Top Picks: The book 'Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!' by Bob Stanley, Robert Plant's album 'lullaby and鈥� The Ceaseless Roar,' and more
The blues rock band Vintage Trouble's album 'The Swing House Acoustic Sessions EP' is worth checking out, the app N3twork finds videos based on your mood, and more top picks.
The blues rock band Vintage Trouble's album 'The Swing House Acoustic Sessions EP' is worth checking out, the app N3twork finds videos based on your mood, and more top picks.
Pop-cyclopedia
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!: The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyonc茅, by British music writer and musician Bob Stanley, brings a fan鈥檚 passion and prejudices as well as a fine-tuned ear to an ambitious undertaking 鈥� and pulls it off with insight, wit, and style. Donovan more important than Dylan? Blondie over Patti Smith? Stanley鈥檚 bold positions connect pop鈥檚 many dots in fresh and fascinating patterns.
Your own TV DJ
N3twork wants to make Web TV feel more like regular TV. The service rounds up funny, newsworthy, and inspirational videos from across the Internet. Tell N3twork what you鈥檙e in the mood for, and it鈥檒l feed you a seemingly endless stream of curated videos. While the app runs well on (newer) iPhones and iPads, it really shines on an Apple TV. That way you get a commercial-free, personalized television station, with your mobile device acting as the remote control.
O say you must see
Francis Scott Key鈥檚 anthem will shine in the Star-Spangled Spectacular: Bicentennial of Our National Anthem, airing live on PBS鈥檚 鈥淕reat Performances鈥� on Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. EDT. The Baltimore celebration will be cohosted by actor John Lithgow and singer Jordin Sparks. Singers Kristin Chenoweth and Melissa Etheridge will perform, among others.听
A good kind of trouble
If you love the soul of vintage vinyl and long for the days of jukebox rhythms, meet the American blues rock band Vintage Trouble. Their latest album, The Swing House Acoustic Sessions EP,听grooves with the muscular vocals of lead singer Ty Taylor (think James Brown). Their original songs, such as 鈥淟o and Behold鈥� and 鈥淩un Outta You,鈥� seamlessly blend full-on rock and acoustic sounds.
Robert Plant鈥檚 world record
Midway through his new album, Robert Plant exclaims, 鈥淭urn it up!鈥� The singer鈥檚 10th solo record, lullaby and鈥� The Ceaseless Roar, deserves to be heard at volume. Though the album rocks out, it鈥檚 more lullaby than roar. The atmospheric music draws upon West African folk and blues, Welsh music, Appalachian bluegrass, and British trip-hop. Plant delivers emotionally affecting vocal performances on 鈥淓mbrace Another Fall鈥� and 鈥淧ocketful of Golden.鈥� For the singer with golden locks and a golden voice, these are golden days.