As one of a handful of British independent labels that shifted the destiny of Pop and Experimental music, Rough Trade Records crafted a nice CD a few years back, celebrating the label's 25 years in
Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before. Using the same twist that Elektra Records did before them, the project used current label artists to reinterpret classic songs released throughout the history of the imprint, such as The Veils covering Scritti Politti and Adam Green re-carving the Young Marble Giants. Little did I know that, like Virgin, the label started as an offshoot of a record store, which, being a little longer in the tooth, is celebrating its own 30th trip around the sun. So, what to do? How do you tell the story of a record store that influenced a nation of budding musicians and tastemakers of culture? Next week that question is answered with
The Record Shop: Thirty Years of Rough Trade Shops, a two-CD set that lets their customers fill in the blanks in song. It all makes sense really, as each era of music has its own unique street traffic and shared memories across the counter. Like a flip-book of LP jackets going up and coming down the shop's walls and windows, each year's essence is boiled down in one song selected by one steady customer, some famous, some simply unforgettable characters of real life. The results are interesting, from English cricket star Derek Pringle's choice of
The Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You" from 1980 to twisted illustrator Savage Pencil's pick of
The Frogs from 1999, each selection charged with a secret revelation and the thrill of a special recording, reminding you of where and who you were when you first discovered it. Other name-droppings include Sire Records founder Seymour Stein, Don Letts, architect David Adjaye, author Jon Savage, Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem. Alive and well, the Rough Trade label has another cool concept CD on the horizon next month with
The Colours Are Brighter. Benefiting Save the Children, the 13-track CD is kid friendly with exclusive songs from
The Flaming Lips,
Snow Patrol,
The Kooks,
Franz Ferdinand and
Jonathan Richman, with highlights including "The Monkeys Are Breaking Out of the Zoo" from
Belle & Sebastian and "Go Go Ninja Dinosaur" from
Four Tet with
Princess Watermelon. ... Forever on the cutting edge of music and technology,
Brian Eno is releasing new audio/video adventures next week not only on DVD, but also as new software for the home consumer. All Saints/Rykodisc Records is releasing
77 Million Paintings, a limited edition interview DVD, 52-page hard-bound book and bonus PC or Mac disc discussing Eno's generative software that produces "light paintings." Look for a fall tour of art gallery installations with the artist in attendance.
Television Alert
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno hosts Joan Jett Wednesday and Gomez Friday. The Late Show with David Letterman hosts Fergie Thursday, Tony Bennett and Elvis Costello Monday and Sean Lennon Tuesday. Late Night with Conan O'Brien has Ben Kweller Thursday and Scissor Sisters Tuesday. Last Call with Carson Daly gets chummy with Fiona Apple Thursday. And Jimmy Kimmel Live presents the return of Human League Thursday.
New Releases Coming Tuesday
Tori Amos - A Piano: The Collection (Rhino) five-CD box set packed with rarities and B-sides; David Arkenstone - Sketches From An American Journey (Gemini Sun) with The Recording Arts Orchestra of Salt Lake City and guest flutist Nicholas Gunn, this is a mental road trip through the American West; Bobby Bare Jr. - The Longest Meow (Bloodshot) recorded in a single day this past March with members of My Morning Jacket and Lambchop; featuring a laid-back cover of The Pixies' "Where Is My Mind"; Jay Bennett - The Magnificent Defeat (Rykodisc) formerly of Wilco, this new solo album uses odd vintage instruments and a drum kit made of sheet metal; The Black Crowes - The Lost Crowes (Rhino) two-CD set featuring sessions from two shelved albums from 1993 and 1997; The Blakhiv - Any Way She Wants It (Lucid) white-hot CD EP of big swagger and Stooges sneer from this Icelandic trio, with guests from These Arms Are Snakes and Hey Mercedes; GPS - Window To the Soul (Inside Out) majestic Hard Rock from John Payne of Asia and Ryo Okumoto of Spock's Beard; George Harrison - Living In the Material World (Capitol) expanded reissue also available is a special CD/DVD package; Jackass Number Two original motion picture soundtrack (Bulletproof) with three new tracks by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs; Janet Jackson - 20 Y.O. (Virgin) with Nelly on the first single, "Call Me"; The Lemonheads - The Lemonheads (Vagrant) with guests J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and Karl Alvarez of Descendents; Medeski Scofield Martin & Wood - Out Louder (Indirecto) featuring a cover of Peter Tosh's "Legalize It"; My Morning Jacket - Okonokos: Double Live Album (ATO/RCA) with a companion 5.1 surround-sound DVD concert film to be released Oct. 31; Open Season - original motion picture soundtrack (Lost Highway) with 10 new songs from Paul Westerberg, two of which with former bandmate Tommy Stinson; Megan Palmer - Forget Me Not (Sunken Treasure) with guest Happy Chichester of Howlin' Maggie; Scissor Sisters - Ta-Dah (Universal) with guests Elton John and Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry; Sparklehorse - Dreamt for Light Years In the Belly of a Mountain (Astralwerks) with guests Danger Mouse and The Flaming Lips' Stephen Drodz, Mark Linkous is back after a five-year absence; Wolf Eyes - Human Animal (SubPop) performing this December at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival, handpicked by curator Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth; Various Artists - Why the Hell Not ... The Songs of Kinky Friedman (Sustain) with contributions from Todd Snider, Lyle Lovett and Willie Nelson, this is a terrific tribute to the songwriting talents of the great "bright" hope of American politics, highlighted by a honky-tonkin' cover of "Get Your Biscuits In the Oven (And Your Buns In Bed)" by Kevin Fowler.
