It's Been A Long Cold Lonely Winter

Leave it to some lost gem of The Beatles and George Harrison to drag me out of my long winter's nap. A lost guitar solo from Here Comes The Sun?! Holy shit this is awesome.


YouTube

Better Watch Your Step

PPL MVR. Shit is getting weird.



Who? What? Why? Why not.

I have strong guesses for their true identities, but I'll play along. PPL MVR is SNBLL, K-PO, and Q. Naturally. Fun fun. Thump thump.

Free download available from their official site below. And they're signed to Atlantic Records. Sure.

Official Site | Atlantic | NPR.org

Shake Off The Routine

Six minutes?! What a tease! Brandon Schott has released a brand new EP called Verdugo Park, which essentially serves as the second single from his upcoming album Crayons & Angels backed with a couple non-album tracks. Such music biz lingo.

The EP naturally starts with its namesake Verdugo Park, a happy tune about a happy place where life can't be that hard. Hell, the tune prominently features a tuba and Brandon's own kids. I dare you not to smile while listening to it. Musically, it's what you might expect and would want to hear from Brandon after 2011's excellent change-of-pace 13 Satellites. Forgive the lazy Beatles reference, but consider Verdugo Park Brandon's pre-Sgt. Pepper release; a striking yet fleeting hint of the brilliant promise of what's next. It's a full-on embrace of studio magic, and Brandon has become quite the magician. Hell, I can't even see the green screen in the accompanying magical video ...



Magic. Following the title track is the trippy instrumental Lapiz Lazuli. To carry the Beatles comparison further, it's the Lennon after the McCartney. It's impossible not to hear the mid-60s influence of Tomorrow Never Knows, but it's not merely a copy; it's a Schottsian original. You can picture Brandon working meticulously on this one in the wee hours of a Sunday morning drinking a Scotch while hoping not to wake the kids. My only criticism is that it's not five minutes longer.

Finally, the EP finishes with a perfectly pleasant cover of Castaway. It's an appropriate balance to the rest of the EP and reminds you of earlier, simpler Schott that is more stripped and less studio. Remarkably, in a mere six minutes on a single EP, Brandon Schott has showcased his best qualities. If the intent was to get us pumped for a full-length, well dammit, it's a job well done.

Disclosure: We at Too Poppy consider Brandon a good friend. In other words, he can do no wrong. Of course, a thorough listen to his catalog reveals the truth behind our opinion. Go on. Discover and explore already.

Verdugo Park is out today digitally and available very soon physically!

Official Site | Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon

Cheaper Than A Dime

Here they go again. The Beatles are relentlessly relieving our wallets of our hard-earned cash with even more releases. They must be the most prolific band that broke up more than 40 years ago.

It's George Harrison week on Conan, which means four performances of classic Harrison tunes. Beck kicked it off last night with Wah-Wah, a refreshingly unique choice.


Of course what I love most is his band, which includes Jellyfish's Jason Falkner and Roger Joseph Manning Jr. Of course Jr. has been playing with Beck for many years and Falkner has played with McCartney himself, so it's legit. Paul Simon, Dhani Harrison, and Norah Jones will finish off the week. Each of the remaining artists have some personal connection to the Quiet One, which makes the whole idea that much more special.

It's all to celebrate this week's release of George Harrison's The Apple Years, a six album box set that includes, well, all his albums released by Apple Records, including his tour de force All Things Must Pass.

Official Site | Amazon | iTunes

Let The Fire Fill My Eyes

Toad The Wet Sprocket really made a statement with last year's crowdfunded comeback New Constellation proving that they deserve to be more than a nostalgia act. They've just released their newest video for one of my two favorites tunes on the album. Here's California Wasted premiered by Paste...


iTunes | Amazon | Official Site

Bright Are The Stars That Shine

I suppose Too Poppy is a blog 50 years in the making. Of course this month we're all celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles crashing onto our shores and fundamentally changing music forever. There are plenty of celebrations online and elsewhere, but it would be tragic if you missed last night's Late Show with David Letterman performance of And I Love Her by Broken Bells (and Ringo) in the Ed Sullivan Theater...

Perfection. In less than four minutes The Shins' James Mercer and Danger Mouse collectively known as Broken Bells capture the essence of the initial revolution caused by The Beatles and the subsequent evolution of the popular music we revere today. Sting, Flaming Lips, Sean Lennon, and Lenny Kravitz are all scheduled for the remainder of Letterman's weeklong celebration.

It's also a hell of a way to promote Broken Bells' new album After the Disco, the follow-up to their fantastic self-titled debut. Disco is out today.

Official Site | iTunes | Amazon

Pretty Soon The Connection Is Made

Whoa. Neil Finn. Divebomber. You have our attention. Even my 11-year-old son asked if this tune was The Beatles because it's sounds like one of their "drunken stupor" songs. I'll give him credit for even knowing those tunes!


That is certainly one of the oddest tunes Finn has ever released, but I'm a bit in love with it after my first listen. Dizzy Heights is Finn's new solo album and it's out Feb 11, 2014. Pre-order on iTunes now and get two immediate downloads including Divebomber! Also check out his recent Morning Becomes Eclectic session here.

Official Site | Official Store | iTunes | Amazon

Don't Act So Surprised

Check out another gem from Jeff Litman ...



Go is now available via Bandcamp for $49.00. Well, you could pay that or whatever you want. Or download it via iTunes if you don't appreciate the freedom of naming your own price.

It's becoming quite clear that Jeff's ongoing hodgepodge of singles will be significantly better than 98% of the albums released this year.

Your Silence Covers Me

So this is happening right now in that big world of webs...


Arcade Fire's full album stream of Reflektor on YouTube. It's not out until next week, but they knew a leak was inevitable. Enjoy the visuals too!

How Was I Supposed To Know?

This is the most AMAZING performance I've ever heard.



Hey, if it Linda McCartney was fair game surely Bertney is.

Want To Change The World?

Chipotle - yes, the burrito fast-food joint - has released a video featuring Fiona Apple covering Willy Wonka's Pure Imagination. Chipotle wants the take-home to be that industrial meat is bad and scarecrow cooking is good.  However, the "film" is animated gold and more on point the song is a beauty. Apple's rendition is cinematically haunting and gorgeously produced.


Chipotle has also released an iOS game too. They must be pretty serious about this meat thing.

iTunes (song) | iTunes (app)

Her Baby Buys Her Things

Attention completists! The Beatles On Air - Live at the BBC Vol 2 has been announced for release in November! The set is all new with 60 tracks, 37 previously unreleased performances, and plenty of signature Beatle on-air banter.

The trailer has it all ...


... but if you want more here you go. Pre-order here.

Now We're Staring At A Screen

After way too much breathless, net-driven hype, Arcade Fire has finally debuted Reflektor, the first single from the upcoming album Reflektor. The tune has a great vibe and sounds best on headphones, particularly to appreciate David Bowie's contribution. Yep.

The video is long, interesting, and a bit nightmarish. Watch it here or below. There's also an interactive experience here, which I could not experience because I don't use Chrome. WTF-ever. The whole effort pushes Arcade Fire to their natural pretentious boundaries and many may not have the patience. It's definitely "gotta-be-in-the-right-mood" music and it's not quite as instant as The Suburbs' Sprawl II, but I dig it on first impression.



Pre-order Reflektor here, to be released October 29. Paste was all over it today, btw.

The Feelings Swim To The Surface

Arcade Fire returns.



Reflektor 9/9/9. Tease much?

Update via Rolling Stone

The Memories Will Always Linger On

This is getting around fast. Fred Stobaugh is evidently the next big thing and he's only 96 years old. Fred has become the oldest artist to hit the Billboard Hot 100 with a simple yet touching love song to his late wife of 72 years. Watch and listen to the story of Sweet Lorraine below and here.



This is why we listen to music.

iTunes

Oh, That Magic Feeling

Evidently The Beatles didn't really need instruments. Abbey Road's medley a cappella...



Stunning. Thanks, Way2Poppy!

Just In Time

This new one kinda snuck out there.

Paul McCartney's new album - New - is out October 15. He just recently premiered the new single New, which you can preview below, here, or download via iTunes if you pre-order the new album! Sounds like a typical new, first single from a new McCartney album. I expect the new album to dig deeper, but at least the old man is still making new music!


New.

Official Site | iTunes | Amazon | More

Your Voice Is Soft Like Summer Rain

Yes. I'm posting about Dolly Parton on Too Poppy. But dammit the slowed down version of Jolene that's been making the rounds on the social webs is freakin' cool. Rather than that classic country sound, the 33rpm version has a uniquely haunting Cohen Hallelujah vibe. I was skeptical at first, but here you go...

A Shot At Redemption

Jeff Litman continues his righteous journey to becoming the best popster you've yet-to-but-should hear with a new rocking single released today called Debutante, "a sarcastic, political rant aimed at the empty suit on the political stage who feigns sincerity and riles up the mob in service to the wealthy and powerful interests that control him." In full disclosure, Jeff and I are on the same side of the fence politically, but the genius of the tune is that for the most part it is a universal evisceration of the empty politicos we've unfortunately become accustomed to. Check out the lyrics video below.


Jeff's plan for 2013 is to release a new single every so often. The next one is called Nothing and will be out within a couple months.

iTunes | Bandcamp

My Piano Was Boldly Outspoken

Last June, Mike Viola, Tim Christensen, and others celebrated Sir Paul's 70th with a concert in Denmark covering Ram and other classics. These two guys covering McCartney is an embarrassment of riches in the truest sense of the phrase. Next month we'll be able to own it. Check out the trailer for Pure McCartney below.



Preorder the CD/DVD/Vinyl/MP3 set in your favorite format(s) here. Mike Viola promises to make it available on his site stateside soon so no worries!

More details here via Tim.