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Help Induct Gram Parsons into the Country Music Hall of Fame
Since his strange and untimely death in Joshua Tree, Calif. in 1973, Gram Parsons has left an undeniable thumbprint on country music. A former member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, and a collaborator with Emmylou Harris, the talented musician prepped the genre for a younger generation, aiding the birth of alt.country in the process.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsSongs to Do Nothing To: The Motion Picture Soundtrack to Lazy
Guess who's feeling unmotivated? This guy! Sometimes, though, it's fun to channel an apathetic mood into something productive. A soundtrack to lazy, as it were. The key here is to ignore what the song is actually about (listening requires motivation), choosing instead to base its inclusion off the title alone. Have a look at the list below (which I'm capping at 15, since any more than that would be too much work), click where applicable to hear the track and feel free to post your favorite lethargic lyrics, tired tunes, melodies of malaise and sleepy song choices in the comments.... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayGreen-Collar Rock: Great Nature Songs Vol. 2 (Land & Sky)
With last week's inauguration of new President Barack Obama, there's been a lot of talk about green-collar jobs and making long-term investments by implementing environmentally sound policies now. It got me thinking about what we're protecting by doing this—first and foremost, the health and well-being of ourselves and future generations. But it's also about preserving this beautiful natural world we inhabit. There is no shortage of amazing songs that celebrate or draw from this beauty. Classics like John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and The Beatles' "Blackbird" come immediately to mind, but there are so many more. Here are a few... read more
Found in: Blogs, List of the DayDownload free tracks from Gram Parsons, Brandi Shearer
On Monday, Amoeba Music, the renowned chain of record stores whose founders recently launched a record label, began an initiative to give away two songs every two weeks from Gram Parsons and Brandi Shearer. The free download series kicked off with Shearer'sunreleased version of Parsons' "Hickory Wind," recorded live at Amoeba in L.A., and "Close Up the Honky Tonks," the opening cut from Gram Parsons Archives Vol. 1: The Flying Burrito Brothers Live at the Avalon Ballroom 1969. Subsequent free downloads will be taken from Shearer's Close To Dark and disc one of the two disc Gram Parsons Archive Vol.... read more
Found in: Music, NewsLive Gram Parsons material unearthed
Given Gram Parsons' explosive, bottle rocket-brief career, fans have long had only scattered material from the country rock pioneer to enjoy. One album with the International Submarine Band, another with the Byrds, a couple of solo records, and another pair with the Flying Burrito Brothers. But as with all taken-before-their-time artists, new artifacts continue to come to light, plugging the gaps between Parsons' many side projects and giving listeners a fuller sonic portrait of his mysterious, cosmic-cowboy persona. The latest arrives on Nov. 6, which would have been Parsons' 61st birthday. Amoeba Records will issue a pair of live performances... read more
Found in: Music, NewsAmoeba offers free Gram Parsons track, more
One week deadlines can be difficult to remember. Eons away, they seem, until suddenly you’ve got $100 in Blockbuster charges, un-redeemable Six Flags coupons and food poison. Keeping that in mind, you might as well go ahead and take care of this now: for one week only, through August 23, newly launched Amoeba Records is handing out free MP3s like Sam’s Club sausage-ball samples. Only two of them, mind you, but they’re pretty swell: Brandi Shearer’s “Lullabies” from her upcoming album, Close to Dark (Aug. 28) and a never-before-heard (by anyone not at the April 4, 1969 concert) Gram Parsons... read more
Found in: Music, NewsNew York Bands Honor Gram Parsons
Celebrated roots-rock and country icon Gram Parsons will celebrate his 60th birthday with a lineup of artists including The New Heathens, Matt Mays and The Demolition String Band. "Gram Parsons 60th Birthday Tribute: A Night of Cosmic American Music" will honor the former Byrd with 12 tribute artists at Galapagos in Williamsburg, Brooklyn Wednesday on November 15. Video footage from the movie "Grand Theft Parsons," starring Johnny Knoxville, and other Parsons-related cinema will be shown in between the performances, which will include covers as well as original music. For the show’s climax, all of the artists involved will take the... read more
Found in: Music, NewsGram Parsons: Fallen Angel
Former Byrd, Flying Burrito Brother finally gets filmic workup read more
Found in: Movies, ReviewsGram Parsons Biography Out
Grievous Angel: An Intimate Biography of Gram Parsons is currently available from Thunders Mouth Press. The book, a collection of stories and images from Parsons' life, was compiled by music journalist Jessica Hundley and Parson's only daughter, Polly. Gram Parsons is credited with influencing many contemporary artists, including Elvis Costello, Norah Jones and Dinosaur Jr. Parsons was a member of The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers. He died in 1973 at the age of 26.... read more
Found in: Music, News
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