Remember the whole episode when Sinead O’Connor tore up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live? During the performance you can tell watching it now she knew more or less there was a shit-storm ahead of her. She performed the Bob Marley cover War acapella and she’s clearly nervous, breathing heavily throughout. But the thing is there are moments of greatness in the performance. And better yet, there is a low-bitrate copy out on the net of the rehearsal version that captures a better, more relaxed Sinead. It remains one of my favorite one-off songs. Here’s the video of the live performance on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn5uY9etyEo
I was delighted to find that she released a whole album last year of reggae covers called Throw Down Your Arms. It seems that she did it pretty authentically, using Sly and Robbie as producers, recording in Jamaica and using local musicians. The thing is really nice to listen to, breezy, great for multiple listenings. I am generally a big dancehall and reggae fan, but I haven’t really been turned on by anything new in a long time.
The new Gnarls Barkely album has sparked a resurgence in my day to day listening of alternative-indie stuff (is that a real category?). This week I’ve got the new DJ Shadow, new Outkast, Herbert (Matthew)’s Scale, TV on the Radio, Mylo, and Lady Sovereign going in my headphones.
[First post with Windows Live Writer]
tags: sineadoconnor, music, snl, reggae
AUGUST 16–When Gnarls Barkley performs tomorrow night at the SummerStage concert series in New York’s Central Park, groupies will be relieved to know that at least one of the band’s two frontmen will be practicing safe sex backstage. According to the rap duo’s tour rider (excerpts from which you’ll find below), one dressing room must be outfitted with a box of Magnum condoms, Swisher Sweets blunts, and bottles of Hennessy and Grey Goose. The rider does not indicate whether the well-stocked playpen will be occupied by Cee-Lo (real name: Thomas Callaway) or partner Danger Mouse (real name: Brian Burton). While no prophylactics are supplied in Dressing Room #2, there will be plenty of booze, soft drinks, baked goods, and munchies. And a pack of white athletic socks. For hip-hop fans keeping score at home, the demand for the oversized Magnum condoms (15 percent larger that normal rubbers!) appears to one up the birth control requirements of lesser stars like 50 Cent and Busta Rhymes. In addition to backstage demands, the rider also details the group’s lodging and air travel requirements.
See the complete Rider, it’s awesome!
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0816062gnarls1.html