM EST
Filed under News

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”

BEST ROCK SONG
Radiohead, House of Cards from “In Rainbows”

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”

BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Radiohead, Nigel Godrich on “In Rainbows”

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
Radiohead, House of Cards from “In Rainbows”

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO
House of Cards from “In Rainbows”

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
My Morning Jacket, “Evil Urges”

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Fiction Family’s Self-Titled Debut Due Out January 20

Posted by chris on December 3rd, 2008 at 06:54:14 PM EST
Filed under Releases

Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek and Jon Foreman of Switchfoot have joined forces on an exciting new collaboration called Fiction Family. Their self-titled debut album will be released on January 20 via ATO Records. Fiction Family will kick off a 21-date nationwide tour beginning January 13 in Ann Arbor, MI.

Both artists have achieved immense success with their respective bands. Sean Watkins is the guitar player and founding member of the Grammy award-winning trio Nickel Creek. Watkins has a weekly residency at the Largo in Los Angeles known as “The Watkins Family Hour,” which regularly features guests such as his sister and fellow Nickel Creek bandmate Sara Watkins, as well as Fiona Apple, John C. Reilly, Greg Leisz and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Jon Foreman is the guitarist and lead singer of the Grammy-nominated rock band Switchfoot, which has sold over 5 million records worldwide. Foreman has had considerable success as a solo artist as well. He released two double-EPs in 2007 to critical acclaim with the Philadelphia Daily News applauding his “…brooding, sensitive folk-pop…from the likes of Damien Rice and David Gray.”

The seemingly unlikely duo met a few years ago at a show featuring Wilco, R.E.M., Nickel Creek and Switchfoot. Over time, they began writing songs together, which quickly turned into a full-length album consisting of 12 original tracks written, arranged and recorded by Watkins and Foreman at their homes in San Diego. Since they are both vocalists and multi-instrumentalists, they often take turns singing lead vocals, and they both play several instruments on each song including guitar, bass, keyboards, percussion, baritone ukulele, piano, organ, mandolin, steel guitar, 12-string guitar and more. Nickel Creek fiddle player Sara Watkins is featured on a few songs as well. “It’s almost the ideal artistic setup,” Foreman explains, “because you don’t really care about timing or any commercial aspect. We figured it’d probably never come out and we’d probably never finish it. But, hey, we’ve got these songs, so we’re just gonna work on them when we feel like it.”

DOWNLOAD “When She’s Near” for free at: www.fictionfamily.com

SEE Fiction Family tourdates

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Electric Arguments Now Available

Posted by chris on November 25th, 2008 at 03:25:16 PM EST
Filed under Releases

The Fireman returns after a 10-year break with Electric Arguments, now available via MPL/ATO Records. The follow-up to 1998’s Rushes, Electric Arguments is the duo’s third studio album - and its first to feature vocals.

With the release of its 1993 debut, ‘Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest’, the identities of the musicians behind The Fireman were initially unknown. But soon the press revealed them as none other than Paul McCartney and Youth. “Paul McCartney has discovered dance music - the results are staggeringly brilliant,” said Melody Maker.  “They take a melody and, with dexterous genre-hopping through ambient, trance and house, evolve a number of breathtaking variations.”

“Bottomless well of melody… Excellent argument.”
-LA Times

“If you hadn’t seen Mac’s name on the credits - you might think some hot new alternative rock band had hit the scene.”
-ASSOCIATED PRESS

“So now, young freak-folk indie-rockers have serious competition from actual ’60s titans like Mr. McCartney.”
-NY Times

****
-ROLLING STONE

“McCartney’s side project catches fire”
-USA TODAY

“Just Awesome”
-Zane Lowe, BBC Radio 1

“A staggering collection of timeless adventures that touch on the best aspects of today’s more leftfield sounds”
-Clash

“A pure listening pleasure with a great sense of spontaneity and musical imagination”
-Daily Telegraph

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