Paul’s most recent release, the #1 album McCartney III, recorded in “Rockdown” last year, saw a return to the homespun, lo-fi style of the earliest days of his solo career. The eclectic charm and intimacy of 1970’s McCartney and 1971’s RAM found Paul redefining his post-Beatles creative identity, while unconsciously rewriting the rules of pop music and creating new genres along the way—or as Pitchfork would later describe RAM’s sustained influence on generations of fans and musicians alike, “inventing an approach to pop music that would eventually become someone else’s indie pop.”
The only album to be credited to both Paul and Linda McCartney, RAM was created mostly at Paul and Linda’s farm in Scotland (following initial, more traditional studio sessions in New York). Unlike the completely solo sessions that resulted in Paul’s eponymous debut album, the recording of RAM found Paul and Linda enlisting a number of musicians, including Denny Seiwell who would become a founding member of Wings, Paul’s next musical adventure.
The RAM sessions were completed in early 1971, also yielding the standalone single Another Day, a worldwide hit that preceded RAM’s May 1971 release.
RAM’s singular sonic palette was unlike its predecessor—or anything else for that matter—and has grown exponentially in stature and influence over the decades. Critically polarizing at the time, the album was instantly beloved by fans, hitting #1 in the UK and giving Paul his first post-Beatles American #1 single, the GRAMMY-winning Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey. In recent years the record has continued to solidify its standing as one of the most loved in Paul’s unparalleled output. Fans and critics alike continue to sing its praises: Rolling Stone has hailed the album as a “masterpiece” and “a grand psychedelic ramble full of divine melodies,” Pitchfork has praised it as “a domestic-bliss album, one of the weirdest, earthiest, and most honest ever made,” and Mojo, perhaps most accurately of all, has deemed RAM “quintessentially McCartney.”
GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES: LIVE AT WORTHY FARM
Global ticketed livestream event for Saturday, 22nd May
COLDPLAY, DAMON ALBARN, HAIM, IDLES, JORJA SMITH, KANO, MICHAEL KIWANUKA, WOLF ALICE, DJ HONEY DIJON plus other very special guests to perform from Glastonbury’s Worthy Farm for a spectacular live stream event
Having been forced to cancel the Festival for a second consecutive year, Glastonbury will host an exclusive global livestream from Worthy Farm on Saturday, 22nd May – for the first time in their history enabling music fans wherever they are in the world to join together and share the experience of the Festival and its idyllic natural surroundings.
Filmed across the Festival’s Worthy Farm site at landmarks including the Pyramid Field and the Stone Circle, the event will see a range of artists giving their time to perform in support of the Festival, including Coldplay, Damon Albarn, HAIM, IDLES, Jorja Smith, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka, Wolf Alice, plus DJ Honey Dijon, who will all perform as part of an uninterrupted film production. There will also be a number of unannounced surprise performances.
The event will support Glastonbury’s three main charitable partners, Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid, as well as helping to secure the Festival’s return in 2022.
The ground-breaking, five-hour extravaganza will be interspersed by a spoken word narrative, written and delivered by some very special guests, guiding Festival-goers on a journey through the sacred valley in Somerset.
Accessible only to ticket buyers, the online event will be broadcast in full across four separate time zones, with staggered livestreams for the UK, Europe, Africa & the Middle East, East Coast North America & Central / South America, West Coast North America, and Australia, New Zealand & Asia.
Livestream #1 – UK, EUROPE, AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST: 7 pm BST / 8 pm CEST & SAST / 9 pm MSK & EEST / 10 pm GST
Livestream #2 – NORTH AMERICA (EAST COAST) and CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA: 6 pm CDT / 7 pm EDT / 8 pm ART & BRT
Livestream #3 – NORTH AMERICA (WEST COAST): 7 pm PDT
A limited edition line-up poster for the event will also be available, with proceeds going to Stagehand, the live production welfare and benevolent fund which is helping crew who have fallen into the gaps in Government financial support during the pandemic.
Emily Eavis said: “After two Glastonbury cancellations, it brings us great pleasure to announce our first online livestream, which will present live music performances filmed across Worthy Farm at landmarks including the Pyramid and, for the first time ever, the Stone Circle. It will feature a rolling cast of artists and performers who have all given us enormous support by agreeing to take part in this event, showing the farm as you have never seen it. There will also be some very special guest appearances and collaborations. We are hoping this will bring a bit of Glastonbury to your homes and that for one night only people all over the world will be able to join us on this journey through the farm together!”
Shot by acclaimed Grammy-nominated director Paul Dugdale, the hugely ambitious production will take viewers on a journey of the world famous Glastonbury site, which typically greets more than 200,000 people each June. The show will be co-promoted and produced by the pioneering UK livestream business Driift, who have hosted globally successful livestreams for artists including Laura Marling, Nick Cave, Biffy Clyro, Niall Horan and Kylie Minogue, and BBC Studios Productions.
For one night only, the greatest show online!
FAQ
How long does the livestream last? Set lengths will vary from artist to artist, and the overall livestream will last around 5-6 hours depending on a few surprises on the night!
Is there a ticket limit? Ticket purchases are limited to one (1) ticket per order. A unique access code and details on how to connect to the stream will be sent to the email address used to purchase the ticket.
Can I purchase a ticket for a friend? You can purchase a ticket for a friend, but you will need to enter their email address in the “Your Details” section at checkout. This will ensure that they receive the details of how to join the stream when we email out that information.
Can I watch one region’s stream from another timezone? Yes, you can purchase a ticket for – and watch – any of the streams, wherever you are in the world. There are no restrictions, so please choose the most convenient stream for you. Please note, however, that you can only watch the stream for which you booked your ticket.
Can I watch on my phone, tablet and my computer? Yes, you should be able view the stream from any modern web or mobile browser that is connected to the internet – simply click the link we send you & you should be taken to the stream.
If you have a PlayStation, Xbox, Smart TV, Fire Stick or other device that has a web browser & is connected to the internet, you can type the URL link we send you into that browser & then access the stream using your code.
Can I cast the livestream to my Smart TV? If you have a Smart TV, you should be able to cast the stream to your TV using Apple Airplay or Google Chromecast.
Can I show the livestream on my TV which is NOT a Smart TV? If you do not have a Smart TV, or are unable to cast using the methods above, you may wish to try using an HDMI cable to connect your TV to your computer.
Today marks 20 years since four outsiders were drawn together to seize the title of biggest virtual band in the world with the release of their eponymous debut album Gorillaz on 26th March 2001.
Gorillaz bassist Murdoc Niccals said – “I’m exhausted. 20 years is a long time to be top of your game and let’s be clear here, it’s a one man gig keeping this show on the road. A lot of names get bandied about, a lot of pretenders to the throne, one or two in particular… But there is only one Murdoc Niccals. As an ex of mine once said, it’s hard to be a diamond in a rhinestone world.”
Created by musician Damon Albarn and artist Jamie Hewlett, singer 2D, bassist Murdoc Niccals, drummer Russel Hobbs and Japanese guitar prodigy Noodle were formed following a collision of mishaps, meetings and pure luck to blow up a pre-digital world with their colourful backstory and ground-breaking virtual ways. Based at Kong Studios in West London, the band settled into a life of musical innovation with an eye-wateringly exciting roster of collaborators, a list that includes musical legends, geniuses and future stars from Elton John to Little Simz, MF DOOM to Jean-Michel Jarre, Grace Jones to slowthai, Kali Uchis to Sidiki Diabaté, plus so many more. Full list below!
In celebration of two glorious decades of Gorillaz, 2021 will see the exciting arrival of an all-new G Foot Collection, the band’s very own clothing line, relaunched to celebrate 20 years of the Gorillaz unique style. The band will be partnering with leading transmedia art and luxury collectables brand Superplastic, for the release of all-new limited-edition vinyl toys and digital art collectibles featuring 2D, Murdoc, Noodle and Russel throughout 2021.
And later this year the band will release the first in a series of highly-anticipated album reissues, beginning with ‘Gorillaz’, the studio album that started it all. The attic of Kong Studios is a virtual treasure trove of Gorillaz ephemera, a giant biscuit tin of early ideas, deep dive musical moments, demos, early drawings and never-before-seen-or-heard Gorillaz memories. Murdoc Niccals, inspired by his hero Marie Kondo, will tackle that attic with a promise to spark joy in the hearts of fans around the world with a very special physical release featuring an abundance of declassified gems. More details coming soon.
With seven albums to their name, Gorillaz (2001), Demon Days (2005), Plastic Beach (2010), The Fall (2011), Humanz (2017), The Now Now (2018) and Song Machine: Season One – Strange Timez (2020), Gorillaz is a truly global phenomenon, achieving success in entirely new and unique ways, touring the world from San Diego to Syria, Montevideo to Manchester and winning numerous awards including the coveted Jim Henson Creativity Honor. The first twenty years of Gorillaz has been non-stop, here are some of the highlights.
7 x albums
3 x compilation albums – G-Sides (2002), D-Sides (2007), The Singles Collection 2001–2011 (2011)
1 x remix album – Laika Come Home (2002)
43 x singles
3 x DVDs – Phase One: Celebrity Take Down (2002), Demon Days Live (2006), Phase Two: Slowboat to Hades (2008)
2 x documentary films – ‘Bananaz’ (2009), ‘Reject False Icons (2019)
Over 175 live shows, including festivals, in 35 countries to a combined audience of over 3.4 million.
Debut album Gorillaz (2001) went triple platinum in the UK.
Demon Days (2005) went six times platinum in the UK.
24 million records sold worldwide to date.
Over 5 Billion total global Spotify streams to date.
Awards and accolades include: Grammy Award x 1; MTV Video Music Award x 2; NME Award x 1; MTV Europe Music Award x 3; Billboard Video Music Award x 3; Brit Award x 1; Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity x 1; GAFFA Award (Danish) x 1; GQ Award x 1; Q Award x 4; BT Music Digital Award x 4; UK Music Video Award x 1; Webby Award x 3; BIMA Award x 1; Clio Award x 1; Ivor Novello Award x 1; BMI London Award x 2.
Nominated for 11 Brit Awards and won Best British Group at the 2018 Brit Awards.
First ever holographic live performance at the MTV Awards 2005 in Lisbon with De La Soul, ahead of a ground-breaking holographic live performance of Feel Good Inc. at 48th Annual Grammy Awards with Madonna in 2006.
2 x books – Rise of the Ogre (2006) and Gorillaz Almanac (2020).
Escape to Plastic Beach Tour (2010) – the band’s first world tour which marked the first time the live band performed in view of the audience.
The Hewlett-directed music video for ‘Saturnz Barz (Spirit House)’ made use of YouTube’s 360-degree video format: https://gorill.az/360saturnzbarz
2 x Demon Dayz music festivals on 10th June 2017 at Dreamland, Margate, followed by Los Angeles in October 2018.
Song Machine: Live From Kong – featuring a pioneering mix of animation and live performance – was enjoyed by over one million viewers in more than 120 countries tuned in across the three different livestreams in December 2020.
The band is recognised by The Guinness Book Of World Records as the planet’s Most Successful Virtual Act.
The Jim Henson Creativity Honor which acknowledges a new creative voice or unique expression of an idea, was awarded to Gorillaz in 2005.
6LACK, Abra, André 3000, Anthony Hamilton, Azekel, Bashy, Beck, Ben Mendelson, Benjamin Clementine, Bobby Womack, Bootie Brown, Brandon Markell Holmes, Carly Simon, CHAI, D.R.A.M., D12, Daley, Danny Brown, David Attenborough, De La Soul, Del the Funky Homosapien, Dennis Hopper, EarthGang, Ed Case, Elton John, Faia Younan, Fatoumata Diawara, George Benson, Georgia, GoldLink, Grace Jones, Graham Coxon, Gruff Rhys, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ike Turner, Imani Vonshà, James Ford, James Murphy, Jamie Principle, Jean-Michel Jarre, Jehnny Beth, Joan As Police Woman, JPEGMafia, Kali Uchis, Kano, Kelela, Kid Koala, Kilo Kish, Leee John, Little Dragon, Little Simz, London Community Gospel Choir, Lou Reed, Mark E. Smith, Martina Topley-Bird, Mavis Staples, MF DOOM, Mick Jones, Miho Hatori, Mike Will Made It, Moonchild Sanelly, Mos Def, Neneh Cherry, Noel Gallagher, Octavian, Paul Simonon, Pauline Black, Peter Hook, Peven Everett, Phi Life Cypher, Popcaan, Pusha T, Rag’n’Bone Man, Ray BLK, Robert Smith, Roberto Fonseca, Roots Manuva, Roxani Arias, San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus, Schoolboy Q, Shaun Ryder, Sidiki Diabaté, Simon Tong, Sinfonia ViVA, Skepta, Slaves, Slowthai, Snoop Dogg, Soulchild, St. Vincent, Sweetie Irie, Terry Hall, The Bees, The Syrian National Orchestra, Tina Weymouth, Tony Allen, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Vince Staples, Yukimi Nagano, Zebra Katz.
All aboard as Paul McCartney sails into the sun with GRANDUDE’S GREEN SUBMARINE, the sequel to his internationally bestselling picture book, HEY GRANDUDE!
Grandude’s Green Submarine will release globally on September 2, 2021
Random House Children’s Books in the US and Penguin Random House Children’s UK are delighted to announce the forthcoming publication of GRANDUDE’S GREEN SUBMARINE, the picture book sequel to HEY GRANDUDE! written by one of the world’s most famous and best-loved grandfathers, Paul McCartney.
HEY GRANDUDE!, Paul McCartney’s first picture book, was published to global success in September 2019. The book was a #1 New York Times bestseller, selling 300,000 copies around the world, with translations in 32 languages and counting. It introduced a magical grandpa—the eponymous Grandude—who was inspired by a nickname Paul’s own eight grandchildren gave him.
GRANDUDE’S GREEN SUBMARINE continues the adventures of Grandude and his grandchildren as they set off on a quest to find their music-loving grandmother, Nandude! It’s an action-packed extravaganza of wild imagination and fun for the whole family, a read-aloud that’s perfect for sharing, destined to become a timeless classic.
World rights were acquired from MPL Communications in a joint acquisition by Puffin Picture Books Editorial Director Joe Marriott and Random House Books for Young Readers Editorial Director Heidi Kilgras. Like HEY GRANDUDE! the book will be illustrated by Kathryn Durst, who is represented by Arabella Stein at The Bright Agency.
Paul McCartney said: “I’m really happy with how HEY GRANDUDE! was received, as this was a very personal story for me, celebrating Grandudes everywhere and their relationships and adventures with their grandchildren. I love that it has become a book read to grandkids at bedtime all around the world. I always said if people liked the first book and there was an appetite for more, I would write some further adventures for Grandude—so he’s back and this time with his special invention, Grandude’s green submarine!”
Kathryn Durst, Illustrator, said: “I am so thrilled to be collaborating with Paul again on Grandude’s Green Submarine. I think this is the adventure book we all need during this time, when everyone is stuck at home and longing to travel to exciting new places. I really enjoyed drawing the newest character in the book, Nandude, particularly because we both share a love of playing the accordion!”
Barbara Marcus, Random House Children’s Books President, said: “It is an honor to have an icon like Paul McCartney on our list, and we are so pleased to be able to publish another Grandude adventure to share with young readers and his adult fans. Hey Grandude! was such a tremendous success, and we look forward to bringing another story that celebrates the special bond between grandparents and their grandchildren.”
GRANDUDE’S GREEN SUBMARINE is available for pre-order and will release on September 2, 2021. It will be published in hardcover under the Random House Books for Young Readers imprint in the US and the Puffin imprint in the UK.
For further information and publicity requests, please contact: Noreen Herits Executive Director, Publicity Random House Children’s Books US nherits@penguinrandomhouse.com
***
About Paul McCartney Since writing his first song at the age of 14, Paul McCartney’s career has been impossibly prolific and singularly influential. In the 1960s, Paul changed the world forever with The Beatles. He didn’t stop there, and has continued to push boundaries as a solo artist, with Wings, and collaborating with numerous world-renowned artists. He has received 18 Grammys, and in 1997 was knighted by H.M. The Queen for his services to music. His most recent album, McCartney III, was Number One in the UK Official Charts as well as Number One on the US Billboard Top Album Sales Chart upon release in December 2020.
Paul is a dedicated philanthropist, passionately advocating for many causes including animal rights and environmental issues. He’s also a very proud grandfather.
About Kathryn Durst Kathryn Durst was born in Peterborough, Canada, and is a graduate of Sheridan College. With a background in animation, she has interned with Pixar Animation Studios in addition to working with various children’s book publishers.
When she is not illustrating books, she may be found playing the accordion, growing vegetables, folk dancing, or putting on shadow puppet shows. She lives in Canada with her grumpy mini dachshund named Chili Dog.
About Random House Children’s Books Random House Children’s Books is the world’s largest English-language children’s trade book publisher. Creating books for toddlers through young adult readers, in all formats from board books to activity books to picture books, novels, and nonfiction, the imprints of Random House Children’s Books bring together award-winning authors and illustrators, world-famous franchise characters, and multimillion-copy series. The company’s website, rhcbooks.com, offers an array of activities, games, and resources for children, teens, parents, and educators. Random House Children’s Books is a division of Penguin Random House LLC.
About Puffin Since publishing a series of nonfiction in 1940, Puffin has grown to become one of the most iconic children’s entertainment brands in the world. Publishing stories for children from ages 0 to 12, Puffin is home to famous authors, illustrators, and children’s brands including Roald Dahl, Jacqueline Wilson, Malorie Blackman, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the Snowman, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, to name but a few. Many of these stories live beyond the book and have inspired films, music, and games.
Puffin is always on the lookout for diverse new talent and is committed to giving children access to stories through innovative formats and partnerships, ensuring that the magic of imagination passes from one generation to the next.
Puffin is an imprint of Penguin Random House, the world’s number one publisher, representing a vibrant community of publishing houses marked by unparalleled success.
Dream big. Read Puffin.
For more information, please visit www.puffin.co.uk or follow us on: Twitter/Facebook: @PuffinBooks | Instagram: @puffinbooksuk
McCARTNEY III REINTERPRETED BY ALL-STAR LINEUP INCLUDING ANDERSON .PAAK, BECK, BLOOD ORANGE, DAMON ALBARN, EOB, JOSH HOMME, KHRUANGBIN, 3D RDN FROM MASSIVE ATTACK, PHOEBE BRIDGERS, ST. VINCENT & MORE
“THE KISS OF VENUS (DOMINIC FIKE)” TRACK & VIDEO OUT NOW
Hailed upon its release last year as “vital and comfortable taking new chances” (Rolling Stone) and “cheery, resilient, forever looking forward” (The New Yorker), Paul McCartney’s McCartney III is now literally moving into the future in the form of McCartney III Imagined, to be released digitally April 16 on Capitol Records, and available for pre-order now.
Personally curated by Paul, McCartney III Imagined features an A-List assortment of friends, fans and brand new acquaintances, each covering and/or reimagining their favorite McCartney III moments in their own signature styles. The result is a kaleidoscopic reinterpretation of an album Rolling Stone accurately tagged “an inspiration to us all”—one that serves as an extension of the instantly beloved McCartney III while standing on its own as brilliant and adventurous milestone in the McCartney discography.
The first offering from McCartney III Imagined comes from American singer/rapper/songwriter Dominic Fike, whose cover of “The Kiss of Venus” transmutes the tender acoustic ballad into a retro-futuristic R&B tour de force. “The Kiss of Venus (Dominic Fike version)” is available digitally HERE, and a brand new video for the track can be seen HERE.
Further III-imaginations will be forthcoming from Damon Albarn, Beck, Blood Orange, Phoebe Bridgers, Josh Homme, Khraungbin, 3D RDN of Massive Attack, Ed O’Brien (EOB), Anderson .Paak, St. Vincent and more.
Originally released December 18, 2020, McCartney III is the third in a trilogy of home-made and self-titled albums that began with Paul’s 1970 solo debut McCartney, andcontinued in 1980 with McCartney II. All three albums were written, performed and produced by Paul in varying states of isolation, all showcasing his unique creativity and inspired spontaneity. Recorded in “Rockdown,” McCartney III topped album charts across the world, scoring Paul his first UK#1 album in 31 years – increasing his lead as the UK’s most successful chart act of all time.
McCartney III Imagined continues the tradition of the biggest and most diverse names in music covering Paul’s songs — an ever-expanding lineup that ranges from more recent versions by Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Dave Grohl, Coldplay and The Cure, to interpretations over the years from the likes of U2, Guns N’ Roses, Earth Wind & Fire, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Marvin Gaye, Bill Withers, Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Ray Charles and so many more. McCartney III Imagined is atestament of Paul’s enduring and unmatched influence, a legacy that stretches from “Yesterday” being the most covered song in contemporary musical history to the inspiration his current work continues to hold for generations of artists and fans.
McCartney III Imagined physical formats are also available for pre-order, with their release following this summer, including exclusive color vinyl editions available at Target, Barnes & Noble, Indie record stores, Newbury Comics, and PaulMcCartney.com. Physical configurations will feature the exclusive bonus track “Long Tailed Winter Bird (Idris Elba Remix).”
Paul McCartney McCartney III Imagined
1. Find My Way (feat. Beck) 2. The Kiss of Venus (Dominic Fike) 3. Pretty Boys (feat. Khruangbin) 4. Women And Wives (St. Vincent Remix) 5. Deep Down (Blood Orange Remix) 6. Seize The Day (feat. Phoebe Bridgers) 7. Slidin’ (EOB Remix) 8. Long Tailed Winter Bird (Damon Albarn Remix) 9. Lavatory Lil (Josh Homme) 10. When Winter Comes (Anderson .Paak Remix) 11. Deep Deep Feeling (3D RDN Remix) 12. Long Tailed Winter Bird (Idris Elba Remix)*
Like the long-awaited reemergence of sunny spring days, Jenny Lewis and Serengeti have returned with “Idiot,” the third song from their fruitful quarantine collaboration, out today via Loves Way.
With a beguiling double dose of frenetic beats dropped beneath a subtle groove, “Idiot” delivers a slinky and instantly infectious bop. Produced by Jenny and Andrew Broder, “Idiot” follows on the heels of previous tracks “Unblu” and the more recent “Vroom Vroom.”
Speaking about their long-distance creative process, Jenny says:
“These songs with Dave (Serengeti) start with a late night feeling and access to — because of where we’re at right now in the world — whatever you have in your house that makes a sound. Or, I don’t have Pro Tools, so I use my phone, and I’ve got a little drum machine and a drum kit. Sometimes when I’m doing my vocals, Forensic Files is on in the background. That makes it onto the track because that’s just what’s happening.”
Serengeti adds “Jenny sent the beat and it’s always a great joy, it’s fun to do. I wrote a small rap about a man who gets knocked out by his mom’s boyfriend and then reconnects with his high school girlfriend.”
No shirt, no shoes…no problem. Tune in here to catch the head-turning video directed and edited by Jenny: https://youtu.be/ri0Ka0WuP-Y
ST. VINCENT DADDY’S HOME Out May 14, 2021 on Loma Vista Recordings SEE or HEAR “Pay Your Way in Pain”
“Daddy’s Home collects stories of being down and out in downtown NYC. Last night’s heels on the morning train. Glamour that’s been up for three days straight.”—St. Vincent
Daddy’s Home, the sixth album from Annie Clark a/k/a St. Vincent, is the latest facet of an ever-evolving artist regarded by many as the most consistently innovative and intriguing presence in modern music.
Annie Clark made her recorded debut as St. Vincent in 2007 with Marry Me. Her subsequent albums would grow in stature and complexity, including Actor (2009), Strange Mercy (2011), and the self-titled fourth album that won the 2014 GRAMMY for Best Alternative Album, making her only the second female artist ever to win in that category. In addition to these solo works, St. Vincent plays nice with others: Her collaborations have included an album with David Byrne (2012’s Love This Giant), a performance as singer and lead guitarist of Nirvana at the band’s 2014 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and a 2019 GRAMMY Awards duet with Dua Lipa.
In 2017, working with co-producer Jack Antonoff, St. Vincent created a defining statement with MASSEDUCTION. As ambitious as it was accessible, the album broke St. Vincent into the U.S. and UK top 10s while landing at #1 on the Best of 2017 lists of The New York Times and The Guardian—and placing high in the year-end rankings of The AV Club, Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, Mashable, The New York Daily News, the NME, Paste, Pitchfork, Q, Stereogum, USA Today, and more.
St. Vincent’s 2018 album, MassEducation, revealed another dimension of MASSEDUCTION. Recorded live in the studio by Annie on vocals and Thomas Bartlett on piano over two nights in August 2017, the album lays bare the exquisite songcraft of its other half, rendering songs like “Slow Disco” and “Savior” and their subjects in vivid, vulnerable new light.
In the winter of 2019, as MASSEDUCTION‘s title track won the GRAMMY for Best Rock Song and the album won Best Recording Package, St. Vincent’s father was released from prison. She began writing the songs that would become Daddy’s Home, closing the loop on a journey that began with his incarceration in 2010, and ultimately led her back to the vinyl her dad had introduced her to during her childhood. The records she has probably listened to more than any other music in her entire life. Music made in sepia-toned downtown New York from 1971-1975.
Gritty.
Grimy.
Sleazy.
Preceded by a foreboding teaser, the first full broadcast from St. Vincent’s synthesis of this era reaches us in the form of “Pay Your Way In Pain,” a slinky slab of sweaty funk—punctuated by a few examples of Clark’s ability to shred vocal cords rivaling her shredding on her signature Ernie Ball Music Man guitar. The song plays like the result of time travelers from the future having booked a session Electric Lady in the early 70s. The video for “Pay Your Way In Pain,” directed by Bill Benz (director of the forthcoming The Nowhere Inn, co-written by and starring St. Vincent), opens up Daddy’s Home’s visual world—a world in which the most forward-looking artist of an era throws herself willingly into a network TV variety hour rabbit hole.
Daddy’s Home is out May 14, 2021 on Loma Vista Recordings. Pre-Save the album now, or pre-order your choice of 8-track (if you know, you know…), CD, Vinyl, Deluxe Vinyl, and Cassette. Or visit https://lnk.ilovestvincent.com/Shop to pre-order exclusive picture disc, merchandise and more.
The album was produced by Annie Clark and Jack Antonoff, recorded by Laura Sisk, mixed by Cian Riordan, and mastered by Chris Gehringer. The music was performed by Annie, Jack, Cian, Thomas, Evan Smith, Sam KS, Greg Leisz, Daniel Hart, Michael Leonhard, Lynne Fiddmont and Kenya Hathaway.
And Candy Darling lived within and presided over it all.
“And your wig, blonde, rolls home waving from the latest uptown train I never wanna leave your perfect candy dream So candy darling I brought bodega roses for your feet and candy my sweet I hope you will be coming home to me”
… Daddy’s Home.
Daddy’s Home Tracklist
01. Pay Your Way In Pain 02. Down And Out Downtown 03. Daddy’s Home 04. Live In the Dream 05. The Melting Of The Sun 06. The Laughing Man 07. Down 08. Somebody Like Me 09. My Baby Wants A Baby 10. …At The Holiday Party 11. Candy Darling
Carnage is a new album by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis, recorded over a period of weeks during lockdown. Although the pair have composed & recorded many soundtracks together, and Ellis is a long-term member of The Bad Seeds, this is the first time they have released an entire album of songs as a duo.
Cave describes the album as “a brutal but very beautiful record nested in a communal catastrophe.”
“Making Carnage was an accelerated process of intense creativity,” says Ellis, “the eight songs were there in one form or another within the first two and a half days.”
Cave & Ellis’ sonic and lyrical adventurism continues apace on Carnage, an album that emerged almost by accident out of the downtime created by the long, anxious, global emergency. Carnage is a record for these uncertain times – one shot through with moments of distilled beauty and that resonates with an almost defiant sense of hope.
Cave and Ellis’ creative chemistry is rooted in their long history of music making, both as collaborators and as individual artists. They first crossed paths in 1993, when Ellis played violin on several songs for the Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds album, Let Love In, before going on to join the band as a full time member. The two have also recorded as Grinderman, formed in 2006, and have composed and recorded numerous, film, TV and theatre soundtracks together.
CARNAGE is out now on Goliath Records on all digital platforms.
Vinyl & CD will be released on 28 May.
1. Hand of God 5’ 17” 2. Old Time 5’ 16” 3. Carnage 4’ 47” 4. White Elephant 6’ 08” 5. Albuquerque 3’ 57” 6. Lavender Fields 4’ 34” 7. Shattered Ground 5’ 35” 8. Balcony Man 4’ 30”
‘More often than I can count, I’ve been asked if I would write an autobiography, but the time has never been right. The one thing I’ve always managed to do, whether at home or on the road, is to write new songs. I know that some people, when they get to a certain age, like to go to a diary to recall day-to-day events from the past, but I have no such notebooks. What I do have are my songs, hundreds of them, which I’ve learned serve much the same purpose. And these songs span my entire life’ Paul McCartney, The Lyrics
In this extraordinary book, with unparalleled candour, Paul McCartney recounts his life and art through the prism of 154 songs from all stages of his career – from his earliest boyhood compositions through the legendary decade of The Beatles, to Wings and his solo albums to the present. Arranged alphabetically to provide a kaleidoscopic rather than chronological account, it establishes definitive texts of the songs’ lyrics for the first time and describes the circumstances in which they were written, the people and places that inspired them, and what he thinks of them now. Presented with this is a treasure trove of material from McCartney’s personal archive – drafts, letters, photographs – never seen before, which make this also a unique visual record of one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
We learn intimately about the man, the creative process, the working out of melodies, the moments of inspiration. The voice and personality of Paul McCartney sings off every page. There has never been a book about a great musician like it.
‘I hope that what I’ve written will show people something about my songs and my life which they haven’t seen before. I’ve tried to say something about how the music happens and what it means to me and I hope what it may mean to others too’ Paul McCartney
‘Based on conversations I had with Paul McCartney over a five year period, these commentaries are as close to an autobiography as we may ever come. His insights into his own artistic process confirm a notion at which we had but guessed — that Paul McCartney is a major literary figure who draws upon, and extends, the long tradition of poetry in English’ Paul Muldoon
About the authors: Born in Liverpool in 1942, Paul McCartney was raised in the city and educated at the Liverpool Institute. Since writing his first song at 14, McCartney has dreamed and dared to be different. He lives in England.
Paul Muldoon is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of fourteen full-length collections of poetry, including his new collection Howdie-Skelp.
International publishers: USA: Liveright / W.W. Norton – UK: Allen Lane / Penguin Press – Germany: C.H. Beck – Spain: Libros Cúpula/Grupo Planeta – Italy: Rizzoli – Netherlands: Het Spectrum
US product information: THE LYRICS: 1956 to the Present Paul McCartney, edited with an introduction by Paul Muldoon ISBN: 978-1-63149-256-3 Liveright Publishing $100.00 Two volumes, in a slipcase 960 pages (480 pp per volume)
THE SPACEMAN REISSUE PROGRAM CURATED BY J SPACEMAN
FAT POSSUM TO ISSUE DEFINITIVE VINYL EDITIONS OF CLASSIC FIRST FOUR ALBUMS
First Installment Lazer Guided Melodies Out April 23 Pre-Order HERE
Spiritualized and Fat Possum Records are proud to announce the first stage of The Spaceman Reissue Program: definitive vinyl releases of the first four Spiritualized albums. Curated by J Spaceman, the series will kick off April 23 with Spiritualized’s classic 1992 debut, Lazer Guided Melodies.
Elevating the gritty, narcotic garage blues of Pierce’s recently disbanded Spacemen 3 into a crystalline space rock/pop wall of sound, Lazer Guided Melodies was recorded from 1990 to 1991, its 12 songs divided into four distinct movements. Reflecting on the transition from Spacemen 3 to the first realization of the Spiritualized sound, Pierce recalls:
“The last Spacemen 3 record was under-realized to me. When I listen back to that stuff it sounds like somebody finding their way. There was a lot of ideas but no way to put them into a space that would make them all work. So, there was a huge freedom forging over the last Spacemen 3 record and when Spiritualized started it was like, ‘OK it’s all yours. Go’…
We recorded the tracks in the studio near my flat which was a place where they predominantly recorded advertising jingles and it’s where we made all the Spacemen 3 records, but then the recordings were taken to Battery Studios in London, to explore a more professional way of making music… Once I approached that way of doing things I opened up a whole world and I was astounded that somebody could take those tracks and turn it into the record it became…”
The Spaceman Reissue Program edition of Lazer Guided Melodies promises to give those recordings the fullest spectrum audio and physical treatment they’ve deserved since 1992. It will be the first in this series of 180g double albums mastered from a half speed lacquer cut from original sources by Alchemy Mastering, presented in a gatefold jacket adorned by reworked art by Mark Farrow, and available in both a standard black vinyl pressing and limited edition white vinyl exclusive to D2C / indie retail.
Alongside the vinyl reissue, for a limited time there will also be a comprehensive series of Lazer Guided Melodies merchandise based on original vintage designs available via spiritualized.com.
Stay tuned to this frequency for release dates and further information on The Spaceman Reissue Program releases of Pure Phase (1995), Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space (1997) and Let It Come Down (2001).
