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Digital Digging: Nine Inch Nails

Tuesday, July 12th, 2011

382142 721 Digital Digging: Nine Inch NailsArtist: Nine Inch Nails
Album: Pretty Hate Machine
Label: The Bicycle Music Company
Genre: Alternative Rock : Industrial
UPC: 847108062895
Territory: US
Release Date: 7.12.11

In November 2010, The Bicycle Music Company in conjunction with Trent Reznor’s Null Corporation released the newly remastered reissue of Nine Inch Nails’ groundbreaking debut album Pretty Hate Machine (2010 Remaster) to critical acclaim. And while remastered albums can give us a fresh sonic perspective on a classic work, sometimes it is the original version that holds the true feeling of the album.

And so after many years of being out of print, and for the first time ever digitally, comes the original version of Trent Reznor’s 1989 industrial synth-pop masterpiece Pretty Hate Machine as well as the EPs associated with the album’s hit singles (Down In It, Sin and Head Like A Hole). All songs, including the breakthrough singles “Sin,” “Down In It” and “Head Like A Hole,” were written, arranged, programmed and performed by Reznor. With sales surpassing 3 million copies, ultimately reaching Triple Platinum status, this highly influential album is a significant document and testament of its era and a natural companion piece for NIN fans and purists.

Digital Digging: The Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Live On

Monday, June 27th, 2011

123176 72 Digital Digging: The Teachings of Sri Sathya Sai Baba Live OnArtist: Bombay S. Jayashri
Album: Om Sai Sri Sai
Label: Inreco
Genre: World: Religious
UPC: 843041006156
Territory: World : Religious
Release Date: 1.01.05

Thousands of people mourned when Indian Spiritual Guru Puttaparthi Sai Baba passed away in April. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recognized Baba as a spiritual leader who inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life even as they followed the religion of their choice, noting “His teachings were rooted in the universal ideals of truth, right conduct, peace, love and non-violence.” Aside from attracting thousands of religious devotees, he also established an organization that still funds health and education projects in India, including hospitals and clinics that say they cure ailments beyond the capabilities of mainstream medicine. He also inspired several artists, including Bombay S. Jayashri, Kalyani Sundararajan and Chithra to produce devotional albums in his honor. While he has passed on, the legacy of his teachings and his actions will be remembered by many for years to come.

Digital Digging: Mickey Newbury – “An American Trilogy”

Monday, June 20th, 2011

369932 72 Digital Digging: Mickey Newbury An American TrilogyArtist: Mickey Newbury
Album: An American Trilogy
Label: Saint Cecilia Knows / Mountain Retreat
Genre: Country : Country
UPC: 5055300328373
Territory: World ex- AM
Release Date: 5.16.11

As the ultimate songwriter’s songwriter and the unsung hero of American popular music, Mickey Newbury’s influence is immeasurable. His early success as a songwriter in Nashville and his selfless and relentless championing of others paved the way for Kris Kristofferson, Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark and David Allen Coe. Joanna Newsom recently cited the inspiration of Mickey Newbury (alongside Kris Kristofferson and Sandy Denny) as a songwriter with “the ability to compose a lyrical line that is so perfect, so distilled and clean and pure”.

Newbury songs have, to date, been recorded over 1300 times by more than 1000 performers including Johnny Cash, Scott Walker, Ray Charles, Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, the Box Tops, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Nick Cave. He is the only songwriter ever to have number one hits (with different songs) in the pop, country, R&B and easy listening charts within the space of one year (three of those songs were in the charts simultaneously). But Mickey Newbury himself was by far the best interpreter of his own songs.

(more…)

Sleeping at Last’s Yearbook EP Series

Thursday, June 16th, 2011

378432 72 Sleeping at Lasts Yearbook EP SeriesArtist: Sleeping At Last
Album: Yearbook – June
Label: Sleeping At Last
Genre: Alternative : Indie
UPC: 847108030078
Territory: World
Release Date: 6.14.11

If you caught our Digital Digging post on Sleeping at Last a few weeks ago, you would have read about the Yearbook project the band started up last October. Basically, the band decided to release a three-song EP for each month, and now that June is in full swing, it’s time for their newest EP to hit the shelves.

This is a pretty creative venture, even in an age where gimmicks surrounding releases are becoming increasingly prevalent. But this has a lot more implications for the band than a giveaway or a ‘name your price’ scheme. Producing an album is no easy task, so to commit to the process for an entire year seems almost silly. And yet, the project has been extremely successful so far. Fans have the option of purchasing each EP individually for $3, or subscribing to all 12 EPs at any time for $30.

But the success of the venture has more to do with the talent of Sleeping at Last and their music than the gimmick itself. The seasonal EP format has allowed them to branch out creatively and experiment with new sounds rather than focusing their efforts on one cohesive album, meaning each EP captures a different vibe from the rest. 8 EPs into the Yearbook project, they have yet to disappoint, keeping fans eagerly anticipating the next month to hear what’s next.

You can read more about the Yearbook project on Sleeping at Last’s website.

Digital Digging: Zeus B. Held

Monday, June 13th, 2011

362842 72 Digital Digging: Zeus B. Held Artist: Zeus B. Held
Album: Voice Versa
Label: Boutique
Genre: Electronic : Disco
UPC: 5024545611922
Territory: World
Release Date: 5.03.11

LTM’s Boutique Label imprint presents a digitally remastered compilation CD of classic electro tracks by cult German producer and Vocoder maestro Zeus B. Held, recorded between 1978 and 1981.

Having first made his name as keyboards player in progressive band Birth Control, Zeus formed one half of pioneering electro duo Gina X Performance in the late 1970s, as well as making the three solo albums (Attack Time, Europium and Zeus’ Amusement) from which this new collection is compiled. The CD also features a reworking of signature GXP dance track “Nice Mover”, as well as a new edit of 1978 Eurodisco hit “On the Road Again” by Rockets, on which Zeus provided the Vocodered voice and percussion as well as harmonica and synth.

If you are a fan of electronic music or even if you are not, take a listen to one of the earliest electro and vocoding pioneers as he takes electronic music into a new era.  The foundation and root for what a lot of today’s electronic music stems from.

Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly – Songs You Never Thought You’d Hear

Monday, May 23rd, 2011

232216 72 Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear Artist: Various Artists
Album: When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You’d Hear
Promotrack:   Herman’s Hermits
download icon Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear “White Wedding” (mp3)
from “When Pigs Fly: Songs You Never Thought You’d Hear”
(Xemu Records)

dbl icon Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear Buy at Xemu Records, Inc.
service icon 4 Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear Buy at iTunes Music Store
icon landing page Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear More On This Album

Digital Digging: When Pigs Fly Songs You Never Thought Youd Hear When Pigs Fly is a compilation album comprised of songs one would not expect to hear a particular artist perform. All songs (except for Roy Clark’s) were recorded exclusively for this project.  This unique compilation ventures over genre walls to bring some of music’s most “unforgettable” tunes to your ears as never heard before.

The recordings include Ani DiFranco and film star Jackie Chan doing a re-make of the Nat King Cole classic, “Unforgettable;”  new wave icons Devo performing Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young’s “Ohio;”  80′s pop stars, The Fixx, creating their own take on the Nancy Sinatra hit, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’;”  Lesley Gore singing the AC/DC tune, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap;” and country music legends, The Oak Ridge Boys, recording the Kansas megahit, “Carry On My Wayward Son.”  And of course Herman Hermits’ ultimate cover of the great Billy Idol’s “White Wedding.”

Whether you are a classic rocker, a metal head, a hip-hop junky, or a lounge lizard this is a delightful sonic treat, well worth listening to.

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