Use Me Up

Yes, folks. Bill Withers--of Lean on Me, Use Me Up and Grandma's Hands fame--is back! A documentary about the singer, how he got started and what he's up to these days is out. It dropped last Thursday and is currently playing at IFC. Check the trailer here.

I gotta say, ol' Bill looks great for his age - and what a voice! Plus, Cornell West makes an appearance! Very looking forward to seeing this film. Favorite quote so far:

"Thoraeu I think, said 'The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.' I would like to know how it feels for my desperation to get louder."

Lean on Me sing-a-long, anyone?

The Tindersticks?

I was a child of the '90s. So today, I am reeling learning about The Tindersticks. How on earth did I miss this band during my adolescent music education, what with Nirvana, Morrissey and the like? The band, which released its first demo in 1992, is now back (I never even knew they'd gone) with their eighth album Falling Down a Mountain.

The Tindersticks' relationship is like a work in progress. After about 13 years together, of waxing, waning and breaking up to do solo projects, the band has found each other again, picked up the pieces, dusted them off to a brand new sheen, and produced what seems to be a really soulful album. Perhaps The Tindersticks have come to a more mature place of understanding of who they are as people and as an operation. I think that's really beautiful. Take a listen and check out this band here.

TWEET!

I just joined twitter! Check me at: victorialebron.

Fashion Party

Fashion Week is almost upon us here in NYC--officially Feb 11-18. I certainly don't feel fashionable right now, wearing 18 layers of clothes, but sometimes the right tunes can make you feel brand new. Take this joint right here.

Its a cheeky collabo between Chairlift and Das Racist and I love it! Now to shed some layers...

New Album Update: Dinowalrus

I'm sure you all remember the Dinowalrus. Well last week they dropped their very first, shiny brand new album, %, on Kanine Records. Sweet! The album features some oldies, like BEAD and Cage Those Pythons, but there are some new surprises, too, like East German Western. Check it out for yourself on the Hype! Also, check out my Ear Farm interview with the band.

?uestlove Explains the Complicated Side of Playing Music

I read different blogs. Sometimes I like to read New York Magazine, too. Today, the mag had a little blurb about all the hullabalooh between the late night shows. Too bad Conan's leaving; but you know he's gonna rock out someplace else while Jay puts all the oldies to sleep (my personal opinion).

Anyhoo, apparently, drummer ?uestlove of The Roots, and now band leader for Jimmy Fallon, was really inspired by the fact that Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg Seven played "Lovely Rita"on Conan's final show. Why? Because of copyright and permission costs. It turns out that playing that one song cost NBC $500K. Wow! Now I realize why I had to study copyright law in music so much in college...

See ?uest's explanation here.

No, please stay

That's the first thought that came to mind when listening to Keepaway's new single "Yellow Wings" off their EP "Baby Style". The tribal/militaristic percussion, which features a strict march tempo mingled with hoots and pitched percussive instruments, gives way to a reverby call and response between the bass and the guitar. Oh, yes! The parts alone are pretty simple, but throw them all together and you've got a delectable, inventive and exciting blend that's like Animal Collective and Yeasayer, among other influences, all rolled into one. Yay!

Listen here, courtesy Pitchfork.