R.E.M. Live at the Olympia in Dublin

The latest release from R.E.M. is a 39 track live recording that should do more than keep fans satisfied until their next studio album. The collection includes unpolished performances of several songs from last year's Accelerate that the band debuted during this live stint. In a couple of cases the difference between the live track and the final version are extremely noticeable, but for the most part, everything seems to have been put into place before they were road tested. The newer material provides a good core for the record, but a good portion of the album features songs from the group's I.R.S years. The modern takes on the older songs helped me realize, not only, just how much the band has matured and progressed in terms of their craft, but also how steady they have been for so long.

R.E.M. MySpace

Jukebox Update 11/17/09

This blog has been inspired by the excitement we get from finding, sharing, and/or rediscovering music. Unfortunately the balance between an enthusiasm for discussing music and the tasks of everyday life, ranging from trivial to crucial, has been skewed enough to deter from regular posts over the last several weeks. Through acknowledging the lack of posts, I hope to avoid another lapse and move forward with a renewed desire to write.

Moneypenny

I was passing by one of the stages at Wicker Park Fest just as Moneypenny started their set in front of a group of about a dozen people. Quickly into their DJ set, the duo had attracted a much larger crowd and had people dancing as far back as the end of the block. A few weeks later at Lollapalooza, they had another large crowd moving and shaking during their DJ set before debuting some original dance/vocal pop compostions. The change of pace seemed drastic, and the performance was new and parts came off as slightly unpolished, but the songs were fun and kept the crowd interested. I am looking forward to hearing more in terms of their new direction, and in the meantime, I've been enjoying the free mixtapes.

Monneypenny at Wicker Park Fest 2009