While there’s not a whole lot that qualifies as “new” today, we do have a pretty solid variety of catalog titles perfect for summer listening!
Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career: New Camera Obscura finally arrives on eMusic. Some of you may have heard this already but for those who haven’t — it’s fantastic. I’ve been iffy [...]

So… any good new releases today?
Obviously, today is Sony day, which sees a slew of popular — and not-so-popular — titles hit the site. There is a kind of giddy rush that comes from seeing, say, Bitches Brew or the first Stone Roses record turn up, and I’m already figuring my personal Save for [...]

Just yesterday afternoon, all of us here in the editorial department were talking about Michael Jackson’s upcoming shows at the O2 Arena in London. The tone of the conversation skewed exactly as you may have guessed — rife with skepticism that the shows would actually come off, or wondering what they might look like if [...]

Big day at eMusic, as classic albums from the Reverend Al Green hit the site. Do I even need to say how timeless and essential these are? Most people will go for the Greatest Hits, and I get that, but the full albums here are just as rich and rewarding.
We’ve assembled all of [...]

I (happily!) handled duties on this week’s EVR show. I decided to steer clear of the metal this week, instead focusing on an hour of indie rock and an hour of R&B. What I played below, the cut. Full show here.

Because words fail.

About three weeks ago, I took a drive down to DC to spend some time with someone I’d been secretly idolizing for about three years now: Mingering Mike. I’ve already talked about this a bit on here already, so I won’t bore you with repetition. Suffice it to say, Mike was a warm, wonderful [...]

It gives me incredible pleasure to announce one of our eMusic Selects artists for June: the incomparable imaginary soul superstar, Mingering Mike.

Thanks yet again goes to the Fader blog for uncovering this treasure: Kutiman, an Israeli R&B producer, and a singer named Karolina busting out this absolutely sick soul jam, “Music Is Ruling My World.” Best of all? It’s on eMusic. Download the album here, or the single with several remixes here. Iz hot!

Today’s Review of the Day and Daily Download feature a record that, had I heard it in time, would have easily placed in my top 5 of 2007. As it is, I’ve been listening to it at least twice daily, and every time I find something new to love. The record is Born & Raised [...]

 
Today’s featured dozen on Texas music heroes reminds me to spread the gospel on one of my favorite eMusic discoveries, Bobby Patterson. Soul Is My Music, his 2xCD best of collection on Sundazed might have been my most-played album of last year and getting to see the man strut his stuff (wearing one of [...]

There was a doddering old hippie — serious Cheech & Chong material — at Mavis Staples’ wonderful show in a Manhattan park close by the Hudson River the other night. His greying ponytail drooping out from under a handkerchief whose chief purpose seemed to be for keeping his addled brains in place, he arrhythmically [...]

A great day for new additions to eMusic, including Blonde Redhead, Oh No, Jens Lekman and other assorted goodies.

Just got an email announcing what will almost certainly be (outside of Hell’s Kitchen!) the best thing on television all week:
Respect Yourself: The Stax Records Story
PBS / Great Performances
Wednesday Aug. 1
9PM Eastern and Pacific/ 8PM Central
Directed by Robert Gordon and Morgan Neville
More here.

I love to watch Soul Boys dance: whether it’s that tidy little shoulder-drop, ankle-twist manoeuvre all mods seem to pick up with their first pair of decent trousers or the full-on, talcum-powder-on-the-floor acrobatics of a true Northern Soulie. So I’ve been enjoying the BBC’s truly wonderful Soul Britannia documentary.

The new M.I.A. record, Kala (out in the US Aug. 21, Aug. 20 in the UK), is
a) absolutely ridiculous
b) some crazy-ass back-to-the-future-music time-warp kinda deal
c) a country mile better than the already-great Arular
d) the smartest/sickest/slickest pastiche/homage/collage/mélange of pop music I have ever heard

The principle that guides my daily trawl through New Arrivals is a combination of name recognition and cover art intrigue. It was the latter that lead me to download Watts Happening, an odd record by an unknown named Don Adams.

Quite a few notable records today, including one song in particular you need to download.

Ghostface photo = a blog traffic increase of 274%!
Not as deep as yesterday’s batch, but you need at least an extra day to get through that anyway. Still, some great stuff, including classic singer-songwriters and a surprising mainstream hip-hop haul.

Mark March 12 in your calendar, folks, because it’s one of the best days for new additions to the site we’ve had in recent memory.