Bipolar Explorer Electric Hymnal (Slugg Records) I knew what I was getting into when I said that I’d like to receive a free copy of this latest release by New York City’s BIPOLAR EXPLORER, I didn’t know how deeply into it I’d be going. My last contact with the band’s leader, Michael Serafin-Wells was last December and he mentioned that they had been working on some new pieces that were inspired by the time he’d been spending in a West...

The Raveonettes just released their first track of 2016 “The World Is Empty (Without You)”. The new track is the first in a series of releases from the Danish duo’s RAVE-SOUND-OF-THE-MONTH playlist, a 12 month playlist which will feature a freshly recorded track released every month this year. The Raveonettes have always strived to do things their own way both creatively and stylistically. 2016 is no different, and Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo have released a brand new track...

The Soft Moon is a San Francisco based neo-post-punk band composed of Luis Vasquez(singer/songwriter/guitar/synthesizers), Justin Anastasi (bass), Damon Way (synthesizers) and Ron Robinson (visuals).Keven Tecon joined the band as a drummer in early 2012. The Soft Moon has taken cues from early synthpunk/post-punk bands such as Chrome, Suicide, Danse Society and The Units. The Soft Moon was founded by Luis Vasquez as a solo project in 2009. He released two singles, “Breathe the Fire” and “Parallels”, while working on his...

Here’s a treat for the Elliott Smith fans out there, a new version of the song ‘Plainclothes Man’ – originally recorded by Elliott when he was with Heatmiser, has been released. It’s a track that will be included on the soon to be released soundtrack album for the documentary about Elliott’s life, ‘Heaven Adores You’. A press release about the film reads: “Heaven Adores You is an intimate, meditative inquiry into the life and music of Elliott Smith (1969-2003). By...

PJ Harvey has been working on her 9th album as part of a live art installment at London’s Somerset House. This is the first track that has been released. It’s a catchy tune with lyrics that speak of atrocities committed against children. We can only guess that a music video may come along later that is interspersed with images of starving and abused children from around the world. “28,000 disappeared” is the ringing chorus that will stick in your ears…...

He Never Died – Film Review Storyline: “Jack’s in a rut. Depression and severe anti-social behavior has whittled down his existence to sleeping and watching television. Seeing the human race as little more than meat with a pulse, Jack has no interest to bond with anyone. There’s little purpose for him to make friends with someone he’d eventually eat or outlive by more than a millennia. The fuse is lit when Jack’s past comes back to rattle him. Jack must...

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes & Other Lessons from the Crematory, by Caitlin Doughty There’s no doubt in my mind how this book became a New York Times Bestseller. This is the most important non-fiction title I’ve read in years, and I suggest that everyone, EVERYONE, EVERYONE read it. We are all going to die, or will have to deal with the death of someone close to us and this book helps us come to grips with the harsh realities...

Iggy and Josh hung out with Stephen Colbert on The Late Show last night and talked about a new album they recorded together in the Mojave Desert. They also performed the first single from the album called “Gardenia”. You can read more about how this album came about here. (source – CBS/The Late Show) (source – Rolling...

By Jim Harrington jharrington@bayareanewsgroup.com Van Morrison seemed intent on proving a point. It began when he first took the stage on Monday night at the Fox Theater, promptly — as is his wont — at the scheduled set time of 8 p.m. His first notes of the evening weren’t sung, but rather blown thrown an alto saxophone. He followed that brief instrumental with a vibrant take on “Close Enough for Jazz,” from his 22nd studio album, 1993’s “Too Long in...

Shout-outs to the First Church of the Sacred Silversexual, San Francisco, Reverent Father Lysol Tony-Romeo, Peter… Posted by Lysol Tony-Romeo on Friday, January 15, 2016 REMEMBERING BOWIE (The following is the complete text of the San Francisco Chronicle article) Every David Bowie fan, myself included, has had a hard week. On Jan. 8, the singer/actor/producer/legend turned 69 years old and released a solid four-star album to mark the occasion. Two days later, he was dead — fallen to a secret 18-month...